MLB

Spring training is by far one of the best times of the year.  If any of you have ever had the privilege to attend a spring training game, you have probably walked away feeling better about the game of baseball than when you arrived.

There is just something special about spring training.  Get to the park early in the morning, and watch the team go through their drills.  Mingling with the players, coaches, and fellow fans. 

Once the hits started, they never stopped as the Twins pounced on one of Tampa Bay's top pitchers, James Shields, for 12 hits and 11 runs in just over four innings of work. Scott Baker meanwhile allowed another homerun, but it was the only damage done.

Some keys to the victory...

** Scott Baker's line: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 K.

Finally, a pretty nice outing for the team's Opening Day starter who recently has struggled a bit. The stats are irrelevant however; Baker moved closer to being ready for April 6th and probably has one more start to finish up the spring.

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Hideki Matsui DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Xavier Nady RF
Cody Ransom 3B
Brett Gardner CF

Philly fans love Colbert Michael Hamels. The last two seasons, he has gone 29-15 with a 3.22 ERA. Those sound like numbers of a two-time All Star. However, I'm going to show you that Hamels deserves much better than that.

In an article I wrote recently, I listed the top 30 aces in all of baseball. One user claimed I put Hamels on the list because he won the World Series MVP. As a baseball fan and a huge Hamels fan, that comment irked me. Let me provide you some proof that Hamels really is better than his 29-15 record the last two years indicate. Let's take an inside look.

If you didn't catch the ESPN mini-series "The Bronx is Burning" in the summer of 2007, those of you who have MSG will get a second chance.

This is a list of the Top 10 Bulldogs to play "Between the Hedges" under Coach Mark Richt. As I'm sure there are many more great Bulldogs to come, this list is of those whose legacy has already engraved itself into the Georgia Football Hall of Fame.

Of course this list is up for debate so I hope any other suggestions people have will be voiced.

In my previous piece, I said I tend to gloss over outfielders. If that's true (and it is), I flat out ignore pitching. Those of you looking for sturdy analysis of more than just the super-elite starters and closers should look elsewhere because I'm just going to hit the aces of the aces.

In other words, these are not the previews you're looking for (with a wave of my hand).

It should hopefully be a fun read though...

THE PITCHERS

Each year, the AL Central has a new king. It could be the hardest division to predict in baseball. Maybe the Tigers will live up to last season's expectations that fell short, or maybe the White Sox will win back-to-back division titles. Whoever it may be, the race for the AL Central is always close, and makes for a good September.