Baseball Blogs Weigh In

On this date in 2004, at Wrigley Field, Albert Pujols went 5-for-5, including three home runs and five RBIs, as the Cardinals beat the Cubs, 11-8.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• SB Nation discusses the Astros’ failure to sign Brady Aiken.
• A’s Farm caught up with A’s catcher Stephen Vogt.
• Inside The Zona makes the case for moving Miguel Montero.
• Redbird Rants spoke with Karl Ravech.
• Blue Jays Plus turns in their mid-season report card for Toronto’s pitchers.
• Sports Injury Alert breaks down the 2014 mid-season DL statistics.
• Baseball Hot Corner likes Arismendy Alcantara in the majors.
• Did The Tribe Win Last Night has some All-Star suggestions.
• Beyond The Box Score likes the way Casey McGehee is performing under pressure.
• MLB Reports looks at pitching payroll vs. positional payroll.
• Beisbol’s has hitters to watch in the second half.

On this date in 2012, Zack Greinke became the first pitcher to start three consecutive games in the same season since 1917.  The Brewers’ right-hander was the starting pitcher in the team’s final two games before the All-Star break. Greinke started the Saturday prior to the break only to be ejected after throwing just four pitches, so manager Ron Roenicke let him start the next day’s game.  Greinke then made it three straight starts when he took the mound to begin the second half of the season.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The Zona wants to see the D’Backs move Wade Miley in the right trade.
• Blue Jays Plus grades Toronto’s offense so far.
• Beisbol’s talks Masahiro Tanaka.
• MLB Reports examines what Tanaka’s injury means for the Yanks in 2014 and ’15.
• Sports Rumor Alert runs down trade targets for the Yankees, including Cliff Lee.
• The Sideline praises A’s GM Billy Beane.
• Infield Chatter has some take aways from the A’s-Cubs blockbuster.
• Baseball Hot Corner has 20 players the Blue Jays could go after.

On this date in 2003, Tampa Bay skipper Lou Piniella was a man of his word.  The manager promised his club that if they won three in a row he’d dye his hair and after the Devil Rays beat the White Sox the night before, Lou become a blonde.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere.

• Camden Depot says the O’s starting rotation still needs improvement.
• Inside The Zona breaks down the Joe Thatcher deal from the D’Backs’ perspective.
• National League Theory breaks down Brewers GM Doug Melvin.
• Orioles Nation doesn’t think the O’s have the pieces needed to land a top-tier talent.
• MLB Reports gives us a roster tree of how all the Angels’ hitters were acquired.
• Infield Chatter proposes a trade that sends David Price to the Cardinals.
• Baseball Hot Corner says the Blue Jays need another righty bat.
• FanDuel looks at who’s hot and who’s not in fantasy.
• Steel City Buzzin’ looks at the buyers and sellers in the National League.
• Baseball Hot Corner says Derek Jeter shouldn’t be starting in the All-Star game.

On this date in 1897, the Chicago Colts set the record for most runs scored in a game by one team when they crushed the Louisville Colonels, 36-7.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere.

• Beisbol’s Blog is searching for the real Justin Verlander.
• Camden Depot sees a starter in disguise in David Lough.
• Beyond The Box Score wonders why stars seem to struggle when they change teams.
• Rays Colored Glasses names potential suitors for Ben Zobrist.
• AZ Snakepit says the D’Backs should move on from Addison Reed.
• Redbird Rants spoke with the author of The Sabermetric Revolution.
• Red Sox Ramblings says Boston needs to make a change behind the plate.
• Infield Chatter says the Padres’ next GM will reap the fruits of Josh Byrnes’ labor.
• Rising Apple says the Mets have to keep Daniel Murphy if they want to contend.
• MLB Reports asks if the Orioles should make a blockbuster deal.

