This week in baseball blogs…
- Chin Music Baseball examines potential destinations for Corey Kluber.
- Reviewing The Brew proposes a Brewers-Indians trade centering on Kluber.
- The Dugout argues against banning the shift.
- Infield Shift wonders why the Braves aren’t spending more aggressively this offseason.
- Call to the Pen (links: 1, 2) seeks a match in an Edwin Encarnacion trade, and addresses a recent trade rumbling regarding the Phillies.
- Mets Critic reacts to the team’s reunion with Jeurys Familia.
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Jays From the Couch writes about a potential Blue Jays-Dodgers trade.
- East Village Times asks if the Padres should pursue Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager.
- The Fro Zone lists 10 sleeper free agents.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed names eight players who could break out next year.
- Tomahawk Take ponders a possible Braves-Rangers trade.
- Rotisserie Duck delves into several notable starters’ defense-independent pitching stats.
- The First Out At Third analyzes newly acquired Brewer Alex Claudio.
- Statswipe believes Claudio and two other Brewers will become household names next season.
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Bronx to Bushville evaluates the current state of the NL East.
- Phillies Nation explains that Matt Klentak and Andy MacPhail may be tying their futures to the team’s young starters.
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Rox Pile identifies the six Rockies who will be under the most pressure in 2019.
- Foul Territory and The Sports Tank take a look at the Red Sox’s payroll situation.
- Everything Bluebirds isn’t pleased with the Blue Jays’ Rule 5 Draft.
- The Point of Pittsburgh looks at some controversial Pirate Hall of Famers in the wake of Harold Baines’ selection.
- Baseball Rabbi (podcast) discusses Baines’ HOF selection and the Mets’ offseason maneuverings.
- The Giants Cove expects NL playoff spots to be difficult to come by in 2019.
- Rising Apple weighs the Mets’ current first base options, while Mets Daddy is concerned that the club seems to be banking on Peter Alonso.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) hopes the Twins sign Kelvin Herrera for cheap, and shares a piece on young Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker.
- SportsRadio 94 WIP focuses on Gabe Kapler’s recent quotes regarding Odubel Herrera.
- Wander Rays profiles Rays pitching prospect Tanner Dodson.
- Around the Bases with Julian Bussells (podcast) recaps the Winter Meetings and chats with Jomboy, host of the Talkin Yanks podcast.
Submissions: ZachBBWI @gmail.com
One of these blogs thinks Fat Lance Lynn is a “sleeper.”
History of being a #2 starter before injury, 2.17 FIP in 11 games and 9 starts upon trade to the Yankees. 10.1 K/9 down the stretch and 9.2 for the season.
You must not have watched the games. Guy was a disaster for the Yanks.
2.17 FIP is not a disaster and I did watch Einstein.
As a Cardinals fan,I’m glad you got him .I do miss the time with his media after the game however ! He could completely piss off the reporters.Total wiseass ! Redass combination! Loved it !
Lynn is a solid, durable, 2-3 starter. He doesn’t get out of jams like you’d wish, if he did, he’d be an ace.
Dude’s in love with his fastball, but he placed it well enough.
He could easily be a 3.50 ERA, 200 IP pitcher in 2019
David wells and c.c. sabathia didnt seem to think being fat prevented them from pitching well.
How well could they have pitched if they were in shape?
Probably better but if “fat” CC can throw another 150 IP with an ERA under 4 then he’ll make a great #5.
Fernando.
Reuschel
Ruth
Bartolo Colon…
Look at the career not last year,he’s a good middle of the rotation starter
Bartolo is a muscle
all.
Hopefully after the Alonso and EE trades Kluber is staying put.
Infield Shift is spot on. Atl never spends any money and it’s beyond frustrating. We’re NEVER in the running for any top-tier FAs
Donaldson.
Only a 1-year deal, and this is not a world series winning roster in 2019,
Literally the highest amount paid to a player for a single season.
ok but where’s the longevity? it’s not like we were a power hitting 3B away from being a complete roster. so if we dont win it all in 2019, what did we get out of it?
A stop-gap to Riley and a potential draft pick if they offer him a Qualifying Offer.
Look at it this way. If Riley survives the off-season in Atlanta farm system, then he could be on the opening day roster as a bat off the bench and spell JD for off days. He gets some OTJ and Donaldson gets to stay healthy. Riley has big time power and could be an asset to off the bench while learning what it takes to be a successful major leaguer without the pressure of having to be the everyday guy.
