MLB Bullets Sees Fireworks

Today's MLB Bullets is brought to you by the letters "W" and "C" and the number 11.

• The Rangers beat the Astros last night to move into first place in the AL West. Grant Brisbee thinks we are witnessing the birth of one of baseball's greatest rivalries of the future between Houston and Texas.
• Rob Neyer expresses skepticism over the playoff odds reports that still have the Astros as large favorites to win the AL West over the Rangers, although he does understand why they are that way.
• Neyer also wonders if Astros shortstop Carlos Correa has some competition for the AL Rookie of the Year Award from Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor.
• Speaking of hot rookie shortstops, Mark Saxon thinks that Corey Seager is making it impossible for the Dodgers to bench him when Jimmy Rollins returns.
• Aaron Gleeman writes that while he may not win the Cy Young Award this season, Clayton Kershaw is still the best pitcher on the planet. Sorry, but Pluto's not a planet anymore.
• Here's a piece you should all read. Giants third baseman Matt Duffy takes to The Players' Tribune to explain one of the secret to the Giants success is the way they make their rookies feel welcome. Duffy especially singles out Casey McGehee, the man whose job Duffy took. You'll want to read what McGehee said to Duffy when he found out that he'd lost his job.
• Speaking of Matt Duffy, the one from the Giants welcomed the one with the Astros to the major leagues this week.
• Another piece you'll all want to read, Michael J. Mooney heads over to Japan to check in on Julio Franco, who is still playing (and managing) for an independent league club in Japan at age 57. Franco has no illusions about a return to the big leagues (or even NPB or KBO), he just doesn't want to do anything with his life other than play baseball.
• Sam Miller explains why all the preseason projections got the Royals so wrong.
• However, the Royals have been slumping in September. David Schoenfield asks if there is cause for concern here.
• The Royals are also worried about Johnny Cueto, who has struggled badly lately. David Schoenfield explains why the Royals probably just need to ride this rough stretch out and stick with Cueto as their ace.
• Rob Neyer agrees and thinks most (although not all) of Cueto's problems are just poor luck.
• Jacoby Ellsbury will stay in center field for the Yankees despite a prolonged slump.
• Jayson Stark believes that the Mets acquiring Yoenis Cespedes has lead to a historic turnaround of their offense. One that just happened to coincide with a long stretch of games in the NL East. Sheer coincidence, I'm sure.
• Jon Paul Morosi argues that the Mets now have the best outfield in baseball.
• Tim Rohan goes behind the scenes with the Mets front office when the decision was made to trade for Cespedes.
• Richard Sandomir paint a portrait of the city of New York becoming a Mets town.
• Craig Calcaterra thinks all Sandomir is noticing is a more energized Mets fanbase, not an expanded one. New York still bleeds Yankees white.
• The nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award were announced.
• And MLB also announced a sad excuse for some live programming in November on the MLB Network a new set of awards called the Esurance MLB awards.
• Andrew Simon looks at the pros and cons all the open GM jobs in baseball.
• One of the lawsuits that sought to force MLB to increase pay for minor leaguers has been thrown out of court. Nathaniel Grow explains why.
• Grant Brisbee looks at five projected team holes that turned out not to be.
• This is a little factoid that I like: Of the top ten players in games played without having played in a postseason game, eight of them are on teams likely to go to the playoffs this season, including two Cubs.
• The Cardinals are getting two players back as Matt Adams was activated off the disabled list, where he'd been since May.
• Matt Holliday hasn't been out quite that long, but he's back with the Cards now, too.
• Jonathan Lucroy has seen no improvement in his concussion symptoms. The general consensus is that the Brewers will shut him down for the season.
• Rangers pitcher Jake Diekman is talking about the gastrointestinal disease that he's battling.
• Joe Panik is likely out for the season with a back injury.
• It's been a while since I've typed these words of doom, but Anibal Sanchez is off to see Dr. James Andrews. Dum-dum-duuuuuunnn.
• Pitch clocks in the minors have cut time off of games, but MLB still faces union opposition from players in implementing them on the major league level.
• A fan tried to rip a foul ball out of Adrian Gonzalez's glove.
• And finally, Kansas City Royals outfielder hit a home run and the fireworks went off in the park -- in Cleveland. And there was one very embarrassed stadium employee.

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