On this date in 2010, the much anticipated big league debut of Stephen Strasburg lived up to its hype.  The 21-year-old struck out 14 Pirates batters in seven innings in the Nationals’ 5-2 victory in Washington, D.C.  That strikeout tally set a new record for Washington that still stands today, not counting the Expos years.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Blue Jays Plus breaks down Edwin Encarnacion vs. James Shields.
• Inside The Zona ranks the D’Backs’ best trade assets.
• NL Theory turns in their 2014 spend allocation report.
• Camden Depot wonders if the O’s should trade a top prospect for Jeff Samardzija.
• Bucs Dugout looks at the Pirates’ unconventional start to the draft.
• World Series Dreaming looks at potential landing spots for Samardzija.
• The Baseball Stance says Kendrys Morales is a fit wth the Yankees.
• Pinstripe Pundits looks at Alfonso Soriano’s struggles.
• Call To The Pen gives a tip of the cap to Phil Hughes.
• Grading On The Curve wonders who the first star from the 2013 draft will be.
• Redleg Nation makes the case for Joey Votto batting first.
• Royals Blue runs down AL Rookie of the Year candidates.
• FanDuel looks at the prospects to pounce on in fantasy.

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

On this date in 1920, pitcher Babe Ruth, acquired from Boston in the offseason, hit cleanup in the Yankees’ lineup and also got the win when he tossed four innings as the starter in the team’s 14-7 victory over Washington at the Polo Grounds. During his 15 years with New York, Ruth took the mound five times for the club.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Blue Jays Plus breaks down the partnership of Mark Buehrle and Dioner Navarro.
• Camden Depot unearths Nick Markakis’ secret platoon issue.
• Federal Baseball says Stephen Strasburg’s first inning troubles can’t slow him down.
• Reviewing The Brew checks in on the curious case of Marco Estrada.
• Inside The Zona has some tips for Paul Goldschmidt.
• AL Eastbound & Down wants Toronto to keep Drew Hutchinson.
• The Beanball wonders where all of J.J. Hardy’s power went.
• You Gotta Like These Kids evaluates A’s GM Billy Beane.
• Friars On Base says it’s time for serious change in San Diego.
• Grading On The Curve says that the Royals’ troubles go beyond the big league level.
• Royals Blue says KC needs a king.
• Rays Colored Glasses runs down some college pitchers the Rays might look at.
• Baseball Stooges scouted the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
• Replacement Level Red Sox plays “Where are they now?”

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

On this date in 1999, the Diamondbacks tied a 68-year old major league record when their catcher, Damian Miller, started three double plays.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Whygavs brings us the final vortex of all Gregory Polanco discourse.
• Inside The Zona discusses A.J. Pollock.
• The Giants Cove says the injury bug has come to San Francisco.
• Royals Blue looks on the positive side of things.
• Grab Some Bench looks at Alexei Ramirez’s trade value.
• Sports Injury Alert says Jose Abreu’s ankle injury will test the depth of the White Sox.
• Baseball Hot Corner wonders if Jeff Samardzija makes sense for the Blue Jays.
• MLB Reports looks at how the Rangers can fill the Prince Fielder void.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.

On this date in 2004, at the age of 40, southpaw Randy Johnson became the oldest pitcher to ever throw a perfect game when the Diamondbacks beat the Braves, 2-0. Johnson joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning, Hideo Nomo, and Nolan Ryan as the only hurlers to throw no-hitters in both leagues.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The ’Zona reverses every trade made by D’Backs GM Kevin Towers.
• Baseball Hot Corner wonders if Esmil Rogers is still worth keeping around.
• The Beanball breaks down Joba Chamberlain’s resurgence.
• Blue Jays Plus looks at Brett Lawrie’s hitting mechanics.
• Rays Colored Glasses spoke with Gary Sheffield.
• Sports Injury Alert discusses the unfortunate timing of Matt Wieters’ DL trip.
• A’s Farm caught up with Director of Player Personnel Billy Owens.
• Grab Some Bench asks if Jose Quintana is a top AL lefty.
• On Base Talk delves into the Super Two problem.
• Baseball Hot Corner brings us the best alternate minor league uniforms.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.