This week in baseball blogs…
- theScore observes that opposing pitchers are starting to treat Mike Trout like Barry Bonds.
- The Point of Pittsburgh analyzes Chris Archer’s two-seamer struggles.
- MLB & Fantasy Baseball Analyzed reacts to the Cubs’ Kimbrel signings and takes a look at other closer situations around the majors.
- Notes from the Sally recaps Mariners outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic’s South Atlantic League stint.
- East Village Times delves into MacKenzie Gore’s excellence in the California League.
- Chin Music Baseball (links: 1, 2) names the 10 best and worst players of May.
- Joker Mag focuses on the thriving Tommy La Stella.
- Infield Shift highlights La Stella and other players the Braves lost during their rebuild.
- Rising Apple looks at the Mets’ long-term center field options.
- Call to the Pen notes the Phillies have in-house bullpen reinforcements on the way.
- Chipalatta examines the Astros’ outfield logjam.
- Pinstriped Prospects interviews Yankees second-round pick Josh Smith.
- Phillies Nation talks to former coaches of Philly’s 2019 first-round pick, Bryson Stott.
- Baseball Prospect Journal previews the top prospects for the 2020 draft.
- Mets Daddy notes that, with respect to first-round drafting, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has a tough act to follow in predecessor Sandy Alderson.
- A’s Farm runs down the team’s top 10 picks in this year’s amateur draft.
- The Runner Sports (links: 1, 2) responds to Max Kepler’s three-home run game and writes about the Astros’ speed.
- Giants Cove and Complete Game Loss each share stat-centric pieces.
- Rox Pile opines on where Coors Field ranks among the major’s “gimmicky” ballparks.
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Compare anyone to Barry Bonds has so much foolish! A lot! Trout has all super skills but pitchers’ fear of Bonds was something never repeat again for history.
Pre-steroid Bonds and Trout are similar players. ~9WAR seasons with speed and power.
These blogs are so much detritus. Rarely anything to get worked up about. Waste of time…..
Trout is just an amazing ball player. I had the good fortune to accidentally run into him in a small hardware store in California a few Januarys ago. Didn’t realize who he was until, as I was leaving the store, that cool, funny engaging guy was signing autographs for a couple kids on the sidewalk outside. He had earlier asked me if I was a baseball fan lol and who the best player was, and I said Machado was pretty damn good but “Mike Trout is by far the best. Maybe the best of all time.(awkward pause) And I got his rookie card!” And he shook my hand as I was in a rush to leave and catch a plane or something. He’s just gonna get better and be more feared as a hitter than even Barry Bonds. And imo the best ambassador for baseball of all time. Can’t say enough good things about that guy.
You didn’t realize who he was, but you knew he was one of the best of all time? If you are going to make up a story, you need to be a little more consistent.
No I believe him. I am always stopping at hardware stores before rushing to catch flights.
I had to meet my ride to the airport – can’t control the timing these things. Anyway it was cool. Just felt like sharing the story. Doesn’t matter if you don’t believe it. We’re all baseball fans here.
It happened – I’m just a Dumas for not recognizing him. And he understood I had no idea who I was talking to. I Could be explained it way better. Short version is – met him and handled himself gracefully – was impressed by his personality.
LaStella is having a great season so far. He deserves to be an AllStar!
many had written off fletcher’s offence but what a surprise he has been!
Angel fans are rightfully disappointed, but I’m not. I see the future and with Fletcher and LaStella two problems appear to be solved. Canning is for real. I’m not worried about Adell. Ohtani has proven he can hit. Harvey and Cahill have been horrible, but I’m very optimistic with a 2020 core of Skaggs, Ohtani, Heaney and Canning. The Angels need to add a proven starter and I’m optimistic 2020 through 2022 will be the most fun Angel years in over a decade.
Mackenzie Gore is a beast. Beast enough to start the 2020 season in the big-league rotation (along with an innings limit, of course). But let him advance all year in the minors, no big-league ‘pen gig.
Jarred Kelenic is really exciting to see. Will be interesting to see how it all shakes out when he and Lewis are both called up. I think Lewis more than likely gets LF Kelenic stays at CF and of course Haniger in RF. Smith is either a trade piece or a 4th OF. I don’t see that as a probable outcome because of the other players we have coming up. Before all the jokes Jerry would love to trade him and get a bunch of young talent back if he improves on D and continues to hit after his brief stay in AAA. He struggled at the first of the year but is hitting good right now.
They also have White who should be called up around the same time. I figure Seager will be at third which really is a good idea to lead the guys for a year or so. Our glaring need is catcher but there should be enough prospects to trade for a young good one. There is also a few holes in the pitching staff but there could be trades or FA signings. Same of course in the BP. That to me is a reimaging of the team. A young fast OF that will play together for many years. Same in the IF a few players to get but Jerry will wheel and deal to fill those holes.
I understand that any of these players can fail. That they might not live up to the hype but I am thinking it is time for things to go right. We have had our share of failures. The can’t miss guys that suck. The bad drafts and even worse trades. Well before Jerry got here we had to have 2 of the worst GMs in the history of BB. No all you bitter Angel fans Jerry isn’t one of them. Seems you were his learning curve and he has done a good job since coming here. Lastly I don’t want to hear any stupidity from the clueless because I used we or our. You can not like it but many of the posters on the board use it. Get over yourselves and drop it.
Great article by Infield Shift highlighting some very underwhelming returns received by the Braves during their rebuild.