Tired Of Baseball? How About Wife-Carrying?

The quest for interesting news continues with a set of sports that still confuse me, even though I’ve read about them. Interested? Read on to find out more on these sports.

These 10 sports are found all around the world from our very own United States to Bangkok. Here is a list and description of each.

1) Wife-Carrying—Maine, United States
Competitors literally put their wives on their shoulders and trek the 278 meter course with certain obstacles in this sport which happens every October in Maine. There is even a water hazard included in the course. The winner receives their wife’s weight in beer.

2) Vertical Marathon—Bangkok, Thailand
This sport lasts almost as long as the Kentucky Derby. Every September, competitors get ready for the climb of their life—up 1093 stairs to a hotel. Competitors receive drinks for their efforts. The top time is 6 minutes and 16 seconds.

3) Laughter Yoga—Bombay, India
Nothing special here. Dr. Madan Kataria’s idea to relieve stress—laughter. He has his patients cheer and clap to “Ho, ho, ho. Ha, ha, ha.” It is said to improve health and promote inner peace.

4) Bottle-Kicking—Leicestershire
This one is not quite so self-explanatory. You see people don’t kick bottles and the farthest win. They rather heave, push, kick, or any method possible to move three kegs of beer a mile. There are ditches, hedges, and even barbed wire to cross. Apparently, it started as a tradition in the 1700s and takes place on Easter Day.

5) Goat Polo—Kyrgyzstan
Animal lovers can stop reading at this point… I’m serious. This sport is like regular polo, but instead of a normal ball, a goat head is used in its place. Apparently it’s “macho.”

6) Chess-Boxing—Germany
The name gives it all away. Chess-boxing consists of 11 rounds—6 chess and 5 boxing. The competitors can win by a knockout, a referee ending the fight, a points victory in boxing, or a checkmate from chess. Translation: brain meets body.

7) Bob Like A Buoy—Finland
This sport is described as canoeing without a canoe. Confused? I was too. Apparently, people fit themselves into dry suits that are pumped full of air so they can float on the water. The real adventurous ones go on a 200 meter rapid-run.

8) Dog-Surfing—California, United States
I didn’t quite get this one. I think the owner and the dog surf together. Either way this one is held every June. That’s about all I have to say on this one.

9) Nettle-Eating—Dorset
First off, let me define nettles: any of numerous plants having toothed leaves. So basically the contestants eat toothed plants. Apparently the more famous hotdog contest doesn’t appeal to some people. Every June for 22 years, participants have competed and the winner (and all of the competitors for that matter) gets a nice reward: a swollen tongue.

10) Pole-Sitting—Denmark
The most boring sport ever. Well, it gets my vote. Competitors get together every August to see how long they can sit on wooden poles. If competitors make it to the maximum allotted time of four days, then there is more than one winner.

So, my friends, the next time someone brings up a unique sport, (say Curling) you can wow them with your new knowledge of these wacky sports.

*All of my information can be found at this website. The article was written in July of 2008.

April Fool’s Came Early This Year

In my attempt to find new stuff to write about, I Googled bizarre sports news. Some of the stuff I found was rather weird, while other stuff was pretty funny. The first one I will share with you is about an interesting trade offer. It’s even more bizarre than a player getting traded for a case of beer.

Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher, Kyle Kendrick, recently found out that instead of making the Major League team’s spring training roster, he was traded for a player named Kobayashi Iwamura. The funny thing was, Iwamura was not a real player. Kendrick claimed he never heard of the player but proceeded to sign paperwork. The media was even in on it because they started asking him questions about the trade.

Well as Kendrick eventually found out, Kobayashi Iwamura, was indeed a fake player. The deal was not real and although Kendrick was upset for a little while, even he had to admit that it was a pretty good prank.

*All of my information can be found at this website. The article was written in February of 2008.

Pitching A Shutout

The Covenant School and Dallas Academy girls’ basketball game on January 13th was so surreal, that a coach was fired because of it. It wasn’t a close match where a coach said or did something he will regret. It’s what the coach didn’t say that got him fired.

You see, Dallas Academy has only 20 girls in the entire school and eight play basketball. They haven’t won a game in four years. So expect the unexpected—Covenant thrashed Dallas Academy 100-0 on January 13th. A shutout in basketball? I almost didn’t believe it when I read it either.

The interesting thing about the game was Covenant’s coach’s response to the game when he said he will not apologize stating, “My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity.”

Your values and beliefs would not allow you to run up the score? 100-0 sounds like you ran up the score a little bit. It just goes to show that sports is more than just how you play the game—it’s the sportsmanship that proceeds and this is why I believe coach Grimes of Covenant School got fired.

My source for writing this story can be found here.

The Prince Or The King?

The Brewers inked first baseman Prince Fielder to a two-year deal worth 18 million dollars yesterday (18 million is cheap for a 2-year contract for Fielder—see Ryan Howard…). So the Prince is signed through 2010 to play in Milwaukee. Is this a good thing for Brewers fans? Well, let’s weigh the pros and cons.

Prince is a Major League hitter. Although his numbers last season slipped from his 2007 numbers, 34 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .507 slugging percentage are solid numbers for any 24-year old. And Brewer fans let’s not forget that Prince’s bat got you into the playoffs last season. Another stat I can throw at you. Prince was the youngest player ever to hit 50 home runs in one season when he accomplished the task in 2007. So a guy like this should be locked up with a big contract, right?

Not so fast. First of all, Prince has had his doubts with playing in Milwaukee. He turned down a 5-year, $60 million contract earlier this season. That’s an incredible sum of money for any player of his age—and for him to say no to it! Secondly, Prince’s defense is almost as bad as Ryan Braun’s was at third base for the Brewers a year ago. Watching him field a short hop is always pretty comical. Even seeing the man stretch for the ball is highly entertaining. This leads to my next point—Fielder’s weight. Fielder has gained weight since becoming a pro, which is usually a good thing. Young guys pack on muscle and beef up for Major League pitching. The problem is Prince already is “beefed” up—with more than just muscle. The 270-pound Fielder has actually gained weight since claiming he became a vegetarian. Cause for concern? Absolutely. Fourth, there are prospects waiting for their chance to shine. I’m not saying that the Brewers should unload Fielder for prospects, but with a rebuilding year in order, (a case can be argued against that) it isn’t so illogical. Plus, the Brewers could get a valuable pitcher in return for Fielder. Matt Cain’s name came up in trade rumors in the past, and he would be a good fit in Milwaukee. If Fielder was traded, Mat Gamel would most likely get the nod for the first base vacancy. Gamel is one of the top Brewers prospects, but his fielding is so poor (.826 in 2007) that his only logical spot is at first base. The kid can hit, though. So maybe signing Fielder was a bad idea.

Let’s not jump to conclusions. Don't forget what the man can do. Turning down a 5-year contract doesn’t mean pull the plug on the player altogether. It just means he might want to take things slower—see what happens. The counter-argument to his defense…only his offense. As I mentioned before, Fielder has Major League power and he has showcased it the last two years with some of the mightiest hacks I’ve ever seen. And to add to his offense, he isn’t the Adam Dunn type who hits .245 with 195 strikeouts. Don’t get me wrong—Fielder has his share of strikeouts. But his .278 career average is way higher than Dunn’s proving that Prince is not just a typical power hitter. Now, onto the weight problem. It might not be a terrible thing. CC Sabathia is listed at 290 pounds and he is in great shape—not to mention has never had a major injury. Bigger doesn’t always mean that the player won’t last long. This moves me to my last point—the trade so Gamel can come up. Fielder is proven at a Major League level—you know what you are going to get: 35-45 home runs, 100 RBIs and 16 errors a year. With Gamel, he could struggle offensively and don’t think his defense will keep him up.

So what are my final thoughts and feelings on the signing of Prince? I think that the Brewers got a great deal by paying only $18 million for two years. I think that the signing gives the Brewers a lot of options. If they throw another contract offer at him and he declines again, they can always think about trading him. His value is pretty high. If he excels offensively this season, he is already signed for the next year. There’s a lot the Brewers can do with a guy of his caliber, but for right now they are concerned with how he will be playing in a Brewers uniform. Overall, I say it was a smart move for the Brewers—keep the man around for his bat, and see what happens in the future.

