MLB Bullets is a star over Miami

Everyone is taking a break from baseball this week but me.

Today’s Bullets will be Smash Mouth-free.

• It’s All-Star Week and it was kicked off yesterday by the Futures Game, although you may not have noticed because MLB had 14 games going on opposite it. Matt Snyder writes that the Futures Game deserves better and should get a time slot all to itself. Amen.
• In case you did miss the Futures Game, Mike Axisa has eight things you should know from yesterday’s contest. That Eloy Jimenez went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts is not one of them.
• As far as Tuesday’s All-Star Game goes, Indians manager Terry Francona will not manage the AL All-Stars after undergoing a heart procedure and his place will be taken by his bench coach, Brad Mills.
• Joe Posnanski explains why tonight’s Home Run Derby could be one of the best ever. And he doesn’t even mention that Chris Berman won’t be there for the first time.
• Miami is hosting the All-Star Game this week and Pedro Gomez talks about Miami’s baseball history and how baseball brings this city together. He even mentions how the city is united in its distaste for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.
• Bob Nightengale reports on the tight-knit community of baseball players from South Florida and how Cubs outfielder Jon Jay was instrumental in bringing them together as the “305 Boys.”
• Here’s a great photo essay from Mike Stocker and Dave Wilson on Hugo “Juice” Tandron, who operates a “players-only” barbershop at Marlins Park. It’s the only permanent barbershop in a major league stadium and visiting players like Bryce Harper and Mike Trout swear by the place as well.
• Michael Beller explains how Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood went from the bullpen to being a All-Star.
• Jeremy Dorn wonders if we take Clayton Kershaw’s immense talent for granted.
• Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor explains why it is so important to him that his dad will be at Marlins Park to watch him play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
• Eddie Matz also gets to ask some questions to Lindor about his life off-the-field. He loves to play paintball.
• Here’s an article you should read if you’ve got a son who wants to be a baseball player. Or even if you don’t. Jared Wyllys looks into the scouting complexes and all-star travel teams that now dominate the youth baseball scene. These places charge a lot of money with the promise of being drafted or getting college scholarships. Cubs minor leaguer Thomas Hatch gets quoted in this article.
• Another good piece is on Reds assistant hitting coach Tony Jaramillo and how he succeeded in life despite both of his parents being in prison on drug charges for a good chunk of his childhood. Tony was raised, in part, by his uncle, retired major league hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and has followed in his footsteps. (h/t Hardball Talk)
• Joe Sparacio lists the top ten hitting trios in baseball today.
• Paul Skrbina has a piece on what it’s like for players to be on the majors-to-minors-to-majors treadmill.
• For some reason, the Mets are furious that a pitcher with an 8.14 ERA this season signed with the Twins.
• Craig Edwards breaks down who is and isn’t responsible for the Diamondbacks turnaround this year.
• Chris Cwik looks at how the Brewers managed to shock everyone and take over first place in the NL Central. I think the Cubs played a pretty big role in that.
• Jeff Sullivan thinks the Brewers should be buyers at the trade deadline, although they shouldn’t go crazy. Small purchases rather than big ones, Sullivan thinks.
• The Red Sox are reportedly interested in acquiring both Martin Prado and David Phelps from the Marlins.
• Scott Lauber also reports that the Red Sox need a better second half from Hanley Ramirez.
• The Yankees and Marlins have had discussions that would send first baseman Justin Bour to the Bronx, although the Fish may be reluctant to part with him.
• The Yankees need a first baseman because Greg Bird has been injured all season. Craig Calcaterra takes apart a columnist and an anonymous Yankee executive who blasted Bird for not playing. He just decided to get injured because he didn’t want to play, according to this cowardly “Yankee insider.”
• Andrew Marchand thinks that the poor play of Masahiro Tanaka could end up costing the Yankees the playoffs.
• Mike Axisa writes that not only are the Orioles having a rough season, they are sabotaging their future by not signing draft picks or international free agents.
• Chris Cotillo wonders which 15 players each team would protect if there were an expansion draft this offseason.
• Danny Duffy has been tested for drugs 12 times this season already and he’s starting to get a little loopy about it.
• Here’s a minor leaguer with an “infield triple.” OK, technically it was a three-base error, but the ball never left the infield.
• The El Paso Chihuahuas scored a run on a wacky play that someone needs to put to a Yakety-Sax soundtrack.
• And finally, Wayne Rooney returned to Everton, which I can only compare to Greg Maddux coming back to the Cubs in 2004. OK, that’s not an MLB story. Sue me. I’ll give you your money back.

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