Clemson - An All Out Sports Team

By Freddie Brister

The Clemson University baseball team, apart from representing the university in the NCAA Division I college baseball is also said to participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference. While Jack Leggett is the present head coach, only two coach changes have been made since the beginning.

.Bill Winhelm coached the Clemson baseball team from the 1970's right up to the 1990's. It wasn't until the year 2000 where Jack Leggett came and took over. The Clemson baseball team is known to play all their home games at the Doug Kingsmore Stadium as it is their home ground. Their stadium is known to have a capacity of up to 6217 spectators and fans in total.

Clemson which has always been consistent with their wins, have an impressive 40 wins in the last 21 games played by them. After leaving the Clemson University, a number of their players have been able to join Major League. The colors of their uniform are northwestern purple and burnt orange.

Brian Barnes, Jeff Baker, Jerry Brooks, Kris Neson and Mike Brown are a few among many great names that played for them. While some names are better known than others, it is worthwhile, finding out a few details about these famous players.

Scott Winchester was one of the first to ever go to major league from Clemson University. He was born on April 20th, 1973. He played as a right handed pitcher. His debut for Cincinnati Reds took place on September the 8th, 1997. His last appearance for the Cincinnati Reds was on August 9th, 2001. By the time he had retired he had settled for stats that did not show a true reflection of his performances. He had a win loss ration of 3-8. His earned run average was 5.42 and strike outs were at 55.

Born on 5th December 1974, playing as a pitcher, Ken Vining was another popular player who joined the Chicago White sox and made his debut appearance on 23rd May 2001. Not much later however, he made his last appearance for the Sox on 5th July of the same year.

With an earned run average of 17.55 and just 3 strike outs, Vining's career statistics also did not show his real capabilities.

Matt White Matt White who was born on 19th August 1977 was a relief pitcher and made his debut appearance for the Boston Red Sox on 27th May 2003. Matt however, did not stop at playing for one team and was known to have played for the Seattle Mariners, Yokohama Bay Stars, Washington Nationals as well as the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions.

According to his career statistics Matt had a win loss ratio of 0:2 and an earned run average of 16.76 with only 3 strike outs. He too was another player whose on field performance was much better when compared to his statistics. - 31492

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Freddie Brister is a big fan of College Baseball check out his: Missouri swimsuit or his Michigan Bikini

Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Baseball Strength Training Program

By Ron Wrigley

Becoming the best baseball player on the field takes hard work. Many of the greatest athletes of our time spent years working to achieve the success that they have achieved. While it won't happen overnight, a good baseball strength training program will help you reach your goals. If you are just getting started, there are a few training tips you should remember.

Running drills will help you with speed and agility. However, your strength training should focus on a good weight lifting workout. It is important to mix up the types of weights you use. For instance, instead of just using kettle balls and free weights, try adding resistance weights as well.

If this is your first time doing this sort of exercise, you should take it easy at first. The last thing any athlete wants is an injury. Start with exercises you feel comfortable with and find easy. You will get stronger as you continue to work out. Remember to use lighter weights when working the upper body to avoid injury.

To protect yourself from shoulder injuries you should never practice pressing motions with very heavy weights. When you are exercising your lower body parts you can use heavy weights. It is important to remember: before you start any strength training program you should do some stretching exercises to prepare your muscles. Yoga techniques are helpful for this.

Keep in mind that in the moment you reach for the ball you need to have a lot of core strength. To achieve this you must exercise especially the abdomen and the lower back.

Remember that you can achieve a great performance in baseball only if you are training a lot. Talent is not enough to become one of the best players. This sport requires a lot of hard work and sacrifices. - 31492

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Learn more about baseball weight training program. Stop by Ron Wrigley's site where you can find out all about training and what it can do for you.

IOWA - One Of The Many Well Known Sports Teams

By Freddie Brister

The University of Northern Iowa was known to have a baseball team that use to take part in the NCCA Division I. The team was known as Northern Iowa Panthers baseball. The team was based in Cedar Falls, Iowa however that is no longer the case. The University of Northern Iowa has discontinued the program at their university from this year.

Rick Heller, the head coach of the team at that time served a ten year period and the team was nicknamed panthers. The Waterloo Riverfront Stadium which was their home stadium could hold up to 4277 spectators. The focus at present however is on the minor league teams since baseball at university level does not exist any more.

Even if they are not as famous as other teams, the four Class A teams in the Midwest League known as Burlington Bees, Quad Cities River Bandits, Clinton Lumber Kings and Cedar Rapid Kernels, they too have produced some quality players who have reached a professional level. It is worthwhile taking a look at some of them who did make it to the major league.

