Around the League: Driving Mr. Puig, Suspending Mr. Rodriguez, Banning Mr. Le Batard

mlb logoToday, you get an Around the League in lieu of Bullets. It projects to be a busier than usual Saturday, so stay tuned for a bit more later this morning.

  • I made no bones about my frustration with Yasiel Puig’s second unbelievably-ridiculously-dangerous reckless driving arrest, so I want to be equally public in praising him for deciding to hang up his driving feet and hire a driver. If you’ve got a predilection toward unsafe driving, and you’ve got plenty of money to pay someone – a cousin, in this instance – to drive you, there’s no reason not to make this choice.
  • The arbitrator’s decision on Alex Rodriguez’s 211-game suspension will be handed down any day now, but there’s zero hour talk of Rodriguez accepting a reduced suspension in exchange for not trying to appeal – via court – any arbitrator decision. As Ken Rosenthal points out correctly in that piece, getting a federal court to hear – let alone overturn – a case about this kind of privately-agreed-upon arbitration system is a steep hurdle in the extreme. It just doesn’t happen in anything but the craziest, most extreme cases. Well, legally, I mean. I remain very interested in seeing how the Yankees react to the decision, given their probable desire to stay under the $189 million luxury tax cap. If ARod is suspended for the full year, they could do it if they wanted. If he’s not, they probably can’t. In either case, they might go nuts on Masahiro Tanaka anyway, making this all academic.
  • Yesterday, the BBWAA expectedly suspended Dan Le Batard for a year and stripped him permanently of his right to vote for the Hall of Fame. In doing so, it seems the BBWAA probably helped make Le Batard’s point – that the voting process has become ridiculous – even more strongly. Throw in the fact that other writers have long done what Le Batard did – just not as publicly, and not utilizing the reviled Deadspin – and the well-made points by Richard Justice yesterday, and the whole thing just makes me sad. Neither the baseball fan nor the writer in me want to see the BBWAA seeming so feckless, but here we are. I still don’t want to see this as an us-versus-them-new-media-versus-traditional-media thing, but that train left the station long ago. Still, I urge folks to remember: not all traditional writers are dopes, and not all new media writers are thoughtful.
  • Are the Indians slowly phasing out the Chief Wahoo logo? There are reports that it will be “demoted” behind the block C logo as soon as next year, though it isn’t totally disappearing yet. For my part, I’m no longer comfortable with the logo and won’t be using it, myself.
  • Bad, bad news for the Rangers, who’ve lost lefty Derek Holland until at least midseason after a “freak accident” in his house. Holland, 27, had surgery to repair some non-ACL-non-MCL damage in the knee, and the prognosis is good. Still, the Rangers will be without their second or third-best pitcher for half of a season, and it’s a reminder that injuries can happen whenever. The transactional implications of the injury will be explored later, but the short version is that the Rangers are expected to fill his spot internally for now.
  • Justin Verlander joins Miguel Cabrera as two star Tigers who’ve had offseason surgery. Both are expected to be all right for the start of the season, but I’m sure there’s a little nervousness.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Pre-Gamin’: Astros at Cubs (1:20 CT) – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs won again last night, which means they've already won the season-series against the still-struggling Astros. Justin Verlander will be on the bump for today's finale, but he'll have to go up against the mighty Javier...

    Cubs Farm Report | April 25, 2024: Brennen Davis Homers in His Return to Triple-A

    Brennen Davis made his return to Triple-A last night, and of course, he managed to smack a three-run home run in an 8-2 win for the Iowa Cubs. That and more in today's Cubs Farm Report. Cubs Farm Report |...

    The Leadoff Role, Cubs Front Office is Not Particularly Well-Liked? And Other Cubs Bullets

    It's a pretty big day for the Chicago Bears, eh? For the second year in a row, they own the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Only this time, they actually plan to use it (and on a quarterback,...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Brazilian-Japanese Pitcher Daniel Missaki Out of Mexican League

    That's a geographic mouthful right there, and it underscores what an interesting signing this is. Stray signings throughout the year are not uncommon, particularly as injuries accumulate down on the farm and the Chicago Cubs have the ability to take...

    Do the Cubs Have a Scoring-Late Problem?

    Once a month since August of 2016, my friends and I get together for "Supper Club." It's like book club, but instead of reading books, we go to a different restaurant in the city. Last night, we hit our 77th...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 4, Astros 3 – April 24, 2024

    The Cubs did all their scoring in the first, and made it stand up for the win with generally good pitching and generally good defense. Jameson Taillon looked solid again in his second start, locating well, giving up no barrels,...

    Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

    For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

    Welcome Back to Iowa, Brennen Davis: Rocket Homer in His First Game Post-Rehab

    What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....

    CRAAAAAP: Cody Bellinger to the Injured List (UPDATES)

    So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: What is it, June 2023?

    CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...

    Latest News

    Oh? The Rams Reportedly Want to Trade into the Top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft

    If you're looking for chaos on NFL Draft day, you just might get it. And leave it to the script-writers to get a team out in Hollywood involved. Here is a scoop from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, who hears the...

    Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Series April 26-28: Odds, Starting Pitchers & Predictions

    A three-game series featuring the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Kansas City Royals will start on Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET.Tigers vs. Royals Series Info Royals @ Tigers Time: Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET Tigers Starting...

    We Could See 6 Quarterbacks Go in Round 1 of the NFL Draft

    NFL Draft followers seem to have settled on four quarterbacks going somewhere in the top 10 picks. Many appear to think that we could get a draft with quarterbacks going 1, 2, 3, 4 in succession at the top. Others...

    Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Fits: Cornerbacks and Safeties

    The 2024 NFL Draft begins TODAY. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and others will put their heads together to come up with a winning plan for the team’s four picks (Nos....

    Dallas Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Potential First-Round Fits Including Tackle and WR

    The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2024 offseason with the familiar feeling of championship aspirations. Dak Prescott is healthy, the skill positions are loaded, but the offensive line, once a strength, is in flux. With the 24th overall pick in the...

    2024 MLB Mock Draft: Wake Forest Dominates First Round

    With the invigorating spirit of a new baseball season upon us, igniting hope and anticipation within fan communities, it's the perfect time to embark on a unique exploration: a 2024 MLB Mock Draft. Numerous mock drafts meticulously analyze potential player...

    76ers vs. Knicks: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Philadelphia 76ers will go up against the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.These teams match up for the second straight game after the Knicks took down the 76ers 104-101 on Monday....

    Donovan Mitchell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Donovan Mitchell needs to make four from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his Cleveland Cavaliers face the Orlando Magic in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, beginning at 7:00 PM...

    Caris LeVert Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    At 7:00 PM ET on Thursday, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Orlando Magic -- with Caris LeVert needing to score just once from beyond the arc to...

    Josh Hart Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the 76ers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Josh Hart needs to make two from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 7:30...

    more cubs news

    Latest News