MLB Bullets is in the center of things

I am personally surprised at how many people seem open to the idea of ties in Minor League Baseball. I’ve advocated for it for a few years now but until now I’ve only seen a positive response from broadcasters, who understandably aren’t fans of long extra-innings games. But I’m seeing a lot of people, and not just here, say “just call it a ‘tie’” instead of adopting the “man on second to start the inning” rule.

Basketball? We ain’t got no basketball. We don’t need no basketball. I don’t have to show you any stinking basketball!

• I’ve already covered the big news of the week with the rules changes in Minor League Baseball. Craig Calcaterra notes what I’ve noted: the reaction of baseball fans to the idea of runners starting on second base in extra innings has been extraordinarily negative.
• Calcaterra also imagines what would have happened to famous ball games if this extra inning rule were in effect in the majors, thus stealing an idea from our own Sara Sanchez. (I’m not serious. It’s sad I have to say that.) Although Calcaterra does point out that Jack Morris likely never gets into the Hall of Fame under this rule.
• The Mariners poked fun at the new mound-visits rule in one of a series of new commercials about the 2018 season. The Mariners and the Athletics have always been the kings of these clever commercials for the team. Must be something about the cold saltwater air.
• Zach Kram profiles how the Astros are put together and how baseball is currently being dominated by a few “superteams.” Kram also explains why he thinks this era in baseball history is likely temporary.
• Even though there are seven teams in MLB right now that seem to be head and shoulders above everyone else this year, Anthony Castrovince has seven more teams that could “Cinderella” their way to the World Series this year.
• Jon Heyman lists five teams that could still get better this spring by signing one of the two remaining major free agent pitchers. Of course, every team would probably get better by signing either Greg Holland or Alex Cobb, but these are the teams that would benefit the most.
• Jim Finch has the most underrated players in the NL West.
• Will Leitch looks at the ten oldest players in MLB this season.
• Jeff Sullivan writes that we are in an “era of experimentation” in baseball and that’s had a major impact on the course of this winter, including the free agent signings.
• Rob Mains and Pete Palmer looked over the data on “clutch hitting” again and once again concluded that there is no evidence that it is a replicable skill.
• Sad news as Ed Charles, a member of the 1969 Miracle Mets, has died at the age of 84.
• And legendary University of Texas head coach Augie Garrido has died at the age of 79 after suffering a stroke. He won five College World Series between his time coaching the Longhorns and the Cal-State Fullerton Titans and was the all-time winningest head coach in college baseball.
• Diamondbacks starter Zack Greinke may miss the season opener with a groin injury.
• The Mariners are dealing with several injuries this spring and now both Jean Segura and Ichiro Suzuki are dealing with leg problems.
• Orioles DH Mark Trumbo will miss three-to-four weeks with a quad strain.
• Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is dealing with a wrist issue and Craig Calcaterra notes that the team is “Mets-ing” it up again.
• Roger Cormier believes that the Mets plan for Tim Tebow is to trade him to a Florida team this summer.
• Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge told Orioles infielder Manny Machado that he would “look good in pinstripes,” not realizing that saying that was a tampering violation. It sounds like Judge got off with a warning, but Judge did say “lesson learned.”
• “The Roadrunner” Ralph Garr was a star for the Braves in the early-70s and is currently a scout for the team. (You might remember him with the White Sox as well.) Garr thinks so highly of top prospect Ronald Acuna that he compares Acuna to his former teammate Hank Aaron. Garr thinks that barring injury, Acuna is Cooperstown-bound, which is a lot to put on a kid who hasn’t played a major league game yet.
• Tim Lincecum talked to Bob Nightengale about why he wasn’t ready to retire and why he couldn’t sign with the Dodgers. Lincecum, not Nightengale. I’m sure Nightengale would sign with the Dodgers if the money was right.
• Tommy Stokke believes that the Phillies had nothing to lose by signing Jake Arrieta. It’s not like they had plans for that $75 million anyway.
• David Laurila speaks with Mariners general manager Jerry DiPoto about the direction he’s taking the team in 2018 and why they made the move for Dee Gordon to play center field. From what I hear so far, Gordon has looked good out there, at least for someone who had never played the outfield before.
• Tim Brown talks with Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson and notes that Brinson is the poster-child for the new Fish. In many ways the success of the Marlins rebuild depends on the success of Brinson.
• Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez remembers the time that his sister got him tickets for the Yankees and Red Sox at Fenway Park for his 19th birthday. Not only did she get him tickets, she got him Mike Lowell’s tickets and Martinez says he still hasn’t met Lowell to thank him.
• David Schoenfield has the biggest postseason upset in the history of each franchise. That’s rough, considering that the Cubs went from 1908 to 2003 without winning a single postseason series. Of course, it’s easy to call the Nationals one and only postseason series win, back when they were the Expos.
• New Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna has a reputation as a “bat-stealer” and apparently he has his eyes on some Dexter Fowler model bats this year.
• First it was Taijuan Walker with the tacos. Now Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra grilled some postgame carne asada for all his teammates.
• And finally, when it came time for the Royals to take their team picture, bench coach Dale Sveum was gone on a medical appointment. So the team had actor Jim Caviezel take his place in the team photo. Yes, there were many “Jesus” jokes to be had, but this is going to make a good story in 20 years when someone asks “Why is “Jesus” in the 2018 Royals team photo?”

And tomorrow is going to be a better day than today, Buster.