Outside The Confines: The 300 Club

Welcome to the last Wednesday of June, BCB friends. I can’t believe it’s officially summer and the All-Star break is just around the corner.

In today’s OTC we’ve got some fun stuff waiting for you including a major milestone for a Dodgers hitter, and a question of whether or not we’re treating Luis Arraez’s potential milestone season seriously enough.

We also have some less than awesome news on the health front for a manager and a pitcher.

And in the “just for fun” realm, see what happens when a soccer goaltender takes batting practice with the Cardinals; and enjoy an incredible slide that makes you wonder how baseball players make it look so easy.

Now let’s get on to today’s links!

• Brittany Ghiroli looks at the female umpire poised to break into MLB. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Bill Shaikin would like to know what happened to the Angels' tradition of lighting the big A.
• Thomas Pringle looks at the true success of the recent London Series.
• Dan Szymborski looks at who the Angels might be shopping for this trade season.
• It seems fitting that Luis Arraez is hovering at .399 at Fenway. Story by Christina De Nicola.
• Tom Verducci thinks we aren’t paying enough attention to Arraez’s potential accomplishment.
• Guardians’ manager Terry Francona will miss at least one game after feeling unwell and heading to a hospital for further testing. Story by Jeff Passan.
• This is bad, right?

• Kevin Sweeney looked at how Jays fans reacted to Manoah’s terrible outing.
• With the draft coming, Michael Baumann looks at the times when just one look from a scout can make all the difference.
• Henry Palattella shares what happens when a baseball team and a soccer team come together on the same field.
• David Schoenfield assesses the best draft classes of all time.
• J.D. Martinez has joined the 300-home run club. Story by Juan Toribio.
• Dan Gartland brings us as close to getting hit by a pitch as I’d ever like to get.
• If you want fun baseball, watch Tigers’ fielder Matt Vierling make an incredible slide in second. What a move.
• In less optimal news for the Tigers, starting pitcher Matthew Boyd will be getting Tommy John surgery. (ESPN).
• Something to look forward to later today if you like schadenfreude I suppose.

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