2011 MLB Spring Training

When thinking of Manny Ramirez, many moments go through a person's mind. Many are good, but several are anything but.

On the side of being one of the better hitters of his time (or any time for that matter), are the moments that created the saying of "Manny being Manny".

According to the Associated Press, 36-year-old Nelson Figueroa has nailed down the fifth slot in the rotation for the 2011 Houston Astros to start the season.

He will take his spot behind Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, J.A. Happ and Bud Norris. He found out today due to his last competitor, Jordan Lyles, being sent down to minor league camp along with six other players.

If you're into listening to people in the know, such as scouts, coaches, front office guys and other players, you'd be led to believe that Michael Pineda could be pretty special.

Of course, all you have to do is see his mammoth size and ability and you can draw the conclusion all on your own.

There are good reasons for the Mariners to bring Pineda up now, but there appear to be good reasons not to as well.

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We are about a week and a half away from Major League Baseball's Opening Day. It's time now for ball clubs everywhere to start cutting personnel as they finalize their 25-man rosters.

There are a number of players who are at risk of being released by their current teams as spring training rolls along. Typically, these are aging veterans who are struggling in exhibition games, injured and unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, playing a crowded position or that have fallen out of favor with their organizations.

Every year, new players come into spring training with the hopes of making a team whether they are from the farm system or have bounced around the majors for their entire careers.

Some of those players stand out in camp, snatching up a roster spot by showing that they belong at the highest level. This year is no exception.

For the world champion San Francisco Giants, not much is needed to change for the team to have a chance at a repeat so expectations of non-roster invitees and minor leaguers coming into camp was low to say the least.

Marco Scutaro was the "highlight" signing of 2009's offseason. For those who are true fans and/or have played the game, you know that he was not the big solution. In fact, he should never have been signed in the first place. He is simply overpaid and overrated. If the Red Sox did want to sign him it should have been at a much cheaper annual salary. 

For some reason, the New York Mets gave Oliver Perez every chance possible to make the team’s Opening Day roster this year. Some people may even say that there are 12 million reasons why the team did it.

A demotion is defined as “a reduction in grade, rank or status.” 

In baseball, this can mean a starter who is moved to the bench or bullpen, a reduction in playing time or even a move to the minors.

Players who reach star status very rarely stay there for their entire careers.  Age, injuries, decreased production and younger competition can all factor into a change in a player's status.

Spring training can be a difficult time for players who are on the cusp, especially when other guys are breathing down their necks. 

As Opening Day anxiety continues to mount, the New York Yankees are still in somewhat of a mini-crisis on the pitching mound, as they are yet to name a formidable five-man rotation.

Manager Joe Girardi has already named ace C.C. Sabathia and recovering ace A.J. Burnett as his one-two punch, but the other three spots remain in limbo.

As the persistent Arizona sun beats down on the backs of the 2011 Seattle Mariners, the biggest question in the minds of fans—besides "when oh when will we be relevant again­?"—is when Dustin Ackley will be ready for the Show. 

The Mariners’ offseason middle infield moves say a great deal about the timetable for their biggest prospect since King Felix matriculated.