Baseball

Thought to be the possible fourth outfielder on the Yankee bench to start the season, Rule 5 draft pick Jamie Hoffmann struggled in Spring Training, to say the least.

Hoffmann was returned to the Dodgers today, after being taken as the first overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft in December. Hoffmann hit just .130 (3-22) as a Yankee this spring. The Yankees traded RP Brian Bruney and $25,000 to the Nationals for the first pick in the draft.

The Los Angeles Angels have dominated the American League West recently, winning five of the last six division titles. Last year their 97-65 mark netted manager Mike Scioscia his second AL Manager of the Year award.

There has been a lot of turnover for this team heading into 2010, so can he keep the Angels winning? Let's take a look at the team and their season win total projections.

Pitching

Brian Sabean’s drafting and construction of pitching depth in the organization has set manager Bruce Bochy up to be a very lucky man.

His biggest decision at the culmination of spring training?

To decide on who gets the fifth spot in the rotation.

The two most likely contestants to win that spot have been narrowed down to free-agent acquisition Todd Wellemeyer and the homegrown pitching prospect, Kevin Pucetas.

Last year the Kansas City Royals were the surprise of April. The team jumped out to an 18-11 start and led the American League Central by 3 games. The Royals then had some injury problems and faltered for the rest of the way, never contending after June 1st.

Kansas City hasn't been to the post-season since 1985 and has lost at least 93 games in seven of their last nine seasons. Let's take a look at who they have this year and what their win total is projected to be.

Pitching

Entering Monday, many pundits believed Phil Hughes had all but locked up the fifth starter's role in the Yankees rotation, but by 4 p.m., everything grew a bit hazy again.

Coming off a solid three inning, three strikeout, one run performance against the Phillies on Wednesday, Joba Chamberlain, Hughes' main competitor, again pitched well in an intrasquad game. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out one over five innings, reportedly displaying a good changeup and improved velocity.

While questions regarding Tim Wakefield's age and Daisuke Matsuzaka's durability continue to swirl around the Boston Red Sox during the middle stages of spring training, new acquisition John Lackey has quietly gone about his business.

Putting up goose eggs.

Lackey arrived to much fanfare but has managed to slide into the background during a spring training where the hot topics have included a perceived lack of punch on the offensive side and the battle for the back end of the rotation.

Welcome to Tribe Talk, where Bleacher Report's Tribe fans weigh in on the ups and downs of the Indians each week throughout the season and here in our annual season preview.
 

If you are looking for a top heavy division in sports, this is it. The NL Central is the exact opposite of its counterpart in the American League. This year, you have got two great teams in the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs, while you have four clubs that will be irrelevant by early May.

St. Louis Cardinals:

He is, without much argument, the most popular face in the state of Minnesota. He was born and raised in the same atmosphere where he recently broke out as a sporting icon and ripened as the greatest catcher in the majors.

Dating back to his childhood, Joe Mauer was covetous, immersing and engaging in a sport that he idolized, growing up as a Twins fan.