Preview/Prediction

After stealing away game one and the rest of the four game set from the Tampa Bay Rays, the Indians are heading into another four game set. This time, it's against the red-hot New York Yankees.

The Indians are riding a four game winning streak into Progressive Field on Friday night, and look to continue winning against the Yankees.

The Yankees are winners of ten of their last thirteen games. They are looking to continue their good fortune, as they look to move into first place in the AL East.

In 2003, just a year and a half removed from being drafted 25th overall out of Long Beach State University, Bobby Crosby stormed into the majors and won the American League Rookie of the Year award. 

There are rumors that the Atlanta Braves are shopping right fielder Jeff Francoeur.

The Boston Red Sox may be looking for a replacement for J.D. Drew, a former Atlanta Brave and Georgia native.

The loss of Frenchy, as his teammates and fans affectionately call Francoeur, would be severe.

Francoeur grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta and is one of the most popular Braves on the team. He played with and against Braves catcher Brian McCann on several Little League teams and the two are close friends.

Randy Johnson was—and I stress was—one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. He could become the last 300-game winner for a very, very long time in the very, very near future.

And when you consider the circumstances, he certainly appears to deserve a lot better. But when you look deeper, there’s perhaps no more perfect scenario for him to hit that milestone than his first chance.

Professional sports are full of underrated guys who never see the credit that they deserve.

We have seen it year in and year out, in every sport. But to me, baseball is the leading sport for guys who are underrated, and never receive credit.

Here's my list of the top 10 underrated players in the major leagues today, the non pitcher addition. The guys I have on this list deserve more than enough credit for their stellar play over their careers, and in the young 2009 season.

You may not agree with some of my choices, and that's fine.

Peoria's got something cooking that might look nice at Wrigley some time soon.

The Chiefs have a young, not-yet 20-year-old kid at third base that was named the Midwest League Offensive Player of the Week last week and his knocking the cover off the ball.

Josh Vitters, the Cubs' top draft pick in 2007, is dominating Double-A ball right now, living up to his billing as the top prospect in the Cubs' organization.

I analyze Gil Meche starts as much, maybe more than starts by Zack Greinke.  Gil Meche is my favorite Royal right now and let me tell you, whoever that was wearing his jersey yesterday was NOT Gil Meche.

Actually, it was Gil Meche, but not the Gil Meche we have known for the past two seasons.  It strikes me that Meche is simply out of sync: kind of like you get on a bad day on the golf course.  You know your swing is wrong, but you can't get it fixed. 

Brett Wallace, the 13th overall pick in the 2008 First Year Player Draft, is already at Triple-A Memphis. For being a 2008 draft pick, being at Triple-A (or even Double-A for that matter) is unbelievable. Off the top of my head, I can think of only Andrew Miller and Ryan Zimmerman that made it that far in a shorter amount of time.

The Cincinnati Reds really haven't been very good for a while now.

They seem like a franchise that is always rebuilding, yet never contending. A perennial cellar-dweller in one of baseball's most competitive divisions.

But fans in Cincinnati are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. A young lineup core with Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are one of the most under-rated trio's in the major leagues.

Johnny Cueto and Edison Volquez are brilliant young studs that can anchor a rotation for years to come.