The next step in this series of looks at roster moves that face the Tigers is to look at the arbitration eligible players who don’t have the option of turning their team down. These are players with three or more years of service time (usually—it’s explained here ) who are still under team control, but get to negotiate their salary through arbitration.

Despite the Philadelphia Phillies seemingly ending the National League Championship Series in a brief and dominant five games, TBS is pushing Los Angeles Dodger manager Joe Torre to name a Game Six starting pitcher.  

"You really never know. The Dodgers are such a fantastic team and have come back so many times this year, " TBS play-by-play man and legacy hire Chip Caray said, "it would make a lot of baseball sense to do it." 

Two weeks ago, I begged other Cubs fans to watch John Lackey pitch this October.

After his performance both on the mound and leaving it Thursday night, I again step before Cubs Nation at large and submit that Lackey should be Cubs' GM Jim Hendry's top target in free agency this winter.

It's the clinching game for the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 National League Championship Series, and their 2008 ace takes the mound.

With two outs in the first inning, Andre Ethier stands in.

Hamels gets the sign from catcher Carlos Ruiz.

Fastball, away.

Hamels shakes him off.

TBS's cameras zoom in to show Ruiz again, dropping his index finger, pressed against his left leg.

Fastball, away.

Cut back to reveal Hamels, dropping his chin in disgust, sighing, and stepping off the mound.

I had the chance to attend Game 2 of the ALCS this past weekend, in which the Yankees took on the Angels. 

First off, let me say it was the most exciting game I have ever gone to.

Sitting in Section 202 of the bleachers, I had a great view of the game, and an even better scent of all the drunk fans around me.

Better yet was the atmosphere. 

There were many ups and downs to the game. Many fans booed when Joba was taken out, and even more when Damaso Marte was brought in (I booed the loudest). 

But that really didn't matter. 

First base is a power position.  First basemen such as, Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, and many more are among the top home run hitters in the league.

The Mets did not have much power last year.  Albert Pujols singlehandily had more home runs than the whole Mets' team. 

The Mets' new stadium, Citi Field was brought up by many as the reason why the Mets suffered this huge power outage in the 2009 season.  I don't believe it is, because the Mets had one more home run at home then away this season.

I find it funny that Yankee fans are already proclaiming that CC Sabathia is the greatest free-agent pitcher signing in team history. Colin Linneweber of Bleacher Report offers an article titled "CC Sabathia's the Greatest Free-Agent Pitcher the Yanks Have Ever Signed."

He offers quotes from Joe Girardi and Mike Scioscia of his performances in the 2009 postseason. Sabathia has had a stellar postseason going 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA, but last time I checked Sabathia has only been in New York for less than a year.

The Oakland A's ended the season on a seven game losing streak. To make matters worse is the fact that September was the only month of the season that the A's actually had a winning record under the direction of manager Bob Geren.

There's a song the A's remind me of, it's by the Sick Puppies called "All the Same." The premise of the song is about a girlfriend who threatens to leave, but always comes back.

Here's some lyrics from the song:

I'll admit this is mostly speculation, but there is quite a lot of reasoning behind my ideas. This is just free writing my ideas, so here it is, my 2010 Seattle Mariners offseason plan.

1. Swap Brandon Morrow and JJ Hardy. Morrow is expendable given our pitching depth, and Hardy has a great glove and a very potent bat.

2. Trade Bryan Lahair, Jose Lopez, Jason Vargas, Ryan Langerhans, and Carlos Peguero to the Florida Marlins for Jorge Cantu, Ricky Nolasco, and a B-type prospect.

3. Trade Jorge Cantu and Randy Messanger to the Twins for Nick Blackburn.

The dust has finally settled from this debacle of a season in Queens, NY, and needless to say, the Mets have plenty of work to do.

Sure the team was decimated by injuries, but even when healthy, this team has plenty of holes to fill if it plans on being a championship contender in 2010.