MLB Bullets has been robbed

Some real defensive gems today.

• As we enter the final third of the season, Will Leitch breaks down the American League Wild Card race.
• Sam Miller thinks we should hope for a Dodgers/Astros World Series. I’m thinking that most of you disagree.
• Jonathan Bernhardt compares the 2017 Dodgers to the 2001 Mariners.
• Dylan Hernandez explains how Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig went from being a clubhouse problem to being well-liked this season. Kissing helped.
• It probably helps that Puig can rob home runs like this one.
• That was nice, but was it as good as White Sox outfielder Adam Engel robbing this potential home run?
• Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton didn’t rob a home run (unless maybe an inside-the-park one) but he robbed Carlos Asauje of a probable triple with a great catch.
• And this is pretty unbelievable and will go down as one of the weird injuries of all-time. Braves (or is that Barves?) shortstop Johan Camargo injured his knee as he tripped on his way out on the field to start the game.
• If you like Al’s articles where he tries to determine when and where a particular old photo was taken, you’ll like this piece on when an iconic photo of Mickey Mantle was taken.
• Michael Baumann believes that the Red Sox won the trade deadline by making smaller, but necessary moves.
• The Mariners continue to pick up players as they got reliever Ernesto Frieri from the Rangers.
• Kate Morrison wonders if the Athletics could have gotten more for first baseman Yonder Alonso.
• Morrison also notes that Astros infielder Alex Bregman is a prime example of why top prospects sometimes need some time and patience to adapt to the majors.
• Jerry Crasnick explains how Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is just getting better.
• Aaron Judge is having a much worse second half than his first half because league pitchers have changed the way they’ve pitched to Judge. No, I’m pretty sure it’s because of the Home Run Derby.
• Paul Swydan believes that the poor season of Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is likely not going to get any better and that Gonzalez should no longer be starting for a team in a playoff hunt.
• The Rockies honored their first manager, Don Baylor, by hanging his jersey in their dugout.
• Grant Brisbee has an appreciation of Baylor and the art of getting hit by a pitch.
• Nate Silver notes that major league teams are paying less and less attention to saves.
• Tony Blengino looks at the decline of the no-hit, good-field shortstop. It’s not because teams are valuing offense over defense, but rather because teams are finding shortstops who can both field and hit.
• Umpire Joe West has been suspended three games for having criticized Adrian Beltre in an article.
• Robert Murray thinks that the Brewers should pass on any potential trade for Justin Verlander.
• Last week the Brewers announced that they are exploring a new Spring Training facility in Gilbert, Arizona. But when the consultants hired by the City of Gilbert returned a report that a new stadium would cost much more than it was worth, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce went and found a different consultant who reported it would be a great deal for the city. However, it does sound like the city is listening to their own consultants and that the new stadium is dead for now. (h/t Hardball Talk)
• Before eating at a ballpark, you may want to look at these food safety ratings for all 30 MLB parks. You may want to eat before going to a Rays game. The Cubs are in the top ten, at least.
• Marc Normandin has a fun map of the all-time hit leader for players born in each state.
• Pete Rose’s time working at Fox Sports is probably over. I’m crushed.
• Former All-Star reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa has qualified for the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship.
• And finally, a minor league batter learned the hard way that what comes up, must come down when a foul ball bounced off the roof of the stadium and came back and hit him in the head. The ball was quoted as saying “See how you like it for once!”

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