MLB

Last season the Cincinnati Reds starting five made 161 of 162 regular season starts. The only exception being the back end of a doubleheader that saw Todd Redmond take the mound for 3.1 innings. This remarkable stretch of health is far-and-away the exception to the rule in baseball—a task that will most likely not be duplicated by them again.

Major League Baseball has a lot to look forward to with Mike Trout and Bryce Harper's whole careers ahead of them, but who is going to have a better second chapter?

The Angels star largely overshadowed a fantastic campaign from the Nationals phenom, ending with a near MVP win over Miguel Cabrera.

Still, there is a ton to like about Harper who could very well usurp Trout in 2013 as the best young player in the game.   

Some love it and some hate it, but what's true either way is that Major League Baseball fans can't escape WAR. 

With the 2013 World Baseball Classic right around the corner, it is a good time to look at some of the top baseball countries from around the globe. Not all of these nations' stars will be participating in the big event, but a number of the favorites are sending some of their best talents.

There are a number of countries that are known for producing big MLB stars. This ranking will look at current players in the MLB and the nations that they are from. The countries are not ranked in any particular order.

The World Baseball Classic is not only a competition between the best national teams in the world, but it is also a showcase for some of the best young players in the sport.

Obviously, the games will feature veterans that are already household names like Miguel Cabrera and Mark Teixeira, but a few other men will utilize this competition to boost their profile for the major leagues.

At the conclusion of the 2011 season, the Washington Nationals boasted one of the top farm systems in the game. Since then, however, they’ve traded away a majority of their highly regarded prospects for big league talent—which paid immediate dividends.

Johnny Damon made his public plea to come back to the Yankees on Monday.

In the wake of Curtis Granderson's broken forearm, which will sideline the outfielder for 10 weeks, the 39-year-old veteran was willing to take a minimum deal to come back to the Bronx.

Looking at the rosters for the World Baseball Classic, there are few squads with more talent than Team USA. However, that does not mean it will be an easy path to victory.

The United States has struggled in the past events due to various reasons, most notably a lack of interest in the event. It is hard to stay focused when there is an entire regular season still ahead.