Greetings, from Las Vegas! I’m here for NBA Summer League and, tragically, won’t get to see the 51s in action at any point while I’m here. I will, however, be laying a boatload of money at the books on the red-hot Giancarlo Stanton to win the Home Run Derby, so long as someone heckles him first.

Fan calls Giancarlo Stanton overrated… Stanton promptly homers. pic.twitter.com/7ApJqjhSn4

— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) July 6, 2016

Yes, that clip’s a day old, which is my way of bringing up that I missed the Roto Riteup yesterday. Real life got in the way on short notice, and I’m really sorry for leaving you hanging. Trust that whoever I would have picked for a streaming choice threw a perfect game with 20 punch-outs.

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It was a bit of a quiet news day in baseball, unless you’re in a league that rewards All-Star stats. If so, well, hey, good for you but that’s weird. Anyway, I have no appropriate preamble, so here’s David Ortiz breaking his bat after a single.

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Hello, American friends. I hope the 4th found you well and your day was filled with safety, healthy foods, and moderation. And in case you missed our birthday up here, it’s not too late to say sorry.

Let’s go Blue Jays ????? pic.twitter.com/KFwyNLOTy3

— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 4, 2016

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Happy Canada Day! Yeah, I know the bulk of you are probably focused on your holiday on Monday to celebrate your own independence, but north of the border, we’re celebrating ours today. In honor of Canada Day, here’s a very handsome picture of Russell Martin, just one of many attractive Canadians playing your fine sport.

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The Giants are conceding their right to a designated hitter and letting Madison Bumgarner bat today. Bumgarner is a great hitter by pitching standards, but he’s also only slashing .175/.261/.350 on the season (a 69 wRC+), with a 47 wRC+ over 470 career plate appearances. The Giants will hit a worse player, but that’s entirely OK. More goes into such decisions, like keeping your ace happy and, you know, having some fun.

Madison Bumgarner just mashed 10 home runs in BP tonight. Let’s do this pitcher’s home run derby, please. pic.twitter.com/IGTcDvkvAS

— JakeKring-Schreifels (@jakeks19) June 30, 2016

Fun bad decisions > Boring good decisions.

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The city of Cleveland may never lose again. The Cavaliers won an NBA championship, Stipe Miocic won the heavyweight title, and even their AHL team won a title. Now, the Indians have won 11 in a row, pushing to 46-30 overall. Is it time for a Cleveland heat check?

cavs came back from 3-1. indians are on a 10-game win streak. lake erie monsters won the AHL. might have to put $20 on the browns at 200-1

— alex (@steven_lebron) June 28, 2016

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Kris Bryant is refusing to change his ripped pants following his three home run, 5-for-5 night.

Kris Bryant vows to keep wearing torn pants after record-setting night https://t.co/Rq4WeYYl1K by @MDGonzales pic.twitter.com/SwOAagYW65

— ChicagoSports (@ChicagoSports) June 28, 2016

Kris Bryant, as it turns out, is a blogger. He just happens to hit a lot of home runs when he rips his pants.

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Big Poppa Pump’s your hookup. Holler…if you hear me.

Now if only Scott Steiner and his freaks would come to Rotographs to help us with some of the more complex math issues.

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A non-baseball story: The last two years, I was the lead for NBA Draft coverage at theScore. A little overworked and stressed ahead of the 2015 edition, I slept poorly and had a dream where The Rock came to me and told me that Guillermo (“Willy”) Hernangomez was a serious sleeper. (I ended up including him in the first round of my mock draft, and he later went 35th overall.) This is preamble to say that the 2016 draft is tonight, I slept poorly, but The Rock (nor Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese, Stone Cold, or anyone) did not come to me in a dream. It’s very disappointing.

Luckily, someone was having illuminating, mescaline-induced fever dreams yesterday.

#Cubs pic.twitter.com/rIEM7Mixvf

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) June 22, 2016

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Since getting hit in the unmentionables by a ground ball on June 12, Juan Uribe has hit home runs in four consecutive games. Ask your closest friend to rip a short-hopper into your groin at the next opportunity and you, too, can smash homers.

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