A’s spring training notes: A.J. Puk to open Cactus League

MESA, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 19: Oakland Athletics’ A.J. Puk (31), right, during spring training at Lew Wolff Training Complex in Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.MESA, Ariz. — A.J. Puk will take the mound for the Oakland A’s Cactus League opener against the Chicago Cubs on February 22nd. Mike Fiers and Chris Bassitt will get the split squad against the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals the next day.

Sean Manaea and the Randy Johnson Effect

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Randy Johnson’s 6-foot-10 frame, in baggy dad jeans and coffee in hand, was hard to ignore in A’s camp last week. He surveyed the bullpen for his fellow left-handed pitchers and zeroed in — not on A.J. Puk, but Sean Manaea.

Johnson…