The Return

Well...almost a year away. Over that time, I've enjoyed some opportunities. Some of which I continue, others that I have chosen to no longer pursue. I even tried my hand at re-branding...of sorts. But this was the first "home" and it beckoned me on almost a daily basis. I have a slew of items to cover. Let's not put them off any longer...

NHL

Be serious now. Prior to last evening, has anyone heard of Sam Gagner? If you hadn't, I'm sure you have by now. Anytime someone ties a record with Wayne Gretzky, you're accomplished something very special...


The Edmonton Oilers scored eight goals...and Gagner had a point for each goal. Kinda spectacular huh? For the record, another former Oiler scored eight points in a game, Paul Coffey.

MLB

Just finished watching the news conference in regards to Josh Hamilton and his relapse. If anyone is truly upset at this, think about it some more, please.

I have heard and read where people were blaming the bartender for serving Hamilton. It's one thing to be what's known as an enabler. The bartender wasn't. Has anyone considered if the bartender even knew who Hamilton was? Sure there could have been patrons that were aware of who he was serving, but to come down hard on this individual is a little harsh.

Also, Hamilton holding a press conference even though he didn't take questions was brilliant. I loved that. In this day anf age, athletes, celebrities, etc., believe that issuing a statement through personal websites and/or Twitter accounts, Facebook pages, all other forms of social media is beyond refreshing.

PGA

I present the long hitting Gary Woodland...



Missed it by that much...

NFL

Isn't this week supposed to be about the Super Bowl? If you ask me, it's been more about Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the Indianapolis Colts. This game of "oh, yeah, well..." is edging toward the sophomoric side. Remember when we heard this kind of crap was going to stay in-house? So much for that idea.

So, Manning's surgeon, Dr. Robert Watkins to you, issues a statement that alerts us that one of Indy's prized possessions is "medically cleared to play professional football". Colts owner Jim Irsay, as he tends to do, took to Twitter. His version? Manning hasn't been cleared by the Colts medical staff.

Irsay was preparing a statement to be released today. Honestly, I'm tired of all this stuff. If he doesn't want to pay Manning that huge roster bonus, don't. If you want Peyton in Indy, then you do. We don't need to hear anymore statements...until the Super Bowl is over. Then my ears will perk up.

College Football

Remember Gunner Kiel? That name should be fresh in your memory especially if you follow college football. Might wanna watch this video courtesy of The Daily Reveille. Go to the 1:40 mark...

I don't think I need to add to this, but I believe you suspect that Kiel was the "quarterback from Indiana".

Only "The Hat"...

The NL East: Washington Nationals

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We all knew when Stephen Strasburg had to be pulled from a start last season, things were not going according to plan for the Washington Nationals. Their "money ticket" would have to go under the knife for Tommy John surgery and miss the remainder of 2010 and most, if not all, of 2011. So where do you turn after that?

The answer isn't (and wasn't) 2010's #1 overall pick, Bruce Harper. He's already been sent to minor league camp and will begin 2011 in Hargarstown, a Single-A affiliaite. The answer isn't really megabuck right fielder Jayson Werth. The closest answer would have been (possibly) Ryan Zimmerman. Wait. He was just shut down for a period of time as well.

The Nats also lost first baseman and one of the club's veteran leaders in Adam Dunn. They also traded Josh Willingham to the Oakland A's. So what do the Nats have. Believe it or not, they still have talent. A lot of it is young and unproven, but there could be a couple future All-Stars already on the roster.

But the one person I now think of is behind the plate in catcher Ivan Rodriguez. The future Hall of Famer is the veteran spokesman of the team. He's earned that even though he's only donned a Nationals uni (when it's spelled correctly) for going on his second season. He does command that much respect. He should, too. Imagine being a pitcher and looking in for a sign from Pudge. Has to be a calming influence.

The infield won't look too different than last season except at first which was occupied by Dunn. Those duties now fall to free agent acquisition Adam LaRoche. A trade off? Maybe, maybe not. LaRoche may be a tick better with the leather, but Dunn held a tick more power.

Zimmerman will hold down third once he recovers. He is one of the faces of the organization.

The middle of the infield has two young and exciting players in second baseman Danny Espinosa and shortstop Ian Desmond.

Espinosa played at three levels last season including the Nats. Pretty quick movement. Espinosa did struggle with the stick in his 28 MLB games in regards to his average. He's usually around .263 in that regard. But the 23 year old has some nice pop in his bat. He did manage 6 HR during his stint in D.C. last year. His previous two minor league seasons, he's averaged more than 20 HR.

