Rankings/List

Ryan Braun or Tommy Harper? Prince Fielder or Cecil Cooper? Power or speed? The past or the present?

It all points to one question with hundreds of possibilities: Which Brewer had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best-ever collection of stars.

They are calling it MLB 9s.

Over the years, the mascot has evolved immensely and their significance has been debated since their conceptions. From Mr. Red to the Klement's Racing Sausages, the mascot has always been a vital part of the sports experience. This list will examine and rank the cream of the crop, the ten best active mascots in Major League Baseball.

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The shortstop who stole 104 bases, the catcher who was a great Dodger long before he was a great Met, and the third baseman who may have had one of the best single offensive seasons in L.A. history.

Power or speed? The past or the present?

It all points to one question with hundreds of possibilities: Which Dodger had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League Baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best-ever collection of stars.

They are calling it MLB 9s.

2009 stats: 1.35 ERA, 53.1 IP, 42/4 K/BB, 0.675 WHIP at GCL (Rook)
Last year’s rank: Not ranked
Acquired: Sixth round selection of the Minnesota Twins in the 2008 draft

2009 stats: .271/.360/.454, 490 PA, 15 HR, 98/45 K/BB at New Britain (AA)
Last year’s rank: Not Ranked
Acquired: 34th round selection of the Minnesota Twins in the 2004 draft; 36th round selection of the Minnesota Twins in the 2005 draft

Orlando Cabrera or Jim Fregosi? Sandy Alomar or Adam Kennedy? Power or speed? The past or the present?

It all points to one question with hundreds of possibilities: Which Angel had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best-ever collection of stars.

They are calling it MLB 9s.

In the 49-year history of the franchise, the team has gone by the name of the Los Angeles Angels, California Angels, Anaheim Angels, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

This is a puzzle, so I will probably be wrong on nearly all of these, but let's do it just for fun.

1. Matt Holliday—Red Sox

The Red Sox have lots of money just like the Yankees, and they won't hesitate to offer Holliday a seven- or eight-year deal worth $100-150 million. The Yankees already have both Matsui and Damon and will re-sign one of them for sure, so they won't sign Holliday.

2. Jason Bay—Mets

It's late November, which means the NFL is in full swing, the college football season is coming down the home stretch, and all I can think about is baseball.

Don't get me wrong; I love football, but the Winter Meetings up ahead are getting me very excited.  However, after the meetings are over, it's back to Bowls, NFL Playoffs, and March Madness until baseball season begins again.  That isn't so bad.

Now that the decade of the 2000s has just ended, I thought it would be a good time to make a list of the best starting pitchers from this era.

Now keep in mind, this list is a list of the best careers, so far. Pedro Martinez is certainly and obviously the best starting pitcher from this era. However, he's NOT the best right now, as he's past his prime. This needs to be kept in mind while reading this list.

I recently took a written beating for saying that I thought Joe Mauer was helped greatly by being a catcher, in his recent naming as the American League's Most Valuable Player for 2009.

With that being said, is Mauer not only the best catcher in the game, is he also the best player in MLB? Let's not throw pitchers in this mix, I would like to be able to compare "apples with apples."