Baseball

While the level of excitement in Toronto about baseball has not been this high since the World Series runs of 1992 and 1993, the level of expectation is considerably high. For close to two decades, franchises like the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers continuously had very high payrolls with no championship to show for it.

Just when it seemed the Boston Red Sox couldn't get any lower than fried chicken and beer in the club house, the baseball world witnessed Jon Lester’s career-worst 11 runs against Toronto, Daniel Bard’s transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation and Josh Beckett’s golf game.

The Philadelphia Phillies finally relinquished the crown to the emerging Washington Nationals squad in the surprising NL East division last season. The headline-grabbing Miami Marlins finished last in the division after having such high hopes and the New York Mets?

Just how desperate were the Philadelphia Phillies to sign a right-handed, power hitting corner outfielder with Major League experience? Desperate enough to forget what solid defense looks like? Desperate enough to jeopardize the playing time and development of a pair of young outfielders with a lot to lose by sitting on the bench (or wasting away in Triple-A)? 

The Cincinnati Reds were one of the best teams in baseball last season, which isn't half bad considering they're such a small market team.  This 2013 season will see the Reds looking to grab their third NL Central title in four years.  The talent is there.  The pieces are in place.

As good as they are, and as good as they should be, one can't help but look at the team and see a handful of weaknesses that might just keep them from being repeat NL Central victors.  

Coming off their worst season in decades, the Boston Red Sox face a tough road to get back to the top of an American League East that seemingly grows tougher every day. 

The team has been in shambles ever since their historic September meltdown in 2011 that cost them the playoffs and former manager Terry Francona his job. 

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed hitting outfielder Delmon Young to a one-year deal worth $750,000, and Buster Olney opines that this could leave left-handed outfielder Domonic Brown out of the loop in Philly.

The Seattle Mariners haven't necessarily had the best offseason so far.

The Detroit Tigers have never had a player go into arbitration since Dave Dombrowski became the general manager in 2002, and they shouldn't start with Max Scherzer.

Loyal.

Humble.

Those are the first two things I thought of when I heard about Stan Musial's passing this evening. Being from the Midwest, I respected his relationship with the Cardinals organization and how popular of a team he made the Cardinals, even though they weren't flashy or in a large market.