Baseball

With spring training on the horizon, the Cubs have a need for a solid starter until Ted Lilly can return, and for a veteran right handed setup man for Carlos Marmol. John Smoltz could fill both needs, while adding a solid veteran presence to the clubhouse.

Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas will always be remembered as one of the hardest hitting Chicago White Sox in history. 

Thomas had stints with the Oakland A's and Toronto Blue Jays, but his legacy will be that of a South Sider when he's one day enshrined into baseball's hall of fame.

A player doesn't earn the moniker "Big Hurt" without reason. Thomas was big, 6'5" and 275 pounds, and legend has it that he "Sandlotted" a baseball, annihilating it with his powerful swing—ripping it to shreds.

Most Mets fans have a love-hate relationship with their team. It's been said "No one hates the Mets more than Mets fans." 

There has been a lot of negative talk about Citi Field, and I feel as if the size of the field itself is taking away from the beauty of the actual ballpark. So let's try to evaluate Citi Field after its first year. Here are five thing the Mets did right, and five things the Mets did terribly wrong with Citi Field in 2009.

Rights

The Royals will not compete in 2010.

The talking-heads and sports writing powers-that-be will have you believe this is already a foregone conclusion. Does this statement derive from abundant research and insightful analysis, or lazy regurgitation?

First of all, it is hardly a prediction when looking at the past 20 years of Royals baseball; failure is near certain for this franchise year after year.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports has confirmed on Twitter that Aroldis Chapman has signed with the Cincinnati Reds for five years and $30 million. This comes as a bit of a shock, especially given the depth of the Reds' rotation already.

While Edison Volquez is likely to miss the majority of the season, the team still has Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, and Johnny Cueto as its top three, along with Homer Bailey to help fill out the rotation. 

UPDATE: Passan now thinks Chapman has signed with a National League Central team, but he's not sure at this point. Watch for updates.

(Above) RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka addressed the media at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium, in Manchester, NH, after a rehab start against the Fisher Cats last July.

The Drug bug has struck again.

ESPN.com reported that three minor leaguers have been suspended for PED’s and a drug of abuse.

Miguel Negron, an outfielder for the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate Charlotte Knights, has been suspended 50 games for a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

On the evening of March 31, 2008, Kosuke Fukudome was the toast of the Chicago baseball world. The Cubs stood at 0-1 after a heart-breaking loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Fukudome, however, had overwhelmed in his American debut: he went three-for-three, with a walk, a double, and a game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

One game into his four-year, $48 million contract, Fukudome seemed poised to become a star. The 323 games since have not gone nearly so well.