This week in baseball blogs…
- CheckSwings breaks down where teams got their value in 2018.
- M-SABR builds an all-star team of players who posted the lowest out-of-zone swing percentages last season.
- Halos Heaven explains how 2019 can go right or wrong for Kole Calhoun.
- Statsswipe recaps Orlando Arcia’s 2018 and previews his upcoming campaign.
- Chipalatta shares an offseason view of AL super powers.
- Pinstriped Prospects ranks the Yankees’ 100 best prospects.
- The Dugout Online opines on the most disappointing prospects of the decade.
- The Giants Cove pays tribute to Peter Magowan.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed calls the Cubs’ offseason “unacceptable.”
- East Village Times only sees J.T. Realmuto as a sensible trade target for the Padres if they sign Manny Machado.
- Rox Pile offers four big questions and bold predictions centering on the Rockies.
- Rising Apple compares the Mets’ infield to the rest of the NL East.
- SportsRadio 94 WIP (podcast) talks to FanGraphs’ Jay Jaffe about who might go into the Hall of Fame as a Phillie next.
- Chin Music Baseball names six relievers who have plenty to prove this season.
- Fish Stripes spotlights Rays prospect Jack Labosky and his unconventional off-field living situation.
- Mets Daddy uses the case of ex-Mets prospect Christian Montgomery to caution fans against rooting for players who have been accused of domestic violence.
- The 3rd Man In profiles and interviews high-end draft prospect Graeme Stinson.
- Notes from the Sally previews the 2019 Greenville Drive, the Red Sox’s South Atlantic League team.
- Reviewing The Brew wonders asks how Jesus Aguilar will follow up his breakout 2018.
- Adkins On Sports wonders how a healthy Clint Frazier will fare this year.
- Everything Bluebirds approves of the Blue Jays’ signing of Freddy Galvis.
- The Point of Pittsburgh says the Pirates’ farm has some potential hidden gems within it.
- The K Zone regards Ryan Schimpf as an intriguing buy-low candidate.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) explores ways musicians have honored Jackie Robinson, and takes a look at the Twins’ uncertain catching situation.
- Foul Territory discusses top prospects and some of the latest headlines from around the game.
- Around the Foghorn revisits Bobby Evans’ tenure as the Giants’ GM.
- Call to the Pen examines Matt Klentak’s history of pitching acquisitions.
- Rotisserie Duck highlights several left-handed hitters who struggled against southpaws in 2018 and several who didn’t.
- Foul Territory (podcast) discusses top prospects and some of the latest headlines from around the game.
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Calhoun was pretty terrible last year. It’s a shame, a guy you’d like to root for.
If you want a few laughs, read the “MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed” blog on the Cubs.
I stopped reading it when he suggested trading Lester for a “salary dump.” Lol
He’s getting paid $27.5 million in 2019 and his strikeout rate is in heavy decline, along with his FIP rising. How is he worth that money? Considering the team is penny pinching, it makes perfect sense to trade him if at all possible.
Penny pinching…better look to see where they stack up in terms of team salary. Idiots come in all sizes and colors.
Who is Neil R and why is he allowed to have a blog ?
Because he writes good articles and you don’t.
I’m guessing thetruth is Neil R
You clearly didn’t see how many of his other articles got praise.
His/you? Views are worth the same as any random janitor.
Reading that made my head explode. I hate it when people want to trade a guy who’s in decline because they don’t want them on his favorite team anymore but he just expects some other team to take him. If Lester isn’t worth $27.5 this year why would the Phillies pick up his $25 option two years from now. Simply ridiculous. Think it through next time.
1. Lester is still a proven veteran and Philadelphia have been reported to be looking for one.
2. Philadelphia has a lot of available money, Chicago doesn’t.
3. Chicago pays some of the cost.
Obviously you didnt know the only article anyone will read on this site is Pinstrioe Prospects. I heard Xabial got that one bookmarked.
