MLB Bullets is hip to the technology

Good morning. Try to be nice to everyone. We’re all upset over the weekend.

• You know, there’s a lot of crappy news that I have to link to today and don’t worry, I’ll get to it. But let’s start out with this optimistic piece by Ben Lindbergh that demonstrates that we’re watching the greatest baseball players in the history of the game and it’s not really even up for debate. I mean, you can debate whether Adam Ottavino would strike out Babe Ruth every single time, but there’s little debate that Ruth never had to face a pitcher as good as Ottavino in his entire career. And there are many pitchers in the game today even better than Ottavino.
• Tom Verducci reports on how teams are using modern technology to make those players as good as they possibly can be. The game has changed a lot in just the past five years and is likely to change even more in the next five. Possibly as soon as this season, according to people quoted by Verducci, some teams are going to have the ability to have their hitters face pitchers through virtual reality. (And by the way, the article says that only the Dodgers spend more money on research and technology than the Cubs.)
• One of those great players of today is Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper and Katie Baker has a profile of Harper as the rare baseball “celebrity” in the game today.
• Turning to the less positive news. Jeff Passan has a piece that’s well worth your while on the state of the game today, including the economics, the precarious labor situation and the “existential dread” that MLB faces in the competition for the next generation of eyeballs.
• Marc Carig reports that MLB has been handing out a “championship belt” to the front office team that does the most to keep down the salaries of their arbitration-eligible players. (The Athletic sub. req.) At least one player said that he was ready to strike tomorrow.
• If you can’t read The Athletic article or you just want more information, Jesse Yomtov reports that the union issued a strong condemnation of this gloating.
• Passan tells one anecdote about Padres Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado lobbying owner Ron Fowler to bring shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. up to the majors on Opening Day. Fowler insists the dinner described by Passan never happened and that the decision on Tatis was made by him and his front office alone.
• It turns out that MLB doesn’t just treat their minor league athletes poorly. As this piece by Laura Wagner details, employees of MLB Advanced Media were treated like dirt as well. (To be clear, MLBAM and MLB are run as separate entities, sort of. MLBAM is jointly owned by MLB owners.)
• Jay Rigdon has some explanation as to why MLB is interested in purchasing the former Fox Sports Regional Sports Networks.
• Collin Kannenberg writes about the approach broadcasters take to integrating modern statistics into their telecasts.
• The Red Sox and shortstop Xander Bogaerts are finalizing a six-year, $120 million contract extension. This is on top of the $12 million that Bogaerts is scheduled to make this season.
• The Padres are talking with free agent pitcher Dallas Keuchel.
• I know you don’t want to hear this, but Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich tied an MLB record by homering in his first four games of the season.
• With the first weekend of the regular season under our belts, it’s time for our first butcher’s bill of the season. Brewers closer Corey Knebel will undergo Tommy John surgery and is out for all of 2019.
• Angels outfielder Justin Upton will miss eight-to-twelve weeks after ramming his toe into the outfield wall at Angels Stadium.
• And Rockies infielder (and former Cub) Daniel Murphy will head to the IL (still getting used to that) with a fractured finger.
• Mariners closer Hunter Strickland will miss “at least couple of months” with a lat strain.
• Unfortunately, there was another incident at Dodger Stadium as a man is on life-support with a fractured skull after an attack in the parking lot.
• I linked to this earlier when he was arrested, but former three-time All-Star John Wetteland has now been indicted on three charges of aggravated sexual assault on a child. The child in question was four when the assaults allegedly began.
• What good is the Opening Weekend of baseball if we don’t overreact? Dayn Perry has some “snap judgements” from the early games.
• Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale had a terrible first start and Jon Tayler evaluates whether there is real reason for concern over Sale.
• R.J. Anderson reacts to the early returns on some players who switched teams this winter.
• The Phillies are off to a good start with a sweep of the Braves. Devan Fink points out the strength of the depth of the Phillies lineup.
• Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo reminds Sun Min Kim of another secret player from baseball’s past . . .oh what the heck, I’ll spoil it for you. It’s Bobby Abreu, which is high praise indeed.
• Padres rookie pitcher Chris Paddack was strong in his MLB debut. . .
• Except he had what he thought was his first major league hit and his first major league RBI taken away when he was thrown out at first base by right fielder Gerardo Parra. Those 9-3 putouts are always embarrassing.
• Alden Gonzalez tells the story of Angels outfielder Mike Trout’s career though the backs of his baseball cards.
• Jack Todd has an update on the efforts to bring the Expos back to Montréal. They’re making progress.
• The Phillie Phanatic ambushed Alex Rodriguez in the ESPN booth last night.
• Bryce Harper wore Phillie Phanatic cleats on Opening Day, so the Phillie Phanatic responded by wearing shoes with Harper’s face on them.
• In case you weren’t watching yesterday’s game, you missed an embarrassing loss. You also missed Randy Rosario catching a Kyle Schwarber home run in his cap.
• Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier wore his Spring Training uniform for Sunday’s game by accident. Although he claimed he was trying to make it warmer.
• And finally, here’s one of the worst first pitches of all time as “Roxy the dinosaur” tried to throw the pitch and ended up just dropping the ball instead.

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