Are Glory Days Ahead For The Atlanta Braves In 2010

By Heather Maxwell

There are currently two divisions in baseball that are the measuring stick and they are both in the East. Both National and American League fans know that any team coming out of those divisions is an automatic World Series Contender. The good news for the Atlanta Braves is that they are in the National League East. The bad news for the Braves is that they are in the National League East.

The Hinske signing did not perk up a lot of ears, but don't underestimate the value of this talented veteran. Let's not forget that he was the Rookie of the Year in 2002 and has the potential to hit over .300 and knock out quite a few balls. While his role will probably be that of the primary left-handed pinch hitter, his leadership and experience should lift this club up a bit.

Braves fans have to be looking forward to another big year from Matt Diaz. After only playing 43 games in 2008, he bounced back huge hitting .313 in 2009. He had his second best season in home runs and will look to have a career best this season. Arguably one of the most talented players on the team, the Atlanta Braves will look for him to continue his offensive progress.

The real excitement starts when you look at the pitchers that Atlanta will be throwing out there ever day. While the Phillies did sign Halladay, they are pretty much rolling the dice after that. This may be enough to give the Atlanta Braves the edge as the season progresses. If Cole Hamels has the year that he had last season, the Braves pitching could very well get them the East.

Jair Jurjens was an absolute stud last season eating up over 200 innings and winning 14 games. If he would have had better run support, it could have been a Cy Young season. If he comes anywhere close to the 2.60 ERA that he put up last year, the Braves will be ecstatic. So far, there is no reason to believe any different.

The Braves are stacked up behind Jurjens with Lowe, Hanson and Hudson. While Lowe had a high ERA last season, he still managed to get 15 wins. It seemed as though he was all or nothing last year as he either completely shut teams down or they lit him up like a Christmas tree. We fully expect him to settle down this season, win close to 20 games and keep that ERA under 4.00.

The Braves always fill up and this season should not be any different. Anyone that wants a decent seat better get their tickets now. Make no mistake about it, 2010 will not see the Braves finish in the same position. They will be neck and neck at the top of the division and have to be a favorite to take the East. - 31492

About the Author:

Written by Heather Maxwell, sponsored by Stub.com. Stub.com sells Atlanta Braves Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to your favorite events around your area.

The Recipe For The Yankees In 2010: Rinse And Repeat

By Jake Kohler

While many teams are trying to figure out if they can even compete in 2010, the New York Yankees are looking to load the roster and get another ring. One of the most storied franchises in the history of baseball is back on top and they are not looking to give up the throne anytime soon. They will once again be favored in a loaded American League East, but teams will be gunning for them more than ever now.

The 2009 season was one of the best runs that we have seen a team go on. They crushed the opposition during the regular season and did pretty much the same thing once the post season arrived. The series against Philadelphia was exciting, but there never seemed to be a doubt as to who would win. The starters held down that potent lineup and pitched into the 7th inning almost every game, and we all know who gets the call after that.

You have to love the Yankees starting pitching once again as they put out nothing but studs. The dominating CC Sabathia will start the season as the resident Ace, but there is talent throughout the rotation. They are one of the few teams that has a rotation where every pitcher has won 15 games at least once in their career.

Talking about the bullpen is almost a waste of time. We all know what happens when the call to the pen gets made and so does the rest of baseball. There is flat out no better closer in baseball than Rivera. He has missed exactly seven save opportunities over the last three years. Just about every closer in the league blew that many last season alone.

There is probably only one or two other offenses that can compare to the Yankees starting lineup in all of baseball. We may be seeing one of the greats of all time in Alex Rodriguez and the rest of the supporting cast is not so bad either. Another 100 win season may be on the horizon for this star studded cast.

The defending champs definitely have some challenges in the early part of the season, but then it is smooth sailing for a few weeks. It is hard to imagine that the Yankees will not come out of April with the lead to the division and a huge win record. The Bronx Bombers will be up to their usual again in 2010.

