Preview/Prediction

As the title suggests, there's rampant optimism among Red Sox fans after this winter's acquisitions. The club traded for Adrian Gonzalez, a highly-prized first baseman whom the Boston brain trust has coveted for years. That grab was followed by the signing of Carl Crawford, the former Tampa left fielder who was the top free agent available this offseason.

There’s no place to go but up. That’s the good news for the Seattle Mariners. Things can’t get any worse than they were in 2010, a season in which the Mariners bottomed out completely. Aside from Felix Hernandez winning the Cy Young Award and Ichiro Suzuki setting a new standard with his 10th straight 200-hit season, this team was a disaster. The Mariners were beyond inept offensively, and there’s every chance they’ll be just as miserable in 2011.

It is now time for spring training to get started. In Surprise, Arizona, the Texas Rangers are getting set to defend their American League championship.

As the players start making their way to Arizona this week, there are five burning questions surrounding the Rangers. They will be vital to the team's success in this 2011 season.

No. 1: Will the Rangers recover from the losses they sustained on the field?

No. 2: Can the Rangers pitching staff be successful?

No. 3: What about the Michael Young situation?

Almost every season, we see a team, including the players on it, that seem to surprise everyone.

Teams often get counted out too early, and throughout the season, show why everyone was wrong. Prospects come up, young players form into quality producers, and sometimes, players are acquired.

The most recent example would be the San Diego Padres, who were projected to finish fifth in the NL West by most people, despite the quality pitching they had.

It was 60 degrees in DC Monday, and on Tuesday Washington Nationals pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training.

It’s official: Baseball’s back.

Earlier in the offseason, rumors arose that the Philadelphia Phillies would sign free agent starting pitcher John Maine.

At age 29, Maine was non-tendered by the New York Mets after spending the last four seasons there; however, he pitched in only 24 games in the last two seasons due to shoulder surgeries and issues resulting from them.

For major league pitchers, 20 wins has always been the benchmark of an exceptional MLB season and to some extent, a career. 

In fact, almost every one of the 51 pitchers in the Hall of Fame won 20 games in a season at least once in their career—relief pitchers excluded.

After a 2009 season in which no pitcher won more than 19 games, three pitchers were able to reach 20 wins in the 2010 MLB Season - Roy Halladay (21), CC Sabathia (21) and Adam Wainwright (20). 

Today's agenda takes us to the NL West, where I will take a look at what the reigning World Series champs will have to do in order to repeat their playoff push, and what some of the other teams will do that may surprise us.  It's day two of our trip around Major League Baseball, and there are some big predictions that come with today's teams.

Word out of St. Louis today is that the Cardinals and Albert Pujols have ended talks on a contract extension.

This means that the slugger will become a free agent following the upcoming MLB season.

Teams should be chomping at the bit to potentially lure one of the best players in the game to their city.  Expect some huge deals to be throw nhis way following 2011.

But where will Pujols land? Which teams can we see him playing for? Check inside to find out.

Entering Spring Training, the Atlanta Braves only have a few questions surrounding the depth of their team, something manager Fredi Gonzalez will surely keep an eye on throughout February and March.

Over the course of the next month, Gonzalez will decide on the club's fifth starter — likely Mike Minor — and also evaluate the team's relievers, as they are looking for someone to occupy the final bullpen spot.