Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Trout, Brewers, O’s, Bucs, Phillies, Giants

This week in baseball blogs:

• Bleeding Royal Blue opines that Mike Trout should win the American League MVP.
• The 3rd Man In contends that the Brewers’ offseason signing of first baseman/outfielder Eric Thames hasn’t paid off.
• Camden Depot analyzes Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo’s 2017 struggles.
• Pirates Breakdown makes arguments for and against the Bucs shutting down right-hander Jameson Taillon for the season.
• Call To The Pen sees a potential core four forming in Philadelphia.
• The Giants Cove is pessimistic about the direction of the franchise.
• Notes From The Sally ranks the top 50 prospects from this year’s South Atlantic League.
• Clubhouse Corner’s Bernie Pleskoff names the five best farm systems in baseball.
• Jays Journal highlights the Toronto prospects who dominated in 2017.
• Outfield Fly Rule profiles newly promoted Braves left-hander Luiz Gohara.
• PhoulBallz (links: 1, 2) interviews Phillies first-round pick Adam Haseley.
• Mets Daddy proposes a trade that would send Jacob deGrom and Amed Rosario to the Orioles for Manny Machado.
• The Loop Sports is pleased with Lucas Giolito’s first few starts as a member of the White Sox.
• Inside the ’Zona imagines a Game 1 NLDS matchup between the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and the Diamondbacks’ Robbie Ray.
• The First Out At Third focuses on Brewers infielder Jonathan Villar’s miserable season.
• Sports Talk Philly asks what the Phillies’ infield will look like on Opening Day 2018.
• Everything Bluebirds suggests that Troy Tulowitzki’s time as the Jays’ best shortstop is running out.
• A’s Farm runs down the Athletics’ minor league statistical leaders for 2017.
• The Point of Pittsburgh writes about what Pirates manager Clint Hurdle’s extension means for 2018.
• MetsMind wonders whether Juan Lagares has what it takes to be the team’s starting center fielder going forward.
• The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) notes that the Astros’ late-August acquisition of outfielder Cameron Maybin is paying dividends, and looks at Hurricane Irma’s effect on the Yankees.
• Big Three Sports explains how Orioles righty Dylan Bundy could become elite.
• Jays From The Couch doesn’t expect rotation depth to be a major issue for Toronto in 2018.
• Stats Swipe examines the results of Rangers righty Miguel Gonzalez’s high slider usage.
• Chris Zantow flashes back to Sept. 9, 1992, when Brewers legend Robin Yount collected his 3,000th hit.
• Rotisserie Duck revisits some memorable and unfortunate hit by pitches.

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