Baseball Blogs Weigh In

On this date in 1990, Major League Baseball locked out its players after the two sides were unable to come to terms on a new Basic Agreement. Ultimately, commissioner Fay Vincent was able to get both sides on the same page and a new deal was hammered out on March 19th. Much of spring training was lost and Opening Day was pushed back by about a week, but, of course, things could have been a whole lot worse.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Did The Tribe Win Last Night caught up with Sandy Alomar.
• The First Out At Third pitted Francisco Rodriguez against Jonathan Papelbon.
• Inside The ’Zona penned a love letter to Jake Lamb.
• Yankees Unscripted previewed Jacoby Ellsbury in 2015.
• Camden Depot has some ideas to fix the draft.
• Screwball Baseball measured the worth of a home run.
• Dodgers Today feels that Andre Ethier could thrive in a bench role.
• Baseball Essential discussed Josh Donaldson’s arb hearing.
• A’s Farm checked in with Oakland assistant GM David Forst.
• Outside Pitch projects the Reds’ performance for 2015 and beyond.
• SF Giants UK braces for life without Pablo Sandoval.
• Baseball Hot Corner spoke with Blue Jays prospect Devon Travis.
• Blue Jay Hunter looks at a pair of extension candidates.
• Baseball News Source says the Yankees made the smartest decisions this winter.
• Banished To The Pen discussed Rickie Weeks’ underlying value.
• Dodgers Nation foresees patience in L.A. this year.
• World Series Dreaming wants to make baseball more accessible for African-Americans.
• The Point of Pittsburgh ranked the top prospects in the Bucs’ system.
• Outside Pitch previewed the Reds.
• Diamond Nines previewed the Royals.
• Heatwaved looked at the D’Backs’ outfield.
• Statliners says offense is at a premium.

On this date in 2006, Johnny Damon took out a full page ad in the Boston Globe to thank Red Sox fans after signing with the rival Yankees, according to Leo Panetta of NationalPastime.com.  Damon, who was beloved in Boston, took a great deal of heat after inking a four-year, $52MM deal with the Bombers.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogopshere..

• Blue Jays Plus looked at Aaron Sanchez’s mechanics.
• Camden Depot says the Orioles don’t care much about OBP.
• Yankees Unscripted previewed Michael Pineda.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh gave us the Bucs with the most trade value.
• The Sports Esquires discussed the qualifying offer.
• Baseball Hot Corner wonders when the Tigers’ window might close.
• Dodgers Today says L.A. has to figure out how to use Alex Guerrero.
• That Ball’s Outta Here wonders if the Phillies going after the right catching prospect.
• Know Hitter talks internal replacements for Victor Martinez.
• A’s Farm ran down Oakland’s top ten prospects.
• RSNStats says Fenway wasn’t all that friendly in 2014.
• BASTA broke down the Giants’ fifth starter situation.
• Outside Pitch is behind the Nationals in 2015.
• Royals Blue says KC needs to address it’s power shortage and walks.

Please send submissions to Zach at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

On this date in 1913, Jim Thorpe signed with the New York (baseball) Giants, as Leo Panetta of NationalPastime.com writes.  The legendary athlete went on to compile a lifetime .252 batting average during his six seasons in the major leagues.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Banished To The Pen caught up with Michael Taylor.
• Camden Depot discusses the Travis Snider acquisition.
• Baseball Essential spoke with Twins right-hander A.J. Achter.
• Rays Colored Glasses has an idea to fix the system for signing Cuban defectors.
• Yanks Go Yard says it’s time for Brian McCann to earn his money.
• Inside The ’Zona is excited for the 2015 season in Arizona.
• Lasorda’s Lair wrote an open letter to new commissioner Rob Manfred.
• Halo Hangout advocates signing Eric Young Jr.
• Section 215 says that the pitch clock idea needs some tweaking.
• Minor League Ball previewed the Phillies’ top 20 prospects.
• Pine Tar Press says the Royals should take a hard look at James Shields.
• Baseball Hot Corner wonders if the Astros are playing for today.
• Maniac Ball runs down some of the top prospects in the Halos’ system.
• Baseball Essential talks Ken Griffey Jr.
• A’s Farm previews the Nashville Sounds.
• Bless You Boys wonders if the Tigers should bring back Joba Chamberlain.
• i70Baseball says Allen Craig has no clear role in Boston.
• Blue Jays Plus talks payroll in Toronto.
• Heat Waved previews the D’Backs starting rotation.

