JAL’s Ole’ 55 Morning Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXunos4IXDU

Ole’ 55  Tom Waits 1973  Song covered by many including The Eagles, Iain Matthews, Sarah McLachlan, and Richie Havens

GENERAL UPDATED BASEBALL SITES

1- MLB Transactions

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions

2-MLB Trade Rumors-Pirates

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/pittsburgh_pirates/

3 BFFL’s 2014 Pirates Stats Spreadsheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsjN0zO-DxI0dDNkaWxFNWIwNDVUQzEwYXp5SlpGNkE&usp=drive_web#gid=0

4 Pirates Prospects

2014 Pittsburgh Pirates Draft Pick Signing Tracker

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2014draft

BLOGS and such

5—Pirates Prospects

First Pitch: Five Big Questions That Will Determine if the Pirates Will Remain Contenders

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2014/07/first-pitch-five-big-questions-that-will-determine-if-the-pirates-will-remain-contenders.html

Pirates Still Playoff Contenders, But Need to Beat Their Own Division

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2014/07/pirates-still-playoff-contenders-but-need-to-beat-their-own-division.html

Prospect Watch: Josh Bell Makes Altoona Debut, Cumpton and Glasnow With Strong Outings

http://www.piratesprospects.com/2014/07/prospect-watch-josh-bell-makes-altoona-debut-cumpton-and-glasnow-with-strong-outings.html

6 Bucs Dugout

Q+A: Tony Sanchez working on defense at Indianapolis

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2014/7/18/5913845/q-a-tony-sanchez-working-on-defense-at-indianapolis

The Matt Morris Report:  7/17/14

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2014/7/17/5914189/the-matt-morris-report-7-17-14

7 Rumbunter

Gerrit Cole Countdown Begins Today

http://rumbunter.com/2014/07/17/gerrit-cole-pittsburgh-pirates-return/

8 Green Weenie

7/17: 300 Game Winners Face Off, Hans' Day, Babe v Rube, Jerry Lynch, Dock, Big Bats, Rallies & More...

http://oldbucs.blogspot.com/2014/07/717-300-game-winners-face-off-hans-day.html

9 WHYGAVS

> THE 2014 PITTSBURGH PIRATES’ FIRST HALF: NOT GOOD OR BAD, BUT ENOUGH OF BOTH TO BE MADDENING

http://whygavs.com/july-2014/the-2014-pittsburgh-pirates-first-half-not-good-or-bad-but-enough-of-both-to-be-maddening.html

10 Raise the Jolly Roger

Series Preview: Pirates at Rockies

http://raisethejollyroger.com/2014/07/series-preview-pirates-at-rockies/

NEWSPAPERS and MAGAZINES and Other Media

11 KDKA

Former Pirate Michael McKenry Still Rooting For His Old Team

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/07/17/former-pirate-michael-mckenry-still-rooting-for-his-old-team/

12 Sports Illustrated

Pittsburgh Pirates' second-half preview: Polanco could spark playoff berth

http://www.si.com/mlb/2014/07/17/pittsburgh-pirates-verducci-video-gregory-polanco

13 CBS Sports

Colorado vs Pittsburgh Game Preview

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/preview/MLB_20140718_COL@PIT

14 Chicago Sun Times  

Cubs’ Chris Bosio embraces the challenge of a staff in flux

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/28703817-573/cubs-chris-bosio-embraces-the-challenge-of-a-staff-in-flux.html#.U8j6Am1EPv8

15 NY Times

After All-Star Break, Nearly Everything (and Every Team) Is in Play

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/18/sports/baseball/after-all-star-break-nearly-everything-and-every-team-is-in-play.html?_r=0

16 Cincinnati Enquirer

NL Central division is up for grabs

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2014/07/17/central-division-grabs/12800987/

17 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Brewers say they're up for the challenge of division battle

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/brewers-say-theyre-up-for-the-challenge-of-division-battle-b99313100z1-267601251.html

18 St. Louis Post Dispatch

Cardinals are in a tight postseason race

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-are-in-a-tight-postseason-race/article_47520ec6-b8aa-55f4-843b-72c5062b4530.html

Gordon makes difference for Dodgers in a flash

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/gordon-makes-difference-for-dodgers-in-a-flash/article_eb2b6b49-0039-577b-8207-9ee61461d139.html

19 Fangraphs

Mid-Season Local TV Ratings And Measuring Fan Engagement

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/mid-season-local-tv-ratings-and-measuring-fan-engagement/

20 Boston Globe

Brock Holt making strong case to keep full-time role

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/07/17/holt/SxrAyZcLn3WlGNveHHtw0O/story.html

21 Post Gazette

Pirates get a fresh start for second half

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2014/07/18/Pirates-get-fresh-start-for-second-half-of-season/stories/201407180115

Ron Cook: NL Central is there for the taking

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/ron-cook/2014/07/18/Ron-Cook-NL-Central-is-there-for-the-taking/stories/201407180087

Gene Collier: Feeling out of baseball’s usual groove

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/gene-collier/2014/07/17/Gene-Collier-Feeling-out-of-baseball-s-usual-groove/stories/201407170187

22 Tribune Review

Pirates OF prospect Bell eager to impress in Double-A

http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/6456251-74/bell-field-pirates#axzz37cyfF2bJ

Pirates midseason report: Not quite the same feel-good story

http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/6444411-74/pirates-season-half#axzz37cyfF2bJ

EXTRA LINKS

23 Wall Street Journal

Why College Football Is Studying Major League Soccer

http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-college-football-is-studying-major-league-soccer-1405556573?mod=trending_now_4

24 PBC Asylum

PBC ASYLUM All-Star Break Survey

http://pbc-asylum.blogspot.com/2014/07/pbc-asylum-all-star-break-survey.html