NL East

Jason Heyward started his Major League Baseball journey on Opening Day in 2010 with a home run on his first swing—at the age of 20.

He went on to have one of the better rookie years in recent memory, including ending up with the fourth highest on-base percentage (.393) in the National League.

I know, I know.  You must think I'm crazy.  Maybe I am.  But there's no question that, for the first time in a long, long while, there's legitimate excitement about the future of baseball in Washington, D.C.

Am I jumping the gun a little bit?  Maybe.  Could I be falling for the hype and headed for inevitable disappointment?  It's possible.  But maybe I'm right.

Everyone knows by now that New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has a huge team option for 2012. It's worth $17.5 million and only becomes guaranteed if Rodriguez finishes 55 games this season and is declared healthy by doctors in the offseason.

Now, that may have not sounded like a big deal prior to last season and was most likely a given when he first signed on, but times have changed.

With the Mets' 50th season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to look back on the 10 most memorable seasons in Mets history.

The Mets have represented National League baseball in New York since 1962 and although the history of another New York team in the Bronx may be considerably most prestigious overall, the Mets have had their fair share of dominant years, culminating with four National League pennants and two World Series championships so far.

Possibly the most competitive conference in the National League, the NL East brings excitement to the game year-in and year-out.

In 2010, both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves earned a trip to the playoffs, while the New York Mets, Florida Marlins and Washington Nationals were left to stay home and improve their short games on the golf course.

The National League East looks to be an exciting race to the finish. From the historical rotation setting up shop in Philadelphia, to a promising offense in Atlanta, the race for the NL East crown will be as interesting as ever. This is a list of the projected starters at each position and the best players at each position.  

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Last week we reviewed the sleeper that is Ryan Raburn (here).

A potentially new-and-improved Ross Detwiler took the mound in Viera, Florida yesterday and pitched two scoreless innings against the New York Mets. He allowed just two weak singles, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

For as long as most of us can remember, the Dallas Cowboys have been America's Team. 

A lot of that has to do with the teams locale, the dearth of professional teams that existed in America's heartland when the 'Boys broke onto the expansion scene in 1960.

Prior to the start of the 2009 season, the Yankees made a huge splash in free-agency by landing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. They won 103 games and the World Series. Looking back, the Sabathia signing sent shock waves, but nothing like the Cliff Lee spectacle this past offseason.

The Phillies won a MLB high 97 games a year ago, and it was a down year. Players were falling down like flies, and many fans were doubting if the team could even make the postseason. During the summer, the Braves held a large lead in the NL East.