MLB Bullets Is Heading To Hollywood

So if you're like me (and I can't imagine you would be like me and if you are, I'm sorry), you enjoyed watching the MLB Network's "Hot Stove" show this offseason as you got the kid ready for school. (Honestly, the MLB Network is on at my house pretty much continuously until Chris Russo comes on, which is when I turn it off immediately.) I was sorry the show went off the air when Spring Training games started and wasn't looking forward to reruns of "Quick Pitch" and highlights that I had already seen five times by morning.

The good news is that the MLB Network announced what sounds like pretty much the same show as "Hot Stove" for the regular season, called "MLB Central." The biggest difference seems to be that former Cub (and pretty much every other team) Mark DeRosa replaces Harold Reynolds. The show starts April 6 and if you're not the type of person who wants to watch Kathie Lee and Hoda get drunk on TV every morning, you might want to check it out.

• The winner of the Hector Olivera sweepstakes is the Dodgers! It only cost them six years and $62.5 million.
• The contract does have a clause granting the Dodgers an extra year for $1 million if Olivera needs Tommy John surgery. An MRI did show a slight tear in Olivera's ulnar collateral ligament..
• Joel Sherman writes that the Dodgers just paid over $62 million for a player they won't need until 2016.
• Steve Dilbeck is impressed that the Dodgers spent that much money on a utility guy.
• Dayn Perry thinks the Olivera signing would be too risky for most other teams. For the Dodgers? If Olivera turns out to be a bust, they'll barely miss that little money.
• Speaking of where all that money is coming from, Time-Warner is expected to write-off $1 billion is losses on the Dodgers TV deal. What really bothers me about all this is . . .nope. I'm going to keep my mouth shut.
• The Dodgers have also partnered with an Irish company that has a "computer-based injury protection program." I'm not sure how it works, but they claim that they've shown results with soccer and rugby players.
• Newest Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins talked with Ken Rosenthal and told him that Philadelphia was a city that was "not conductive to a superstar" and that he can be himself in LA. I don't know what's more off--Rollins' attitude towards Philadelphia or the idea that he thinks he's still a "superstar," if he ever really was one. Rollins also talks about how he had to get over his lifetime hatred of the Dodgers to accept a trade there.
• The Dodgers and the Diamondbacks went at each other again on Monday. Although it's not clear whether they were really throwing at each other or whether it was just spring training pitchers having trouble with control. In any case, neither side shed any tears for the other one's bruises.
• In a move a little less heralded in a town that is a little less "conducive to being a superstar," the Twins signed Brian Dozier to a four-year extension worth $20 million.
• Craig Edwards calls the Dozier deal a "safe contract" for both sides.
• The Rays will retire number 66 in honor of Don Zimmer. The only other number the Rays have retired (other than Jackie Robinson, of course) is number 12 for Wade Boggs.
• Picking up on what Ken Rosenthal wrote last time, Craig Calcaterra thinks it would be silly for the MLBPA to file a grievance over Kris Bryant. And that Marvin Miller never would have done it.
• The Nationals released Heath Bell and he decided to retire, saying that "My kids wanted me home." So ask not for whom the Bell tolls. He doesn't toll anymore.
• There has been a bit of controversy in New York over the Mets decision to name Bartolo Colon their opening day starter. Craig Calcaterra says it doesn't make any difference who starts on Opening Day.
• Mets GM Sandy Alderson admitted that ticket sales were one reason that Matt Harvey did not get the Opening Day start. Opening Day is a sellout no matter who pitches.
• Brian Kenny says that before he got injured, Harvey was the best pitcher in baseball.
• Brandon Phillips can't understand why Joey Votto doesn't swing the bat more. Joey Votto can't understand why Brandon Phillips doesn't want to get on base more. Can two Reds infielders share an apartment without driving each other crazy? (Seriously, you should go read the article.)
• The Diamondbacks need a catcher, but they won't trade for Dioner Navarro because at $5 million, he makes too much money. Welington Castillo only makes $2.1 million.
• The Royals sent post-season hero Brandon Finnegan down to the minors, where he'll be stretched out to start.
• He'll have to learn to pitch fast, as Triple-A and Double-A pitchers will have to pitch within 20 seconds or have a ball called on them this year.
• Ben Lindbergh has a fascinating article on what happens to starting pitchers the third time through an order. The key to success really is mixing up your pitches.
• The Marlins look to be an improved team this year, but Matthew Trueblood writes that Jeffrey Loria still has a lot of work to do (and checks to write) to win back to trust of the Miami fan base.
• The velocity of Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances is down this spring. No one is sure if this is the sign of something bad or just spring training rust.
• Eno Sarris has the most irreplaceable players in baseball.
• Rob Neyer wonders why we would even need a draft if teams have a spending pool cap.
• Longtime Giants beat writer and J.G. Taylor Spink Award winter Nick Peters has died at the age of 75.
• The Red Sox split up and had a relay race. The winning team got to skip the away game in Jupiter and the long bus ride that goes with it.
• Prince Fielder bunts for a hit! Successfully, too.
• Bruce Markusen has a look at the unusual baseball life of Alex Johnson, who died recently.
• Deep fried nachos on a stick! I think I know why the population of Milwaukee is dropping.
• Another goofy commercial. The Yankees recreate a scene from the movie "The Sandlot."
• Jobu has found a home. You can find him at the Louisville Slugger Museum. Bring your own rum.
• And finally, the Fresno Grizzlies tried to get the locals excited about their new affiliation with the Houston Astros with replica 2017 Houston Astros World Series rings. Except some party pooper, probably in Houston, pulled the plug on this promotion sometime last evening. Boo! And they deprived me of a great link to go out on.

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