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Blog Spotlight
From our hundreds of feeds, what the best baseball bloggers are talking about today.
April 2006
Friday April 28, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:33AM EST on April 28, 2006
Bloggers in Rangers' land have to be happy with the feats of Kevin Mench. But that doesn't mean they are happy with the arms of their bullpen. In this entry, Rangers' fan John Vittas rails against reliever Francisco Cordero, who, according to John, has a save-conversion rate around 40%. Apparently, Cordero is a fill-in closer for the injured Frank Francisco. The blog, "Baseball Time in Arlington" is one of many good ones firing up daily on Most Valuable Network. 
Thursday April 27, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:31AM EST on April 27, 2006
If you're a reporter for the Tampa Bay Tribune, and you cover the Devil Rays in your baseball beat, you basically don't have a lot to cheer about. This year, the Rays have been giving a good effort, but their injured list keeps growing daily. Three of the Rays' starting infielders are out. Clutch-hitting star outfielder Rocco Baldelli? It seems as if he's been on the DL for most of two years now. But last night, Eduardo A. Encina is happy to report in today's edition of the Tribune, it all came together at Yankee stadium as the Devil Rays won in extra innings. 
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Wednesday April 26, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:26AM EST on April 26, 2006
One of the nation's leading newspapers, The San Francisco Chronicle, posts an interesting daily column called Two Cents. This forum lets everyday people have their say on a variety of current topics. In the Bay Area, the topic of Barry Bonds is always coming up. Last night, the troubled slugger inched closer to Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. But today, people on the street are talking about steroid use and race. When it comes to Barry, these topics never go away. Take a minute and hear what's being said in Two Cents.
Tuesday April 25, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:34AM EST on April 25, 2006
In association with Fox Sports coverage of major league baseball, Scout.com does a good job giving "inside" information on teams and players. Today they give a sassier take on Nomar Garciaparra's well-timed grand slam against the Houston Astros last night at Minute Maid Park. Scout's angle is that Houston starter Andy Petitte was absolutely cruising in the seventh inning, having faced just one batter over the minimum. That's no hits through six until Nomar took control of the game. (Scout.com is a subscription service...the cost is $7.95 per month or $79.95 per year to follow your favorite team.)
Monday April 24, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:26AM EST on April 24, 2006
Should you expect the New York Mets' faithful to come to Keith Hernandez' defense in the matter of the massage therapist? Will Mets fans give their hero-broadcaster love and respect after his anti-feminist comments? Well, don't expect Mets bloggers to be sympathetic. Amazin' Avenue, for example, says, "hopefuly Mex will learn to think before he speaks in the future. He's broadcasting a ballgame in front of millions of people, not out grabassing and throwing back a few cold ones with the boys." Be sure to take time to read comments in Amazin' Avenue, especially the one from Baseball Mom.
Thursday April 20, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:57AM EST on April 20, 2006
Unlike many MLB teams, the Boston Red Sox have a full lineup of daily, thought-provoking blogs. Wall Ball Single is a consistent thread, but so are The Joy of Sox (featured here last week), along with the often humorous Call of the Green Monster and the more serious Fire Brand of the American League. In this issue, Wall Ball Single balances today's Leading Off story about the Red Sox fine pitching this season with criticism of the team's lack of hitting. Specifically, Manny Ramirez, who is in a prolonged slump. The blog's classic point is, the Sox are more lucky than good to be atop the division at this juncture.
Wednesday April 19, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:57AM EST on April 19, 2006
Well, you don't expect N.Y. Yankees' blogs to be kind when the Bronx Bombers blow a 4-run lead and lose 10 to 5 with ace Randy Johnson on the mound. This morning, Bronx Banter joins its brethren Yankee blogs in slamming the New York team and its pitching staff. On Randy Johnson's performance, the Bronx Banter says, "pitch after pitch floated just above waist high right over the plate. Johnson was serving meatballs on a platter and the Blue Jay hitters feasted on them." Tough but true talk. And tasty, just like a blog should be.
Tuesday April 18, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:37AM EST on April 18, 2006
We've drawn your attention to 1060 West before...it's a diehard, vocal, sincere Chicago Cubs' blog that is unusually intelligent. The writer has stated eloquently in past editions how unhappy he is with manager Dusty Baker and his (ab)use of the Cubs pitching staff. Two of the results are serious injuries to (former) young guns Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. 1060 West expresses its joy in watching Greg Maddux pitch a masterpiece last night against the Dodgers. As alluded in Leading Off, watching Maddux is like watching an artist paint.
Monday April 17, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:03AM EST on April 17, 2006
This morning, one of baseball's top-notch blogs takes a look one of the game's great players, Albert Pujols. The St. Louis Cardinals' superb-hitting first-baseman hit three home runs yesterday. The only surprising aspect of that event is that it is only the second time Pujols has notched a three-homer game. As usual, Baseball Musings digs further into the statistics, alerting us that the only "deficient" number in Albert's repertoire is his number of triples.
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Friday April 14, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:18AM EST on April 14, 2006
Senior Writer Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline puts Bonds' woes into perspective in today's column. The grand jury probe of Barry's possible perjury in 2003 adds up to a potential not-so-grand ending to his storybook career. As Miller logically observes, you can't chase Hank Aaron from a prison cell. Not only can you not go deep—you can't even walk out when you feel like it. (CBS Sportsline posts "Talk Back!" comments for readers of the column. Check them out...some are highly volatile this morning.)
