Baseball

Before we get to talking about Joey Gallo and the future of the Texas Rangers, let's talk about Yu Darvish and the present of the Texas Rangers.

Which, yeah, is not a particularly pretty picture.

With the production of the film Moneyball back in 2011, Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane became a nationally known figure.

Since that outstanding movie's release, the A's have been even more successful and Beane has been even more daring.

The Tommy John surgery dragon just keeps blowing fire on the hopes of teams across the land. The New York Mets and Zack Wheeler are its latest victims. 

While the Milwaukee Brewers continue to struggle through a nasty pink-eye breakout, the Toronto Blue Jays could be facing an injury bug spurred by everyday bodily functions.

The New York Yankees offense is an interesting bunch. The group features immense levels of talent, but question marks pop up throughout the lineup in the form of injury and production concerns.

That said, where there's bust potential, there also tends to be boom potential. This holds true for the Yankees offense as well.

Midway through the month of March and three weeks from Opening Day, there is still a lot to be sorted out before the 2015 MLB season officially begins.

We've already had some key players lost to injury this spring, most notably Yu Darvish for the year to Tommy John surgery and Marcus Stroman to a torn ACL, and unfortunately, there will likely be at least a few more significant losses before the season gets under way.

Cliff Lee has sent Ruben Amaro Jr. his much-needed wake-up call.

Now it is up to Amaro to actually wake up.

Ah, spring training stats—how you tease, how you tempt, how you beguile. Our heads tell us that a torrid March doesn't portend a scalding April (never mind the months that follow), but our hearts...well, they're tougher to convince.

There's nothing wrong with optimism, and every year a handful of players carry surprisingly strong spring performances into the regular season.

For the most part, though, what happens in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues stays in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. 

Kris Bryant has been labeled a future star ever since his college days at the University of San Diego. He crushed a nation-leading 31 home runs in his junior season, and that incredible production made him the second overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft.

His effectiveness at the plate has not decreased as he has risen up the professional ladder. As hard as it is to believe, it has improved.

With just over three weeks until Opening Day, the Seattle Mariners are beginning to get a clear idea of who will come out victorious in their most intense position battles.