Baseball

The Kansas City Royals ended 2010 dead last in the AL Central with an overall record of 67-95. While the immediate future doesn't look great, there is a good chance the Royals will turn things around here soon. GM Dayton Moore has put together what is considered the  game’s best farm system.

The Chicago White Sox finished 2010 with an 88-74 record, which put them in second place in the AL Central, but it wasn't enough to give them a wild card spot. With the addition of Adam Dunn in the offseason, the White Sox should have an even more potent lineup. Put that with a rotation that looks good from top to bottom, and Chicago believes they can improve on last year’s win total.

You remember Chuck Greenberg, the Texas Rangers CEO who couldn't keep his foot out of his over-sized mouth? Remember him?

If things had gone according to plan, Kirk Gibson might be preparing a college football team somewhere right now, getting ready for spring practices.

He might have just finished talking up his school in the living rooms of America’s heartland, looking enraptured parents in the eyes and giving them the lowdown of what it would be like for their kid to play football under Coach Kirk.

He might have a resume of 10, 12 years in the NFL behind him as one of the game’s best wide receivers, or even tight ends.

As the 2011 MLB season quickly approaches, Adam Ganeles provides some insight into how some of the top corner infield prospects are progressing in spring training.

Royals first base prospect Eric Hosmer has imaginations running wild early in March. In 13 at bats this spring, he has six hits, two monumental blasts (including a grand slam) and six RBI. This is not foreign territory for the 6'4" 230-pounder who tore up the Carolina and Texas leagues last year to the tune of .338/20/86. 

If you play in a standard 5×5 format, you can view my rankings by clicking here.  For leagues that utilize OBP instead of average, there are a few significant changes.  Let’s take a look at how things look:

Everyone else is plotting out the Cubs everyday lineup and batting order, so I suppose I should get into the act as well.

Based on spring training so far, this looks like Quade’s preferred batting order, at least against right-handers.

Fukudome, RF

Castro, SS

Byrd, CF

Ramirez, 3B

Pena, 1B

Soriano, LF

Soto, C

DeWitt, 2B

Pitcher

With Spring Training now in full swing, the San Francisco Giants have unofficially began their journey to repeat as World Series Champions.

After their improbable run to become baseball's 2010 World Champions, it is hard to say whether this team has yet to come down from that high.

A pretty mediocre and quiet offseason from the Giants' front office has this team against the odds once again.

That is, until you look at their pitching staff, when you quickly remember why this team won it all last season.

Still, there are question marks aplenty for this team.

Every MLB fan has a different preference on who the best players in baseball are.

They calculate statistics, make rankings, and prioritize certain abilities that they think are the most valuable. Being "clutch" is not an attribute that many people look at, but being able to deliver in pressure situations is a major part of being a successful player in MLB.

Here are the 10 most clutch players in the game today.

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Surprise, surprise. Carlos Beltran is hurt once again.

After he resumes baseball activities sometime in the next few days, who knows how long it will take the New York Mets' new right fielder to get in baseball shape?

While part of me was hoping Beltran would finally return to the field healthy and productive, the other part of me knew it was probably too good to be true.