Opinion

It was reported today that the Texas Rangers voided IF Khalil Greene’s contract, essentially ending any chance Greene has of playing baseball again this season.

Greene wasn't released because of nagging injuries, age, or terribly declining performance; but because his head's just not in the right place.

I have read a boatload of preview articles for the 2010 season, plus many articles on the 2010 Derek Jeter-led New York Yankees and their attempt to be the first team to repeat as World Series Champions since, well...the Jeter-led Yankees of a decade ago.

Most pundits agree that the New York Yankees have the best team in baseball and, coming off a 103-win, 2009 regular season and a World Series title, it is hard to argue.

36 hours into Manny Acta’s first spring training as manager of the Indians, and he’s already nestled himself a nice, warm place in the back corner of Cleveland’s media doghouse.

That didn’t take long, did it?

On one of the youngest teams in the majors with question marks for most of the team, Acta has curiously already ended all speculation and named Russell Branyan the starting first basemen.

“He’ll get a majority of the time at first base,” said Acta. “We didn’t sign him to be a backup guy.”

It can't possibly be all bad.

Predictions for the Pirates in 2010 run from bleak (they might only lose 90 games) to abysmal (they probably will lose 120 games) to fanciful (they will win it all).

The truth, as is usually the case, likely lies somewhere in between (and around 75 wins).

As crazy as it sounds, its probably no longer a matter of if the Pirates will turn things around, but more a matter of when .

Spring Training is finally getting under way for Major League Baseball.

And already, as the manager of the defending World Series Champions, Joe Girardi has a major decision to make.

Well, I guess you can call it a "major decision." Some might not see it as that.

But for the careers of Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, it is a major decision.

That decision is who will win the fifth and final spot in the Yankees starting rotation and who goes to the bullpen as the setup man.

As a Braves blogger for the past few seasons, I have seen my fair share of Jeff Francoeur ups and downs.

I have also seen him make claim after claim that he will do certain things in a given season. Jeff Francoeur's batting average makes his prediction record look like Ted Williams' production against Mendoza's: Terrible.

Here is what the Met's right fielder had to say about the 2010 season to Kevin Kernan of the New York Post.

At the age of 37, Raul Ibañez put up some of the best numbers of his career, hitting .272, with 34 home runs, and 93 RBI.  

At the age of 30, Jayson Werth put up some of the best numbers of his career, hitting .268, with 36 home runs, and 99 RBI.

Living in San Diego for the better part of eight years, I got a chance to watch Khalil Greene come out of Clemson University and become arguably the best shortstop the Padres had seen since Ozzie Smith.

In 2004, his first year as a starter for the Padres, Greene hit .273 with 15 home runs, and 65 runs batted in. But it wasn't his offense that fans came to enjoy, it was his incredible highlight-reel defensive plays.

Would Lance Berkman seriously retire after the 2010 season?

Why would the New York Yankees neglect to re-sign Derek Jeter before now?

At the end of this season he will be a free agent. This is the final year of a 10-year $189M contract.

It is not good to send you franchise hit leader into Spring Training with the thought of free agency on his mind. There is more than one team that would be delighted to have the future Hall of Famer (I hate it when people say that) anchoring their infield.

Jeter, 35, had one of his better years in 2009 batting .334 with 18 homers, 66 RBI, 212 hits, 107 runs and an OBP of .406.