Preview/Prediction

For some players, the idea of playing in a big city like New York, Boston or Philadelphia is appealing. The connection with the a team's fanbase is something that certain players thrive on.

Derek Jeter, for instance, has lived under the scrutiny of playing for the New York Yankees for his entire career. He's endured slumps, streaks, peaks and valleys. But he never buckled under the pressure and is still playing admirably today.

Even though we are just a few weeks into the season, it is not too early to begin thinking about the trade deadline. It seems as if every team is always looking for starting pitching help.

This year, it is possible that there will be some big-name pitchers on the move.

Each of these guys are ones that could help a team win a playoff series or help bring them to the playoffs.

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So your draft really wasn't as good as you thought it was when you walked out of the war room? Here are some names that can help you save face.

Jed Lowrie, SS/2B Boston Red Sox (64 percent owned in Yahoo, 82 percent ESPN)

Current Stat Line – .432 AVG / 10 R / 3 HR / 12 RBI / 0 SB

The youngest starting rotation in baseball is getting one of its senior citizens back tomorrow when 26-year-old Brandon Morrow returns for the Toronto Blue Jays' matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays.

His return from the disabled list could not come at a better time.

The New York Mets are only 6-13 on this young season, but the possibilities of a mid-season fire sale are quickly becoming a reality if the team continues playing uninspired baseball.

Honestly, the worst thing that could happen to the 2011 Mets is they play bottom-of-the-barrel baseball, and when the July trade deadline comes around, GM Sandy Alderson plays no favorites and puts a majority of the team on the trading block.

With news that the Los Angeles Angels have designated Brandon Wood for assignment earlier this week, the rumors regarding possible trade destinations have started to emerge.

According to John Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, Toronto could be a potential landing spot.

"The Toronto Blue Jays expressed interest in trading for infielder Brandon Wood as recently as this offseason, sources say.

Tim Lincecum has already etched his name in Giants history. His is the stuff of legend, and he's only in his fifth major league season.

The Giants right-hander won back-to-back National League Cy Young awards in his first two seasons, becoming the only pitcher in major league history to accomplish that feat.

He led all of baseball in strikeouts in each of his first three full big-league seasons.

Before I get into the notes for today, a quick tangent/tirade.

The idea of adding any more games to the playoffs in baseball through an additional round is ridiculous. This is not my being a purist. I have come to accept that the Wildcard works. The games though keep being played in colder and colder weather.

One look at the AL Central division standings has a lot of people scratching their heads.

The order is almost the exact opposite from the end of 2010.

There are only two things still the same—Cleveland is about two games better than Kansas City and the Detroit Tigers find themselves in the middle of the division. 

It took all of last season and the first few days of this one for it to happen, but the LA Angels are finally back in contention. 

Too early, you say? We're only a handful of games into the season?

Well, it was obvious last year after only a couple of games that the team was DOA.

The reason for the turnaround is simple: talent.