MLB Bullets Comes In Small Packages

This week, the Cubs will move their Class B minor league affiliate to Ishpeming, Michigan, their Class C affiliate to Vladivostok, Russia and their Class D affiliate to the Moon. The pitchers are going to hate that since the ball travels a really long way there. On the plus side, however, there are no rainouts.

You probably already know the Cardinals qualified for the playoffs. We'll skip examining that, in part because there's little to say other than "The Cardinals are in the playoffs again."

How many Altuves does it take to win a batting title? Just one.

• The Braves were swept by the New York Mets, thus mathematically eliminating them from playoff consideration. They led their division as late as July 20.
• Ervin Santana, who was the losing pitcher in the 10-2 loss to Mets on Sunday, admitted that the Braves struggling offense added pressure on the pitching staff and made it harder to be successful.
• The Braves haven't fired a manager or general manager since 1990. That may all come to an end this week as both GM Frank Wren and manager Fredi Gonzalez could be shown the door.
• Another team whose postseason chances are going up in smoke is the Brewers. Grant Brisbee blames the Brewers failed season on their inability to find a decent first baseman. He also admits that's harder than it used to be.
• Matt Garza made news on Saturday when he hit the Pirates Andrew McCutchen twice with a pitch in the same game. He was ejected after the second one. Garza denies either one was intentional.
• I usually put the lighter-hearted fare lower on the list, but since we're talking about McCutchen, he sent his regrets to a six-year old boy who invited him to his birthday party.
• Buster Olney rips into both Derek Jeter and the Yankees for placing the farewell tour above winning baseball. (ESPN Insider Only) Other people have said this all season, but when a journalist as connected to the baseball establishment and the Yankees as Olney is says it, you sit up and take notice.
• Paul White who follows Jeter? I find it funny that his shoots down his own suggestion of Troy Tulowitzki by saying they Yankees don't have the assets to trade for him, but then suggests "Random Cubs shortstop" without acknowledging the Yankees don't have the assets for that either. Really, it will likely be Hanley Ramirez, who is the only defensive shortstop in the game worse than Jeter. Either Hanley or ARod.
• Masahiro Tanaka returned and pitched the Yankees to victory on Sunday. Wallace Matthews says the pitching of Tanaka is something Yankee fans can look forward to next season. Really, I have no sympathy for Yankees fans who say "Wait 'till next year."
• C.J. Nitkowski say the Yankees should not make Dellin Betances their closer. Essentially, he thinks Betances is too good for that job.
• The Yankees sure could use Robinson Cano right about now. Tim Brown explains how Cano turned the Mariners into playoff contenders. As Brown writes, it turned out the Yankees needed Cano more than Cano needed the Yankees.
• Christina Kahrl says that the Royals are getting the small things wrong, which only compounds the fact that they're getting the big things wrong too.
• The Padres intend to bring manager Bud Black back next season. So the Padres are on the Amy Winehouse plan: Back to Black.
• Acting manager Tim Bogar is the "runaway favorite" to be next Rangers manager. In a related note, Dr. Johnny Fever is the runaway favorite to be the next Rangers radio broadcaster.
• Richard Justice lists five teams poised for a breakout next season. Yep, the Cubs top the list.
• Jayson Stark looks at how unusual the two players likely to win the batting title this year really are. Jose Altuve looks to be the shortest batting champion since Wee Willie Keeler in 1898. Josh Harrison could be the first batting title winner to play six different positions since Mike "King" Kelly did it for our beloved White Stockings in 1886. (The article says 1883, but Kelly won the title in '84 and '86, but not '83.)
• How does Altuve do it despite being so short? Perhaps because he can get base hits on balls that are nearly over his head.
• R.J. Anderson asks if the Orioles mediocre starting rotation will doom their chances in the playoffs? Answer seems to be it doesn't help, but it's not a disqualification.
• The bullpen is the Dodgers' Achilles Heel. As if we didn't all see that over the weekend.
• Clayton Kershaw became only the second pitcher to win 20 games in just 27 starts. You'll never be able to name the first one without looking.
• Phil Hughes could finish the season with the best K/BB ratio in baseball history.
• Corey Kluber struck out 14 batters in a game in his second consecutive start. Yep, it's the year of the pitcher again.
• Joe Maddon is wondering how hitters can gain an edge back. Right now, he's stumped.
• Want to build a playoff contender for almost nothing? Jeff Sullivan constructs a playoff contender made out of players you could have had for nothing this past off-season.
• Jerome Williams beat the Athletics again. He became the first pitcher to ever beat the same team while pitching for three different teams in the same season. Didn't Williams pitch for the Cubs back in the 1950s? Or maybe it just seems like it was that long ago.
• Here's what happens if there is a 4 way tie in the American League.
• The Pirates want to bring Russell Martin back next season.
• After 40 years, Tommy Harper opens up about the history of racism in the Red Sox organization. The shameful past of the Red Sox in the 1950s and 1960s is well-known, but according to Harper, the Red Sox continued to discriminate against African-Americans into the 21st century, ending only when John Henry bought the team in 2002. (h/t Hardball Talk)
• Five questions to Dirk Hayhurst, who always gives insightful answers.
• Paul Konerko made good on his vow, returning to play despite still having a broken hand.
• A Braves fan caught a home run ball with a popcorn bucket.
• A little girl got a Derek Jeter foul ball--and promptly threw it back on the field.
• Hall of Famer Willie McCovey was hospitalized. Get well, Stretch.
• Vin Scully talks about growing up a baseball fan and his favorite team: The Giants.
• Here's an article about baseball teams using neuroscience training to improve how hitters react to pitches. Yes, Theo Epstein and the Cubs are involved.
• More baseball science: Why do baseballs bounce? A science project that you can do with your kids.
• And finally, maybe you saw this at the Starbucks outside Wrigley Field on Friday. Or maybe you didn't. But the Dodgers sent rookie Joc Pederson to go get everyone coffee--while he was wearing his Dodgers uniform.

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