Opinion

As MLB Spring Training approaches, predictions are being thrown around like snowballs in winter.

For the Phillies organization, losing a big offensive star in Jayson Werth was met with the arrival of pitching ace Cliff Lee.

When the opportunity arose for me to make some wild predictions of my own for the upcoming season, I couldn’t resist.

The following slideshow is my five wild predictions for the 2011 MLB season pertaining to the Philadelphia Phillies.

By all accounts, Michael Young has been the ideal soldier for the Texas Rangers for 10 years. He has been asked to play second base, right field, shortstop, third base, and now designated hitter/first base/utility player.

He has suffered through ownership misfortunes, last-place teams, the heat of Texas, being third fiddle to the Cowboys and Mavericks, and at times fighting the Stars for that third slot.

For Philadelphia Phillies fans, February 12th cannot come soon enough; that's when pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater, Florida.

Expectations have never been higher in the entire 121 year history of Philadelphia professional baseball. Behind four of the top pitchers in the game in Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels and a lineup that features two former MVPs and perennial and potential all-stars.

Quite simply, Philadelphia is in "Baseball Heaven."

Michael Young has played his entire career with the Texas Rangers. He has put up some pretty impressive numbers during his career, averaging 17 HR, 87 RBI, a .300 BA and a .795 OPS. He has posted these numbers while switching positions twice already, and if he plays with the Rangers in 2011, he will once again switch positions.

With the football season concluding and baseball’s spring training merely a week away, it’s safe to say the offseason is winding down.

After one of the more active offseasons in recent history, let’s take a look at who prevailed at improving their team.

Baltimore Orioles

Without a doubt, the Orioles improved significantly this season. They ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every offensive category in 2010—hence their offseason approach.

The Giants are champions, wow, that never gets old.

The Giants are going to make another run at the title this year, but if things do not go according to plan by mid-season, we may see some movements by the trade deadline.

The following list does not necessarily mean that the Giants are looking to trade these guys, but they are the most vulnerable to become trade bait if things do not go according to plan.

Michael Young, the Rangers' long-time star infielder, has had just about enough of Texas.

The 34-year-old Young has recently stated that the Rangers have "misled and manipulated" him and he is now requesting a trade from Arlington.

So, where is the best option in my opinion?

The Minnesota Twins.

Like most people, as soon as the season ended, I made my free agent predictions for the top free agents from Cliff Lee, to Aubrey Huff.

My predictions are not wild, or bold, but were based on which teams needed key players, and which teams would retain some of these players.

Throughout the 2011 Off Season, we've seen big free agent acquisitions from teams we would never guess would be in the running, and some teams who seemed to have been hibernating through the Winter Meetings, and beyond that.

MLB Countdown Till Pitchers and Catchers Report: Five days.

The man that Philadelphia Phillies fans love to call “Chooch” has just turned 32, and has never been voted onto an all-star team or honored with a Gold Glove award.

Spring training is almost here.

The sights and sounds of baseball are soon to come, and the Giants are prepared to defend their title with much of the same formula as 2010.  Pablo Sandoval, however, was not a part of the 2010 formula.  To say 2010 was a "disappointment" for Sandoval is an understatement.