(with apologies to Ogden Nash)

Hi, everyone! And welcome to Write-Up For Yesterday, BttP’s guide to what the heck happened yesterday in baseball. We’re not gonna just hand you some scores here, because we trust you know how to type the letters E-S-P-N into your internet machine. Instead, we hope to give you a fuller and richer understanding of important goings on from yesterday in baseball. The big stories, and the noteworthy performances-good and bad.

STORY LINES AND NEWS CYCLE EPHEMERA

The annual Troy Tulowitzki Trade discussion is in full flow again, with the Rockies’ star player denying that he was trying to force a trade out of Colorado after some comments from his agent earlier this week indicated that it was a distinct possibility. Tulo went on to say that what he really wanted to do was win, which he proposed would happen if he helped the team to “play better baseball”, a sentiment I’m sure all Rockies fans agree with, although quite how Tulo can improve the pitching staff is anyone’s guess. Carlos Gonzalez, who – like the Rockies – has been pretty awful so far, did snap their 11-game losing streak with a ninth inning three-run shot to beat the Dodgers.

The Tigers, having not scored more than two runs since last Friday, got the perfect boost for their hitters when they faced Mike Pelfrey and the Twins. Detroit produced three doubles, two triples, four home runs, thirteen runs and 20 hits in all to crush Minnesota, the third time this season they have put up double-digits against their divisional rivals. The Tigers now have a collective .949 OPS against the Twins through 9 games, with fourteen home runs.

The biggest news came in San Diego, where it rained. This apparently does not happen very often in San Diego, as there have been six rain delays in total at Petco Park since it opened in 2004. The Padres crushed the Nationals when the game finally started two hours later, with particular thanks to Cory Spangenberg, of all people.

Tim Lincecum was unable to throw a pitch without falling over at Great American Ball Park last night, including one that he somehow threw after already mostly falling over, bringing a new dimension to ‘the Freak’:

It was Aaron Loup’s turn to blow a lead in Toronto, where he went single, walk, double, double to start the bottom of the seventh, turning a 4-2 lead into a 5-4 deficit against the Astros. The AL West leaders would add another run on a Roberto Osuna throwing error later in the inning and extended their lead to 4 1/2 games over the Angels. Fernando Rodney also took the loss in Seattle, as the Red Sox claimed a 2-1 win at the death, while the Rays took their third in a row against the Evil Empire to close in on the top of the AL Central. Finally, it was very sweep for the Cubs, who finished off the Mets in their third one-run victory of the series, but it would be sweeper if the Cardinals weren’t still five games ahead.

TWEETS WE LIKED

playing Mario Superstar Baseball and Baby Mario just had a ball bounce off his head and over the fence, Canseco style. unacceptable. DFA’d.

— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) May 14, 2015

“wait, wait. hear me out. what if the… what if, like, the entire field were a base?” pic.twitter.com/xI1eRu2tHg — Patrick Dubuque (@euqubud) May 15, 2015

I imagine it’s written into Evan Gattis’ contract that he’s prohibited from jokingly asking Jose Altuve to pick up and hold one of his bats

— Jeff Sullivan (@based_ball) May 14, 2015

ARTICLES WE LIKED

Ryan Sullivan did some scouting last weekend while he was at the BP event, and it wasn’t any of the players, but Miller Park itself.

Godfather Lindbergh interviewed and explored the career of Mike Trout’s father Jeff, who was also very good at baseball (if not, as Jeff himself points out, quite as good as Mike).

Jeff Sullivan weighed in on the issue of what’s wrong with Stephen Strasburg.

TODAY’S BEST PITCHING MATCHUPS

(Deserved Run Average included in brackets)

Today’s matchups, whilst still selected for the quality and viewing appeal of the starters involved, feature an entirely arbitrary fact – or opinion – about one or both of the participants.

Jake Odorizzi (TBR, 3.37) vs. Phil Hughes (MIN, 5.35) (7:10 ET)

Hughes has given up five more home runs (9) than walks this season. Last year he had the same amount of each – 16.

Carlos Rodon (CHW, 4.11) vs. Jesse Hahn (OAK, 4.01) (10:05 ET)

Rodon has a slider that might inadequately be described as ‘filthy’.

Eddie Butler (COL, 4.20) vs. Clayton Kershaw (LAD, 3.65) (10:10 ET)

Kershaw has as many Cy Young awards as Butler does wins.