Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:
- Bucs Raise It delves into Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen’s first month-plus at the plate.
- Inside The ’Zona explains why the Diamondbacks should move first baseman Paul Goldschmidt up in their batting order.
- World Series Dreaming shows that there’s still plenty of hope for Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler.
- Baseball Hot Corner talks to International Olympic committee official Richard Pound, the former chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, about Major League Baseball’s handling of performance-enhancing drugs.
- Athletics Farm interviews Athletics right-handed pitching prospect Daniel Mengden.
- Pinstriped Prospects chats with right-hander Kevin Gowdy, who could be a high pick in the upcoming draft.
- Now On Deck opines that the Orioles’ offseason acquisition of slugging outfielder Mark Trumbo looks like one of the best trades in team history.
- Dan Grant Of Same Page Team investigates how each member of the Blue Jays’ rotation has fared this year.
- Notes From The Sally scouts Braves right-handed pitching prospect Mike Soroka.
- Call To The Pen looks at Astros second baseman Jose Altuve’s 2016 power surge and asks where he ranks among the game’s elite.
- The Jailhouse offers a detailed analysis of Cubs closer Hector Rondon’s 2016 dominance.
- Camden Depot explores Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard’s defensive performance thus far.
- Outside Pitch MLB thinks Red Sox ace David Price could be on the way to leaving his early season issues behind.
- Minor League Ball has a piece on controversial Rangers reliever Matt Bush, who’s in the majors for the first time since going No. 1 overall in the 2004 draft.
- The Point Of Pittsburgh evaluates the Pirates’ 2011 draft class, a group that features Gerrit Cole, Tyler Glasnow and Josh Bell.
- Jays From The Couch writes that Toronto’s relatively cheap offseason signings of starters Marco Estrada and J.A. Happ are paying major dividends for the team so far.
- BP Toronto touches on whether the performance of the Blue Jays’ rotation is sustainable.
- Wayniac Nation examines the American League’s second base depth.
- Sports Heaven compares the 2016 Cubs to the 2004 Red Sox.
- Super Two Sports proposes some changes to the replay system.
- Pirates Breakdown talks with Joe Klimchak, the in-game host at PNC Park.
- Philliedelphia points out that closer Jeanmar Gomez is unexpectedly on pace to break the Phillies’ single-season saves record.
- Bronx Bomber Blogger believes the Yankees’ Austin Romine should be right-hander Nathan Eovaldi’s personal catcher.
- The Runner Sports wonders about catcher Max Stassi’s future with the Astros.
- RSN Stats explains how the Red Sox made history with their recent sweep of the Athletics.
- Jays Journal recaps the playing careers of the Blue Jays’ broadcast team.
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The Mariners traded for Trumbo because of how his season started last year
Soler is very meh. He has no value on defense or the bases, so he needs to hit well above average to be useful. He just looks to be guessing at the plate. If you look at his overall numbers, he’s a 90+ish wRC+ player, which makes him below average with his other contributions.
I hope he turns out well too, but i’d like him to go down to AAA and work on recognizing a plan for how he’s gonna be attacked and how to combat that. Couldn’t hurt to get more reps on defense either.
He’s playing just about every day, so you’re wrong about the reps. He started slow last season and was hampered by injuries, he showed what he can do in the playoffs when he’s on. So again, wrong. He’s got a cannon of an arm. So again, wrong. Last and not least, go away. You’re a moron