It's one small step for MLB Bullets, one giant leap for all of baseball.
- This has been the topic of the weekend and it's been discussed on the site. But the Astros failed to sign the number one pick in the draft, Brady Aiken. Jim Callis thinks this situation will certainly lead to changes in the draft structure the next time it is up for negotiation.
- David Coleman explains how this happened and what it all means going forward. Nothing good for anyone involved, certainly. Unless Jacob Nix somehow gets declared a free agent. Then it would all be good for him. But that may be a long shot.
- The MLBPA is "exploring all legal options." Not a lot the MLBPA can do, although it is likely that they will file a grievance.
- Richard Justice doesn't think the Astros actions made any sense. For one, they were arguing about not a lot of money in the end. And if they were really as concerned about Aiken's elbow as they claimed then why would they up their offer to Aiken to $5 million at the last moment?
- Casey Close, the
agentadviser to Aiken and Nix, blasted the Astros. Jon Heyman looks at what the players options are going forward. - Evan Drehlich says this is a major black eye for the Astros organization and that the Astros have a lot of work to do to regain credibility.
- Matthew Kory says everyone loses in this matter.
- On to more standard baseball transactions. The Angels acquired Huston Street from the Padres as part of a four-for-two trade.
- Keith Law thinks the Padres made out like bandits in this trade. (ESPN Insider Only)
- Michael Martinez agrees that the Angels paid a lot, but that it's worth it so that Street can pitch for the Angels in the playoffs. (At the same link, a video by Jon Paul Morosi thinks the Street deal is the final piece the Angels need to make the playoffs and maybe even win the AL West.)
- Christina Kahrl thinks that the Angels have solved their bullpen problems.
- In another more standard transaction, the Braves released Dan Uggla and his .162/.241/.231 triple-slash line.
- Steven Goldman looks back at Uggla's odd career and the horrible contract he signed with the Braves.
- Rob Neyer doesn't think Uggla has anything left to offer any team that would sign him for the minimum. Also, he wonders if we should applaud the Braves for releasing Uggla and eating the lost money or laugh at them for signing Uggla to the contract in the first place.
- Christina Kahrl writes that the Marlins look good now for refusing to sign Uggla to a long-term extension. At the time, they were derided for just being cheap. Of course, the two positions are not mutually exclusive.
- Jonathan Bernhardt asks how long until the Braves do the same with B.J. Upton.
- Now for the rumor mill. The Reds are interested in trading for Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo from the Phillies.
- There were rumors that the Orioles were interested in getting A.J. Burnett from Philadelphia, but Jon Heyman says his source says that there is "not too much" to that rumor.
- However, the Pirates are scouting Burnett. You'd think they'd be pretty familiar with him by now.
- Everything has been marked down at Citizens Bank Park. The Blue Jays and Giants are interested in trading for Chase Utley. Of course, Utley has 10-5 rights and has shown little interest in leaving Philadelphia.
- Jonathan Bernhardt looks at possible landing spots for Matt Kemp. Of course, the most likely one is "Los Angeles."
- As trade rumors swirl around them, David Price and Ben Zobrist are performing at a high level, presumably raising their trade value every day. Although I'm not sure Price's value could go any higher unless he signed a long-term, under-market contract extension.
- Wendy Thurm looks at Rockies owner Dick Monfort's troubles and thinks he needs to step away from the business for a while.
- A lot of people blame the Home Run Derby for messing up their swing, but Giancarlo Stanton says that participating in the Derby helped him get out of his slump.
- Stanton's future plans are still unclear.
- The adjustments that Casey McGehee has made at the plate have paid off.
- Jon Lester has become "a model of consistency."
- The Red Sox have a very tough decision on whether Jon Lester is worth the money and years he is asking for.
- Neil Paine of FiveThirtyEight thinks that the Red Sox aren't "delusional" to think they could still make the playoffs.
- Colby Lewis starts making up his own "unwritten rules" and is angry that Colby Rasmus bunted against him in a 2-0 game. And that's the oddest episode ever of "The Colbys"
- Tracy Ringolsby thinks that steeper mounds might help prevent pitcher injuries.
- Sonny Gray: Athletics Ace.
- Upon further review, the MLB instant replay rule is mostly good.
- They didn't use video, because it wasn't a reviewable call, but the umpires in Friday's Nationals/Brewers game ruled the guy who was safe out and the guy who was out safe.
- Adam Jones lost track of the number of outs, allowing Yoenis Cespedes to score. And here's where I ask what the reaction would be if Yasiel Puig had done the same thing.
- The general manager of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans has offered to get a prostate exam while singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch. And there's an image in my head I don't need.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: First in War. First in Peace. Last in the 1909 Central Kansas League under the name "Wilson."
- Here's a story that I missed from last week, but it's worth including now. Bruce Schoenfield looks at the "vanishing screwball" and Hector Santiago, the only pitcher who currently throws one. Two surprising things here. One, there is no medical evidence that throwing screwballs cause injuries. And listening to the younger Giants players insist that there is no such pitch while Tim Hudson and Jeremy Affeldt swear that they've known pitchers who threw it.
- A reporter who was there remembers the collapse of the 1964 Phillies.
- Finally, the All-Star Game wasn't a complete loss for David Price. Although he didn't get to pitch, he did make a new friend: "Todd the Intern" from the Late Show With David Letterman.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.