MLB Bullets Drops The Mic

Normally I don't handle Cubs-related topics here on MLB Bullets, preferring to leave that for Cub Tracks. But since the big news today is "Theo's Mic Drop" (Thanks for that line, Jeremy Koo) and I don't think you want to wait until Sunday to read about that, I'll cover a bit of it today. I'm sure there will still be plenty of material for Duane's next piece.

Also, I've got a separate article on the new rules changes being implemented this year. It was supposed to run yesterday, but we got pretty busy around here.

• Dexter Fowler is not a Oriole. He's a Cub. Nicolas Stellini looks at the deal and points out that Fowler was the fourth free agent this offseason to sign with the Cubs for less money that than they could get elsewhere.
• Jesse Rogers gives the play-by-play of Theo's mic drop day.
• Jeff Sullivan thinks the Cubs addressed their last remaining issue yesterday.
• Matthew Trueblood does some of Joe Maddon's work for him and outlines a playing time plan for the Cubs outfield.
• You've probably heard this already but Casey Close, Fowler's agent, was not happy with the rumors that Fowler had reached an agreement with the Orioles and blasted the Birds for the leaks. Also the media that ran the reports.
• Ken Rosenthal says the whole incident raises more questions about how the Orioles operate.
• Eddie Matz writes that the Fowler reversal is a gut-punch to the Orioles, who badly need another outfielder and a leadoff hitter.
• Matt Snyder thinks that the Orioles need to re-think their policy against handing out opt-out clauses.
• The Orioles did sign Yovani Gallardo to a 2 year, $22 million deal.
• Ken Rosenthal argues that Gallardo had little choice but to accept the Orioles reduced offer.
• The Orioles tough stance of player physicals has been much discussed, but what exactly goes into a major league physical. Mariners beat writer Ryan Divish took the M's physical to see what it entails. It's very extensive and a lot more than just opening your mouth and saying "ahhh."  (h/t Hardball Talk)
• After his agent quit, alleging that his life had been threatened, Lazaro "Lazarito" Armenteros denied his former agent's allegations and told his side of the story.
• Sad news as White Sox vice-chairman Eddie Einhorn died at age 80.
• Einhorn was a leader in sports broadcasting. Another leader, MLBAM head Bob Bowman, gives an interview about the future of sports broadcasting, both on-line and on television.
• Here's some more Cubs news by way of the Yankees. Starlin Castro credits Manny Ramirez for his second-half turnaround last season. So if Castro leads the Yankees to the World Series, does that mean that Manny becomes a Yankees hero?
• Alex Rodriguez talks about his "Cinderella" 2015 season.
• Wallace Matthews says that while A-Rod did have a fairy tale season last year, he's no Cinderella. Or even Cinderfella, I'd guess.
• Robinson Cano responded to criticism by his former coach Andy Van Slyke.
• Eddie Matz writes that believe it or not, Jonathan Papelbon has been a clubhouse leader for the Nationals so far this spring. I bet he's got them all watching "My Little Pony" together.
• Nats manager Dusty Baker keeps calling Bryce Harper "Royce." Maybe he's hoping Bryce will be as good as Royce Clayton one day.
• Tigers GM Al Avila misses his son. Maybe if you hadn't told him the Tigers were going to make no effort to re-sign him, your son wouldn't have signed with the White Sox, Al. Apparently Al's mother still hasn't forgiven him for telling her grandson to take a walk.
• Jon Paul Morosi discusses what the Blue Jays options are with Jose Bautista. (Video)
• Salvador Perez wants to be a Royal for life. You and Lorde, Sal.
• Dave Cameron explains why he hates the Diamondbacks. It's the new "bloody sock" pants, probably. (This is actually about why the computer projections predict the Diamondbacks will have a losing record, but my explanation is more interesting.)
• Cardinas closer Trevor Rosenthal still wants to start.
• Chris Bahr has three suggestions for Reds fans on how to get through a miserable season. Been there, Porkopolis.
• Red Sox owner John Henry made a big statement that the team will de-emphasize analytics under new team president Dave Dombrowski. Sure, why stick with something that got you three World Series titles in ten years? Now do the same for Liverpool.
• Ruben Tejada was awarded an extra day of service time, which makes him a free agent at the end of this season.
• What a surprise. Josh Hamilton is out for two months with knee problems. Too bad the Rangers are playing him all that money to sit on the trainer's table. Oh wait. They aren't.
• And Matt Cain had a cyst removed from his upper arm, which will keep him from throwing for at least 10 days.
• Felix Hernandez showed up to training camp as a blond. His teammates aren't fans.
• Yasiel Puig has reportedly found a way to beat LA traffic to Dodger Stadium: buy a helicopter.
• Former Iowa Cubs legend Fernando Perez (can I call him that?) wrote a profile of his former teammate, John Jaso. Included is a nice video of Jaso talking to Perez the day he got called up to the majors in 2010. Jaso expected to be up for 20 minutes. He's never gone back to the minors, except in rehab appearances.
• Patrick O'Connell has a portrait of Ed Mierkowicz, the last surviving player to have played in the 1945 World Series.
• Noted weather nerd Mike Trout now has his own weather balloon. Perfect for starting alien invasion rumors.
• Ladies and gentlemen, the Savannah Bananas!
• The Frisco RoughRiders will now have a 175-foot lazy river just past the outfield walls. My wife always says that the first rule of building a ballpark is to have something interesting to hit home runs into.
• And finally, Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes decided that square waffles were no good and he sent out a Mets team employee to go buy a round waffle maker so he could have round waffles. Now round waffles are better than square ones, but it's not that big of a deal and this is just the kind of arrogant, diva behavior that gives ballplayers a bad name. Except that Cespedes told the employee she should drive his $400,000 Lamborghini to Wal-Mart to get him one. I'm pretty sure she had to drive all the way to Georgia to find a round one.

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