MLB Bullets Sits Down To Watch Some Hockey

Good morning.

• And we start in the NHL. No, really. The NHL announced that they are handing all of the operation of their digital operations, streaming services and the NHL Network over to MLB Advanced Media in a deal for over $100 million. For those asking, this means that the people who run mlb.com, mlb.tv, Gameday, Statcast and the MLB Network (among other things) will be running similar operations for the NHL. The NHL still controls all content, so those Blackhawks fans worried that Hawk Harrelson will be their new play-by-play man can stop worrying. (However, some Canadians are upset that operations are moving from Toronto to New Jersey.)
• You interact with product brought to you by MLBAM every day. Not just if you watch baseball games, but if you watch HBO or WWE wrestling online as well. If you want to know what MLBAM is, what it does and how it got started, this piece in The Verge by Ben Popper should answer most of your questions.
• Speaking of Statcast, Rob Neyer is still excited by its possibilities even if he finds its results in its first season to be disappointing.
• More off-the-field news. Longtime Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski was "released" from his contract.That's a nice way of saying he's fired. Al Avila takes over as the new GM.
• They're puzzled by some of this over at Bless You Boys.
• Christina Kahrl says that Dombrowski's departure marks the end of an era in Detroit.
• Craig Calcaterra insists that even though Dombrowski's Tigers never won a World Series, his time on the job was a huge success.
• Mike Axisa doesn't think Dombrowski will be unemployed for long. He lists eight possible destinations.
• Richard Justice agrees and lists five possibilities for Dombrowski.
• Jeff Passan thinks Dombrowski deserves a salary similar to what a valuable player would get on the free agent market.
• Axisa also thinks the Tigers aren't too far from contending again.
• Manager Brad Ausmus, the best-looking manager in baseball, got an endorsement from new GM Avila. Aviles did add that everyone will be evaluated at season's end. (Psst. Brad? I'd suggest you play the new GM's son every game.)
• I mentioned this in the Monday Minor League Wrap, but Toledo Mud Hens Mike Hessman hit his 433 career minor-league home run, which is a new record for the US-based minor leagues. It was a grand slam.
• Rodger Sherman has an appreciation of Hessman.
• Twenty-five years ago, MLB had an equipment issue. Players had gloves that were bigger than the rules allowed.  Steve Wulf looks back at how MLB dealt with this now-forgotten issue. (And that's why it's now forgotten.)
• Also 25 years ago yesterday, Nolan Ryan punched out Robin Ventura. Here are 13 facts about that incident.
• Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos sat down with Jonah Keri and talked about how the Troy Tulowitzki and David Price deals got done.
• Speaking of trades, Arash Markazi talks to recently-traded players about how the moves affect their families.
• Rob Neyer remembers when the now-first-place Mets were a joke. Like all the way back to last week.
• Erik Malinowski is amazed by what the Amazin's are doing.
• Matthew Kory looks at how Yoenis Cespedes is having a bounceback season and how he makes the Mets bad outfield better.
• The Mets have the easiest schedule in baseball the rest of the way. Thanks, Marlins and Phillies!
• Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez was suspended three games and manager John Gibbons one game for their roles in Sunday's melee with the Royals.
• Christina Kahrl thinks all the Pirates injuries could end up costing them a Wild Card spot. Hope so.
• Molly Knight, who has a new book out about the Dodgers, talks about what it was like as a young female reporter in a baseball clubhouse.
• Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle for the third time in his career. Here are some facts about his feat.
• Eleven amazing facts about LaTroy Hawkins. Did you know he's the only remaining active pitcher who pitched to Michael Jordan?
• Andrew Marchand has a strategy tip of Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Just give the ball to Dellin Betances.
• Aaron Gleeman says Carlos Correa is already a superstar.
• In the Tribune, Philip Hersh whines about losing his Hall of Fame vote.
• With Andrelton Simmons out hurt, we turn to Billy Hamilton for our amazing fielding porn.
• And we call on Simmons' teammate with the Braves, Eury Perez, to laugh at him as he celebrates making a catch on a ball that was a good 30 feet from his glove.
• And finally, we take time out to watch Welington Castillo try Beef Wellington for the first time. Really? No one in Chicago thought to buy him some Beef Wellington the whole time he was with the Cubs? Which one of you fell down on the job?

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