One And Done? – The Hope For The Little Guy

Picture yourself a year ago. January 2008. Baseball season was on the horizon, the Super Bowl was approaching, (oh those commercials) and baseball was on the horizon. So you’re thinking about baseball? Which team would be in your World Series? The Yankees? The Tigers? Mets? Well, sorry to disappoint you. But, all three of those teams didn’t even make the playoffs. And you want to know the funny thing. Those three teams were ranked 1, 2, and 3, respectively, in team payroll last season. The Phillies and Rays made it. Hmm…interesting. Here is a fact for you. The Phillies’ payroll was middle of the pack at 13th in the league. The Rays’—29th out of 30 teams. That’s incredible. And the little guy isn’t supposed to have a chance. I’m here to root for those stories, the Rays of 2008 if you will. Big markets like New York and Chicago will always have the money to bankroll a team full of stars. They will always be competitive. But it’s always great to see the little guy go all the way and stick-it-to-the-man-noisis (School of Rock).

So if anything can be taken from the 2008 postseason, it is the fact that the little guy has a chance. Whether it is just one year or a couple, it likely won’t last—due to money. That’s why it’s great when they have their opportunity and they take it. Unfortunately for the Rays, they lost in the World Series. Fortunately for the rest of the small-market teams in the league, the Rays gave hope. The Rockies from 2007 reinforced the issue (two-thirds of the league had a higher payroll than the Rockies this year).

So should baseball fans be upset when the Yankees monopolize baseball and sign the top hitter and pitcher in one season? Of course! Who wasn’t upset? But my point is that you can never give up hope. The Yankees haven’t even been to the World Series since 2003 and didn’t make the playoffs last year with a team that had more money than some countries’ GDP.

The Rays, on the other hand, made their jump from worst to first with solid drafting, scouting, and a little bit of luck. In baseball today, the draft and developing talent through minor leagues is vital to a team’s success. So all of you small-market fans, take a page out of the Rays and Marlins (1997 and 2003 World Series titles) playbook, develop your talent, and hope that this next season is yours to win. Who knows—maybe 2009 will feature those same Marlins and Rays—29th and 30th in team payroll. Now that’s sticking-it-to-the-man-noisis.

The Time Is Now

As baseball season approaches, fans might start to wonder who the next Ryan Braun or Geovany Soto is. Who is that next big thing that springs onto the scene as a rookie and never looks back? David Price is a good example of who’s next in Major League Baseball. Problem is, he made the Rays playoff roster and now is a household name. I am here to inform you of the lesser known players who have a chance to make an immediate impact in the 2009 season.

Matt Wieters – Catcher – Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles traded away their best catcher to the Reds for Ryan Freel and two other minor leaguers. When they closed the book on Hernandez, they opened the door for 22-year old Matt Wieters. Wieters was the 5th overall pick in the 2007 draft. He only has one season of professional baseball under his belt but he showed he is ready to make the jump. Between high A Frederick Keys and AA Bowie Baysox, Wieters played in a combined 130 games and hit an astonishing .355. His on base percentage was .454. And he can field his position as well. At Georgia Tech, he would take off the catcher’s equipment and close out games. His fastball reached 98 miles per hour. It looks as if he has a gun behind the plate. With Gregg Zaun recently signed by the team, Wieters might begin the year in AAA. However, it won’t be long before he is up with the Orioles.

Andrew McCutchen – Outfielder – Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates number one prospect might not have to wait much longer for his shot. The Pirates outfield situation features one All-Star and a bunch of unknowns. McCutchen’s athleticism has been featured in his four seasons in the minors. If you’re wondering who he could resemble, look no further than Tampa Bay Ray B.J. Upton. Upton has pure talent and athleticism and struggled early on in his Major League career. Look what kind of player he has become. McCutchen will get a hard look by the Pirates organization this season because he can’t remain in the minors for too long, but he still needs to play every day.

Matt LaPorta – First Baseman/Outfielder – Cleveland Indians
LaPorta was the prized gem that was included in the CC Sabathia trade from the Brewers. LaPorta played first base for the Florida Gators, but when the Brewers drafted him, they moved him to outfield. Regardless of what position he is best suited to play, his bat shows scouts that he is ready for Major League pitching. In just 302 at-bats in AA Huntsville last season, LaPorta knocked out 20 home runs and drove in 66 runs. With LaPorta’s experience in the outfield, it gives the Indians another option on where they can play the young man when they decide it is his time.

Colby Rasmus – Outfielder – St. Louis Cardinals
Rasmus had an outside shot to win a spot in the Cardinals outfield last season. He didn’t get a spot and wound up in AAA. The 22-year old struggled in AAA Memphis, so it seems that the Cardinals made the right decision keeping Rasmus in the minors. But with his rare blend of offensive approach, baserunning, and defense Rasmus might not be able to be kept down much longer.

Alcides Escobar – Shortstop – Milwaukee Brewers
Alcides is the top prospect in the Brewers’ system. Such a prospect is he that the Brewers were listening to offers for All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy. The deals eventually fell through, but it showed that the Brewers are high on Escobar. You should be too. Escobar’s strong point of his game is his defense. So it’s interesting to note that he hit .328 with 34 stolen bases in 131 games for AA Huntsville last season. A speedster who showed rapid improvement on the offensive side of his game, just might be impossible for the Brewers to hold back. If Rickie Weeks has another let-down of a season, expect Escobar to be waiting right behind him. Hardy would move to second and Escobar would be the shortstop.

Dexter Fowler – Outfielder – Colorado Rockies
When the Rockies agreed to trade Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics, they had to have a good idea of what they were doing. They sure did. Dexter Fowler is, by no means, Matt Holliday. But the Rockies are moving different directions and Fowler is the future to the Colorado outfield. For the AA Tulsa Drillers, Fowler hit .335 and 31 doubles. With little outfield depth, the Rockies will most likely give Fowler a starting job in 2009. It is his to lose. Expect him not to lose it.

Rick Porcello – Starting Pitcher – Detroit Tigers
Thank God that this prospect is a pitcher because the Tigers seem pretty happy with their lineup. Porcello could be next year’s Clayton Kershaw. At the age of 19, Porcello—in his first season of professional baseball—compiled and 8-6 record with a 2.66 ERA in high A ball. With pitching clearly a problem on Detroit’s roster, if Porcello repeats last years’ success, he could soon find himself on the Major League roster by mid-season.

Nick Adenhart – Starting Pitcher – Los Angeles Angels
The only thing holding Adenhart back is the fact that the Angels have five capable starting pitchers already. Adenhart, 22-years old, will most likely come out of the bullpen if he finds his niche in 2009. He will likely start the year at AAA Salt Lake but injuries can come at the most in-opportune times.

This is just a shortened list of many players who could make an impact next season. I chose these players because of their chance to play in the upcoming 2009 season. There is a full list of 327 prospects found here. I got a lot of my information from this site and it could provide you with information to impress your buddies with.

For Love Of The Money?

Take a minute to think who the best first baseman in the league is. Recently signed New York Yankee, Mark Teixeira might be. Miguel Cabrera has got plenty of talent for the Detroit Tigers. But if it were me, my vote would be cast for Albert Pujols. So why is this relevant? With arbitration filings, many players expect to make a lot of money. Ryan Howard is the latest target as he filed for a record $18 million. That’s a little bit ridiculous for someone who hit .251 with 199 strikeouts last season.

My point isn’t that Howard doesn’t deserve a lot of money—because he does deserve a pay raise for help leading his team to a World Series title—but does that mean that he should automatically be one of the highest paid players around? He has raw power—no doubt about that. But his batting average has dipped in the last three years from .313 to .268 to .251 in 2008. His strikeout totals have skyrocketed in the process—199 in 2007 and 2008. I have a problem with a guy like that filing for more money than a classy and better player, Albert Pujols.

Pujols sprung onto the scene in 2001 with one of the best rookie years by any player in the rich history of the game. Unlike Howard, his strikeout totals have gone down—93 in 2001 to only 54 last season. And, Pujols’ batting average has remained constant—and not a .280 constant, but a .330 constant. A power hitter who hits 40 home runs, drives in 122 runs a year, and also hits .330 is almost unheard of nowadays. Not to mention Pujols’ stellar defense which earned him a Gold Glove in 2006. Howard has neither a Gold Glove or a batting title. And to counter Howard’s World Series title, Pujols won one in 2006—so that point is lost.

Pujols is set to make $16 million in 2009 which, by all means, is a huge sum of money. But in all respect to Ryan Howard, you do not deserve more money than Albert Pujols. Pujols has two MVP awards compared to Howard’s one. Pujols has one Gold Glove compared to Howard—who frankly will probably never get one. And Pujols has less talent around him and still puts up bigger numbers on a consistent basis.

So with all due respect to Ryan Howard, good luck with your arbitration case because there is no way the Phillies should pay $18 million to keep you. I know I wouldn’t.

From The Editor

Feel free to leave comments about what I’ve written about. Of course my opinion is just one of many, and when it comes to ranking players, people may feel differently than I do. Tell me about it. Just click on the little comments link under each article to express your thoughts. I’m pretty sure it can be anonymous or you can leave your name. Thanks for the interest and I look forward to your feedback.

--The Burner

Best Of The Best - Catchers

The signal callers are vital to a team’s success. Not necessarily known for their offense, a lot of catchers still take pride in their offensive abilities. A good all-around catcher can do both, so it was tough to choose the top seven.

1) Cleveland Indians: Victor Martinez is still one of the best catchers in the league. He missed a big portion of the season due to injury. Enter: Kelly Shoppach. Shoppach played in a career high 112 games and produced—21 home runs and 55 RBIs. With a duo of Martinez and Shoppach, the Indians are set for the year, barring an injury.

2) Minnesota Twins: The Twins might have the best all-around catcher in the game in Joe Mauer. The one downfall to Mauer’s game is his lack of power. No one can be perfect though. He has all the offensive tools (.328, 85 RBI) and defensive tools to be number one in the league. Mike Redmond is a very capable backup who hasn’t hit under .285 in the last four years. A backup who is a career .292 hitter is an awesome asset to a team.

3) New York Yankees: Jorge Posada might be getting older, but he isn’t showing too many signs of age. He might have been injured but at the age of 36, he hit .338 with 20 home runs and 90 RBIs (2007 number). Jose Molina is a great backup who can block anything thrown his way. He uses his big body to block balls and his strong arm to throw out would-be base stealers.

4) Seattle Mariners: I’m high on Kenji Johjima so I believe he will bounce back to form after a pretty poor season last year. Rob Johnson and Jeff Clement are two top prospects who will both get a chance to back up Johjima this season.

5) Texas Rangers: All three guys on the 40-man roster are 25 or younger so the future is now for Texas. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will get his shot to be the first string catcher, but if he isn’t ready the Rangers have two other capable of handling a heavy workload. Max Ramirez is a big prospect but will most likely start the year at AAA. Taylor Teagarden exploded onto the scene last year hitting .319 in 47 at-bats. If Saltalamacchia struggles, Teagarden will be waiting.

Honorable mention for top catchers:
Detroit Tigers: Detroit makes this list for balance of experience and youthfulness. Two catchers, Brandon Inge and Gerald Laird are looking to challenge for the number one spot. The loser will backup. Inge can play other positions, so maybe Laird, Inge, and prospect Dusty Ryan could all make the roster. Dusty Ryan got a shot in September and played quite a lot. He struggled at times defensively but hit .318 in 44 at-bats. He can’t be held back too much longer.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays make the final cut because of their starting catcher, Dioner Navarro. Navarro made his first All-Star appearance after struggling in his first couple of Major League seasons. Shawn Riggans or John Jaso will fight for the backup job.

And for the top National League backstops:

1) Atlanta Braves: Brian McCann is coming off one of his best seasons hitting .301 with 23 home runs and 87 RBIs. Pretty solid numbers for a catcher. His backup will be either power hitter, David Ross, or young prospect Clint Sammons. Either way the Braves are in a good situation at catcher.

2) Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers are high on the list mainly because of their starter, Russell Martin. Martin is a true all-around catcher who can hit, run, and call a game. Martin played in 155 games last season—almost unheard of for a catcher. He may have to do it again next year because the Dodgers backups are nothing special.

3) Chicago Cubs: Who said catchers weren’t known for their offense? Geovany Soto broke onto the scene in 2007 as a power-hitting catcher and it continued in the 2008 season as he was named 2008 NL Rookie of the Year. Henry Blanco will be missed as the backup catcher, but the Cubs still have a couple of options. Most likely Koyie Hill will begin the year as Soto’s backup with Jake Fox waiting if Hill struggles.

4) St. Louis Cardinals: Yadier Molina had his best season yet compiling great offensive numbers: .304, 7 home runs and 56 RBIs. His defense is outstanding. He won his first (with more to come) Gold Glove Award last season. I even saw him throw a guy out from his knees while he was losing his balance and falling forward. It was incredible, but to Cardinals fans, they have come to expect it from him. Jason LaRue is a veteran backup who won’t be asked to do too much.

5) Colorado Rockies: Yorvit Torrealba and Chris Iannetta are both capable of starting on many teams. Problem is, they are on the same team. Good news for the Colorado Rockies. They have two catchers who can both play well, with one taking the bulk if the other struggles.

Honorable mention for top catchers:
Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers liked what they got out of Jason Kendall last season. He may not have been the best hitter around, but he battled and put the ball in play. He is a tough guy who doesn’t mind taking a pitch in the arm to get on base. His defense improved greatly from the 2007 season. He threw out a substantial amount more base runners than 2007 and the Brewers hope that it will continue next year. Mike Rivera is a capable backup who hit .306 as a backup to Kendall last year.

San Francisco Giants: Bengie Molina might be one of the slowest guys ever to play baseball, but he can still hit, field, and throw. He compiled nice numbers last year hitting .292 with 16 home runs and 95 RBIs. He, like his brother Yadier, has a fantastic arm and great blocking ability. He has two Gold Gloves under (above?) his belt so he is an all-around catcher. Steve Holm or Pablo Sandoval both have a shot to backup Molina. The 22-year old Sandoval played well last season hitting .345 in 145 at-bats. He probably has the edge, although the Giants might want to let him play every day in AAA.

This concludes my series on best of the best. Look for more sports news in the near future.

Best Of The Best - Outfielders

Who’s atop the list of best outfielding crews? It’s always hard to decide because some teams have two great players but not a third. Others have four pretty solid players but no stand out. I’ve put the Red Sox at number one in the American League.

1) Boston Red Sox: I’ve put the Red Sox at number one for a couple of reasons. The number one reason is depth. They have four Major League experienced players and one who hit well when he got called up. Jacoby Ellsbury’s sophomore season (technically rookie season under Major League rules) wasn’t a slump as he hit .280 with 50 stolen bases. He makes fantastic defensive plays to go along with the offense. J.D. Drew, when healthy, can be one of the most dangerous all-around players. He was named the 2008 All-Star Game MVP. Jason Bay played great since his trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rocco Baldelli pushes this team over the top. With that kind of depth, even if Baldelli or Drew gets hurt, the other is there to fill in. If both get hurt, the Red Sox have Jeff Bailey, who under limited playing time, hit .280.

2) Los Angeles Angels: The Angels have enough players to field two outfield groups that would be good enough to start in some places. Torii Hunter is the center fielder who takes control of the defense and hits in the middle of the order. Vladimir Guerrero came on strong in the second half, and says he has lost weight meaning he is in better shape for next year. Left field can go to any number of players: Reggie Willits, who didn’t get much of a chance to play last season; Gary Matthews, who struggled hitting only .242; or Juan Rivera, who has been a great pinch hitter and fourth outfielder on the team for a while.

3) Tampa Bay Rays: With the loss of talented but oft-injured Rocco Baldelli, one might think that the Rays would dip. But, with the signing of former Philadelphia Phillie Pat Burrell, the Rays won’t miss a beat. Coming off of a contract year, Burrell hit 33 home runs. B.J. Upton had a mediocre regular season, but the playoffs showcased his talents. He hit seven home runs in 16 postseason games. Carl Crawford, the longest tenured Ray, holds down the third outfield spot. The Rays have depth off the bench also. With the Gabe Kapler signing, the Rays have a very capable fourth outfielder. Gabe Gross, Ben Zobrist, Fernando Perez, and Justin Ruggiano will have to fight for the fifth outfielder spot—if the Rays want a fifth outfielder.

