Tuesday Halolinks: Richards passes first spring test

Can you feel it?  Something's different...could it be...pitchers and catchers?  Today's links are mainly from the MLB mothership.  It seems many are getting ready fof the opening of spring training by taking naps.

Hammertime: 3 days

• This is great news.  Probably the greatest as far as the Angels pitching concern go: Richards takes big step with first bullpen session - angels.com, "Richards has been playing catch since early December, began running with his full body weight on Tuesday, threw off a slope -- not quite as steep as the traditional pitcher's mound -- on Friday and completed his biggest step three days later."
• Seriously, I'm completely surprised Lyle didn't mention the positive impact on Heaney's career it has been to have a quality catcher like Jeff Mathis mentor him.  LA story of Heaney, Kendrick could have happy ending for all - angels.com, "For the Angels, there is clear immediate risk involved in trying to replace Kendrick's many assets. The hope is that it pays off in the long haul, Heaney emerging as a quality starter."
• Okay, I'll stop complaining about the weather in Wisconsin (for now): The historic snowfall in Boston has turned Fenway Park into a wondrous snowscape - MLB.com, "More snow has fallen in Boston so far this February than in any other month in the city's history."

  

• Angels head into camp with increased depth - angels.com, "Ninety-eight wins is a very tough measuring stick," he said. "You can't sit and plan to win 98 games. What you're doing is you're planning on filling as many voids and as many potential needs as you possibly can, with the expectation that you're going to win 90-plus games and put yourself in a position to contend for a title."  Well, according to this over/under from www.Bovada.lv, the Angels are going to win in the neighborhood of 90 games.
  
  MLB Win Totals (From Highest to Lowest)
  Los Angeles Dodgers - 92½
  Washington Nationals - 92½
  Los Angeles Angels - 89½
  St. Louis Cardinals - 88½
  Boston Red Sox - 86½
  Seattle Mariners - 86½
  San Diego Padres - 85½
  Detroit Tigers - 84½
  San Francisco Giants - 84½
  Cleveland Indians - 83½
  
• We've talked about this before, but this time there's a graph! A Decade of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball: Is It Really Always Red Sox/Yankees? - Baseball Essential, "Each season, there are somewhere between 23 and 26 ESPN Sunday Night Baseball games. Since the beginning of 2005, there have been 248 SNB games. Throughout these 248 games, all but two teams have been represented at least once."