Here’s our weekly look around the baseball blogosphere:
- Pirates Breakdown spoke with catcher Chris Stewart.
- A’s Farm sat down with A’s GM David Forst.
- Chin Music Baseball wonders if an ideology change will help Boston.
- TPOP pitted the Pirates vs. the Cubs vs. the Cardinals.
- Jays From The Couch says Toronto needs to do better down the stretch.
- Philliedelphia doesn’t care whether Ryan Howard used PEDs.
- Camden Depot says the O’s are the worst in the AL East.
- Outside Pitch wonders if the Mets will be a dynasty.
- Baseball Hot Corner is excited for Marcus Stroman.
- Yankees Unscripted says the Bombers can’t bank on their power ‘pen.
- L.A. Dodger Report talks Joe Blanton and pitch framing.
- Notes From The Sally previewed the Shorebirds.
- Wayniac Nation ran down the league’s top rotations.
- Roto Professor looked at the Jean Segura deal.
- Gardy Goes Yardy ran down Yanks youngsters gunning for a roster spot.
- Pinstriped Prospects gave us their top 50 prospect list.
- Jays Journal ran down the likeliest non-roster invitees to make the team.
- Blue Jays Plus wonders if the Blue Jays rotation will be better this year.
- Inside The Zona examined the leadoff spot.
- BBA has some early power rankings.
- Baseball Essential examined the Rockies’ deal.
- 108 Stitches discussed the DH.
Please send submissions to Zach Links at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.
So if I read this correct it was OK for Howard to use PED’s cause he was a good clubhouse guy, he is not a HOF player, and he gave back to the community? Unlike other players like Bonds and Clemens. Bottom line if he used PED’s he cheated. Why is it the some fans can make up excuses for there players but not for other team players.
If Ryan Howard used PEDs isn’t that an argument against their use? He’s been one of the very worst players in baseball for many years now.
It is never an issue when a player is playing for their team (see many Giants fans and Bonds), and excuses are abound then as well to reduce the stain or try to.. However, Im guessing if it was a Yankee, or better yet, Met, Brave, Marlin, or Nat, I doubt the site would be so praising, they would probably be the first to scream for a suspension. Taking a drug to better your stats (for whatever reason) and regardless of the effects on those stats, is cheating. It does not matter to how good they are off the field, period. As for this recent ‘5 year old’s’ argument of ‘well everyone was doing it…’ leads me to want to say ‘Well if everyone jumps off the bridge, would you?’ as a response. To top it off, these guys have NO idea what it could do to them long term. They could go an agonizing horrific death due to these drugs. No one really knows.
that’s what fans are all about. they’ll want suspensions for some guy who gets a parking ticket but don’t seem to care if their favorite player is arrested for beating his girlfriend.
Regarding Stroman, I’m not sure why people are so high on pitchers 6’2 and under. For every Johan Santana and Mike Hampton you have a TON of guys who blow out their elbow, and shoulder early in their careers because of the extra stress due to their stature.I’m guessing this season or next he starts having shoulder issues. He may have heart, but ‘heart’ and body are two different things.
No you don’t there’s no evidence that size leads to more injuries.
I don’t think the issue is necessarily injuries, although durability is the concern. Santana and Hampton both had tons of injuries, and Pedro broke down at a relatively young age. I think the bigger concern with short pitchers is getting enough downhill plane on their fastball and enough break on their breaking pitches.