MLB

Filed:February 25th, 2010

The AL Central is the home of the defending Cy Young Award winner, five out of the last six AL Cy Young winners, and arguably three of the best pitchers in baseball. Limited offenses in the division means pitching will determine who takes the AL Central. Justin Verlander, Zach Greinke, Jake Peavy headstrong burgeoning pitching staffs who need strength one through four if their teams are to reach the postseason.

However, only one team can have the best starting rotation in the division and it could very well translate to a divisional crowd.

In every interview with Alex Rodriguez, there's always at least one moment where I shake my head in disbelief and think to myself, "My God, what a goober."

It's become a cherished part of my Yankee fan experience these past six years.

It’s not officially spring training for the Mets until the manager puts himself under the microscope for a questionable decision.

This year’s controversy came rather quickly, and it revolves around the centerpiece of the Mets franchise: Jose Reyes.

The frustrated Mets fanbase has been so accustomed to their star shortstop batting leadoff that they are unwilling to consider him batting in any other spot in the lineup.

In 1927 the New York Yankees won the World Series.

Their lineup was called Murderers' Row, and featured the likes of Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, and Bob Meusel.

Of course, in 1927 Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs, setting a record that would last for 34 years.

Babe also hit 29 doubles, eight triples (believe it or not), and drove in 164 runs that year.

But this story is not about the '27 Yankees.

This story is not about Babe Ruth either.

This story is about Lou Gehrig.

The Yankees are starting the 2010 season with only two locks in their outfield ,and a long list of outfielders—many of which will not make the Bronx roster, and instead will be in Scranton.

In response to a realignment proposal for MLB reported by Ken Rosenthal, I could not help but toy with my own proposal. It may be a stretch, but I believe that it keeps the traditional and gritty League rivalries alive, along with expanding new horizons. The regular season schedule and playoff system may need to change for this to work, but that may be a different story. Enjoy.

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Enjoy it, Tampa Bay Rays fans.

Enjoy watching the greatness of No. 13 Carl Crawford, as he blazes the base paths, cracks the game winning homer, or makes that SportsCenter highlight catch.

Enjoy Crawford as he leads this Rays' team for one more shot at the World Series because at the end of this season, he'll be gone.

You can take Alex Rodriguez, Prince Fielder, Matt Kemp, and Ryan Howard. I didn't want them anyway.

With the first spring training games just days away, I was happy to see an invitation for a fantasy baseball league sitting in my inbox.

I'd been mining bits and pieces of fantasy data for a few weeks now anyway, a sure-fire way to know that despite the snow, baseball is on its way.

With Johnny Damon heading out of town, it appears that the Yankees are primed to hand an outfield job to Brett Gardner.  Does he have the potential to be a viable fantasy option?  It’s doubtful, but let’s take a look:

2009 Statistics:

248 At Bats
.270 Batting Average (67 Hits)
3 Home Runs
23 RBI
48 Runs
26 Stolen Bases
.345 On Base Percentage
.379 Slugging Percentage
.312 Batting Average on Balls in Play

What You Need To Know: