Before the season began, they were typically picked to finish fourth in their own division.

Fred Claire, the embattled General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, managed to pry open the tight-fisted grip Peter O’Malley had on the organizations coffers. Claire was convinced that one fiery superstar, with a World Series ring and several All-Star game appearances to his credit, was the key to turning the Dodgers around.

The news going into today's Cubs vs. Pirates game was the roster moves made before the game. The Cubs added another player to increasingly expanding disabled list and sent down Neal Cotts and Bobby Scales.

To fill the void, they called up lefty reliever Jason Waddell, whose AAA stats aren't that impressive, 0-1 5.40 ERA 12 SO in 16.2 innings, but he is really the only lefty decent enough to call up.

Feels like December...

Remember when Braves fans all over the internet were fuming over perceived "futility" from the Braves' front office?

It's starting again.

Calls for Wren to "get off of his lazy (intercoursing) (posterior)" and start making moves are starting to pop up on bulletin boards, comments sections, and blogs everywhere.

I, however, am here to say this: IT'S ONLY MAY 27!!!!

People seem to forget that the non-waiver trading deadline is still about sixty-five days away (give or take a few hours).

For the past few series', the New York Mets have been thriving on the success of their starting pitching, Gary Sheffield, and MLB's new video replay.

In recent games, the Mets have had three home runs reviewed. The first took place against the Red Sox in Boston when Omir Santos hit a fly ball just over the green monster to give the Mets a 3-2 ninth inning lead.

I don't need to tell anyone that the economy is in ruins right now. Teams all over professional sports are seeing their season ticket renewal numbers sliding south and their merchandise sales stagnant at best.

In baseball, the rumor mills are full of hot items about teams in small and middle markets looking to unload any contract of length or substance as early as the beginning of June (Jake Peavy) for the sake of saving their bottom line.

Fans just aren't spending the money this year.

When the Oakland A's brought in Jason Giambi as a free agent they knew what they were getting. He was going to strengthen the lineup and add a powerful left handed hitter into the lineup as well.

Also, what was known was Giambi's excellent eye at the plate. Well his plate discipline has been horrific and he's been far from impressive in the start of his second stint as an A.

In tonight's game against the Seattle Mariners the A's had an excellent chance of getting some runs back after starting pitcher Dallas Braden allowed two in the top of the first.

Peoria's got something cooking that might look nice at Wrigley some time soon.

The Chiefs have a young, not-yet 20-year-old kid at third base that was named the Midwest League Offensive Player of the Week last week and his knocking the cover off the ball.

Josh Vitters, the Cubs' top draft pick in 2007, is dominating Double-A ball right now, living up to his billing as the top prospect in the Cubs' organization.

Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick is most likely facing one of the most difficult decisions that he will ever have to make.  He will have to finally make a significant change in an attempt to address the problems plaguing Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and the Amp Energy No. 88 team.

Junior had a miserable run in the Coca Cola 600. He battled a wicked race car throughout, sawing on the wheel and asking his spotter to just keep him out of the way of the other cars that could actually compete on the track.