MLB

Every season there is a sizable list of prospects who appear primed to make a major impact in the major leagues, but the team has no place to use them.  “Blocked prospect” is a phrase we’ve all heard, and it definitely applies to the Padres first baseman Kyle Blanks.  All he has to overcome in order to be slotted into the middle of the Padres lineup is Adrian Gonzalez, one of the best players in baseball. 

I honestly can't remember the last time I was this happy as a Rangers fan. What an amazing season it has been to this point, and what is even more amazing is how well we are pitching!

Matt Harrison threw his third consecutive great game, including two complete games. His stuff has been electric, and batters just aren't hitting it. What's even more impressive is how calm he has been under pressure.

As I was thinking about typing up a story to publish and thought to myself, now that Manny Ramirez has been caught cheating and people like David Ortiz are "all of the sudden" on a power shortage, what affect will the new steroid policy have on baseball? I went immediately to home runs, which led me to this:

What are the top five baseball achievements we will never see in our lifetime?

50 Home Runs in a Single Season

Welcome to Rudy Dominick & Johnny Lawrence's fourth weekly installment of Detroit Tigers information and analysis. Each Thursday, we will delve into all things Tigers. Read and digest, or skim and spit out our insightful banter.

Keep An Eye On—Scott Sizemore, Second Base—Erie Sea Wolves (AA)
(May 6—May 13)
.363 BA, 3 HR, 6 RBI

Leading up to the 2009 season for the Minnesota Twins, the question was how the team was going to find playing time for their five main outfielders.  

Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, Carlos Gomez, and Delmon Young were all candidates to see significant playing time, but Ron Gardenhire was supposed to have a difficult time divvying up the playing time among them.  

Well, we are 35 games into the season and the play of the five aforementioned outfielders thus far have dictated their roles.  

So we're all a bit sick of reading about steroids. OK, I get that. But allow me to indulge one more time and I swear this time, it will be a fun debate.

Which of the so-called "Steroid Era" players should make the Hall of Fame?

There are players that got caught, and then there are players that we strongly suspect used steroids, yet don't have the proof.

The question is, without the smoking gun, so to speak, who do you let into the HOF from this era and who do you keep out?

Leading the AL West over the Angels by 1.5 games and still unbeaten against the Mariners this year, the Rangers went into last night's game looking to continue their winning ways.

Texas sent Brandon McCarthy to the mound as he looked to redeem himself after getting blown-up in his last start in Oakland.  Brandon also had a personal battle, he has yet to pitch seven complete innings in a Rangers uniform. 

Wednesday night against the Mariners he was able accomplish both goals.

After a 9-3 start, including solid bullpen outings from the likes of Cla Meredith and Duaner Sanchez, it looked like the Padres were going to prove all their skeptics wrong.

But, the Padres are 4-18 since then and their bullpen continues to struggle. Though you could say it's their inexperience, that excuse won't last much longer for Kevin Towers and company.

So, with that in mind, it's time to pass out grades as well as honorable and dishonorable mentions for this San Diego Padres' pitching staff.