MLB is one of the most popular sports in the United States with some of the highest paying athletes in the game. During the 
offseason each team attempt to improve their bullpen by recruiting pitchers and making the necessary trades in order to win championships. There are many teams struggling to improve their bullpen and this offseason all free agents are on a look out and willing to leave current teams to improve their chances of winning a championship ring.
With Mark Buehrle going to the Marlins, C.J. Wilson to the Angels and Heath Bell heading to the Marlins, one may find themselves in touch spot next season when facing such excellent pitcher because the offseason has begun to dwindle significantly with these three off the market. However, there are still guys who can a great benefit to teams in need of strengthening their chances for winning a championship in 2012.
Top of the Rotation guys still available who may or may not leave their current teams are:
Rich Harden is a great starting pitcher if he manages to stay healthy throughout the season. His career strikeout is a 2:1 with a 3.76 ERA. If Harden manages to get back to his 2008 career type pitching he will be a great advantage for any team to have which will contribute positively towards a winning season.
Because he likes changing jerseys so often and has a great collection in his closet Edwin Jackson is most likely to leave the Cardinals even though he played a key role in the St. Louis Cardinals World Series Championship this past season. The 28 year old pitcher is at the prime of his career and will most likely add yet another jersey to his awesome collection this offseason.
Teams look for someone who has incredible control of the ball and likes strikeouts. Hiroki Kuroda has that control and has a career high of 523 strikeouts and 163 walks. With a career 3.45 ERA and their need to build a better and much stronger bullpen Kuroda could be wearing the New York Yankees pinstripes next season.
With good infield and outfield players and great batting average a team always needs a pitchers to rotate during games and the offseason is the best time to search for free agents looking for new deals or move on to another team. It is important to consider how their chemistry and attitude fits in with the rest of the team to create an unbeatable team of champions.
Posted by admin in MLB
Who is the best hitter on the San Francisco Giants?
After getting called up on Memorial Day last season, Buster Posey took over the San Francisco lineup and quickly became its top hitter. After a highly successful rookie season, Buster Posey is looking to improve on his 2010 numbers, and propel himself into the top spot among catchers.
How does Posey compare to the other San Francisco hitters?
With only 406 at-bats, Posey was able to bat for an average of .305, drive in 67 runs, and knock 18 pitches out of the park. If Posey were to replicate those exact numbers this year, he’d be among the top in his team. But as it stands, Posey will likely have more at-bats, and consequently higher stats. Posey, Pablo Sandoval, and Aubrey Huff are the main power hitters of team, each capable of 20 homers a season. Those three are also largely responsible for the runs and RBIs produced by the Giants hitters as well.
Will Posey compete for the home run title?
He’s only 24 and has yet to completely develop his power stroke. His home run ceiling this year is around 20-25, which is dramatically
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Naming the best hitter for the Brewers is much tougher than most teams. They have two of the premier hitters in the game in Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. The tandem is probably only behind the duo of Pujols and Holliday in St. Louis.
While Fielder is a yearly bet to bash 40 homeruns, his totals and batting average both dropped in 2010. This is his final contract year in Milwaukee so he could have a career year. The Brewers are so confidant in his ability to play every day they do not even have a back up listed on their depth chart. He should return to form this year and contend with Albert Pujols for the homerun crown. He may not hit 50, but it is not out of the realm of possibility as he did it in 2007 and nearly in 2009 when he had 46.
Ryan Braun is probably the best hitter as far as average goes of the to. His lifetime average of .307 is considerably higher than Fielder’s
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Michael Young has perennially been the best hitter for the Texas Rangers, but there is a changing of the guard in a sense for the Rangers. Josh Hamilton has overcome terrible circumstances and has finally emerged as the hitter everyone expected him to be when he was drafted.
Hamilton blossomed and took home the MVP last year, though missing considerable time near the end of the season. His hitting in the clutch against the hated Yankees in the 2010 playoffs solidified his reputation as perhaps the best hitter in the American League. His .359 was the best in the league and his homerun totals of 32 could spike this year.
Not only is Hamilton’s ability to spray the ball to all fields top notch, his power is off of the charts. When the Homerun derby was held at the new Yankee stadium a couple of years ago, the Yankees faithful were actually cheering his name as his epic blasts careened off of nearly every surface in Yankee stadium.
