Baseball Blogs Weigh In

On this date in 1995, Greg Harris became the first post-1900 major leaguer to pitch ambidextrously.  In the ninth inning, the Expos reliever blanked the Reds as he faced four batters – two as a right-hander (his natural side) and the other two as a southpaw.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Blue Jays Plus goes under the hood with Dioner Navarro.
• Jays Journal says Aaron Sanchez could be a future closer.
• Inside The ’Zona feels that the D’Backs’ approach might be crazy enough to work.
• Beisbol’s recaps the rise and fall of Kevin Towers.
• Lasorda’s Lair caught up with Eric Gagne.
• Rays Colored Glasses wonders if Jeremy Hellickson and Enny Romero could be dealt.
• Baseball News Source hasn’t been wowed by the Red Sox’s youth movement.
• The Baseball Stance says the Yankees should go for Chase Headley.
• Screwball Baseball talks competitive balance draft picks.

On this date in 2001, a crowd of 41,235 at Shea Stadium witnessed the return of baseball to New York City for the first time since the 9/11 attacks.  While baseball wasn’t the focus of the evening, Mike Piazza’s eighth inning home run gave the Mets a 3-2 dramatic victory over the Braves.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Beisbol’s look at free agency’s X factor, Jung-ho Kang.
• Camden Depot takes a deeper look at the O’s rotation.
• Inside The Zona has some ideas for the D’Backs this winter.
• Vavel says Colin Moran is making a name for himself in the Astros organization.
• A’s Farm turns in their 2014 postseason organizational All-Star team.
• Cover Those Bases casts a ballot for Jacob deGrom.
• Blue Jays Plus is keeping the faith.
• Sports Injury Alert looks back on Alex Torres’ cap.
• Cleveland Sports Talk previews the Indians’ 2015 rotation.
• Screwball Baseball wonders if Alejandro De Aza could be this year’s Cody Ross.

On this date in 2005 Braves center fielder Andruw Jones hit his 50th home run in the eighth inning of a 12-4 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.  The Curacao native became the first major leaguer to reach the plateau since Alex Rodriguez hit 57 homers playing shortstop for the Rangers in 2002.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Blue Jays Plus goes deeper into Brett Cecil vs. Sean Rodriguez.
• Inside The Zona says the D’Backs could be a match for Yasmani Tomas.
• Beisbol’s talks Chris Davis and amphetamines.
• Camden Depot has a bone to pick with WAR.
• Beyond The Box Score held their own expansion draft.
• MLB Reports explains why the Marlins’ future is very bright.
• WFAA looks back at the Elvis Andrus for Justin Upton trade that almost was.
• NYY Fans looks at the pros and cons of re-signing Brandon McCarthy.
• Rays Colored Glasses says Evan Gattis would make sense for Tampa Bay.
• Orioles Nation is high on Chance Sisco.
• Ian Thomas Malone argues for the DH.

A year before the first subway line was completed, the Brooklyn Superbas, later to be known as the Dodgers, played their cross-town rivals in a two-stadium, same-day doubleheader.  The first game played in Washington Park began at 10:30 am with 9,300 fans watching the visiting Giants win the opener, 6-4, and later that afternoon in front of 23,623 patrons at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, Brooklyn won the second game, 3-0.

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The Zona wonders what will come next for the Diamondbacks.
• MetsBlog wonders if it’s too early to extend Zack Wheeler.
• Wahoo’s On First is fighting the urge to buy in on T.J. House.
• Blue Jays Plus says Jose Bautista should go back to third base.
• Beisbol’s talks Mo’Ne Davis and women in baseball.
• Baseball Stooges has some concerns about Oscar Tavares.
• Camden Depot says J.J. Hardy is contributing in a different way.
• Maniac Ball runs down the Angels’ farm system.

On this date in 1974, in a Class A minor league contest, Portland Mavericks manager Frank Peters rotated his starting nine so that each player took a different position on the field for every inning. Somehow, it worked, as Portland notched an 8-7 victory over the Tri-Cities Ports.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere.

• Blue Jays Plus goes under the hood to look at Brett Lawrie and oblique injuries.
• Camden Depot gives some dap to Steve Pearce.
• NYY Fans wants the Yankees to proceed carefully with David Robertson.
• L.A. Sports Hub heaps some big praise on Clayton Kershaw.
• Maniac Ball grades the Angels’ depth.
• Steel City Buzzin’ says the Pirates have to boost their payroll big time in 2015.
• Know Hitter says Justin Verlander will be key for the Tigers’ championship chances.
• Baseball Hot Corner wonders if staying in the zone is sustainable.
• Best Coast Baseball spoke with Branch Barrett Rickey about his life and legacy.
• Inside The Zona explains why Mark Trumbo hasn’t hit many homers recently.

Please send submissions to Zach at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.