Baseball Side of FanSided (1/15)
By Wally Fish
Time to take a stroll around the MLB blogs of FanSided and look back on what has been a busy week in baseball. To commemorate all the goings on, this edition of the Baseball Side of FanSided is a bit more developed than just dropping links.
Blog Red Machine has been dropping Aroldis Chapman tidbits all week. I’m thrilled that the Reds signed Chapman, and paid quite a bit to do so. It’s always fun to see the small market and mid-market teams make a splash every now and then. Personally I’d still put my money on Noel Arguelles having a better ML career, but I honestly hope they both do well.
BoSox Injection thinks that Mark McGwire is still a liar. I happen to agree. Also, Jonathan Papelbon is no Joakim Soria. Okay, Soria isn’t actually mentioned in the article. I just like to point that out whenever I can.
Cubbies Crib would prefer the Cubs to sign Jermaine Dye over guys like Xavier Nady and Reed Johnson.
Frisco Fastball seems pretty indifferent to the addition of Aubrey Huff. It could have been worse considering the Giants could have signed Mike Jacobs.
Jays Journal runs down the Blue Jays’ list of non-roster invitees to spring training, and also points out that the Royals and Jays essentially traded former prospect outfielders this offseason.
Lasorda’s Lair examines where the Dodgers fit into the NL West picture as spring training rapidly approaches.
Marlin Maniac rightfully expressed jubilation over the Josh Johnson contract extension. Today more rational thoughts were provided including stacking JJ’s deal up against Zack Greinke’s. I’m a huge Josh Johnson fan. Like me, he’s a Minnesota boy, and I’m always happy to see small market teams lock up their young star talent.
Motor City Bengals provided some Jose Valverde thoughts earlier in the week. Now that he’s signed, I’m sure more Valverde content is on the way.
Rayhawk Review has started doing a “rundown” of the Rays roster. Players covered thus far include: Matt Joyce, Carl Crawford, and B.J. Upton. Mr. Upton killed my fantasy team last season with his lackluster performance after I traded for him early on in the year. After I acquired him I was feeling pretty good about my OF of B.J., Corey Hart, and Alex Rios. Despite the collectively atrocious seasons those three turned in, I finished second in my 7-team division (14 team league). Needless to say, B.J. will not be one of my five keepers heading into the 2010 season.
This week we learned that Mark McGwire used steroids. Then we actually got to hear “in depth” thoughts from Big Mac and Tony La Russa who both danced around the truth. Redbird Rants took it a step further by suggesting that steroid users should be completely banned from the game.
Reviewing the Brew shares some Brewers news and notes. In the course of the article, Lew Burdette is mentioned. I bring him up again, because his career is an excellent example of how wins don’t tell you how good a pitcher was. In a six-year span from 1956 to 1961, Burdette won 114 games. During those seasons his ERA+ ranged from 87 to 128. For three years he was above league average and for three years he was below league average. In 1959, Burdette’s 21 wins led the NL, but his ERA+ was just 87.
Rising Apple tracks the Beltran saga from rumor, to news of the knee surgery, to the fallout and specifics of who knew what and when. Then Adam went on vacation. If I were covering the Mets, I’d probably take some time off too. There is only one GM that is regarded by the masses to be more incompetent than Dayton Moore and that is Mets GM Omar Minaya.
New Rox Pile lead writer, David Martin, takes a moment to say hello and share his vision on the site’s future direction.
From wondering which Ryan Church will show up for the Pirates in 2010 to examining the career path of Jonathan Van Every, Rum Bunter is on the case.
Sodo Mojo examines the risk and reward surrounding oft injured, but crazy talented RHP-Ben Sheets.
The Royals got Podsednik and Washington may have to “settle” for Randy Winn. Nats blog Teddy Never Wins has something to say about his declining skill set.
That Balls Outta Here finds a way to fit the 76ers mascot, Phillippe Aumont, Mothra, and dairy products into one post. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m impressed!
Tomahawk Take reflects briefly to the departure of Kelly Johnson and Adam LaRoche
Twinkie Talk wishes Mike Redmond luck as he heads to Cleveland. You can tell that some guys love the game of baseball and have fun doing it, even at the major league level. Mike Redmond always struck me as one of those guys and I appreciate him because of it.
Venom Strikes is taking a wait and see approach on new 1B Adam LaRoche. Inconsistent or not, LaRoche will make a very team-friendly $4.5 million in 2010. I just don’t see this deal working out badly for Arizona. On the other side of the equation, if LaRoche really did turn down the rumored 2-year $17.5 million offer from the Giants, he might want to find new representation. Someone badly misjudged the market on that one.
Yanks Go Yard shares some thoughts on the Yankees suddenly finite financial resources before taking a shot at Mets fans.
(Wally Fish is the lead blogger for Kings of Kauffman and FanSided’s MLB Director. Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)