Talking Points: Baseball immortality for M’s fill-in manager

1.

Mariners bench coach and fill-in manager Robby Thompson built quite a résumé as a player. A two-time all-star second baseman for the San Francisco Giants, he won a Golden Glove and Silver Slugger in 1993.

But Thompson achieved a different kind of baseball immortality as a rookie in 1986, when he became the first major leaguer to be caught stealing four times in one game. To be fair, three of those were on hit-and-run plays.

2.

In an attempt to lessen the violence surrounding Argentine soccer, the season starts this weekend with only club members allowed to enter stadiums and watch home games.

The rules will be in force for the first two weekends. After that, the plan calls for a continued ban on visiting fans from matches.

It’s just a reminder not to take for granted the enthusiastic and peaceful, albeit sometimes profane, support offered by the Timbers Army.

3.

NFL players and coaches have been sounding off on new rules mandating thigh and knee pads:

“It’s not going to stop no injuries. If you get hit in the knee the wrong way you’re going to tear an ACL.” — Tennessee safety Bernard Pollard.”That’s usually receivers and corners complaining. I get hit in the thighs all the time. So, I’m not trying to walk like I’m 80 years old when I’m 30.” — Denver running back Ronnie Hillman.