On this date in 2012, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada announced his retirement at a New York press conference, as Leo Panetta of NationalPastime.com writes.  At the time, the 40-year old five-time All-Star catcher left Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera as the only remaining players on the team from the group that led the Bombers to four World Series titles in five years.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The ’Zona has an arbitration strategy for the D’Backs.
• Reviewing The Brew caught up with Jimmy Nelson.
• Blue Jays Plus says Toronto should hold onto Dioner Navarro.
• Wahoo’s On First isn’t worried about the projections on Corey Kluber.
• The Nats Blog made the case for keeping Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister.
• Baseball Hot Corner says Yovani Gallardo is a good fit for the Rangers.
• The First Out At Third makes sense of the Gallardo trade.
• Baseball News Source looks at Yankees prospects that could make an impact.
• Section 215 wants to warn you about Jonathan Papelbon.
• Yankees Unscripted says Mark Teixeira needs to make some changes.
• Heat Waved laid out their expectations for Yasmany Tomas.
• The Point Of Pittsburgh talks Pedro Alvarez.
• World Series Dreaming is thinking about a Kris Bryant contract extension.
• Baseball Essential made the case for the Marlins.
• BASTA looks at Brandon Crawford as a breakout candidate.

On this date in 2005, the Dodgers avoided arbitration with star closer Eric Gagne with a two-year, $19MM deal. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, elbow issues limited the righty to just 16 appearances over the life of that contract. Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• The Point Of Pittsburgh looked at the Pirates’ income.
• Baseball Hot Corner caught up with new Red Sox pitcher Daniel Rosenbaum.
• Camden Depot wonders what the Orioles are going to do with Dan Duquette.
• Screwball Baseball has some ideas for the Padres’ defense.
• Ball Eight discussed Javier Baez’s problem with strikeouts.
• 27 Outs Baseball looked at Jake Luce of the Wichita Wingnuts.
• Baseball Stooges turned in an analysis of long-term free agent deals.
• Inside The ’Zona talked everything D’Backs on this week’s podcast.
• World Series Dreaming talks Jacob Turner.
• Yankees Unscripted talks Brian McCann.
• Blue Jays Plus goes under the hood on Josh Donaldson’s swing adjustment.
• Outside Pitch sees Oswaldo Arcia as a 2015 breakout candidate.
• Halo Hangout looked at what Ryan Mattheus could bring to the table.
• Section 215 considers an interesting hypothetical.
• Beisbol’s Org doesn’t like the Mets’ quiet offseason.
• Baseball News Source says the Yankees should be all in on Yoan Moncada.
• Bronx Baseball Daily ran down the top nine pitchers the Bombers can sign in ’16.

On this date in 2008, the Reds hired former Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty as a special adviser to top executive Bob Castellini.  Months later, Jocketty would take over as the GM in Cincinnati and he remains in that role today. Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Outside Pitch previews the Braves for 2015.
• Dodgers Nation says that the bullpen will be better in L.A.
• Baseball Hot Corner feels that Rick Porcello is in for a monster year.
• Reviewing The Brew says Rickie Weeks is hurting his free agent value.
• Blue Jays Plus discussed the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. situation.
• Redbird Rants goes to bat for Chris Von der Ahe.
• Halo Hangout introduces Angels fans to Kyle Kubitza and Nate Hyatt.
• Baseball News Source talks James Shields and Max Scherzer.
• Golden Gate Sports says thank you to Will Clark.
• Being Frank prepares for life without Russell Martin.

