MLB

Whenever I'm feeling particularly agitated, I turn to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Why you ask?  Because, as a die-hard San Francisco Giants' fan, I can spew venom all over the Bums and do so haphazardly with little or no repercussions.

That's the beauty of being in a blood-rivalry.

As long as I stay away from really crossing the line in a personal manner, especially with regards to Dodger fans, I feel confident that all will be forgiven if I'm wrong.

In the current economic slump, only the New York Yankees seem to be unfazed by it. A very cavalier off season for the Yankees saw them heap nine-figure contracts upon Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia. Throw in another 80+ million dollars for A.J. Burnett, plus the bloated contracts of Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, and the Yankees, again, will wear the crown for largest payroll in Major League Baseball.

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Let's just clear the air. I have NO issue with Daisuke Matsuzaka. I've been a member of Bleacher Report for a year, and it has been a very enjoyable experience. Whenever I hear someone say a player is overrated, at least one commenter says, "you're just a hater", and if a writer says a certain player is underrated, one commenter - at least - says, "you're just a homer." Let me get this straight to you - I have no problem with Daisuke Matsuzaka. He's a great pitcher. That shows in his 18-3 record and 2.90 ERA in 2008.

For those of you in keeper leagues, David Price was probably drafted last year. Tommy Hanson was probably the first minor league pitcher off the board this year. So if these guys are already gone this weekend, don’t worry.

Pick Madison Bumgarner.   

The key to a team's early season success is the production coming from all parts of their lineup. 

This doesn't mean just hitting. It means hitting, pitching, and fielding all together.

The Rockies are in a position they have never been in before this season. Every year since their inception into the MLB, they have had at least one big-name star anchoring their lineup.

Not this year.

With the trade of Matt Holliday to the Oakland A's, that star's presence left the franchise. 

A few months ago, I wrote a letter to Bud Selig as part of a class project. Here was the letter I sent:

Dear Mr. Selig:

It's easy to argue that the National League East has the most pitching depth of any division in baseball.

From two of the best individual pitchers in the game residing in Philly and New York to Atlanta's deep group, the East features a variety of staff designs and clearly outclasses the rest of MLB.

The real question is: Which of the five teams in the division is the best?

I will go in-depth to determine that which I believe to be the best.

Good: New York Mets

Grades

After a much self introspective and soul searching thought process, Bud Selig, MLB’s drug lord Commissioner, has stepped down today amidst baseballs' latest scandal concerning the discovery of Babe Ruth’s DNA, which showed every steroid known to man in his system.

The Minnesota Twins haven't been a quick study in recent years.

Under Manager Ron Gardenhire, the Twins are just three games over .500 in the first 25 games of each season since he took over in 2002.

Ironically, the Twins were under the .500 mark at that point of the season in three of the four years that they garnered division titles.

It goes to show you that baseball is a marathon, not a sprint.

And that the Minnesota Twins know how to make adjustments as the baseball season wears on.

The 2009 season is a little different.