Hamilton has perhaps the best supporting cast in the American league with Adrian Beltre, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz
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The signing of Jason Werth won’t change a thing in Washington this year. They could actually be less productive after the Loss of Adam Dunn.
Jason Marquis Looks to be healthy, but he was a number 4 in his prime. John Lannan and Livian Hernandez are innings eaters, but both have lifetime ERAs over 4.00. The back end of the Bullpen seems to be in flux with Drew Storen struggling throughout the spring, and there is word his job could be in jeopardy.
It would take two Stephen Strasburgs and three Bryce Harpers to make this club a contender.
Their outfield is a mess with Nyjer Morgan and Rick Ankiel competing for the center field job. Morgan’s character flaws and explosive outbursts should have him working at a local grocery store. Ankiel had a good half season a couple years ago with the Cardinals, but he has yet to show he can do anything other than make great catches in center.
The infield is however one of my favorites in
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The White Sox finished in 2nd place last year with a record of 88-74, six full games behind front running Minnesota. To catch the Twins, they acquired power hitting first baseman Adam Dunn who has the potential to hit 50 home runs. The entire season could depend on the health of projected number two starter Jake Peavey.
The former Padre’s season ended prematurely last year, when he detached his latissimis dorsi muscle in his back. The year before Peavey hurt his ankle sliding into third base. The detached muscle in his back has been slow to recover, though Peavey has looked good in his first few spring training outings. Peavey has won 102 games in his eight-year career, including 19 in the 2007 campaign.
Veteran lefty Mark Buerhrle was only 13-13 last year with an ERA of over four. Burhrle needs
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Brad Penny says he is healthy and in great shape again. Somehow no one but the Tigers believes him. And even with the Tigers there seems to be the catch to their sudden belief.
So far they have rewarded him a one year contract as a pitcher however in the official statements say that they are fully confident in his health and abilities. Of course they are but whether this faith will extend for more than 12 months we will have to wait to find out.
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The Baltimore Orioles fans can tell you that it has been a frustrating decade ever since they were able to taste the thrill of making it to the playoffs. Their last run to the American League Championship Series took place in 1996 when they lost to the New York Yankees. Orioles fans definitely remember the game in Yankee Stadium when young Jeffrey Meier aided a Derek Jeter home run which ended up turning the tide of the series. The Birds were last in the playoffs in ’97 and ever since then it has been a mire of bad draft picks and even worse free agent acquisitions.
The future is starting to look bright for the Orioles as this past off-season looks to be the best one for the team in a very long time. The past three or four seasons have seen the team pick up solid free agents and groom their pitchers through the draft and
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Joe Johnson may be feeling better than he has within quite some time.
After having a few days off to relax during the holiday break, Johnson may have received some much needed rest that may have got him closer to full strength, Johnson & the Hawks hope to start turning their road woes Sunday evening during a challenge against the Hornets.
Initially anticipated to be absent 4 to 6 weeks following elbow surgery earlier this month, Johnson skipped less than 3 however appeared rusty upon returning. He threw up 33.3 % from the floor, 3 of 16 on three point shots, while putting in 15.7 points during his 1st 3 matchups back on action prior to having an effort more worthy of a 4 time All Star on Wednesday.
He directed the Hawks (19 – 12) having twenty-three points, putting in 9 of 17 with 3 three point shots. & got 7 dishes during a 98 – 84 victory against the Cavaliers.
He additionally may have gotten a jolt from the information earlier that day that a lengthy legal fight involving ownership of the club at last has been resolved.
He might receive more relief from a solid
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The Mavs have picked up twelve consecutive while Milwaukee have dropped 5 straight away from home & 7 straight in 997 American Airlines Center.
Dallas wishes all of these runs carry on Monday evening when they are trying to equal their longest winning stretch from the previous year.
The Mavs (19 – 4) picked up a victory 103 – 97 against the Jazz on Saturday to climb within 1 of their thirteen game streak February 17th to March 10th. Dallas do not appear taken back a bit by it as they close in on their seventeen 997 game club record mark established January 27th to March 11th, 2007.
Dirk Nowitzki has been excellent, putting in 25.0 points & throwing in a personal best 56.8 %. Nowitzki is throwing in 69.9 % during his previous 5 matchups after shooting 10 of
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