Baseball

Continuing my statistical adventures that began when I looked at the 10 best relievers of 2009 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/312131-heres-a-thought-statistically-...), here are my 10 best starting pitchers of the past year, as stated by True ERA.

Let's take a look at who came out on top.

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Continuing my statistical adventures that began when I looked at the 10 best relievers of 2009 (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/312131-heres-a-thought-statistically-...), here are my 10 WORST relievers of the past year (with at least 50 IP), as stated by True ERA.

Let's take a look.

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Former Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley (Cubbie Nation/file)

Even though Chone Figgins, Placido Polanco, and Pedro Feliz have been signed to play third base, the market is far from depleted. Free agents from Adrian Beltre to Troy Glaus are still teamless, which would be more surprising but for last year’s Type-A debacle, where players like Orlando Hudson and Juan Cruz remained on the market long after the winter meetings.

Cole Hamels went 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA in 2008. He ended the year a World Series hero.

Cole Hamels went 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in 2009. He ended the year a World Series bust.

Naturally, any fan seeing this would think that Hamels had some sort of huge fall from grace; he must have done more wrong in 2009 than 2008.

The media was all over this line of thinking, particularly in the playoffs (when, admittedly, he did struggle, unlike his excellent 2008 postseason).

Not so fast.

This just in, San Francisco Giants General Manager Brian Sabean is gun-shy. Over a year ago, the Giants GM signed shortstop Edgar Renteria to a two-year 18 million dollar deal before the free-agent market fully developed.

Numerous other quality free-agents were left unsigned deep into January and even February. Players like Bobby Abreu and Orlando Hudson had excellent seasons despite signing after the new year.

Unfortunately for Sabean and the Giants, Renteria performed at a rate where he didn't even deserve half of his contract. 

I think Billy Beane is an excellent GM, and I agree with most of his moves.

But it's been reported that the A's are close to a 1-year deal with free agent outfielder Coco Crisp, and while I think Crisp is a fine player, such a move leaves me scratching my head as to what Beane is doing.

Presumably, the A's will go into 2010 with Rajai Davis in center field and Ryan Sweeney in right field. Crisp would slot into left field.

Crisp is a career .271/.331/.407 hitter, which is shy of acceptable for a left fielder.

Matt Capps was non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates last weekend and has announced plans to select five or six finalists for each.

Odds are Capps wants to close but has said he'll accept a set-up role with a contender.

Capps has announced plans to select five or six finalists from the teams that are reportedly interested in his services which are: the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Orioles, Mets, Rangers, Yankees, Nationals, Rockies, Marlins, and Tigers.

As a long time Braves fan, I am always fascinated about how well Braves management handles their players and make great signings and turn players career's around.

However, since Mr. Frank Wren took over as the Braves GM, he has been one of the most active executives—and has received an earful of complaints from his players and the Braves' fans.

Less than 2% of baseball players who have ever played the game have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.  When we think of the Hall of Famers, we think of the greats such as The Babe, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan and many other giants of the game.  This series isn’t about them.  This Series is about the legends that we fans sometimes forget about.