Rankings/List

Spring training is just around the corner and with it comes all the expectations of a fresh start for all 30 MLB teams. Right now every team is full of optimism, believing that they have a chance to compete if one or two things work out right.

Next year will be a great season for baseball.

This past year presented Atlanta Braves fans with plenty of moments to relish.

This was the first time the Braves had reached the playoffs since 2005 and was the final season for venerable manager Bobby Cox.

But, I'm staying away from those topics for this slideshow.

Instead, I'm focusing on singular moments over the course of the calendar year that Braves fans will be talking about for years to come rather than events that involved a culmination of years/months of dedicated work to draw their fanfare.

This off-season has already seen the three biggest free agents switch teams for the lure of a nine-figure contract, and two of the biggest names in the game traded to title contenders.

As more and more free agents agree to terms, we begin to see a clearer picture of what to expect next season.

Pitchers and catchers will begin reporting in less than two months and opening day is just over three months away.

With next season rapidly approaching, let’s take a moment to stare into my crystal ball and examine 50 bold predictions for the upcoming year.

The 2010 MLB postseason has hit it's stride and players are being snatched up like sugar-free doughnuts at a weight watchers meeting.

Many teams look to be left in the dust, I'm looking at you New York teams, and have done little this post-season to improve their teams from a year ago.

They have missed the boat, as they say, and are more or less treading water at this point, signing bench guys and stretching for bullpen help, but gaining no greatly effective players in the process.

With the hot stove season already past its boiling point and the beginning of spring training less than eight weeks away, many teams across Major League Baseball continue to dot their I's and cross their T's while preparing for the long season ahead.

Buried deep within the trade rumors and the free-agent market are the teams' farm systems, and for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the next generation of future stars is both extremely talented and very exciting.

After getting spurned by top free agents from Cliff Lee to Carl Crawford and failing to make a trade for an impact arm such as Zack Greinke, the New York Yankees currently sit as a team that is certainly no better than last year's version, and may be even worse.

If the Yankees cannot entice longtime great Andy Pettitte out of retirement, the rotation could feature multiple minor leaguers and castaways.

MLB trade rumors are still circulating and teams are not done wheeling and dealing.

Teams that missed out on the big free agents and hot trade targets will still be looking to reload.

Whether that means they have to give up a number of hot prospects in a trade, or give a player a contract above his market value in order to steal him away from suitors, which teams are ready to gamble in order to improve their outlook for the upcoming season?

We've been looking at free-agents and trade scenarios ad nauseam for a month now. Let's see if we can focus our attention on something else. We can do it if we try. Take a deep breath.

Now answer this question. Besides trades and free-agency, where can you find other players to help your team win? If you answered the minor league system, you win! Something? No not really. I just wanted to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you didn't answer the minor leagues, go learn to play cricket and don't bother me.

The New Year is quickly approaching, and as baseball fans pour over the latest Hot Stove news, now is as good a time as any to look back at the 2010 season.

From a bevy of great pitching performances, to an unlikely home run king, to the Giants improbable World Series run, the 2010 season was a memorable one.

So here are the top 50 players from the 2010 season, from the subjective view of one sports writer. I welcome you to inform me where you disagree with my rankings, as this is certainly up for debate.

In Major League Baseball, there are many great and legendary players.  However, for every Hank Aaron, there are at least three Dontrelle Willises.  We included overpaid players, inept general managers, no-show fans and senile executives.  

Neither Dontrelle Willis nor the Montreal Expos made the list, but here are 10 of the biggest jokes in the sport today.

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