Baseball Blogs Weigh In

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:

• Chin Music Baseball names five players who have taken significant steps backward since starting the season in red-hot fashion.
• Other League details the changes Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka has made this year.
• Baseball Hot Corner defends ex-Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi.
• PhoulBallz interviews Phillies pitching prospect Luke Leftwich as well as his father and grandfather. The latter two pitched in the majors, which means Leftwich will become the second third-generation hurler in MLB history if he makes it.
• Think Blue Planning Committee addresses how the Dodgers can improve at this year’s trade deadline.
• World Series Dreaming ponders if the Cubs should move righty Jason Hammel to the bullpen.
• Blue Jay Hunter sees big money in designated hitter/first baseman Edwin Encarnacion’s future.
• Inside the ’Zona examines the success of Diamondbacks closer Brad Ziegler and tries to find another Ziegler-type pitcher the D-backs could target.
• Now On Deck regards this as the perfect time for the Orioles to take a stranglehold of the AL East.
• Bleeding Royal Blue analyzes the adjustments Royals setup man Joakim Soria has made this season.
• Outside Pitch MLB dives into whether southpaw Drew Pomeranz has a future with the Padres.
• Bronx Bomber Blogger offers five ways toward future success for the Yankees, including selling this summer.
• Pirates Breakdown highlights the journey of utilityman Adam Frazier, whom Pittsburgh called up this week.
• Notes From The Sally lists the 20 best prospects in the South Atlantic League at the midpoint of its season.
• Brew Crew Fever looks at which Brewers deserve All-Star consideration.
• All Facets Of The Game believes Rangers center fielder Ian Desmond is an AL MVP candidate.
• Jays Journal wonders if breakout left fielder Michael Saunders has a chance to get a similar contract to Jose Bautista in free agency.
• Jays From The Couch is concerned about Saunders’ high strikeout rate.
• Wayniac Nation applauds the work of Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius.
• The Point of Pittsburgh has invented a grading scale to judge Pirates manager Clint Hurdle’s decisions.
• isportsweb scrutinizes a few in-house candidates to take over for Jeremy Hellickson in the Phillies’ rotation if the club trades him.
• A’s Farm presents its midseason organizational All-Star team for the Athletics.
• Sports Heaven suggests some new events for All-Star weekend.
• The Runner Sports updates the excellent season the Astros’ Double-A affiliate, Corpus Christi, is having.
• Pinstriped Prospects has a story on the combined no-hitter the Staten Island Yankees threw last week.
• The Ranger Report doesn’t see any reason for the Rangers to panic over the rash of injuries in their rotation.
• Rotisserie Duck has the answers to last week’s 1953 baseball card quiz.
• Halo Headquarters asks if Angels first baseman Albert Pujols should retire.

Please send submissions to ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:

• Big Three Sports contends that Dodgers superhuman southpaw Clayton Kershaw could be the best player in baseball.
• Pirates Breakdown explores the possibility of Pittsburgh trading the face of its franchise, center fielder Andrew McCutchen.
• Minor League Ball has high hopes for two-way Japanese star Shohei Otani, who could depart his homeland for the majors within the next couple of years.
• SaberBallBlog tries to get to the bottom of whether hitting streaks are as impressive as many think they are.
• From Chavez to Fenway ponders if Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer can overcome his home run issues to remain among the elite.
• The First Out At Third wonders whether breakout Brewers shortstop Jonathan Villar’s future is in Milwaukee.
• AV Blogs: MLB 2016 delves into the success of Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer.
• Wayniac Nation has a discussion with Braves left-handed pitching prospect Max Fried.
• Baseball Hot Corner (1, 2) chats with Elroy Face – the oldest living former Expos player – as well as ex-pro ballplayer Jim Campanis Jr. about his new book, “Born Into Baseball: Laughter and Heartbreak at the Edge of The Show.”
• A’s Farm interviews Oakland scouting director Eric Kubotka regarding team’s top 11 picks of this year’s draft.
• Banished To the Pen profiles Mike Antonellis, who’s a broadcaster for the Portland Sea Dogs – the Red Sox’s Double-A affiliate.
• World Series Dreaming praises the Cubs’ ability to prevent runs.
• Jays From the Couch looks into ways the Blue Jays can replace righty Aaron Sanchez when they move him from the rotation to the bullpen later this season.
• North Shore Nine compares the minor league careers of Pirates outfield prospect Austin Meadows and Angels superstar Mike Trout.
• Chin Music Baseball names the three best fits for Brewers catcher and trade possibility Jonathan Lucroy.
• Outside Pitch MLB commends the job Giants manager Bruce Bochy has done with the team’s bullpen.
• Inside the ’Zona explains why the Diamondbacks have a tough call regarding the respective futures of relievers Daniel Hudson and Brad Ziegler.
• Philliedelphia checks in on five players the Phillies could trade.
• BP Toronto is a proponent of Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista batting leadoff.
• Sports Heaven lists the most logical fits for five trade candidates.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh defends Pirates general manager Neal Huntington’s rotation construction and looks at the team’s 2016 draft.
• Notes From The Sally scouts Giants second base prospect Jalen Miller.
• Super Two Sports breaks down the career of Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin.
• Think Blue Planning Committee highlights some in-house replacements for Dodgers lefty Julio Urias, whose innings limit will soon take him out of their rotation.
• Jays Journal details designated hitter/first baseman Edwin Encarnacion’s unique hot streaks.
• Bronx Bomber Blogger wants the Yankees to take the closer role from Aroldis Chapman and give it back to Andrew Miller.
• isportsweb examines the performances of some of the Phillies’ youth, including prospects from the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
• LA Dodger Report criticizes the Dodgers’ lineup construction.
• Now On Deck asks if fans should want their teams to play on national television.
• Rotisserie Duck offers a 1953 baseball card quiz.

