Link Dumps

Apologies for not posting this week, but last week's Pearlman article drained a lot of my creative process and I've written two SB Nation Houston features in the last week, one on the potential impact of our non-roster invitees and Wandy Rodriguez's future with the Astros.

Both Timmy and David Coleman on TCB have since written good posts on the topic, addressing key questions in the debate over what to do with Wandy.

On the subject of our favourite hobby horse Jeff Pearlman continues to dig himself a hole, and even when he is sort of being rational is still twisting his topic matter completely. David completely nails him with this piece. I think he can be best summed up like this: "I actually think he is less intelligent than most people. Except he can put sentences together," says Platoon Advantage.

Pearlman probably thinks he's got one up on his critics with the piece, but in fact, it demonstrates the exact opposite, and that the man is totally incapable of dealing with his critics, and has no argument to offer when being directly confronted. Rather than start dialogue with any one of a number of people that have been pointing out the flaws in his thinking (his logic is much like swiss cheese), he picks the one nut-job as if it is representative of the vitriol that has been spewing his way in the last month. That guy's wrong he says, therefore by extension everyone else who criticises him is wrong.

And David's point about writers needing to continually learn is another important point. Pearlman just seems stuck in his own little world, unable to take on the criticism that is being thrown at him. Because it is such fundamental criticism I wouldn't call it constructive. "Don't quit your day job" is not constructive criticism, especially if it is your day job.

Meanwhile Stan McNeal, whose ilk is busy killing Sporting News offers this on the moves made by the respective NL Central teams. After the Brewers, who have added most moving parts you could grade any of the teams 2-4/5 (h/t to AstrosCounty to the link).  Might have swapped the Reds with the Cubs. The Garza move was panned by a lot of people, while I think the Reds have made some smart moves. Rentaria over Cabrera is an improvement, and locking up their two young bats Jay Bruce and Joey Votto was important for Walt Joketty.