Rankings/List

When you think of MLB first basemen, what comes to mind?

POWER

You think of big, burly guys like Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols.

First basemen are usually the largest guys on the field, towering over the infielders and umpires. And with that size often comes an impressive swing.

More so than any other position, it is expected that first basemen will hit for average, drive in runs and hit home runs.

A lot of home runs.

Hype is a dangerous thing.

Nothing good comes from it. Few players in modern sports ever live up to the hype that the media circus can create. Out of these unjust expectations, disappointment looms large.

Cubs fans know a lot about the hype process. All of the "This is the Year!" signs cast aside on the streets of Wrigleyville will vouch for this.

2011 is going to be an interesting year for the New York Mets. They definitely have talent in the lineup and potential on the mound, but who knows what's going to happen with this team. They seem to build us up every year only to let us down. But, unlike a lot of people that I'm seeing on this site, I'm going to keep having faith in this team. The grades in this article are not based on the players' 2010 seasons, but on the players themselves looking forward to 2011. Here's a look at the 2011 roster.

Detroit Tigers superstar Miguel Cabrera was arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of DUI and other details involving a rough handcuffing.

He has had a tough time in the majors, as he was brought up as a very young immature boy, and has now seemingly spiraled out of control. All one can do is hope for the best for this dynamic talent, but the events of the last few years scream out for serious help.

Cabrera is not the first or the last player who has been an issue for their respective teams, and every franchise has their "uncontrollable" historical headache.

Baseball fans rejoice; Spring Training started yesterday and the regular season is just a month and a half away.

With the season rapidly approaching, the closer situation of each team is becoming clearer. As one of the most important roles on a baseball team, a closer can be the difference between a good team and a championship one.

Interested to see which teams have shaky and stable closer situations? Read on.

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Thirty-one-year-old Albert Pujols has already racked up 10 seasons of hitting over .310 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI, and has never finished outside the top nine in MVP voting.

A free agent after this season, the St. Louis Cardinals are desperately trying to keep the slugger, but they are reluctant to pay anywhere near the $300 million over 10 years Pujols is reportedly asking for. 

Albert Pujols is the best first baseman in the MLB.  He may even be the best of all-time, but as Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals tried to reach a contract extension before spring training, Pujols made it evident that he wants more money, and he's not scared to test the free agent market.

Everyone is familiar with the many adages that illustrate just how important having good pitching is. I'll spare you the cliches, but if you don't have a successful pitching staff, all the offense in the world doesn't matter.

There are still several rotation spots up for grabs in spring training, so what follows is a rough estimate of what each rotation will look like (although I have included possible alternates and have factored them into my rankings).

With that in mind, it's time to rank all the rotations in Major League Baseball, from 30 to 1.

America's pastime has seen a number of great ballplayers and incredible games. The game has been full of extraordinary events, but it's also had its odd moments. Players have been quoted as saying some crazy things throughout the course of MLB history. 

With that said, here's a list of the 25 strangest quotes in league history. 

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Johan Santana announced today that he may not pitch at all during the 2011 baseball season.

Santana was once one of the most sought-after pitchers in the entire Major Leagues and signed with the New York Mets as one of the most highly regarded players in all of baseball.

Drawing huge contract offers and loads of media praise, Santana looked destined to become one of the best left-handed pitchers of all time.