MLB

As with the rest of the articles in this series, I started out intending to list the Top 10 games of the last decade; but then realized I would have to leave too many great games off the list if I limited it to just 10 games. So, as a result, I hereby present you with my Top 20 Sox games of the last 10 years.

This is Part II of the list, it contains Games 1-10:

Games No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, and No. 7 (Tie): No Problems in the 21st Century
Apr. 4, 2001; Apr. 27, 2002; Sept. 1, 2007; and May 19, 2008

When one thinks of the Giants' top prospects, he or she typically thinks of the promise of Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, and Thomas Neal, or perhaps the horrific downfall of Angel Villalona.

But the team's sixth-round pick in 2008, left-handed pitcher Eric Surkamp, deserves to be discussed as well.

Surkamp is a tall lefty out of NC State, standing 6'5". He was 21 years old during the 2009 season.

Surkamp isn't the hardest thrower out there, but he isn't Jamie Moyer either. His fastball ranges from 86-91 mph, and he has excellent command of the pitch.

Pending Monday's physical, Juan Uribe will rejoin his Giant pals in what one can only hope to be an encore as the super utility man that he was last year.  With Juan back in the mix, as well as recent acquisition Mark DeRosa, the Giants have two quality ballplayers known to be great locker room presences for a very young team. 

The question remains, however, if they have done enough to build a lineup to support Pablo Sandoval and one of the strongest staffs in the majors.

In the off-season between 2008 and 2009, Geovany Soto was riding high. The Chicago Cubs catcher had just won the National League Rookie of the Year award, having socked 23 home runs and posted an .868 OPS in his first full season of Major League work.

Perhaps in retrospect, the young backstop rode a little too high. He came to camp in poor shape, and admitted during the season to a positive test for marijuana during the World Baseball Classic.

While my bio claims that I know about 2000 players currently in affiliated baseball (and I stand by that claim), my knowledge begins to fracture as you get lower and lower in the minors.

I have a decent sense of almost everyone in Triple-A and a good amount of Double-A, but particularly when you get to Low-A and short-season leagues, all I know are top prospects, high draft picks, and A's players.

However, one player in the short-season Appalachian League caught my eye recently: Elizabethton Twins catcher Josmil Pinto.

2010 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #49 | Joe Testa

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Left/Left

Born | December 18, 1985 (Jackson, N.J.)

School | Wagner College

Height | 5'10''

Weight | 175 lbs.

2009 Ranking | Not Ranked



Breakdown

Who ever thought that the Toronto Blue Jays would enter the ring and be in contention for one of the most hotly contested pitchers in the world? MLB Trade Rumors reports that the Blue Jays discussions with Aroldis Chapman are heating up, and met with him for a private workout on Thursday. 

Among the things that struck me with the arrival of 2010 last night (hmm...I start grad school in four days...) was a new found excitement for the opening of Target Field.

As a lifelong Twins fan, I spent many a night twisted half around in my seat to face home plate instead of somewhere between second base and the centerfielder, phenomenal seats for the Vikings game the next day, but not so great for a pitchers' duel.

In my excitement, I went looking for some press on the new stadium, and there's a lot of excitement around baseball about this new park.

I am now on the sixth installment of my series in which I am naming who I feel are the top 10 players in each MLB franchise's history, and this one is the Mariners.

With just four postseason appearances in their 33 seasons, the Mariners have had some tough times with just ten winning seasons i their history. Nonetheless, they have had some great players don the Mariners uniform.

As with any rankings list, I'm sure not everyone will agree with me.

Earlier in the offseason, I broke down the catchers in the A's organization. That article can be found at http://bleacherreport.com/articles/307963-heres-a-thought-breaking-down-....