Baseball

0-10 through 10 games.

Stinks, right?

To hear the Nationals' players talk about it, fans and writers should disregard the club's spring training record.  They have a list of reasons and excuses to forget about the record.

"We're just getting our work in."

"We aren't playing with our regular players."

"I just want to stay healthy for the season."

"I'm working on some new thing/adjustment."

On a freshly cut field in Sarasota, the sun is shining while four or five Orioles take batting practice. Adam Jones punishes room-service fastballs as Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis share a laugh. A new day shimmers as baseball is in the air. Little does this team know, they are the future.

The average baseball fan looks for success in their favorite team by simple facts. People want their stars to be home run hitters who hit 40 every season. They believe their relievers to be these fabulous athletes who can get 40 saves as well. A player is looked upon as a great hitter if he is able to hit 90 or more RBIs.

All those statistics that I just named are false tools. They ignore the true use of a baseball player and ignore what makes a star.

The San Francisco Giants have built up a formidable starting rotation over the last two seasons. One could make the argument that it is top three in the majors, if not the best one completely. Tim Lincecum has won the Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons, Matt Cain is coming off a 14 win year in which his ERA dropped to 2.89, Barry Zito made a strong recovery late last season in which he upped his strikeout totals and lowered his walks and ERA from the previous two seasons.

It's hard to feel good right now as a Mets fan.

Outfielder Carlos Beltran had the knee surgery that he should have had last fall in January and is out for the first two months of the season.

New signing pitcher Kelvim Escobar, recovering from two years of shoulder issues and surgery, has had yet another setback in his rehab and will almost certainly start the season on the DL. 

The New York Mets have a history of over-evaluating prospects, of hyping up their rookies and top draft choices.

The franchise, especially back in the 80s, loved the "can't miss" studs coming up out of high schools and colleges, and just when they looked to be ready for the next big step, they exploded under the lights of New York City.

There are so many players in Mets history that were destined for greatness. Destined to lead the club for years to come.

Depending upon which prospect list you happen to read, RHP Casey Kelly is either the Red Sox No. 1 or No. 2 prospect.

But today, he’s just another young man in the Red Sox minor league camp.

The White Sox lineup is filled with question marks, old guys, young guys, lots of strikeouts and low on-base percentages, but at the same time has the possibility of a solid statement, revamped turnarounds, breakout seasons and lots of speed.

It is is truly a perplexing lineup to predict.

The only two stable players you can truly predict to do what they have always done is Paul Konerko and A.J.

Contract options—whether they are vesting options or player/team options—present a headache to baseball managers who would rather play the best nine men each day without having to worry about the business side of the game.

Ah, but it matters. In fact, it matters a lot.

For example, there are two vesting options in the AL Central alone worth watching.

The Detroit Tigers, if they're smart, will not repeat the mistake they made in 2009 when they allowed Magglio Ordonez's 2010 option to vest by a mere 61 plate appearances.

Brett Gardner started in center field and hit sixth in the batting order as the New York Yankees lost a spring training tilt to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday.

Neither position is a likely spot to find Gardner after the regular season starts in just 20 days.

Because it is uncertain if Gardner can hold down a regular outfield slot, the Yankees will almost certainly put Curtis Granderson in center because he will be playing every day.