Tuesday, May 3, 2011

SweetSpot Roundup 5/3

In today's Roundup, the following things are causing the downfall of your favorite team: the manager, injuries, excessive travel, injuries, luck, injuries, poor planning, and injuries.

Baseballin' on a Budget (A's): Thanks, Ron Washington!
"Bob Geren outmanaging Ron Washington, a big story in this game."

Ghostrunner on First (Blue Jays): What is This I Don't Even
"What kind of positives have you taken from the first month of this season?  Does anything warm the cockles of your cold, black heart?"

Baseball Time in Arlington (Rangers): A Tale of Two Pitchers
Is the fairy tale over in Arlington?  Pitchers are injured and struggling, and Julio Borbon is wearing out his welcome fast.

The Ray Area: Playing in a Traveling Band
"I think it is fair to say that exhaustion cost the Rays at least one, if not two, games this weekend. Looking ahead, there are at least four more series that will begin after a long, nighttime flight."

Fire Brand of the American League (Red Sox): Analyzing a Slump
What the hell is wrong with Carl Crawford? Is there hope?

Royals Authority: Home Cooking
"On their way to posting a 12-5 home record, the Royals have average 5.6 runs per game and posted a robust team slash line of .278/.355/.446.   The pitching staff has held opponents to a .256 batting average on their way to posting a 3.64 earned run average and allowed less than one home run per game (14 in 17 contests).

Nick's Twins Blog: Caught Empty Handed
"It's time for this front office to wake up. They blundered badly by entering the season with no quality depth behind Mauer, who they now acknowledge was never ready for the start of the campaign."

It's About the Money, Stupid (Yankees): Cole, Rendon, and Drafting Pitchers and Position Players
You have your choice of a pitcher or a hitter of equal quality. Which should you take?


Austin's Astros 290 BlogNew week, same ranking for lowly Astros
"One interesting common theme with the Astros, Padres and Twins — each won only one series in the month of April. The White Sox actually managed to win two despite their abysmal record and even more abysmal bullpen, which just might rival the Cardinals and Astros for worst in baseball."

Capitol Avenue Club (Braves)Brian McCann's power
Ben looks at what looks like a pretty big dip in power from the star catcher so far in 2011.

View from the Bleachers (Cubs)GirlieView (05/02/2011)
Lizzie's off celebrating her birthday, so she regales us with a trip back to 2009 (which of course is just where every Cubs fan wants to go). 

With Andre Ethier's hitting streak getting close to the Dodger record, Jon looks back at Davis' 31st in 1969.

"Anyways, watching the Giants play this weekend in the District really drove home the point:  jeez, these guys really can’t hit right now. And, this lineup really looks bad without Sandoval in it."

Nationals BaseballWhy Not Nix?
With most of the reasons for not starting him having fallen by the wayside during the first month, Harper reexamines the case for and against starting Laynce Nix in the Nats' outfield.

I guess it's kind of a superstitious thing: Geoff aims to jump-start this May by revisiting post from past, wildly successful Padres Mays.

Crashburn Alley (Phillies)Phillies Injuries Proving Costly
Bill breaks down how much injuries have cost the Phillies so far, in actual salary dollars.

Redleg NationDown on the Farm
As he does just about every day, Bill Lack has a nice quick-and-tidy recap of everything that went on in the Reds' minor league system the day before (here, May 1).

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