MLB Bullets Is Out In Left Field

Wow. Who would have thought that the rightful ruler of all of Westeros would turn out to be Kyle Schwarber? Game of Thrones never ceases to surprise me.

Oh. I guess I should have put a spoiler warning there. Sorry.

• Is the future of shortstops here? Joel Sherman looks at the current crop of young shortstops and calls them the best since Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada and Nomar Garciaparra burst on the scene 20 years ago.
• Scott Lauber agrees that we're having a shortstop renaissance and takes a closer look at two of them playing last night: Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts.
• Speaking of A-Rod, he's been struggling to start the season and Wallace Matthews thinks it's time that Yankees manager Joe Girardi bench Rodriguez.
• Danny Knobler disagrees and points out that the Yankees need Rodriguez to turn it around if they're going to be successful this season. Plus, it's not like the rest of the lineup is doing so hot.
• Barry M. Bloom thinks the Yankees are getting out of the Bronx just in time. It's not often a writer says an entire team needs a road trip because they all need a change of scenery.
• I tend to avoid the Cubs news, but Grant Brisbee's piece on what we can learn from Jake Arrieta's no-hitter has lessons for Reds fans, so you can read that part today and the other part tomorrow on Cub Tracks.
• Yesterday's Diamondbacks/Pirates game went 13 innings and Shelby Miller ended up playing left field. I knew there was a reason they gave up Dansby Swanson for him.
• It wasn't the only wacky game yesterday. Mike Axisa breaks down yesterday's epic 16-inning battle between the Nationals and the Twins.
• The Nationals have the best record in baseball and Eddie Matz thinks the leadership style of Dusty Baker has played a big role in the Nationals fast start. Hmmm. I'm sure we can probably scrape up some old "In Dusty We Trusty" shirts and send them to DC. See how that works out for them. I'm sure their start has nothing to do with the fact they've played all of their first 18 games against Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami or Minnesota.
• By the way, the Braves haven't hit a home run since April 10, or two weeks.
• Turns out the Braves players weren't just being malcontents about the shoddy shape of the infield at Turner Field. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also called the conditions at Turner Field "unacceptable."
• The Twins are off to a terrible start to the season, but one positive sign is that Joe Mauer is hitting the ball like, well, like Joe Mauer. Some of the credit goes to the special goggles he uses in batting practice.
• The Twins also plan on a Prince tribute for tonight's game. And the new Target Field seventh-inning stretch song for the rest of the season will be "Little Red Corvette." A lot better than "God Bless America," I've got to admit.
• This piece is from Friday and the odds have changed since then, but Will Leitch looks at what the early playoff odds are telling us.
• Dayn Perry looks at some early season trends. Offense is up, folks.
• Christina Kahrl explains how the White Sox are winning with pitching and defense. That's a big change from last season when the White Sox were a terrible defensive team.
• Dallas Braden is replacing Curt Schilling for ESPN's Monday Night games.
• Jorge L. Ortiz reports that Giancarlo Stanton is coming out of his early-season slump after working with hitting coach Barry Bonds.
• Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello was suspended 80 games for testing positive for a PED.
• Indians starter Carlos Carrasco injured his hamstring and is expected to go on the DL.
• Rangers reliever Keone Kela will miss three months after elbow surgery to remove a bone spur.
• Jacob deGrom returned to the Mets after the medical issues with his newborn son are over. Good news, Jacob. Congratulations on your boy.
• Umpire Laz Diaz just missed being struck with a screaming line drive.
• More sad news from the Dominican Republic as another minor leaguer died in a car accident.
• That recently-discovered early rules of baseball sold at auction for $3.2 million.
• A quick biographical profile of Doc Adams, who authored those ancient rules.
• Sam Miller writes about what happened when a pair of admitted "sabermetric nerds" took over the running of an independent minor league team.
• Meg Rowley talks about the role of "Joy" in baseball.
• The Reds think former closer J.J. Hoover may have been tipping pitches.
• The Rays Stephen Souza hit two home runs on his birthday yesterday.
• Jay Jaffe talks about some possible expansion cities. Northern New Jersey isn't mentioned, which is silly because it's the best spot for expansion, even if you'd have to compensate the Yankees and Mets.
• A baby-carrying fan caught a home run with one hand. If you're carrying a baby, you shouldn't be trying to catch a ball. Mike Trout doesn't run around center field with a baby in one arm. That should be a hint.
• And on Trout, he turned a double-play thanks to his infielders, who totally deked Mariners runner Leonys Martin on a flyout to center.
• Finally, kids attending their prom in Colorado got a big surprise when Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig decided to crash the party. I guess he always regretted not going to his prom in Cuba.

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