MLB

On Tuesday, Chicago Cubs' Manager Lou Piniella stated what most fans already knew: there were a couple veteran pitcher in jeopardy of losing their bullpen jobs to talented youngsters.

Chad Gaudin and Luis Vizcaino, both acquired in trades in the last 12 months, are on the bubble right now.

Gaudin, who came with Rich Harden in a trade deadline deal with Oakland last year, has struggled all spring. Vizcaino, who was acquired in what was widely regarded as a salary dump of starter Jason Marquis, has been less than impressive as well.

Opening Day is fast approaching and this is the time all the MLB writers throw out their previews and predictions. So why not me?

In the following article, use the If...Then conditional statement and apply it to all teams if they fail to make it to the postseason.

In other words: "If the [insert team here] don't make the playoffs..."

American League

Tamba Bay Rays: ...then we'll go back to believing baseball can't thrive in Florida.

Tom Browning, one of only 17 major-league pitchers to throw an official perfect game, was arrested on Friday and was being held on $99,008.36 bail, a figure equal to the amount he owes. He was still in jail as of Monday night, according to media reports.

In 12 years in the majors, Browning went 123-90 with a 3.94 ERA. He threw his perfect game on Sept. 16, 1988, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 in Cincinnati.

April 6, 2009.  A day marked on my calendar since November.  And while some will be celebrating National Caramel Popcorn Day, or observing the anniversary of the first modern Olympics, an unofficial holiday takes place that you won't find on your calendar.  I speak, of course, of opening day—the most wonderful day of the year.

We have entered the Twilight Zone of spring training.

This is the time where most of the players still getting time on the fields are just looking not to get injured before the season starts while still getting enough work in to earn their paychecks when the games finally start to matter.

Since we have arrived at this most agonizing of hours when Opening Day can be seen on the horizon, but five days still await the first pitch, it's about time for an official, dyn-o-mite 2009 preview of yours, mine, and our Colorado Rockies.

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Note: The lineups and rotation order are done by my discretion. The projected lineups are done the way I would have them if I was the team's manager.

ATLANTA BRAVES

LINEUP

1. Kelly Johnson 2B .287 12 HR 69 RBI

2. Yunel Escobar SS .288 10 HR 60 RBI

3. Chipper Jones 3B .364 22 HR 75 RBI

4. Brian McCann C .301 23 HR 87 RBI

5. Casey Kotchman 1B .272 14 HR 74 RBI

6. Garret Anderson LF .293 15 HR 84 RBI

7. Jeff Francoeur RF .239 11 HR 71 RBI

8. Gregor Blanco CF .251 1 HR 38 RBI

9. PITCHER

Chipper Jones has reached agreement on a contract extension with the Atlanta Braves. The extension is said to be worth $42 million over three seasons, with an option for a fourth year at an additional $19 million.

On Tuesday, March 31, the Phillies parted ways with veteran outfielder Geoff Jenkins, an underproducing hitter who wasn't worth the eight million dollars he commanded in 2008.

The Atlanta Braves just made their smartest move since Frank Wren was hired as General Manager. They signed their star third baseman, Chipper Jones, through 2012 for $42 million.

The 36 (nearly 37) year old third baseman has been the heart and soul of the Atlanta Braves organization for over 10 years, and it seems that it will stay that way until he decides to call it quits.