Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn’t easy. It’s okay, though, we’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
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The Mariners fired longtime general manager Jack Zduriencik at the end of the August, bringing to a close an era of disappointment. Well, in theory, anyway: nothing guarantees that a new GM is going to change things in Seattle, which have been disappointing since at least 2001, the last time they made the playoffs. Or, if you only count World Series championships as actual success, then uh, the Mariners have never been successful in 39 years. Of course, that’s a very harsh assessment to make, one we suggest you avoid since 14 years without a playoff appearance is plenty laughable on its own merits.
Anyway, Seattle has begun the interview process for their new GM, and went after one of the same individuals that their division rivals, the Angels, did. Yankees’ assistant GM Billy Eppler is said to be that individual, which could potentially throw a wrench in the Angels’ plans to get him out of New York. To keep it Angels-centric, the Mariners are also expected to interview former Anaheim GM Jerry Dipoto, who is currently an advisor for the Red Sox.
A few more former GMs have repeatedly had their names bounced around, like current Marlins’ manager (and former general manager) Dan Jennings, who might decide that working for Nintendo of America beats working for Jeffrey Loria. (The potential for free copies of Pokemon and peeks at upcoming Zelda games would sell it for me, but maybe I don’t share many hobbies with Jennings.) With so many teams looking for a new GM, and many of them looking at the same people, it will be fascinating to see who strikes first in hiring a new one this winter. The M’s are starting their process later than others, so it might not be them, but you never know.
- If you have a long memory, of say, 24 hours -- hey, it's the Internet era, the news cycle turned over 72 times since then -- then you remember that the Astros were losing but so was everyone chasing them. The Angels helped stop that at least momentarily, defeating the Twins to gain a game on them and the Astros in the Wild Card race.
- Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter shared a kiss on the kiss cam at the Braves' game on Thursday.
- Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams threw out the first pitch before the Brewers game, and he pegged the camera man.
- Avisail Garcia was the hero for a brief moment when he caught Billy Butler's outfield shot, but then his momentum sent him crashing into the wall, where the ball fell over the fence for a game-winning homer.
- Kyle Seager sassily called for time. Jered Weaver was not pleased about it. Seager swore at Weaver. Weaver plunked Seager. This calls for unwritten rules analysis!
- You might think rookie hazing is an innocent pastime in baseball, but it's dehumanizing given the form hazing tends to take.
- The Pirates will have to go on in 2015 without Jung-Ho Kang, whose leg was all messed up after Chris Coghlan's takeout slide.
- The Rangers swept the Astros, gaining four games in four days to first take then strengthen their lead in the AL West. Sure, their run differential isn't great, but the Rangers team you see now isn't the one that has been playing for most of 2015.
- Here are five free agent suggestions that fit the Orioles' philosophy.
- Mat Latos was supposed to be a midseason savior for the Dodgers, but instead, he's been designated for assignment. On the bright side in Los Angeles, they are still in first place even with his poor performance.
- Yoenis Cespedes' free agency is going to be a fun, divisive time, y'all.
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