Yeah he’s just one of those trade happy fans that doesn’t look at much through a real world lens. My personal fav is the cards and cubs lining up to swap fowler and heyward cuz that just makes 0 sense as both of those teams would never do anything with the other one that was even remotely helpful.
If you make it far enough in the article he actually suggests trading with the YANKEES(!?) for Sonny Gray, because in his world the Cincinnati Reds do not exist and did not trade for him 2 weeks ago. What a maroon.
Um the article clearly states that the Cubs would be beating Cincinnati‘s offer. It looks like in your happiness to bash someone for what you can’t do yourself, you decided to ignore that part of the article.
Are you insane? The article does not “clearly state” the Cubs would be beating the Reds offer. In fact nowhere does that article say anything about the Cubs beating the Reds offer because it doesn’t mention the Reds offer at all because it talks about trading with the Yankees. In your comment section you talk about that being the case, but the article clearly does not.
You mean Jerry DiPoto doesn’t exist? A bad contract swap that helps both teams is unrealistic?
Heyward has been a bust in Chicago but was better in St. Louis. Fowler is worse than Heyward and has been a bust in St. Louis. Why wouldn’t St. Louis prefer having Heyward to Fowler?
Fowler is a fan favorite in Chicago who was pretty good there, Heyward has been a bust. They would save money and bring back a fan favorite who can bounce back. Why shouldn’t the Cubs prefer Fowler to Heyward?
Not sure why Jerry would have anything to do with what we are talking about. My argument is not with any of your proposed reasons why a Fowler Heyward swap would make sense for both teams. My argument was, and still is, that the Cubs and Cards don’t do moves to help each other because they are arch enemy franchises. If they perceive the other side benefiting in the slightest they will not do the move. I have no bone to pick with your other reasons. Perhaps you are the one who should pay closer attention to detail when trying to argue online.
just here to say Keith Law is a fraud. carry on.
Pretty sure everyone knows that by now
What? You don’t think all those moves that are heavily cub favored and his positive projections for fowler and gio PLUS giving machado a deal that they would only be bidding themselves up as good ideas?
How is trading Heyward for Fowler (which benefits St. Louis), heavily biased for the Cubs?
How is trading prospects for Gray biased for the Cubs?
How is declining Hamels’s option biased for the Cubs?
How is Zobrist for Encarnacion a bad trade for Seattle when they save money and get a more versatile player?
How is Encarnacion to Tampa biased, when this very site suggested it?
It’s unrealistic for Gio to match his 2018 or for Fowler to bounce back?
I’m guessing you’re an expert on Machado’s personal life and know exactly what his highest offer is going to be correct?
If these deals aren’t biased for the Cubs then why are they making them? You argued for them and now you’re saying they’re not good for the Cubs?
Why are you twisting what I said? I didn’t say that the trades were bad for Chicago, I said they weren’t biased. The definition of “biased” is things that only benefit one side.
1. Gray trade: Yankees get a better return than from Cincinnati. Cubs get a good cheap starter.
2. Zobrist/Encarnacion trade: Cubs get a better trade chip and Seattle save money and get a more versatile and arguably better player.
3. Encarnacion trade: Cubs get rid of a player they don’t need and Tampa or Houston get a DH they’ve been rumored to be looking for for nothing. It’s been rumored that both teams are interested in him, but we can assume that Seattle is asking for too much.
4. Lester trade: Cubs save money and Philadelphia gets a veteran starter that they’re rumored to be looking for. Cubs also pay some of the money owed him so it’s not a bad deal for Philadelphia.
Heyward for Fowler certainly benefits the Cubs. I believe that the difference between their contracts is about 55 million dollars. I don’t even think that Heyward is worth 5 for 55 million dollars and I doubt he would get that contract on the FA market. The cubs gain all that flexibility and gain Fowler the bounce back candidate. It only helps the Cubs, which I am certain the Cardinals do not want to do
St. Louis could fix Heyward, that’s the premise.
