Baseball

Remember the last time the New York Mets were contenders? It was 2008, and just about everything was clicking. Everything, that is, except the bullpen.

The Mets blew a total of 29 saves that season. Their bullpen finished with a 4.27 ERA. They lost six of their final nine games, getting knocked out of the playoff race by the Florida Marlins on the last day of the season for a second straight year. 

The Cleveland Indians are ready to embark on another season, and with this new season come high hopes. The team is relatively solid from top to bottom, and with a large chunk of last year's team returning, it's becoming difficult to fly under the radar.

The focus tends to be on who will make the team in spring training for most teams. For the Chicago Cubs, most of that appears to be set. However, there are a couple of position battles that should be intriguing. Unfortunately for some, losing these battles could mean starting the season in Triple-A or looking for a job this summer.

The San Francisco Giants have won three world championships in five years. In today's era of free agency, that level of success qualifies as a modern-day dynasty.

So, how have the Giants been able to accomplish this, even though, on paper, their talent level has often been regarded as weaker than their opponent in a given series? 

What is it that sets the Giants apart from all the rest?

You wouldn't expect a team with five straight seasons of at least 87 losses to be all the rage heading into a new season. The Chicago Cubs, however, have worked hard to be an exception.

It wasn’t long after the end of the 2014 season that general manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny informed Carlos Martinez that he’d report to spring training as a starter in 2015.

The Detroit Tigers project to be contenders once again in 2015. They will head into the new season as favorites to clinch the American League Central Division title for the fifth straight year.

Pitchers and catchers reported last week to their respective clubs for spring training, and now the full squads have shown up ready to get back into playing shape.

The Baltimore Orioles will be looking to get right back into things, as they will be looking to defend their AL East division crown from last season and will be striving to be serious contenders once again in a much improved American League.

Spring training is now underway for the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, Florida. The Red Sox have 57 players in camp preparing for the 2015 season. In addition to the full 40-man roster, there are also 17 non-roster invitees trying to prove they belong.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ first major injury of 2015 came before the team had even played a single spring training game.