MLB Bullets Is High On The Rockies

I'm more than happy to say that most of the news over the weekend took place on the field.

• The Dodgers were supposed to run away with the NL West, although some argued that the Giants would give them a run for their money because it's an even-numbered year. But while the Giants have indeed returned to both first place and their even-numbered year form, second place right now goes not the the Dodgers, but to the surprising Rockies. Dayn Perry says that Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is an emerging star, especially on defense.
• However, he's not even the best defensive player on the left side of the Rockies infield. That title goes to Troy Tulowitzki, who was the best defensive player in all of baseball for April.
• Scott Spratt argues that thanks to their excellent defense and the emergence of Charlie Blackmon, the Rockies are for real and should contend all season. (ESPN Insider Only)
• Cliff Corcoran, on the other hand, thinks the Rockies success is just a small sample size fluke, and he throws the Mets early success into the same fire.
• If the Mets do continue to contend, it's not going to be because of the hitting of their pitchers. In fact, Mets pitchers are 0 for 47 to start the season, which is the worst start to the season since 1900. I hear Carlos Zambrano is still looking for work, guys.
• Richard Justice says the team to beat in the NL East is  . . .none of them. Or all of them. It's a five-team race.
• The race is partly close because the Marlins swept the Braves last week. The Braves think the Marlins might have gotten some help by stealing signs. Cliff Corcoran thinks maybe, but it really shouldn't be a surprise when Aaron Harang gets knocked around. It's the earlier games where he dominated that should be a surprise.
• Ryne Sandberg has the Phillies in the NL East race, and he had to participate in a race in order to do it. The way into Citizens Bank Park was blocked by a 10 mile road race, so Sandberg had to briefly run with the racers in order to cross the street.
• In that light, Joe Posnanski ranks all 30 MLB managers by how good a player they were. You can probably guess that Ryno finished first. Rick Renteria finished 22nd and a man that many think is the best manager in baseball finished dead last.
• Because I have to have at least one PUIG story each week, here's Puig going all out and crashing into the fence in Miami on what turned out to be a walkoff double. It was pretty scary watching it in real time (I had the game on) but it sounds like he's going to be fine.
• Rob Neyer asks "Is Kenley Jansen the new Mike Marshall?" Don Mattingly is certainly putting him in a lot of games.
• Jon Heyman has a profile of Dee Gordon. Do you know he owns 500 pairs of shoes? He'll be running the Philippines any day now.
• David Schoenfield isn't betting against the Rays to win the AL East.
• As the Diamondbacks miserable season continues, GM Kevin Towers isn't sure he'll have a job much longer. Maybe that's true, but I really don't see the point of telling the media that. Maybe that's a reason he should get canned.
• Johnny Cueto has made a slight adjustment to his mechanics and he's been dominant this season. Are they related? Who knows, but he's not going to try to find out.
• The Athletics are a tough team who hasn't let their injury setbacks affect them on the field. In fact, they're in first place in the tough AL West. But any team that plays in a clubhouse full of sewage has to be tough. Going on the field is a relief for them.
• Jonah Keri examines the concept of #yosted, or the idea that Ned Yost is the worst manager in baseball. At least Keri looks at his use of the bullpen, where Yost has been getting a lot of grief lately.
• Personal note and I swear this is the honest-to-God truth. When I was growing up, Ned Yost was the weak-hitting backup catcher for the Brewers in their "Harvey's Wallbangers" era. I don't know whether or not he was the worst player on the team, but we sure thought he was. We actually used the name "Ned Yost" as an insult. Like "That band is Ned Yost." So Ned Yost abuse has been going on for 30 years now.
• Short injury list today. Hyun-Jin Ryu is going to have his shoulder examined.
• Jay Bruce needs surgery on his left knee. He'll miss 3 to 4 weeks.
• Matt Cain's cut finger was supposed to be well enough that he could make his start tonight, but instead he went on the DL.
• Josh Hamilton wants to return to the Angels as soon as possible. Maybe sooner than the Angels think is wise.
• Christina Kahrl looks at how the Brewers can stay on top the NL Central with Ryan Braun on the DL.
• I so totally want one of these, but I don't have a spare $1295. Tommy John is selling a collage of photos of four MRIs of his elbow. All 99 copies are signed by both John and the late Dr. Frank Jobe and the money will go to charity.
• Mark Buehrle could be a popular trade target if the Blue Jays fall out of the race in the AL East.
• The Rays DFA'd Heath Bell.
• In a follow up to his "5 good players having bad seasons," Grant Brisbee looks at "5 bad players having good seasons."
• John Axford talks about the mental strain of being a closer.
• The Orioles are still interested in Kendrys Morales, but he still wants more money than they are willing to spend.
• Gabe Kapler doesn't like international veterans from Japan and Cuba winning the Rookie of the Year award.
• Hunter Atkins looks at the increasing number of pitchers who can hit triple digits on the radar gun.
• Nick Bond disagrees with Bud Selig's assertion that baseball is more popular than ever.
• Ghazaleh Sailors pitches for the University of Maine--Presque Isle, the only woman playing baseball in the NCAA.
• A Mets minor leaguer got engaged on the field. Candlesticks make a nice gift.
• Finally, from Paul Lukas and his wonderful "Uni Watch," a lot of trivia about uniform firsts. Do you know who the first team to wear throwback jerseys was?

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