MLB Bullets Stops On-Field Piracy

It's another Monday in June. The last time the Cubs had a 12.5 game lead in June was  . . . never? Neither 1969 nor 1977 ever had leads that big. The 1929 team and the Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance teams didn't get that big a lead until August. The 1880 White Stockings went 67-17 on the season, but they didn't take a 12.5 game lead until July. (Although the season didn't start until May 1.)

• The Pirates are reeling, as you saw over the weekend. Grant Brisbee thinks that while the Pirates traditional pitching strategy has played itself out (getting pitching coach Ray Searage to salvage broken pitchers), perhaps a different strategy of calling on their farm system can yet save the Pirates.
• Buster Olney lists seven things that has gone wrong for the Pirates at the moment. (ESPN Insider only, of course. Might as well call him ESPN Insider Olney.) I'll give you two of his points: one is their schedule in June is brutal and another is they can't beat the Cubs.
• Gerald Schifman breaks down the Pirates pitching philosophy, designed to get ground balls, and notes that it isn't any kind of magic bullet for success. Or even ground balls.
• The Pirates aren't the only team in the NL struggling. Mets manager Terry Collins is threatening to make a major shakeup in the team after getting swept by the Braves.
• Andrew Means comes to the defense of Curtis Granderson, arguing that the Mets outfielder is an underrated producer.
• Another team in free fall is the Chicago White Sox, so they tried to stop the bleeding by picking up pitcher James Shields. That has worked about as well as treating a major head wound by tying a tourniquet around the neck to stop the bleeding. Shields is in one of the historically worst stretches of pitching ever. And it all started when Bartolo Colon took him deep.
• The White Sox don't know what's wrong with Shields or how to fix him. Scouts noted that while Shields has lost some velocity, the results shouldn't be this bad. (h/t Hardball Talk)
• On the positive side, the Giants Brandon Belt made some minor adjustments at the plate this year that are providing major dividends.
• Eno Sarris explains how Jeff Samardzija bounced back from a terrible season and is rewarding the Giants faith in his arm. (ESPN Insider Only)
• R.J. Anderson has three stats that explain why the Giants have been the hottest team in baseball lately. I can give you one: it's an even year.
• The Blue Jays have turned their season around thanks to a revitalized offense, writes Cliff Corcoran.
• They'll have to do it without Jose Bautista, however, as he goes on the disabled list with a sprained toe.
• Ken Rosenthal reports that Bautista is not likely to get the big free agent contract he was hoping for. Also, if you watch the video, the Cubs almost certainly are not going to trade Kyle Schwarber.
• Manny Randhawa notes that Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood has been one of the best pitchers in baseball away from Coors Field.
• However, Chatwood just went on the disabled list with a back strain.
• Normally I don't do college baseball stories, but I was touched by Oklahoma State pitcher Tom Hatch throwing a complete game shutout to start the College World Series. Mitch Sherman talks with Hatch and his coaches about how Hatch improved so much as the season went on. I don't know why Hatch's success makes me so happy. There's just something about him that makes me want to see him pitch in both World Series.
• Staying (sort of) in college, Christopher Crawford has a fun article trying to project what Mike Trout would have done had he gone to East Carolina instead of signing with the Angels.
• Trout's teammate Jered Weaver threw a "Maddux" against the Athletics yesterday. He even got his fastball up to 85 mph.
• David Price finally had the kind of start the Red Sox were expecting when they signed him to a big free agent contract.
• On the down side for the Red Sox, they put outfielder Rusney Castillo on waivers. He will no doubt clear waivers (no one wants that huge contract) and will be assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket. But that's a big fall for a guy who signed a $72.5 million dollar contract out of Cuba.
• Mike Bauman thinks that Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is proving to be worth the money.
• One minor trade. The Dodgers traded pitcher Zach Lee to the Mariners for infielder Chris Taylor. This is the same Zach Lee that was untouchable for Ryan Dempster a few seasons ago, so the Cubs got Kyle Hendricks instead. Just a reminder that sometimes you can get burned by trading a prospect. Sometimes you can get burned by not trading a prospect.
• The Red Sox have asked about pitchers Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole. Right now, Miami is the second wild card in the NL. I can't see them dealing Fernandez and I can think of a lot of players Pittsburgh would deal before Cole. Besides, they're only four games behind Miami, even with their current horrid stretch.
• The Mets have asked the A's about third baseman Danny Valencia. A much more reasonable target, if you ask me.
• Tom Haudricourt explains why the Brewers are going to have a tough time dealing Ryan Braun.
• Michael Baumann thinks the strikeout is taking over the game and there isn't much MLB can do about it.
• The Rays were the Orlando Rays on Friday, wearing the caps of their old Double-A team of the same name.
• Fielding porn as Billy Hamilton makes an incredible diving catch in center field, complete with an appropriate Jimmy John's sign in the background.
• This young boy knows the way to a pretty girl's affections--give her a foul ball.
• For Father's Day, Mike Axisa lists the top father-son combinations in baseball.
• Even better, Doug Glanville talks to the children of Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente and Wally Yonamine about what it was like to be the child of a trailblazer. All Glanville pieces are worth reading and you should check this one out.
• You may have heard this story on the pre-game on ESPN last night, but if you didn't, the story of Amy Donnelly and "The chicken runs at midnight." You'll cry. Guaranteed.
• Jake Russell remember when the San Diego Padres moved to Washington. Included are the uniforms that never got used.
• Keep your eye peeled for foul balls. That includes you, beat writers.
• And finally, a pitching change at Citi Field got delayed because Braves reliever Chris Withrow couldn't get the bullpen door open.

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