MLB

Once upon a time, Will Ohman was considered to be one of the best relief pitchers on the free agent market.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman thought he had a market for his services.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman actually had a major league contract offer from the Atlanta Braves.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman thought he was in line for a huge contract similar to those given out to Jeremy Affeldt and Damaso Marte.

During the 2009 season, Luke Jones will present Nine Orioles Innings every Monday, sharing his thoughts on what’s happening with the Baltimore Orioles. It will feature a mix of serious analysis and the lighter side of Orioles baseball.

1. It’s hard to believe it was only two years ago that Jeremy Guthrie was an unknown heading to Baltimore on Opening Day 2007 as a long man in the Orioles bullpen. The Opening Day starter now represents the only safe bet in a rotation that is still deciding on the three starters to fill the back end.

As the baseball season inches closer and closer to the opening pitch many questions are swirling around.

How will A-Rod do? How will the Yankees do? Manny in LA? San Fran looking to make their first real charge since the Bonds’ days.

Many questions, and we’ll have to wait along time for answers.

So let’s speculate!

When you think of the best teams in the Major Leagues, people automatically think about the Yankees and Red Sox...rightfully so.

This is easily the best prediction for the NL Central I have encountered so far. Here is what he has for Houston and where each team will finish:

Houston Astros

With one week to go before the season begins, the Colorado Rockies are slowly but surely whittling their roster down to the final 25.

In a surprise move, newly-acquired Matt Murton was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs, along with hurting pitcher Greg Smtih. Smith getting sent down was no surprise, but Murton was a shock to many Rockies followers.

Murton was hitting over .300 for the spring and had seemed to be a sure bet to be a reserve outfielder on the opening day roster.

The fantasy baseball season is here upon us.  We sit Six days away from the first pitch of the regular season and draft boards are filling in everywhere.

Dewayne Wise is officially the Chicago White Sox opening day center fielder and leadoff man. This news is bittersweet to Jerry Owens, who has yet again failed to secure a job that was all but his for the second consecutive spring.

The hope was that Owens would be able to secure and add some much needed speed to the top of the lineup, but it has faded away with Owens being placed on waivers as of Monday.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels is officially out of consideration for opening night versus the Atlanta Braves.

After injuring his pitching elbow a few weeks ago, Philly "phans" were sure their ace was going to be good to go on Apr. 5.

However, after allowing 10 hits against the pride of Philadelphia's farm on Mar. 30 in four innings (he also walked one and Kd five), pitching coach Rich Dubie said the Philly Phenom's control just wasn't good enough for the season's first game.

(Sorry, Notre Dame fans, Baseball only)

With the Yankees opening a new stadium in a week, it only seems fitting that we count down the top photos taken at or about the House that Ruth built.

Yet, the question remains: How will my generation carry the great Yankees Stadium memories to our children?

Through pictures.

I have compiled a few pictures that really seem meaningful to Yankees Stadium.

Click next to see the first of ten.

Year after year, fans seem to really dig the long ball and completely forget about the players who will pitch almost half of the game, the bullpen.

The bullpen is home to some and a foot into the door (AKA starting rotation) to others. As for the 2010 Seattle Mariners, they have three stud closer prospects in the same bullpen.

If I remember correctly, the last team to have only two stud closers was the 1998 New York Yankees, and one wasn't even a prospect. They were John Wetteland and Mariano Rivera.