MLB Bullets Goes For A Walk

Puppies!

Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for NYCDogswag LLC

• I had hoped to be able to start this morning’s Bullets on a less controversial topic after the events of the past few days around here, but unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. That’s because MLB has approved the automatic intentional walk for the 2017 season, meaning we will no longer see catchers stand up, stretch out their arms and catch four easy tosses ever again. This totally ruins the game for me.
• This was agreed to just hours after commissioner Rob Manfred blasted the MLB Players’ Association for not being cooperative over his proposed rule changes. Ken Rosenthal thinks that Manfred’s comments signal the beginning of a rough period of labor relations for MLB.
• Manfred also warned that the new collective bargaining agreement gives him the ability to unilaterally implement changes in 2018.
• Manfred also said that the World Baseball Classic is here to stay and that Las Vegas is a possible destination for a future MLB team. More like Las Vegas is the possible threatened-destination for a team looking for a new stadium deal.
• Manfred is also hesitant to welcome our new robot-umpire overlords, saying that he prefers the human element in the game. That’s what we heard for years over replay from Selig. But Bill Baer agrees with Manfred, at least for now.
• If you want a full recap of everything Manfred said in his news conference, Richard Justice has one.
• MLB is also in negotiations with Facebook to stream one game a week on that social media platform.
• The final remaining “big” free agent came off the board when catcher Matt Wieters agreed to a two-year, $21 million deal with the Nationals.
• Anthony Castrovince looks at how this signing affects the Nats.
• Grant Brisbee thinks that while Wieters isn’t a great player, the Nationals have become a “superteam” anyway.
• Eddie Matz thinks the Nationals got a bargain with Wieters.
• Ken Rosenthal explains why it was always likely that Wieters was going to end up in Washington. Hey, at least he won’t have to move if he doesn’t mind a commute.
• Alex Rodriguez announced that his playing career is over. He also said that he has no desire to manage one day.
• Angels pitcher Garrett Richards avoided Tommy John surgery with a new procedure that involves the injection of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma.
• And another Angels pitcher, Matt Shoemaker, talks about getting hit in the head with a comebacker and his comeback to the mound this spring.
• Andrew Marchand notes that the Yankees plan to stick to a traditional bullpen use pattern rather than adopt the “Andrew Miller” model.
• Joe Posnanski wonders if any pitcher will win 300 games again.
• Sam Miller wonders who would be considered the best player in baseball if there were no statistics? Meaning, who would you think was the best player in the game just by looking at him? Still Mike Trout for me.
• New Dodgers pitcher Sergio Romo talks to Ken Rosenthal about going through tough times off-the-field the past few seasons and how glad he is to be wearing the blue of his favorite childhood team. Cute story in there about how Bruce Bochy had to tell Romo that his relatives couldn’t wear their Dodgers paraphernalia in the Giants’ family section.
• Romo’s new teammate, Yasiel Puig, said that he’s learning from Albert Pujols and Robinson Cano about what it takes to be one of the best players in the game. He says he realizes he needs to straighten up on- and off-the-field.
• Edwin Encarnacion thinks the Blue Jays moved on too quickly from him in free agency, but he’s happy to be in Cleveland.
• The contract extension talks between Neil Walker and the Mets are “probably dead.”
• Jeff Sullivan examines whether Eric Hosmer would be worth the Royals breaking the bank on a long-term extension.
• Mike Petrillo explains why we should expect Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke to bounce back in 2017.
• Remember when the Cubs couldn’t find a good third baseman in the era between Ron Santo and Aramis Ramirez? Well, David Schoenfield has a list of other positions that certain teams just haven’t been able to fill over the past decade.
• Paul Leibowitz notes that the Mets claim that they are “all-in” for 2017 and has some suggestions about what that means.
• Eno Sarris has ten predictions for 2017.
• Four umpires, Bob Davidson, John Hirschbeck, Jim Joyce and Tim Welke, have retired.
• Rick Ankiel revealed that he once drank vodka before a game to cure his “yips.”
• I get to do a soccer story! Andrew Ken checks in on Mike Piazza, Italian football team owner. He’s going to lead Reggiana all the way into Serie A!
• A left fielder from Stetson University ran right through the outfield wall to make a catch. It would be a better story if he had actually caught the ball and not that it bounced back into play for an inside-the-park home run.
• And finally, we finally have a sneak preview of Prince Fielder’s new cooking show “Fielder’s Choice.” Look for lots of shots of Prince eating things.

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