I'm back home after a week away. I've just spend 14 hours over the past two days driving through construction and mountains. And drinking coffee to stay awake. I'm a little jumpy today. So if Bullets seem "off" today, that's why.
- It's not often that I can link to a major news story that you probably haven't heard already by the time you read this every other weekday morning. But you may not have heard that Angels GM Jerry DiPoto was apparently fired last night. Or maybe he resigned. In any case, he's no longer the Angels GM.
- Jerry Crasnick is reporting that DiPoto went to owner Arte Moreno with an ultimatum that backfired on him. Otherwise known as "The Riggleman Maneuver."
- What caused DiPoto's departure? Reportedly, long-simmering differences between DiPoto and manager Mike Scioscia blew up in a meeting this week, and Albert Pujols got involved as well.
- Even before the events of last night, the standoff between Scioscia and DiPoto was described as unreconcilable.
- A lot of Angels news today as Rob Neyer thinks the Halos made the right choice to trade Howie Kendrick.
- And on the bright side for Anaheim, Mike Trout robbed Chris Young of an extra base hit not once but twice in the same game. And Chris Young was not happy.
- In a different front office shakeup, new Phillies team president Andy MacPhail had his introductory press conference.
- Jerry Crasnick outlines the challenges facing MacPhail. At least he won't have to kidnap the Kaiser like his grandfather.
- Christina Kahrl explains why she thinks that MacPhail is the right type of executive to fix the Phillies. (Phix the Phillies?)
- The Phils also named Pete Mackanin to be their interim manager through the rest of the season.
- Former Expos owner Charles Bronfman talks about owning the team and how a retractable roof stadium is a must for baseball to return to Montreal.
- Tom Tango explains that expansion does not water down the talent in baseball to any point that it would be noticeable.
- John Baker gives his take on how teammates would react to a major league player announcing he was gay.
- MLB is considering allowing a rule change to let pitchers use sticky stuff on baseballs. I'm going to assume there will be some specifically-approved substances or otherwise, ewwwww.
- Keith Olbermann explains why so many Cuban baseball players have first names that begin with the letter "Y." It's a form of political protest.
- Owen Wilson runs the numbers on whether or not the Yankees have gotten their money's worth from Alex Rodriguez.
- Tim Healy explains how Ubaldo Jimenez mastered command of his fastball and became an important part of the Orioles rotation. Who was the genius who suggested that the Cubs sign Jimenez? Oh yeah, that's right. It was me. (Hey, I spent all last season beating myself up for that column. I deserve to pat myself on the back at least once.)
- Mike Piellucci looks at the strange career arc of Tim Lincecum and his long, slow goodbye. It's better to burn out than to fade away. My, my, hey, hey.
- The Twins, of all teams, are interested in trading for Jeff Samardzija.
- Jo Craven McGinty looks at the current state of maple bats and broken bats.
- Ben Lindbergh compares Manny Machado to Nolan Arenado.
- And finally, Rob Neyer collects the origin stories of recently-created new baseball terms. So if you want to know where TOOTBLAN comes from, now you can know.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.