4) Toronto Blue Jays: Toronto has three solid, all-around outfielders, but not a good fourth outfielder. The leader is center fielder Vernon Wells, who bounced back this season, even though he was injured in the beginning. Alex Rios is an all-around threat with power, speed, and defense as he hit .291 with 79 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. Adam Lind is the third outfielder. The Blue Jays hope he can live up to his potential (a third round pick in 2004). He hit .282 last year and the job is his to lose.

5) Chicago White Sox: The White Sox could be a lot higher on this list if they can find a center fielder. The corner outfield spots feature two of the top talents in Major League Baseball. Carlos Quentin led this team with his clutch hitting until he went down at the end of the year and others stepped up. Jermaine Dye mans right field, and even though he can play lazy defense at times, he has a strong arm and a quick bat. Center field is the biggest question mark with a few players fighting for the job: Jerry Owens, Brian Anderson, and Dewayne Wise are all battling for the job.

Honorable mention for top outfielders:
Minnesota Twins: The Twins have good, young talent in the outfield and they need their players to develop. The postseason run (which fell short) will give the players good experience for next season on how to play down the stretch. With Carlos Gomez, Michael Cuddyer, and Delmon Young, this outfield could have the best outfield arms in all of the league. Denard Span will most likely get a lot of playing time in right field this year, so Michael Cuddyer might have to find another spot—third base or designated hitter.

Detroit Tigers: Magglio Ordonez has been one of the best hitters in baseball over the last two seasons. Pair his power with the speed and defense of Curtis Granderson and good things will happen. Marcus Thames, who has raw power (25 home runs in 316 at-bats) will probably split time with rookie Clete Thomas. Clete played well in his first season hitting .284 in 40 games.

And the National League outfielders…

1) Los Angeles Dodgers: I love the young outfielders that the Dodgers have on their roster. Matt Kemp is an outstanding athlete who at 6’2”, 230 is quick enough to swipe 35 stolen bases last year. And at 24 years old, there is nowhere for him to go but up. Andre Ethier had his best season hitting .305 with 20 home runs. Juan Pierre might get a chance to play more now that Andruw Jones is off the team. Even if Pierre has lost a little of his stroke since his playing days with the Marlins, he still hit .283 last year and remains one of the fastest players in the league. The fourth outfield spot is up to Jason Repko and Delwyn Young. Both are solid fourth options, but both struggled last season when given the chance.

2) Philadelphia Phillies: Pat Burrell is gone. So the Phillies chose to replace him with 36-year old Raul Ibanez. Ibanez was near the top of the league in hitting last year compiling good numbers—.293, 23 home runs and 110 RBIs. He has been a consistent hitter throughout his career and the Phillies are fortunate to have him. Shane Victorino is a top center fielder who can play defense and hit. He knocked a grand slam off of CC Sabathia in the first round of the playoffs to finish off the Brewers. Jason Werth turned in a pretty good year, although he had some mental base running lapses in the playoffs. Matt Stairs and Geoff Jenkins are capable, veteran outfielders that give manager Charlie Manuel nice pinch hit options.

3) Chicago Cubs: The Cubs might have the most depth of any National League team. Alfonso Soriano, when healthy, can change a game. Newcomer Milton Bradley came off a career year with the Texas Rangers and made the All-Star team. Kosuke Fukudome is the final outfielder who will get substantial playing time. Kosuke had an up and down rookie debut but won the respect of the fans early on in the season. Joey Gathright and Reed Johnson are great fourth and fifth options for a team that is exploding with talent in the outfield.

4) Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers bring back a talented crew (no pun intended) of outfielders for the 2009 season. After originally seeing what they could get for Mike Cameron, when the offers fell through, the Brewers decided to keep him, rather than unload him in a salary dump. Ryan Braun is a fantastic hitter who certainly did not disappoint last season. The most interesting part was his defense improved. He did not have a single error in his first season in left field. Corey Hart is capable of being a five-tool player with speed, power, and defense. His second half slip (.289 in the first half, .239 in the second) will hopefully be part of the past as Hart is the everyday right fielder. Tony Gwynn Jr. provides a nice fourth option. The Brewers have not given Gwynn much of a chance to play every day, and as fourth outfielder, he might not get much playing time again.

5) Houston Astros: Another team that has a lot of choices to make for the upcoming season. Left field is set with All-Star Carlos Lee. The other spots aren’t entirely set and anyone can expect to play is they can perform. Hunter Pence is most likely looking at the most time in right field as he played pretty well in the second half of the season. Michael Bourn is the man that the Astros hope will play full-time. He is a speedster who needs to work on his offense to remain in the lineup every day. The Astros have very capable backups in Darin Erstad and newcomer Jason Michaels. Both will provide a spark off the bench if any outfielder’s production dips.

Honorable mention for top outfielders:
New York Mets: The Mets mix in veteran talent with youthful talent. Carlos Beltran is a great all-around player who patrols center field. Ryan Church will get a lot of playing time in right field. Fernando Tatis might get a shot to play a corner outfield spot next year as well. He enjoyed a nice season last year so he has a good shot to make the team. Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy are two young players who have a chance to start in left field. Both played pretty well after getting called up during the year. Finally, Marlon Anderson is a veteran player who can play all three outfield positions.

Arizona Diamondbacks: This group could be the fastest outfield in all of baseball. If Eric Byrnes can bounce back from an injury and return to his 2007 form (.286, 50 stolen bases) the Diamondbacks are even more dangerous. If the 21-year old Justin Upton is anything like this brother B.J. then he is primed for a big year this season, his 3rd in the league. Chris Young is also in his third season as starting center fielder for the Diamondbacks. He has all the tools to become a star, he just needs to be more consistent with his hitting. Alex Romero will most likely be the fourth outfielder.

The 5th and final portion of the positional breakdown of teams will be featured next. It covers the top catching units in baseball—looking at the starter and the backup.

Best Of The Best - Infielders

On to the next section in the series—the infielders. Who’s got the best bunch? My vote goes to the Yankees.

1) New York Yankees: I don’t know if their can even be an argument on this one. They have one of the best players in baseball in three-time MVP, Alex Rodriguez; they have the captain and leader of the team, Derek Jeter; they have the most coveted free agent hitter on the market in Mark Teixeira; and they have a 26-year old career .303 hitter at second base in Robinson Cano. If this team has an offensive letdown, don’t expect it to be by one of the infielders.

2) Boston Red Sox: These two teams (Red Sox & Yankees) seem to be near the top in every category so far. I guess that’s why they are usually favorites to win the World Series every year. Boston’s infield is full of talent and depth. David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis man designated hitter and first base respectively. Youkilis was rewarded with his clutch hitting and stellar defense with a 4-year contract extension. 2008 AL MVP winner, Dustin Pedroia mans second base. The 5’7” second basemen shows pop in his bat and great range at second base. Mike Lowell holds down the hot corner and shows that he can also hit in the clutch. Shortstop is a tandem of Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie. Not a bad combination there.

3) Detroit Tigers: This infield is full of offensive power in the corners and defensive wizardry up the middle. First baseman, Miguel Cabrera, led the American League with 37 home runs and was third with 127 RBIs. Third baseman, Carlos Guillen, is a solid hitter at a career .290 clip. The middle infield is primed for a big year defensively. Placido Polanco is one of the best in the business and newcomer Adam Everett will help create a nice double play tandem up the middle.

4) Texas Rangers: Michael Young has agreed to move to third base for the Texas Rangers. What does this mean? It means that a top prospect, Elvis Andrus, has a chance to be the everyday shortstop. This guy is the real deal. How good is he? He was included in the Mark Teixeira trade. He also hit .295 with 54 stolen bases in AA at the age of 19. Ian Kinsler is coming off an MVP type season before he got injured late in the year. He still managed to hit .319 with 71 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. First base is up in the air. Frank Catalanotto, Chris Davis, and Hank Blalock will all probably get a long look in spring training. Blalock, the everyday third baseman for the Rangers in the past, is the most talented of the group but can never remain healthy for a full year.

5) Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays’ infield is full of talent, offensively and defensively. 2008 AL Rookie of the Year winner, Evan Longoria, had a breakout year and will continue to build on his experiences. Carlos Pena is a great power hitter, and Willy Aybar is a nice compliment to back him up at first base. Up the middle, the Rays are solid defensively. The main reason the Rays traded for Jason Bartlett in 2007 was for his defense. He is a slick-fielding shortstop who can turn a quick double play. Akinori Iwamura also plays a solid second base and can stroke the ball pretty well.