On this date in 2008, Hideo Nomo signed a minor league deal with the Royals after a three year hiatus from major league baseball.  Nomo did some relief work for KC in April, but he couldn’t replicate his best work from years past.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Rays Colored Glasses wonders how much Ben Zobrist would cost the Giants.
• Yankees Unscripted says the Bombers should stay the course.
• Reviewing The Brew says Emilio Bonifacio is a perfect fit for Milwaukee.
• Marlin Maniac talks Marcell Ozuna.
• Baseball Hot Corner makes the case for Barry Bonds.
• Baseball News Source predicts the rest of the winter for the Yankees.
• D Rays Bay says now is the time for Tampa Bay to move Yunel Escobar.
• Gondeee looks at new Braves acquisition Manny Banuelos.
• Camden Depot says the Orioles are still excellent defensively.
• Inside The ’Zona says the D’Backs should consider moving Addison Reed.
• 27 Outs Baseball looks at five players due to rebound.
• The First Out At Third says the Brewers have a bullpen problem.
• Beisbol’s Org breaks down Japanese shortstop Takashi Toritani.
• Blue Jays Plus looks at Hall of Famers with Toronto connections.

On this date in 2005, the Diamondbacks sent Troy Glaus and highly touted infield prospect Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays for second baseman Orlando Hudson and starting pitcher Miguel Batista.  Santos would go on to make an impact in the big leagues, but not in the role he was expected to.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Did The Tribe Win Last Night caught up with Jim Thome.
• Rays Colored Glasses explains the trades of Joe Ross and Trea Turner.
• Camden Depot explains how team-controlled players have seen a pay cut.
• Inside The ’Zona wonders if the D’Backs can improve their new young pitching assets.
• Beisbol’s Org looked at the Yankees’ rotation for 2015.

On this date in 2010, the Red Sox and Bobby Jenks agreed to a two-year, $12MM deal. Jenks was brought in to be a top notch setup man for Jonathan Papelbon, but health troubles ultimately derailed that plan – he made 19 appearances for Boston in 2011 and that was all for him.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Blue Jays Plus broke down Toronto’s payroll.
• Camden Depot is hoping Colby Rasmus can be the new Nelson Cruz.
• Inside The ’Zona says the D’Backs’ rotation has a long way to go.
• Baseball Hot Corner wonders if the Red Sox could sign Max Scherzer.
• Baseball News Source looks at the Yankees’ future-minded moves.
• Baseball Essential has some thoughts on Giancarlo Stanton’s deal.
• Seattle Sports Insider weighs in on Justin Ruggiano.
• Beisbol’s Org breaks down the Justin Upton deal.

On this date in 1985, Roger Maris died at the age of 51 after a two-year battle with lymphatic cancer.  Maris, who set a long-standing record of 61 home runs in a season and won two MVP awards, was never inducted into the Hall of Fame, with some saying that he did not have the career numbers to enter Cooperstown.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Camden Depot looks at six starting pitcher prospects in the Orioles system.
• Monkey With A Halo looked at the fallout from the Angels’ trades.
• World Series Dreaming isn’t as thrilled about Miguel Montero as others.
• Blue Jays Plus doesn’t think Toronto’s offense is actually any better.
• Cover Those Bases ran down the winners and losers of the winter meetings. rs
• Talking Brewers says Milwaukee should pursue Johnny Cueto.
• Nats GM discussed the Ross Detwiler deal.
• Inside The Zona says the D’Backs are taking a gamble by trading Wade Miley.
• Beisbol’s Org looked at the Dodgers’ eventful week.
• Baseball Hot Corner reflected on the meetings.
• Lasorda’s Lair hopes Matt Kemp’s departure brings Cole Hamels to L.A.

Please send submissions to Zach at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.