Yankees fans never need a reason to flock to the ballpark, but they surely do have it this year. The defending world champs are set to go on another monster run this season and the park will surely be packed to the gills for each and every one of them. Get to the ticket window now because there may not be much left when the season starts. - 31492

About the Author:

Written by Jake Kohler, article sponsored by TicketSeating.com. TicketSeating.com sells New York Yankees Tickets, MLB Tickets, Sports Tickets and many more tickets to just about any event in the world.

The Magnificent Stats By Albert Pujols

By Paul Queenman

There are many questions and debates that keep rearing their heads during discussions and the main ones are about sports. One of the most common ones is regarding Albert Pujols and whether or not he is the best ever at hitting the ball.

To keep the debate modern and up to date, we shall only compare Pujols with players we are familiar with from the past thirty years.

Players from the past such as Mays and Williams were great in their day, but the game has changed so much since then comparisons can't really be made. Conditions and even equipment are completely different in the modern game.

How would Pujols have played in past eras? That's a question nobody can answer so the debate is pointless. He has enough going for him for us to consider him to be the best in the modern game, so why bother with comparisons with players from the past?

As he is still only 29, he can stay at the level he is at, or even improve further, in the years to come. The key to his success is how consistent he is, week in, week out. Here are just a few stats that other players would die for. The .334 career average of Albert Pujols is outstanding.

His career average could win a league all on its own. In the second season he played in, he hit a career low average of .312, his worse since has been .327 and his overall average is .334. This is a staggering average whichever way you look at it.

Pujols is an MLB player and has now played 9 seasons in this league. During 5 of those he has hit 40 home runs. The lowest amount he has ever hit in a season is 32; this is an outstanding stat by anyone's standards.

There are many for arguments in the debate about Pujols being a terrific hitter, and, so far, no against ones. Each year his consistency is awesome and it's hard to believe now that anyone can take his place as the best batsman we will have ever seen. - 31492

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Read more of this writer's work regarding products such as bedroom headboards and wall mounted bed headboards.

Youth Baseball Tournament: Recollections That Last Forever

By Ken Santi

When a young baseball or softball team finishes out the season, they usually will enter into a youth baseball tournament. For younger players, usually every team competes in the tournament, rather than only selecting the teams that did best during the regular season. During the tournament, many exciting things may happen.

Usually a tournament begins with every team of the same age group playing one another. The winners of those games then play each other, and the tournament continues until only two teams are left. These two teams then compete in the championship.

At a baseball tournament championship, boys and girls can learn the excitement, fear, and anticipation that come with playing in a "big game." This can help to "build character, " but it can also be fairly traumatic for children who mess up during the game in some way. Thus, it puts a lot of pressure on the children, but it has the possibility to give them great memories.

The teams that do place in the tournament usually have good memories of it. They often have a shelf that displays their prized trophy, and they may reminisce years later. While the team that gets first place usually is happier with the outcome, second place teams that play a good game can also feel very proud.

With youth baseball tournaments, one can get the feel of a great baseball game. Delicious snack foods, like hot dogs and chips, are usually available for people at the games to purchase. Also, the smells of baseball can bring nostalgic feelings for former players. Adults can argue and gossip and generally have an exciting time.

With these tournaments, children can create memories and may feel like they are doing something really important. They help to teach them how to act under pressure, and if they perform they will learn that they can succeed under stress. However, there are downsides to so much pressure, especially when children do not perform as well because of it and must live with the guilt. - 31492

About the Author:

To get your child into youth baseball tournament games, you could get with the church or private schools. You can find the latest knowledge online. To get your child ready for a Baseball tournament for their schooling, you could look online for ideas.

The Revolutionary Miken Freak Baseball

By Dave Vower

Miken sports success has been driven by 2 powerful forces foresight and keenness that is why they're able to satisfy with the professional player's demands. This brand may be a well-known and trusted name and the company delivers only the best and their brand name can live long into the future.

The Miken Freak baseball encompasses a thirty eight percent higher tensile strength and a forty% higher elongation that the standard composite and has been proven to deliver unrivaled durability and optimum performance and optimal recoil for specific swing speeds. The extended sweet spot style provides an additional long barrel permitting for an final power source.

