MLB Bullets Has Turned The Corner

Everyone have a safe holiday today. I seem to be spending the day quoting forty-year old stand-up routines

• All MLB teams today are wearing camouflage-themed uniforms for Memorial Day, and this isn't sitting well with some people. For one, despite the money that MLB is going to donate to Veterans' groups, it's still the commercialization of a solemn holiday. Secondly, Memorial Day isn't Veteran's Day. It's about remembering the dead, not the living. Still, most of us (me included) are going to spend the day grilling in our backyard or something similar, so MLB is doing more than that. The argument is that the uniforms are fine, but they should be worn on a different day.
• Remember when the Angels and the city of Anaheim were suing each other? That's so mid-aughts. The city and the team have kissed and made up and have started negotiations to extend their lease past 2016, when the Angels have an opt-out clause. Angels Stadium is the fourth-oldest in the majors, but it received a major renovation in 1996. It will likely have to be updated again if the Angels are to stay.
• Speaking of the Angels, has anyone noticed that they've won eight in a row? The disaster that was April is now behind them and Christina Kahrl thinks that the Angels are likely to only get even better from here.
• That Jered Weaver is coming back this week can only help.
• Then there is Jarrod Parker, who got bats personalized for Jarrett Parker.
• Remember Alex Sanabia spitting on the baseball last week? This weekend, Sanabia admitted that he had done it, but that he didn't realize that it was against the rules. Reminds me of an old Steve Martin routine: "Your honor, I forgot that armed robbery was against the law." It does look like Sanabia is going to get away with it though.
• Munenori Kawasaki may not be an all-star player, but he gives an MVP-level post-game interview. Heck, anyone that can get Mark DeRosa to step away from the mic. . .
• CC Sabathia does not pitch well at Tropicana Field.
• Just ten days after returning from a broken arm after getting hit by a pitch in spring training, Curtis Granderson was hit again by a pitch and has a broken knuckle. Back to the DL.
• Twins fans wonder why Kyle Gibson isn't pitching in the majors. Professor Irwin Corey Twins AGM Rob Antony explains.
• Joey Votto is a great hitter. Joey Votto only has 23 RBI so far. Paul Daugherty of SI.com says this is at the center of a new "Stats versus Scouts" debate, but it sounds to me like it's the center of the "21st century stats versus 19th century stats" debate.
• Rob Neyer says the odds are against Manny Machado breaking the 82 year-old single season doubles record.
• Justin Verlander says his struggles in May are the result of tinkering after a successful April.
• Others seem to think it's the result of Verlander tipping his pitches. Jim Leyland says he doesn't think that's the reason. Or it is. Either way, he doesn't care.
• Ian Kennedy is going to miss a start after cutting himself washing dishes. This is why you never dump the knives into the dishwater, Ian. I guess it won't go down with ironing a shirt while you're wearing it, though.
• Ike Davis had a big game on Sunday night and it probably saved him from a demotion to Las Vegas.
• Tim Colishaw wonders if Yu Darvish will be the first Texas Rangers Cy Young Award winner. They're the only team in the American League without a Cy Young in their history.
• Mike Minor almost lost his spot in the Braves starting rotation last season. Since then, he's become one of the better pitchers in the NL by learning to pitch more aggressively. Or more brave-ly, so to speak.
• Former Cubs infielder DJ LeMahieu is the new starting second baseman in Colorado.
• The success of Anibal Sanchez this season is evidence that teams have to be patient and give young pitchers time to develop, writes Matt Meyers.
• Matt Kemp's struggles this season may be the result of last season's shoulder injury and the off-season surgery.
• Diamondbacks prospect Archie Bradley is dominating in the minors, but don't expect to see him in the majors this season.
• Add Bruce Bochy as a yes for our new robot umpire overlords. Or at least expanded instant replay.
• Hal McCoy thinks that Brandon Phillips's career with the Reds rivals that of Joe Morgan. Bill Baer says that while Phillips is awfully good, comparing him to Morgan is crazy talk. Give the man a break. He's blind.

The University of Iowa dismissed head baseball coach Jack Daum after ten seasons.

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