MLB Bullets is an All-Star

Cheer up, Brazil. Losing 2-1 is certainly better than 7-1.

• Here is a round-up of your 2018 Major League All-Stars, along with write-ups for each player. (Roster subject to change.)
• David Adler and Andrew Simon have some facts and figures from the All-Star rosters.
• Marly Rivera notes that the Braves have two starters for the first time since 2003 and four overall, which is a sign that the Braves are back. (By the way, Chipper Jones did not make the All-Star Game in 2003. The two starters were Javy Lopez and Gary Sheffield.)
• One of the 2018 Braves’ All-Stars is Nick Markakis, and Jack Baer looks at Markakis’ comebac year.
• If you’re puzzled as to how the All-Star rosters are selected, Eric Stephen has a primer.
• One of the reasons I’ve soured on the All-Star Game (and the Hall of Fame) is that it doesn’t seem like we honor players with a selection anymore, we only “snub” those who aren’t selected. With that said, here’s Emma Baccellieri’s list of All-Star snubs.
• Jorge L. Ortiz has eight players who were “snubbed” from the All-Star Game.
• David Schoenfield looks at All-Star “snubs” (this is getting lazy) with a focus on the Rays Blake Snell. At least Schoenfield explains why Snell didn’t get named to the team.
• Marc Topkin goes into more depth on Snell’s “snub” and explains that he will likely be named to the team later this week as a replacement selection.
• Bob Nightengale defends the All-Star selection of Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.
• Max Muncy is one of the players in the “Final Vote” campaign. TIm Brown talks to the Dodgers first baseman about how he went from almost quitting the game a few years ago to possibly an All-Star.
• Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez made the All-Star Game and Matt Snyder thinks 29 other teams look pretty stupid for not signing Martinez over this past winter.
• Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo also made his first All-Star Game and Jay Jaffe examines the consecutive game on-base streak that sent Mr. Choo to Washington. (Also, that on-base streak is up to 47 games.)
• Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain made his second All-Star Game as a reserve. Ben Lindbergh notes that Cain is having the best year of his career by learning to be more selective at the plate.
• Grant Brisbee has some ideas of who should compete in the Home Run Derby.
• Bradford Doolittle notes that despite the cries of baseball being a sport in trouble with declining attendance, MLB had a big boom in attendance over the Fourth of July. Also, Doolittle notes that contrary to predictions that the sport is dying, minor league attendance has been slowly increasing. That indicates to me that attendance is dragging because 1) too many teams are “tanking” and not competitive, and 2) MLB is charging too much for tickets and trying to appeal too much to the “high-end” fan who can drop thousands on a single game.
• There was a trade as the Giants dealt outfielder Austin Jackson and pitcher Cory Gearrin, along with minor league prospect Jason Bahr to the Rangers for a player to be named later. And yes, his parents are real procrastinators. Also, this is a salary dump and the Rangers are buying a prospect.
• Jorge L, Ortiz explains how for the Giants, this deal is about freeing up money to spend of free agents this winter. It also allows the Giants to promote two minor leaguers who are probably better than Jackson and Gearrin.
• The Orioles reportedly have seven offers for shortstop Manny Machado. On of those seven is from the Cubs, although the Cubs’ offer was ranked as the least-attractive according to a source talking to Eduardo Encina. However, that source said all the offers were pretty close.
• The Dodgers and the Brewers are reportedly the most serious suitors for Machado.
• Bradford Doolittle looks at the possible trade market for Reds pitcher Matt Harvey and whether or not the Reds should even deal him in the first place. (Hint: yes.)
• Matt Snyder writes that the Yankees need to add another starting pitcher before the trade deadline. Matt Harvey, maybe? Probably not.
• The Red Sox are reportedly interested in Twins reliever Fernando Rodney.
• Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia has been reinstated after serving two seasons of his “lifetime” ban.
• Mariners second baseman (?) Robinson Cano spoke publicly for the first time about his PED suspension.
• Mariners catcher Mike Marjama retired so he could take a job with the National Eating Disorder Foundation. Marjama has struggled with eating disorders in his past.
• Nationals manager Dave Martinez is upset at the bat flip by Nats catcher Pedro Severino after a home run. Oh, Dave. You’ve been in DC less than a year and they’ve already corrupted you.
• Shakela Taylor has an interesting piece on 19th Century black baseball and the Civil War, as well as the fight for equality in the aftermath of the war.
• Angels pitcher (and all-time Iowa Cubs career saves leader) Blake Parker.

• And finally, last time we discussed Rays outfielder Carlos Gomez and his assault and battery of a Gatorade cooler. Gomez has apologized to coolers everywhere and asks them to forgive him.

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