Opinion

Let's make this clear right off the bat before some of you start popping off a hate filled comment aimed in my direction, stick needles in a doll with my name on it or chant some ancient curse on me based simply on the title of this column (If I wake up tomorrow with blue hair on my tongue I will know it was one of you)...

On this date in 1934, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Casey Stengel to a two-year deal to be their manager.

Today, 77 years later, Terry Collins will look to the example set by Stengel in running a baseball team. Though they Mets were downright terrible during Stengel's tenure, the fire and energy he brought as the first Mets manager rang true with the players.

The 2010 season probably doesn't rank very high on the list of great seasons in Mets history. The Mets finished the season 79-83, fourth in the NL East, with their ace, Johan Santana, on the disabled list.

There weren't many bright spots last season.

After yet another disappointing season, Mets fans have been clinging to the warm memories or R.A. Dickey and his 2.84 ERA, Angel Pagan's eye-opening season and Ike Davis and his 19 home runs.

Miguel Cabrera was arrested last week and charged with suspicion of DUI and resisting officers without violence.  This is not the first time Cabrera has had an incident related to alcohol use.  The way the Tigers and MLB are handling the situation, it may not be the last. One thing is certain, Cabrera needs help.

Jose Reyes is one of the best shortstops in the game today, and teams around the majors should seriously consider trading top prospects for him.

The reason is quite simple, and I will get more in depth with the reasoning behind this in the later slides.

Off the top, the shortstop position in the majors is relatively weak and Reyes is one of the best there is, both in the field and at the plate.

Reyes has the ability to be a great leadoff hitter and he is also a threat on the bases as well. In the field, Reyes is also a solid defender at the shortstop position.

I am uncertain what precise role it is that Hank Steinbrenner plays in the Evil Empire that is the New York Yankees, but I'm led to believe his duties are skill-free and singular in scope—be the blowhard son of George.

Or Boss Lite, if you will.

Hank is, of course, eminently qualified to perform this function because he is, in fact, papa George's boy, and he's doing a boffo job of being Boss Lite.

It's that time of year again.  The time of year when you hear all the lines from players and managers about how good they can be this year, no matter what past history says.  You know, the "everybody starts out with the same record" or the always clever "we had a lot of injuries last year" excuse.

The New York Yankees are never short of drama, and at the start of spring training, ace CC Sabathia became the latest headline.

After finishing the 2008 season without making the playoffs, the Yankees went on an offseason spending spree. The team’s biggest purchase was ace Sabathia, who inked a monster contract worth $152 million to keep him in pinstripes for seven seasons.

The Phillies staff this year—if they play the way sports commentators and analysts predict they will—will be great. I am not knocking on their 2011 pitching rotation. They have Roy Halladay (two Cy Young Awards), Cliff Lee (one Cy Young Award), Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels as their projected 1-2-3-4 starters.

If one of them does not win they Cy Young Award this year, then I will be shocked. They should be able to win many games and help the Phillies make the playoffs. 

Earlier this week, it was reported that Travis Snider has sustained a rib-cage injury which has prevented him from participating in baseball-related activities.   

Blue Jays fans have been left wondering if he will be ready for the start of the season, especially as he often seems to be taking two steps forward but then one step back.