Baseball Blogs Weigh In News & Rumors

On this date in 2008, the Marlins become only the second Major League team to have three infielders hit 30 home runs in the same season when Hanley Ramirez went deep in Florida's 4-2 victory over the Nationals. The Florida shortstop joined teammates first baseman Mike Jacobs and second baseman Dan Uggla to match a feat accomplished in 2001 by A's infielders Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejada.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Know Hitter gives a tip of the cap to Dave Dombrowski.
• I R Fast takes a quick look at Chang-Yong Lim's debut for the Cubs.
• Halos Daily evaluates the market for Howie Kendrick.
• Batting Leadoff scouts Mariano Rivera and the money pitch.
• MLB Reports says the Rays miss James Shields.
• The Giants Cove is planning ahead.
• 2 Guys Talking Mets Baseball reaches across the aisle to talk Ryan Braun.
• Replacement Level Red Sox ranks Boston's top ten prospects.
• Inside The Zona tackles the question we've all been wrestling with.
• Blogging Mets has some concerns about the Mets' front office.
• Rays Colored Glasses wants the old David Price back.
• Grading On The Curve peers into the future to check out the Cubs in 2017.

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

On this date in 2005, Dontrelle Willis became the first pitcher in the thirteen-year history of the Marlins to win 20 games in a season when the team beat the Nats at RFK Stadium, 12-1.  The high-kicking southpaw had established a franchise record for victories in his last start with his 19th win.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The Zona looks at Paul Goldschmidt's plate discipline this season.
• AL Eastbound & Down defends Alex Anthopoulos' job in Toronto.
• Replacement Level Red Sox crunches the numbers in Boston.
• Phillies Nation tries to untangle the headache that is the Phillies' 40-man roster.'
• Shutdown Inning talks about Yu Darvish's home run epidemic.
• A's Farm has the top performers in the Oakland system.
• Camden Depot weighs in on the struggles of Matt Wieters.
• Blogging Mets has potential free agent outfielders for Sandy Alderson to consider.
• Federal Baseball looks at Anthony Rendon's year so far.
• Rays Colored Glasses has a hypothetical trade for Rays and Mets fans to ponder over.
• MLB Injury News asks if the Tommy John epidemic can be prevented.
• Kings Of Kaufmann examines some power options for KC this winter.

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

On this date in 2006, 48-year-old Julio Franco became the oldest major leaguer in history to drive in five runs as the Mets routed the Nationals 13-0 at RFK Stadium. The first baseman still had some baseball left in him beyond the '06 season, spending 2007 with the Mets and Braves.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Baseball Professor has some concerns about Justin Verlander.
• The Tribe Daily weighs in on the Jason Kubel deal.
• Through The Fence Baseball noticed a change in Torii Hunter's hitting.
• Pinstripe Pundits looks at the improvement of Ivan Nova.
• Monkey With A Halo thinks Mike Scioscia will be let go with GM Jerry Dipoto staying put. 
• Kings Of Kauffman examines Eric Hosmer's resurgence.
• Inside The Zona breaks down the Diamondbacks' September call-up options.
• Baseball Stooges discusses the future of the Mets.
• i70 Baseball is glad to see some stability in the Cardinals' starting rotation.
• MLB Reports says the time is now (or next year) for the O's to strike.
• Baseball Hot Corner reflects on the hits and misses the Blue Jays have had in the draft.
• Lasorda's Lair has learned quite a bit from Vin Scully.
• Grading On The Curve sees big things for the Twins in the future.

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

On this date in 1989, Pete Rose was banned from baseball for life by Commissioner Bart Giamatti for gambling.  The Reds’ manager signed a five-page agreement with Giamatti in which he agreed to a lifetime penalty but did not admit to gambling on the national pastime.  Here’s this week’s look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Camden Depot looks at the frustrating Wei-Yin Chen.
• Inside The Zona says the Diamondbacks have shown a penchant for coming back in 2013.
• The War Room has part one of their 2014 Phillies preview.
• Kingdome Of Seattle Sports is glad that Justin Upton declined a deal to the Mariners. 
• Philly Phanatics doesn’t blame Charlie Manuel for the team’s struggles.
• Baltimore Sports And Life scouted Hunter Harvey‘s debut in Aberdeen.
• Kings Of Kauffman crunches the numbers on KC’s playoff odds.
• Blogging Mets lays out the blueprint for the Mets in 2014.
• i70 Baseball gives a tip of the cap to Jon Jay for silencing critics.
• Sports Talk Florida looks at upcoming decisions for the Rays.
• Hardball Scouting evaluates Lucas Giolito.
• Phoul Ballz spoke with a top Phillies draft choice.
• Baseball Hot Corner has the all-PED team.

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

As skipper of the Fort Worth Cats of the Central League, Bobby Bragan became the oldest person to ever manage a professional baseball game on this date in 2005. The 87-year-old, whose one day of employment only lasted until the third inning when he argued balls and strikes with the umpire, was eight days older than Connie Mack, who managed his last game for the 1950 Philadelphia A’s.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Cracked Bell Sports reflects on Charlie Manuel's time in Philadelphia.
• Pinstripe Pundits discusses the Yankees' aging outfield.
• Swingin A's looks at a possible reunion for Barry Zito and Oakland.
• Replacement Level Red Sox argues that Boston should look into signing Jose Dariel Abreu.
• Inside The Zona breaks down Paul Goldschmidt's NL MVP candidacy.
• Kings Of Kauffman applauds Bruce Chen.
• Camden Depot attempts to identify Jim Johnson's problem.
• Wahoo's On First wonders if the Tribe missed out on the chance to extend Jason Kipnis cheaply.
• The Giants Cove examines the legend of RISP.
• Shutdown Inning explains why Jurickson Profar is untradeable.
• Baseball Hot Corner updates us on the progress of some of 2013's top draft picks.

