MLB Bullets Hails Our Milwaukee Overlord

Here we go.

• Bud Selig: Great commissioner or the greatest commissioner? Jayson Stark looks back at Bud Selig's time as commissioner and concludes that Selig has been "without any dispute, the greatest and most important commissioner in the history of his sport. Period." It's a long article and it does mention Selig's failures. But even if you disagree with Stark, it's worth hearing him out.
• The best argument for Bud Selig being the greatest commissioner of all time is that in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Having said that, Stark is right when he argues that Selig's slow, deliberate rule by consensus is the only way this operation works properly.
• Craig Calcaterra responds to Stark's article by saying "Yes, but. . ." He argues that many of the problems that Selig solved over his time as commissioner were created by his role as the leader of the "small-market owners" in the eighties and nineties. Still, Calcaterra grudgingly agrees that Selig is the greatest commissioner of all time.
• The work of the commissioner's office goes on, of course, even with Selig in his final season. Yesterday they announced that a new padded, protective cap has been approved for pitchers. Use of the new caps is optional.
• However, that "optional" part looks like it's going to be a problem. Brandon McCarthy, who has been a strong advocate of protective gear for pitchers since getting hospitalized by a line drive in 2012, says he won't wear the cap. He says it's "not ready" and that it isn't comfortable.
• Other pitchers are saying they won't wear the new cap either.
• Jay Jaffe examines the new cap and questions exactly how much protection it will provide. He does conclude that some protection is better than no protection, however.
• Gabe Kapler looks at the new instant replay rules and finds a way that managers should game the system.
• Turning to the free agent market, Anthony Castrovince calls the free agents tied to draft pick compensation (Nelson Cruz, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana, Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew) the "frozen five" since teams are reluctant to part with a pick.
• Ken Rosenthal examines which teams would be willing to forfeit a draft pick to sign one of the remaining free agents.
• Jon Heyman says that the Blue Jays are waiting out the market and hoping everyone's price drops. Heyman quotes one GM as saying that Jimenez might be willing to accept a 3 year, $39 million deal now. And Epstein won't go after him because he doesn't want to lose a second-round draft pick? That price is a steal in today's market.
• Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said he'd "love to have Nelson Cruz" but doesn't want to lose a third-round pick to sign him. Seriously? Teams are overvaluing their draft picks after the first round. In fairness, Zduriencik also mentions Cruz's contract demands as another reason to not sign him.
• Jonathan Bernhardt looks at the Mariners after signing Robinson Cano and thinks the team just doesn't have a plan.
• A.J. Burnett has decided not to retire after all and he will consider signing with teams other than the Pirates. The Pirates, rather foolishly in retrospect, didn't make him a qualifying offer, so Burnett will probably sign with someone quickly since there no lost draft pick.
• Joe Lemire looks at Mark Mulder and his comeback attempt with the Angels. So far, Kyle Lohse is impressed with what he's seen out of Mulder.
• The Angels signed Carlos Pena and Brennan Bosch to minor-league deals.
• In other Angels news, Albert Pujols knows the way to Sesame Street. The Angels have apparently passed on making an offer to Grover.
• David Schoenfield looks at five players facing make-or-break seasons. There's one Cub on his list.
• Will Leitch examines 16 years of Baseball America's top ten prospects lists. Conclusion: you'll probably never love your prospects more than you do now.
• Cole Hamels talks about the 2013 Phillies and team chemistry. He says they didn't have any chemistry because of all the losing, not the other way around.
• The reckless driving charge against Yasiel Puig has been dropped. He still faces a speeding citation, of course.
• Carlos Zambrano wants you to know he's sorry. Again.
• If you want the piece of the broken bat that Roger Clemens threw at Mike Piazza in the 2000 World Series, it's for sale.
• Nolan Ryan is considering a front office job offer from the Astros. He says he'll make up his mind soon.
• Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy says he'll return to the booth in 2014. If you recall, he took a leave of absence after his son was arrested for murder last summer.
• Bill James attempts to determine who is the greatest "big game" pitcher of all time. Although his articles are behind a pay wall (and I don't subscribe to Bill James online), Rob Neyer spills the beans on who is number one.
• In his final article for SB Nation, Rob Neyer wants to put Jamie Moyer in the "Wing of the Amazing," his place for players who have performed amazing things on the baseball diamond without having a Hall of Fame career. Good luck, Rob.
• At the suggestion of Frank Chance, the Yankees owner in 1913 wanted the team to be called just the "New Yorks." No other nickname. Just the "New Yorks." Luckily, everyone else in 1913 thought that was just as stupid as we think it is today.
• Giants third-base coach Tim Flannery and his band played a series of benefit concerts and raised $96,000 for Bryan Stow, the Giants fan injured in the Dodger Stadium parking lot beating in 2011.
• Finally, if you need any proof that this has been a slow news week, the last word goes to Craig Calcaterra's ten-year-old daughter Mookie, who gave her thoughts on baseball.

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