Preview/Prediction

Prior to the 2009 season, Bobby Parnell knew that he was—by no means—guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster. Nevertheless, he worked hard and pitched very well in Spring Training, which him earned a spot on the 25-man roster.

His role with the team was supposed to be the seventh inning bridge to J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez , and for the first half of the year that's exactly what occurred.

When it comes down to numbers, right-handed pitchers have an easier go of it in Major League Baseball.

Only about one-quarter of all batters in the league hit left-handed, meaning right-handed pitchers can expect to have the platoon advantage over 75 percent of the hitters they face (removing the admittedly estimable impact of tactical maneuvering).

Lefties, however, always seem to garner the most attention when it comes time to construct or evaluate a team's pitching staff.

For Cubs fans, the Verducci effect is an old and familiar foe, even if they have never heard of it. First set forth by Sports Illustrated baseball guru Tom Verducci , the theory concerns escalating innings totals for young pitchers.

Question number one, what do the Dodgers have? Question two, what do they need? The questions are very simple to answer. The Dodgers have a flurry of young stars, Manny Ramirez, Gold Glovers, but no ace.

In order to play in the Fall Classic, it takes more than just one pitcher you are constantly counting on to deliver. You need that ace, that veteran, that mentor, the one who throw's a cutter that could cut you seven inches deep.

As much as I love baseball and miss the game this time of year, I get by fine this time of year thanks to hot stove mania. I'm always all over the web, checking out rumors, getting a grasp of what's going on.

I'm big on predictions too, seeing where everyone thinks free agents will end up. So I'll make some predictions of my own. Yes, I do realize that if I make 50 predictions, I'll be lucky if ten of them are correct.

Also, before you make any criticisms, keep in mind how difficult this is. Piecing this together, figuring out which players are compatible with which teams is no easy task.

Once a cheap team, always a cheap team.

The Florida Marlins have reportedly "reached an impasse ” with ace Josh Johnson regarding a proposed four-year contract extension.

If you're thinking, sure, the Toronto Blue Jays “can” contend in 2010, but they likely won't, well, you're probably right. The odds are much greater that the team finishes 2010 in last place than second place and in the playoffs.

Good management in any business or sports organization dictates that personnel are slotted in where they have the best chance to succeed.

The Boston Red Sox are considering acquiring a marquee first baseman.

The club is reportedly interested in San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera.

If either one is acquired in a trade, the Red Sox would move incumbent first baseman Kevin Youkilis to third base on a permanent basis.

Sound familiar?

It certainly does to Mike Lowell.

Garrett Atkins is a man without a job, yet he is still gainfully employed.

It may sound like the ultimate contradiction, but it’s merely a sign of the times in Major League Baseball.

Many teams are currently at a tipping point with overpriced, underperforming veterans.

The Chicago Cubs took the first concrete steps toward crystallizing their team in 2010 today, trading right-handed pitcher Aaron Heilman and re-signing would-be free agent John Grabow. 

Those steps were preliminary, though, and general manager Jim Hendry knows that in order to make more drastic and necessary changes, he must first resolve the single most dauntingly enigmatic question that faces Chicago during this offseason: To whom will Hendry send outfielder Milton Bradley?