MLB

Trevor Hoffman is the all time leader in saves with 596 (as of May 21, 2010) in 18 seasons. 

After playing for the San Diego Padres for a long time, Hoffman was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers before the 2009 season.

In 2009, Hoffman excelled as a closer with the second lowest season ERA of his career with 1.83—saving 37 games to add to his resume. It seemed like this guy was a machine, and his career would never end.

But Hoffman's 2010 season has been miserable.

Dramatization: A game between the Phillies and the Reds at the Great American Ball Park, as told by Bleacher Report broadcasters Cliff Eastham and Illya Harrell.

Cliff: Host

Is Mariano Rivera a future Hall of Famer?  How about Albert Pujols?  What about Joe Mauer?

Playing the Hall of Fame prediction game is always fun.  Bill James likes to analyze future Hall of Famers from a percentage standpoint.  I have never stuck around long enough to figure out how he says things like “Todd Helton has a 67 percent chance of making the Hall of Fame,” but he does it, and so there it is.

Outfielder/DH Pat Burrell has been released by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Burrell, 33, signed with the Rays in the offseason to a 2 year $16 million contract, after their run at their first World Series Championship.

The Rays thought they were for real in 2009, with key additions such as "Pat the Bat." 

But the Rays finished 3rd in their tough AL East division, and Burrell was not that productive, hitting only .221 with 14 home runs in 122 games, and was injured for a while in the disappointing season.

Houston Astros fans will soon be facing a sad reality.

Roy Oswalt is heading elsewhere—and soon.

According to Houston Chronicle sports columnist Richard Justice via Twitter, Astros general manager Ed Wade (pictured at right) confirmed the team’s right-handed ace has asked to be traded.

It was also the talk of the evening during Friday's night home game at Minute Maid Park against Tampa Bay—as both Astros announcers and sports media alike flocked to Wade for confirmation of Oswalt's request.

Roy Oswalt reportedly requested to the owner of the Houston Astros, Drayton McLane Junior, to be traded this season, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Oswalt, 32, is currently and has been the ace of the struggling Astros this season.

You can see why he wants to get out of Houston: a 14-27 record.

The closest the Astros ever were to winning a World Series Championship was back in 2005, when the young right handed pitcher named Roy Oswalt won 20 games in back to back seasons with a 2.94 ERA.

As a proud Minnesotan I will always be a Twins fan, but I have to tip my hat to baseball enthusiasts in Oakland.

The residents of the East Bay who attend Athletics games may be few in number, but they remain faithful to a team that was once dominant, but has recently fallen from grace, now that big-market teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have commandeered the MLB, setting it on a collision course that can only be avoided with a drastic change in league management.

Who is Brennan Boesch and why is he being mean to American League pitchers?

Boesch, pronounced “BOSH,” as in the pro basketball behemoth, wasn’t called up by the Tigers, he was unleashed.

For several seasons, Tigers fans have cried for a hefty lefty in their batting order.

Now here comes Boesch, 25, as if dropped from the heavens.

Here’s a look at some unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Luke Hochevar, Kansas City Royals

Hochevar threw a complete game, allowing three runs on four hits with seven Ks, to improve to 4-2 with a 5.37 ERA.

Laynce Nix, Cincinnati Reds

With Brooks Conrad’s walk-off grand slam, the Braves have won three games in a row (all by walk-offs) and completed a sweep (even if it was only two games) over the previously surging Cincinnati Reds.

I know momentum doesn’t play as big of a role in baseball as it does other sports (specifically football), but I can’t see how the Braves aren’t flying high after this past win.