The NL East: Philadelphia Phillies

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Even teams that seem to have everything have issues develop. The supposed already 2011 National League champion Phillies are just that team.

When the Phillies pulled off the coup in signing Cliff Lee, many in the baseball world were resigned to giving every piece of hardware to anyone or anything wearing a Phillies uniform. Then, the injuries started to creep in. Domonic Brown, Chase Utley, Brad Lidge. The list continues to grow.

But if these guys are healthy, there can be little question that on paper, the Phillies are a hard team to overlook.

The news that Chase Utley's bad knee is becoming a tad bulky has led to speculation that GM Ruben Amaro may be ready to make a deal...already. The names of Ramon Santiago of the Tigers and Aramis Ramirez of the Cubs have been rumored as targets. The knee doesn't bother Utley when hitting. It's in the field and Utley may actually be more valuable there that at the plate.

The other middle infield position is manned by former NL MVP Jimmy Rollins. Rollins has also suffered through a couple of sub-par seasons at the plate especially. Posting back-to-back years of hitting .250 and .243 have forced Phillies manager to put Rollins in a different slot in the lineup.

The corners appear safe, right? Not necessarily. Both first baseman Ryan Howard and third baseman Placido Polanco spent short stints on the DL in 2010, too. Howard does tend to stay pretty healthy, though. And the Phils need him to be.

No one could question the offensive potential of this foursome. It's about as good as any infield in baseball. The defense is pretty darn solid as well. Health will be the ultimate factor. And that is already being tested.

The biggest question coming into 2011 was who would be in right with the departure of Jayson Werth? The answer appeared to be highly rated prospect Domonic Brown and it still could be. Brown will be out for at least another month after having surgery on his wrist. In the meantime, Ben Francisco will be in right. John Mayberry will be his backup. Non-roster invitee Delwyn Young may have something to say about all of this, though.

Left and center see the now common faces of Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino.

The NL East: New York Mets

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Most of the off-season news concerning the Mets revolved around two things: hiring a new manager and the financial "matters" of the owners.

New GM Sandy Alderson was laid the task of replacing Jerry Manuel after a few sub-par seasons. The Mets have a fair amount of talent, but the results never matched that talent. Alderson brought in Terry Collins. Collins career MLB record (with stints in Houston and Anaheim) is 444-434. That''s not going to grab you especially when you consider he's never taken a team to the playoffs in his six seasons as a skipper.

The financial fiasco surrounding the Wilpon family has been widely covered so I won't delve into that. The last I read/heard, the trustee for Bernie Madoff's clients was attempting to recover a figure around $1 billion. Yes, a cool billion in dough. The Wilpons are in the process of possibly selling 20-25 percent of the franchise and MLB provided the Mets with about $25 million in November. Always about the almighty buck, isn't it?

Now on the the team...

Around the infield, again, there is talent. First baseman Ike Davis proved that he could not only handle big league hitting, but he possesses also can handle a glove as well. Over at the other corner is David Wright who, despite having what was labeled an off year, is steady with the glove and the bat. Jose Reyes, when healthy, is one of the best in the game as a shortstop.

But the position that has become somewhat under fire is second base. Luis Castillo has lost a bit of range and a bit of luster from the three Gold Gloves he owns. His bat has been spotty over the last three seasons. He's lost a bit of his legs on the basepaths as well. The Mets would have like to have gotten some alternative besides Daniel Murphy, too. Mets fans have been less than enamored with the play of both.

All-in-all, not a bad infield though.

The outfield has many question of which one has already been answered. Angel Pagan will play center. Pagan is coming off his best year both in the field and at the plate. Now, the questions arise from the corners in Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran.

Has Bay fully recovered from his concussion? We've seen that the Twins Justin Morneau has only recently be able to take the field. Bay is a little ahead of Morneau, but you do have to worry about his reaction if he has to approach any wall. The bat is pretty much back though. Bay is working on taking the ball to all fields which can make him doubly dangerous. Beltran?

The NL East: Florida Marlins

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If there's one team the can play a wild card role within the NL East this upcoming season, the Florida Marlins are just that team. They have punch. They have pop. They have arms.

So why is no one mentioning the Marlins as a dark horse to win this division?

Maybe there's a place or two. Kind of reminds me of the Cincinnati Reds of last season, but the Marlins hill seems a little higher of a climb. Philly, Atlanta.

But don't rest on these guys...as you will see.

