MLB

There were 87 starting pitchers from the 1970s who pitched in at least 200 games. That is the highest number of any decade in the history of Major League Baseball, other than the 1980s and 2000s.

The 1970s is an interesting decade to write about, because it was chock-full of high-caliber pitchers.

The 2009 Kansas City Royals baseball season got underway with much fanfare, due in large part to completed renovations to Kauffman Stadium that made it suitable for well, royalty.

The stadium’s concourses and concessions were brought up to today’s standards, and there were so many new amenities that any Royals fan would have a hard time taking advantage of them in a single homestand.

About a month ago, I would have completely dismissed any type of Dan Uggla to the Atlanta Braves rumors as just that, rumors.

But, with the Braves still having a hole in left field (a position that many say Uggla could play) and the Marlins seemingly eager to trade their arbitration-eligible second baseman, you have to at least think about it.

Let's first examine what Uggla brings to the table.

For his career, the soon-to-be 30-year-old is a .257 hitter and has slugged at least 27 home runs in each of his first four big league seasons.

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night?

Maybe a bad dream interrupts your slumber. Maybe you're disturbed by a noise from outside. Or maybe the burrito you ate for dinner didn't quite agree with you after all.

Here's a list of 10 sleepers who got up to pee at some point in 2009, then went back to bed.

Bonus points to anyone who knows who's in this picture.

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As far as Royals fans go, I am one of the more optimistic.

I retained my family's season tickets while away at college so I wouldn't lose my childhood vantage point when the team finally returned to the postseason.

I attend upwards of 40 games a season since I moved back to the nation's bread basket in 2004.

I was so confident in General Manager Dayton Moore's abilities that I placed a bet with a buddy that Mike Jacobs would hit 30+ HR, and, given the spacious Kauffman Stadium outfield, Coco Crisp would have an OPS north of .790 with 30+ SB.*

During the 1950s, the Yankees had a major league farm team named the Kansas City Athletics.

Larry Levensen is a Giants' fan who resented the Yankees because he knew that it was almost impossible to beat both the Yankees and their Kansas City farm team.

"I Will Probably Die Waiting for a World Championship ."

I was only four years old when the Giants won the 1954 World Series.

The Yankees have sure made a splash this offseason, but not by buying every player on the market. Unlike the big spending spree last year, the Yankees did not sign the best pitcher on the market, Lackey, and are unlikely to sign Holliday or Bay.

Brian Cashman has made himself known through trades with exception of Nick Johnson. They have acquired Curtis Granderson, Javier Vazquez, and Boone Logan while losing Melky Cabrera, Phil Coke, Mike Dunne, Arodys Vizcaino, Ian Kennedy, and coveted prospect Austin Jackson.

Aaron Harang was once considered a top option for fantasy owners, after posting back-to-back 200+ strikeout seasons with ERAs under 3.80. 

Then, without warning, things went south in 2008.  Injuries helped to sabotage him, as did his inability to get batters out consistently.

In the past two seasons, opponents have hit .280 or better against him.  His strikeouts have come down.  His home runs allowed are up.  His wins are almost nonexistent.

Let’s take a look at his line from last season: