Baseball

The Arizona Diamondbacks finished a disappointing 2009 season with a record of 70-92 and in last place in the NL West—this after having posted winning records in each of the two prior seasons.

They should be considerably improved in 2010, if only because they have added veteran leadership and should get bounce back years from a couple of key performers.

The Padres said goodbye to all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman last winter and then spent much of last spring trying to trade ace right-hander Jake Peavy, finally dealing their ace to the Chicago White Sox for a bevy of prospects.

2008 was truly a magical season for the Tampa Bay Rays. After taking the entire baseball world by surprise by beating out the Yankees and Red Sox for the AL East Title, the Rays knocked Boston out of the playoffs to advance to their first ever World Series. The Rays followed up the best season in franchise history, with the second best season in team history in 2009. Normally 84 wins would have signaled a party in Tampa Bay, however in 2009 it was a major disappointment.

On April 3rd, every team in Major League Baseball has the same chance of taking home a division title and ultimately a World Series Championship.

While one can assume that a team like the Washington Nationals won't have a snowball's chance of winning their division, there is always a team like the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays that seemingly come out of nowhere and take the world by surprise.

The Rays are not nearly as under the radar as they have been in years previous; but after missing the playoffs last year, maybe people have been writing the Rays off as possible one year wonders.

Listed below, are the points and counterpoints about whether Adam Dunn can be a competent defensive first baseman:

Point: Yes, he is athletic enough to make the transition.

Counterpoint: No, he hasn't shown the ability to play any position well and it isn't going to start now.

P: Well, he is a former major-college quarterback.

CP: The Texas Longhorns were in the process of moving him to tight end. He would have ended up on the defensive line when it was all said and done.

For those of you too young to remember (d-bags), Carnac the Magnificent was a character played by the late, great Johnny Carson on the old “Tonight Show”, back before Jay Leno ruined the program. (Sorry, I’m with Coco.)

The good people over at Maple Street Press were nice enough to send me a free copy of this year’s edition of their Yankees annual to review. If you are looking to pick up a Yankee-specific season preview magazine, I can’t imagine finding a better one than this.

The Magazine : Maple Street Press: Yankees 2010 Annual

The Editor : Cecilia Tan

2010 Top 50 Twins Prospects | No. 5 | Kyle Gibson

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | October 23, 1987 (Greenfield, Indiana)

If you're a true Dodger Blue fan in Los Angeles or elsewhere, Monday morning can't have been a pleasant one. At least as long as Major League Baseball was on your mind.

Sure, you've got the bristling young talents of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Clayton Kershaw, and James Loney to go with still-coming Chad Billingsley (I'm not sold on Jonathan Broxton). Russell Martin ain't too shabby behind the dish either.

Of course, you also have an owner in Frank McCourt who seems loathe to part with a penny to better the franchise unless it's for maximum return.

The San Francisco Giants' Waldis Joaquin is on the bubble to make the 2010 Opening Day roster.

The ’10 bullpen staff already features a plethora of live arms and young talent, so the 23-year-old may have a tough time cracking the 25-man roster to start the year.

Joaquin began his career in 2005 at the age of 18 for the Giants' Rookie squad. He showed immediate potential, striking out 37 batters in 31.0 innings.