Rankings/List

Thanks to Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki, the World Baseball Classic, Orestes Destrade et al., baseball in Japan is less of a mystery than it used to be. But here is a list of 10 things the average MLB fan probably doesn't know.

[If you want my credentials, I moved to Japan with my parents when I was seven years old, and lived there for 10 years as a child, attending around 200 baseball games in Japan. If you don't want my credentials, the facts are still the same.]

Although many refer to baseball's current generation as the "steroid era," far from the only changes in the game can be traced to medically enhanced physiques. Pitcher wins, losses, and saves, batting average, RBI, errors and bunting all seem to be on the way out in favor of adjusted ERA, BABIP, VORP, range factors, and pitch counts, all leading to a newer era in baseball influenced by the work of sabermetrics—trying to measure objectively what leads to wins and losses, challenging the conventional wisdom, and often upending it.

Chances are, if you're not a fan of a team, you're probably not a fan of the announcer. While every announcer has their own style and quirks, some can just get under your skin.

DISCLAIMER: These people are announcing solely to their own fans (where people like me tune in on satellite radio or internet), and I respect them as broadcasters. Thus, my personal perspective likely does not reflect the lovability amongst the hometown fans.

This story was written by Stan Whyte, currently a writer for Baseball Reflections.com.

No lengthy introduction needed here as we continue with the second half of the top 20 prospects in baseball thanks again to Keith Law of Scouts, Inc. We will start now with No. 11.

11. Tim Beckham, SS, Tampa Bay Rays organization

It seems like such a simple task.

All you have to do is throw a baseball 60 feet.

Yet, so many who have had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game have failed in spectacular fashion. And with the recent addition of Baba Booey's blunder, it doesn't look like things are going to get better anytime soon.

Here is a look back at The 10 Most Embarrassing First Pitches of All Time.

Continuing on with my Cubs series, I ranked my top ten Cubs third basemen.

This position was a consistent revolving door from the time Ron Santo left until the trade for Aramis Ramirez, and becasue of that there are a lot of old timers on this list.

While the rankings are somewhat subjective, as they always are, I looked closely at each player's 162-game average during his tenure with the Cubs, as well as whether he was a part of any Cubs playoff teams.

I hope you enjoy this and follow the series as it continues. As always, I look forward to your input.

We keep talking about how to improve your team through additions, guys who are just chilling on the wire waiting for you. But what if you don't have anyone on your team you want to drop?

That sixth-round Garrett Atkins pickup in the midst of that run on third basemen seemed like the right call at the time. You needed a masher, and David Ortiz still being around at the top of the fourth round for you seemed to good too be true. You drafted them so high, and they've been so good until this year; why would you give up on them?

The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the best stories in the young MLB season, riding hot bats and surprisingly-good young pitching. The Jays were in first place in the AL East until Sunday, where after a now seven-game losing streak, are in third place in the toughest division in baseball.

If you didn't see this fall coming, you must be a die-hard Jays Fan.  Here are five reasons the Jays have cooled off.

5. Overpaid, Underachievers

WhatIfSports.com utilizes its award-winning baseball simulation engine to present the most comprehensive and unbiased ranking possible of all 30 teams in baseball each Monday during the regular season.