The infield holds a nice mix of power and average. The one Marlin everyone knows of is shortstop Hanley Ramirez. All he does is hit 20+ HR, steal around 30 bags, hit over .300 and score over 100 runs. Not a bad piece to start. And there are others to add to the mix.

While Dan Uggla has departed to Atlanta (via trade), the Marlins receive Omar Infante in the deal. Don't expect that homers, but the batting average and defense will be better. Infante can handle the bat and that's something the Marlins need toward the top of the lineup.

The corners are manned by Gaby Sanchez at first and Wes Helms at third. Sanchez had an excellent 2010 campaign smashing 19 HR and driving in 85. He also posted splits of .273/.341/.448. Getting Sanchez some playing time at the end of '09 paid off well for Florida.

Helms is an interesting study. He doesn't exactly fall under the umbrella I'd set forth about power and average. He hasn't exactly produced massive numbers over the past few seasons. He hasn't hit double digit home runs since 2006. That was also the last season he hit over .300. His RBI count has steadily resided in the high 30's since that 2006 season while playing no less than 112 games during that span. It's not the glove either. a lifetime .942 fielder.

The outfield is overflowing with young talent. From left to right, there's Logan Morrison (23), Chris Coghlan (25) and Mike Stanton (21).

Morrison has shown pop in the minors and the Marlins brass are hoping that can begin to shine through this season. He only had 2 in 2010 but hit as many as 24 in a minor league season. Coghlan is a former Rookie of the Year (2009) and will be playing center full-time for the first time...ever. Stanton is sometimes just a man among boys. His numbers bear that.

And don't forget who the Marlins reeled in to play catcher. John Buck, after years of hiding in Kansas City, had a breakout season for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010. It wasn't so much from the standpoint of his power, but his average. He hit .281 last season, a career high. He was also selected to his first All-Star Game.

This offense has the potential to produce an inordinate amount of runs. It will rest on the arms to curtail the opponents from scoring.

The NL East: Atlanta Braves

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In my first dive into the National League, we'll look at the Atlanta Braves. Much has changed in the ATL since they were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual World Champion San Francisco Giants. The biggest being in the dugout with the retirement of manager Bobby Cox.

Like a lot of teams, there were a few roster changes that took place as well. Closer Bill Wagner retires. Outfielders Melky Cabrera and Rick Ankiel are gone. Derrek Lee, a mid-season acquisition, has moved on as well. There's others that have left, and you have to wonder if the amount of change will have an adverse effect on the club.

One of the mainstays over the last handful of years has been catcher Brian McCann, the 2010 All-Star Game MVP. Realistically, this might be the most stable position on the team. You know, if healthy, McCann will provide no less than 130 games, around 20 HR, about 90 RBI and have splits close to .275/.355/.475. Those aren't over the top estimates either as all are actually below his career averages.

The infield will have a completely different right side. I already mentioned Lee's departure, but Omar Infante is gone, but the Braves do have Dan Uggla at second. Uggla is a step backward defensively, but he is a major upgrade offensively. Shortstop is in the hands of Alex Gonzalez. While he may not ahve the range he possessed a few years ago, he can still play the position and be productive with the stick.

Third will be manned, possibly, by Chipper Jones. It depends on Chipper's health. After suffering another devastating knee injury last season, some had Chipper leaving the game. It wasn't the way he wanted to depart and I didn't want him to leave that way either. It seemed incomplete somehow.

The biggest question may be at first where rookie Freddie Freeman will assume the duties. He did post impressive numbers in Triple-A and at the beginning of the Arizona Fall League, the Braves are confident he can be successful. Some have said he's on the same path as Jason Heyward was last season. If so, it's sacry. Really scary.

The outfield gets a bit of a makeover as well. Martin Prado is listed as the left fielder. Does it really matter where Prado plays? You know he'll hit. You know he'll give a great effort. Put Prado at any position and he'll produce at the plate. His defense is also a bit underrated.

Nate McClouth has first crack at center. I think the rope will be short though. McClouth struggled last season. You might be wondering what happened to the once "phenom" Jordan Schafer? He might the guy if McClouth can't deliver.

So right field is set. Jason Heyward. Nothing more to say.

What about the pitching?

The AL East: Tampa Bay Rays

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No single team lost more good players than the Rays. You would almost believe a firesale had transpired. Well, it kind of did. The team slashed payroll due to several factors of which I won't go too in depth on. The #1 reason is most likely that lack of attendance. It's a shame that a really good team could not draw.

