AL East

The Baltimore Orioles need a first baseman.

As former Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar might say: "It's time for the O's to pony up and get it done."

That's the feeling every Oriole fan is experiencing at this moment in time in regards to the first base situation, which has been dragging on for most of the offseason.

Brian Cashman and the entire Yankees organization are still hiding under the covers. It’s been a rough offseason for New York; not necessarily because they missed out on talent, but because the organization was continually embarrassed.

The Texas Rangers signed Brandon Webb last week, a move classified by some in the baseball world as a "smart gamble" given the veteran pitcher's Cy Young Award pedigree and outstanding goatee.

Still, others regarded the signing as a "stretch" or "risk", or to tie it in with the counterpoint, a "stupid gamble" given Webb (a) hasn't pitched in two years and (b) has a right shoulder that could trade war stories with Hideki Matsui's knees and Don Mattingly's back.

Courtesy of Yankees 'n More

This off-season, the New York Yankees' hopes of adding an additional pitcher fell through.
 
True, pickings were slim, but with the seemingly impending retirement of Andy Pettitte, it didn’t make life any easier in the Bronx.
 

One of the all-time great sports debates has always been as to who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame and who doesn't.

The Yankees missed on Cliff Lee. They didn't act on Carl Crawford. Zack Greinke landed somewhere else. Many think it is doom and gloom for the Yankees. Instead, it's all about the boom...the lineup. In 2010, the Yankees led the league in runs (859), RBIs (823) and OBP (.350). They were amongst the leaders in homeruns, OPS, hits.

In 2011, expect things to get even better with a healthy ARod, Posada being a full-time DH, Gardner improving and Cano no longer a slow starter.

Baseball is one of the most unpredictable sports in the world.   

Before the season starts, predictions are made of who will do this and who will do that.  But, the truth is, that there are so many different things that can and will happen.  Every season, the unexpected happens.

Whether it be in the form of a young player having a monster year.  A mediocre player who suddenly becomes a star.  A veteran having one last kick at the can, or a perennial all-star having an off year.

There were conflicting reports this weekend that the New York Yankees were actually discussing whether or not they should bring in one-time Boston Red Sox villain and now free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez.

It was first reported on Thursday night, December 23, by YES Network’s Jack Curry that the Yankees were internally debating if they should sign Ramirez.

On Sunday, December 26, George A. King III of the New York Post reported that the Yankees do not have interest in Ramirez.

The last coals have just about burned out in the Hot Stove for this winter.

The New York Yankees made no significant trades or free agent signings.

As a result, Yankee fans should be very concerned about the upcoming season.

To begin with, Brian Cashman and the rest of the Yankee brass put all their eggs in one basket and nothing hatched.  It is well documented that the primary gameplan was to sign Cliff Lee and they failed. The only good thing that can be said about Lee is that he left the American League.