MLB Bullets remembers a Pilot

A ballplayer spends a good piece of his life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time—Jim Bouton

• Baseball lost a legend when Jim Bouton died at the age of 80. Bouton was never a candidate for the Hall of Fame, although he was one of the better pitchers for the Yankees at the very end of their 1947 to 1964 dynasty. No, Bouton was best known for his year with the Seattle Pilots and the book he wrote about that season, Ball Four, which completely revolutionized the way we look at the game.
• Jonah Keri talks about the impact that Ball Four had on the game. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Tyler Kepner writes about how Bouton tore down the wall between the players and the fans and the impact that Ball Four had on him. He also shares the memories of conversations he had with Bouton when he was a young, aspiring sportswriter.
• Jay Jaffe remembers Ball Four and the impact it had on his life as well as the many conversations he had with Bouton over the years.
• Andrew Buchholz collects reaction to Bouton’s death and also remembers Bouton’s career as a sportscaster in New York in the 1970s.
• Bouton’s book was written during the 1969 season, which just happened to be the first season of divisional play. Creg Stephenson looks at the controversy over the beginnings of divisional play and the compromises that happened to split the leagues into two divisions.
• On July 20, 1969, men first walked on the moon. S.L. Price remembers that day in baseball and the special connection that brothers Gaylord and Jim Perry have with the moon and that day.
• Fast forward 50 years and, hey, it’s the 2019 season. Will Leitch has one bold prediction for each team for the second half.
• The baseball team at ESPN.com have a second-half preview.
• Craig Calcaterra has his second-half preview.
• Jon Tayler suggests the best trade that each National League team could make.
• And then Tayler suggests one great trade for each American League team.
• R.J. Anderson looks at the dilemma the Mets have over whether or not to trade Noah Syndergaard.
• Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick was suspended two games for his collision with Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
• Steve Gardner remembers some famous home-plate collisions.
• Retired Red Sox great David Ortiz underwent a third surgery after experiencing some complications during his recovery from a gunshot wound.
• The “robot umpires” in the independent Atlantic League made their debut. Johnny Flores Jr. explained how it worked and what the reaction of the players was.
• The Atlantic League is also experimenting with “stealing first base” which is basically turning any pitch not caught on the fly into a dropped third strike.
• MLB and the Players’ Association have started talking about the next collective bargaining agreement. Bob Nightengale reports that the players are angry, united and ready to strike.
• Evan Drellich outlines the issues between the two sides and writes there is little reason to believe that a work stoppage can be avoided. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• With all the controversy about the balls and how much farther they fly, Hannah Keyser asks what exactly does commissioner Rob Manfred want the baseball to do?
• David Laurila speaks with Rangers general manager Jon Daniels about their recently-completed draft.
• There is now a plaque in Surrey, England marking the spot where the first recorded baseball game was played in 1749. The Prince of Wales and the Earl of Middlesex were among the players.
• Here’s a lesson. Don’t try to catch a foul ball with your wallet unless you want to make it rain cash on the other fans.
• And finally, the Oakland Athletics wanted to honor pitcher Liam Hendricks on his first all-star game, so they took out a full-page ad in his native Australia honoring Hendricks and his all-star season. The A’s added their slogan for this season: “#RootedinOakland,” which unfortunately means something completely different in Australia than it does in America.

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