MLB Bullets Welcomes The New Order

NOTE FROM AL: Over the last few weeks of the season, some here have suggested that I might need a break from BCB, due to the tough and frustrating 2013 season. I've never really done that, not in the nearly nine years this site has been active. I've decided that those people were right, and so I am taking a few days off this week. Josh will be running things, and I know you'll be well looked after for Cubs news, and will continue to respect one another. The only exception I'd make to the break is if the Cubs hire a manager during this break ... that's a big enough deal that I'll return if it happens (I don't expect it to happen that quickly, but you never know). Otherwise Josh is in charge this week. I'll be around for a couple of hours this morning and after that, see you here Friday afternoon, hopefully recharged. I'm going to leave a few "Caption This" photos for you to have fun with during the week. Enjoy the week and go Cubs.

Bwah ha ha! My minions forced Al to write that note from the mountain lair where he's being held. As my coup is now complete, I will remake this blog into my own image. The first step? Less coverage of the Cubs and more of Punk/New Wave/Alternative music from 1976 to 1991. There may also be essays on the Cold War coming.

While Al is in protective custody, I expect that you will all treat me with the same respect you give Al. Unfortunately, I expect that's exactly what you're going to do.

• It came as a surprise shortly after the last bullets were published, but the Reds fired Dusty Baker on last Friday. In a way, his exit was admirable. Told that his hitting coach, Brook Jacoby, was going to be fired, Baker said don't blame him and if you're going to blame anyone, blame me. So they did and fired him.
• That wasn't the only reason he was gone, of course, as the Reds late-season collapse had a lot to do with it as well. After six seasons in Cincinnati, the Reds simply stopped responding to Baker, writes Ken Rosenthal.
• Emma Span notes that Baker won a lot of games as a manager and she says he's a great leader of men. But that doesn't outweigh his weaknesses in managing the strategy and tactics of a baseball game.
• Baker's tactical weaknesses are especially evident in the post-season, writes David Schoenfield. Tell us about it.
• Tom Verducci wonders if Baker will get another chance to manage a team. He definitely wants to manage somewhere in 2014.
• Don Mattingly has his one game away from the NLCS, but Jon Heyman notes that the Dodgers have made not picked up the option on his contract and Heyman wonders if Mattingly may get fired if the Dodgers fail to win the World Series.
• Mattingly is especially under fire for his decision in Game 2 to intentionally walk Paco Rodriguez to set up a lefty/lefty matchup with Jason Heyward. Heyward hit a two-run single that ended up being the difference in the game. Jon Weisman wonders if Mattingly will learn from his error or if the front office will even hold him accountable.
• Rob Neyer thinks the Rays should fire manager Joe Maddon. Not really, but he does say that Maddon deserves more criticism than he's been getting for starting Delmon Young over Matt Joyce.
• The one person who is getting criticized in Tampa Bay is Wil Myers, who let a ball drop for a double in game one that led to a five-run inning in game one. But Leigh Montville says that there were rookie mistakes all around for the Rays.
• Game 2 didn't go much better for the Rays, as David Price took exception to David Ortiz standing at home plate during his home run. Then he took to Twitter and blasted the TBS studio crew who said Ortiz was waiting to see if the ball went fair.
• Price called the TBS studio crew nerds, and even though he doesn't work for TBS, Ken Rosenthal says that, as a nerd, he takes great offense at Price's comments and he will unleash "The Revenge of the Nerds" on the Rays. Yes, his tongue was in his cheek.
• In any case, Price took to Twitter to apologize. The Rays said he will address the matter publicly later.
• The Red Sox must have sent a memo around about their experimental anti-aging time travel technology, because both Danny Knobler at CBS Sports and Joe Lemire at SI.com wrote articles explaining that David Ortiz is playing like he's in his 20s and not the 37 years old he actually is.
• One incident from the Dodgers loss in Game 2 that is getting a lot of attention is Dee Gordon being thrown out stealing in the ninth inning. Mostly because of the face he made reacting to the call.
• Dayn Perry points out that expanded replay wouldn't get this call correct because frankly, after looking at it from every different angle and in super slo-mo, no one is sure whether Gordon was safe or out.
• Dodgers broadcaster Steve Lyons blames the Dodgers loss on Hanley Ramirez "killing a rally" with a two-run home run. Maybe Dusty Baker could work as his partner in the booth.
• In any case, Joe Torre says the new expanded MLB replay system isn't ready to go yet. He's "pretty hopeful" it will be ready for opening day.
• Behind the pitching of rookie Sonny Gray, who matched Justin Verlander inning for inning, the Athletics evened their series at one a game apiece with a 1-0 walkoff win on Saturday.
• There was an incident in that game where Torii Hunter reacted to a pitch by Gray that was up and in near his head. Hunter said he was upset, but he also admitted he was trying to get inside Gray's head. He admitted his move probably just fired up Gray.
• Michael Rosenberg thinks the Tigers window to win a championship will close soon, so they need to win a title now.
• Mark Leibovich in the New York Times calls Miguel Cabrera baseball's post-steroids hero. Not that I disagree with him, but I wonder how he could possibly know that. And no, Cabrera's beer gut is not evidence, as he claims.
• Is Yoenis Cespedes the new Mr. October?
• Ramona Shelburne profiles A's owner Lew Wolff, GM Billy Beane, the O.co Coliseum and How The (AL) West Was Won.
• One thing that can't be quantified is team chemistry, right? Wrong. Researchers are looking at ways to measure group dynamics and the role they play in winning baseball. The Athletics may have talented players, but their team chemistry is excellent. And it's not just a matter of winning ballgames.
• The Pirates took a two games to one lead over the Cardinals, and former Cub Marlon Byrd played a big role in the team's success. Bill Baer rhetorically asks who would have predicted that the Pirates acquisition of Byrd would be the most important in-season pick-up this year?
• Phil Rogers credits the unlikely contributions of Byrd and Francisco Liriano for the Pirates success.
• The Cardinals deficit is not Carlos Beltran's fault, who is having another great post-season. His 16th home run on Sunday passed Babe Ruth for the most career postseason home runs.
• Turning to non playoff teams, Matt Harvey decided to have Tommy John surgery after all. He'll miss all of the 2014 season.
• Reports are that the Marlins are "all-in" trying to sign Cuban slugger Jose Abreu. That makes sense. They need a first baseman and they could use a Cuban superstar to draw fans.
• The Angels plan to trade Howie Kendrick this off-season for pitching and/or prospects.
• Reports came out on Friday that Rangers GM Jon Daniels and team CEO Nolan Ryan almost came to blows on Tuesday and had to be separated by manager Ron Washington. Daniels, however, flatly denies the incident.
• Now we get to the legal part of our program. Alex Rodriguez has decided to sue everyone. My summons came in the mail today. Actually, he's just suing major league baseball in one lawsuit and the Yankees team doctor and hospital in another. Lester Munson tries to explain what Rodriguez is up to and what it all means.
• Alex Rodriguez has also asked the union to not represent him at the arbitration hearing. Craig Calcaterra thinks this may all be part of a larger plan by Rodriguez to nullify the arbitration process.
• Selena Roberts thinks the lawsuits are a desperate attempt to change the subject.
• Speaking of lawsuits, Albert Pujols has followed through with his threat to sue Jack Clark for claiming that he took PEDs. Pujols is looking for a statement from Clark that his claim was false and damages that would be donated to charity.
• Finally, Gregg Doyel thinks it's time to end champagne celebrations in clubhouses. His argument isn't anti-alcohol, but rather that they've become routine, cliched and boring.