Here's who has left Tampa since the end of last season: Carl Crawford, Joaquin Benoit, Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano. Did I leave anyone out? A lot of money left Tampa. A lot of talent left Tampa. It will be an interesting season in 2011. Can this team minus that talent still be able to at least maintain the level of attendance as in the past?

The Rays did add a couple of big names in Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. The jury is out on if those two can solidly contribute. I believe Damon can, but Manny may be a wild card. If he can approach something close to what he was before his 50-game suspension a couple years back, he will be a major factor in the Rays lineup as a DH.

But the offense may still be suspect. Dan Johnson is currently listed as the #1 1B. For all the grief Carlos Pena got for all those homers and a below the Mendoza line average, Johnson is by far an upgrade in either department. You could consider it a downgrade even. Now, there is a distinct possibility that Ben Zobrist will play first more than Johnson. That will depend on how the outfield shakes out.

The rest of the infield appears to be in decent hands. Sean Rodriguez and Reid Brignac both put forth sold efforts in 2010. Both have the potential to produce double digits homers and 60+ RBI. Then you move to third.

There rests the All-Star Evan Longoria. While the Rays won this division last season, Longoria's personal numbers were slightly off...slightly. He registered only 22 home runs, but still managed over 100 RBI. No question he is the middle of the lineup now with Pena gone. And he steeped up as a team leader last season. Just ask B.J. Upton about that.

I mentioned the outfiled. One person can make things easier on manager Joe Maddon: Desmond Jennings. If he's ready for the big time, the Rays are better off offensively. That would afford the move of Zobrist to first and thus producing an outfield of Jennings, Damon and Upton. The outfield defensively may be better as well with Jennings in the mix.

But one position that does get overlooked on nay rosters is catcher. The Rays have a good one in John Jaso. He's not going to cracnk out the homers. He's not going to overwhelm you offensively. He's just solid. And they also possess a reliable backup in Kelly Shoppach.

The Rays starting rotation will take on a bit of a different look this season. Not much from the starting standpoint, but the relievers.

The AL East: Toronto Blue Jays

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When you think of the Toronto Blue Jays, you think, first, Jose Bautista. Then you think of all the home runs the offense produced in 2010. Then, you pretty much stop thinking about them.

Kind of unfortunate really. The Blue Jays, despite the dealings within the pitching staff, still have a bit of pitching to offer. Granted, not what they had last season, but there is still the likes of one Ricky Romero.

But before I delve into that, what about the offense?

Looking across the infield, there's Bautista currently stationed at third. He mesmerized the baseball world last season with his 54 homers. Does anyone realize he also drove in 124 runs? Not many unless you're a fan of the Blue Jays. Again, unfortunate.

The Jays infield progresses around from Yunel Escobar at short to Aaron Hill at second to Adam Lind who's listed at first on the Jays website. Not a bad offensive set at all. Escobar is the light hitter of the bunch. After the trade that had Escobar go from Atlanta to Toronto, Escobar hit all of four home runs. Those were his only four for 2010.

Hill contributed a bit more with 26 and Lind added 23. Add 'em up and you get over 100...easily and you don't have to add the 4 from Escobar. It's still well over 100. The defense may be another matter. Bautista's natural position is right field. The Jays were wanting to snag a third baseman in the offseason so Joey Bats could be put back in the outfield.

Speaking of the outfield, Vernon Wells is gone via a trade with the Angels. The Jays did get Juan Rivera in the deal, but Rivera will not give you the offense or the defense of Wells. Ridding themselves of a big, bad contract was all the Jays were doing there.

They did lose leadoff man Fred Lewis to free agency, but they did trade for Rajai Davis (from Oakland) to fill Wells' void in the field and Lewis' bat in the lineup. Davis has a bit more speed than Lewis and a tic more range than Wells. Travis Snider will man right field for the time being. If the Jays do manage to lure Michael Young to their fair town (I don't know what they could offer), the Jays will be very bit as potent as they were in 2010.

Catcher John Buck, who had a career year in 2010, is now in Florida. That will put a bit of pressure on the young J.P. Arencibia. If the youngster falls, veteran Jose Molina is always ready. More offense that must be replaced with Buck's departure.

Now the pitching.

The AL East: New York Yankees

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If there's one team that seems to exude an aura over baseball, it's the New York Yankees. 27 World Series Championships is a major feat to say the least. They did snare #27 in 2009. They make a somewhat historic run at the onset of the century as well. Still, the recent tide has flowed away from the pinstripes during the last decade. Cause for concern? Anytime the Yankees don't win the whole deal, red flags wave at an alarming rate for Yankees fans.

