The best baseball writing from around the FanSided network this week, including a wide range of MLB news, notes and analysis.
The season is in full-swing, and the team of baseball writers around the FanSided network is in mid-season form. Here at FanSided.com, our Mark Carman and Kayla Knierim spoke with Cubs slugger Kris Bryant’s father Mike this week about his son’s early success in Chicago.
The Cubs are still the team to beat according to Joshua Padlock’s weekly Power Rankings, but there’s been a shakeup throughout the big leagues with the Diamondbacks, Angels, Orioles and Rays among those on the rise, while the Giants, Cardinals, and Blue Jays are headed in the wrong direction. Joshua also made his case for one prospect each MLB team should call up.
All MLB, All the Time
Also on the mother ship, Paul Myron dove into Byron Buxton’s perplexing performance at the plate, while Derek Helling discussed the baseball card industry, which is booming once again, with Topps executive Susan Lulgjuraj. And, as Bryan Holmes explained, Reds manager Bryan Price recently implemented a sabermetric approach with his bullpen.
Our MLB site, Call to the Pen, is also loaded with insight. Steve Herl dove into the hot offensive start the Washington Nationals had had thus far, and compared the club’s power surge to some of the best lineups in baseball history, including the 1961 Yankees and the 1976 Reds.
Speaking of the Reds, reliever and home run-hitter Michael Lorenzen is one of the best stories in baseball, according to Jim Turvey. Matt Veasey made his case that the Phillies have one of the top farm systems in baseball, while Tal Venada said Philadelphia faces some upcoming trade complications.
In-Depth MLB News and Analysis
The team at Cubbies Crib, like all Cubs fans, enjoyed the ring ceremony at Wrigley Field this week. However, instead of reveling in last year’s success, Daniel Shepard projects five players will regress in 2017.
The Dodgers were in Chicago for the festivities, and LA is expected to be one of the top challengers to knock the Cubs off the throne. But, as Anthony Perez pointed out for Dodgers Way, there are at least five obstacles (other than the Cubs) Los Angeles must overcome to make it to the World Series.
In San Francisco, the Giants have suffered a drought in the outfield, and as Jessica Suzette Mendoza asked for Around the Foghorn, where’s the depth? Depth, of course, hasn’t often been an issue for the starting pitching staff in San Francisco, as Michael Salesman noted when ranking the top 10 right-handers in team history. Everyone loves a good debate, and there are certain to be plenty of Tim Lincecum fans outraged he didn’t make the cut.
Elsewhere around the network, there’s been a great deal of reaction to early season results. Off to a 1-7 start, the Blue Jays need to shake things up somehow, and now, according to Chris Henderson of Jays Journal. Although, as Henderson pointed out earlier in the week, Toronto has suffered through a handful of bad Aprils in otherwise good years.
At Rox Pile, Kevin Henry made note of five interesting quotes from the Rockies recent homestead, and offered insight on the facts surrounding them.
The team at District on Deck covers the Nationals from every angle. Ricky Keeler noted the team’s struggles at shortstop thus far, while Drew Douglas broke down the bullpen issues. Ron Juckett offered his takeaways from the series with the Cardinals.
On the other side, Nathan Grime recapped the Cardinals recent series loss to the Nationals for Redbird Rants.
Do you love the tequila sunrise throwbacks the Astros wear? Cody Poage of Climbing Tal’s Hill believes Houston, as well as the other 30 MLB teams, wearing more throwbacks is one of several things the club can do to make baseball better.
With a grand slam, Andrew Romine was the hero in the Tigers win over the Twins Wednesday, and the utility man was randomly selected for a drug test following the game. And that’s okay, according to Motor City Bengals‘ Kristen Bentley.
At Tomahawk Take, Stephen Tolbert dove deep on Dansby Swanson’s slider problem. On the other hand, the Red Sox have the top catching duo in the big leagues, according to BoSox Injection‘s Sean Penney.
The Diamondbacks are off to a great start, but sloppy defense has been an issue, as Joseph Jacquez noted for Venom Strikes.
The Phillies were swept by the Mets, and John Town made note of five things we learned as a result for That Ball’s Outta Here.
Quick Hits
At South Side Showdown, Ruben Ceniceros explored the positives and negatives through the first week of play for the White Sox.
The last week as been a roller coaster for the Padres, as Diane Calkins noted for Friars on Base.
Rangers closer Sam Dyson is off to a dreadful start in 2017, and as Connelly Bock wrote for Nolan Writin’, it’s an eerie trend.
At Puckett’s Pond, Jordan Ison graded each hitter in the Twins lineup.
Looking for silver linings on Gary Sanchez’s injury, Steve Contursi argued losing the slugger was the best medicine for the ailing club at Yanks Go Yard.
We’ve all heard the saying “a walk is as good as a hit.” Brian Pinter of The Baltimore Wire suggests the axiom isn’t true for the Orioles.
Worried about Edwin Encarnacion? Steven Kubitza compared the Indians slugger’s 2017 start to date to his early 2016 performance for Wahoo’s on First.
Dan Straily is off to a shaky start in Miami, but Marlins Maniac‘s Sean Millerick says its too early to give up on the right-hander.
Steven Ohlrogge of Reviewing the Brew asks the same of Brewers fans in regards to young shortstop Orlando Arcia.
Similarly, Sodo Mojo‘s Colby Patnode pleaded with Mariners fans not to give up yet. After all, lefty James Paxton is in Cy Young form, according to Anthony Hill.
The Royals are in a position to hit the panic button, according to Cloby Wilson of Kings of Kauffman.
With the Royals struggling and Eric Hosmer set to enter free agency this fall, KC may look to move the first baseman. However, Rising Apple‘s Haddar Kaplum believes the Mets shouldn’t even think about enquiring Hosmer.
Rum Bunter‘s Marty Leap says the Pirates just need to survive April.
Off to a hot start, the Reds are on a collision course with the playoffs… in 2019, says Nick Vorholt of Blog Red Machine.
We’re lucky to have such a strong group of baseball writers here on the FanSided network. Check out all of the FanSided MLB sites here. Of course, we’re always looking for other passionate contributors. Interested in joining the team? Apply now.