I Do What I Want On My Off Days And Other MLBullets

The NBA Playoffs are, like, still in the first round, aren't they?

• The latest flap in Boston surrounds maligned pitcher Josh Beckett, who, while recovering from a "tight lat," went golfing. That's all it takes to get folks riled up these days, but Beckett didn't help his cause when he was asked whether he understood that the perception when a guy does something like that isn't a good one. "We get 18 off days a year. I think we deserve a little time to ourselves." I suppose that's right (though, like, you get more than 18 off days a year), but it doesn't seem like a particularly deft way of handling the issue when your team is flailing. And that's especially true if you just gave up seven runs in a little over two innings and were booed off the field. Oh, and it's also especially true if your team flopped in September amid reports of clubhouse ridiculousness and drinking (of which you were at the center). Gordon Edes absolutely lights into Beckett in that article, as well as the Red Sox. If you're looking for Soxenfreude, it's a good read.

• MLB might outlaw the old fake-to-third-throw/look-to-first move, which has been the bane of so many long games. Obviously it's not a major change, but neither is it a majorly effective move.
• The Detroit Tigers dumped Brandon Inge because they believed he couldn't hit anymore. He was picked up by the A's, and has promptly hit two grand slams in his last three games. Obviously that's just two good swings out of many other swings, but baseball is funny that way.
• Yesterday, Rangers starter Colby Lewis gave up five homers but struck out 12. That's never happened before(indeed, the most Ks in a five-homer performance before was just 9). The question, of course, is whether Lewis is proud to have that record, or embarrassed.
• Vladimir Guerrero is finally employed, having signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. When asked about what the signing means for the roster, manager John Farrell didn't want to commit (speculation has Adam Lind's at bats in danger). "It's more about the potential of what Vladimir could offer. We haven't had discussions about turning over our roster. We haven't had discussions about making wholesale changes," Farrell said. "But when a guy with his pedigree and his track record comes available and finally comes to an agreement with us, we'll give that every opportunity to see what it can produce for us."
• Angels catcher Chris Iannetta will have wrist surgery after being hit by a pitch, and he'll miss six to eight weeks. The catching situation is going to be a tricky one, with the most obvious fill-in - young catcher Hank Conger - on the DL, himself.
• The scuffling Phillies are on the verge of making a number of minor roster moves, including calling up all of Jake Diekman, Raul Valdes, Hector Luna, and the one and only Mike Fontenot.

Brett Taylor is the Lead Writer at Bleacher Nation, and a Contributor here at Bleed Cubbie Blue.