A shot at winning the east again. It’s not like the market was flooded with great 3b options. Next year there might be better long term options available or you can resign Donaldson if he has a great year.
Or, you continue to have Riley in AAA to play everyday and not waste service time of a top prospect by having sitting on the bench.
Wouldn’t bother with an article by someone who can’t do basic math. He’s complaining about them apparently having a lot of money to spend when he can’t even factor in their acquisition of Gausman and O’Day, along with Flowers’ extension, when complaining about an article posted in March (when, as it stood then, there would be about $72 million coming off the books). Couple that with the signings of Donaldson and McCann, and a lot of money has already been eaten up. Besides, a lot of Braves fans unfortunately have no idea what they’re talking about half of the time (the ones on here being a prime example).
Fansided writers are terrible!!!
These blogs are horrendous. Are they all written by 14-year olds? Please stop linking to this garbage.
I share your opinion on the quality of these blogs, and previously, just like you, I wondered why MLBTR was willing to associate themselves with them. Then another poster pointed out that MLBTR links these sites to promote comment. After all I was commenting, so I had to admit the poster had a point. I might add that reading some of these blogs after reading MLBTR makes MLBTR look really good in comparison. The blogs make me appreciate MLBTR.
Sounds like someone who is incapable of writing their own blog. A lot of good blogs written by talented writers. I feel sorry for people like you who contribute nothing but criticize everything. Go ahead write a better blog or give valid reasons for each blog.
I guess there is a report that harper and the dodgers have come to an agreement for a contract?
Manual blog submission by me. Dont click if u hate me:
link to riveraveblues.com
If this site wanted to promote your blog they would – there are proper channels for this kind of thing and this isn’t it. And you wonder why you are disliked.
Lol it’s not my site. They’re much better than me. They don’t need any promotion. RAB is #1 Yankee website, calling them “blog” doesnt so them justice
doubt anyone cares comment in blog entry? and half these comments are joke comments
Take the riff raff out in the trash.
BAM!!
Good blog, but I prefer Pinstripe Alley.
That’s a good one. Pinstripe Alley is my #2 and not my much. Love how they do making team out of Spring color coordinate players in danger of getting cut or making the roster.
Bong!!!
My apologies for misunderstanding your post – I had visions of the thread turning into another endless , non baseball, back and forth idiots vs Xabial type thread which is getting old and taking away from the site. I still think its more up to Tim and the gang to decide which baseball blogs to promote and when but in hindsight my response came off more personal than intended.
What might those proper channels be tough guy?
“and you wonder why you are disliked” Maybe you don’t get that much love around these parts either. Curious how you’re gonna react to that bit of earth shattering news.
I don’t expect to be liked or disliked – its a message board filled with anonymous strangers..There are 5-6 people who post here whose baseball opinions I have come to respect and if they rip a baseball opinion i post it may sting a little …but only until I get to the bottom of the thread.
I completely agree that Mesoraco is going to be a great signing by somebody. Im also very high on Wilmer Flores and Matt Joyce.
When ever I read comments by Kapler I get a mental picture of him sitting behind the desk at a sleazy used car lot saying something like…”you are gonna love this car”, all the while knowing the trans is shot and the odometer has been turned back.
I’m good with the shifts.
In the famous words of Wee Willie Keeler…
“Keep your eye clear, and hit ’em where they ain’t”—”
Fewer and fewer of today’s players know how to do that.
In this ops crazy world of baseball a guy that hits .310 but lacks power isnt valuable. Nobody will sign the lefty that shoots the ball through the 3b hole 3 out of every 10 times because hes being shifted against
It’s fine to hit .310 with little power. You just better able to bring something else to the table Whether that be base running, fielding, good ability to draw walks. What’s the point of having a player who only hits for average and nothing else?
That profile works if you can field and run
We all know a big trade for the Braves is on the horizon can Christmas come already so we can see our new toy for next season. This waiting is just to much
I would love to have Leclerc but this guy is going to be very expensive and the Mets-Mariners trade may be what we have to to thank. The Mets still sent two top 100 prospects despite soaking up $60 million in Mariners payroll. So Leclerc is going to take at least two top prospects and company.
Wow, that second article for Call to the Pen is rough. Reminds me of my emo “I’m smarter than everyone and I’ll prove it” days in high school.
It was before I began to abide.
That is some terrible writing from “the dugout”. They also contradicted themselves. They argue that the shift is more prevalent and more extreme “because it works”, but then say that BABIP hasn’t varied significantly since 2009. The way I see it; if there are 6 defenders in one place and you still hit the ball there, you’re too dumb to be on the field.