MLB Bullets Is In The Conversation

Like I'm expected to do this after Jake Arrieta throws a no-hitter. I guess I'd have to or pretty soon this column would cease to exist.

• The big story in baseball is Jake Arrieta's no-hitter, and we've already covered that and we'll continue to cover it in the days to come. But the big news otherwise is the death of music legend Prince. Prince was a big sports fan, especially of the four Minnesota teams, although admittedly his tastes were more towards the Timberwolves and Vikings than the Twins. But the Twins did light up Target Field in purple to honor their local legend. Unfortunately, the Twins were in Milwaukee.
• The Twins have a tradition. They insist that everyone on the team knows the lyrics to "Little Red Corvette." They played it after their victory over the Brewers.
• The Twins also play "Let's Go Crazy" after every Twins home run at Target Field. So, like a dozen times a season at least.
• Several players changed their walkup music to Prince tunes last night.
• Alex Rodriguez went one step further and came to the plate to a different Prince song each time.
• I was joking about the number of home runs hit at Target Field. In fact, Mike Oz argues that home runs by Byung-Ho Park are the best thing about the Twins this season. Especially with the Korean broadcasters. Remember: baseball is better in Korean.
• Mike Bauman thinks the Twins are emerging from their early season slump and are becoming the team that we expected to compete in the AL Central.
• For all the talk about Bryce Harper not playing the game the "right way," it should be noted that commissioner Rob Manfred has no problem with it. In fact, the commish said that ". . .Bryce Harper is a spokesman for this generation, I expect you'll see more exuberance from our players on the field."
• A lot of writers, including some I linked to on Wednesday, have been claiming that Harper has already passed Mike Trout as the best player in the game. Neil Paine has the best answer to that ever: "That's a clown question, bro."
• Eddie Matz argues that Manny Machado deserves to be "in the conversation" for the best player in the game. So he's kind of the Martin O'Malley of MLB. Hey, they're both from Baltimore.
• Jeff Sullivan makes the case for Noah Syndergaard is the best pitcher in baseball. His case seemed stronger when I first read this piece yesterday afternoon.
• Sullivan also examines what's wrong with Chris Archer so far this year. I will never cheer against Chris Archer. Even if it's game 7 of the World Series with the Cubs, I'll be cheering for his fielders to drop everything that comes their way.
• Taijuan Walker is finally living up to expectations.
• We know what's wrong with Shelby Miller. He scraped his hand on the mound again with his follow-through.
• Mike Axisa goes into more depth on Miller's mechanical issues.
• Jonathan Bernhardt looks for "the next Jose Bautista," by which he means the next talented but disappointing journeyman to figure it out and become a superstar.
• Cliff Corcoran examines what's behind the Astros slow start to the season and whether it's time to start worrying in Houston. (Hint: No.)
• Richard Justice thinks it's getting late early for the Yankees this season.
• I'm not going to get into the reasons and I'm asking you not to either. But ESPN fired Curt Schilling.
• Jeff Passan thinks one of the best free agent signings this winter was when the Marlins hired Barry Bonds to be their hitting coach. The way Christian Yelich has taken off, I can't argue with him.
• Ken Rosenthal writes about the drug testing program. In some ways, it's been very successful, writes Rosenthal, but there are limits to what it can accomplish. No one thinks the game is 100% clean.
• Braves players may file a grievance with the Players' Association over the condition of the infield at Turner Field. Apparently the Braves have let it deteriorate with the team planning to flee the city next year.
• Jayson Stark tries to figure out why the computer projections have been so bad with the Royals over the past few seasons.
• Because of an injury that caused them to lose the DH, Athletics pitcher Kendall Graveman became the first starting pitcher to bat fourth in a lineup since Babe Ruth in 1920.
• Clayton Kershaw has a new, really slow, pitch.
• Aaron Hicks made a throw from the outfield that hit 105.5 mph on StatCast. That's the fastest thrown ball that StatCast has ever recorded.
• The Cardinals say that they will re-examine their policy of banning the Cubs "Try Not To Suck" T-Shirts at Busch Stadium.
• Josh Donaldson had a screaming liner go right through the webbing of his glove.
• And finally, a monkey and the Creature from the Black Lagoon tried to distract Marlins infielder Martin Prado from his post-game interview. But Prado carried on like a professional.