Fan News

Jo Stac recalls that after the disastrous 1965 season, the New York Yankees were finally considered "just another team."

She read many articles about how the "pride of the Yankees" belonged to the past. Jo was pleased.

I have rooted for the Cleveland Indians since 1951. Today's fans don't know that the Indians, not the Boston Red Sox, were the New York Yankees' main competition during the early and mid-1950s.

Today, my travels took me to the local Wal-Mart where I picked up some packs of 2010 Topps Baseball Series 1 and landed four Million Card Giveaway redemptions.

Unfortunately for me, the booty wasn't good today, so I've chosen the best of the bunch–1988 Von Hayes.

Good teams often have a certain attitude about them, a brashness that often borders on cockiness. That is why I enjoyed New York Mets third baseman David Wright's recent proclamation that the Mets are going to win the World Series.

According to the New York Post, shortstop Jose Reyes also got in the spirit shortly after Wright's bold prediction. According to Kevin Kernan, "Reyes said over in the minor league clubhouse that there is "no doubt" the Mets can make it to the World Series and win it all."

Aroldis Chapman: the savior, the next best thing, or the next Randy Johnson. All things might be true, but it has to start somewhere.

The Reds' prized new acquisition threw a bullpen session for about two hours on Thursday, and to people who witnessed it, said that he threw well and felt well after.

Chapman, who was just recently signed a six year contract worth over $30 million, has been speculated to be one of the best new pitchers in the game, and the Reds are hoping they hit a jackpot. 

One of the clichés you hear in the weeks preceding the opening of spring training camps is that "competition brings out the best in players."

Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman both have said that during the last month. In fact, here is what Girardi said just yesterday:

As the sun rose this morning, a new feeling came over the city of Sunrise, Ariz.

A feeling, an excitement, was in the air that hadn't been there in quite some time.

Today was the day that baseball returned to the spring training facilities all over the state of Arizona.

For the Texas Rangers that feeling was one of possibility. A feeling that they could possibly be the team to beat in the AL West after so many years of watching the Angels run away from everyone else.

In 2009, the Rangers hung in the race longer than anyone expected them to.

Every Yankee fan knows the feeling. Walk anywhere outside of New York wearing the blue and white, and we're greeted with chants of derision. However, unlike what fans of the Red Sox or Mets might endure, we endure insults that challenge not our team, but our fanhood.

"Front-runner."

"Bandwagon-Jumper."

People who have heard these sorts of insults know that they hurt more than other ones, such as "Yankees suck" or chants of that ilk. At least there is a reasonable comeback to that, and inane arguments about whose team is better are a major part of being a sports fan.

He is the longest-tenured player on the Boston Red Sox roster. His knuckle-balls have fluttered in the Boston breeze for over a decade. He is only 17 wins shy of tying the franchise's all-time win record.

However, entering spring training, Tim Wakefield's place within the Red Sox pitching staff is still unknown. 

The roster of the Atlanta Braves has changed drastically from the start of the 2009 season. Key changes at numerous positions will likely decide whether the Braves make their first playoff appearance since 2005. 

2009 Players to 2010 Players (Changes in Bold): 

Predicting how a team will perform before they even gather en masse for spring training is a dicey proposition. Some of the players won’t even be with the team when they break camp in six weeks.

But what’s the fun in being safe?