MLB Bullets is a mile high

Let’s see if this goes better today.

• The best story I’ve read this week is this piece by Scott Eden on the lives of “lost” Cuban baseball players who have left Cuba for the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Many of these players were convinced to leave the island by smugglers who promise them that big MLB contracts are waiting for them, but the truth is that many of them simply aren’t good enough. Then they’re stuck in a foreign country illegally with little to no means of support.
• That story was part of ESPN’s Béisbol Experience series, and you can read a “50-man” interview with Latin players about what life has been like for them as baseball players in America.
• Another part of that series is this interview with Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, in which, among other things, he reveals why he loved the Denny’s in Missoula, Montana so much.
• While we’re on the Rockies, Manny Randhawa reminds us that the Rockies are for real.
• Will Leitch thinks that Nolan Arenado’s walkoff home run could be the 2017 Rockies signature moment and writes about what that means. He does admit you never really know what a “signature moment” until much later.
• This really belongs in Cub Tracks and I’m sure Duane will have it tomorrow, but do you really want to wait that long to see Javier Baez naked? (Don’t worry, it’s tastefully done as part of the ESPN “Body Issue.”)
• Umpire Joe West became just the third umpire in MLB history to work 5000 games.
• Jeff Passan has a talk with West about his “notoriety.” Usually these sorts of pieces work to humanize their subject, but this is “Country” Joe West we’re talking about.
• Bob Nightengale speaks with West about the state of the game today.
• Tom Verducci doesn’t seem to be much of a fan of the game today either. He blames the amount of dead time that we all bemoan, but he also really hates the “three true outcomes” strategy of today’s game.
• Tim Kurkjian predicts what the game will look like in 2037.
• Justin Verlander wants MLB to admit the balls are juiced. (h/t Hardball Talk)
• For as angry as he was over the play at the plate Monday night with Anthony Rizzo, Padres manager Andy Green says the team isn’t going to throw at Rizzo, calling such retaliation “asinine.”
• Yankees manager Joe Girardi thinks the new home plate collision rule is causing more injuries than it is preventing.
• Girardi is specifically upset about the injury to their top prospect, Gleyber Torres, which came after a slide into home plate. Dayn Perry looks at the Yankees third base options that don’t include Torres.
• Mark Feinsand has some trade targets for the Yankees over the next month.
• Dave Cameron breaks down which teams should be buyers and which should be selling.
• Ken Rosenthal has some trade advice for the Athletics, Tigers and Orioles.
• Chris Bahr has seven deals made this past offseason that teams already regret.
• Tommy Stokke says the Braves don’t regret acquiring Brandon Phillips.
• Paul Swydan notes that Edwin Encarnacion and the rest of the Indians lineup is breaking out and has some ideas about why.
• Ben Lindbergh argues that the Brewers were able to rebuild without going through a full “tanking” period through some smart moves.
• Zach Kram looks at why Clayton Kershaw has had issues with giving up home runs recently.
• The Orioles pitching staff set an American League record by allowing five or more runs in 16 straight games.
• In good Birds news, Jonathan Bernhardt thinks that this season is a real breakout year for second baseman Jonathan Schoop.
• Travis Sawchik anoints Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen as the new Mariano Rivera.
• How many of the current top home run hitters can you name?
• Mark Simon notes that to be a Mets fan is to suffer and to suffer is to be a Mets fan. So he has a short history of Mets misery.
• The Red Sox put third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the disabled list with an ear infection, because the commissioner told them that “suckitis” is a made-up disease.
• When he returns from the DL, the Braves may put Freddie Freeman at third base. So you’re going to make your All-Star first baseman play a position he hasn’t played since five games in rookie ball in 2007 just so you can get Matt Adams’ bat in the lineup? #thatsbarves
• Grant Brisbee notes that some teams are good at finding shortstops and some aren’t.
• The Twins signed Dillon Gee to a minor league contract. I think you’re swell.
• MLB has teamed up with Northeastern University for a program to help players finish their college degrees. (Or even just start working on one.)
• Jose Altuve swung so hard at a pitch he ended up on his rear.
• And finally, because I can’t get enough of it. Even though it was in Cub Tracks yesterday and the Minor League Wrap two days ago, here is Eloy Jimenez breaking a bulb on the outfield tower during a home run derby. There’s a slightly better view of the bulb breaking at this link.

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