MLB Bullets Is Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The problem with the Cubs getting good is that I'm going to have to start caring again whether they win or lose. That's bad for my health. Of course, this isn't Cub Tracks, so I don't need to deal with that here.

• It's been a rough season in Philadelphia, which was predictable to anyone who looked at their roster before the season started. (Especially the part where it said "Born") But things are getting worse as apparently Cole Hamels is upset at manager Ryne Sandberg for pulling him after only 84 pitches. Hamels had just given up a game-tying home run in the eighth inning and the Phillies did eventually win the game. (h/t Hardball Talk)
• Other reports say that Sandberg's not real pleased with Hamels either.
• Sandberg, however, says there are no issues between he and Hamels after they talked it out.
• Meghan Montemurro says the problem with the Phillies isn't Sandberg, it's the front office.
• What isn't helping in Philadelphia is that team president David Montgomery is taking a leave of absence while he recovers from surgery for jaw cancer. Former Phillies GM Pat Gillick will take over on a temporary basis.
• The Padres just named a plaza at Petco Park after Bud Selig. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that the Padres are trying to land an All-Star Game for San Diego.
• You can probably guess how well this is going over.
• One of the things I try to do each column is to bring you what baseball stories people on the internet are talking about. Anyway, a big debate started after this article by Jack Moore about women playing baseball in the early days of the game.
• Rob Neyer caused a firestorm when he objected to the idea that Jackie Mitchell, a 17 year old girl who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition, could have pitched in the majors if she hadn't been "banned" for being a woman. Neyer did say he liked Moore's article very much though, apart from that point.
• Craig Calcaterra doesn't take a position on Jackie Mitchell, but he says that women definitely could play in the majors one day, maybe soon.
• And Neyer responds to Calcaterra, defending his position. Politely. He also points out that he would like to see women playing major league baseball. He just doesn't think it's likely anytime soon.
• The Astros Director of Pro Scouting Kevin Goldstein said on Twitter that if there was a woman succeeding in college or indy ball, they'd scout her just like any other player.
• Masahiro Tanaka threw a simulated game and looked good. He hopes to pitch for the Yankees again before the end of the season.
• Anthony Castrovince says that for once, the Yankees are underdogs this season.
• Grant Brisbee thinks the Yankees can make it up to the rest of baseball for years of being the Yankees by calling up switch-pitcher Pat Venditte.
• The Yankees did trade for Josh Outman from the Indians.
• Ken Rosenthal notes that the luxury tax threshold is keeping the Angels from adding another starting pitcher.
• Albert Pujols doesn't react well to sportswriters pointing out that he's not as good as he used to be. Even if they're Hall of Fame writers. OK, Hockey Hall of Fame. But still in a Hall of Fame.
• Jon Paul Morosi wonders if Miguel Cabrera isn't as good as he used to be too.
• Morosi also thinks this season has been a disaster for the Blue Jays. This was their chance to make the playoffs and they blew it.
• Ned Yost ripped into Royals fans for not coming out to the games.
• KC Star columnist Sam Mellinger then rips into Yost for ripping into Royals fans.
• Will Leitch tells Yost to stop worrying and that Kauffman Stadium will be a madhouse if the Royals make the playoffs.
• Joe Posnanski looks at the case for Alex Gordon for MVP. He doesn't think it's a particularly strong case and maybe WAR is becoming the new RBI. I do think it's a little ridiculous to think that any left fielder could save a team that many runs on defense.
• Salvador Perez has a secret weapon however. He wears women's perfume during games. He says the umpires appreciate it.
• Maybe this story should be higher up, but here it is. Yusmeiro Petit set a new major league record for most consecutive batters retired with 46.
• Hitting coaches are a big story this week for some reason. Ken Rosenthal talks to Braves hitting coach Greg Walker about the challenges of his job.
• Alyson Footer goes a bit more in-depth and says it's a hard, complicated job and it's hard to evaluate what makes a good hitting coach.
• Ben Lindbergh examines why don't more hitters try to beat the shift by going the other way?
• David Schoenfield thinks that if Ben Revere wins the NL Batting title, he will be the worst hitting champion ever.
• There were reports this week that MLB would allow the Astros to sign number one pick Brady Aiken after the deadline. Evan Drellich says his sources say that is "highly unlikely."
• Jon Heyman says that the Astros are working to sign fifth-round pick Jacob Nix, not Aiken.
• Yonder Alonso needs surgery to reattach a tendon.
• Rusney Castillo could play in a minor league game this weekend.
• Justin Morneau will not be a Brewer this season.
• Brewers manager Ron Roenicke blasted umpire Mark Ripperger. He calls him a "terrible" umpire.
• Jay Jaffe writes that the Mets made a mistake allowing David Wright to play through pain.
• Joon Lee finds a connection between decreasing time spent in Triple-A with the struggles of top prospects in their rookie season.
• The New Yorker tells us again that baseball is dying.
• Andrelton Simmons is really good at defense.
• What? The stats aren't enough? OK, here's some video proof that Andrelton Simmons is really good at defense.
• David Schoenfield writes that a risky decision by Fredi Gonzalez won a game for the Braves.
• Gabe Kapler talks about the way the media treats the decision of Jewish players to not play on religious holidays. He feels that Jewish ballplayers (like himself) are unfairly pressured not to play.
• Just in case you can't get enough of them, here's another awful ceremonial first pitch!

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