• Bleeding Royal Blue focuses on controversial Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura’s future.
• The First Out At Third looks at what’s behind Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun’s offensive resurgence.
• A’s Farm interviews Cal right-hander Daulton Jefferies, Oakland’s second-round pick.
• Pinstriped Prospects chats with Louisville second baseman and Yankees second-rounder Nick Solak.
• Cover Those Bases talks with Indians right-handed pitching prospect Ben Heller.
• Baseball Hot Corner would like the Red Sox to target Tigers righty Justin Verlander.
• BP Toronto analyzes the Blue Jays’ depth.
• Now On Deck (links: 1, 2) breaks down why Giants ace Madison Bumgarner should and should not participate in the Home Run Derby, and looks at some more traditional candidates who could partake in the event.
• AV Blogs: MLB 2016 sees Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy as an ideal fit for the White Sox.
• Infield Shift points out the differences in the Braves’ current rebuild and the one the Cubs underwent before they became World Series contenders.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh contends that this is the time for the Pirates to make win-now moves.
• Big Three Sports regards the draft as all 30 major league teams’ most important event.
• Call To The Pen wonders if teams are valuing pro readiness over potential in the draft.
• Outside Pitch MLB isn’t convinced that the Giants should go after Yankees reliever Andrew Miller on the trade market.
• Think Blue Planning Committee reports on the status of the Dodgers’ second-best pitching prospect, Jose De Leon.
• Super Two Sports redrafts this year’s top 10, but with a unique twist.
• Jays From The Couch opines that the Blue Jays should cut ties with first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello, who’s serving an 80-game PED suspension.
• Minor League Ball scouts Giants first base prospect Chris Shaw.
• Sports Of Boston is encouraged by the approach the Red Sox took during the draft.
• Pirates Breakdown names the five best prospect debuts in Pirates history.
• Shutdown Inning writes that Rangers center fielder Ian Desmond could still become a $100MM player, which the ex-shortstop missed out on a couple years ago when the Nationals offered him a $107MM extension that he turned down.
• Chin Music Baseball believes the Giants should be aggressive at this year’s trade deadline.
• Sports Heaven offers ways for the Pirates to fix their rotation.
• The Runner Sports profiles the Astros’ first-round pick, right-hander Forrest Whitley.
• Chris Zantow takes a trip back to 1981, a year that featured a players’ strike, to revisit the Brewers’ season.
• Rascals Of The Ravine asks if the Dodgers–Giants rivalry has gone flat and expresses pessimism toward LA’s chances this year.
• Rotisserie Duck runs down some former and current players’ ugly offensive numbers.
• BronxBomberBlogger suggests the Yankees should be sellers at this year’s trade deadline and lists some players they could move.
• Wayniac Nation isn’t a fan of using wins and losses to judge pitchers.
• Jays Journal goes back to June 5, 1989, opening night at the stadium formerly known as the SkyDome.

