Opinion

In the spectrum of not-so-breaking news, Tampa Bay Rays ownership is not a huge fan of their team playing at Tropicana Field, America’s favorite giant warehouse. Owner Stuart Sternberg said they’ve done all that they can to make the facility adequate, but it just does not invoke an ideal baseball atmosphere.

The Madison Bumgarner that made his major league debut last September wasn't the same Madison Bumgarner we had heard so much about the past two years.

Instead of the low-to-mid-90s heat he used to blow away South Atlantic League hitters in 2008, Bumgarner was barely hitting 90 in his first career start. There was no specific reason as to why the readings on the radar gun was showing 88 or that it was showing 92 and 94.

The New York Mets' farm system has been lacking ever since they acquired Johan Santana from the Twins.  Their farm system began to get ranked near the bottom of the best farm systems. 

It was hard for the Mets to rebuild their farm system but it seems like they have been doing a pretty good job.  Fernando Martinez, Ike Davis, and Jenrry Mejia are looking like the Mets' top prospects.

This article was originally published at TheDailyCub.com , my blog that covers all things Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs' outfield has been extremely expensive over the past couple of years, and the team has failed to get its money’s worth as they sign free agent after free agent to big contracts without much, if any, improvement.

The Giants through the years are best known for home runs and heartbreak.

Four of the top 23 players on the career home run leaders’ list hit the bulk of their bombs while playing for the Giants.

All-time leader Barry Bonds hit most of his 762 homers in a Giants' uniform. Willie Mays (660) and Willie McCovey (521) did the same.

When Mays became the National League’s career home run king in 1966, he surpassed the mark of New York Giants' Hall of Famer, Mel Ott (511).

Whether in New York or San Francisco, the Giants have always played a prominent role in the history of the home run.

Barry Bonds is the all-time career home leader after belting 73 in 2001 to set the single-season record. He hit the bulk of them in the heart of the steroids era, but still thrilled fans across the country who were largely unaware of the controversy that would unfold later.

Willie Mays and Willie McCovey rank among the all-time career home run leaders, as does New York Giants legend Mel Ott.

Nate McLouth is currently penciled in as the Atlanta Braves' leadoff hitter for the 2010 season.

But following a poor 2009 season, during which he was traded from the Pirates to the Braves and battled vision problems, McLouth is starting extremely slow this spring.

All of this has many questioning whether or not he should bat first.

The main reason that McLouth is so firmly entrenched in the leadoff role is that the Braves lack a true leadoff hitter.

I was downright shocked to see the Philadelphia Phillies pull off the Roy Halladay trade.

I figured that with Cliff Lee’s performance in the 2009 postseason, they were satisfied with the deal they pulled off to get him, and were content going with him and Cole Hamels atop their rotation.

I’m sure they probably would have been had Lee been open to signing a long-term extension. I think it needs to be pointed out that the reason they went after Halladay was because he was willing to sign long-term.

You've got nothing to lose by watching the 2010 version of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Can you feel that excitement? It's almost as thrilling as asking a question and then answering it yourself.

Is that fulfilling? You bet.

The only promise this team can make to its fans is that they will play baseball. Satisfaction isn't guaranteed, but that's been the case in Toronto for some time.

Just like how winter is slowly melting into spring, the Blue Jays are thawing themselves from the deep winter that has enveloped the team for a decade.

The New York Yankees are usually one of the teams where most, if not all, the 25-man roster spots are already accounted.

But, as is the case with a team based in New York, the hype does follow the younger players. Many times this hype is unwarranted.

In the case of these young Yankee players, it might be justified.

This list is not predicated on which Yankee farmhand is the best prospect or will make the most impact on the major leagues.

Jesus Montero is the best prospect and will make the most impact.

But he is NOT on this list.