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

On this date in 2008, Barry Bonds was honored by the Giants as part of their 50th anniversary celebration commemorating the club's move to San Francisco.  The slugger, who isn't terribly beloved in some circles, got a raucous ovation from the crowd.  One has to imagine that Alex Rodriguez is hoping for a similar reception tonight when he returns to Yankee Stadium.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Pinstripe Pundits looks at how A-Rod's possible suspension affects the Bombers' budget.
• Halos Daily reflects on the Scott Kazmir trade that sent Sean Rodriguez, Matthew Sweeney and Alex Torres to the Rays.
• Kings Of Kauffman says the Royals better hold on to Ervin Santana.
• A's Farm turns in their midseason report card.
• Inside The Zona asks if Jason Kubel should be moved.
• I R Fast slows it down for a change.
• MLB Reports wants to see some changes happen for the 2016 CBA.
• Seattle Clubhouse introduces us to the new Danny Farquhar.
• Rising Apple discusses the rise of strikeouts and the sharp decline in walks.
• Rays Colored Glasses looks at Chris Archer's Rookie of the Year case.

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

On this date in 2004, the Cardinals announced that their new ballpark scheduled to open two years later will also be known as Busch Stadium, continuing a tradition over a half a century old,  In 1953, a month after Anheuser-Busch purchased the Cardinals, the brewery bought Sportsman's Park renaming it Busch Stadium and then kept the name in its new downtown stadium which opened in 1966 calling the facility Busch Memorial Stadium.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Inside The Zona reflects on the Dan Haren deal.
• Rays Colored Glasses praises the Jesse Crain deal.
• Halos Heaven brings us a feature on the Grant Green trade.
• The Shea Faithful looks at why the Mets held on to Marlon Byrd.
• A's Farm scans the minors in Oakland.
• I R Fast weighs in on pitch sequencing.
• Replacement Level Sox looks back at a fight to remember.
• i70 Baseball asks what should be done with Wade Davis.
• Lasorda's Lair talked with Ron Roenicke.
• Baseball Stooges talks risk and reward.
• Kings of Kauffmann is skeptical about the Royals.
• The Giants Cove breaks down a quiet deadline in San Fran.

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

On this date last year, Starling Marte homered on the very first pitch he saw in the major leagues when he went yard to deep left-center field at Minute Maid Park off the Astros' Dallas Keuchel.  The left fielder was the first Bucs player to hit a home run in his first big league at-bat since Don Leppert accomplished the feat in 1961.  Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere..

• Prospect Insider runs down the rookies of the half-year.
• Puckett's Pond wants the Twins to hang on to Justin Morneau.
• Kings Of Kauffman looks at what Ervin Santana might bring the Royals in a trade.
• Royal Revival says there are six potential outcomes to the Santana saga.
• Pinstripe Pundits looks at Trevor Plouffe as a trade target for the Bombers.
• Kingdome Of Seattle Sports has an idea for Tim Lincecum.
• I R Fast breaks down Anthony Ranuado's Pitch F/X data from the Futures Game.
• MLB Reports says the Pirates should at least go for a reliever.
• Baseball Hot Corner has ten Blue Jays that could be on the block.
• Bless You Boys argues that the Tigers could be the biggest losers of the Biogenesis scandal.
• Brew Crew Ball examines Major League Baseball's drug policy.
• MLB Injury News wonders if the Nats can get back on track.
• The Hardball Times explains why Ryan Braun didn't appeal his suspension.
• Through The Fence Baseball talks Chris Davis.
• Inside The Zona looks at options for the D'Backs bullpen.

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

On today's date in 1976, young Tigers hurler Mark Fidrych — already known as "The Bird" — made the 13th start of his rookie campaign. His outing that day against the Twins would be his 12th complete game of the year, including three in which he went 11 innings. He ended up throwing 24 complete over that season, and finished with 250 1/3 innings in what was far and away his most productive big league season (and the only one in which he reached 100 innings). Needless to say, things have changed a bit in MLB since that time. This year, grizzled ace Adam Wainwright leads all of baseball with four starts out of twenty in which he has not been relieved. Here's this week's look around the baseball blogosphere …

• i70 Baseball runs down the second-half storylines for the Royals.
• The Tribe Daily wonders if the Indians can keep things up with the current roster.
• Wahoos On First assembles their all-time Indians roster.
• Kings Of Kauffman says that KC should dangle Greg Holland.
• The Giants Cove is in favor of trading Tim Lincecum to help build for the future.
• Sports Of Boston turns in their midseason report card for the BoSox.
• Philly Phanatics handicaps the odds of Phillies trade candidates getting moved.
• I R Fast profiled the players in the Futures Game and looked at their Pitch F/X data.
• MLB Reports looks at how all of the Rays hitters got to Tampa Bay.
• Swingin A's says Josh Donaldson is a microcosm of Oakland as a whole.

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