MLB

A recent report out of Major League Baseball indicates that the sport's All-Star Game will undergo minor changes beginning in 2010. These changes include:

The professional black baseball player is disappearing like the ozone layer, and there is much discussion about how to prevent Jason Heyward, Derrick Lee, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins from going the way of the dinosaur.

USA Today reported that the number of African-Americans on MLB rosters dropped to 9.5 percent, down from 10.2 percent in 2009. In 1975, that figure was 27 percent.

As an African-American lover of the sport do I wish more blacks would infiltrate the game in the same fashion as the NBA or NFL? Yes.

One of the biggest factors in bringing up young players from the minor leagues is when they have done all they can do down on the farm. 

A young player who dominates his minor league-level over a couple-month period should be promoted to the next level. A player who dominates Triple A over a long period should also be promoted. 

No matter who is in the major leagues in front of him.

No reason to keep a young pitcher in Triple-A "for more seasoning" when he has filled up every spice rack in the country. 

It’s been a very bad week for these power players. When their teams counted on them, they left helmets on the field instead of driving in runs. It’s dark in the basement; maybe they can find the light switch.

1. OF Curtis Granderson NYY

I'm sorry O's fans: it's the truth.

The Orioles might have made some good additions such as Kevin Millwood to lead the young pitching staff and Mike Gonzalez to close out games, but neither has paid out yet.

Gonzalez blew his first two saves but is now on the disabled list after having trouble with his shoulder. Millwood hasn't even picked up a win yet, due to the bullpen and weak offense.

Baltimore is also home to some talent in Matt Wieters, Brian Roberts, Miguel Tejada, and Nick Markakis. 

It has been well documented by now, that the New York Mets are red hot.

What would it be like to have the best baseball Position Player? How fast? How much power?

The only player who ever came close to being that was Babe Ruth, but he couldn't play at least four positions on the field.

Keep in mind that it's the not always the big things that win ballgames. Here is the Ultimate MLB Position Player

(Note: No Hall of Fame player skills are included such as Rickey Henderson's speed or Babe Ruth's power. All skills are from modern day players.)

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The Red Sox promoted 1B Lars Anderson to the Pawtucket Red Sox this afternoon.

Considered one of the better prospects in all of baseball entering the 2009 season, Anderson saw his stock slip dramatically after hitting only .233, with nine home runs and a dismal .328 OBP for Portland (Double-A) lasty year.

But he has come out on fire in 2010. He hit .355, with a 1.086 OPS, through the first 17 games of the year, including thanks to five doubles and five home runs. Thus, he earned the promotion.

In 2007, Jim Bowden made a mostly-unnoticed move to acquire Tyler Clippard from the Yankees for reliever Jonathan Albaladejo, in what may become the best trade in his time as general manager of the Washington Nationals.