Opinion

The countdown to one of the most anticipated seasons in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies began this past week when pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater.  There hasn't been this much excitement surrounding the Phillies in a very long time, if ever, and for good reason.

Angels right-hander Matt Palmer feels like a new man after undergoing successful knee surgery last October. 

Palmer was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2002, and started his career by having a 1.83 ERA while with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He spent three years in Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A Fresno in 2006. 

Palmer was called up by the Giants in August 2008, and after making three starts was sent back down to Triple-A. 

Neil Walker. Jose Tabata. Pedro Alvarez.

Three names Pittsburgh Pirates fans have probably been familiar with for the years leading up to their major league debuts in 2010. 

Whether it has been through trade or by evaluating talent and drafting the appropriate player, the Pirates have amassed some talent once again in their farm system. 

While some prospects are multiple years away from making an impact at the major-league level; others are primed to make their names known to the fans at PNC Park and around the city of Pittsburgh.

For the first time in 17 years Andy Pettitte won't be putting on pinstripes (he even wore pinstripes during his Houston stint).

Pettitte suited up for the Bronx Bombers in 13 of his 16 seasons in the big leagues. In his career he amassed 240 wins and 138 losses (Yankee record: 203-112). Pettitte is third all time in career wins in the Yankees organization.

The 2011 baseball season is right around the corner, and people are beginning to make their predictions.  Predictions are fun to do, but they mean very little.  The San Francisco Giants won the World Series last season, and very little people had the Giants winning it all.

With spring training in full swing, all 30 MLB clubs are getting a good look at the talent they have assembled.  Some will be mostly satisfied with what they have.  Other teams will still be on the lookout for big improvements.

As spring training rolls on and into the regular season, many ball clubs will experience player injuries or find they have needs somewhere they did not expect.  As a result, the trade wheels continues to spin.

Last week, centerfielder Jim Edmonds announced his retirement after a 17-year career centered mainly around the Angels and the Cardinals.

Within hours of Miguel Cabrera’s DUI, the events that transpired had been posted by literally every major news outlet. 

I am by no means claiming to know what demons Cabrera is facing or the reasoning that led to what happened that night. 

Tiger Woods has nothing on Harry Stamper. Nothing at all.

Could Tiger drive golf balls at oil-rig protesters with the same authority as the iconic hero of the movie “Armageddon?”

Could he take down a Texas-sized asteroid before it pulverized life as we know it on Planet Blue? Could he go that long in outer space without female companionship?

A year ago, I wrote a fantasy baseball draft strategy post to end all fantasy baseball draft strategy posts.

Since the first day they arrived in town, the Washington Nationals promised that restocking the team's depleted farm system would be their top priority.

And since that first draft back in 2005, the team has been stocking their farm system with talented young pitchers. Then general manager Jim Bowden said that was the way to do it.