This week in baseball blogs:
- Blue Jays From Away and Jays Journal react to Toronto center fielder Kevin Pillar’s use of an anti-gay slur in a game against the Braves on Wednesday.
- North Shore Nine analyzes Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen’s precipitous decline.
- World Series Dreaming examines the struggles of Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta.
- The First Out At Third shares one stat that proves Brewers slugger Eric Thames is for real.
- Die Hard NYY lists the moves that have seemingly turned the Yankees back into a powerhouse.
- Banished to the Pen delves into Royals left-hander Jason Vargas’ stunning start to the season.
- Clubhouse Corner takes a look at the state of the fifth starter.
- The Process Report focuses on the solid early season output of Rays shortstop Tim Beckham.
- Inside the ’Zona doesn’t expect center fielder A.J. Pollock’s groin injury to affect the Diamondbacks all that negatively in the short term.
- Pirates Breakdown contends that first baseman Josh Bell could be emerging as the Bucs’ best hitter.
- Mets Daddy isn’t buying the team’s excuses for keeping star shortstop prospect Amed Rosario in the minors.
- Minor League Ball evaluates Cubs prospect Ian Happ’s career potential.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) likens highly touted White Sox outfield prospect Luis Robert to longtime major leaguer Cesar Cedeno and laments the fact that the Astros passed on now-Yankee Aaron Judge in the 2013 draft.
- The 3rd Man In profiles and interviews high school shortstop Royce Lewis, one of the top prospects in this year’s draft.
- Notes from the Sally scouts Yankees center field prospect Blake Rutherford.
- A’s Farm projects the Athletics’ 2018 roster.
- The Point of Pittsburgh doles out blame to some of the Pirates’ bigwigs for the team’s subpar start.
- Call To The Pen (links: 1, 2, 3) writes about the surging Rangers and Adrian Beltre’s forthcoming return, and looks at the Phillies’ first base and catcher options for 2018.
- Outside Pitch MLB proposes a Yankees-Mets trade.
- Motor City Bengals has an idea for a Tigers-Mets swap.
- Jays From the Couch argues that first baseman Justin Smoak is worth every penny Toronto is paying him.
- Camden Depot says an adjustment is in order for Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy.
- Sports Talk Philly wonders what would have happened had Jayson Werth re-signed with the Phillies instead of joining the Nationals after the 2010 season.
- MetsMind opines that Zack Wheeler’s high pitch counts are holding him back.
- Pinstriped Prospects relays Brian Cashman’s thoughts on the Yankees’ 2013 draft.
- East Village Times discusses Padres prospects with FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen.
- Rotisserie Duck ranks the 10 best baseball cards of the 1980s.
Please send submissions to ZachBBWI @gmail.com.
thegreatcerealfamine
What an overpay trade idea for Duda. Earth to this guy who proposed this trash,pack it up and start covering women’s lacrosse!
billysbballz
Lol
It’s Not even remotely a good trade for the Yanks.
Met fan trying to add excitement to a older underachieving Mets team and giving Yanks an awful fielding defender and a streaky lefty bat thus taking Bird out of the equation when he returns.
tank62
Dear God I read that and thought that’s a trade a guy calls WFAN with after he’s been smoking crack.
Guess anyone with a computer can be a published blogger now.
jdgoat
Ya the Clippard inclusion is weird since he’s a decent part of their bullpen but I could definitely see a deal revolved around green.
thegreatcerealfamine
For Duda? I’d rather stick with the questions surrounding Bird and what they have with Carter. Good God Man!
jdgoat
It might be a little overpay but I think you’re overvaluing green.
jdgoat
Smoak a been worth every penny and some. If he keeps it up he could probably even get a prospect from a teams top 5 at the deadline
thekid9
I remember when I was under the Smoak screen. Long season, he hasn’t discovered new skills. Let the slide back down begin
jdgoat
He has never shown a streak like this in Toronto and he’s been able to lay off bad pitches. I’m not saying he’ll have a 130 ops plus at the end of the season, but he’ll still earn his contract. 4 million doesn’t get you much anymore, and he’s made that a huge bargain. Who would’ve thought him and pillar would carry out offense through the seasons first two months?
southi
The Rotisserie Duck article on 1980’s baseball cards brought back fond memories. I still have quite a number of the ones mentioned put up including the Rickey Henderson one.
I think a lot of newer baseball fans don’t realize that baseball cards also was one of the few ways you could dive into stats back in those days. Stats weren’t always easily accessible and cards made it much easier to find out how players did year in and year out statwise.
frankiegxiii
Wow Wee Rickey Henderson!!!