MLB Bullets looks to the future

Congratulations to France on their second World Cup title.

The Cardinals not having fired a manager since Joe Torre in ‘95 is impressive, but the University of Iowa hasn’t fired a head football coach since 1978.

• So the Cardinals fired manager Mike Matheny. Michael Baumann writes that for all the problems that Matheny had as an in-game tactician, in the end Matheny was fired for being a bad manager of people.
• If you have a subscription to The Athletic, this Bernie Miklasz piece on Matheny’s shortcomings is pretty devastating. ($) In the end, he quotes an anonymous “member of the Cardinals family” (which, admittedly, could be anyone who ever worked for the Cardinals as a player, coach or member of the front office) comparing Joe Maddon to Matheny a few days before Matheny was sacked. The source says “He [Maddon] comes to the ballpark happy. The players are happy to see him. They want to be around him. Happy people.” and “Our guy [Matheny] just keeps stressing people out.”
• Emma Baccellieri lists the many problems that lead to Matheny’s sack.
• Craig Calcaterra offers his take on why the Cardinals canned Matheny.
• Dan Szymborski examines Matheny’s handling of the Cardinals bullpen, another aspect of his managing style that has been heavily criticized.
• R.J. Anderson lists ten candidates for the Cardinals job of various seriousness. It won’t be Yadier Molina and as good as he’d probably be in the job, it won’t be Dusty Baker (the fanbase hates him from his time with the Cubs and Reds). But one interesting name I’ve heard mentioned that Anderson didn’t mention is Tim Wallach. But again, it seems like having some sort of tie to the Cardinals is going to be a pre-requisite.
• If you’ve got that Athletic subscription, then read Ken Rosenthal’s take on how far the once-mighty Cardinals have fallen. ($)
• Mike Axisa notes that while firing Matheny was a step in the right direction, the Cardinals still have a lot of problems that the team doesn’t have an answer for.
• One quick other managerial note. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said that he would “talk” with outfielder Bryce Harper about his failure to run out a ground ball, although Harper didn’t want to discuss it with the press, at least.
• Over to the future of the game that is the Futures Game. Did you watch the Futures Game yesterday? No? Probably because it started AT THE SAME TIME AS THE CUBS GAME in San Diego. (Sorry to yell.) Matt Snyder agrees with me: it’s past time to give the Futures Game a more prominent time slot.
• Reds pitchers threw 19 pitches in the Futures Game on Sunday that were over 100 mph. (White Sox prospect Luis Alexander Basabe actually hit one of those pitches for a home run, which led to a few White Sox fans to accuse Keith Law of being biased and a jerk for saying that Basabe “cheated on the fastball,” obviously clueless to what it means to “cheat” on a fastball.)
• We all know that Anthony Rizzo went to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL and that he’s done what he can to help the students there move on from the atrocity committed on their school grounds. But Futures Game participant (and Athletics prospect) Jesus Luzardo also went to that school and wore special cleats in the Futures Game to honor their memory. He’s also raising money for a scholarship in the name of the school’s slain athletic director.
• Jorge L. Ortiz looks at the issues that Venezuelan minor leaguers face as they have to leave their troubled homeland. Even before they make it to the US, they usually spend time in the Dominican Republic where they can speak the language at least, but it’s still a different culture far from home.
• And Jeff Passan examines the Instagram account “Minor League Grinders” that looks at the crummy life of a minor leaguer with some humor.
• Tim Brown looks at all the odd jobs that minor leaguers take to make ends meet.
• Gabe Lacques profiles Angels outfield prospect Jo Adell, whom the Halos hope will join Mike Trout as a second superstar Angel in the outfield.
• The Futures Game was also served as a menu for the nearby Orioles who are looking to deal shortstop Manny Machado.
• That’s as good a transition as any to look at the latest Machado rumors. It sounds like the Phillies, Dodgers and Brewers are the finalists and the deal could get done before the All-Star break ends.
• Jon Heyman notes that the Brewers are getting “more aggressive” in their pursuit of Machado.
• Heyman also thinks that the Nationals could “revisit” trade talks with the Marlins over catcher J.T. Realmuto.
• Dodgers (but c’mon, always Phillies) second baseman Chase Utley announced he will retire at the end of the season. Bill Baer has an appreciation of Utley and his baseball career.
• Jay Jaffe looks at the Hall of Fame chances of Utley. Jaffe seems to think he’s got a solid chance, but he’s no sure thing.
• Eric Stephen makes the case for Utley’s induction.
• Craig Calcaterra writes that he’d vote for Utley and while he doubts he’ll fly in on the first ballot, he thinks Utley will eventually join the Hall of Fame.
• If you’re interested in tonight’s Home Run Derby, Andrew Simon writes about what Statcast says about each of the participants. Plus some other observations.
• R.J. Anderson has six thoughts about the 2018 season at the All-Star Break.
• Marly Rivera looks at how Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez went from being an unheralded international signing who was expected to be just an organizational guy to an MVP candidate.
• Meg Rowley explains why she’s a fan of Mariners shortstop Jean Segura.
• Toronto pitcher Marcus Stroman exploded in a postgame press conference and called the Blue Jays “Effing Terrible,” except that he didn’t say “effing.”
• Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo’s consecutive on-base streak has now reached 51 games. (That link says 50, but he reached on Sunday to make it 51.)
• Last season Ken Giles was the closer for the World Series Champion Houston Astros. As of last Wednesday, Giles is a member of the Fresno Grizzlies and Jay Jaffe explains why he was demoted to the minors.
• Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar made a terrific diving catch and ended up on the disabled list because of it.
• Reds center fielder BIlly Hamilton climbed up the outfield wall to make what might be the catch of the year, robbing Matt Carpenter of a home run.
• Supermodel Kate Upton is expecting a little Verlander! He or she will likely come out of the womb hitting 95 on the radar gun.
• And finally, Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario has been one of the few bright spots for Minnesota this year. But this was not one of his better moments when he hit himself in the head with his own bat flip. It’s a good thing he’s playing better this year because he’d never be allowed to play in Korea with those weak bat-flip skills.

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