Opinion

Major League Baseball has reached a point where seeing a no-hitter is as special as seeing a team score a run. 

Watching six Seattle Mariners pitchers combine to hold the Los Angeles Dodgers to no hits and three walks on Friday night, I was reminded of the late 1990s, when we would see hitters make the most impossible things look elementary. 

It comes as no surprise that a number of teams are thought to have submitted their initial bids to free-agent Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler's agents this past Thursday. Next to fellow Cuban Yoenis Cespedes and Japanese phenom Yu Darvish, Soler was the most talked-about international player this past winter.

Voting for the 2012 All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City is under way, with the first results being released this past Tuesday.

One name missing from the ballot is Bryce Harper's, and many are probably wondering the same thing I am—does he deserve to partake in the weekend's events?

Let's just take a look at his numbers.

Whenever an athlete is playing on the last year of his or her contract, it is crucial to have a good season in order to parlay that success into a long-term deal.

No matter a player's age, if he shows he can perform at a substantial level, he will greatly enhance his chances of a long-term deal.

Every free-agent class has its top-tier players, but for every good player that maintains their previous levels of excellence, such as Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke, there are guys who do not perform as well when the money is on the line. 

The Philadelphia Phillies need reinforcements, and it seems as if they are going to start looking for bullpen help.

According to Jim Salisbury at Comcast Sports Network, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel "hinted" at looking for bullpen help.

However, the Phillies are struggling right now, and you have to wonder if the bullpen is really the biggest problem.

While the baseball card industry has seen its share of ups and downs since the days of overproduction, the same has been kind to the New York Yankees.

For a big-market team with a rich history and tradition of victory, cardboard boasting ballplayers donned in pinstripes can fetch a pretty penny.   

In this slideshow, I will highlight seven rookie cards of active Yankees players that fans and collectors should invest in now before prices skyrocket.

Watching your favorite team get no-hit in person on the road is one of the weirdest feelings in the world.

At some point do you start rooting for a no-hitter? Are you required to remain loyal even in the face of history?

Regardless of what was going through my mind and heart, however, nothing would change what was going on at Safeco Field on Friday night.

Pirates Prospects became the first major media outlet to update its top prospect rankings, reflecting both early-season performance and the results of this week's entry draft. My take on key developments on the farm over the first two months of the season is below.

Huntington Holds a Set of Aces

The Boston Red Sox carried last year’s horrendous momentum into the first month of 2012. The team was struggling for the most part due to their pitching and untimely hitting, and new manager Bobby Valentine was receiving most of the blame.

As of late, the Red Sox have been playing up to their potential. The team has started to put things together especially on the offensive end, but are still just a game over .500.

Sure, the non-waiver trade deadline is just about two months away. That doesn't mean the Boston Red Sox are not kicking the tires on some starting pitchers.

Their competition is, that's for sure.

The American League East division is a rat race right now. Only three games separate the first place Tampa Bay Rays and fifth place Boston Red Sox. Every team has their own respective strengths. (Interestingly enough, all are different.)