As I prepped myself for this, I asked myself a few questions. One. Was the whole Derek Jeter thing this past fall overblown? Two. Would a real offseason aid an aging Alex Rodriguez? Three. How would losing out of Cliff Lee affect the starting staff? Four. How deep would the Andy Pettitte retirement cut into the staff? All causes for concern. While I may not exactly provide an answer to each of those, I think we can get the picture.

Let me really delve into this and say that I believe the Yankees still have one of baseball's most potent offenses. Sure, I realize Jeter had his worst season last year. Maybe it's time shake up the lineup a bit. Put him at #2 in the order and have left fielder Brett Gardner have the opportunity to bat leadoff. The Captain can still handle a bat as well as anyone in the game. He will be more than happy to lay down a bunt to advance the speedy Gardner.

And let's not forget the power that this infield possesses. The other three guys (Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano and A-Rod) are all capable of hitting 30 HR and driving in no less than 90 runs. All have the capability to hit .300 as well. The right side of the infield is almost as good as it gets defensively with Cano and Teixeira. The other side may be a different situation (No Jersey Shore mentions, please!).

While Jeter captured a Gold Glove last season, there was little doubt from number crunchers that he had no business in doing so. A-Rod has displayed problem in getting a throw to any base at any time. While neither hold the range they used to, it could be said the the left side of the infield is serviceable at best.

That's where Gardner and center fielder Curtis Granderson can come into play even more than your left and center guys do. They have to be more on the ready from a defensive stance that others that play the same positions. Their chances of seeing balls go through the infield are a little greater. But they they both wield a bat.

Gardner is as fast as anyone in baseball. In his 2+ seasons, he has 86 thefts while being caught only 15 times. Granderson isn't exactly chump change there, but his stolen base count is near as impressive. But Granderson can pop the ball on occasion. Over the last five seasons, he's averaged almost 24 dingers each year.

And what about Nick Swisher in right? Not a defensive wizard, but he will fight to get the job done out there. It's obvious in comparing his first two seasons in New York that he is becoming more acclimated not only to the position, but to the New Yankee Stadium as a whole. His bat arose from its 2009 slumber as Swisher posted one of his best offensive seasons since entering the league for good in 2005. He set career highs in SLG and OPS.

The AL East: Boston Red Sox

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In continuing the look around the AL East, we stop off at Beantown today.

I don't think there's a team that created more noise due to bringing in new guys than the Red Sox. Carl Crawford, considered a top three free agent, and Adrian Gonzalez, a power hitting lefty bat, should provide a lot more punch to a good offense. But there's more to this team.

So Gonzo's at first, but there are a couple of guys that play infield coming of injuries that will add more to the Sawx offensive prowess. Dustin Pedroia missed over half the season and Kevin Youkilis missed about a third of the year. Marco Scutaro reamins at short. Yes, this infield will be able to score and produce a fair amount of runs. They're not too bad with the leather either.

Another guy coming off injury is center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury didn't even play in 20 games in 2010. His bat, speed and glove were sorely missed. He's healthy and between he and Crawford, I'm not so sure a ball will get between them despite that short porch in left field.

The lost guy is J.D. Drew. With all the talk from last season being about the injury bug, Drew put together a solid season. We all know his injury history, but he payed more games than any other outfielder last year. That is a surprising fact. With Drew, Ellsbury and Crawford, the three could combine for no less that 40 HR, 140 RBI and 60 SB. That's a bit of production. If another injury occurs, Mike Cameron can and will be ready to play.

Oh, and there's Big Papi at DH.

The AL East: Baltimore Orioles

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It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, we're back to full swing today as I begin a look at all 30 teams around Major League Baseball. Today, we'll focus on the AL East.

No question that for the most part of last season the O's were pretty much viewed as a laughing stock. Enter one Buck Showalter. While he didn't exactly lead any of us believe they could be contenders for even this season, he did change the culture within the organization. That's an important step as the O's go forward.

The O's did go out and snag a few players in the offseason. All have experience and all can play.

Of course the two big names were that of Vladimir Guererro and Derrek Lee.Vlad experienced a rebirth last season in Texas and Lee started in Chicago and was dealt to Atlanta for their playoff run. Both bring still productive bats and Lee can still play a steady first base.

