Good morning.

Here are several links from the past week that will make your Monday a bit more bearable:

•  Free Miguel Olivo! The twelve-year veteran backstop walked out on his Miami teammates after the organization refused to release him. According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald:

Olivo’s playing time dried up after Jeff Mathis returned from the disabled list on May 14, leaving the Marlins with three catchers on the roster. With Mathis and Rob Brantly sharing the catching duties, Olivo had started just once — as a designated hitter — since May 12.

Olivo said he has asked to be released three separate times, but his requests were always refused.

“They say we need you for pinch-hitting,” Olivo said. “I said I’ve never been a pinch-hitter in my life. That’s not my game.”

• River Avenue Blues’ Matt Warden interviews YES announcer and former outfielder Ken Singleton and peppers him with numerous questions, including whether he would have enjoyed playing for the Steinbrenner Yankees, what enabled him to be such a patient hitter, and when he learned to switch-hit. 
• In a piece on the Tigers’ bullpen, Ben Horrow of Beyond the Boxscore distinguishes between the quality of the relievers currently on the club and how they are used in the later innings.
• Horrow’s colleague, Max Weinstein, demonstrates that the Cardinals, who were hitting an astonishingly high .341 with runners in scoring position a few days ago, are likely to see that number regress over time.

• Chirs McShane of Amazin’ Avenue says that the above win-probability chart from yesterday’s ninth-inning, comeback win by the Mets is pretty sweet.
• The Washington Post ’s Barry Svrluga tells us all we need to know about what goes on during batting practice, including:

The game’s starting outfielders spend time at their positions, getting reads on balls off the bat. Relief pitchers and other players who aren’t in the starting lineup are assigned here as well. They chat, jog, strech and stand around while shagging balls from the bater and a coach hitting in short center. They return them to a helmeted bat boy in short center, who periodically refills the pitcher’s basket. On the first day of a road trip, coaches will hit extra flies to the corners so fielders get accustomed to the quirks of the park.

• For those who want to know about “The Economics of Bobbleheads,” “son of ptbarnum” of Athletics Nation has the shaky details.

• Thankfully, Alex Cobb suffered only a minor concussion from this batted ball on Saturday and was released from the hospital yesterday. He was immediately placed on the seven-day concussion list.

That’s it. Have a walk-off week!