Fan News

"Do you miss me now?"

I can't help but imagine that Alex Rodriguez is out there somewhere, saying that very thing with a wry smile on his face. He has to know that the New York Yankees are going through some hard times. This has cast a new light on his road back from a January hip operation.

The Yankees suddenly have a strong need for A-Rod.

Matt Harvey had the game of his life for seven innings on Tuesday. His 13-strikeout performance inches him closer to being the best in the National League.

The New York Mets ace threw seven frames, giving up three hits and three runs as New York beat the Atlanta Braves, 4-3.

There are hardly two more storied franchises in all of sports history than the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. That history was on full display during a heated skirmish on Twitter.

That’s nasty.

Really, there is nothing more satisfying than watching sluggers leave the batter’s box completely flummoxed and mystified by what they just saw.  In a sense, fans and hitters alike are shaking their heads in bewilderment.

These few pitchers have that one amazing pitch that can render a big league batter completely hopeless at the plate.    

For most of baseball history, the No. 1 spot in the lineup was reserved for the speediest, and therefore often the smallest, player on the team.

Vince Coleman, Maury Wills, Tim Raines, Lou Brock, Kenny Lofton and the immortal Rickey Henderson, each of whom checked in at less than six feet tall and less than 185 pounds, turned the position into a cliche that forced teams to overlook important statistics like on-base percentage and one's ability to hit with no one on base.

Today, the leadoff position is a different ballgame.

Due to the amount of attention paid to each organization's top prospects and early-round draft picks, many of the game's underrated prospects are perpetually obscured. Most of the time, these prospects are younger players who are housed in the low minors and still require considerable physical projection. At the same time, there are countless prospects on the older side of the age curve who have dipped off the radar due to injury.

Here's a look at one "hidden gem" from each organization who could make a push for the major leagues in the coming years.

The New York Mets (27-40) and Atlanta Braves (42-30) swept a doubleheader Tuesday, winning the nightcap 6-1.

The Mets called up Zack Wheeler (1-0) to make his major league debut. He threw 55 strikes on 102 pitches in six innings, with four hits, five walks and seven strikeouts. Most importantly though, he didn't allow a run. Paul Maholm (7-6) took the loss for the Braves, allowing two runs in seven innings pitched.

It may be a while before the New York Yankees receive any contributions from third baseman Kevin Youkilis.

New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira is headed back to the disabled list with the same injury to his wrist. Is it time for him to shut it down for the year?

Mark Teixeira is going on DL. No surprise. Yankees bringing back RHP Adam Warren. Heard OF Zoilo Almonte could be added too.

In my mind, Chris Parmelee is like a baby Trevor Plouffe. This is confusing, of course, because the latter is occasionally referred to as Babe Plouffe due to his ability to hit the long ball (and because of his Ryan Gosling looks). Plouffe, by the way, is a baby Josh Willingham. All three players are selective with what pitches they hit, occasionally get beaned and are power hitters at heart.