Born in Texas on 23rd September 1985, Kenn Anthony Kasperk was invited to join the Chicago Cubs in 2004 when he was quite young, which was turned down by him. Neither did he accept a draft contract from the Washington Nationals in 2007.

However, he decided to take up the offer from Seattle Mariners in 2008 and was drafted during the Major League Baseball draft in the 12th round. Kenn has made quite an impression early in his career with the Seattle Mariners.

Known as a right handed batter and bowler, many feel that they can expect a lot from him in the future since he's young and has a long career in front of him.

Someone of the same caliber is Denny Almonte who was born in Miami Florida on 24th Sept. 1988 and even though he was younger than Kenn, Seattle Mariners drafted him into Major Baseball League in 2007. While being still at school, Denny found time to get some practice in the game at the same time he played little league.

When trying to get into the more challenging national level, Danny's talent was recognized before long and his specialty in being a right handed thrower and switcher in batting got him noticed by many a team. If he goes on as he does, we can be sure that there will be many other teams who will want him on their side pretty soon.

Jerry Nyman who initially played for Chicago White Sox was later signed on as the now famous coach of the Midwest League who trained the players for many years. - 31492

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Freddie Brister is a big fan of College Baseball check out his: Florida Swimsuit

What To Know About The Top-Sports-Betting-Reviews

By Jay Morrison

If you love sports or simply love to gamble, Top-Sports-Betting-Reviews can help you to become a winner in sports betting. Sports betting allows thousands of people to win on a regular basis.

While sports betting is illegal in much of the United States, nearly every city has a bookie that works in the back of another business. Today you do not need to travel to Vegas but can legally take part in sports betting on the internet through many of the offshore gambling establishments. In addition to sports betting, these establishments offer a safe and secure way to play casino games and poker in your own home on your computer.

The winners in sports betting have a simple system that directs their wagers. Most of the systems are based on simple statistics. Using tools such as a bell curve gives the odds of winning any wager. If you do not have a handle on statistics yourself, then you need a person or method that can allow you to enter numbers into the formula to tell you when you should bet and when to hold off. Many of the systems offer up to a 95 percent chance of being right in your bets.

In sports betting, there are two types of bets made. The first is the straight bet or moneyline bet which is simply a bet made as to who will win the game. If Team A is playing against Team B, the straight bet is that Team A will beat Team B. If your bet is on Team A and they win, then you win the bet.

Bets that involve point spreads are bets that a team will will or lose by a certain number of points. In this type of bet, you may win by betting on a losing team if the winning team did not score at least the point spread above the score of the losing team.

Good betting reviews should remind you that it is not wise to bet on each match. Those who win the most in sports betting only bet on games where the numbers show a very good chance of getting a return from the bet. When you use the system, follow the same formula for each game. While it is sometimes difficult, avoid allowing emotions and hunches to take over your formula. When the numbers tell you to avoid a game, then you should stay away and wait for games which are more favorable.

You can find many systems that claim to offer winning results, but this is not always the case. Some systems just do not produce. Be skeptical and allow other users to prove the system before buying into it. Ask for a money back guarantee with no questions ask before purchasing the system. If it does not prove itself, ask for your money back and find a better system.

By checking the Top-Sports-Betting-Reviews you will be able to keep track of the numbers in order to make better wagers and to bring in more money as a result of your bets. - 31492

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You will enjoy finding out about online sports betting strategies, through these webpages. Also, you will read some of the high quality Top-Sports-Betting-Reviews today on this website.

Alabama - Take Pride In Alabama

By Freddie Brister

The Crimson Tide is the baseball team name that represents the University of Alabama. They are known to play for the NCCA Division I college baseball league for quite some time now.

Progressing quite significantly in baseball, Crimson tide has also participated in the southeastern conference as well as the Western Division while all games they take part in are said to be hosted at their home ground which is the Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

It is said that the Stadium can accommodate more than 6571 spectators and fans altogether and Alabama has been winning a record number of just over 2000 games, continuously for the past several years. Mitch Gaspard is their head coach at present.

Jim Wells, the coach that helped Alabama in the early years to win all their matches was replaced by the present coach. A number of players after graduating from the University of Alabama have gone on to play major league.

To name a few; John Baumgarner, Ike Boone, Lance Cromier, Jack Bolling and Andy Cohen although there are many more. Statistics of a few famous players who made it to major league are given below:

Taylor Mark Tankersely Born on 7th March 1983, a very popular player who started off with the Florida Marlins on 3rd June 2006 and plays as a relief pitcher. Being both a left handed batsmen and thrower, Taylor has had an impressive run with an earned run average of 4.25, 108 strike outs and a win loss ratio of 8:3 to date.

