OK, let's stir up some arguing and yelling again. Yesterday, I ranked the top five pitching duos. Today, let's do the majors' best hitting duos. Ranking the pitchers was difficult because there were so many excellent pairs to choose.
CHICAGO -- As Anna McDonald noted, there are plenty of reasons to question why anyone would move Troy Tulowitzki from shortstop anytime soon. Despite his checkered injury history, only one of Tulo’s injuries came while fielding.
ST. LOUIS -- Troy Tulowitzki belongs on the baseball field. Whether a product of self-determination or God-given talent or a little of both, he was made to play shortstop. Where other shortstops simply take their position on the field, Tulowitzki becomes one with his.
With apologies to the nice starts of the Pirates and Rockies, the most important story line of April has been the Braves' opening up a 3.5-game lead over the Nationals in the NL East. Considering the importance of winning the division and avoiding the ridiculous wild-card play-in game, the last thing the Braves wanted to do was dig a hole and try to catch the Nats from behind.
You already know the Braves have been the hottest team in the National League. You also know they have the guy with the most home runs in baseball in Justin Upton. But who has the second-best record in the NL, and who, even more surprisingly, has the second-most homers in MLB?
ESPN headline: "Rockies bolster rotation with Garland signing" ... well, I'm not sure I would have used "bolster" there. OK, let's assume Jon Garland is healthy after making just nine starts in 2011 and missing all of last season with shoulder issues.
2012 in review Record: 68-94 (69-93 Pythagorean) 758 runs scored (3rd in NL) 890 runs allowed (16th in NL) Big Offseason Moves Acquired Wilton Lopez from Astros for Alex White and Alex Gillingham. Acquired Ryan Wheeler from Diamondbacks for Matt Reynolds.
Thinking outside the box can be a really great thing. However, it can also be entirely unnecessary, as is probably the case with Jim Tracy’s decision to blow up the conventional five-man rotation with the Colorado Rockies.
With the announcement that Joe Torre will manage Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, let's have a little fun and project who could form the 28-man squad in March. Before we get to my suggested roster, a few notes and thoughts: 1.
The question is simple: If you were starting a franchise and could pick any player in baseball, who would you pick? Ignore contracts, current or future. Ignore current team. Think only of ability, position and age.
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