This week in baseball blogs…
- Blue Jays From Away argues that Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s next stop should be Triple-A, not the majors.
- Bronx To Bushville offers a quality piece on Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
- The Point of Pittsburgh looks at launch angles and exit velocity to see how the Pirates have crafted a top offense.
- NatsGM.com has an in-depth scouting report on Juan Soto.
- Birds on the Black examines Marcell Ozuna’s struggles.
- Bronx Bomber Ball isn’t closing the door on Gleyber Torres’ AL Rookie of the Year chances, despite Shohei Ohtani’s presence in the same league.
- Camden Depot observes that Orioles slugger Chris Davis has been the majors’ worst player over the past year.
- Know Hitter constructs a 25-man roster consisting of players Jerry Dipoto has traded away as Seattle’s GM.
- Hardball Via Hardcore responds to Dipoto’s latest trade, this week’s deal with the Rays.
- East Village Times names five teams that could acquire resurgent Padres righty Tyson Ross.
- The Sports Tank (links: 1, 2) reacts to Boston designating Hanley Ramirez for assignment.
- Chin Music Baseball breaks down 10 players who have put their slow starts behind them.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed wonders whether the playoffs are truly random.
- The K Zone talks with Cuban pitching prospect Sandy Gaston.
- The Loop Sports interviews White Sox catcher prospect Zack Collins.
- A’s Farm speaks with James Naile, one of the Athletics’ top Triple-A starters.
- Good Fundies has an entertaining piece on the history of Keith Hernandez discovering Michael Conforto.
- SportsTalkPhilly.com examines Jorge Alfaro’s season thus far.
- Pinstriped Prospects expects the Yankees to capitalize on their impressive depth to make trades.
- Believeland Ball looks to determine whether the Indians’ early season mediocrity will persist.
- The 3rd Man In profiles 34 draft prospects.
- Call to the Pen (links: 1, 2) names the six biggest surprises of the early season, and compares Cesar Hernandez and Scott Kingery.
- Mets Daddy is pleased with the club’s Devin Mesoraco acquisition.
- Jays From the Couch isn’t panicking over Toronto’s sub-.500 mark.
- Bucs Dugout examines Jameson Taillon’s decreased curveball usage.
- Friars On Base is bullish on the Padres’ future.
- Locked On Pirates is encouraged by Tyler Glasnow’s improved control.
- Foul Territory Baseball sees enough young talent on the Nationals for them to remain contenders even if Bryce Harper leaves in free agency.
- MetsMerizedOnline.com notes that young Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo has been among the majors’ top offensive players this year.
- The Collegiate Baseball Scouting Network profiles Wright State University’s Diamyn Hall, one of the only full-time mental skills coordinators in Division I college baseball.
- Everything Bluebirds contends that the shorstop position in Toronto still belongs to Troy Tulowitzki.
- PhoulBallz asks if it’s time to be concerned about struggling Phillies outfield prospect Mickey Moniak, the top pick in the 2016 draft.
- Jays Journal runs down 10 Toronto minor leaguers off to impressive starts this year.
- Rising Apple looks into whether the Mets’ Tim Tebow, a former NFL quarterback, is actually a legitimate MLB prospect.
- Motor City Bengals lists the five best trades in Tigers history.
- Rox Pile revisits former Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd’s first-round history.
- Rotisserie Duck focuses on players whose careers ended too early and others who hung around too long.
- The Pinch Runner delves into the three true outcomes.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) sees an opportunity for the Twins to take over first place in the AL Central, and covers minor league baseball’s return to Fayetteville, N.C., courtesy of the Astros.
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He is still young. It’s not like the blue jays don’t have a former mvp playing third right now. His time will come. Maybe in a September call up or in April
I’d like to see the Pirates give Tyler Glasnow or someone else a chance to be the set-up man. Michel Feliz is not cutting it and is only on the roster because the Pirates want to prove they got a good return for Gerrit Cole.
Feliz had been solid up until the last 2 outings, cut him a little slack.
Why not give Richard Rodriguez a try? He’s been pretty good for The Bucs, and he at least deserves a shot at the late-inning/set-up role.
The Mariners snagging a closer in May was huge for them. Diaz is still their man, but he was on pace for far too inngs. They’re just a game behind Houston in AL West right now.
Laughable to think Gleyber will lose to Ohtani.
Laughable to think Ohtani will lose to Gleyber
Laughable to say it’s not to early…
After watching Torres play the last couple weeks, the AL ROY award is going to be his too lose in my opinion. The kid is quite honestly, the most talented young man I’ve seen in years. The only other player (in pure talent capital), although not a perfect comp, is Mookie Betts. Just as some in the game are regarding Betts at one of the best RF’s in generations, I feel the same is there for Gleyber at 2nd. His ceiling is above Cano’s. The baseball reincarnation of Arod and Roberto Alomar combined. Good God. Ohtani is a “unique” player, and more of a novelty at the moment.
Lol absolutely ridiculous to say he’s on the level of Arod and having a ceiling above Cano with such a small sample. And Ohtani is just a novelty? Please tell me how a legit very good starting pitcher who’s an above average hitter is a novelty. Smh typical Yankee fan over rating a guy on his team. I have no doubts Gleybor will be a star. He’s very good. But your statements were ignorant.
A novelty? Really? Please tell me you’re not serious. Please tell me what you define as a novelty. A 176 wRC v a 156 wRC+. A better BB rate with a similar K rate. Very very similar numbers. Both players are really really great young players, but one posting similar numbers at not one but two sides of the ball is not a novelty. Not in any sense of the definition of the word. You just sort of sound unintelligent, if that’s the hill you wish to die on.
Rule of Seven and Trader GMs. History shows that when a GM makes many trades (Frank Lane and Randy Smith come to mind), they are going to make many mistakes. Still, to judge a trade, the general rule is to wait 7 years. Jerry DiPoto is a Trader GM. Although he’s made some bad trades, His biggest trade looks like a success: SP Taijuan Walker and SS Ketel Marte for IF Jean Segura, OF Mitch Hanniger and LP Zac Curtis while the biggest losers appear to be the trade of OF Mallex Smith, RP Ryan Yarbrough and IF Carlos Vargas for SP Drew Smyly and the other Chris Taylor for Zach Lee. (Mark Trumbo for one year too). If Smyly doesn’t get hurt, the story may be different. All said., I think DiPoto’s trades have been for overall good for the Mariners. Even the best GMs produced some stinkers (One of Dave Dombrowski’s first moves was to trade away Randy Johnson).
Nats should honestly be looking to trade Harper at the deadline.