Here’s this week’s spin around the baseball blogosphere:

• BP Toronto takes an in-depth look at Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman’s repertoire.
• Inside The ’Zona presents some pitch selection changes Diamondbacks southpaws Patrick Corbin and Robbie Ray should make.
• Big Three Sports evaluates an atypical Cardinals team.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh wonders if Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen’s best days are behind him.
• Baseball MTJAG memorializes Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett, who died in a drowning accident Thursday.
• Clubhouse Corner interviews Diamondbacks reliever Zac Curtis and his college pitching coach, Skylar Meade.
• 1 Blue Jays Way talks with Blue Jays first base prospect Rowdy Tellez.
• Pinstriped Prospects chats with Yankees relief prospect Cale Coshow.
• Cover Those Bases ranks the top 20 position players in the upcoming draft.
• Wayniac Nation compares the top two high school bats in the draft.
• Outside Pitch MLB sees All-Star potential for hot-hitting Reds outfielder Adam Duvall.
• Off The Bench explains why the Yankees and Cubs are logical trade partners.
• Baseball Hot Corner suggests the Blue Jays trade for Brewers slugger Ryan Braun.
• Bucs Raise It asks if the Pirates should worry about a potential Francisco Cervelli decline.
• Now On Deck laments right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez’s presence on the Orioles.
• Philliedelphia contends that struggling first baseman Ryan Howard should announce this season is his last so he can turn a negative campaign into a positive.
• Gaslamp Ball expects Padres 2013 first-round pick Hunter Renfroe to make his major league debut this season.
• The Runner Sports reviews the Astros’ 2015 draft and lists previews some 2016 first-round possibilities for the club.
• Pirates Breakdown examines the run production of outfielder Starling Marte.
• Jays From The Couch writes that the AL East could come down to a season-ending three-game set between the Red Sox and Blue Jays.
• Notes From The Sally scouts Marlins first base prospect Josh Naylor.
• Think Blue Planning Committee looks at the state of the Dodgers’ rotation.
• Total Sports Live assesses the Phillies’ present and future.
• Dan Grant of Same Page Team delves into the Blue Jays’ roster and puts some focus on their newest player, reliever Jason Grilli.
• North Shore Nine grades the Pirates after two months.
• Super Two Sports believes Dick Allen’s exclusion from the Baseball Hall of Fame is unjust.
• Sports Heaven points out the flaws in judging pitchers on wins and losses.
• isportsweb previews June for the Phillies.
• Rotisserie Duck profiles Rangers reclamation project Matt Bush.
• Chin Music Baseball argues that the National League should never adopt the designated hitter.
• LA Dodger Report takes the Dodgers’ front office to task.

Please send submissions to ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:

• Talking Chop presents an in-depth study on the origins of quality starting pitchers.
• BP Toronto breaks down how opposing pitchers have slowed down the Blue Jays’ offense.
• Chin Music Baseball runs down the six biggest free agent bargains of the offseason.
• A’s Farm discusses some of the Athletics’ best prospects with assistant general manager Billy Owens.
• Big Three Sports isn’t worried about Mets right-hander Matt Harvey.
• Sports Of Boston details some encouraging offensive changes Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts has made.
• Saber Ball Blog (links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) names five American League prospects who could make significant major league impacts this year.
• Jays From The Couch concludes that the Blue Jays broke concussion protocol earlier this season on a play involving center fielder Kevin Pillar.
• Inside The Zona dives into some possible reasons why the Diamondbacks have declined on the base paths from last season to this year.
• The Runner Sports praises underrated Astros reliever Will Harris.
• Pirates Breakdown explains how first baseman John Jaso is beating the shift.
• Outside Pitch MLB asks if the Giants’ Johnny Cueto was the best free agent signing of the offseason.
• isportsweb analyzes some possible reinforcements from the Phillies.
• Think Blue Planning Committee is resigned to the notion that help might not come to the Dodgers’ bullpen until the trade deadline.
• Camden Depot studies what went wrong with Brian Matusz.
• Jays Journal submits some dark-horse first-round candidates for the Blue Jays in the upcoming draft.
• Super Two Sports explores whether over-the-hill first baseman Ryan Howard will finish this season with the Phillies.
• Redbird Rants doles out the Cardinals’ quarter-season awards.
• Bucs Raise It offers a gloomy outlook on Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano.
• Baseball Hot Corner posits that the Red Sox are the best team in the American League.
• Notes From the Sally scouts Braves left-handed pitching prospect Max Fried.
• Wayniac Nation profiles draft prospect and potential first overall pick Riley Pint.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh offers insight on what the Pirates’ pitching staff will look like after the Super Two threshold passes.
• RSN Stats writes about a rare feat the Red Sox have accomplished on offense this year.
• Minor League Ball forecasts the first five picks of the upcoming draft and offers analysis on each selection.
• Rascals Of The Ravine criticizes home plate umpire Adam Hamari for ejecting Mets ace Noah Syndergaard from Saturday night’s tilt with the Dodgers.