The new multilayer design aligns and adheres filaments of premium carbon fiber aerospace grade that produces sturdiness also performance. And therefore the MP resin system is specifically measured to optimize the resilience and performance of the Miken carbon materials. The Miken baseball comes with a one year manufacturer's warranty.

Every kid that plays baseball is raving about the Miken Freak 100 MFY12 Youth as well as their parents and coaches. You need to read all the reviews that have been written and this can be done by going online. There truly is none other that can beat the Miken when it comes to technology.

This Miken Freak one hundred MBFY12 Youth features a twelve length to weight ratio, two and 0.5 in. barrel, multi layer system, BPF one,fifteen certified, contains a DFR a hundred and eighty which increases handle recoil, dynamic flex ratio, extended swing spot style and a R900 carbon fiber in addition to a X-track Plus extreme knob grip. What more might you ask for.

There are thousands of pros and the only con is that every kid wants one. These bats can be ordered directly online or you can obtain one from most sports shops. - 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 Worth Softball Bats and Slowpitch Softball Bats

Wrigley Field - A Name Etched In History

By Liz Taft

Wrigley field is a popular name not only as a baseball stadium but also as a monument in the history of baseball through a series of record-breaking events associated with it.

Located in Chicago, Wrigley field is where the Chicago Cubs baseball team calls home since 1961. That apart, the park played host to the National Football League and the Chicago Bears during the period 1916-1921.

Charlie Weegham, who wanted to house his baseball team, the Chicago federals, decided to give them a permanent base by building Wrigley Park in 1914.

Chronicles - History of Wrigley field An amount of $250,000 was invested in the erection of this 'monument' in the year 1914, designed by architect Zachary Taylor, who streamlined all the fire-safety measures in law at that time.

After the construction, in 1915 Charles Weegham formed a syndicate with Wrigley Jr. as one of the members in order to get hold of the Chicago Cubs from Charles P. Taft. It was in 1919, that Wrigley had full holding of the syndicate and in 1926 Wrigley Park came to be Wrigley Field.

A year after its erection in 1915 Charles Wegham's syndicate of business tycoons such as Wrigley Jr. helped him take a hold on the Chicago Cubs from Charles P Taft. Much later in 1919 Wrigley took a major share in the syndicate holding, and the park's present name goes to represent Wrigley Jr, since 1926.

The first eventful night game was played in 1988, the 8th of August between the Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies when 5,687 games in a row were played only during daytime.

Wrigley's moments of triumph Wrigley stands high for what its grounds have achieved and acclaimed: - 1917 clash between Jim Vaughn (Hippo) and Fred Tony of the Cincinnati Reds - Nail-biting end of the September 1938 match when the popular Gaby Garnette of the Cubs struck a winning homer off Mace Brown (Pittsburgh Pirates), when the match was heading for a 'night-halt' - Record-breaking hits of Ernie banks earning his 500th homer - Pete Rose for his 4191st hit.

Frills of the Wrigley sensation Wrigley field in comparison to other ballparks is most wind-sensitive. The 'windy' scheme goes well with the ivy-vines on its outfield walls. The 'Bleacher Bums' traces its origin to Wrigley in 1966; formed by ten fans. For all its monumental victories in baseball, Wrigley did not etch its home team on the canvas of world-championship triumphs. - 31492

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Looking for a place to stay for a Cubs game? Look for hotels near wrigley field or hotels near lincoln park and book early for the best deals.

Mark McGwire Admits The Truth

By Matt Greenard

Recently, Mark McGwire came out with an admission that many people were shocked to hear. He had taken steroids from 1989 through the end of his career, despite his unwillingness to speak on the issue during a congressional hearing five years ago.

What may have been more interesting is the fact that McGwire claims to have used these drugs not simply as a means of getting ahead. McGwire says he took steroids because he believed that they would help him heal from injuries more quickly.

