MLB Bullets Can't Stay Out Of Trouble

If it's Wednesday, it must be MLB Bullets. I always imagine my readers sitting with a tablet and reading my work with a cup of coffee and Rice Krispies. Maybe my work will be featured in a cereal ad one day. Oh, to dream.

• We had another fight last night in baseball as Manny Machado charged Yordano Ventura after Ventura hit him in the ribs with a 99 mph fastball.
• I'm sure we'll hear more about this after today, but Jeff Passan writes that the Royals are tired of Ventura's immaturity and have made him available in trade. Passan also notes that catcher Salvador Perez didn't seem to try very hard to stop Machado from reaching Ventura.
• Eddie Matz thinks that the incident will inspire the Orioles.
• Craig Calcaterra remembers the time that Braves manager Bobby Cox ordered Tom Glavine to throw at Dale Murphy. The unwritten rules are so dumb.
• Another bizarre baseball story involving violence comes out of the Marlins minor leagues where the Marlins No. 2 prospect, Josh Naylor, sliced the thumb of the No. 4 prospect, Stone Garrett, with a knife in a "prank gone bad." Garrett needs surgery and his agent has disputed the story that the Marlins' front office has told about the incident.
• Back to the trade market, Jerry Crasnick looks at the market for Brewers stars Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy.
• Dayn Perry ranks the top 100 ballplayers in baseball so far this season.
• Grant Brisbee wonders which big free agent contracts would teams like a do-over on already. (I disagree with him on Jason Heyward, by the way.)
• Brisbee also chronicles the decline and fall of the San Diego Padres. At least since the 2014-15 offseason.
• The Pirates will call on highly-regarded prospect Jameson Taillon make his first major league start today.
• On his third trip of the the majors, Mike Oz thinks that Twins outfielder Byron Buxton finally looks like he's living up to his potential. In case you were wondering, that "potential" is about 90% of Mike Trout.
• Another former top prospect is Jurickson Profar. Mike Axisa writes about how Profar has forced his way back into the Rangers lineup.
• Richard Justice looks at all the great young talent on the Rangers.
• Going the other way is Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, who was sent down to Triple-A Memphis.
• What comes up, most go down. Despite a successful cup of coffee with the Nationals over the weekend, shortstop Trea Turner went back down to the minors.
• Submitted without comment. Phil Rogers thinks the Nats are in good hands with GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dusty Baker.
• Coming back from injury, Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani is expected to make his first start of the season tomorrow. He was supposed to start on Opening Day. It got pushed back just a little.
• Indians outfielder Michael Brantley is expected to miss a lot more time with a shoulder injury.
• The MLB Draft starts tomorrow. The Cubs aren't going to take part but it's always an interesting event. Will Leitch writes that contrary to popular opinion, drafted players can have a big impact in the majors quickly.
• Over at Big League Stew, they had a discussion of the worst draft day mistakes ever. I'll add that Astros scout (and Hall of Fame pitcher) Hal Newhouser resigned over the team's decision to pick Phil Nevin over Derek Jeter with the first pick in the 1992 draft.
• The Phillies' Aaron Nola is a guy making an impact quickly after getting drafted. Stephanie Apstein writes that even though the modest Nola would never admit it, he's the team ace.
• Yoenis Cespedes is struggling at the plate.
• So is White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu. Catherine Slonksnis writes that pitchers are beating him inside and so far, Abreu hasn't been able to adjust.
• Robert O'Connell thinks Eric Hosmer is the model of the first baseman of the future. Less power, more athleticism.
• Orioles Ryan Flaherty talks about being a super-utility player. Essentially, it's all Starlin Castro's fault.
• Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos has an interesting sleep diary of a road trip. We talk a lot about what goes into a successful ballplayer, but I don't think "sleep" gets enough attention.
• Chris Cwik credits the resurgence of Victor Martinez for the success of the Tigers offense this season.
• Dave Cameron argues that the reports of the death (of the career) of Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury have been greatly exaggerated.
• Ellsbury is also chasing history this season. He's on-pace to smash the single-season record for most times reaching base on catcher's interference. You take immortality where you can find it.
• Thomas Neumann looks at the obstacles and potential rewards for putting a major league team in Mexico City. Personally, I think it would be a disaster, but read the article and make up your own mind.
• Shortly before that ugly fight that I mentioned to start off the day, Lorenzo Cain made a pretty spectacular catch, robbing the Orioles of a home run.
• Charles Barkley took batting practice at Citizens Bank Park. He was about as good as Neymar.
• As long as we're on other sports, new Rams quarterback Jared Goff and Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig are good friends now. Puig even caught the first pitch that Goff threw out at Dodgers Stadium.
• And finally, if you're a fan of Game Of Thrones, you're definitely going to appreciate this new way that the Pirates are announcing their lineups before the game. I'm a little surprised they do this, since last year's Wild Card game reminded me a lot of the Red Wedding. But kudos to the Pirates.

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