How? Heyward is better and more useful to a team that puts a premium on good defense. The difference in their contracts is $3.5 million in 2019 and then slightly more for the next few years.
I‘m astounded for how hateful some people are, I proved the person wrong and get dislikes for doing so with no explanation at how my explanation is wrong.
I came up with a different word: petty.
Calhoun is what he is….. A defensive OF that’s gonna produce a low batting average with 18 to 20 HR, and 60 to 70 RBI if lucky. The stats don’t lie, get over it Halo clowns and move forward. Stop living on the past.
I had almost completely forgotten about the Jesus Montero ice cream sandwich situation until reading the Dugout’s article.
fond memories
Poor suggestions for the Cubs. I watched the Dodgers get rid of all their older players (infielders) many years ago. They all went elsewhere and won while the Dodgers struggled for years. Lester and Zobrist will have good years. Unless we have a little more movement from the front office Epstein and Maddon will not.
What exactly is “many years ago”
Fangraphs predicts Lester to have an ERA over 4 going forward. In the meantime he’ll be paid like an ace by a team that supposedly is having money issues. Zobrist is overpaid too.
The Cubs have to honor the contract they signed wether he’s an account it not and Fangraphs isn’t always right.
Who are these older Dodgers infielders you are referring to? Do you mean Karros/Grizilalaneck?
Ron Cry, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, etc.
so the whole premise of that Cubs blog is the Cubs failed because they didn’t address the offense, and one of his first solutions is to trade away their second most productive hitter last season for basically nothing?
oooookay…
Zobrist has been a good role player for the Cubs, obviously. Trading him makes sense if you believe you’re getting bounce back years from the Cubs’ core players. Adding another closer and a big bat should have been a priority this offseason.
Yep exactly and they didn’t do that.
The Cubs literally said themselves before the off season that that was their top priority and then did nothing. Zobrist is 38 and overpaid, it’s silly to think he’ll be that productive in 2019.
You suffer from ageism. It’s not absurd to think Zobrist can produce similar one year later. And in a market that now pays for versatility plus his strong obp and great walk/k rate he would easily get 1/$13 if he was a FA.
It isn’t absurd that Z could do well this year but he was not good in 2017 and was in 2018 and he’ll be 38 this year. I wouldn’t bet on continued success
It’s not ageism it’s reality, players decline with age and you won’t find many productive 38 year olds. The chances for a rapid decline are too strong. He wouldn’t make $13 million in this market, maybe 1/$7 million.
This.
You’re not convincing me to read your blog regularly, Neil…
Do I care if you do?
But you should though right?
Cmon Everybody knows the Cubs have no money because of those ridiculous Contracts they have ie:Hayward & Darvish
The dude that wrote the cubs article is laughable. Hes basically playing a fantasy baseball league by himself as commissioner.
Really? Every trade makes sense and is clearly explained. You just want to hate because you can’t write a blog yourself.
Suitors for Bryce Harper are dwindling, but where are the Yankees?
pinstripealley.com/2019/1/30/18201485/yankees-bryc…
The variation in quality of the articles from the Point of Pittsburgh is astounding. Some are excellent and some, like this one, are dreadful. 10 plus years in and the farm system isn’t a disaster? This is a GM who came in with the promise of building the team from the ground up. The farm hasn’t produced as much as anticipated for the MLB team. But after a decade with Neal Huntington at he helm, this blogger is patting him on the back because the system isn’t a disaster? What a bunch of nonsense.
This post is always depressing. So many stupid people with access to a computer. “Bloggers.”
I have watched the Cubs for over 40 years. Theo said it. The Cubs have the pieces they just need to play to their potential. Look how many close games they lost last year. For Christ sakes they won 95 games. They need healthy pitchers and consistently productive bats! That’s not coaching! It wasn’t pitching they had some of the better pitching last year. Just not when it counted. They will be fine they just need the drive back. it will come!