2011 MLB Spring Training

As Spring Training is well underway, these are the 10 games that any baseball fans must see.

Whether you go watch the game live, listen to it on the radio or buy MLB.tv (which I highly recommend), these games will showcase top talent from both the major and minor league system of each respective team that any fan should witness.

Here are my top 10 games, what do you think should also be added to this list?

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Last year, the Cleveland Indians finished second-to-last in the AL Central with a 69-93 record.  Considering how center fielder Grady Sizemore missed most of the season with a knee injury, along with the inconsistent pitching, that's still a pretty strong performance.

The 2011 MLB season is less than a month away and the buzz surrounding the sport is beginning to get cranked up.

The Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues are in full swing and there are plenty of big stories in the early action. Questions surrounding potential platoons in the field and battles for the fifth starter rage on as the countdown to Opening Day creeps closer.

There are also boatloads of trade rumors and even a few early off the field issues as well. Let’s take a look at the latest buzz for every MLB team.

What can Mark “I didn’t come here to talk about the past” McGwire teach Albert Pujols about hitting a baseball? Good question.  When I find the answer, I’ll let you all know. 

NL Offensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger Award winner, Pujols is a far, far better hitter than his batting coach.

The San Francisco Giants opened up their spring training schedule with a 7-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks last Friday.

Since then, the Giants have played in four more games, winning and losing two games apiece.

Management has been spreading out playing time between everyone on the roster, as is the norm in the beginning of spring training. Still, some players have already stood out as being in top form in the few games that have been played.

No one gives you more insight into the game of baseball than Zack Greinke—probably even without him knowing it.

He tells you about going through emotional problems, his attitude before and after the problems, his Cy Young experience, his beef with the Royals, his trade demands and being a Brewer. If there is any pro ball player that does what Greinke does, let me know and I'll make a slideshow on that player.

There is a Facebook fan group that has all of his quotes, and he didn't waste any time in Milwaukee continuing his great quote streak.

With spring training now at its peak and Cactus League play in full gear, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in the national spotlight of the sports media in regards to a number of popular storylines.

Team ownership is obviously at the forefront, as Frank McCourt was anticipating a $200 million cash advance from Fox until the transaction was blocked by MLB commissioner Bud Selig late last week. It's unclear exactly where the overall finances of the club lie, but the fact that McCourt was involved in plotting such a deal doesn't sound encouraging.

I get a few butterflies in the ol' boilmaker when the Boston Red Sox throw a big time prospect into a trade. The butterflies turn into rabid raccoons when the Sox dump their entire farm team into a deal.

I love prospects. They are like your children in a way. They grow up in front of you, and before you even know it, they are making All-Star teams, start growing Lemmy Kilmister inspired facial hair and getting into fights with Manny Ramirez.

Finally...It’s baseball season.

Last year I experienced my first spring training and it was truly one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I got the chance to chat with Buster Posey, Bruce Bochy, Barry Zito and Jeremy Affeldt. I ran into Dave Flemming, Jon Miller and Shawon Dunston in the parking lot.

I saw newcomers Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa take their first hacks in the black and orange. I saw the eventual Rookie of the Year, Posey try to master first base.

It's too early in Spring Training to presume anything yet, but it's no secret that the New York Yankees are hosting some very important pitching auditions down in Tampa, Florida.
 
The fourth and fifth spots, basically the back-end of the starting rotation, are empty and look to remain so right up until Opening Day on March 31st.
 
The Yankee bats still remain strong and easily one of the most lethal line-ups in baseball.