MLB Bullets Goes For The Kill Shot

The rest of the league goes on, even if the Cubs season has ended already. Did you know that Chicago actually has another baseball team? First I've heard of it.

• The big stories so far this season have been replay, injuries and Yasiel Puig. I don't have any stories on replay today (although I could have) but I do have the other two. Rob Neyer responds to Tom Verducci's article from last time and says that the sad thing is no one has an incentive to prevent injuries to young pitchers.
• Casey Janssen has had a setback in his rehab.
• More bad Blue Jays news: Maicer Izturis tripped on the dugout steps in Baltimore and suffered a complete tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his knee. He'll miss four to six months. Or in other words, the entire season.
• In another Rob Neyer story, he looks at the explosion of the adoption of the infield shift. He thinks this is revolutionizing the game.
• But while managers may be getting smarter about infield defense, David Schoenfield complains that too many managers still don't know how to make out a lineup. Does Schoenfield post here? I'm pretty sure I've heard that around here before.
• Bruce Bochy is looking at his lineup and unless Pablo Sandoval starts hitting, he's going to activate Operation Panda Drop.
• Richard Justice thinks Bochy is the best there is when it comes to in-game managing.
• Some jackwagon at AT&T Park threw a firecracker on the walkway, injuring one real fan.
• Ripping off an idea from me, Cliff Corcoran looks at the small sample size all-stars. (Note: He didn't really rip the idea off from me. So stick your outrage in your pocket.)
• Maybe it's not just a small sample size. Jon Paul Morosi (who's using his middle name again) thinks something might be wrong in Miguel Cabrera world. Boy, are the Tigers going to regret that contract if that's the case.
• Here's another look at those volunteers who maintain Tiger Stadium. It has a lot more about the history of baseball in Detroit that they're trying to preserve, however.
• OK, it's time. Puig, Puig, Puig, Puig, Puig, Puig, Puig, Puig, baked beans, Puig and Puig.
• More seriously on Puig. Don Mattingly is concerned for his safety since his story broke in LA Magazine and ESPN The Magazine. And if you haven't read the story yet, take the time to read it. You'll be glad you did.
• This is nominally a fantasy article, but it argues that despite the bad start, Kenley Jansen is still the same dominant closer.
• Don't ask Jonathan Papelbon about his decrease in velocity. He hates that. And don't ask about his "My Little Pony" collection either.
• The Astros called up top prospect George Springer. He got his first hit. Maybe if Texas didn't rank 49th out of the 50 states in per student spending, stuff like this wouldn't happen.
• Cliff Corcoran writes that because the Astros didn't wait for Springer to get past the "Super Two" deadline to call him up, his chances at winning the AL Rookie of the Year award are much greater.
• Chris Cwik says the sinker or two-seam fastball is the new "it" pitch.
• Marc Normandin thinks the Brewers are for real.
• It's cold in Minnesota. This is a news story?
• Ken Rosenthal shows how Mike Trout's contract extension was a compromise for both sides.
• Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said that he offered Kendrys Morales a 3 year, $30 million contract during the All-Star Break last year.
• Mariners prospect Ji-Man Choi has been suspended for 50 games for a PED violation.
• Tony Blengino says the Athletics have assembled a low-risk,"reasonably" high-reward pitching staff.
• You've probably seen the cool throwback uniforms that the Cubs are going to wear for Wrigley Field's 100 birthday, but you can see the Diamondbacks outfit here as well. It's nice of the Diamondbacks to dress up in a (mostly) Kansas City uniform, but those are fetching duds. So it's not that big of a sacrifice.
• The highest paid team in professional sports is . . .Manchester City. The Yankees rank second and the Dodgers rank third. That's on a per-player basis and not total payroll.
• Scott Cousins is now a pitcher. That's good, because he always hit like a pitcher.
• Michael Baumann writes that Andrelton Simmons and Jackie Bradley Jr. must resist the temptation to hit for power.
• On the other hand, the Royals as a team are not hitting any home runs. That's a problem? Yes, it is.
• George Brett finally met Lorde. Maybe she could hit some home runs. Oh yeah, I forgot. She'll never play for Kansas City.
• This is a Cubs story, but Howard Megdal talks to Anthony Rizzo about playing in Chicago, hitting left-handers this season and oh yeah, just appreciating life after cancer.
• This is not supposed to be a Cubs story, but it kind of is. Will Leitch (who it should be noted is a Cardinals fan) looks at what it means to be "White Sox" and how they are forever overshadowed by the Cubs. If this activates the batsignal of a certain White Sox fan, look. I'm just linking to a Cardinals fan. Take it up with Sports On Earth.
• Speaking of Cubs and Cardinals, here is one wild brawl from 1974. When people talk about baseball fights being a bunch of people milling around and looking at each other crossly, it didn't used to be that way. They used to be a frightening thing.
• David Schoenfield says he won't take the Nationals seriously as a contender until they demonstrate they can beat a good team.
• It's minor league promotions time. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the Pawtucket Red Sox will face off wearing police and firefighter themed uniforms.
• The Brooklyn Cyclones will have a "Seinfeld Night" with a Keith Hernandez "Magic Loogie" bobblehead.
• Tracy McGrady pitched in an exhibition game for the Sugar Land Skeeters.
• Nate Silver wonders what Hank Aaron's career totals would look like if an evil commissioner banned him from hitting home runs.
• Out-of-jurisdiction, off-duty cops are no longer allowed to carry firearms into Turner Field. This upsets some people.
• The home plate collision rule still has a lot of people confused. Which is understandable because instead of making a clear rule, MLB tried to make everyone happy and passed a confusing rule instead.
• Xander Bogaerts has some social media issues.
• Finally, this is a story made for Grant Brisbee. Honestly, if he didn't provide a link, I would have thought he made it up. The Secret Service once threatened to kill Mr. Met. And I know what some of you are thinking. "How can we get the Clark the Cub on the wrong side of the Secret Service?"

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