MLB Bullets Is A Nationals Scandal

I think Bryce Harper is the next Derek Jeter. He may end up as one of the all-time greats, but by the time he's done, most of us are going to be real sick of hearing about him.

• Bryce Harper was ejected in the first inning of Sunday's Nationals game for arguing a check swing. Once again, it looks like an umpire, in this case John Hirschbeck, sought out a confrontation with a player rather than walking away, or so say Rob Neyer. So did Bill Baer at Hardball Talk. I caught part of ESPN's Baseball Tonight last night before the Giants/Dodgers game, and their gaggle of ex-ballplayers were certainly unhappy with what happened. Harper isn't going to get suspended or anything, but this isn't going to be the last that we hear of this. I imagine dozens of writers are going to weigh in on this controversy today.
• In more Nationals news, manager Davey Johnson took batting practice and called a team meeting after the team fell to .500. He said he did it mostly "so I feel like I'm doing something." Maybe it's a coincidence, but the Nats then won their next two games.
• Nationals Park was featured on the final of The Amazing Race last night. No link, just thought maybe we could pretend this is Federal Baseball for a moment and that we have a winning team.
• Ken Rosenthal comes out of left field with the most out-of-the-box suggestion of the week: The Angels should trade Mike Scioscia to the Dodgers for prospects. He seems to think Scioscia's talents are wasted on the current Angels team, the Dodgers could use him and the Angels need to rebuild their farm system.
• Jon Heyman has read Mike Piazza's autobiography and seems to like it, but he has one question: Why is Mike so angry?
• After getting shelled by the Marlins, of all teams, Roy Halladay finally admitted he's not feeling right. He's going to see Dr. Lewis Yocum for tests on his shoulder.
• White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd has a tear in the flexor muscle of his right elbow. Tommy John surgery is a possibility.
• We thought Chris Carpenter's career was over, but the Cardinals are holding out hope that he could return to the team this season as a reliever.
• In good injury news, Zack Greinke is ahead of schedule in returning from his broken collarbone.
• The Boston Globe's Nick Cardafo comes to the defense of yon faire maiden Clay Buchholz.
• Joe Sheehan says the reasons for the Red Sox turnaround are pretty simple: They're pitching a lot better. I wonder if that has anything to do with what is on Clay Buchholz's arm.
• Joe Mauer is frustrated about his declining batting average. Not about his hair though. I wonder how he always manages to make it look so terrific?
• Jay Jaffe asks whether the Royals are really a contender this season. The answer is yes, "but," with the but being that it doesn't look like they can hang with the Tigers over a 162 game season. There is still that wild card available to break the longest playoff drought in the game.
• Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post (The "E" apparently being there to distinguish him from the Troy W. Renck who must also cover sports for the Denver Post) says the Rockies are a team to be envied this year.
• The Braves swing and miss a ton and they just don't care, as long as they keep winning. All the walks and home runs certainly help.
• Brian McCann comes off the DL today.
• Coming into the season, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson did not think the bullpen was a potential source of problems, but it is. Even so, J.J. Putz is still the Diamondbacks closer.
• See how Hank Conger got a bunt single despite falling down on the way to first base.
• After further review, Chris Iott still isn't sure if Victor Martinez hit a home run, and he really went the extra mile to try to find out. Luckily the Tigers won the game anyways.
• The Yankees are playing .600 ball with a bunch of magicians, says Joel Sherman. Or maybe they just have a hot tub time machine.
• With Giancarlo Stanton out, rookie Marcell Ozuna has impressed the Marlins.
• Finally, Jayson Stark tries to summarize what we've learned so far in the 2013 season.

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