MLB Bullets is the star of the North

Life is bad for my blood pressure.

• Mets infielder Robinson Cano was criticized and benched for not hustling over the weekend. So on Wednesday, Cano hustled hard down to first base on a grounder to shortstop. Was he safe? Heck no, but he did strain his hamstring.
• Cano went on the injured list along with fellow Mets infielder Jeff McNeil.
• But things are looking up for the Mets as they swept the struggling Nationals. They’re only 1½ games ahead of the Marlins and even in the loss column. Barry Svrluga writes that while it’s clear that Dave Martinez is in over his head and is not the right manager for the Nats, it wouldn’t matter who was managing the team because they’re that terrible right now.
• Todd Dybas writes that the Nationals season is pretty much over.
• The Indians are falling farther and farther behind the red-hot Minnesota Twins in the AL Central and fans think this collision between fielders Oscar Mercado and Leonys Martin that led to an inside-the-park home run is a pretty fair summary of the season so far.
• Everyone talks about how this year’s Yankees had a good chance to break the single-season team home run record that they set all the way back in 2018. Instead, the Twins are on a pace to shatter the Yankees record after hitting eight home runs against the Angels yesterday. Also, the Twins have the best record in baseball.
• Neil Paine looks at the decline and fall of the San Francisco Giants dynasty. And he argues that yes, 2010 to 2016 was a dynasty for the Giants.
• The Rays have fallen out of first in the AL East, but they’re still in contention and would be the first wild card team if the season ended today. But they’re also still last in the American League in attendance and Jayson Stark examines whether or not there is a future for Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay area. (The Athletic sub. req.) As Stark points out, the financial problems go far beyond the “they have a crappy ballpark in downtown St. Petersburg” problem that everyone talks about, although that is clearly problem number one.
• Following up on the Carter Stewart story from last time, Bob Nightengale speaks to Scott Boras (Stewart’s agent) about Stewart’s decision to go to Japan and how the MLB draft system is designed to exploit amateur talent.
• Since there is no international draft to exploit foreign talent, MLB’s plans to institute an amateur draft are beginning to take shape.
• Back in February, the Mets announced a deal with Yahoo Sports for a premium app that would provide premium coverage of the Mets. But as of yet, there is no app and apparently the reason is that MLB has blocked it for now because other teams also want the same deal.
• MLB also is having an issue with all the pitchers ending up on the IL with “fake injuries” designed to stretch a team’s bullpen without risking exposing a player to waivers. As Stephanie Apstein writes, it’s not going to be easy to enforce it, however, since pretty much every MLB pitcher has some medical definition of an injury all the time.
• Dave Sheinin writes about the problem with increasing velocity and how it’s taking the action of the game.
• Paul Lukas speaks with Afghanistan-veteran Nick Francona (son of Terry) about what is wrong with MLB’s Memorial Day activities and the camouflage apparel that they sell. Also, MLB’s lack of transparency about “a portion of the proceeds” going to veterans groups.
• On the other hand, check out these nice “Union Jack” Yankees and Red Sox caps designed for the upcoming London Series. Unfortunately, the teams won’t be wearing these caps on the field, but they’re available for sale. Of course, you’re probably going to want to wait until 2020 when they’ll have Union Jack Cubs and Cardinals caps.
• Ever wonder what infield dirt is made out of? Or how it’s made? Stephanie Springer has your answers.
• Sam Miller talks about the “five-tool player” and how Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich isn’t one of them, despite many people calling him one. (Yelich has a weak arm.) Miller gives a good outline of what we mean when we talk about a “five-tool player” and how maybe the term ought to be redefined if it excludes someone like Yelich.
• Alden Gonzalez writes about how the Dodgers feed off of the “youthful enthusiasm” of rookie outfielder Alex Verdugo.
• Eric Stephen looks at the mythology of the .400 hitter and how Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger has managed to chase that number all season.
• Will Leitch writes about eight teams that are either over performing or underperforming.
• The Mets traded outfielder Keon Broxton to the Orioles for international bonus cap room.
• Because the son of one Hall-of-Famer isn’t enough, the Blue Jays are promoting second baseman Cavan Biggio to the majors today. (Son of Craig Biggio, of course.) Next step? Lobby Cooperstown to induct Dante Bichette.
• Ben Clemens tries to find a starting pitcher who would make a great multi-inning reliever.
• The White Sox turned a triple play against the Astros.
• Broadcaster Mario Impemba talks about making the transition from Tigers television to Red Sox radio.
• An Uber driver made an unforgettable trip when he drove Mets outfielder Rajai Davis from Triple-A Allentown, PA to Citi Field in Queens. It was a $283.86 fare with a $47.31 tip. Also, I’m reminded of how close “Rajai Davis” came to being a swear word around here.
• Former Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams is lobbying Congress for increased spending on music and arts education. Williams has released two jazz albums since he retired.
• LSU advanced in the SEC baseball tournament when two runs scored on a walk-off wild pitch.
• And finally, this could be a Cub Tracks item and I hope it will be on Sunday. But since it’s written just as much or more from the Phillies point of view, I’m including it here. Meghan Montemurro has an oral history of the famous 23-22 Phillies win over the Cubs at Wrigley on May 17, 1979. I was home sick from school that day.

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