Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Jose Alvarado on the hot seat

With the Super Bowl now blessedly behind us, welcome to the first day of baseball season!

• Marc Topkin writes that Jose Alvarado has the most to prove in spring training. $
• Josh Solomon has an update on the stadium saga, including news that some city council members may support the sister city plan. $
• John Romano says the stadium debate has gone from contentious to stupid. $
• William Leitch ranks all 30 probable Opening Day starters. The Rays and Charlie Morton come in 7th.
• David Schoenfield gives us one stat that will shape every MLB team. For the Rays, it is 3.66 — or the ERA of the best bullpen in baseball.
• Curtis Granderson calls it quits.
• Nick Stellini writes about how the problems that Manfred claims to be solving aren’t really problems.
• Tom Gatto writes about Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes baseball-playing dad, Pat.
• Joe Rivera writes about the baseball career that wasn’t for Patrick the Younger.
• Eric Longenhagen thinks Vidal Brujan is an All-Star in the making.

Joe: Just how high is Vidal Brujan‘s upside?

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m still all in, I think he’s an All Star. Top of the scale athlete, he’s short but he’s strong. Have him at 2B because of the arm but I think he’s plus there and does damage.

• Rays Colored Glasses writes about Carlos Pena’s induction into the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame on Saturday.
• At the ceremony, Brent Honeywell met Luis Tiant:

• Is Mookie Betts to the Dodgers inevitable?