Tommy Hunter Tommy Hunter was born on 3rd July 1986 and is a starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers who wears the number 35. Another very popular player Tommy debuts for Texas Rangers on 1st August 2008 and is still playing for them. His remarkable career consists of a win loss ratio of 9:8 while his present earned run average is 5.20. He also has 73 strike outs.

David Robertson David Robertson who graduated from the Alabama University was born on 9th April 1985 and was drafted by the New York Yankees on 29th June 2008. He has been one of the most recent players to join from the Alabama University.

David who plays as a relief pitcher wears the number 30 for the Yankees. With amazing statistics of a win loss ratio of 6:1, an average run rate of 4:14 and 99 strike outs. Being so successful at such a young age, it was possible for him to be a part of the 2009 World Series Championship. Great are the future expectations from this youngster. - 31492

About the Author:

Freddie Brister is a big fan of College Baseball check out his: South Carolina Watch

Journey Suggestions to Pittsburgh

By Seth Hargraveis

Pittsburgh is a city in Southwestern Pennsylvania. With a population of more than 350,000 folks and an region that covers several square miles, it is one particular on the largest cities while in the state of Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh lies where the Monongahela River and also the Allegheny River meet, forming the Ohio River. The rivers and mountains surrounding the metropolis make for a one of a kind terrain. Since of this, the city developed as numerous separate, distinct regions or neighborhoods. Every single region has different functions that make the city an outstanding travel destination for the young and old alike.

Millions of men and women vacation to Pittsburgh each year for different sporting occasions. Pittsburgh has expert football, hockey, and baseball teams, all of which are located within the heart of down town. Whether you're traveling to see the Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates, Pittsburgh's sporting events are a large attraction. Inside the summer months, Pittsburgh is likewise host to a number of concerts, and you will find theatrical performances in various areas year round.

Pittsburgh can be a incredibly historical city with countless fascinating areas and museums. Downtown is property for the Andy Warhol art museum and the Children's Museum. In Oakland visitors can go for the Carnegie Museum of Art too as the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Pittsburgh is likewise household for the Carnegie Science Center and several other museums too as a huge and very popular zoo. Just outside of Pittsburgh there is also an amusement park identified as Kennywood. The little park was founded inside the late 1800s, but it remains a incredibly famous tourist destination.

Shopping and dining are also outstanding in Pittsburgh. The a variety of regions each feature an eclectic group of restaurants and one of a kind shops. Pittsburgh is usually household to a number of buying malls and most any well-known chain restaurant one could imagine. The Primanti Brother restaurant is an vital part from the Pittsburgh dining experience. You will discover numerous locations, but the original is located while in the city's Strip District. The restaurant serves the well-known Primani Sandwich which characteristics two slices of fresh baked Italian bread piled high with toppings which includes cole slaw and french fries.

No matter what your taste, Pittsburgh is a metropolis for men and women of all interests. Because it is not considered to be a top vacation destination, it can also be really affordable to vacation there as hotels are commonly inexpensive. - 31492

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Learn tons of information online about electronics in Pittburgh related articles like blue trek stereo bluetooth headset hi fi st1. Check out Seth Hargraveis's newest site where you may learn information about bluetrek stereo bluetooth headset.

Ed Wade's Bullpen Obsession

By Hugh Manning

Ed Wade, previously with the Phillies, is known to be a master at assembling a strong bullpen. Wade, presently GM for the Astros, has attempted to do the same in Houston. As soon as he took on the job, relievers like Brad Lidge and Chad Qualls were shipped out, and guys like Valverde, Brocail, LaTroy Hawkins and others came in.

Wade believes in keeping your friends close and your bullpen closer. Early on, you could see his strategy: Have more relief pitching than you need because you never know which guys are going to tank on you from year to year. In 2008, it was Villarreal who suddenly lost it. In 2009, it's been a bad year for Geary and Brocail. Generally, the philosophy has served Ed well but, in 2009, it has been a bit pricey. According to ESPN.com, the Astros are ninth in major league payroll at just under $103 million. After deadline trades, they may have slid to 11th but that evades my point.

By my fuzzy math, the Astros' bullpen salary comes out to $18.424 million. That's in the same ballpark as what the World Champion Phillies spend, the team closest in overall market size to what the Astros are. Yet, if you look at some of the other contending National League teams, the bullpen cost appears to be above average. The Dodgers, even with George Sherrill recently added from the Orioles, has a bullpen costing around $7.2 million. St. Louis is spending around $6.2 million. The Braves spend about $12 million. The Giants about $13 million. Looking at that, you can understand why the Dodgers could afford to add Randy Wolf while the Astros couldn't.

