Baseball

• Year: 2008
• Record: 74-88
• Win %: .457
• Win % Change: -86
• Run Differential: -36
• Pythagorean Record: 78-84
• AL Finish: 12th of 14
• Manager: Jim Leyland
• Best Transaction: Trading for Miguel Cabrera.  Jury is probably still out on this one a bit, but Cabrera sure is good.  The Tigers gave up six prospects to bring Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit.  You have to wonder: If this reverse trade were offered to the Tigers RIGHT NOW, would they take it?  With the Tigers looking to unload contracts, would they give up thes
  

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When healthy, the Arizona Diamondbacks have a top-five one-two punch, in Dan Haren and Brandon Webb. After undergoing shoulder surgery at the beginning of this past season though, we cannot be certain that Webb will come back and be the force he once was, at least initially.

When it comes down to numbers, right-handed pitchers have an easier go of it in Major League Baseball.

Only about one-quarter of all batters in the league hit left-handed, meaning right-handed pitchers can expect to have the platoon advantage over 75 percent of the hitters they face (removing the admittedly estimable impact of tactical maneuvering).

Lefties, however, always seem to garner the most attention when it comes time to construct or evaluate a team's pitching staff.

For Cubs fans, the Verducci effect is an old and familiar foe, even if they have never heard of it. First set forth by Sports Illustrated baseball guru Tom Verducci , the theory concerns escalating innings totals for young pitchers.

Question number one, what do the Dodgers have? Question two, what do they need? The questions are very simple to answer. The Dodgers have a flurry of young stars, Manny Ramirez, Gold Glovers, but no ace.

In order to play in the Fall Classic, it takes more than just one pitcher you are constantly counting on to deliver. You need that ace, that veteran, that mentor, the one who throw's a cutter that could cut you seven inches deep.

2009 Arizona Fall League has ended as the Peoria Javelinas defeated the Phoenix Desert Dogs 5-4 to win the league.

Seven players from the Mariners organization played for the Javelinas and some looked they're close to the big league. Let's review how they've done this fall.

Dustin Ackley 1B/LF

The Mariners drafted Ackley second overall in last year's draft. He did not sign with the club until the signing deadline so he didn't play in the minors.

We have been subjected to every theoretical trade scenario under the sun since Roy Halladay was rumored to be available via trade last season.

There are dozens of hypothetical deals that send an entire farm system worth of players in exchange for Halladay and his contract, which expires after 2010. 

National League clubs see Halladay as the key to defeating the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Distractions abound surrounding the future of the Dodger’s organization, but the real focus should be on filling the holes in the lineup and building a team that can muscle past the NLCS next season.

And so, our attention shifts to the ballclub’s No. 2 priority behind pitching: second base.

Rumors ran wild this past week about the potential of the Cubs trading for Roy Halladay or Curtis Granderson.

What is sad is that the Cubs have the highest payroll in the league, and both of these players are going to be considered too expensive.

What's worse? Both of these players would fulfill enormous needs for the Cubs. In fact, they are the two biggest needs of the current Cub team.

I’m a little early on this, I admit. I’m jumping the gun, but this time they can’t call me back to the starting blocks.

You heard it here first, then.

When the Tigers gather for spring training in about three months—it can’t get here fast enough, by the way—it will be 2010 and you can say it.

It’ll be 20 years since Cecil Fielder knocked 51 homers out of the confines of American League ballparks on behalf of the Tigers.

Yep—1990. Even the most mathematically challenged can figure out that 2010 minus 20 equals 1990.