Please send submissions to ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:

• Outfield Fly Rule runs down the qualities the Braves should be looking for in their next manager.
• The 3rd Man In has an interview with MLB.com prospect guru Jim Callis, who answers questions regarding the upcoming draft.
• Clubhouse Corner profiles and chats with Diamondbacks pitching prospect Tyler Wagner.
• Super Two Sports argues that the Phillies should trade for Brewers star outfielder Ryan Braun.
• Sports Heaven asks if seemingly ageless Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz should rethink his retirement plans.
• BP Toronto details the success of reliever Joe Biagini, who has been a rare bright spot out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh analyzes how the extension given to catcher Francisco Cervelli will impact the Pirates’ window of contention.
• North Shore Nine lavishes praise on the Pirates’ extension of Cervelli.
• Chin Music Baseball lists six teams that could take advantage of the upcoming winter’s weak free agent pitching market by putting their own starters on the trading block.
• Jays From The Couch assesses the Blue Jays at the season’s quarter pole.
• Outside Pitch MLB writes that the recently extended Brandon Belt’s early season excellence is making the Giants look brilliant.
• Big Three Sports examines how the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta went from an afterthought to one of baseball’s elite starters.
• Bucs Raise It warns the Pirates to upgrade their pitching – which could mean promoting any of Tyler Glasnow, Jameson Taillon or Chad Kuhl – before the Cubs run away with the NL Central.
• Pirates Breakdown takes a look at the incredible pace Triple-A Indianapolis’ rotation –  which includes Glasnow, Taillon and Kuhl – is setting.
• Wayniac Nation tries to figure out which prospects will go where in the top 10 of the upcoming draft.
• isportsweb delves into the Phillies’ improbable success.
• Notes From The Sally scouts Yankees middle infield prospect Hoy Jun Park.
• Camden Depot wonders how valuable Orioles superstar third baseman/shortstop Manny Machado would be in an eight-team league.
• The Runner Sports checks in on the performance of the Astros’ rotation and details some minor league options capable of stepping in sometime this season.
• Call To The Pen opines that Red Sox minor league outfielder Rusney Castillo could still become a valuable major league contributor.
• Jays Journal believes Double-A prospect Rowdy Tellez could be the Blue Jays’ long-term solution at first base.
• LA Dodger Report explains that Scott Kazmir’s terrible start to the season could have negative ramifications in the coming years.
• Baseball Hot Corner recommends following Lenny Dykstra on Twitter.

Please send submissions to ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:

Please send submissions to ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:

• The Point Of Pittsburgh analyzes why the Pirates haven’t yet promoted elite pitching prospect Tyler Glasnow and determines that their decision to wait, although painful now, will pay long-term dividends.
• NatsGM has a podcast interview with FiveThirtyEight writer Ben Lindbergh, the author of “The Only Rule Is It Has To Work,” which details the experience Lindbergh and Baseball Prospectus’ Sam Miller had running the baseball operations of an independent league team last year.
• About Sports chats with ESPN’s Buster Olney.
• Jays From The Couch highlights what has gone wrong offensively for Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin this year and provides an answer regarding whether panic is in order.
• Inside The ’Zona features a similar piece concerning Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who hasn’t quite been himself early this season.
• Super Two Sports applauds Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper’s “Make Baseball Fun Again” campaign.
• BP Toronto sees Fantex as good for players and bad for front offices.
• Chin Music Baseball names the six most disappointing players of the young season.
• The Runner Sports explains that it might make sense for the Astros to promote dominant Double-A pitching prospect Joseph Musgrove to the majors, noting that the team set a precedent last year by bringing up two now-prominent starters from that level.
• Pirates Breakdown wonders why the Bucs are shifting less this year, which correlates with (and could be partially to blame for) a downturn in performance by their pitchers.
• MLB DFS Weather examines what the weather projections for this summer could mean for offense around baseball.
• OutfieldFlyRule lists ways Major League Baseball can reach out to the next generation of fans.
• Camden Depot offers an outside-the-box way for the Orioles to fix their biggest flaw: their starting pitching.
• Same Page Team goes 25 deep with the Blue Jays and delves into the struggles of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and reliever Brett Cecil.
• Big Three Sports profiles the Pirates’ two best pitching prospects – the aforementioned Glasnow and Jameson Taillon – and provides insight on when the two will make their major league debuts.
• Think Blue PC interviews Dodgers pitching prospect Chase De Jong.
• Pinstriped Prospects writes that 26-year-old Double-A pitcher David Kubiak is living the dream as a member of the Yankees organization.
• Outside Pitch MLB is perplexed by the underrating of Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
• Innings Eaters weighs in on whether the rebuilding Braves should trade first baseman Freddie Freeman.
• Sports Heaven looks at Giants ace Madison Bumgarner’s chances of going down as the best hitting pitcher in the history of baseball.
• RSN Stats evaluates some of the numbers the Red Sox have put up during their solid start.
• FantasyPros doesn’t think there’s anything fluky about Mets outfielder Michael Conforto’s early season excellence.
• Notes From The Sally scouts Giants right-hander Phil Bickford.
• Chris Zantow reminisces fondly on the 10th anniversary of then-Brewer Bill Hall’s Mother’s Day walk-off home run in 2006.
• Baseball Hot Corner believes more playing time is in order for Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak.
• The Wayniac Nation explains that the surprising Phillies must not lose sight of the future.
• isportsweb investigates what’s in store for those Phillies in May.
• Jays Journal has a favorable opinion of Blue Jays backup catcher Josh Thole.

Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere:

• Forbes Sports Money explores what’s preventing the Phillies from calling up highly touted shortstop prospect J.P. Crawford.
• BP Toronto suggests that shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s success or failure could make or break the Blue Jays’ season.
• Dynasty Digest asks if the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta has surpassed the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw as baseball’s best pitcher.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh analyzes Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco’s improved plate discipline.
• Super Two Sports salutes legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully in his final season with the franchise.
• Jays From The Couch shows how right fielder Jose Bautista’s defense is in decline.
• About Sports evaluates the impact Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez is making behind the plate.
• Big Three Sports believes Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is a rare player whom fans should appreciate.
• Camden Depot submits that Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop’s plate discipline will determine his ceiling.
• Notes From The Sally scouts Royals southpaw Foster Griffin.
• Baseball MTJAG offers a first-round mock draft.
• SaberBallBlog (links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) examines five National League prospects who could serve as high-impact call-ups this season.
• Inside The Zona explains why there’s hope for Diamondbacks right-hander Archie Bradley.
• Bleeding Royal Blue has a piece on third baseman Mike Moustakas’ power surge.
• The Wayniac Nation wonders how close Nationals shortstop prospect Trea Turner is to making his 2016 major league debut.
• Think Blue Planning Committee ranks the five greatest left-handers in Dodgers history. Spoiler: Kershaw is on the list.
• Chin Music Baseball lists five of the biggest surprises of the young season.
• Jays Journal believes right-hander R.A. Dickey merits patience from both Toronto and its fans.
• North Shore Nine argues that patience is the best policy with the Pirates’ prospects.
• The Runner Sports profiles Astros prospect Alex Bregman, the second overall pick in last summer’s amateur draft.
• Bucs Raise It dives into Juan Nicasio’s evolution as a starter.
• Bronx Bomber Blogger takes a look at five minor leaguers who could help the Yankees this season. One of them is a familiar veteran.
• Pirates Breakdown details first baseman John Jaso’s early season success with the Bucs.
• Fueled By Sports thinks the future is bright for the Brewers.
• FantasyPros calls attention to five obscure records that are on pace to be broken.
• Outside Pitch MLB studies first baseman Freddie Freeman’s early struggles and what they mean for the Braves.
• Motor City Sports focuses on the positive signs the Tigers have shown so far.

Please send submissions to ZachBBWI@gmail.com.