Opinion

The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the most storied franchises in all of baseball. A whole generation of baseball fans are unaware of that fact, thanks largely in part to 17- straight losing seasons.

2010 will very likely be the 18th-straight season of losing for the Pirates and their fans.

However, it finally appears the team is done retooling and is heading toward respectability.

No player embodies the youth movement of the team more so than Andrew McCutchen.

Ah, with one mild fastball placed squarely between the ample shoulder blades of Prince Fielder, Barry Zito of our San Francisco Giants reminded the athletic world exactly why Major League Baseball will always be the top dog for many of its fans.

As for me, no affinity for another sport will ever replace my love of "The Show."

And it's because of old-school moments just like Zito's beanball right out of the spring training gates.

For those of you unfamiliar with the first salvo in this six-month-old dispute, allow me to explain.

Here's the situation: You're a general manager for a new expansion baseball team and Bud Selig has decided to give you the choice to pick any player in the league on any team with your first pick.

Sounds easy enough, right?

Then the real problem arises:

Whom do you pick?

Do you go with an elite hitter like Albert Pujols, or do you take a lights-out starter like Roy Halladay? Do you take a money closer like Mariano Rivera, or do you go with a young stud like Joe Mauer?

Dear San Francisco Giants Management,

Don't make the Buster Posey situation more complicated than it needs to be. History shows that a big—time player can emerge as a star without spending all his time playing one position until he finally earns a big league starting job.

Revolutionize might be a strong word; dominate might be a little more apropos.

With the signing of his new, six year, $51 million mega-deal yesterday, Justin Upton has officially arrived.

He now has his franchise’s backing on his path to greatness and super-stardom.

As we begin this decade, he seems to be one of the best young players in all of baseball. Upton, only 22 years old, is now the face of the Arizona Diamondback franchise and, within time, might be the face of MLB as well.

If Daniel Murphy was not nervous about his job as he packed his cleats and headed into Port St. Lucie last week, he should be a little more concerned now that Ike Davis is up and running.

Davis is seen as the first baseman of the future for the Mets, but he is looking to fast-track his route to Citi Field in an attempt to see time in the Major Leagues in 2010.

While it’s Murphy’s job to lose right now, Davis is certainly making a strong case for playing time—or at the very least an extended look—in the first week of training.

Upon reading the title, one may immediately say that Rod Barajas is the hands down favorite, but a further look at the numbers and the intangibles may show that new addition John Buck is in fact the better catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Preference is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Alex Rodriguez is a remarkable talent. He’s also, unfortunately, a relative tool. In 16 big league seasons, the New York Yankees third baseman has amassed Ruthian statistics—which would be better news if he weren’t doomed to be measured against the incalculable charm of Derek Jeter.

Ability is the sum of personal competence.

Applause, on the other hand, is the product of social comparison.

It's March, which means three things: 1) A friend or family member will do something (or someone) they regret on St. Patrick's Day 2) Your genius will betray you in the form of busted NCAA brackets and 3) You have a fantasy baseball draft on the horizon.

If you're a serious fantasy player—and not that hack from accounting who asks if A-Rod is available in Round 7—this means you've already begun preparation for the big day.

Welcome back to the third installment of my fantasy baseball preview.

This portion of my preview is a list of established veterans who had unexpectedly All-Star-caliber seasons, and draw speculation as to whether they can repeat their success from 2009.

Let's take a look at 14 profiled vets whose careers are now at a crossroad.

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