Aroldis Chapman Is Head Over Heels And Other MLBullets

It's hard to imagine that other teams continued playing during the highs of RizzOMG, but they did...

• Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman has had an up and down year. After starting the year on a crazy, dominating scoreless streak, Chapman made headlines for off-the-field weirdness, including a way-too-fast speeding ticket (on a suspended license) and a bizarre Pittsburgh hotel escapade. Then Chapman lost his mojo, giving up runs with reckless abandon, including blowing his last two save opportunities. Last night, he locked down a save against the Brewers, and, perhaps seeking to shake loose the weight of those crazy first few months to the season, he celebrated by doing two somersaults off of the mound. His manager was unhappy, his teammates were unhappy, and Brewers players tried to pretend like they weren't annoyed (but they certainly were). You can watch the video there at that link. It's partly bizarre, but it also really looks like quite the show-up. He's going to be catching heat for this for a while, I'd think.

• Matt Kemp, out with a twice-strained hamstring probably won't return until after the All-Star break, which means he'll also miss the All-Star game, commercials to the contrary be damned. There's a chance he could still participate in the Home Run Derby, though, after doctors confirmed for the Dodgers that it wouldn't impact his hamstring recovery.
• The group led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley now has an exclusive negotiating window to finalize a deal for the purchase of the San Diego Padres. The price is expected to be in the neighborhood of $800 million, and there isn't expected to be any holdups in approving O'Malley's purchase, unlike Jeff Moorad, who was shot down by the other owners earlier this year.
• Andrew Cashner's minor league stint appears up, and he's scheduled to start tomorrow for the Padres. If it goes well, he could quickly lock up a spot in their rotation going forward, and the Rizzo (Cates) / Cashner (Na) deal takes on another dimension. I'll be rooting for Cashner.
• Clay Buchholz's formerly unknown intestinal issue, which recently landed him on the disabled list, is a case of esophagitis. That caused intestinal bleeding, and his related discomfort. No one seems to know yet how long it will keep him out, or how it might have been affecting his performance this year (he's struggled).
• Today, Ryan Howard is undergoing "functional testing" on his long-healing Achilles injury, and, if it goes well, he could finally go out on a rehabilitation assignment as soon as tomorrow.
• After 24 seasons, Omar Vizquel will finally retire after this year. "This will be my last year," Vizquel said. "I've enjoyed this game a lot, but I think it's time to pursue a new career as a coach or manager, and hopefully I'll get that opportunity in the future." Vizquel is currently coming, occasionally, off of the Blue Jays' bench.
• Speaking of very ... experienced players, Jamie Moyer is still trying to regain a big league job after being dumped by the Rockies. After failing to be promoted by the Orioles, Moyer has now latched on with the Blue Jays. He'll get two starts at AAA, at which time the Jays will have to decide whether to promote or release him.
• I was saying "Boo-urns."

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