MLB Bullets can’t help but Judge

Good morning Wednesday. Just to let you know, nobody visits FoxSports.com since their “pivot to video.”

• Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 49th and 50th home runs to break Mark McGwire’s home run record for rookies.
• Jeff Sullivan quantifies exactly how good a season Judge is having. I could say he “judges” Judge’s season.
• Cliff Corcoran ranks Judge’s year among the best seasons for a rookie ever.
• Craig Calcaterra takes those who are too cynical to appreciate the record to task.
• Bob Klapisch believes Judge should be the American League Most Valuable Player.
• If you want further evidence that Shohei Otani is coming to MLB next season, he’s interviewing possible agents, reports Jon Heyman.
• A new app will allow you to experience an “augmented reality” experience with StatCast data on your tablet at the ballpark.
• Craig Calcaterra thinks this all sounds really cool, but aren’t we putting fans in danger from foul balls while they use this app?
• On that note, the Giants are the latest team to announce that they will extend the netting next year. No word from Tom about the Cubs.
• Ben Reiter talks with a man whose life was probably saved by Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice in 1982 after having been struck in the head with a foul ball at Fenway Park when he was four years old.
• Mets manager Terry Collins says he will not retire at the end of this season and that he wants to stay with the Mets.
• However, it has been widely reported that the Mets will look for a new manager this winter and there is list of five early candidates, including former White Sox manager Robin Ventura. What in Ventura’s five years managing the White Sox gives anyone the idea that he’d be a good choice? It seems his candidacy is based solely on the fact that he used to play for the Mets. In other words, the same reason the White Sox hired him.
• Phillies manager Pete Mackanin doesn’t know if he’ll be back in 2018.
• The Braves are more likely than not to bring back manager Brian Snitker, primarily because the players love him.
• Buster Olney lists some postseason matchups he’d like to see. I’ll take Cubs and Indians again, thank you.
• Grant Brisbee lists the secret behind the Twins making the playoffs this year after losing 103 games last year. (Psst. They’re playing better. They’re also luckier. Then there is the second Wild Card.)
• Jeff Sullivan debates himself about whether or not it would be a good thing if the Twins won the World Series this year.
• The Angels have been making some odd lineup decisions that seem to be aimed at avoiding paying out bonuses.
• In reference to the Angels situation and other things, Henry Druschel says that team owners are the worst and they don’t deserve to own teams.
• Still Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons is still a wizard on defense.
• Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks robbed Rays catcher Wilson Ramos of a grand slam in his first game off the disabled list.
• R.J. Anderson argues that the Orioles need to add starting pitchers next season to give them one last chance to win before Manny Machado leaves.
• Sam Mellinger tells Royals fans to enjoy the players who returned the team to glory one last time before they all leave this offseason.
• Mike Axisa thinks the Mets need a lot more than just good health to compete in 2018.
• Matt Snyder calls for the Blue Jays to deal Josh Donaldson and get younger. Snyder doesn’t argue for a full rebuild, but more of a minor one.
• Jon Tayler believes that Miguel Cabrera’s poor play and massive contract will hinder the Tigers rebuild for years to come.
• Red Sox Chris Sale gave up four home runs last night and Whitney McIntosh thinks that just might cost him the AL Cy Young Award to Cory Kluber.
• Steven Goldman examines how to evaluate a great pitching season in light of new statistics and changing pitching roles.
• Jeff Sullivan looks at the adjustments that James Shields has made that turned him into an OK pitcher this season, after having been a terrible one last year.
• Jorge L. Ortiz has 12 players who have had an under-the-radar terrific 2017 season.
• The Nationals activated Bryce Harper off the disabled list and he played five innings last night as they ease him back into playing shape.
• Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was benched for being late to a workout.
• Major League Baseball issued a statement on President Trump’s travel ban, which includes some Venezuelans. The statement is essentially “We’re asking the State Department for clarification.” Most observers don’t think this order will affect baseball players, but there is much uncertainty.
• Someone stole Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer’s drone. After last October, Craig Calcaterra suspects it was Terry Francona or someone like that.
• Here’s a bat flip by former Mariners first baseman Dae-Ho Lee in KBO.
• And finally, there was a video that went viral from an episode of Jeopardy this week in which a woman guessed that pro football Hall-of-Famer Marcus Allen played for the “Colorado Rockies.” But as it turns out, someone named Marcus Allen actually does work for the Rockies! It’s not the same guy, however. (Duh.)

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