Baseball

Ah, with one mild fastball placed squarely between the ample shoulder blades of Prince Fielder, Barry Zito of our San Francisco Giants reminded the athletic world exactly why Major League Baseball will always be the top dog for many of its fans.

As for me, no affinity for another sport will ever replace my love of "The Show."

And it's because of old-school moments just like Zito's beanball right out of the spring training gates.

For those of you unfamiliar with the first salvo in this six-month-old dispute, allow me to explain.

Here's the situation: You're a general manager for a new expansion baseball team and Bud Selig has decided to give you the choice to pick any player in the league on any team with your first pick.

Sounds easy enough, right?

Then the real problem arises:

Whom do you pick?

Do you go with an elite hitter like Albert Pujols, or do you take a lights-out starter like Roy Halladay? Do you take a money closer like Mariano Rivera, or do you go with a young stud like Joe Mauer?

Free agent pitcher Kiko Calero must have had the worst medical records of anybody this offseason. That is the only logical explanation I can think of for Calero not being able to sign a major league contract.

After posting a 1.95 ERA, 10.4 K’s/9, and a 1.10 WHIP in 60 innings with the Florida Marlins last year, I thought Calero would have many suitors this offseason. It was clearly not the case.

Many teams were scared to sign Calero.

For centuries in the United States, a certain groundhog has been granted the power of determining the birth of the spring season and the fate of the waning months ahead. 

However, fortunately for Hawks and Cubs fans alike, the Cactus League home opener has proven this devilish rodent wrong and introduced spring fever like no other can.

Seven former Hawks competed for a roster position against the Athletics Thursday, though Tyler Colvin (2006) made the most noise in route to a six-run win over Oakland.

I am very intrigued by new Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Edwin Jackson , who arrived from Detroit in a massive three-way trade this off-season (the New York Yankees—the third team—received Curtis Granderson ).

Brandon Erbe has come a long way.

Five years ago the scrawny 17-year old was struggling to keep his head above water (not to mention his ERA under 4.00) over three different levels.

Five years later, Erbe found himself spending the last two weeks of February in Major League camp, a spring training invitee.

And it's no fluke. Erbe has gotten very smart, very quick.

In my last article, I looked at the Mariners bullpen candidates.

Continuing my tour of the AL West bullpens, here's a look at the following nine A's bullpen possibilities:

Andrew Bailey
Joey Devine
Brad Ziegler
Brad Kilby
Jerry Blevins
Jon Meloan
Michael Wuertz
Bobby Cassevah
Craig Breslow

Let's have a look!

Begin Slideshow

Dear San Francisco Giants Management,

Don't make the Buster Posey situation more complicated than it needs to be. History shows that a big—time player can emerge as a star without spending all his time playing one position until he finally earns a big league starting job.

Revolutionize might be a strong word; dominate might be a little more apropos.

With the signing of his new, six year, $51 million mega-deal yesterday, Justin Upton has officially arrived.

He now has his franchise’s backing on his path to greatness and super-stardom.

As we begin this decade, he seems to be one of the best young players in all of baseball. Upton, only 22 years old, is now the face of the Arizona Diamondback franchise and, within time, might be the face of MLB as well.

Imagine if Joe Morgan had spent his prime seasons in Houston instead of Cincinnati.

Picture Kenny Lofton setting the table for Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell during the 1990s.

What if the Astros had re-signed Randy Johnson, which would justified parting with three top tier prospects for what was nothing more than a two-month rental.

Let your imaginations run wild as we look back at five trades that left Astros fans shaking their heads and wondering what was on the minds of the general managers that pulled the trigger.

• Baseball
• Houston Astros
• MLB
• MLB History
• Rankings/List