Other teams with top infields include:
Los Angeles Angels: The Angels lost a lot when Mark Teixeira decided to sign with the Yankees. He played so well down the stretch for the Angels, and he is definitely not to blame for the Angels playoff exit. With that said, prospect Kendry Morales is ready for the next level full time. Second baseman, Howie Kendrick, has hidden power because he doesn’t hit too many home runs. He does shoot the gaps and hits a ton of line drives. For a 25-year old, .306 career batting average is nice also. Third base is held down by one of the fastest players in Major League Baseball, Chone Figgins. Figgins is a contact guy who gets on base and creates havoc for opposing pitchers on the bases. Shortstop is an interesting position for this team. Three guys have a chance to get substantial playing time: Erick Aybar, Maicer Izturis, and Brandon Wood will all fight for playing time for next years’ team.

Minnesota Twins: They have former AL MVP Justin Morneau at first base. And Morneau put up MVP numbers again last season with 129 RBIs and a .300 batting average. Second baseman, Alexi Casilla, is a great complement to speedster Carlos Gomez. These two are extremely fast and if they get on base, the Twins usually get them in. Brendan Harris is a capable shortstop who isn’t extraordinary. He is a solid hitter and a solid fielder. Third base will most likely be split by Brian Buscher and Nick Punto. Both players performed well last season offensively.

And for the National League…

1) Philadelphia Phillies: The last three years, the MVP award could have gone to three different Phillies. It ended up going to two, and Albert Pujols took the other. Ryan Howard, the 2006 MVP winner, led the league this season with 48 home runs and 146 RBIs. Chase Utley, second basemen and MVP finalist for this season, started off the year with a bang but cooled off near the end finishing with 33 home runs and 104 RBIs. Leader and 2007 MVP winner, Jimmy Rollins, stole 47 bases this last season. Third base is held down by potential gold glover, Pedro Feliz, and Greg Dobbs. Pretty solid all-around infield.

2) New York Mets: The Mets’ infield combines power with speed, offense with defense. Carlos Delgado found his stroke again this last season after struggling in 2007. Second baseman, Luis Castillo, struggled on the offensive side last season, but is still a sure-handed defensive player and fast enough to swipe his fair share of bases next season. Shortstop Jose Reyes is one of the fastest players in the league. His mix of speed and contact at the plate is perfect as he finished with 56 stolen bases and hit .297. David Wright holds down third base and does a fantastic job. He’s the one that’s always on TV for his crazy defensive plays. He can also hit the ball a little—33 home runs and 124 RBIs last year.

3) Colorado Rockies: Colorado’s infield showcases a future Hall of Famer and a man who lost out on the NL Rookie of the Year vote by the slimmest margin ever. The future Hall of Famer is first baseman, Todd Helton. Helton is a career .328 hitter who can still hit pretty well but has lost a lot of his power from his peak playing days of the past. The 2nd place Rookie of the Year man is shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Troy was hurt a lot last season, but his leadership will never be forgotten when the Rockies streaked their way into the playoffs in the 2007 season. Garrett Atkins does a fine job at third base. Second base is the weakest link with Jeff Baker and Clint Barmes splitting time.

4) Chicago Cubs: Derrek Lee is the perfect combination of offense and defense. Lee, the three time Gold Glover (2003, 2005, and 2007) also drove in 90 runs and knocked 20 home runs. Third baseman, Aramis Ramirez, is coming off a great year in which he hit .289, 27 home runs, and drove in 111 runs. Those two in the middle of the order are a headache for any opposing pitcher. The middle infield is a nice combination of speed and contact hitters. Ryan Theriot hit over .300 playing shortstop, while second base could be played be a few different players: Mike Fontenot, Ronny Cedeno, and Aaron Miles. Cedeno is a name that has come up in trade talks, so that might shorten the list of second base candidates.

5) Houston Astros: Lance Berkman is coming off one of his best years in which he hit .312, hit 29 home runs, drove in 106 runs, and stole 18 bases. Miguel Tejada is a former MVP winner and still shows plenty of pop in his bat, even if it may not always be home run power. Second baseman, Kazuo Matsui, silenced doubters with his ability to hit outside of Coors Field compiling a .293 average and 20 stolen bases. Third base is Aaron Boone and Geoff Blum’s job to share.

Other teams with top infields include:
Los Angeles Dodgers: Resigning shortstop Rafael Furcal was a huge move for the Dodgers this offseason, because his replacement, Chin-lung Hu, is not major league ready. First baseman, James Loney, had a fine season and will continue to be the full-time first baseman. There are a plethora of players that can play third base next season, but the list is narrowed to three: 24-year old Tony Abreu, 23-year old Blake DeWitt, (who could also split time with Mark Loretta at second base) and veteran and leader Casey Blake. Mark Loretta was signed in the offseason to play second base, but might split time with others.

Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers would probably not make this list if they didn’t have the number one shortstop prospect in Alcides Escobar. He might not start the year in the majors, but he will be on the team sometime this season. For now Prince Fielder is a Milwaukee Brewer. Whether or not he remains a Brewer is yet to be seen. Fielder was one of the main reasons that the Brewers made the playoffs last year. His clutch hitting at the end of the year helped push the Brewers over the top. J.J. Hardy is a great defensive player with great instincts and a strong arm. Rickie Weeks is still that guy who has the potential to hit .300 with 25 home runs. He has never showcased his talent yet and could be the one on the outside looking in when Escobar is called up. Young prospect, Mat Gamel could get a good look to play first base if Prince Fielder gets traded sometime during the season.

It seems that there is plenty of infield talent around the league. Can the same be said about the outfielding crews? The outfielder portion of best of the best comes out next.

Best Of The Best – Bullpens

Part two of the series brings up the important issue of team relief corps. The men who shut the door and close out the game are vital to a teams’ success. The Phillies showed this last year en route to a World Series title. It was not just Brad Lidge that played a significant role, but J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson as well. The Rays’ bullpen also showed life and was as strong as any down the stretch and a main reason they made it to the World Series. Once again, pitching and defense are crucial to a teams’ success, and the bullpen is just one aspect of that.

1) Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox helped the bullpen even more by signing Takashi Saito. Saito is a great pitcher who averages 11.65 K/9 innings. Not to mention his career ERA in under 2 (1.95). The Red Sox also feature one of the most solid middle relief pitchers around. Manny Delcarmen is a fireballer who came off a great season (1-2, 3.27). Justin Masterson proved he can pitch late in ball games as he turned in a fine rookie season. Hideki Okajima is the lefty specialist who can handle any situation, including many right handed hitters. If that wasn’t enough, the Red Sox showcase one of the best closers in the game in Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon was good for 41 saves last year and his 2.34 ERA actually raised his career ERA (up to 1.84). He is one of the most feared and intimidating closers around and a perfect fit to be #1 on the list.

2) Los Angeles Angels: Some people might wonder how the Angels are still this high considering they lost their closer, Francisco Rodriguez, to the Mets. The reason is because he was replaced by a very capable man in Brian Fuentes. Fuentes put up great numbers including a 2.73 ERA and 30 of 34 saves last season. Pair that with the fact that he pitched in hitters friendly Coors Field, and you’ve got yourself a great pitcher. Scot Shields is a man who has setup the 9th inning for the Angels for so many years and has always done a great job. His career ERA of 2.93 would be good to be a closer in some places. A breakout season from rookie phenom Jose Arrendondo only helped sell the fact that the Angels bullpen is one of the best. Throw in Justin Speier and lefty Darren Oliver and this team is set for another deep playoff run.

3) Tampa Bay Rays: The emergence of a solid bullpen was a huge reason the Rays made such a turnaround from the 2007 season. Here’s a couple of numbers for you to ponder: 6.16 and 3.55. The first number represents the teams’ 2007 bullpen ERA and the second represents this years’ team ERA—quite a difference. A healthy Troy Percival will be nice to have; however, fans shouldn’t panic if he gets hurt again. Dan Wheeler did a fine job filling in as closer. Grant Balfour found his niche in Tampa Bay and turned out a fine season. J.P. Howell was the lefty specialist who turned out a fine season (6-1, 2.22). With virtually the same bullpen as the team that went to the World Series, the Rays are bound for success next year.

