Hip, Hip, Jorge!

Posada is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate
 and one of the greatest hitting catchers
in history.

A year after New York Yankees great Andy Pettitte decided to call it a career, Jorge Posada has followed suit, leaving the "Core Four" to a perfect pair.

After months of speculation about his future, it has been reported rather than put on a different uniform for the first time in his career, Posada will indeed announce his retirement in the coming weeks.

Posada, 40, was drafted by the Yankees in the 24th round of the 1990 amateur draft as a second baseman, but made the transition to catcher, a decision he wouldn't regret. The Puerto Rican native made his Major League debut on Sept. 4, 1995 and made the postseason roster, where he appeared in one game as a pinch-runner.

The following year, the switch-hitting catcher appeared briefly during the 1996 season, but did not participate in New York's first World Series run, starting in the mid-1990s.

After serving as current-New York manager Joe Girardi's backup in 1997, Posada became a fixture and invaluable member in the Yankee lineup in 1998.

That season Posada was on the receiving end of the fifteenth perfect game in Major League history, catching lefty David Wells' perfecto on May 17. He batted .268 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs that season, playing in a 100-plus games for the first time in his career.

That was the year New York won their first of three consecutive World Series titles with Posada behind the dish.

In 2001, Posada was the recipient of Derek Jeter's incredibly famous flip play that prevented the tying run from scoring in Game 3 of the ALDS with New York facing elimination and a 2-0 series deficit. However, it was Posada's fifth inning home run off future Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito that gave his team the lead and enabled them to win, 1-0, and eventually make their fourth straight Fall Classic appearance.

The Yankee backstop would finished third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting in 2003 after batting .283 and setting career-highs in home runs (30) and RBIs (101).

Posada's best year came at the young age of 35. In 2007, he batted .338 and set a career-high with 171 hits. He was rewarded with a four-year $52.4 million contract extension, but missed most of the final season at the Old Yankee Stadium after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in July.

In 2009, Posada got his last taste as a champion. In the team's 15 postseason games that season, Posada batted .260 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs. Both of Posada's home runs either tied the game or gave New York the lead.

The following year he became the first Yankee in history to hit back-to-back grand slams on consecutive days since another New York catching great, Bill Dickey, did so in 1937.

A month later he knocked in the 1,000 run of his career, becoming one of five catchers in Major League history to total 200 home runs, 300 doubles, 1,000 RBIs and 1,500 hits from behind the plates.

After being stripped of his catching duties prior to the start of this past season and moved to a full-time designated hitter role, Posada's season was full of controversy. After getting off to a slow start, Posada pulled himself out of the starting lineup in a Sunday night game at Fenway Park after being dropped to ninth in the batting order.

He and Yankee brass would settle their differences and move forward, knowing they needed one another.

Posada's season highlight came on Sept. 21, 2011 when he was called upon to pinch-hit, in a tie game with the bases-loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning. The longtime catcher delivered a two-run single, capturing the franchise's seventeenth AL East title. After finishing the year with a .235 batting average, 14 home runs and 44 RBIs, he enjoyed one of his greatest postseason series of his career.

In New York's five-game first-round series with the Detroit Tigers, Posada batted .429 with an on-base percentage of .579. Following the team's Game 5 loss, Posada was asked about his future, where he began to tear up and had to step away from his locker.

He finishes his career as a .273 career hitter, .374 on-base percentage, with 275 home runs, 1,065 RBI and 1,664 hits.

A 5-time All-Star, Silver Slugger and World Series champion, Posada leaves New York as one of the most successful offensive players in franchise history, ranking in the top ten of numerous categories. He ranks 10th in total bases (2,888), ninth in extra-base hits (664), 8th in home runs and games players (1,829), 7th in doubles (379) and 4th in intentional walks (78).

His 1,574 career games behind the plate ranks him third in franchise history behind Dickey's 1709 and Yogi Berra's 1692. But his 119 postseason games behind the plate rank first all-time.

One of the proudest Yankees in history, Posada was a leader throughout his 17-year career and considered it a privilege, honor and a huge responsibility to catch for the New York Yankees.

Manu Down

There is no question Ginobili has fought the
injury bug most of his career.

The San Antonio Spurs road to repeating as the top seed in the Western Conference just got a whole lot harder. In the team's 106-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night, guard Manu Ginobili broke his shooting hand and will be out indefinitely.

Ginobili, a southpaw, injured his hand late in the second quarter after fouling Minnesota center Anthony Tolliver on a shot attempt.

After being taken back for X-rays, it was revealed to the Argentinian native that he'd in fact broke the fifth metacarpal, right below his pinkie.

