Considerable debate over the merits of the two.  This Smoak-Montero viewpoint notes that the biggest difference is not Montero over Smoak, but Smoak over Aaron Hicks.

And, MLB GM's preferred Smoak by 5-1 in Joel Sherman's straw poll.  Not a poll you could earn a master's on, but valuable nonetheless.

Image from SSI.

Michael Pineda stepped up to AAA so that, supposedly, the hitters there could push him to throw more breaking stuff.  Toss that script out the window.

SSI comps Pineda to a young Curt Schilling and from what we've seen, LL has signed off on Pineda's ace-age for next year as well.

Here is Mike Curto, Rainiers' announcer and analyst, on Swamp-Thing's second PCL start.

Many interesting articles 'round the blog-o-sphere on Cliff Lee's trade value.

SSI notes that Lee is pitching even better than in 2009 and 2008, and that good salesman love to sell the sizzle, not the steak.  Lee's a guy to get emotional over.

Fangraphs takes the opposite tack, pegging Lee's market at "one high-quality prospect and a few fillers."

Geoff Baker with interesting quotes from Gardenhire in his "DFA Edition."  :- )

Doug Fister's start analyzed here.

Fister's "likeability" — as a pitcher, not as a person — emphasized at Lookout Landing.  I loved the suggestion that "because he works fast, he's able to move on from things like back-to-back homers without anybody dwelling on the negative."  HEH!

Monday night's loss at Oakland was enough to worry D-O-V.  The M's hitters had gotten the shock paddles applied, had picked up the beat, and come back to life.  Then they immediately go into arrest again?  That is a problemo.

Geoff Baker with an even-handed assessment as to whether the roster is DOA.

With these pitchers, find a way to score even 3 or 4 a game and you're in the fight.

Tampa's side of the game wrap had some interesting comments from the Rays:

Fister threw only five innings, but he gave up just four hits while moving to 3-1 and lowering his ERA to 1.72 on the year. The right-hander gave the Rays fits by mixing up his speeds, making up for his lack of high-velocity fastballs by keeping his opponents guessing.

"That's how he has success. He understands speeds. He knows how to use his fastball in different locations, varies his looks," Pena said. "He doesn't have to throw 100, and he'll still get some late swings because he keeps you honest, us lefties at least, with that fastball away. And then he'll come in and bust you in, and you look at the board and it's 89 [mph], and yeah, you were late.

"He understands how to grab a hitter's attention and slowing them down, speeding them up then slowing them down again."

SSI counts the ways in which the batters loathe Fister. 

View article …

Geoff Baker's live blog of Lee's Mariner debut is a good read.

SSI likes the gusto with which Lee takes control of a lineup, a field and a stadium…

Mariner Central has a thread worrying about Lee's signability.  Could be negotiation-in-the-press, of course.