Thursday April 13, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:00AM EST on April 13, 2006
A Red Sox fan from Port Credit, Canada, (near Toronto) pens this succinct and highly entertaining BlogSpot blog on Boston. "The Joy of Sox" gets right to the point, blasting David Wells as a "tub of goo," etc., etc. Commentors quickly join in the bashing and a Wells' fat-fest of barbs ensues. For example, one comment discusses the possibility of a Wells-related snack food injury! After reading a few of these virulent attacks from die-hard fans, I believe a trade at Wells' request is probably the best solution for both parties. (Or perhaps retirement?)
Wednesday April 12, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:43AM EST on April 12, 2006
Front and center in local coverage of the Cleveland Indians is the Akron Beacon Journal and reporter Terry Pluto. You can't blame Ohioans for being excited even if it is just the second week of season 2006. The Tribe is off to a sizzling start and knocking the cover off the ball. Today, the Beacon Journal focuses on Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez and his hot bat. Last year, Martinez hit .380 after the All-Star break, then .370 in spring training in Florida. So far in the regular season, he's posting a blistering .444. That's hot. (Especially for a catcher.)
Tuesday April 11, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:11AM EST on April 11, 2006
Sparing no one with his stinging pen, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports makes dollars and sense out of today's MLB economics. This revealing story will hurt a lot of feelings (Chan Ho Park, for instance) but will make others happy. Center cut in the article is Rosenthal's assessment of the David Ortiz deal...a mutually beneficial one. Actually, the Fox Sports senior writer states that Big Papi is one of the most underpaid stars in the American League. At least in the early years of the new deal just inked with the Red Sox.
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Monday April 10, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:07AM EST on April 10, 2006
The witty sarcasm of the Ball-Wonk is at full throttle after the season-opening series between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals. Deadspin.com says about Ball-Wonk, "Hilarious posts with just enough analysis to remind you why you care." Here, venomous pen-in-hand, Ball-Wonk blasts the umpires, play-by-play analysts (primarily Joe Morgan) as well as individual players, starting with Pedro Martinez, the Mets' beanball specialist. Ball-Wonk usually garners a few comments, unlike many less pithy blogs. Enjoy...beginning with the violent fantasy composite of "gladiator" Jose Guillen beheading Pedro.
Friday April 7, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 10:59AM EST on April 7, 2006
Senior Baseball Writer Ken Rosenthal lets it loose in this lambasting of major league baseball and its newly touted steroids investigation. Rosenthal states frankly that the new investigation headed by former senator George Mitchell is a thinly disguised Bud Selig P.R. campaign. The outspoken Fox Sports columnist urges MLB to focus on the future—on the detection of illegal drugs, instead of empty investigations into the past. Rosenthal's primary argument includes this salient point: if Barry Bonds were tested today, three of the drugs he supposedly used would go undetected under current testing procedures.
Thursday April 6, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:20AM EST on April 6, 2006
Writer Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com has some thoughts today regarding new Dodger first baseman Nomar Garciaparra in his new role in his (as the above story stresses) totally renovated new home. Newness seems to be the watchword here and Crasnick pinpoints the progress Nomar has been making at first base, one painful error at a time. I along with most baseball fans share the opinion that a former shortstop should be able to make the transition to first base in a snap. But in this entertaining story, former Dodger Eric Karros (a first baseman too) treats us to a sidebar that explains why it really ain't so easy.
Wednesday April 5, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 12:17PM EST on April 5, 2006
The bad news for the Dodgers in last night's rain-delayed home game is that Nomar is on the DL with a rib injury. Garciaparra, the former Chicago Cubs shortstop, pulled a muscle in the Dodgers' season opener on Monday. One at-bat, one 15-day injury. Sports Illustrated carries the bad news for Dodgers' fans in this article courtesy of the Associated Press. Hopefully, this is only a temporary setback. Because the 32-year-old Garciaparra has spent extensive time on the disabled list in three of his last five seasons, playing only 21 games in 2001, 81 in 2004 and 62 last season.
Tuesday April 4, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 11:38AM EST on April 4, 2006

As we start the new season, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports gives us an insider's peek at which MLB managers may not be around when autumn arrives. He says Dusty Baker of the Chicago Cubs and Joe Torre of the New York Yankees are on the hot seat. Also with flames licking their backsides are Frank Robinson of the Wasington Nationals and Willie Randolph of the New York Mets. Read on to see which additional managerial names may not make it to season's end. (Hint: Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves isn't one of them.)

Monday April 3, 2006
Permalink Posted by: Skeet at 6:42PM EST on April 3, 2006
As highlighted a couple of weeks ago, 1060West is an excellent, in-depth Chicago Cubs blog...insightful and brutally honest. 1060West is almost always very topical too, as demonstrated by this extremely focused post on Cubs' starting pitching. This blogger tells it like is, factoring in the endless stream of Cubbie starting rotation injuries, leading off with Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. He contends—forcefully—that you can't count on anything definite from Wood and Prior until the true state of their injuries is known. That leaves 40-year-old, future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux holding the bag for the staff...as usual.