Prior to the injury, Ginobili had been 3-for-6 from the field, scoring 8 points in 12 minutes on the floor. Averaging 19.8 point per game thus far, the two-time All-Star has started all four games for San Antonio this season, after spending most of his career better served off the bench for three championship teams.

Ginobili captured the Sixth Man of the Year Award back in 2008 after setting career-highs in point per game (19.5), field goal percentage (.401) and minutes (31).

Despite Ginobili being hampered by injury much of his career, the now-34-year-old veteran set career-highs in games played (80) and games started (79) a year ago, helping the Spurs to the best record in the Western Conference (61-21) and an impressive 36-5 home record.

With Ginobili averaging just 66 games a year the last three seasons and no time table for his return, a mix of young players and talented veterans will need to continue the tradition thats has been laid.

Bleeding Dodger Blue

Weaver is on His Game

Weaver is the early front-runner for the AL
Cy Young Award.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim possess arguably the best one-two punch on the mound in Major League Baseball and right-hander Jered Weaver has been the center of it all.

A year after becoming the first Angels pitcher to lead the Major Leagues in strikeouts with 233 since Nolan Ryan did so in 1977, Weaver is picking up right where he left off. With his team's 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics Monday night, Weaver has started the season unbeaten at 6-0.

He leads baseball in all three Triple Crown categories with six wins, 0.99 earned run average and 49 punch-outs.

There is no way that Weaver can continue this pace all season long, but at any rate, this has been an unbelievable run to kick off the 2011 campaign.

Weaver is responsible for almost half the Angels' 13 wins this season, finding themselves a game back of the defending American League champion Texas Rangers. The remarkable part of Weaver's run is his ability to finish what he started. He has already thrown two complete games in his six starts, one being shutout.

This start should not come as much of a shock to many after Weaver's breakout 2010 season.

Even though Weaver only went 13-12 last year, he was a victim of many pitchers problems throughout baseball, lack of run support. Weaver was at the bottom of the list when it came to that category. That being said, Weaver established career-bests in ERA (3.01) and innings pitched (224.1).

With the departure of longtime ace John Lackey to Boston prior to the start of last season, the question was raised who would fill that void he had left? Weaver has done his best to put Lackey in the past and claim the label as not only the ace of the Angel staff, but one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Weaver is a former first-round pick by the Angels back in 2004 and is finally reaching expectations. In 2006, after the towering 6-foot-7 righty was called up, he showed a glimpse of the future, starting his young career an impressive 9-0. Since then, Weaver has won as many as 16 games in a single-season and was named to his first All-Star Game in '10, fittingly right in his own backyard.

Still only 28, the future looks bright for Weaver and Co. at the Big A.

The next time Weaver takes the mound, he will be on verge of becoming only the third pitcher in Major League history to win his first seven decisions to begin a season.

The Dream Weaver will look to continue to woo hitters to sleep well into the summer.

Manny Being Manny

Ramirez had one hit in 17 at-bats
with the Rays in '11.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez is calling it a career. Ramirez, who signed a one-year deal with the Rays this offseason, was batting .059 in five games with the team in 2011.

This does not come as a surprise with his recent struggles at the plate, but what does come as a shock is the reason why Ramirez is retiring.

According to Major League Baseball, there is a problem with Ramirez and the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Ramirez has chosen rather than completing and continuing the process under the Program to retire from baseball.

Ramirez, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was suspended 50 games by baseball in 2009 after testing positive for a female fertility drug. Even though the drug was not considered a steroid, it was commonly used by steroids users to restore their testosterone levels back to normal.

It is unclear what Ramirez has done to violate the Major League Drug Policy, but in any event Ramirez has opted for retirement.

A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Indians back in 1991, Ramirez quickly gained the reputation of one of the game's most feared hitters. In 19 seasons, Ramirez was a 12-time All-Star with a career batting average of .312. Prior to the start of the 2001 season, Ramirez left Cleveland, signing a eight-year $160 million deal to join the Boston Red Sox.

In 2002, Ramirez won the American League batting title with an average at .349. In 2004, Ramirez led the Red Sox to first World Series title in 86 years, being named the series' Most Valuable Player. His 555 career home runs ranks him 14th on the all-time list and finishes with 1831 career runs batted in.

Ramirez will always be remembered for his playful, yet sometimes idiotic antics. Which have commonly been know as 'Manny being Manny'. With Ramirez calling it a career we can finally look back on a wonderful, yet controversial career.

The 38-year-old outfielder is forever linked to performance-enhancing drugs, his numbers always tainted and now will begin the debate, will Manny ever be inducted in Cooperstown? We'll let you decide.

