MLB Bullets Has A Nationals Emergency

Good morning, everyone! I'm Josh Timmers and welcome to the Sports Machine. Through the use of the Machine, we'll bring you MLB Bullets!

• In case you haven't heard, the Nationals are having some injury problems. First off, Stephen Strasburg has a oblique strain. The Nationals have not put him on the disabled list, nor have they ruled out him making his next start. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post has talked to doctors outside the Nats organization who says that's "overly optimistic" and that normal recovery from a grade 1 strain is three to six weeks.
• Jon Paul Morosi says that this injury to Strasburg makes the Nats decision to shut him down last season look even worse. Morosi adds that he's not just speaking in hindsight, as he argued this last season. But he does admit that we just don't know what would have happened if they hadn't done that.
• The Nationals other golden boy, Bryce Harper, is going on the disabled list. His knee has hurt since running into that fence in Los Angeles. But Harper says that he should have gone on the DL a month ago after an earlier crash. The Ghost of Pete Reiser rears his ugly head.
• Even though the Braves were pretty pedestrian in May, the Nationals troubles mean that Atlanta is still in a great position, writes Dave O'Brien.
• In our regular "Dead Manager Walking" feature, Tom Verducci writes that the Mariners' Eric Wedge and the Royals' Ned Yost are running out of time.
• The Pirates Garrett Jones became the first Pirate ever to hit a home run into the Allegheny River on the fly. (video included) The only other person to do so was the Astros' Daryle Ward back in 2002.
• The Royals and the Cardinals had a very long rain delay on Thursday night. Cliff Corcoran looks back at the ten longest rain delays in recent major league history. Thursday's game checks in at number four.
• The Giants starting rotation used to be their strength, but now they all seem to be losing their mojo.
• CSN Bay Area's Andrew Baggerly talks to Tim Lincecum, who says he'd be willing to move to the bullpen in the future. Right now however, the Giants don't have anyone to take his place in the rotation.
• Josh Hamilton says he's never struggled this badly before and no, he's not worried. Thanks for asking.
• Miguel Cabrera is, so far, even better this year than he was last year. Scary.
• Dustin Pedroia is having a great year, but not nearly as good as the one that's in his mind. The straw that stirs the drink let it pass.
• As the Phillies drop out of contention, Mike Axisa looks at the trade market for Cliff Lee. No, the Cubs are not on the list.
• Remember how good the Mets were feeling after sweeping four games from the Yankees? How they had gotten their confidence back? That's gone now that they managed to find a way to get swept by the wretched Marlins.
• The Twins think that nearly being no-hit by Anibal Sanchez woke up the team and is a turning point.
• Dan Shaughnessy thinks that Jacoby Ellsbury's impeding free agency leaves the Red Sox with a big dilemma.
• Joel Sherman points out that while the Yankees are getting their old players back off the DL, they're . . .well, they're old. And that's a problem.
• Bill Baer says that Dusty Baker's mismanagement of the bullpen has cost the Reds another game. At least the Reds can say it's only a regular season game.
• Tim Beckham has been disappointing since being the first pick in the draft in 2008. But he can dance past the catcher to touch home plate better than anyone.
• Umpires have to realize that everything that happens in the game is not about them. Yadier Molina was thrown out Sunday's game after throwing his helmet in frustration--not at the call, but about not beating out a hit.
• The Dodgers have called up Yasiel Puig.
• This sickens me.
• To honor a Matt Wieters home run, the Orioles put up a plaque with his name spelled wrong.
• Finally, a Methodist minister explains why he refuses to stand for "God Bless America." His objections are theological grounds, but I really wish we could all agree that we all love America without having to prove it every ten minutes. That doesn't make you a communist.

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