The left side of the infield was revamped as well. Josh Bell will be given some time to mature as the O's traded for Mark Reynolds to play third.Yes, there will be a lot of strikeouts. You could be concerned of his severe drop in batting average (.198) in 2010. He's always a threat to go long. And J.J. Hardy was also added to the roster to play short even though Cesar Izturis was brought back.

Add Brian Roberts and this is a better than average infield. Roberts neck? Oh, the training staff will be able to deal with his sore neck and he has said he will have them make the call during spring training. He also stated he would be a go if it were the regular season.

The outfield may appear a little thin to some. From left to right, you have Felix Pie, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. It is a little thin and not because of Pie either. Not Jones. Markakis.

So, Can We Get on with Baseball?

OK. The Super Bowl is over bringing an end to the football season. I know that basketball and hockey are still ongoing, but can we get to baseball?

Good. I never thought an offseason would feel like it lasted so long. Of course, being a Reds fan, it seemed way longer only because of how the season ended. Oh, and don't forget. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on the 16th. I have a feeling some players are already at the appropriate location for their team.

I realize that the NFL is the most popular sport in the US. I can't and won't deny that. Facts point that out. But when baseball season starts to gear up, it can mean only one thing...spring is near. A time for a change.

That means good-bye to the snow and cold. Hello to green grass, bats cracking and mitts popping. No more snow plows or salt on the roads. A welcome to stirrup socks (if you can see them anymore), sunflower seeds and bubble gum. Yes, baseball season, just like spring, is a sign of change. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack for cryin' out loud!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be checking in on each of the 30 teams to fill you in on exactly was has transpired since the San Francisco Giants captured the World Series. And I will have my fearless (and sometimes wrong) predictions.

Later this week, I'll be starting with the American League East.

Hamilton Takes Long Route to AL MVP

Hamilton with runner-up Detroit's Cabrera.

It was the season dreams are made of. That was espcially true for Texas Rangers ourfielder Josh Hamilton.

Hamilton was rewarded with the American League MVP today. Well deserved for a season well played.

So much has been made of Hamilton's past. Here's the extremely short version.

Selected #1 overall in 1999. Falling into the traps of drugs and alcohol. Got his life back together. Being offered a second chance when the Chicago Cubs selection of him in the Rule V draft. That same day (December 7, 2006) being purchased by the Cincinnati Reds. (Yes, he was purchased, just like a sack of potatoes at your local grocer.) Having a very good 2007 and then being shipped to Texas for Edinson Volquez.

Happy the Rangers Won?

I am...but I don't say that because I'm a Yankee hater. While I'm not a fan of the Yankees, I do believe that you sincerely have to respect them. I'm also not a Rangers fan, but I've learned to enjoy watching this team. I've also learned to appreciate all that has happened during this 2010 season for Texas.

Now that the Texas Rangers will be playing in their first World Series, there are a few people I am extremely happy for that are associated with the franchise.

First, I am happy for their fans. If you've followed this franchise from its beginnings, you encompass not only almost 50 years of never playing in the Fall Classic, you also encompass the franchise's start in D.C. when they were called the Washington Senators. Of course, the original Senators are now the Minnesota Twins.

Ryan hoists AL Trophy

I'm also happy for Nolan Ryan. His name has been attached to the franchise for quite a while now. As part of a new ownership group, Ryan has every reason in the world to smile. The Rangers have held a stigma of not being a winning team. One off-season doesn't necessarily change that tune, but it's always a positive step in the right direction.

Are the Yankees Really in Trouble?

Most would answer this question yes...with perhaps a bit of hesitation. I agree they're in trouble, but they can come back, can't they?

Maybe not. Much has already been made about how quiet the Yankees bats have been save Game 1. Since that game, New York is hitting an catastrophic .168. It's not any better with runners in scoring position. That average drops to .111. Oh, the bats woke up toward the end of Game 1, but those bats have been pretty much silent since then.

There are only two Yankees hitting over .300. Robinson Cano (.407) has been the thorn in the Rangers' side. Curtis Granderson (.318) has provided a bit of hitting from the bottom of the order. Derek Jeter is next at .281. The next Yankees starter is Brett Gardner. His average? A sparkling .227.

Can CC cure the Yankees ails?

And now, the Yankees will rely on 21-game winner CC Sabathia. Usually, a good thing, but CC was hittable in Game 1. He lasted only four innings, allowed 5 runs on 6 hits. The most notable hit was Josh Hamilton's first-inning three-run homer. The other damaging hit was a 4th inning, two-run double by Michael Young.

