Weekly Link Round-Up

Good baseball reads from around the web.

• Scott Allen of Venom Strikes looks at how the National League West has fared this offseason and has good things to say about the moves the Rockies have made.

• Purple Row got a guest column from former Rockies’ draft pick Craig Baker, in which he tells his own story. And does it quite well.

• ESPN’s David Schoenfield breaks down the NL West position-by-position, and really doesn’t think the Rockies bring much to the party except at the obvious spots. But he also said Kevin Slowey would be our number 3 starter, so what does he know?

• Seth Smith is gone. Please, talk amongst yourselves, because I’m verklempt.

• I’m pretty much always hoping for a Rockies-Phillies trade or for the Rockies to sign a former Phillie, because then I get to read Justin Klugh’s take on it.

• I’ve always appreciated Andrew Fisher’s take on Jason Hammel, so his 2011 player review of Hammel was a welcome read. We both wish he could have gotten a better grade.

• Seedlings to Stars published a list of players from the NL West that were snubbed by their Top 100 Prospects series. Wilin Rosario and Edwar Cabrera are on it.

• I’ve purposely been avoiding actually counting the number of potential starting pitchers the Rockies might have in Scottsdale next month, because I knew the figure would just depress and confuse me. Purple Row’s Jeff Aberle braved the depression and confusion and came out with 17. Oy vey. However, he softens the blow by showing off his impressive anagrammatical skills.

• Did you hear that Fausto Carmona isn’t really Fausto Carmona? Baseball is still the most interesting sport in the world even when no one is playing it.

• Wait, Smith AND Spilly in the same week? This is worse than Iannetta and Stewart in the same week! I’ve spent way too much time this offseason crying and drinking alone. I hope we’re done here.

• Hey Ryan Braun, just what do you suppose your current situation reveals about your “character?” I have a few ideas.