Opinion

Drafted: Fifth Round, 2008 (Portsmouth, RI)

Height: 6′2″; Weight: 195 lbs

Born: April 27, 1990

This is where I choose to slot Westmoreland. While his future is in question following his recent surgery, his talent is too great to ignore…but there are too many questions in play to slot him ahead of Kelly, Reddick, or Kalish.

I read the latest scouting report on Jesus Montero's defensive skills. It might be the first decently positive report on his defensive talent—but the secondary reports by bloggers mostly reported the negative.

I bet those guys will be all over the Tiger Woods interview next week.

After a disgraceful 1994 season, the Mets ran a campaign about how things would be different in 1995. Then-Mets manager Dallas Green promised his team would play hard and do whatever it would take to win.

Green felt compelled to do that, attempting to sell fans on the idea of a changed culture within the team. The Mets embarrassed themselves with off-the-field incidents, while adding to the mess by losing almost every day.

This year's Mets decided to do the same thing. They talked about how they believe and how this year will be different.

As regular readers of my stuff know, I am not a backer of Jim Hendry. In fact, I think he is one of the worst GMs in baseball.

Sure, his teams have enjoyed more success than some other Cubs general managers of recent vintage—but I think an increased payroll may have something to do with that.

Plus, it is not exactly a challenging baseline that has been established.

Look at this $140 million team full of bloated, untradeable contracts, and draw your own conclusions.

Plus, Hendry has had an unimpressive run as the club's farm director.

When you read that title, you're probably saying Dana Eveland? A guy with a career 5.54 ERA, and he could possibly become a key player for the Jays this year?

Then maybe that's how the Jays lack greatness this year.

With the season opener on April 5 against the Texas Rangers, the Jays enter their regular season with a lot of new faces including Jose Molina, Kevin Gregg, and Eveland.

There are a lot of things to like about Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward.

You could start with his 6'4'', 220-pound frame, something usually found in a linebacker.

You could start with his numerous accolades, including the 2009 USA Today and Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year awards.

You could even start with the fact that he is the prototypical Atlanta prospect: a local boy that only the Braves truly appreciated as a prep star. Sure, Heyward was an All-American in high school, but only the Braves saw his No. 1 prospect potential.

Going into the offseason following the 2009 season, the Oakland Athletics' had depth at the outfield position.

The question was what to do with Rajai Davis, Ryan Sweeney, Jerry Hairston, Travis Buck, Aaron Cunningham, Eric Patterson, and Jack Cust.

Then they started a plethora of off-season moves including the signings of Coco Crisp and Gabe Gross, and trading for Jake Fox and Michael Taylor. The question is still the same, only half the outfielders in question are new faces.

Since Elijah Dukes’ release a few weeks ago, one of the main questions coming out of Viera Florida was just exactly who was going to be part of the team’s platoon in right field in 2010.

It didn’t take long for manager Jim Riggleman to announce that veteran utility player Willie Harris would be the left-handed component of the platoon.

On Thursday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi finally announced his starting outfield for the 2010 campaign.

We already know Nick Swisher is the right fielder. But with Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera both moving on, the Yankees outfield was guaranteed to have a new look. A younger and more athletic look.

The Yankees traded for All Star Curtis Granderson back in November, and he officially will be the new Yankees' centerfielder for the next couple of seasons.

With March Madness quickly coming to a close, that means only one thing: baseball season is about to begin.

In just about a week, it will be time to open ballparks across the nation as the 2010 MLB season gets underway.

Right in the National League division mix will be your Houston Astros -- and regardless of what you may hear on the radio or TV, Houston’s 2010 team will contend for the NL Central title.

But, before we jump the gun on next season, let’s quickly address seven burning issues facing the Astros as Spring Training comes to a close…

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