In Wade's defense, the entire problem isn't his responsibility. The Astros signed closer Jose Valverde to a large contract and the team had planned to ship him out during the off-season. Due to the economic difficulties of the past year, teams will no longer take on such a high salary unless they're fully confident in the player, and Valverde doesn't fit the bill.

You would think with an $18 million dollar bullpen, they would pitch like gangbusters, but that hasn't exactly been the case. Through Wednesday, the Astros' relief corps has a 4.28 ERA. They are ninth in saves and next-to-last in blown saves and save percentage (only Washington is worse). All the key members have spent at least part of the season on the disabled list. Part of the problem traces to Cecil Cooper, who seems to treat his bullpen pitchers like a drunk treats whiskey bottles. He goes to them early and often until they are all used up and, even then, he checks them periodically to see if he can coax one more drop from them.

Cooper has irresponsibly used many of the team's relievers, most notably LaTroy Hawkins and Chris Sampson. During the first three months of the season, Cooper showed little regard for their potential fatigue, and this resulted in injuries on the part of both players last month.

Good minds can disagree on whether it makes more sense to have four bullpen pitchers averaging $2 million a year or one starting pitcher making $8 million a year. Mistakes can be made either way (see Jason Jennings and Woody Williams as recent examples where spending on starting pitching didn't work out well). Given the Astros' budgetary constraints, Wade needs to decide whether relief pitching counts more than starting pitching and spend accordingly. There doesn't seem to be enough in the till to feed the need of both the rotation and the bullpen.

So many names in Houston (and talented ones) are on the verge of seeing increased salaries or expiring contracts. Wandy Rodriguez, Michael Bourne, Hunter Pence, and Miguel Tejada are just a few of these names. There's no way the Astros can maintain their bullpen and sign all of these names too.

Seeing Ed Wade's track record, he may very well opt to continue focusing on the bullpen. - 31492

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If you're craving more great MLB talk, come and join the Astros forum and the general sports forum at RootZoo.com, both some of the most active forums on the web.

The 5 Best Pitchers to Ever Wear a Marlins Uniform

By Remy Podesto

The Florida Marlins are in the midst of their 17th season of baseball, and have quickly developed a reputation for bringing up great talent from the minor leagues, seeing that talent thrive, and then trading it away for more young talent. A lot of this has to do with the lack of a decent fan base in Florida.

Ironically, this hasn't stopped the Marlins from winning not one, but TWO World Series in their brief history. In fact, the only two times they even made the playoffs, they won the World Series. It's interesting to note that the top 5 SP's in Marlins history, based on my opinion, are no longer on the team. They may be retired, or they may be playing for another team, but they're not on the Marlins. Really, the only requirement in order to qualify as being one of the top five pitchers in Marlins history is that this pitcher must have pitched 400+ innings with the team. So, here they are: the top five pitchers in Florida Marlins history.

5. Carl Pavano - Pavano, believe it or not, was a Florida Marlin during the team's second world series run. While he's played for a few teams since, Pavano made it big in Florida, with a tremendous 2004 campaign. Pavano had an 18-8 win loss record that season, and a low ERA at 3.00. Pavano then joined the Yankees, where he quality of play sank.

4. AJ Burnett - One of the best pitchers in baseball when it comes to striking batters out, Burnett was a strikeout aficionado in Florida too, as evidenced by his 2002 season, which consisted of 203 strikeouts and a low ERA at 3.30. Injuries somewhat limited his potential in Florida, and Burnett lost (50) a slightly higher number of games than he won (49).

3. Kevin Brown - Kevin Brown had two of the best pitching season in Florida Marlins history. While he only spent two short years in a Marlins uniform, any fans of the team will certainly remember how valuable his contributions were to the franchise. Take his first season as a Marlin, for example. A 1.89 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP happen so rarely in baseball that they're usually paired with a Cy Young award. Brown most definitely had a dominant reign as a Marlin during his two short years spent with the team.

2. Josh Beckett - Now a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox and an All-Star a few times over, Beckett is most well known for his heroics as a Marlin during the 2003 World Series against the Yankees. During the 2003 playoffs, Beckett had an incredible 2.11 ERA, and is largely responsible for the Florida World Series win that season. As a Marlin, Beckett averaged nearly a strikeout per inning, fanning 607 batters in 609 innings pitched, and allowing just 529 hits during his time with the team, well below one per inning.

