Preview/Prediction

When fans think of the Boston Red Sox, many players quickly come to mind: Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester and new comers Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez are certainly some of them.

But no player has become a bigger icon and face of the Red Sox then the man known around baseball as Big Papi, David Ortiz.

The lead-up to Opening Day is a time for excitement. It's a time for optimism and hope. And it's a time for predictions.

Yes indeed, there are predictions.

Everyone and his mother has an opinion about which teams will make the playoffs and which will collapse, which players will rise to stardom and which will fade into obscurity. With so many people putting in their two cents, how can we keep it all straight?

Luckily, Bleacher Report's Featured Columnists are here to help with the first installment in our season-long series of FC Polls.

Casey McGehee is a player whose value could vary a great deal depending on who you talk to.

One thing is for sure, fantasy owners of Prince Fielder last year are certainly well aware of McGehee’s ability to scoop up base-runners and bring them home.  In 2010 Mcgehee drove in 104 runs while his more notable counterpart Fielder, had just 83.

Spring training is more than halfway in the books, and the final roster spots for the Opening Day of 2011 are still being determined by the Rays' staff.

Most of the open spots are in the bullpen, where several pitchers are still in the hunt for a spot on the roster, come April 1st. There are at least three spots up for grabs, with Adam Russell no longer a sure thing and J.P. Howell on the mend for the first month.

America's favorite pastime is almost here. Can you feel it? They can in Miami. 

I'm going to give you 10 reasons why you should watch the Florida Marlins this season.

Not only will they give the Phils a run for their money, but they could be a legitimate contender for the World Series title. Here we go!

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Jacob Turner, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers right-hander Jacob Turner, 20, is on a Porcello-like fast track to the big leagues.

However, with Phil Coke grasping a hammerlock on the fifth starter spot, Turner will begin 2011 in AA Erie. Nevertheless, the organization is infatuated with his top-of-the-rotation potential.

The Phillies come into this year as preseason favorites to reach their third World Series in the last four years, and with good reason.

Nine innings Blog will be bringing you previews of every Major League Baseball team for the next 30 days. This is in accordance with our 30 teams in 30 days series. Today, we will give you the 2011 preview of the Los Angeles Dodgers as they try to recapture prominence in the National League West division with a somewhat new look roster and a new manager in Don Mattingly.

Both the Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves are ranked highly among MLB organizations in regards to their minor league systems.

This season, both are likely to see their top prospects – namely Eric Hosmer for the Royals and Freddie Freeman for the Braves – have major breakthrough seasons.

Even though the Cincinnati Reds lacked key offseason acquisitions, General Manager Walt Jocketty believes they still have the players needed to win the National League Central Division for the second consecutive year.

The Reds have improved their wins in every year since manager Dusty Baker took over the team in 2008. Just like Bill Murray's character in What About Bob?, the Reds seem to move in "baby steps."