When compared to Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, George Sisler, Hank Greenberg, and Bill Terry, Fred McGriff is not a Hall of Famer. But when compared to Tony Perez, Orlando Cepeda, Eddie Murray, and Harmon Killebrew, Fred McGriff is a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Fred McGriff Compared to the Greatest First Basemen

Fred McGriff's offensive production pales in comparison to the first group's offensive production, but it holds its own against that of the second group.

In terms of baseball and its history defining the greatest hitter of all-time is an extremely difficult task. The reason for this is that there are two types of hitters: One is a contact hitter and the other is a power hitter.

For a contact hitter there goal is to get on base anyway possible whether it's taking a walk, using their speed to get on with a bunt, splitting the gaps for a double or triple, and occasionally a home run.

"Now batting for the New York Yankees, number two, Derek Jeter, number two." These are the unforgettable words that stay in the minds of fans at Yankee Stadium. Those words have been spoken by nobody other than the Voice of God.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are rapidly approaching a breaking point within the front office. 

Yesterday, I detailed how Frank McCourt's diminishing bank account could have a pulverizing effect on the Dodgers' organization. 

Which brings me to Mark Cuban, the possible savior for the future of the club. 

I keep reading and hearing from both Cubs fans and the media alike that Jeff Baker is likely to be the starting second baseman for the Cubs in 2010. If that happens, I think it will be a mistake.

You see, Baker has never done anything outside of Coors Field. It would be a leap of faith by Cubs general manager Jim Hendry to expect Baker to post the same numbers over a full season as he did during his time with the team in 2009.

Welcome to another edition of Thaddeus' Tampa Bay Rays Offseason Report. Each and every Friday, we're going to recap the moves, trades, signings, and other nonsense of the previous week in the wonderful world of Tampa Bay baseball; keeping you, Dear Reader, up to date with the team until Opening Day in April 2010 against the Baltimore Orioles.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez has decided not to wait any longer while the Red Sox try to make up their mind… he has reportedly signed a one-year, $2.75 million dollar deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, with a team option for 2011 ($2.5 MM).

Gonzalez came to the Red Sox in a trade after starting the 2009 season with the Cincinnati Reds…although he is known primarily as a defensive whiz, he managed to hit .284 in 68 games after arriving in Boston.

Toronto, line up to get your tickets to the Gonz show .

The signing of former Red Sox and Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez has capped off what has been an unusually active past few days for the Jays in the free agent market.

The San Diego Padres need a change of style in their television booth, a name that could bring the team more notoriety and bring fans back to the team .

According to Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union Tribune, that name could be Hall of Fame announcer, and San Diego resident, Dick Enberg.

Sullivan writes in his article that Enberg had coffee back in August with Padres President Tom Garfinkel at Harry's Coffee Shop in La Jolla.

I do not share the current fascination with acquiring Adrian Gonzalez or Roy Halladay, or for signing free agent Matt Holliday for that matter. For the life of me, I don’t understand the reason most fans, media members and pundits are drinking the Steinbrenner Kool-Aid.

Memo to Red Sox Nation: Got milk? Good. Then drink it, and leave the Kool-Aid alone.