MLB Bullets Is Breaking Down Barriers

Getting back to the normal routine of things, MLB Bullets is looking forward to a quiet weekend. I'm going to try to catch up on my sleep. Good thing I'm a Cubs fan--I won't miss anything.

• Have you heard the movie "42" opens today? I'm just hoping that Chadwick Boseman, who plays Robinson, is more believable in that role than the guy who played him in "The Jackie Robinson Story." I didn't believe that guy was Robinson for a minute.
• In connection with the movie, Jon Paul Morosi talks to Don Newcombe. Newcombe explains why Robinson, and not him (as Buzzie Bavasi apparently wanted) was the right man to break the color barrier.
• There were actually sixteen color barriers to be broken, and Steven Goldman in SBNation gives the story of the first black player on each team. The Cubs aren't exactly covered in glory here with the way they kept Gene Baker in the minors for four years, but they aren't even close to the worst and they did eventually find a good player to be the Cubs' first African-American player.
• The secret to the Giants success? Hunter Pence's John Belushi impersonation. In case you haven't seen the best commercial of the 2013 season so far, it's all there. Maybe one day the Cubs will have a commercial that isn't dull.
• It would have seemed laughable to say this nine months ago, but there now is a very good chance the Giants pick up Barry Zito's $18 million option for 2014, even if it doesn't vest. They owe Zito $7 million either way, so it's really an $11 million option, which seems reasonable the way he's pitched lately.
• Vin Scully has no idea what a hashtag is. Good for him.
• The Rockies traded Aaron Harang to the Mariners.They had DFA'd him after acquiring him from the Dodgers.
• The long soap opera in Arlington between the Rangers and Nolan Ryan is finally over. They're not getting a divorce. Jean-Jacques Taylor says that Ryan had to swallow his pride, but it's a good marriage for everyone.
• Matt Kemp had shoulder surgery this past off-season, and Mark Saxson of ESPN LA thinks he doesn't look right.
• Scott Sizemore missed all of 2012 with a torn ACL and now he's torn the same ACL again and will miss the rest of 2013. I wouldn't wish his problems to a monkey on a rock.
• Jason Giambi was almost hired as the Rockies new manager this off-season. When he didn't get the job, he decided not to retire but the process left him wanting to manage one day soon.
• The Braves acquired reliever Luis Ayala from the Orioles.
• The Marlins are drawing record-low crowds. Imagine how low it would be if they reported actual attendance rather than tickets sold.
• Orioles slugger Chris Davis is on fire.
• It's been a tough year so far for Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.
• I knew there was some reason I liked Nationals fans. Well, some of them, anyway.
• The White Sox/Nationals game on Wednesday was delayed fifteen minutes because the umpires were stuck in traffic.
• The Tigers have the best offense in baseball.
• Meanwhile, the Rays offense has been seen on milk cartons.
• The mayor of Ottawa has met with Blue Jays officials, trying to get them to move their Double-A affiliate to Ottawa. The Eastern League would also have to sign off on that, as a team would have to move.
• The Mets are willing to trade Travis d'Arnaud and Zack Wheeler for Giancarlo Stanton. That's not enough.

Former Iowa men's basketball coach Steve Alford's apology isn't nine days late, it's eleven years late.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.