MLB Bullets is getting called up in September

You just try watching an MLB game, an NFL game and two MiLB playoff games at the same time.

• As we edge towards the end of the season, David Schoenfield has 25 things to look for over the final 25 days.
• This article caused a bit of a stir on social media yesterday as Molly Knight looks at which 20 MLB players are giving their employers the most production in relation to their salary. (The Athletic sub. req.) It’s a “Bang-for-your-buck” article which wouldn’t have caused much of a stir except that Knight provocatively asks if MVP voters should take a player’s salary into consideration. (The answer is a definitive “no” and to be fair, Knight is just asking the question, not arguing in favor of it.)
• The Dodgers set a new National League record for home runs in a season with 250. They now go after the major league record for home runs that was set by the Minnesota Twins way back in last week.
• Bob Nightengale profiles Dodgers rookie catcher Will Smith, who has been arguably the best catcher in the game since getting called up for good at the end of July. Also, Smith admits he’s looking forward to facing Giants reliever Will Smith, whom he’s never met yet. Maybe the two of them can go catch a showing of “Independence Day” together.
• Zach Kram looks at whether the Nationals strong starting rotation makes them more likely to finally win a playoff series.
• This may be the final year for that strong starting rotation as Jon Paul Morosi reports that Stephen Strasburg is likely to opt out of his contract at the end of 2019 and become a free agent.
• The Astros also have an intimidating starting rotation, including Justin Verlander. Craig Edwards notes that Verlander has been terrific this season in every respect but the amount of home runs he’s allowed. Edwards tries to break down why Verlander is giving up so many home runs.
• Several pitchers have seen their careers improve after getting traded to Houston and there is a lot of speculation as to why pitchers improve there. But Stephanie Apstein figures out the Astros secret and she writes that it’s just don’t throw pitches you don’t throw well anymore.
• While everyone seems to agree that Verlander is going to the Hall of Fame, the rating systems designed to predict who is going into Cooperstown think Verlander is a marginal candidate. Nathaniel Rakich tries to explain the discrepancy between public opinion and the stats.
• Andrew Simon has a list of players who helped themselves this season towards earning induction into the Hall of Fame.
• Sam Miller looks at which teams have had the greatest collection of talent (as measured by career WAR) in history? The answer is the 1928 Philadelphia Athletics, who added aging Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker for one last hurrah to a young team that was on the verge of the three-year American League dynasty. But Miller argues that there are other teams that may end up catching the 1928 A’s.
• Chris Bengel has the best all-time September call-up for each team.
• Tony Wolfe has an appreciation of the recently-ended 26-game hitting streak of Mets catcher Wilson Ramos.
• Stephanie Apstein has a profile of Mets rookie Pete Alonso, whom she calls “the happiest man in baseball. Yes, even playing for the Mets.
• Here’s a story you won’t want to miss if you have a subscription to The Athletic. Corey Brock writes of the friendship between Mariners teammates Daniel Vogelbach and Yusei Kikuchi. (The Athletic sub. req.) Kikuchi gave his son the middle name of “Daniel” in honor of Vogelbach. (By the way, this tracks with stuff I heard about Vogey in the Cubs minor league system. He was a team leader who made sure every new player knew that they had a friend.)
• Reds pitcher/outfielder Michael Lorenzen became the first player since Babe Ruth to be the winning pitching, play in the outfield and hit a home run in the same game.
• MLB Pipeline picks one player from each team’s minor league system who had a big season in 2019. Hey there, Robel!
• Royals general manager Dayton Moore is expected to keep his job after the sale of the team goes through.
• Astros pitcher Aaron Sanchez will have season-ending shoulder surgery.
• Blue Jays rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a little El Mago in him with this terrific slide into third base.
• Marlins pitcher Brian Moran has been in the minor leagues for ten years and he finally made his major league debut last night. And in a major-league first, he faced his younger brother Colin Moran in his debut and struck him out. It’s the first time a major league player faced his brother on the mound in his debut game.
• Another great short film from Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen, this one on the ridiculousness of the conversations between pitchers and pitching coaches on the mound. Complete with scary masks!
• And finally, we all know about the infamous “Merkle Boner” that helped the Cubs win the 1908 National League pennant. But here’s something almost as excruciating as that. An Astros minor leaguer hit a home run in a Carolina League playoff game. Or so he thought. The batter was called out for not touching home plate.

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