ALCS Matchups

The American League Championship Series kicks off tonight with the New York Yankees visiting the Texas Rangers. Here a quick look at the positional comparisons.

First Base: Mark Teixeira v. Mitch Moreland/Jorge Cantu
While Tex suffered a bit offensively in 2010, it did not have an adverse effect on his glove. The Rangers have been searching all season for that one guy that can play the position every day. Rangers manager Ron Washington has inserted Mitch Moreland in for now.
Advantage: Yankees. Tex is still the best glove at the position.


 Second Base: Robinson Cano v. Ian Kinsler
What a matchup this is between the two best young second basemen in the game. Cano will receive some AL MVP consideration and no one is smoother at turning a double play. Kinsler has battled injuries this season, but the bat is back.
Advantage: Yankees. Only because Cano has done it all year long.

Shortstop: Derek Jeter v. Elvis Andrus
Jeter is Mr. Yankee for a reason. Andrus proved the stage wasn't too bright for him as he hit .333 in the ALDS against a good Rays staff.
Advantage: Yankees. C'mon. It's Jeter.

NLCS Matchups

The two teams most thought would advance to the NLCS made their way, the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants. The Phillies swept the Cincinnati Reds and the Giants ended a legendary managing career of Bobby Cox and his Atlanta Braves. Here a look at the positional match ups for the series.

First Base: Aubrey Huff v. Ryan Howard
Howard in a former MVP and an offensive powerhouse, but do not sell Huff short. He has been extremely instrumental in the Giants success in 2010. Still, Howard also possesses a better glove and bat.
Advantage: Phillies

Second Base: Freddy Sanchez v. Chase Utley
Sanchez is a former batting champ and has had the look of regaining that form. Bad thing for the Giants is that Utley appears to be regaining his form, too.
Advantage: Phillies

Shortstop: Juan Uribe v. Jimmy Rollins
Two contrasting shortstops here. Uribe hits more with power and Rollins holds the potential, if healthy, to run you crazy. Uribe has a better arm, but Rollins fields better.
Advantage: Phillies

Rangers, Lee Dominate Rays in Game 1

It didn't start out like a typical Cliff Lee outing.

The Tampa Bay Rays loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with only one out. If only Tampa Bay could have scored a couple of runs in their first at-bat, the outcome may have been different. Instead, Lee wiggled out of the inning unscathed by striking out both Carlos Pena and Rocco Baldelli.

It was all Texas from there.

An RBI double from Jeff Francoeur and an RBI single from Bengie Molina in the second accounted for two runs off Rays starter David Price. Homers by Nelson Cruz in the top of the third and a Molina blast in the fourth made the score 4-0 after only four innings. Texas would add another run off of a double by Vladamir Guerrero in the fifth. 5-0 Rangers.

The Rays wouldn't get to Lee until the bottom of the seventh. Ben Zobrist accounted for Tampa Bay's first run with a solo shot off Lee.

Lee was masterful after a shaky first inning.

But the day belonged to Lee.

Sure the Rangers supplied him with a large lead, but after that first inning, Lee gave no indication that the Rays would threaten. And he kept the big bats in Tampa's lineup well in check. While facing Lee, Carlos Pena struck out three times. B. J. Upton could not get on base. For seven innings, Lee surrendered only five hits and the one run while striking out 10 Rays. Overall, 13 Rays were rung up via the strikeout.

Price wasn't as fortunate as Lee. After the Rays one big chance fell massively short, all the momentum swung the way of Texas. The Rangers grabbed that momentum and rolled to a 5-1 win.

Piniella to Step Down after Today's Game

Today will be Lou's last day on the bench.

We all knew Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella had already announced that this would be his last season. We just didn't think it would come about so soon, but you can't blame him.

Gordan Witt of the Chicago Sun-Times tweeted earlier today that Piniella will step down after today's game against the Atlanta Braves. According to the Cubs website, Mike Quade, the Cubs third base coach, will take over the team for the remainder of the season.

Piniella has cited family matters as the reason for his abrupt departure. It doesn't hurt that the Cubs have fallen completely off the baseball landscape this season either. They enter today 20.5 games behind the division leading Cincinnati Reds. Makes this move, family concerns not withstanding, all the easier.

The one issue from 2010 that most non-Cubs fans will remember about the Cubs is the Carlos Zambrano situation at U.S. Cellular field. Z simply blew up.