1. Dontrelle Willis - Geez, what's happened to Dontrelle? Ever since he left the Marlins, he's been terrible. But for purposes of this list, he's the #1 pitcher in Florida Marlins history. His longevity (he's made 162 starts, 31 more than the next closest), and his personality have made him a fan favorite down here in Miami. Dontrelle finished his career with the Marlins with a 68-54 record (more wins than anybody in franchise history) and a 3.78 ERA. But Willis will be remembered for his one truly dominant year in which he finished as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award behind Chris Carpenter. That year, Willis finished 22-10 with a 2.63 ERA. Not to mention, Dontrelle was the best hitting pitcher in franchise history. In fact, there were times when he'd be used as a pinch hitter. Now that's embarrassing. But he finished his career with a .233 BA and 8 HR's.

Keep an eye on...Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson. Johnson has been one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball and is truly dominating, and Nolasco has returned to last year's form. Heck if they each stay one more season, they'd probably knock off Pavano for the #5 spot. - 31492

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For more great baseball talk, come to the Florida Marlins forum and try your hand at more than fifty thousand sports trivia questions at RootZoo Sports.

Orioles Trade George Sherrill: A Closer Look

By Nicholas McMillan

Upon first hearing the news about the Baltimore Orioles and the fact that they traded their closer for two minor league baseball players, I was very surprised to hear the news. It really seemed like they gave him away for nothing in return. I knew nothing of Bell and Johnson, and wasn't happy about it.

I've looked at the players they've received in consideration for Sherrill, and I must say I'm a little more pleased after analyzing the stats and the roles that each player (Bell and Johnson) will fill. They won't do anything for the team in 2009, and may not do much in 2010, but a few years down the line, these could be key players on the Orioles team.

Sure, the season's obviously done in Baltimore. There's no way in the world they can think about catching the Yankees or the Red Sox, let alone the Rays. Maybe Toronto, but that'd get the team nowhere anyway.

Looking ahead, they'll need to make moves in order to become a competitive team in the AL East. The Yankees and Red Sox will surely stay competitive, so it'll likely take some big moves.

With Melvin Mora, 36, in his last year of his contract and having lost a good few steps, the Orioles needed a young player who could come up and take his spot in the future. Josh Bell, a third baseman, could most definitely fill any void that Mora leaves.

Josh Bell, one of the players the Orioles received for Sherrill, has played solid baseball all season for the Chattanooga minor league team. In 94 games, he's posted a .296 average, with 11 HRs and 52 runs batted in. Johnson, the other player received in the deal, is a starting pitcher with a 9-5 win loss record and a 3.61 earned run average.

These 2 players are just two more pieces of the Orioles' game plan. Their rookies this year have been outstanding so here's to hoping that Bell and Johnson can contribute to a future winning club. I, for one, think they will.

Let's go Orioles! - 31492

About the Author:

Nicholas McMillan is an eternal MLB zealot, and is thrilled to see signs of improvement on the Orioles' part. He often contributes his input at this Baltimore Orioles forum, and lurks at their general sports forum whenever he needs a change of pace.

Looking At The Greatest MLB Starting Pitchers Entering 2010

By Hal Westbrook

That sport called baseball is really quiet right now as the new season will not be starting for a few months and the World Series was finished quite a while ago.

With that in mind, there are lots of articles that I have written all about this game. Right now, I am going to talk about five pitchers who I think are currently some of the best ones in the sport of baseball right now.

Here are my top five as I see them. Feel free to agree or disagree, and I'd love to see you share your thoughts if you have a different opinion.

Zack Greinke had the best season in baseball for a pitcher last year, but he still needs another great season or two under his belt before he can move up on this list. Still, Greinke is one of the most dangerous pitchers in baseball and has a bright future ahead.

Roy Halladay has been a consistent presence as one of the most reliable pitchers in baseball. Halladay is destined for the Hall of Fame when all is said and done.

Christ Carpenter holds the #3 place on this list as he always manages to be extraordinary. When he returned from almost two seasons of being away from baseball, it was like he had never been gone. I do believe that Carpenter just might be better than he has ever been previously.

Naturally, Johan Santana makes this list too. Even though he hasn't won a Cy Young award since joining the Mets, there's one thing that you can count on in Santana, and that's a great season year in and year out. For this reason, Santana makes number two on my list.

Finally, coming in at number one is Tim Lincecum. After two years of consistent dominance, I'm just about ready to say that Lincecum is no fluke. He's the best strikeout pitcher in the game and his ERA in the twos is just amazing. - 31492

About the Author:

Aside from sports, the writer also frequently shares writing about contemporary floor lamps and mini pendant lighting fixtures.

Buy the Best Buy Wilson Softball Gloves

By Dave Vower

Softball gloves are one among the foremost important pieces of equipment for all softball players. Many manufactures make quick pitch softball gloves creating it troublesome to understand precisely what to choose but a number of the foremost fashionable makes are the Wilson softball gloves, Easton and Miken and prices vary considerably depending on the standard and brand name.

There are different types of gloves such as catcher's mitts, first base gloves and fielder's gloves and each are different which enhances the performance of the players. Pitchers use fielders gloves accept for the first baseman and one need's to look at the padding in the glove as that is of the utmost importance as some gloves have thin padding and other have thick padding.

One among the most popular choices is the Wilson softball gloves which are designed for comfort and fit well. The webbing of the glove between the first finger and therefore the thumb to work out if it is either closed, single crossbar or open because the gloves would like to be comfortable.

The catcher's mitt are designed specifically to withstand the amount of play the mitt sees and one needs to make sure that the padding around the palm and edges are sufficient. The glove should be made of good quality leather such as the Wilson softball gloves which many league players wear due to the strength and durability of the leather.

The first base gloves are used for fast reach and grasp and should have a closed back style and therefore the glove should don't have any holes or gaps. The gloves ought to have a cupped pocket which is between the first finger and thumb creating it easier when catching the ball. The Wilson selection is giant and if you go online you'll be able to read the complete vary along with order online. - 31492

About the Author:

The author has been writing articles online for over 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in health, fitness and relationships you can also check out his latest websites on Left Handed Baseball Gloves and Easton Baseball Gloves

So Close In 2009, The Chicago Cubs Look To Pass St. Louis In 2010

By Heather Maxwell

The Chicago Cubs finished in second place in 2009, but one could hardly call that a successful season. They scary thing is that they finished more games out of the wild card than they did out of their division. The National League is sporting some heavy favorites once again and if the Chicago Cubs are going into the playoffs, they have to get past St. Louis.

One of the things to be most excited about is the addition of Greg Maddux to the front office of the team. Being one of the most dominant pitchers of his time, one can only imagine the impact that he will have on this pitching staff. He was one of the best control pitchers in recent history and should be able to improve the performance of every person on that team that takes the mound.

The entire team and system is ecstatic about having Maddux come back to Chicago. The young pitchers are looking forward to the knowledge that he can give to them and even Piniella is excited about talking to him to learn his approach to pitching and games in general. While he will not be on the field, his expertise could add half a dozen games to the win total.

As exciting as the Maddux news is, the product that is going on the field is even more exciting. Imagine having to face the power of Soriano, Lee and Ramirez and then having to deal with the speed of Fukudome, Theriot and Byrd. It does not bode well for whoever takes the mound against the Cubs.

Pitching will also be very impressive in 2010 if Lilly returns from his surgery in good shape. Between him and Zombrano, the Cubs have a pretty powerful one and two punch. These two starters could lead the way and if the bottom half of the rotation pitches .500 ball, the wins are going to be rolling in.

The season will start out on the road for Chicago, but they come home pretty early and have a couple of nice series for the fans to see. Milwaukee and Houston should be very beatable and fans are sure to get their money's worth with these tickets. Look for a lot of balls to be leaving the park in those games.

One thing is for sure, Cubs games are going to be exciting in 2010. The key for them always seems to be health as they have had some horrific luck in this department in past seasons. If this team stays healthy, they are going to give St. Louis a run for the division. With the strength of the East and two contenders in the West, they will need this division crown to get into the playoffs and have every right to expect to get it. - 31492

About the Author:

By Heather Maxwell, article sponsored by Stub.com. Stub.com sells Chicago Cubs Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and more to your favorite events around the world.

The Baltimore Orioles Make Big Moves To Try And Unseat Yankees

By Heather Maxwell

The New York Yankees climbed to glory once again and have set the bar in the American League East. The Baltimore Orioles struggled a bit last season and have made some moves to once again compete for the division. While they will have to have a few players put up some career numbers, it is not out of the question that they sneak in for the wild card in 2010.

One of the secrets to success over the past few seasons has been a stud bullpen. Pitchers are going less innings because of the new ballparks and without a solid bullpen, teams have no chance. The good news for Baltimore Orioles fans is that this is probably the best part of their team.

The fact of the matter is that Baltimore will probably cut bullpen pitchers this spring that would be studs on other teams. This is a great problem to have because the quality of pitching fans will see is going to be incredible. This monster bullpen should be the reason that Baltimore gets off to a hot start this season.

It is no secret that starting pitching suffers in the beginning of the season. Most big armed pitchers start slow and take a month or so to get into their groove. It is not uncommon for starters to get yanked after five or six innings in the early going. If the Orioles bullpen holds serve and their offense can take advantage of the weaker clubs pitching, they will put up some wins.

The early season schedule has a chance to be a blessing for Baltimore. They have some very winnable games and then get to face off against the big boys of the division. They have a stretch of 16 games that are played over 16 days that could be quite a momentum builder. How they handle this stretch will probably dictate their season.

While they will probably have a lights out bullpen, they needed to shore up their starting pitching to give them a legitimate shot and they got one of the biggest names on the free agent market, Kevin Millwood is coming off a huge year and will immediately be the Ace of the staff. Guthrie can now pitch in much more comfortable two spot, eat up innings and rack up some wins.

If Baltimore fans were looking for a reason to get back to the ballpark, they finally have it. This team will contend and fan support will be what they need to get them over the hump. How can you not get excited about seeing the Yankees and Red Sox come to town in April? Get loud because this is their chance to make a mark and set the tone for the entire season. - 31492

About the Author:

Written by Heather Maxwell, sponsored by Stub.com. Stub.com sells Baltimore Orioles Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to just about any event in the world.

Can The Arizona Diamondbacks Get Out Of The Cellar In 2010

By Heather Maxwell

The Arizona Diamondbacks are a team that expects to win and win big. That didn't happen in 2009 because of various reasons, but they are making a huge push to make sure that the team does not experience that again. It is perfectly understandable why the fans are getting twitchy and cannot wait for the new season to start.

While Eric Byrnes was a major factor in their success in 2007, he seemingly dropped off the face off the earth over the last two seasons and the Arizona Diamondbacks have lost patience and are allowing him to try and get untracked with another team. The fans will not miss his .218 AVG over the last two years, a far cry from the .286 he hit in '07.

In order to get the offense back on track, the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed Adam LaRoche of the Atlanta Braves. The 30 year old popped 25 home runs last year and hit .270 and there is every reason to believe that both of those numbers will climb dramatically. The new ballpark and lineup should allow him to have a career year and lead the Diamondbacks back to glory.

While the offensive news is exciting, Brandon Webb will hold the key to the success of the Diamondbacks in 2010. Their horrible 2009 was directly related to him not being able to take the ball and the fact that he is ready to go again will be good news for loyalists. He was getting better every year until that injury and he will hopefully pick up where he left off.

If Webb is 100%, the one-two punch of Webb and Hare is going to be quite formidable. Over the last two seasons he has put up 30 wins and has over 400 strikeouts. If both of these pitchers are healthy, the Arizona Diamondbacks will easily surpass their win total of last season.

The Arizona bullpen should be solid as they are led by closer Chad Qualls. He slid into his new role nicely and converted 24 of 29 saves with a very respectable 3.63 ERA. With a year under his belt as the full time closer, we can expect a lower ERA and with Webb, quite a few more saves. You fantasy leaguers will want to snatch him up.

The fact that Webb is coming back is enough of a reason for fans to order their tickets. Arizona is staring down the throat of a division championship and possibly a NL crown with this pitching staff. They need to stay healthy, but if they do the West is in for a heap of trouble. - 31492

About the Author:

By Heather Maxwell, sponsored by Stub.com. Stub.com sells Arizona Diamondbacks Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to just about any event in your area.

A Timeless MLB Turn Of Events That Is Still Amongst The Greatest

By Vic Grobeck

One of the most unforgettable, craziest nights in baseball history took place over 23 years ago and many fans still remember it. Red Sox fans probably to this day want to just forget about it while Mets fans keep the great memories alive I am sure.

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets went to the World Series in 1986. It was destined to be a remarkable game as they were both at the top of their leagues.

It really surprised a lot of people when the Red Sox came away with the win during games one and two that took place in New York. For the Mets, along with their fans, this was a real downer.

But, lo and behold, the Mets luck changed and they won the third and fourth games to make the series even. However, the Red Sox then got the victory in the fifth game and had a great chance of bringing the series to an end with a win in the sixth game.

It seemed like that was destined to happen. It was the bottom of the 9th with the Red Sox in the lead by 2 runs and the Mets did not have any of their players on any of the bases. Everyone was ready to celebrate and thought this game was pretty much over and done with.

Somehow, the Mets kept the game alive with a few base hits after being down to their last strike on several occasions. Before long, a wild pitch sent a runner home, tying up the game. The crowd was uproarious; this was history in the making.

