Outside the Confines: LA not-so-confidential

There’s a reason all the best film noir is set in Los Angeles. It’s the city’s contrast between the glitter and the grime. Also because Raymond Chandler lived there. And I suppose because the studios were there and it was easier to set them in Los Angeles than to either move production or make a set look like New York or Chicago or wherever. Although sometimes they did that anyway. But mostly it’s the glitter and the grime.

• The defending World Champion Dodgers received another big blow this weekend as shortstop Corey Seager suffered a broken hand when he was hit by a pitch.
• The only good news the Dodgers got was that Seager’s injury will not require surgery. He’s still expected to miss a month at the minimum.
• The Dodgers did acquire infielder Yoshitimo Tsutsugo from the Rays for a player to be named later or cash. They made this deal before Seager got hurt.
• The Dodgers made another big move before Seager’s injury in that they agreed to a deal with free agent Albert Pujols on Saturday. Let’s see, Pujols has two career innings at shortstop. He’s ready to step in.
• Fabian Ardaya and Molly Knight examine what Pujols’ role will be with the Dodgers and why Pujols might have agreed to it. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• Alden Gonzalez explains how Pujols can possibly help the Dodgers, if he’s willing to take up a minor supporting role. (ESPN+ sub. req.)
• Nick Selbe writes that the Dodgers are giving Pujols one last shot at a “dignified exit.”
• The Rays actually traded two players to Los Angeles, with the reliever Hunter Strickland going to the Angels. The weird thing is that they got the same player for both trades: “Player to be named later or cash considerations.” They must really like that guy.
• Alden Gonzalez notes that Angels outfielder Mike Trout is having the best season of his career and that Trout’s dad predicted that he would. (ESPN+ sub. req.)
• Ashley MacLennan probably won’t mind if I link to her story that the Tigers are currently quite bad and that they should really be better.
• R.J. Anderson looks at some reasons why the Tigers have been so bad and argues that the team has to consider replacing general manager Al Avila.
• Staying in the AL Central, Jesse Rogers argues that the White Sox are both the best and most interesting team in baseball.
• Sticking with the White Sox, Steve Greenberg catches up with former Pale Hose great and manager Robin Ventura, who is going back to Oklahoma State to finish his undergraduate degree. He’s also a volunteer assistant for the Cowboys’ baseball team.
• Here’s a list of the most pleasant surprise for each MLB team and why it’s Matt Duffy. OK, it’s only Matt Duffy for one team. But it should be for all 30 teams.
• Jay Jaffe notes that the COVID outbreaks on the Yankees and Padres show that the pandemic is not quite over yet and that it is still having an impact on the game in 2021.
• Should baseball get rid of the dropped-third-strike rule?
• Bob Nightengale finds former commissioner Bud Selig who said “Do you miss me yet?” he supports MLB’s current efforts to modernize and improve the game.
• Ben Clemens looks at Padres reliever Pierce Johnson who is succeeding this year by throwing his curveball a lot. No, I mean A LOT.
• Andrew Simon has the most random Hall of Famer that played for each MLB team. Stuff like “Mike Piazza played for the Marlins.”
• Top Orioles prospect Adley Rutschman hit a home run off his own face in the scoreboard.
• Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw demonstrates how he can hold six baseballs in one hand at the same time.
• And finally, Reds slugger Nick Castellanos hit a home run on Saturday and then fist-bumped a fan behind home plate. He then let the fan explain why he got that fist bump after the game. Let’s just say the commissioner might not be happy with the reason.

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