Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/804369
3 BAYAREANEWSGROUP PLAYBALL THE GIANTS Abaseball-hockey lovestory GiantscenterfielderDenardSpan has never even laced up skates, but tha t d idn 't st op him fr om marrying an Olympic hockey player this winter. PAGE 30 THE A'S Gazingintothe A'sfuture You may not see many of them in Oakland this season, but the A's stash of young stars looks plenty promising. And these guys migh t not e ven b e tr aded ! PAGE 58 THE LEAGUE Whoturneduptheheat? There are more young flamethrowers in baseball than ever before. How MLB velocity might be reaching dangerous speeds and what it means for the game going forward. PAGE 6 COVER ILLUSTRATION BY MARIO WAGNER SectionEditor:MarkConley SectionDesigner: Chris Gotsill CopyEditing:Jaime Welton, Lance Howland PLUS: WILL MARK MELANCON GIVE GIANTS, BOCHY SOME NINTH-INNING RELIEF? PAGE 16 PLUS: MEET SEAN DOOLITTLE, THE A'S HARD-TWEETING REBEL ROUSER WITH A CAUSE. PAGE 54 PLUS: MARK PURDY PITCHES YOU RULE CHANGES. PAGE 4 RAY CHAVEZ/STAFF PLAY BALL