MLB

The news that Dustin Pedroia is willing to move to shortstop to accommodate the Red Sox is a sign of his selflessness. It is also a sign of his willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team win.

But, naturally, questions have arisen as to whether Pedroia can actually play short, whether he has the range, and, particularly, the arm strength for the position.

However, it's important to remember that Pedroia has a long history of success at shortstop, going all the way back to college.

Yes, I realize that it is, in fact December. 2010 Opening Day is 124 days away and it seems like a lot longer. To hold me over until then, I will immerse myself in stats and projections and envy Matthew Berry's awesomeness. This list is basically a collection of the best and brightest players of the 2009 regular season. Enjoy.

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When President Barack Obama stood up in the eyes of the nation Tuesday night and advocated a 30,000-man surge in troop force for the ongoing war in Afghanistan, all Americans ought to have taken pause to measure the gravity of the moment.

There will be no draft; Obama was clear on that point. As it has been since the end of the Vietnam War, all military service will be voluntary.

As such, it seems highly unlikely that any high-profile baseball players will go overseas to fight, either in Afghanistan or in Iraq.

The passing of the deadline for Major League Baseball teams to offer arbitration to their former players clears the landscape slightly in the free agent market.

Players who have been offered arbitration have until Monday to decide whether to accept, but at least now teams know which players will cost them draft choices if they decide to sign them.

D.C.’s best rapper and confused basketball fan, Wale’, will likely be the best thing to happen to the Redskins this December, as he is scheduled to perform at halftime of the ‘Skins-Cowboys game on Dec. 27.

Immediately, two possible scenarios emerge from this performance.

One, Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff drunkenly question, "What the hell was that at halftime?"

The week after Thanksgiving is Open Season for bargain hunters. Holiday shoppers all over the country flock to Best Buy and Target in search of discounted products they don’t actually need.

As the spending surge tapers down, it is clear that the shrewdest customer of the last few days was Tampa Bay Rays GM Andrew Friedman, who acquired Kelly Shoppach from the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When Billy Wagner returned from injury last season, I didn’t think the Mets were going to have much use for him. I was actually at Citi Field when he made his return, and the crowd was clearly excited to see him.

He returned with a vengeance, and he pitched so well that the Mets were able to trade him for two players to be named later.

Though I confess that I already knew, but was sworn to secrecy, I'm excited to officially announce the signing of right-hander Jason Grilli to a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians with a big-league invitation to spring training.

Grilli will be given the opportunity to compete for a spot in the Indian's bullpen. If he makes the big league club, he'll earn $800,000 for the season.