Preview/Prediction

Picking players in the first round is always a hot topic. And while your first round selections WILL NOT make your team, it is those players who are on the cusp of being first rounders that could significantly impact your team’s performance.

J.A. Happ is one of those players.

Last year Happ enjoyed a very promising season going 12-4 for "Dem Phightin Phils" while posting a 2.93 ERA.

When the Padres let Trevor Hoffman leave their organization after the 2008 season, many felt it was the end of the line for one of the game's great closers.

The Dodgers showed mild interest in Hoffman, and it made sense for him to sign with a team so close to his home. Add to that the fact he'd be able to pitch against his former team, and it seemed all but certain he would wear Dodger blue.

However, the Brewers made a late push for the future Hall of Famer. They needed a replacement for Salomon Torres after he suddenly retired following the 2008 season.

Los Angeles Angels (Last Season: 97-65)

The Angels have lost key players over the offseason such as John Lackey, Chone Figgins, and Vladimir Guerrero.

These are players that have contributed so much over the years towards the Angels’ success. Because of this, many might think that due to these players departing, the Angels will not be nearly as good as they have been over the past eight years. But for some reason, I’m thinking the opposite.

Brian McCann came into today's game against the Philadelphia Phillies batting .440 with two homers, and Tim Hudson entered his fifth spring start with a 1.93 ERA and a 13-1 K/BB ratio.

With Hudson facing the tough Philadelphia lineup and McCann batting against tough, young left-hander J.A. Happ, it would have been easy to expect those numbers to come back down to Earth.

All good things must come to an end— unless

For five months, Miguel Cabrera led the Tigers' charge for first place in the Central division.

MVP, MVP, MVP!

With a beastly average of .330 to support 33 home runs and 101 RBI, Cabrera embodied all that was good in Detroit.

He, the young-blooded Venezuelan, along with Justin Verlander and the upcoming phenom Rick Porcello, was among the successful faces of the 2009 season.

Ah, pure rejoicing—the playoffs seemed inevitable.

Deep breath, cross fingers.

The Yankees were in an unfamiliar spot on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. They had lost the first game of the World Series they night before, dropping a 6-1 decision in Game One. Yankee fans everywhere were frightened to see the Bronx Bombers down 0-1 to a team like the Philadelphia Phillies.

Like it's American League counterpart, the National League Central is considered to be much of a wide-open race. The one difference is they've got more of a legitimate favorite that could very well go deep into the playoffs.

The reason that they've got a favorite in St. Louis, yet can be considered wide-open is the pure fact that there is a lot of unknown for some teams. Even the Cardinals have their own questions.

These starting pitchers could have a hard time matching their 2009 production.

Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies
Blanton’s numbers are misleading. He had a solid ERA of 4.05, but gave up 30 HRs. If he’s giving up that many long balls, his peripherals will likely rise. Also, his strikeout total of 163 isn’t on par with he he’s done for the rest of his career.

Perhaps the most amusing topic of discussion this spring as position players fight for roster spots is a stipulation of Ronnie Belliard's agreement with the Dodgers and manager Joe Torre: Lose weight, gain a roster spot.

That's right. The Dodgers want Belliard—just not as much of him.

As the 2009 season came to a close, no one was more prominent of an influence in the Dodgers' playoff run than Ronnie Belliard.