MLB

According to MLB.com, Mets manager Jerry Manuel is leaning toward batting Daniel Murphy second in the Mets lineup to begin the 2009 season.

Earlier this winter, Manuel hinted shortstop Jose Reyes might bat third.  While every indication shows that he is returning to the top of the lineup, I was beginning to warm to the idea that Reyes could provide speed in the middle of the order with guys like Wright, Delgado, and Beltran right behind him.

If Reyes was going to bat third, I would welcome with open arms the possibility of Murphy batting second.

Most of the New York Mets off season predicated on fixing the leaky bullpen responsible for pulling the plug on their season in 2008. 

They went out signed K-Rod and traded for J.J Putz.  Bullpen—check.

After that, the Mets stabilized the middle of their rotation by signing Oliver Perez, after being spurned by Derek Lowe. 

Middle of the rotation—check.

If you live in Tampa Bay and you are headed to a Rays game in April, David Price won't be there.

On Wednesday, in a move that really shocked me, David Price and four others were optioned to Triple-A Durham.

While the move didn't shock Price and others, I still wasn't expecting it, not after what he accomplished in the playoffs last year to help the Rays win the AL Championship.

Price said he "absolutely" believes Rays intended to send him down no matter how he pitched this spring and he wasn't surprised to be cut.

In the past two seasons, Cleveland Indians pitching coach Carl Willis has seen two of his pitchers win the Cy Young Award. CC Sabathia won it in 2007, and Cliff Lee won it in 2008.

So, can Willis work his magic a third time?

As of right now, the Indians have two contenders: Lee and Fausto Carmona.

It is unlikely that Cliff will repeat, but anything is possible.

Carmona, on the other hand, is a very good bet, and for many reasons.

So I was sitting in Science Class today and decided to do something different than what I usually do when I'm bored (Normally I sleep), I decided to start on my next B/R article.

Of course I had to first come up with a topic, but now you obviously know what I came up with: What team has the best pitching one-two punch in the majors?

I set up a "tournament" if you want to call it that and was eliminating the teams while all the other members at my table just kept on sleeping.

I posted the All-time teams for each Major League Baseball franchise in 2006 on my Sporting News blog.  Enough time has passed that there will be some changes. 

Since we’re dealing with over a century and thousands of players, I will assume the DH role for both leagues.  I will limit the teams to 25 players.  I’ll carry 13 batters and 12 pitchers for each team. 

With baseball season around the corner, what better time to take this journey?

Here's a suggestion.

To make room for players who truly belong in the Hall of Fame, like Bert Blyleven, Tommy John, and Andre Dawson, let's toss out the members who, unaccountably, inexplicably, mysteriously, achieved "immortality."

How's that for a neat piece of revisionist history?

No need for comparisons between players from different eras.

No need to adjust earned runs averages or batting averages.

No need to employ a laundry list of sabermetrics to quantify a player's worthiness.

Just employ a little common sense.

Please.

With only 11 days until the start of the regular season, Pedro Martinez still finds himself without a home.

Is he worried about it? No.

For the past month, Pedro has been linked in rumors to many clubs, including the Mets, Astros, Dodgers, Orioles, and Royals.

Pedro has already said that he won't chase the Mets and beg them for a contract deal.

On that note, the Mets seem content to let Pedro walk out the door.

Tim Lincecum is 5'11", 170 lbs. There were nine teams that passed on this 2008 Cy Young Award winner in the 2006 draft. Six selected bigger pitchers.

Lincecum has been called everything from “The Freak” to “The Franchise”. I like to call him “The Video Game” because his statistics are just so unreal (not to mention he’s the cover boy of MLB 2K9).