Baseball

It is customary, I suppose, at the beginning of each year to list some resolutions you intend to adhere to, in an effort to become a better person.

I, Caesar Cliffius, realizing that I cannot improve on what I am (not that I am perfect, just complacent), decided to try my hand at prognostication.

Below are five of my predictions for 2010 in the world of Major League Baseball.

No. 5: 20 Wins for Homer Bailey

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Danys Baez to a two-year contract pending his physical, which is expected to take place next week.

Baez, 32, went 4-6 with a 4.02 earned run average in 59 relief appearances with the Baltimore Orioles last year.

The addition of Baez means that the Phillies will not re-sign Chan Ho Park as the right-handed Cuban will replace Park as a late inning reliever for Philadelphia.

Throughout history, birds have been symbols.

In the Bible story of Noah and the ark, a dove heralds the first sighting of dry land after the long flood. Even before Edgar Allen Poe forever linked the raven to all things macabre, it stood as a foreboding sign. Eagles represent freedom, doves symbolize peace, hawks typify tenacity, and cranes embody grace.

The Athletics signed Justin Duchscherer to a one-year deal earlier this week, and I praised the move.

Of course, Duchscherer's signing took up a 40-man roster spot, and someone thus had to go.

While Cubs GM Jim Hendry continues to insist that Carlos Zambrano isn't available, rumors to the contrary continue to surface.

The New York Post seems to think that Zambrano is readily available.

Sherman wrote today in the New York Post that "two AL officials say the Cubs are definitely dangling Zambrano," while acknowledging Zambrano's unwillingness to approve a trade.

2010 Top 50 Twins Prospects

No. 50: D.J. Romero
Position: Third Base
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Born: September 24, 1986 (Perdernales, Dominican Republic)
School: N/A
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 200 lbs.

2009 was a disappointing year, once full of promise, but ended with drear.

Despite three consecutive seasons of winning ball, the Cubs once again failed to win it all.

Still we come out to Wrigley in record numbers, the fans cheering loudly while management slumbers.

Sweet Lou lived up to his name, that he seems so burned out is definitely a shame.

Randy Wells came out of nowhere to surprise, you could see the desire in his eyes.

Once washed up DLee was a sight for sore eyes, despite all the misguided Hoffpauir cries.

It seems hard to believe, but we are almost to the year 2010. And with any impending new decade, it seems only fair to look back on the best of the previous 10 years.

So with that, I present my Top 10 picks from each position between the years 2000-2009: Shortstops.

As with any ranking, there will always be snubs. I welcome any comments suggesting players that may have been left off this list.

Begin Slideshow

According to reports by FoxSports.com’s John Paul Morosi, the Twins are still looking for a middle infielder, which is hardly surprising considering just one member of Game 163 ’s infield (Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, Orlando Cabrera, and Matt Tolbert) is likely to be in the starting infield next season.

Sure, their projected 2010 infield (Justin Morneau, Alexi Casilla, J.J. Hardy, and Punto) is better in some places, but it’s weaker in others and not much better overall as a result.

As the old decade ends and a new one begins, let’s take a look back at the Red Sox “All-Decade Team” from 2000-09…in all cases, the choice was really pretty obvious.

Catcher: Jason Varitek
10 Seasons: .257 BA (1045 hits in 4060 AB); 148 HR; 596 RBI; 513 R
Best Season —2003: .273, 25 HR, 85 RBI, 63 R (.351 OBP, .863 OPS)