Opinion

When it comes to baseball's TV analysts, former players often make some of the best announcers out there. They not only know the game well, but they are familiar with situations players are going through, can explain the game better and have connections to players and management that can give them a little extra insight.

While not all of the best TV analysts are former ball players and not all former ball players are always good analysts, there is a real connection between the two.

Sometimes you just gotta hit a guy.

Between 2004 and 2012, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were fixtures on the left side of the New York Yankees infield.

But significant injuries now threaten their baseball careers, or at least their futures as everyday players.

Several potential trade-deadline candidates had question marks coming into the season. Are they healthy and can they stay healthy? Can they bounce back from a poor season? Will they even be available in July, or will their teams be contending for a playoff spot?

A few weeks into the season, the picture is starting to clear up slightly, with a few players forcing their way onto the list after hot starts. 

Ordinarily, you could answer a question like this via simple process of elimination. What do you already have? Once you know that, you know what you need.

Except, with this Phillies team, the answer to the primary question is a bit troubling.

The Phillies have a young, dynamic center fielder in Ben Revere. After that? You tell me.

On a normal night at Yankee Stadium, you're not going to hear too many kind words about the city of Boston. Not as long as those blasted Red Sox are stationed there, anyway.

But Tuesday was no normal night at the stadium. In response to the horrible tragedy that occurred on Monday, the Yankees organization had nothing but love in its heart for Boston.

For at least one day, there is no rivalry. Just fellowship in a time when it is needed.

Over the last several years, the famous Red Sox and Yankees rivalry has been said to be dead, or at the very least, diminished. But no matter where the rivalry stands today it remains—and has always been—one of the greatest, longest-standing rivalries in sports.

It’s only two weeks into the minor league season, but that doesn’t mean a prospect’s trade value can’t increase or decline based on performance thus far.

Many prospects have questions surrounding them heading into a new season, especially in regards to their ability to handle a new level or bounce back from a poor season. Getting off to a great start can ease the minds of their own organization and open up the eyes of teams potentially interested in acquiring them.

The Jackie Bradley Jr. experiment will likely come to an end in the coming days once David Ortiz is healthy enough to return to the Boston Red Sox.

Boston made the popular decision of promoting Bradley to the big leagues after his monster spring training and when it was apparent that a roster spot would be open due to the array of outstanding injuries. In 28 games, Bradley hit .419/.507/.613 with seven extra-base hits, 12 RBI and 13 runs through spring training.

Last year, R.A. Dickey was a walking, talking reminder of one of the coolest realities of baseball: Anyone can excel at it. Even knuckleballers in their late-30s who have spent the majority of their careers fending off irrelevancy.

Now here we are in 2013, and Dickey is a walking, talking reminder of one of the not-so-great realities of baseball: Glory in this sport can be fleeting. Dreams that come true can come untrue in a hurry.