MLB

Whenever New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter speaks, it’s rare that he allows much to be known: Jeter likes to keep his true thoughts to himself, always has.

Earlier this week, Jeter held a press conference prior to the first day that position players were obligated to be in Tampa for spring training.

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Spring training is barely a week old and players are already complaining. Not in a "waah I want to play" sort of way, but more of a "can i get a little respect up in here" way.

Chris Dickerson told reporters yesterday that he doesn't understand why Drew Stubbs should automatically be penciled into the starting center field position.

"It's kind of angry and it's frustration and I know it's going to come out that way, I know," Dickerson said.

On Wednesday, Mike Francesa, on YES had an interesting discussion on who was the better hitter, Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays.

Francesa said without any question Mays was the better all round player. This writer, might even take some issue with that.

But this article is going to deal with what the numbers say about which was the better hitter in their best years.

Mantle was a three time MVP and also was very close in the voting for MVP in other years.

Mays was an MVP twice, finished second in the voting once and third once.

My last article looked at the Oakland Athletics' rotation. I gave their group a B+overall.

Finally, the last team in my tour of the AL West rotations is the Seattle Mariners.

At the end of this article, I'll compare the Mariners to the A's, Angels, and Rangers, and see who has the best rotation.

I'll be posting a wrap-up article to this series hopefully later today, analyzing strengths and weaknesses of each rotation in relation to each other.

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Potential. That is the one word that these 10 guys have in common. Its what we have been hearing about them for a few years now. None of them have fulfilled their promise......yet. Injuries have played a part for some. Some have been blocked by other more established veterans and some have just disappointed. Opportunity now presents itself for these guys. Its now put up or shut up time.

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So says Beckett:

"Speaking on CSNNE’s SportsNet Central Thursday night, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett said he would most likely not negotiate a new contract with the Red Sox during the 2010 season, saying 'Probably not,' when asked if he would participate in any in-season talks.

While Jayson Werth's beard may have you asking the exact same question, the purpose of this article is not to try and get inside Jayson's head (or beard); rather, it's to examine how much the Phillies right fielder would be worth on the open market and what is the most likely outcome.

I admit this analysis may be somewhat premature, as a second consecutive season similar to 2009 would certainly do wonders to enhance the man's value. Prior to his fine 2009 season, Werth wasn't exactly the model of consistency, nor the picture of health.

In the '03-'04 offseason, Aaron Boone, the Yankees third baseman who, the past season, sent the Yankees to the World Series on a homerun off knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to end a grueling, dramatic seven-game series with the Red Sox, tore his ACL in a pickup basketball game.

Thus, getting the Yankees to start looking for a new third baseman.

Thus, asking Alex Rodriguez if he'd be willing to move to third base to play for the Yankees.

Thus, eventually, making A-Rod a Yankee.

It proved to be a terrible mistake at first.

For the Houston Astros, 2010 offers a clean slate and a chance at making a run towards the post season; something they haven’t done in quite some time. But in order to make that run, there are several things the team must take into consideration and face.

For the past four years, the Astros have been flip flopping back and forth; struggling to maintain consecutive winning seasons, leaving fans to question and criticize more than they cheer and praise.

But despite the team being old and sometimes poorly managed—I’m talking to you Mr.