4) Cleveland Indians: A weak spot for the Indians last season; however, a strong spot for the team in 2007. Rafael Betancourt struggled last season and Indians fans hope he can return to his 2007 form. Rafael Perez has some Major League ready stuff and is also coming off on okay season. Masahide Kobayashi has potential to be a late-inning reliever as well. The main reason the Indians made the list is because of their free agent signing of Kerry Wood. Wood turned out to be a fantastic closer for the Cubs last season and should continue his success in the bullpen for the Indians.

5) Toronto Blue Jays: Another strong point for the Blue Jays is their bullpen. Injuries hurt this team and they still managed to top all of Major League baseball with a 2.94 bullpen ERA. B.J. Ryan looked like the same old player he was before he was hurt and missed most of the 2007 season. Jeremy Accardo, who closed games in ’07 after Ryan went down, went down himself in ’08. Accardo will be a big part to this bullpen if he can remain healthy (2007: 4-4, 2.14, 30 SV). Scott Downs, Brian Tallet, Brandon League, and Jesse Carlson are all guys that can be counted on in the late innings to shut the door. Each one of them had ERAs under 2.90. Pretty solid to have five guys on one team with ERAs under 2.90. Even without a healthy team, this team is deep enough to do fine.

Other teams with solid bullpens:
New York Yankees: No one really thought the Yankees would be left off of any list. The Yankees make this list solely because of their closer. One of the best in baseball and continues to play well even at the age of 39—Mariano Rivera. Rivera is coming off a career year in which he blew only one save and had the second lowest ERA of any closer at 1.40. The men who will get the ball to Rivera in the 9th might be hard to come by. Damaso Marte is a solid option, but he can’t be called upon night in and night out. This could be the Achilles heel for a team that is solid in every other aspect.

Minnesota Twins: This team is always known for their strong bullpen performance from year to year. Joe Nathan is back and led all closers with a 1.33 ERA last year. Pat Neshek is coming off an injury but is a great 8th inning man. Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain both have experience and have been good in big games.

The National League bullpens have a lot to live up to considering the AL bullpens are rock solid.

1) New York Mets: The Mets turned what used to be the weak link of the team and made it one of their strongest. Signing prized free agent Francisco Rodriguez and trading for another top-notch reliever, J.J. Putz, puts the Mets as one of the frontrunners to win the World Series. Don’t forget this team still has Billy Wagner, (for the time being) Duaner Sanchez and lefty Pedro Feliciano.

2) Chicago Cubs: Even with losing Kerry Wood to the Indians, the Cubs still have a very strong bullpen. Carlos Marmol (with his 11.75 K/9 innings) is ready to step into the closer role. Neal Cotts and Sean Marshall are the lefties, with Jeff Samardzija and Michael Wuertz as the righties who return from last season. The Cubs brought in two other players via trades in the offseason to help with the bullpen. Former Marlins closer Kevin Gregg was acquired in November for pitcher Jose Ceda. Then in January, the team acquired Luis Vizcaino for Jason Marquis. Both players have experience in the late innings of ballgames and will be a nice upgrade to the Cubs’ bullpen.

3) Philadelphia Phillies: A strong point for the Phillies in their pursuit for a championship. Brad Lidge was a perfect 41 for 41 in save chances last season and he is primed for another big year. Ryan Madson just signed a three-year contract to remain a Phillie. That’s good news for Philadelphia fans because he can overpower hitters with his fastball and is coming off a great year. Scott Eyre is also back from last year. The one letdown is J.C. Romero. Romero was suspended in the offseason for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy. He is out for the first 50 games. Even without him, the Phillies should push for another deep playoff push thanks to their pitching.

4) Los Angeles Dodgers: Takashi Saito has moved on and is now a member of the Boston Red Sox. The bullpen won’t shed a tear as many young arms are ready for their chance. The Dodgers’ 3.34 team bullpen ERA was third best in all of the majors last season. Jonathan Broxton is the team’s next closer and with 11.48 K/9 innings rate and a career 3.02 ERA, he is ready for the challenge. Hong-Chih Kuo was fantastic last season compiling a 5-3 record with a 2.14 ERA in 42 games. The young Cory Wade pitched brilliantly down the stretch as he helped the Dodgers knock off the Cubs in the playoffs. New signee Guillermo Mota brings experience and heat to a Dodgers team that knows all about fireballers.

5) Houston Astros: Most of the relievers are back from a team that was tied for 6th best in the National League. Closer Jose Valverde did a nice job last year as his first year with the Astros. The 7th and 8th innings are manned by Doug Brocail, Geoff Geary, LaTroy Hawkins, and Tim Byrdak. None of the four had ERAs over 4.00. Long relief is even covered. Depending on who makes the rotation, Felipe Paulino or Fernando Nieve could be a solid long relief option.

Other teams with solid bullpens:
Milwaukee Brewers: They lost some key players to free agency and retirement, but brought a sure thing Hall of Famer in to replace their closer. With Salomon Torres, Brian Shouse, Eric Gagne, and Guillermo Mota gone, this team needed to upgrade. Upgrade is just what they did when they signed 41-year old Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman is the all-time saves leader with 554 and at the age of 41 is still affective. He finished 30 for 34 in saves last season. Jorge Julio was also signed by the Brewers to replace much of the help that was lost for the 8th inning. Julio can be up and down but has closer experience. David Riske, Mitch Stetter, and Carlos Villanueva are three pretty solid options for new manager Ken Macha to work with.

Cincinnati Reds: The Reds’ bullpen finished third in the National League with a 3.81 team ERA. The bullpen is anchored by Francisco Cordero, the former all-star. Bill Bray had a fine season, and paired with Arthur Rhodes, those two lefties should be nice options in key situations. Jared Burton’s career 2.92 ERA is great considering he is only 27. Nick Masset and Mike Lincoln are solid long relief options to round out a nicely balanced bullpen.

As the Rays and Phillies showed last season, the bullpen is crucial to a team’s success down the stretch. Being able to put a team away when leading is huge, not only in the win-loss column, but in the minds of the players.

The next column is going to be on the best infields around—not including the catcher.

Best Of The Best – Starters

Pitching is the key to any championship team. Look at the Tigers and Yankees. These two teams were both projected to win the World Series and both failed to make the playoffs. Why? The starting pitching was not consistent and the team was affected because of it. The saying is true that a team can never have too many pitchers because you never know what could happen—injuries, poor play, attitude problems. It all begins with the starting pitching. Some teams look good in that category while others are a bit behind. Who’s got the best staff? I’ve ranked the top five staffs from the American and National leagues, beginning with the American League.

1) Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays bring back the top three starters from the ’08 World Series team: Scott Kazmir, James Shields, and Matt Garza. All three were vital to the teams’ postseason success and all three are more mature and experienced. Andy Sonnanstine is a solid #4 option and don’t count out David Price. He is a future star who proved that he can pitch at the major league level. He is projected to be a starter for the next season. That’s a pretty good #5 guy.

2) Los Angeles Angels: The Angels have always had consistent pitching over the past couple of seasons. A lot of that can be contributed to the back of the bullpen and the job they did to close out games. But it was the starters that put them in position to close the door. Ace Jon Lackey is back as well as 2008 all-stars Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana. Both players had breakout seasons that helped vault the Angels to the top of the majors with 100 wins. Jered Weaver has a little trouble with his command from time to time but is a guy who will pitch in 30 games and keep you in the ballgame. A lot rests on Kelvim Escobar. Escobar sat out the entire 2008 season with an injury and who knows if he can bounce back. If he can regain his form, he is one of the better pitchers in the league with his dirty splitter.

3) New York Yankees: Did anyone really expect them to be left off this list? They got the top pitching prize in free agency with CC Sabathia. They then signed former Blue Jay A.J. Burnett who has electric stuff. Chien-Ming Wang needs to remain healthy but can get guys out and doesn’t walk too many hitters. The Joba rule is probably still in effect, which means his pitch count will be limited again next season. Joba can shut down any opponent when he is healthy. The #5 spot will be up for grabs with either Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy looking to grab it. Both players looked lost last season so who knows who will grab the spot. Either way, the Yankees made offseason news with signing two big-name pitchers, so the pressure is on to perform in New York.

4) Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox might have the most depth of any other team in any league. They have fallback options in case of injuries or inconsistency. With seven players who could probably crack any rotation in baseball, the Red Sox are in good shape for the upcoming season. Players who are set in stone in the rotation: Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Jon Lester. That’s a pretty good top three right there. The other four battling for spots are veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, the young Clay Buchholz, and two key free agents, John Smoltz and Brad Penny. With the depth this team has, it is hard to think that this staff won’t be near the top of the American League next season.

5) Cleveland Indians: Good news for Indians fans. The AL Central is always up for grabs from year to year. Better news—the AL Cy Young award winner, Cliff Lee, is back for next season. Pair him with a more consistent Fausto Carmona (2007 numbers: 19-8, 3.06) and the Indians 1-2 punch looks to be as good as any in the league. Health is the next big concern. Jake Westbrook and free agent Carl Pavano have had a history of health problems. Both can pitch well if they remain healthy. That’s the best part to the start of a new season—most players are healthy to start with.

Other teams to watch out for:
Toronto Blue Jays: This team led the Major Leagues in team ERA last season with 3.49 (next best was 3.68). With every starter except A.J. Burnett back, this team is destined for good things. Problem is, they play in the AL East. Projected starting five: Roy Halladay, Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Jesse Litsch, and then up for grabs.

Chicago White Sox: The young guys came through last season in clutch situations. The White Sox rode a 3-game winning streak to make the playoffs behind solid pitching. John Danks and Gavin Floyd produced and a lot is expected of them this next season. Durable and dependable lefty Mark Buehrle is back also. Jose Contreras can be affective at times, but you never know if that guy will blow up.

So the best of the best in the American League is set. Can the National League match up against the top AL staffs? Read on and you can decide for yourself.

1) Chicago Cubs: One of the main reasons this team won 97 games last year was the starting pitching. Carlos Zambrano threw a no hitter, Ted Lilly almost threw another, and Ryan Dempster was unhittable at times. Don’t forget about Rich Harden who had an ERA that hovered just above 2 last season with the Cubs. If he can remain healthy for another entire season and a number 5 starter can produce, the Cubs will have no problems with repeating as champions of the NL Central.

2) Arizona Diamondbacks: This staff is going to need to pitch great this season because the offense was third worst in the National League with a .251 batting average. Keep your heads up Diamondbacks fans. Brandon Webb is Cy Young material, Dan Haren is coming off a 16-win season, and Doug Davis is a reliable pitcher who gives you 200 innings every year. A lot rides on the young guys this year. Max Scherzer can throw heat and needs to show that he can handle an entire Major League season.

3) Philadelphia Phillies: The World Series champions are back—with the same staff that got them the title. Ace Cole Hamels just signed a 3-year, $20.5 million dollar contract to keep him in a Phillies uniform. 46-year old Jamie Moyer is also back for another go-round. Joe Blanton, Brett Myers, and Kyle Kendrick return to solidify the middle to back of the rotation.

4) San Francisco Giants: The team might not get wins, but that will be because the offense if one of the worst in the league. This staff is full of talent, with a soon to be Hall of Famer, and the reigning NL Cy Young champion. Tim Lincecum is one of the dirtiest pitchers in the league and he led the league with 265 strikeouts. The future Hall of Famer was free agent Randy Johnson. He pitched in 30 games last season and won 11 games. Not bad for a 45-year old. Matt Cain can throw heat and his 2008 numbers are skewed due to lack of run support. A 3.76 ERA is not bad (he finished 8-14). Noah Lowry can log innings and has a terrific changeup. He didn’t play the entire 2008 season due to injury though. The wild card is Barry Zito. Zito has a monster contract, a Cy Young under his belt, (2002) and could have the repertoire if he can put some velocity back on his fastball. He hasn’t pitched well since coming to the Giants, but this is his third year with the team and the third time is a charm, right?

5) Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers made the playoffs last season under good pitching and good defense. Some key players left, but some key ones remain. Chad Billingsley returns after a 16-win season last year. Hiroki Kuroda is also back—and he proved that he is another affective Japanese pitcher. Clayton Kershaw is a young gun who showed that even at the age of 20, he can pitch at the Major League level. The back of the rotation is a question mark but could be okay. Jason Schmidt missed all of 2008 with an injury but still has some left in the tank. Number five is another story. It could go to recent free agent signee Claudio Vargas. At least the first four pitchers are proven.

Other teams to watch out for:
Cincinnati Reds: This team has the talent to finally end the 13-year drought of not making the playoffs. You’ve got to think that Aaron Harang’s 2008 struggles were a fluke. He has been a solid NL pitcher over the last four years and will hopefully regain his form in 2009. Bronson Arroyo also needs to bounce back from a mediocre 2008 season (15-11, 4.77). The x-factor is the two young pitchers, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. Volquez needs to build off his all-star 2008 season, and Cueto came out with a bang but burned out towards the end of the season. Both players have nasty stuff and just need to stay consistent and pitch an entire season.

New York Mets: The Mets have one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in Johan Santana. They also have young talent in John Maine and Mike Pelfrey. A lot will hinge on free agency. If this team lands either Oliver Perez or Ben Sheets, this team could be very dangerous next year. Tim Redding was signed and has a good shot to be the #5 starter for next season.

The top starting staffs are set. Coming next will be the top bullpens in each league.

Best Of The Best

Baseball fans can only hurry up and wait for the season to begin. With most free agents signed already (some stars still left—Manny, Sheets, Orlando Hudson) one can only wait for the pitchers and catchers to report to camp for the start of spring training. Problem is, that’s 25 or so days away. My next couple of articles will rank the best team at each position, beginning with starting pitching. I will break it up by league and then rank the top five in each league. Just a little something to read in preparation for the season.

One Giant Step For Sports

The San Francisco Giants have had their share of historic events over the past 20 years. They’ve also has their fair share of darkness which began with the steroid scandal and Barry Bonds. But throughout all the accusations and headlines, the Giants still managed to squeeze their way into history. The next record set by a San Francisco Giant could be one that many baseball fans will not witness again for quite some time—possibly never again.

Let’s flash back to the 1980s. The Giants were struggling as a franchise finishing middle to the bottom in the standings. They made the playoffs only twice in the 1980s, but no one will forget the 1989 World Series. The Series was not very memorable in a baseball sense; (the Giants got swept by the Athletics) however, an event during Game 3 will always be remembered. The players were warming up when the ground started to shake—a 6.9 on the Richter scale. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was the only earthquake to ever be captured on live television. The Series continued 10 days later (power outage) and the Athletics swept. However, that Series will never be forgotten by those who were alive and remember the incident.

Fast forward to the 1990s. The Giants slide to the bottom again, failing to reach the playoffs seven straight years. What they did have was an icon—a baseball player who would change the sport forever. Barry Bonds helped put people in the stands and had fun ripping the cover off of baseballs. Then came the 2000s when he broke one record after another. 2001 marked the highest single season home run total of 73. Then came the controversy and finger pointing. Bonds had taken steroids which blackened his name and put a cloud over the entire sport. Throughout all the controversy, Bonds continued to play and put himself into history again. On August 7, 2007, Bonds became the sole leader of career home runs when he knocked his 756th home run off Washington Nationals’ pitcher, Mike Bacsik (the home run came at home—in AT&T Park). And throughout all the haze and allegations, people stopped and watched, waited for him to complete his task. History was made on that night. 755 was possibly the most well known number in all of sports and Bonds tore a piece of history for himself when he broke the record.

So 2007 might have been the last year in a while for Giants fans to witness history. This changed when the Giants signed Randy Johnson in the 2008 offseason. Johnson is coming off an 11 win season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and at the age of 45, this could be his last year. The positive that could come out of it is the fact that Johnson needs only 5 wins to become only the 24th pitcher in history of the sport to win 300 career games. And the special part—he has a chance to do it in San Francisco. Even more special than that is the fact that Johnson could be the last pitcher to get to 300 wins in a long time. It could be as long as 15-20 years—maybe never again. The next closest pitcher has 246 wins. Problem is, the pitcher is 46 years old (Jamie Moyer). So baseball fans, stop, take a minute and think about the upcoming season and the excitement it can bring. History is made almost every season with no hitters and cycles and milestones—but most seasons don’t provide a 300 game winner. Lucky for baseball fans, 2009 could be the last in a while to showcase this, so cherish it.

So forget about steroids and dark headlines, because every sport has their share of scandals, and start to look back at the sport and the history that San Francisco has and will offer. Remember baseball fans, 2009 could be the last time that a pitcher wins 300 career games and it’s nice to see that it could happen in San Francisco.

Everybody’s Working For The Weekend

The long work week is finally drawing to a close and people are looking forward to a fun-filled weekend of sports. There’s nothing better than plopping down on the couch and tuning into your favorite sports. And the sports will not disappoint this weekend—starting with Friday evening.

Sports are a terrific way to forget about your job and concerns that may surface throughout the week. And this weekend will make any sports fan begging for more. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are all jam-packed full of excitement starting with the NBA on Friday night.

It’s playoff atmosphere around the NBA tonight with ESPN featuring an NBA doubleheader beginning at 8:00 Eastern. The first of an eventful night kicks off with King James and the Cavaliers squaring off against floor general and wizard Chris Paul and the Hornets. The latter of the doubleheader features the #1 team in the West and #2 team in the East. No, it’s not a Lakers-Celtics rematch, but a Lakers-Magic matchup with plenty of hype. Game two tips off at 10:30 Eastern with fireworks sure to be on display.

If the NBA isn’t your thing, sit back, relax, watch your favorite TV show (NCIS) for the night and wait for the highly anticipated Saturday full of college basketball excitement. Rest up and sleep in because Saturday is full from breakfast through dinner. The action begins at noon with Luke Harangody and the Fighting Irish (12-4, 3-2) facing Jonny Flynn and the Syracuse Orange (16-2, 4-1). Both teams are coming off tough losses against Big East foes so both are looking to rebound and start a new streak. The next game features two teams who are on win streaks of their own. At 1:30, #13 Georgetown (12-3, 3-2) travels to Cameron Indoor to face Coach K and the Blue Devils (15-1, 3-0). If you’re one of those people who hate on the Big East and their style of play (Doz) then you should look forward to an ACC matchup that pits two undefeated teams at 3:30. Wake Forest, (15-0, 2-0) led by sophomore guard Jeff Teague (21.2 PPG) takes on a tough Clemson team (16-0, 2-0) where the winner remains one of two giants left on top as undefeated. To round out the night, we go back to the best conference in college basketball this season, the Big East. 6:00 tip-off for the #1 team in the nation, Pitt (16-0, 4-0) and #20 Louisville (12-3, 3-0). If Louisville can knock off undefeated Pitt, then we will be left with only one undefeated team at the end of the day. With all of the big games slotted for today, why would anyone feel like doing anything else.

All basketballed out at this point? Well then look forward to Sunday and the Championship games in the NFL. Cardinals or Eagles, Ravens or Steelers. Who’s it going to be? All four have shown championship defenses so it could make for low scoring battles with the games going down to the wire. But then again, it is the NFL. No one knows what could happen. Heck, the Ravens and Steelers could combine to score 60. That’s what makes the NFL so intriguing and this weekend the ever more special.

To round out the weekend, don’t count out baseball and all the action that could potentially ensue. Great players are still available, (Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, and Ben Sheets) and something might happen this weekend that shouldn’t be missed.

With all of the sports action occurring this weekend, I advise all sports fans to cancel their dates, plans, and leave the weekend open. It’s nasty outside, and the best thing to do is to sit in front of the TV and enjoy the thrill of sports and the weekend to be.

The Right Type Of Risk

Every baseball team’s dream at the beginning of a long season is to win the World Series. The hardest part is fielding an all-around team that can last the 162-game season and a lengthened playoff schedule with plenty of off days. What’s the best strategy in completing the difficult task? Developing talent through the draft and the minor leagues? Signing top free agents to big contracts hoping for success? Hoping for that team that can produce lightning in a bottle? Sometimes there is no explanation for a team that wins the World Series. The Marlins in 2003 with a payroll of only $63,281,152 (which ranks 20 out of 30 teams) managed to climb their way to the top with young stars embracing the challenge and rising to the top. On the flip side, the New York Yankees, with a 2008 payroll of $209,081,579 haven’t won a World Series since 2000. So maybe big spending isn’t the best scenario. Maybe there is another way to fight your way to the top. The Red Sox have seemed to find out how and continue to show it this offseason.

Low-risk, high-reward players are who the Red Sox targeted this offseason. With players like John Smoltz, Takashi Saito, and the re-signing of fan favorite Kevin Youkilis, the Red Sox have had yet another successful offseason so far. The Cubs on the other hand have made choices that might be looked at by some as questionable. It started with the trading of fan favorite Mark DeRosa. There is clearly a logjam of players on the Cubs who can play middle infield. Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, Ryan Theriot, and Mark DeRosa can all play everyday for many clubs. So the Cubs pulled off a move and traded away one of them. Problem is, they traded away a man who could lead a team and could play more than just middle infield. Then, a week later, the team made another dicey decision when they signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract. Bradley has had his eruptions before. Whether it is throwing balls and bats onto the field of play or arguing with an umpire which led to an ACL tear, Bradley is the type of risk that could make or break a team. Bradley is coming off a career year in which he hit a career best .321 with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs. But those numbers might be overshadowed by the disruption he can cause to a team. Camaraderie and chemistry are vital parts in a championship team and Bradley could be the risky player to break the Cubs chances.

The low-risk high-reward players like John Smoltz and Takashi Saito could provide a spark for a team that tries to win it’s third World Series title in six years. See: Brad Lidge for the Phillies. Smoltz is a future Hall of Famer who brings experience and leadership to a team that can never have too much leadership. Saito is a shut-the-door reliever who has an ERA just slightly higher than the unhittable Jonathan Papelbon. The only risks of the two players is injury. Smoltz is coming shoulder surgery and Saito had elbow problems last year that kept him out of action for almost two months. On the flip side (or the high reward), both players do not bring baggage and can help a team climb to the top if they can remain healthy.

So it all comes back to what it takes to build a championship team. Developing talent, big free agent signings, and a little bit of luck are always nice ways to bring home a winner. But it’s the little things such as signing the right type of player that could make or break a team and franchise. The Red Sox capitalized on their opportunities while the Cubs made questionable moves that could prove fatal come crunch time.

Class Act Fits Right In With New Team

The MVP of the 2006 World Series was signed to a one-year contract Thursday. Let’s dig deep in our memory banks to remember who this was. Well, let’s see. The 2006 winner, was that the Red Sox? No, they won it in 2007. What team was that? Oh yeah, I remember—the best 83 win team in baseball history—the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals. Now, who was that MVP? Albert Pujols—no he wouldn’t get signed to a one-year deal. He wasn’t even a free agent. Chris Carpenter—it might be; he would fit nicely in with a new team; however, Chris Carpenter is still a member of the Cardinals. Oh yeah, now I remember. It’s that five foot seven inch shortstop. What’s his name? David Eckstein—that’s it.

Eckstein is a hard guy to recall because he is not the flashiest, strongest, or fastest ballplayer; however, he is that guy who always seems to do the right thing. Sprinting down to first base after a walk or hustling out a ground ball, Eckstein will never get yelled at by his manager for lack of effort. So it’s good to see that the 33 (soon to be 34—Tuesday the 20th) year old getting another chance to play full time. Only this time, he will be playing a “new” position. Having played shortstop his entire career with the Angels and Cardinals, he played a little second base last season with the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays. And it’s a move he’s comfortable with. He played second base all the way up to the big leagues. So playing second base for the San Diego Padres won’t rattle any nerves for the veteran.

With the Padres’ lineup struggling to get on base and score runs last season (dead last in the league in runs scored with 637 and dead last with a .317 on base percentage) Eckstein is a big acquisition to a team looking to make the turnaround back to the top of the NL West. Not only is Eckstein’s career .351 on base percentage the perfect need for a team in desperate need of base runners, his attitude will help in the clubhouse and team chemistry. Eckstein is a proven leader and winner and will hopefully bring this with him to his newest team—the San Diego Padres.

I’m glad to see that Eckstein signed with a team in need of a middle infielder. When players get to be in their mid-thirties, some don’t get the chance to play everyday and win. Eckstein already has a World Series under his belt and now is getting the chance to play everyday for a team in desperate need of leadership. Eckstein can be that leader—I mean, he was the MVP of the World Series.