For me, I hate to see Lou leave baseball. Call it a biased opinion as I live close to Cincinnati. I saw Lou lead the Reds to a World Series sweep of the A's in 1990, a season I will never forget. I am also a Mariners follower. To see Lou head to the Emerald City was a substantial bonus.

I've seen Lou at his best. I've seen him at his base-throwing worst. And I have loved having the pleasure of seeing almost every minute of it.

I wish Lou and his family the best.

PEDs Claim Two More as Excuses Increase

Paulino will lose over $250,000 in salary
due to his mistake.

It was announced yesterday the Florida Marlins catcher Ronny Paulino was to serve a 50-game suspension due to a positive test for a banned substance under the MLB drug policy. The NFL also added that Shawn Nelson of the Buffalo Bills was also slapped with a four game suspension for a "no-no". It is unknown the substance found with Nelson's test.

All of this comes on the heels of Roger Clemens being indicted on perjury charges for allegedly lying to Congress regarding PED use. Throw in the NFL's recent decision to uphold the four-game suspension of Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing for testing positive for hCG and we have more to add to the list. List of cheaters to some. List of ignorant to others. List of arrogant to many.

This will not go away. Ever. It will last as long as the substances exist so we better prepare ourselves for the non-shock of any news of any player in any sport being suspended for usage. I've already grown numb of the issue.

Paulino stated that he was taking a diet supplement in order to control his weight. He was unaware the supplement contained the banned substance. But, somehow, Paulino accepts responsibility.

"I accept full responsibility and all consequences for this mistake, and therefore choose not to challenge my suspension," the 29-year-old Paulino said. "I was irresponsible for failing to take all precautionary steps in confirming the approval of the dietary pill. Without a doubt, I have learned from my mistake."

Responsibility? Seriously?

The MLBPA has a website in which players can refer to for the list of banned substances. Anyone can access this information. Anyone. Not just the players. It's part of the CBA for cryin' out loud. You have a tool. Use the damn thing. Someone gives you something or you take it upon yourself to take some unknown substance and you don't check to contents? To do so would be responsible. I haven't been able to buy the "I didn't know" line for years.

And it's not just Paulino and Nelson. Don't think I'm trying to bury these guys. The Marlins think he's a great teammate and were shocked to learn of this. In fact, Marlins owner Jeffery Loria ordered the organization to immediately review the means in which Marlins players are being educated on the matter of PEDs. I'm sure the Bills will miss Nelson as they were short at tight end due to injuries.

The major thing about all the PED crap (and it is crap) is that the athletes are becoming more creative with their "excuses". In essence, according to his statement, Paulino is claiming ignorance. He simply didn't do his due diligence. As of yet, neither Nelson nor his agent, Joel Segal, have commented. But Cushing's case is different. Really different.

Overtraining?

Texans owner Bob McNair went to New York on Cushing's behalf to appeal the four game suspension. I give McNair credit here. He knows the Texans need this guy and he'll do anything he can to get him back on the field. But McNair had to be convinced that Cushing had legit grounds for an appeal. Cushing has stated from the day he was informed of the positive test that he did not "knowingly" take hCG, the substance found in his system at the time the test was administered. Cushing has not tested positive since.

So why the one positive test? Cushing's newest theory..."overtrained athlete syndrome". I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV, but this is sounding far-fetched. So...I did something surfing.

hCG, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that is produced by females during pregnancy. It is also associated as being a tumor marker as the tumor can secrete hCG. It also used as a weight loss supplement, although that aspect of its use has met with controversy. But, in males, hCG can be used to maintain the production of testosterone and, more prominently, kickstart testosterone production after a steroid cycle has ended. Males can also use hCG as a form of fertility treatment.

Overtraining is extremely possible. I cannot deny that fact at all. In fact, overtraining was popular with Soviet athletes as a training technique. I've not read where hCG is naturally produced in a males body, other than tumors which Cushing has previously stated that the thought he may have had cancer. Thankfully, he doesn't. I don't know if Cushing is in the business of fathering children either, so I can't buy this.

But Peter King of Sports Illustrated chatted with Cushing. Even after reading this, I'm still not in Cushing's corner. The NFL didn't buy it either. And exactly does Cushing think he's trying to fool here?

"Everything points to that overtrained athlete syndrome,'' Cushing said, walking back to the Texans' locker room after their afternoon practice. "I'm pretty sure it is. I'm pretty positive. I didn't take anything. It's not a tainted supplement. So all roads lead to that.''

Pretty sure? Pretty positive? In other words, Cushing still doesn't know.

Or does he?