David Wright’s back cracks under stress, the Red Sox are down two starters, and two high-profile setup men hit the DL with somewhat mysterious ailments.
Injuries to David Wright and Ike Davis start a Mets infield shuffle, the Red Sox rotation gets rejiggered, the curse of the Rangers outfield continues, Aroldis Chapman exeunt, and familiar faces resurface in the Cubs rotation and Braves bullpen.
In the nascent Year of the Stolen Base, which teams are getting the most bang for their swipes?
The Red Sox summon a top prospect, the Tigers change their Rhymes scheme, the Mets get their Bay back, the Red Sox bullpen and the Mariners outfield are overhauled, and the Reds said Fred.
Many have been quick to proclaim another “Year of the Pitcher,” but an increased rate of base burglary may be another signature of these low-scoring times.
Brian Bogusevic, Alex White, and two Giants infielders make the most of other people’s injuries, the Dodgers swap backup catchers, the Snakes switch futilitymen, and the Padres ponder their first base future.
Last year’s Diamondbacks featured the world’s worst whiffers and a historically bad bullpen, but new GM Kevin Towers may have already managed to fix both failings.
Brandon Wood and Eric Duncan find new life in the NL Central, Brandon Belt gets reacquainted with Fresno, Daniel Murphy tries to clean up the Mets’ second-base mess, and the Rule 5 regifting season hits full swing.
Paul Janish, Casey Kotchman, and Robert Andino lead this year’s parade of empty-average contributors at the plate.
Replacing broken-armed MVP Josh Hamilton, lamenting the losses of Phil Hughes and Hong-Chih Kuo, April showers bring Jesus Flores, and where there’s a Willits there’s a way in Anaheim.
Does the Brew Crew’s collection of bench has-beens suggest that they’ve forgotten the lessons of 2008, or are they still in the process of building a contender?
An Angel gets his wings, Jeff Suppan proves that you can go home again, the Yankees keep scraping the bottom of the pitching barrel, and Manny Ramirez enters suspended animation.
Introducing the $50,000 men who made early-season rosters, and deducing which of them might stick.
Ronnie Belliard and Luis Hernandez head for Triple-A, Brandon Belt breaks camp with the big squad, and Matt Holliday loses an appendix but keeps a roster spot.
In which five BPers offer some additional optimism and pessimism for 2011.
Rewinding the tape to the results of last year’s Opening Day reveals equal parts prophecy and unintentional humor.