Advertisement

Mad Dash: MLB pitchers join new teams, take to Twitter

Moving on from the franchise where they started their careers is always tough for professional athletes, especially if the memories are mostly positive. But that's the position pitchers Jon Lester and Chris Bassitt found themselves in this week, with Lester joining the Cubs after many years with the Red Sox (and a few months with the A's) and Bassitt being traded to the A's from the White Sox, the team that gave him his MLB debut. How players react to such big moments says a lot about them as people, and both pitchers were social media stars after the announcements were made. Both thanked their fans and the organizations they were leaving. Then, Lester spent hours interacting with fans and haters alike on Twitter, treating both perfectly. Bassitt decided he had to do something with years of White Sox gear, so he went on Twitter and offered it up to fans, picking winners out of everyone who retweeted his message. Cool moves by both guys.

The Dallas Stars' jumbotron operator did something Winnipeg Jets fans may not consider very cool during a 5-2 loss at the American Airlines Center, but then again, the Jets won, so we're not sure how mad they can really be. Either way, the Stars posted a Top 10 list of things to do in Winnipeg, and struggled to fill out the list. While it's not hard to get the joke, it's also worth noting: How much does anyone in a city 1,300 miles from the other know about what do to for fun, especially if it's not New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or a city like that? Does anyone in Winnipeg know what they could do for fun in Dallas? Anyway, you get the point.

One rant that's not over is Rams defensive end William Hayes' belief in mermaids. Teammate Chris Long filmed Hayes explaining why he believes in mermaids, and the Instagram videos are must-see. Say what you want about his beliefs and why he's so hung up on mermaids, but the man certainly has conviction.

- - - - - - -

The Yahoo Sports Mad Dash is a roundup of the morning's trending stories from across the sports landscape. Check it out every day to see what's buzzing.