A-Rod To Have Monster Season

A-Rod hopes to celebrate his
 second World Series title in
2011 rather than his fourth
MVP.

It's 2011. Which means New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez will have a monster campaign.

Dating back to 2003, Rodriguez won his first American League Most Valuable Player Award with the Texas Rangers. Months later he would be shipped to New York for second baseman Alfonso Soriano. He would continue the tradition in the Big Apple by winning his second MVP award in 2005.

Then in 2007, Rodriguez set the record for most home runs hit by a Yankee right-handed hitter with 54 long balls, capturing his most recent AL MVP.

Despite Rodriguez did not bring home his fourth MVP Award home in 2009, he did however, exercise his postseason demons, blasting six home runs and winning his first career World Series title, something he would say trumps any individual accolade.

A-Rod has recorded a Major League record 13 straight 30 home run, 100 RBI seasons, but has been able to reach 40 since '07. That may be due to the injury factor and Rodriguez having hip surgery prior to the start of '09 season. The 13-time All-Star says he is healthy and ready to get back to his full workout regime, something he has been unable to do the last two seasons, still feeling the effects of the surgery.

Rodriguez seems to be in a different place mentally after admitting to the usage of performance-enhancing drugs and having success in the postseason the last two seasons. Now, with him finally fully recovered the Yankees can expect a huge year from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is coming off a great spring, driving the ball with authority. He hit .388 with six home runs and drove in 15 runs.

If the pattern continues A-Rod will either win his fourth career MVP Award in his decorated career or the Yankees will raise their 28th World Series Trophy in franchise history, either way it's an odd year and can expect another great year from the Yankee third baseman.

Lester Could Win First Cy Young in 2011

We may have not seen the best of Jon Lester.

Boston Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester has already accomplished so much in his short career with the best yet to come.

Lester was diagnosed with lymphoma back in 2006 and beat it. In the 2007 World Series, Lester won the series-clinching Game 4 in Colorado against the Colorado Rockies. In May of 2008, the two-time All-Star pitched the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history in front the of Fenway Faithful. In 2010, Lester was among the games best pitchers winning a career-high 19 games and struck out 225 batters.

Lester has no question been the workhorse of the Red Sox staff the last couple of years, pitching 200-plus innings each of the last three seasons.

With such high expectations in Boston this season, Lester seems to be in the center of it. Manager Terry Francona has already said that Lester will be their Opening Day starter in Texas, something that Josh Beckett has done each of the last two seasons.

Even though Lester has been a good starting pitcher in the big leagues, winning at least 15 games the last three seasons, it could be a breakout season for the young man from Tacoma, Washington.

With right-handers Beckett and John Lackey coming off sub par seasons in '10, Lester will need to get out of the gate quickly and avoid another slow start like he has the past two years. His last two Aprils, the lefty has posted a 5.40 and 7.20 earned run average, respectively. Most people around baseball feel that Lester possessions the best stuff from the left side in baseball.

Lester will look to put it all together in 2011 and add his first Cy Young to his laundry list of accomplishments at the young age 27.

Colon Giving It His Best Shot

Colon has been impressive this spring,
auditioning for the Yankees rotation.

With Cliff Lee opting to sign with his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason and Andy Pettitte calling it a career after 16 big league seasons, it's no secret the New York Yankees rotation has some question marks.


The Yankees signed right-hander Bartolo Colon to Minor League contract and an invite to spring training back in January for a chance to make their staff. Colon has done his best to impress the New York and manager Joe Girardi.

Colon has pitched nine innings this spring, giving up three earned runs on eight hits while striking out 12 and only walking one.

Colon is competing with veterans Freddy Garica and Sergio Mitre along with youngster Ivan Nova for the final two spots in the Yankee rotation. With all four of them are pitching extremely well this spring, Garica and Nova are the predicted front-runners to land those two spots.

Although, the two-time All-Star, who did not pitch at all in 2010, last pitching in the majors with the Chicago White Sox in 2009, is making his case be heard. Colon is a former Cy Young Award winner, winning 21 games for the Angels in 2005. Since that time, Colon has only appeared in 48 games, posting a 14-21 record with a 5.18 earned run average.

At 37, Colon is no longer the power arm he once was throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s. He has learned to pitch and the importance of first pitch strikes. After raising eye brows coming into camp seemingly out of shape and weighing in at 265 pounds, Colon looks as good as ever a may be resurrecting his career. If Colon does not make the 25-man roster out of spring training, you can be sure the phone will be ringing with plenty of other suitors.

