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2011 MLB Predictions Generally Have Yankees and Rays Battling for Wild Card

After the Boston Red Sox reloaded in the American League East this offseason, they are generally the favorites to win the division.

As is usually the custom, two other AL East teams are the front runners for the Wild Card this season (with apologies to Chicago White Sox fans).

I don't like the Yankees pitching as usual beyond C.C. Sabathia and Phil Hughes, and AJ Burnett is iffy, especially in the AL East.

Ivan Nova? Freddy Garcia?

Eh, I'll pass.

Former mistress of Barry Bonds, Kimberly Bell has testified in court.  Bell claimed Bonds told her steroids were the reason behind an elbow injury from 1999.  Bell also told jurors Bonds was violent with her and threatened her on more than one occasion.  In addition, Bell made the assertion that the size of Bonds’ testicles had shrunken.

According to both mlb.com and cbcsports.com, Toronto has acquired super-utility-man, Jayson Nix, from the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations.

To make room on the roster, Toronto has placed reliever Jesse Carlson on the 60 day disabled list with a left shoulder strain. This means that David Purcey will now serve as the lefty specialist for the time being.

2011 MLB Predictions Have Jeremy Hellickson as a Candidate for the AL ROY

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, at just 23 years old, showed flashes last year of why he could be the American League Rookie of the Year in 2011.

In 36 1/3 innings pitched, he compiled a 4-0 record, 3.47 ERA and 33 strikeouts (10 games, four starts).

With not enough innings pitched to qualify as a second-year pitcher, Hellickson stands a chance to win the AL ROY award right out the gate this season, slated as the Rays' fifth starter.

2011 MLB Predictions Have Albert Pujols Once Again in Discussion as NL MVP

It's not hard to make an argument for why St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols could be the 2011 National League MVP.

For one, he's the best hitter in baseball.

On top of that, Pujols is in a contract year, and we all know how that can jump up players' stats.

There's not much to say about Barry Bonds and the legal situation he's wrapped up in. The former “best player in baseball” and current home run champ has been under the microscope of Congress since he claimed to never knowingly use steroids during his 22-year career.

Adam Rubin has a good source reporting the Mets have placed Nick Evans, Pat Misch and Luis Hernandez on waivers.  All three players have 48 hours to either clear waivers or be claimed by another team.

There is hope for a victorious recovery. 

As many Cleveland Indians fans remember, center fielder Grady Sizemore spent the majority of last season on the disabled list.  It took Sizemore just under a year to fully recover from microfracture surgery to repair his knee.

Now, in spring training, after slowly incorporating more drills into his routine, Sizemore is back at his home position in center, even if just for a few innings at a time.

I'm writing this article as a follow-up to MLB Prospects: Kansas City Royals' Tim Collins Pitching Taller Than He Really Is.

5' 7", 175-pound Tim Collins wasn't on the 40-man roster when camp opened up for the Kansas City Royals on February 14, in Surprise, AZ. In fact, Collins wasn't even drafted.

He will, however, be on the team's opening day roster as Kansas City hosts the the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Despite hurling some of his best stuff in five years (1-0/2.40/15 IP/17 K), Bartolo Colon will start his season with the Yankees in the bullpen.

Yankees skipper Joe Girardi announced Sunday that the team will round out their rotation with Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia as their fourth and fifth starters.