AL West

One key to winning a fantasy baseball league is finding value in the latter stages of the draft, especially starting pitchers who can provide help with wins and strikeouts without hurting a team’s overall ERA. Late-round value picks who pan out can also be excellent trade bait to help bolster other weak areas of a fantasy roster.  

The American League West is not likely to produce the AL World Series representative this year, but it should be a much closer division than it was last year.

Fourth place: Seattle Mariners

Let’s start off with the obvious choice: the Seattle Mariners finishing another year in the cellar.

I admit that if the Athletics had lost this game, I would probably have fallen into the crowd that says "well this is just spring training and doesn't matter, we'll get them in the regular season." Thankfully, the A's took care of business (and the Giants) today behind a solid pitching performance and plenty of support from the lineup beating the World Champion Giants, 6-0.

It's fair to say that on the diamond Milton Bradley has been given his fair share of chances. Bradley has worn out his welcome with the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs already. Anyone with knowledge of Bradley's career would safely assume that he is a ticking time bomb, waiting to destroy the Seattle Mariners and their clubhouse.

It is not the season that will determine Scott Kazmir’s future with Anaheim, its Spring Training. That’s not easy for someone who is typically penciled into the starting rotation. 

So far he’s 50/50 on appearances which it a big improvement on last years numbers. I will not get into the specifics, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, baseball is about numbers.   

When Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Scott Kazmir walked Juan Pierre on four pitches to start yesterday’s spring training game with the Chicago White Sox in Tempe, AZ, the 5,100 fans in attendance at Temple Diablo Stadium were probably thinking, “Oh, great, another stinker of a year from Kazmir.”

Oakland Athletics General Maneger Billy Beane’s unconventional management methods were the focus of Michael Lewis’ 2003 blockbuster book Moneyball.  By focusing on on-base percentage and other sabermetric tools, Beane was able to build a successful ball club with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. 

At the age of 28 years and 41 days, Jon Daniels became the youngest GM in baseball history on October 4, 2005, succeeding John Hart.

Daniels took over a team that was restocking the roster from the outside via free agency. After turning that around completely by rebuilding through the draft he's turned around the Rangers win-loss column as well. He led the Rangers to their first World Series appearance last year in his fifth season at the helm.

I know it sounds crazy, but is it that crazy?

An article released today in the San Francisco Chronicle cited various internal sources that said the San Francisco Giants are prepared to release Barry Zito or attempt to buy out his contract before Opening Day.

Following the most successful season in franchise history, the Texas Rangers have had an eventful off-season as they prepare to defend their 2010 American League Championship.

From feuds with rival franchises to dramatic encounters with their own players, the winter months have been anything but boring as the Rangers have thrust themselves into baseball's spotlight with on-field success as well as off-field controversies.