This would make sense in McGwire's case, as injuries seriously slowed down the pace of what would have been an otherwise torrid career. He was one of the best power hitters in the game, but his potential was always cut short due to injury.

His strategy seemingly paid off. During the 1990s, McGwire experienced fewer injuries than he had in the prior years, despite the fact that he was older. He also saw a significant boost in his home run total.

No year was more indicative of his steroid use than 1998 was. This is a year that you very likely remember, as he belted 70 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals, breaking the single season home record previously held by Roger Maris.

It was a matter of a few seasons before people realized that there had to be some means of artificial help creating seasons once thought to be impossible for older players like McGwire, Barry Bonds, and many others. There had to be steroids involved.

In retrospect, it should have been obvious that McGwire and others were using illegal substances. There was no other way to explain the unprecedented jumps in production, and the baseball world should have been keen to this.

Despite this all, one has to wonder if McGwire should be chided or praised for his recent admissions. While his numbers will certainly hold very little credence, he was a brave man to do what far too players have been willing to do up until now. - 31492

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Enjoy more of this writer's work on the wooden bar stool and wooden step stool.

Free Agent Pickups For MLB Offseason

By Jack Holt

While we're in the midst of a lag between baseball seasons, there's been a considerable amount of action worth discussing. With a number of exciting names in the mix, this should come as no surprise.

Many signings during the winter can have a profound impact upon the season to come. After all, look at what the Yankees were able to pull off last season.

The team looked nothing like its former self after adding Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher to its batting lineup and CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett to its pitching rotation. This gave the Yanks a powerhouse roster that no team could compete with.

Many are wondering if any team will pull off what New York was able to accomplish last year. After looking at some of the major free agent transactions we've witnessed thus far, we'll probably have a better idea.

Acknowledging the need to compete with the Yankees in 2010, the Red Sox knew that they had to make a move. They couldn't have done much better than signing John Lackey, the biggest pitcher in the free agent pool.

While he experiences an occasional injury, all in all he's one of the best there is. Few pitchers have been as consistent has Lackey during the course of the last five seasons.

While the Angels will certainly miss their ace pitcher's presence, they've been fortunate enough to make a valuable addition to their batting lineup. Having signed Hideki Matsui, they've stolen him away from the Yankees and will enjoy his presence on the team.

He's also an extremely reliable outfielder through the course of any season, making great offensive contributions. While he's 35 years old, he hasn't shown many signs of slowing down, so the Angels should expect some solid contributions next season. Matsui's presence will definitely be felt in Los Angeles. - 31492

About the Author:

Besides the MLB, this author also regularly contributes articles on monogram bath towels and monogrammed diaper bag

The Excitement Of Fantasy Baseball Leagues

By John Miller

Maybe you have been wondering what all the fuss is over fantasy sports leagues. Well, simply, sports fans can never get enough of their favorite sports and fantasy teams let them become part of the action. There are leagues out there for just about any sport that strikes your fancy. Golf, horse racing, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball are some of the more common sports that draw fantasy fans. And fantasy baseball leagues seem to be everywhere.

Fantasy leagues give the fans something to add to all the excitement of baseball. Imagine how unbelievable it would be if all your favorites were on the same team? What if you could take your two hometown favorites and put them in the same lineup and the AL batting champ and the NLs homerun leader? What if you could then add to this team a Cy Young winner, the best closer in the major leagues and a new left handed pitcher that is supposed to be the next Whitey Ford? In a fantasy league, you may very well be able to assemble such a team. Or at least come pretty close.

It all begins by finding a website that offers fantasy games. Usually any sports themed website will have them and many other sites will too. Network TV channels, internet services companies, and community sites as well as others are all trying to get in on the action.

Once you pick a place to play, just sign up and create and name your team. You can take a traditional approach and include your name or location, like the Indiana Black Cats or Bens Wild Rats. Or you may want to use a personal slogan like Woo Hoo ! Good sites will allow you to design jerseys or ball caps or create a logo.

