MLB

The top pick in this year's MLB Draft, Stephen Strasburg, is expected to be asking for a minimum of $50 million as a signing bonus.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

The guy has shown that he has stuff very few possess and he could very well be considered a steal at that price by the time the contract is over. 

This article is not being written to criticize Strasburg or his agent Scott Boras (shown in the photo above). I am sure there will be plenty of people writing those this week.

Yesterday I took a look at five players the Twins could logically target in trade talks. Today it is time to look at some of the remaining free agent options still on the market that could help the Twins reach the postseason.

With the amateur draft now in the rearview mirror, all free agents who were offered arbitration can be signed without resulting in a forfeited draft pick by the signing team.

Last night, David Ortiz came to the plate at Fenway Park and did something he had only done twice before in this season: He hit a home run.

All of Boston roared and showed their unwavering support for their latest baseball hero.  Like, Ortiz himself, they don't want to believe what so many journalists and analysts have been bedrudgingly reporting since the third week of the season: Big Papi is washed up.

The Fenway Faithful stood and cheered, but they aren't the only ones who can get excited by Ortiz's show of power. I am, of course, referring to Yankee Fans.

I just finished watching an "Outside the Lines" report on ESPN about the responsibilities of a blogger.  

In this particular instance, Jerrod Morris, a writer for a blog called Midwest Sports Fans, wrote an article that explored the admittedly interesting jump in Raul Ibanez's power numbers.

All of Boston is talking about the Sox taking game one of the three game series between Boston and the New York Yankees.

Boston, led by the brilliance of Josh Beckett, won 7-0.

In the midst of the all the excitement was an absolute bomb off the bat of David Ortiz. He took A.J. Burnett deep to Portland, Maine.

Undoubtedly the most interesting part of any baseball game, the visit to the mound is as integral to baseball as the mound itself.

For those who have been at work all day, one little blog posting has caused some strong reactions.

Yesterday 'JROD' over at midwestsportsfans.com posted an article about Raul Ibanez's great start over in Philadelphia. The article, entitled "The Curious Case of Raul Ibanez: Steroid Speculation Perhaps Unfair, but Great Start in 2009 Raising Eyebrows" got a response that the author never could have imagined.

On the whole, Chicago Cubs fans are a gentle bunch.

That willingness to boo that gives White Sox supporters a little extra bite? It just isn't our style.

That penchant for mass collective sarcasm that Yankees fans have perfected? Not our cup of tea.

Sure, once in a while, we have a "getting drunk and throwing garbage on the field" problem. And certain segments of the bleachers are reputed to have a bit of a racism problem.

Nick Blackburn (Minnesota Twins) at Athletics, RHP, 19 percent owned

Stat Potential: Win, ERA

Risk Factor: Moderate-High

The Twins were supposed to have one of the league's best rotations, top to bottom, going into this season. While Scott Baker struggled out of the gate, Francisco Liriano is simply struggling. Kevin Slowey has eight wins, but that's more a case of strong run support, as opposing hitters are batting a robust .317 against him this season.

With the Yankees current situation in Fenway getting worse, the Yankees are desperate for a win.

The Bombers, now are 0-6 against Boston, are looking for someone who can get the job done against the potent Red Sox offense.

They are just looking for a guy who won't let up a home run to Big Papi.