MLB Bullets Is Out For The Season

Because the stupid song played on every single commercial break I saw over the weekend, I'd just like to point out to Kid Rock that claiming that you were "Born Free" is only relevant if you are currently enslaved.

• Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was hit in the hand with a pitch by the Pirates' Ernesto Frieri on Friday. Goldschmidt suffered a broken left hand and is likely out for the rest of the season.
• Frieri, who is having a terrible season by his own admission, denies that there was any intent to hit Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt, for his part, agreed that it wasn't intentional.
• So naturally for any team managed by Kirk Gibson, Snakes pitcher Randall Delgado drilled Andrew McCutchen in the back in the next game. You can see the video of both HBP at that link. Gibson had already been ejected in this game by the time McCutchen was drilled.
• As you might imagine, McCutchen was pretty upset by this, claiming that they didn't hit him "the right way."
• Matthew Pouliot thinks that it's past time for Gibson to be fired. Not just for this "true act of cowardice," but because his team is lousy as well. This action was more than a final straw, according to Pouliot.
• The next day, the Pirates hit a Diamondbacks player with a ball, and it was the Pirates that were upset. It wasn't with a pitch, but Nick Ahmed was hit in the hand with a relay throw sliding into second base. The Pirates claimed interference. The umpires didn't see it that way.
• One other team is upset about an umpire's ruling and once again it involves the new "home plate collision" rule. This time, the Marlins feel they lost a game to the Reds because Cincinnati was awarded a run when it was ruled that Jeff Mathis did not give Zack Cozart a path to the plate.
• CJ Nitkowski wants to make a small tweak to improve the "Buster Posey Rule."
• The trade deadline may be over, but Jon Heyman lists which players will clear waivers and may be traded after the deadline. Also, he lists the players who won't clear waivers and the ones that could go either way.
• Gabe Kapler defends the return the Rays got for David Price and in any case, the Rays have earned the benefit of the doubt.
• Jeff Sullivan says, sure, the Rays should have taken Addison Russell for Price, if that rumored offer was actually real. (And I love writing that.) But since they didn't, the Rays did quite well taking low-risk, high-floor major leaguers when no other team offered a Top-20 prospect. It leaves them in a strong position to compete next season, which even Russell wouldn't have done for them.
• Steven Goldman defends the seemingly small deals the Yankees made at the deadline.
• Joe Lemire also likes the moves the Yankees made, adding that not making a flashy move for the sake of a flashy move is a refreshing change for the Bronx Bombers.
• Richard Bergstrom thinks that after dealing Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox, the Athletics need another bat now. The Angels are only a game back as of this morning.
• Speaking of the Angels, James Rygg can't understand why the Angels don't draw better on the road. Who doesn't want to see Mike Trout play?
• The two Cardinals players traded for John Lackey found out about it before the team called to tell them. Oops.
• Ben Zobrist was fake traded to Detroit, but he didn't let the whole affair bother him. His wife was a little worried though.
• John Lackey and A.J. Pierzynski are having little trouble going from being Red Sox to Cardinals.
• In what is now becoming routine, Jon Lester took out a full page ad thanking Red Sox fans for his time in Boston. This is mostly newsworthy because Lester sure doesn't sound like someone expecting to return to Boston as a free agent this winter, as some have suggested is possible.
• Cliff Corcoran lists three big injuries that happened since the trade deadline.
• The acquisition of Huston Street was the final move in a series of moves that turned the Angels bullpen from a weakness to a strength.
• Robinson Cano did more than just bring his talents to Seattle, writes John Perrotto, his signing brought hope back to the Emerald City.
• Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez has lost his starting job to Josh Harrison. However, the Pirates will not consider moving Alvarez to another position until the offseason.
• Neil Walker lost a bet to Pirates teammate Jordy Mercer, so he had to take a swim in the Chase Field pool. So far, the Diamondbacks don't seem to have a problem with it. I really don't understand what passes for an "unwritten rule" in Phoenix.
• David Schoenfield writes that Stephen Strasburg has yet to establish himself as an ace.
• The Nationals broadcast on MASN was interrupted with technical difficulties and the conspiracy theories took off on Twitter.
• A look at how and why the warehouse came to be integrated into Camden Yards.
• For the first time for an August game since 2004, the Astros opened the roof at Minute Maid Park.
• The Astros have had trouble drawing fans since they started losing 100 games every season, so naturally they are raising ticket prices next year.
• They had a partial power outage at Tropicana Field yesterday, so they entertained the fans with Bugs Bunny cartoons until they could get the lights back on. Maybe the Astros should try that every game.
• A profile of the legendary Jimmy Piersall, still feisty at 84.
• Not too long ago, if you weren't watching a Cubs game on television, you were probably watching a Braves game. Long-time Braves announcer Pete Van Wieren passed away on Saturday. He called Braves games for 33 years on cable systems all over the country.
• The injury suffered by Henderson Alvarez is not serious. He's expected to come off the DL after only the minimum 15 days.
• Sam Fuld added to his extensive Wikipedia entry with one heck of an outfield assist on Saturday.
• Jim Thome signed a one-day contract so he could retire as an Indian.
• The Tigers scored in all eight innings of their home win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
• McKayla Maroney has impressed with her gymnastic first pitch at a White Sox game.
• One last note on the David Price deal. Drew Smyly asked Price if he could leave a pair of shoes for him in St. Petersburg. Turns out, Price probably does have a few more shoes than he needs. Not sure they wear the same shoe size though.
• And finally, before there was Mr. Met, the Mets had Homer the Beagle, their first mascot.

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