MLB

As expected, the Red Sox have exercised their 2010 option on C / 1B Victor Martinez while declining their option on SS Alex Gonzalez.

The ballclub now has Martinez—who was acquired from the Cleveland Indians at the trading deadline for RHP Justin Masterson and pitching prospects Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price—under contract at $7.1 million for 2010.

Martinez, 30, was a hit during his two-month stint with the Red Sox, batting .336, with eight HR and 41 RBI, in 56 games with the Sox. For the season, he hit .303, with 23 HR and 108 RBI in 155 games.

One question, hundreds of answers. Which Diamondback had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best ever collection of stars. They are calling it MLB 9s.

Here I have separated the contenders from the pretenders in an effort to pick my dream D'backs lineup. Have your say by commenting below or by voting on the MLB site here.

Baseball seasons past and present provide fans with an almost unlimited armory to tackle some of the greatest questions the sport has ever known.

Who was the greatest Yankee of all-time? Is Carlos Beltran better than Darryl Strawberry? Did Joe Torre have the best-ever season for a St Louis Cardinals’ third baseman?

With this in mind, MLB asked fans to vote for the greatest offensive single-season in their franchise’s history to determine each team’s dream lineup.

I love comparing players, comparing seasons, arguing with friends over what is better: speed or power?

Sammy Sosa has decided to bleech his skin in honor of the recently deceased, but still talked about over and over again, Michael Jackson.

Sosa immediately denounced that this was an odd reaction to any of the "Flinstone vitamins" he took during his home run days.  

"I must first and foremost say my skin color is not due to the steroids I took for so many years," Sosa said.  "I was hoping as a white man, I'd have a better shot at the Hall of Fame."

Minnesota general manger Bill Smith is a busy man.

In the last week alone, Smith was rumored to be in on a deal for new Pittsburgh second baseman Akinori Iwamura, he traded away Carlos Gomez for J.J.

I feared throughout the regular season that Brad Lidge would blow the Phillies' chances at becoming the first team to repeat since the 2000 Yankees.

My fears came to fruition in Game Four of the World Series against the Bronx Bombers. Lidge surrendered three runs as the Phils went onto lose 7-4 a half an inning after they tied the game at four. That game was crucial.

If the Phillies win that game, the series is tied at 2-2. Anything can happen. Instead, New York took a commanding 3-1 lead and went on to win in six games.

The Yankees' manager, in his second season at the helm, was confident that his team would beat the Phillies in the World Series.

The Phillies Were a Fast, Hustling Team

"Not that I'm underestimating these Phillies. My reports show they are a fast, hustling club and they have good pitching.

In fact, I respect their pitching more than anything else and if they do beat us it will be pitching alone that will turn the trick.

Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News has watched more baseball in his lifetime than I probably ever will, what with his career revolving around baseball and mine...not so much.  However, his recent blog post to the Dayton Daily's online sheet proves just how little he actually understands the modern game.  He whines...I mean...writes, that small market teams cannot compete i