Then, something very unexpected happened next. The first base line is where Mookie Wilson hit a dribbler to and it should have been a super-easy out and the end of the game. However, the ball traveled right through Bill Buckner's legs which resulted in a run being scored by Ray Knight and the Mets getting the win.

They went on to win game 7 of the World Series, making this one of the most meaningful and memorable games in the history of professional baseball.

Many baseball fans will still claim to this day that this was the best baseball game ever played. Based on the way this all happened, they may very well be right. - 31492

About the Author:

The author also regularly blogs about topics like maternity evening wear and stylish maternity clothes.

Don't Count the San Diego Padres Out Of The West

By Jake Kohler

One team that will be happy to put last season behind them will be the San Diego Padres. They had it pretty rough last year and 2010 brings a lot of hope and optimism with it. This is their chance to show off some young talent and hopefully give the mainstays a run for their money. Some old favorites have left, but some of these young players are now looking to make a name for themselves.

This is not to say that San Diego is going to run away with the division; that is hardly the case. What we are saying is that with many of the losses that teams have seen and the gains that some of the bottom tier teams from last season are seeing, a team like San Diego can be in the picture if they play up to their potential all season long.

If any team is going to win, they have to have talent in the starting rotation. Chris Young is going to be looked at hard this year and if he reaches his potential, he will be the driving force behind the turnaround of the Padres. He seems to have a thing for even numbered years, so let's hope that trend continues.

Heath Bell is the one arm that the Padres know will stand up to any team. He converted close to 90% of his saves last season and will be expected to do the same this year. The team will need to get to him even more this season if they are going to be competitive. To do this, they will have to produce offensively.

San Diego needs to get players across the plate and to do that this combination of veterans and young talent is going to have produce in every aspect. Adrian Gonzalez is their big slugger, but players like Eckstein and Hairston need to show these young guys how it is done. If they can lead and the youngsters heed their advice, who knows what can happen.

The season does not start off easy for San Diego, but they need to look at this as an opportunity to make a statement that this is not the same old Padres. If they take that approach, they could very well have some success and set the stage to have a great year. It is a lot of ifs, but momentum is strange thing and they would not be the first team to go from the basement to the playoffs.

Every season starts off 0-0 and it is up to the players to take the bull by the horns and make the most of their opportunity to be professional baseball players. After having a season like last year, you can only hope that the taste that was left in the mouths of these players was enough to create the driving force to get fans back in the seats and get some wins up on the scoreboard. - 31492

About the Author:

By Jake Kohler, sponsored by TicketSeating.com. TicketSeating.com sells San Diego Padres Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to your favorite events around your area.

Tampa Bay Rays Look To Recapture The Spirit Of 2008

By Jake Kohler

Imagine being on a baseball team that has to know that every day they go out there they are in competition with two of the best teams in baseball: the Red Sox and the Yankees. While some teams will run and hide, the Rays take this challenge head on because they know that it makes them a better team. While they did finish 19 games back last season, it was more about the quality of the division than it was their play.

Tampa Bay is a team that took advantage of being underrated and managed to get into the World Series just two years ago. Much of that very team is still intact. While they saw some difficult stretches in 2009, this team can never be counted out. If they can duplicate last season and pick up a few more wins, they will be in contention for the wild card or even the division this season.

Whatever you do Rays fans, don't let the division placement get you down. This is a legitimate team that had some bad breaks last season and is hardly out of the race for the crown in 2010. The pitching rotation features a lot of talent that is headed by young superstar Jeff Niemann. There was surely no sophomore slump for this 13 game winner.

Something else to be very excited about is the fact that the ball will fall into the hands of Soriano in the ninth inning. He came up through the Seattle farm system when they were stacked with pitching talent and recently strutted his stuff with the Braves. His first season as a closer was a huge success and it is actually amazing that the Braves let him get away.

In his first campaign as the everyday closer, he converted 27 of 31 opportunities. That number puts him up with the best in the business and having been a trouble spot for Tampa Bay in the past, there is a lot of solace knowing that they have a true closer to hand the ball to now.

The offense is looking sexy this season and Longoria is heading it up. From the very first moment that he took the field he was tagged as superstar. While some young players would shy away from the role, he has embraced it and become a true leader of this franchise. This is his third season of what will surely be a very long and esteemed career in Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay fans are going to be treated to some incredible baseball in 2010. The division is stacked with talent and that means that most of the season the best teams in baseball will be coming to town. While it will be anything but an easy season, victories will be well earned and if they do get to the WS, they will be primed and will have already taken down the best teams in baseball. - 31492

About the Author:

By Jake Kohler, sponsored by TicketSeating.com. TicketSeating.com sells Tampa Bay Rays Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and more to just about any events in your area.