Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ray, Upton, Indians

On this date in 1987, A’s first baseman Mark McGwire became the first rookie to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star Game, as Leo Panetta of NationalPastime.com writes.  McGwire would go on to finish the season with 49 homers, establishing a new rookie watermark, beating the previously shared record by Wally Berger and Frank Robinson (39).  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The ’Zona delved into Robbie Ray’s recent success and his new sinker.
• Baseball Essential says Justin Upton should be a target for the Rays.
• Did The Tribe Win Last Night looked at the downside of the Indians’ rebuild.
• Reviewing The Brew wonders where Mike Fiers’ fastball went.
• Blue Jays Plus gives you a guide for hating the AL East.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh laid out the case for the Pirates batting the pitcher 8th.
• Fantasy Pros looked at Nolan Arenado’s power surge.
• BASTA wonders what happened to Jean Machi.
• Know Hitter says the Tigers have won the Yoenis Cespedes/Rick Porcello deal.
• Tomahawk Take remembered the Braves’ longest day.
• The First Out At Third says teams should go for Jonathan Broxton.
• Sodo Mojo looked at who’s hot and who’s not in Seattle.