On March 2, we released our 2010 starting pitching tier rankings.

In the five weeks in between, we’ve seen some surprisingly dominant performances and some lingering injury concerns, both of which have had an effect on our top 50 rankings for starting pitchers.

With the season underway, let’s see what is going on in the world of the Houston Astros.

Lance Berkman Gets Knee Drained…Again

If once you don’t succeed, try, try, try, and try again. Berkman had his left knee drained for a fifth time yesterday. You are reading correctly—a fifth time.

However, unlike the first four times Berkman had his knee drained, this time it might have actually worked.

President Barack Obama has a predecessor, William Howard Taft, to thank for the spectacle he had to stare down Monday. Taft was the Commander In Chief that started the tradition of throwing out the first pitch 100 years ago at a Washington Senators game on April 14, 1910.

Every leader of the free world has given it a go since except for Jimmy Carter. While others like Taft, Richard Nixon and Franklin D. Roosevelt took the easy way out by throwing the ball from their seat, Obama threw from the rubber -- a precedent established by Bill Clinton.

Obama was following George W.

The Sox had a wildly entertaining season opener filled with great pitching, excellent defensive plays, and a few long balls. The Sox won the game the way they are supposed to win this year: with great pitching and just enough offense.

However, I couldn't help being annoyed by what happened after Paul Konerko reached base.

On two separate occasions, Mark Kotsay stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. There was one out the first at-bat and no outs the second one. On both occasions, Mark beat a ball into the ground for a relatively easy double play attempt.

The Red Sox pulled quite a rabbit out of their financial hat on Monday, locking up pitcher Josh Beckett with a four-year, $68 million deal.

I must admit, I was very surprised to hear they worked out such an economical deal. When Boston inked former Angel John Lackey to a much more luxurious five-year, $82.5 million deal, it was easy to assume Beckett would be gone.

Opening day produced many thrills for fans Monday with two-homer performances by both Garrett Jones and Albert Pujols, a play of the year from Mark Buehrle, two routs by NL East contenders (Phillies and Braves), an inside-the-park homer, a no-no into the seventh and those were just the headlines.
If this is a preview of what is to come for the 2010 MLB season, it will be a year full of excitement as usual.

Begin Slideshow

It was a tale of two Opening Days for Chicago's two Major League Baseball teams.  One club impressed in every way possible, the other not so much.  All of it took place before the sun even went down.

The White Sox were the first team to show off their 2010 selves and their premiere couldn't have been more perfect.  A combination of solid pitching, hitting, and defense translated into an easy 6-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.  Every Sox fan in the stands at sold-out U.S. Cellular Field would tell you afterwards that they got their money's worth.

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Placido Polanco, Philadelphia Phillies
Polanco hit just 10 HRs last year, but started out with a bang going 3-for-4 with a grand slam and six RBI. Hitting between Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley doesn’t hurt.

Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano endured the worst outing of his career Monday, surviving just 1 1/3 innings and surrendering eight runs, an inauspicious beginning to what became a downright ugly loss for the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day.

The Atlanta Braves got nine RBI combined from shortstop Yunel Escobar and rookie sensation Jason Heyward en route to a 16-5 win.

There are always a few players fantasy GMs need to keep their eye on. Hopefully you've already drafted them. Anyone can draft Albert Pujols. Anyone can see the value of Evan Longoria. Finding value in the unproven commodities is where you make the big bucks.

If you haven't drafted them yet, here are five players to try to go get before their owners realize what they have. These are the guys that will lead you to title town.

Begin Slideshow