Shortly before the start of baseball season, fantasy players are placed into different groups. Groups can be picked by the participants or randomly picked by the program. Groups are divided into East and West or other names. Then come draft time. This is one of the most fun parts. Live drafts in particular are exciting as each person gets the sense that he is right there in the arena choosing his team.

The draft works like a real draft, where each team makes a selection in turn until all rounds are complete. It can be nerve racking to sit and wait for your next turn hoping your next choice is still available when your next pick rolls around. Automatic drafts are also available for those who cannot make it to a live draft. Those people simply rank their choices and when it is their turn, the highest ranked player is chosen for them.

After this, it all falls into the hands of the real ball players. Of course if you expect to win, you have to pay attention to your team. If one of your teammates is injured in real life, you need to place him on injured reserve and find a backup. Follow sporting news and find out if somebody on your team is feeling ill or otherwise may not play for the next few days. Bench him and put in a replacement. And of course if your players are giving lackluster performances, you can attempt to trade them to your rivaling teams for other players or simply dump them from the team and give a few rookies a try.

The fun carries on into the playoffs. Prizes are generally given to the person who wins the entire game and smaller prizes may be awarded to winners of individual leagues. Fantasy baseball leagues give fans a way to be a part of all the action even while sitting at home. - 31492

About the Author:

Want to find out more about fantasy baseball leagues, then visit John Miller's site on how to choose the best league for your needs.

Adorn Your Kid's Bedroom with These MLB Baseball Wall Decals

By Angela Parker

The immense popularity of wall decals just goes to show that these are the most favored stickers amongst the kids as well as adults. Since baseball is a favorite sport and is loved by both kids and adults, you might want to surprise your kids with these MLB Baseball wall decals. They will be too glad to oblige you and may even give you a lending hand.

These wall graphics can be seen not only in kid's bedrooms or drawing rooms, but also in famous offices and sport agencies. Since they are made up of vinyl, they are easy to peel and stick. These wall stickers can range from bold or sophisticated stickers to wall covering graphics. Some of these wall stickers also come with additional accessories like baseball bats, balls caps and many more.

Almost all kids in America adore baseball and love to see their favorite player or team hit a home run. The spirit of this exciting and thrilling game can be brought to life in the convenience of your kid's bedroom. You can even ask your kid to choose from the variety of wall stickers offered by many stores so that he too can voice his opinions and ideas.

One of the greatest advantages of having these sports wall stickers as decors is that they can easily be placed on top of furniture, walls, and floors and are scratch and tear resistant. You can even carry them off with you on holidays and at the time of shifting of homes. Depending on the size of the room, you can either go in for multiple baseball legends or a single team supported by your kid.

Planning to give a gift to your child? Nothing will please them more than giving them these MLB Baseball wall decals. Some kids also collect these wall stickers as a hobby or to place them in their photo albums. If you research more thoroughly you may also come across rare stickers of legends.

If your kid prefers to have a collage of different MLB stars, then you can even choose Derek Jeter (New York Yankees), David Wright ( New York Mets), Kevin Youkilis (Boston Red Sox) and many more. You might even consider going in for collages and have them stuck at different positions in the bedroom walls of your kid.

You can even go in for life size wall decals featuring players in various action shots and poses. You can even purchase team logos, autographed stickers and other items depending on your kid's specification and requirement. These huge stickers are not only phenomenal looking but also look realistic. Regardless of who their favorite team or players is, these stickers are sure to woo their tiny hearts away. They will never want to leave the comfort of their bedrooms.

Once you have finished decorating their rooms with these MLB Baseball wall decals, they will feel proud to show it off to their friends and boast about these to them. They will also be able to concentrate more on improving their baseball skills, especially if they are a part of a club. They can also be used to show loyalty to the team and can be used in the sports as well as the drawing room. Nothing is more precious than to see those little eyes fill with happiness. - 31492

About the Author:

Your child's bedroom will come alive with life size player MLB wall stickers. At wallstickers-decals.com all the popular MLB stars and teams are available along with other Sports Wall Decals.