Girardi seems to have a problem on his hands with the competition reaching its peak and getting better everyday. It's a problem that he will not soon complain about.

Fat Albert MVP Inevitable

Pujols will be a hot topic most of 2011.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols seems to be the preseason favorite for the National League Most Valuable Player Award every year, but that might be true even more so this season.

It has been well documented that the Cardinals and Pujols were unable to come to a contract extension prior to his arrival to camp earlier this month. Pujols has said there will be no talk of a contract extension until after the season due to not wanting to be a distraction to his teammates.

This means Pujols will hit the open market and have an abundance of suitors for his services this offseason.

Coming off a year where he hit at a clip of .314 with 41 home runs while driving in 118 runs, most consider it to be an under achieving year for the nine-time All-Star. Pujols is expected to have a monster year to prove his worth to the Cardinals and twenty-nine other major league clubs.

More pressure has amounted on Pujols with ace right-hander Adam Wainwright set to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery to repair a torn ligament in his pitching elbow.

It seems almost inevitable that Pujols will win the NL MVP in 2011 given all the circumstances. With left fielder Matt Holiday and the acquisition of Lance Berkman this winter, there is added protection for Pujols to be even more dangerous. But if the Cardinal offense sputters at all this season, you might throw St Louis' playoffs hopes out the window.

They will need another huge season from Albert to contend in the greatly improved NL Central. 'The Machine' looks to capture his fourth MVP award in seven years for the Redbirds and lead them back to the postseason glory. 

A-Gon for MVP

The Boston Red Sox added another potent bat to their already dangerous lineup, trading for first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez. With this move to Beantown, he might be the front-runner for the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2011.

Gonzalez is a former first overall pick by the Florida Marlins back in 2000 and one of the few that has lived up to his potential at the Major League level. A San Diego native, Gonzalez has played the last five seasons of his career with the San Diego Padres, becoming a two-time All-Star and  two-time Gold Glove winner in the process. Gonzalez has averaged 32 home runs in his five seasons in San Diego, hitting as many as 40 in a single-season.

All smiles in Beantown this offseason.

The Red Sox traded for Gonzalez, 28, seemingly right in the prime of his career and with his best baseball still in front of him. Leaving Petco Park might be just what the doctor ordered for Gonzalez, to push him over the edge for his first MVP Award in '11.  Gonzalez will be the centerpiece to an offense that all already includes the likes of Carl Crawford, 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia and David 'Big Papi' Ortiz.

Since opening in 2004, Petco has been known as being a spacious pitchers park around Major League Baseball. The Fenway faithful might as well be the complete opposite, with a short right field porch and 37-foot wall in left field known as, the Green Monster.

Gonzalez is not your prototypical left-handed hitter, being know to spread the ball around the diamond. You can be sure that Gonzalez's numbers will go up in Fenway Park this season by him peppering that wall in left field.

With added protection behind him, something he never had during in time in San Diego, that might just launch Gonzalez to his first MVP Award.

Martin Could be a Pleasant Surprise

Martin could be a steal for the Yankees in
2011.

The New York Yankees took a gamble this offseason signing former Los Angeles Dodger backstop and fan favorite, Russell Martin.

Martin is coming off both hip and knee surgery this offseason and caught for the first time this spring, Friday versus the Boston Red Sox. Martin, who signed a one-year contract with the Yankees, could prove to be extremely valuable to them in 2011.

With longtime catcher Jorge Posada moving to an unfamiliar full-time DH role, the starting catching duties belong solely to Martin. He is still one of the best defensive catchers in Major League Baseball, throwing out 39 percent of all base runners in 2010, which is a significant jump from the 15 percent Posada posted a year ago.

The 2007 Gold Glove winner is being asked by the Yankees to lead a pitching staff that has a lot of question marks, with the offseason consisting of the retirement of Andy Pettitte and Cliff Lee signing with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Martin has fallen from being regarded as one of the best catchers in baseball after dropping off significantly offensively the past two seasons, averaging a .250 batting average over that span. Hitting in the bottom half of the Yankee order and not having to be the centerpiece of the offense should help Martin regain his All-Star form.

With less pressure and a fresh start, the two-time All-Star could have a huge year in the Bronx.

Martin, still only 28, is a .272 career hitter and has hit as many as 19 home runs in a single-season.

The Canadian native has shown he can handle the pressure of being a Major Leaguer, homering in his first big league at-bat back in 2006. He also adds a dimension not many teams have behind the plate, swiping 66 career stolen bases in five seasons. The Yankees have taken a chance on Martin, not to carry an offense, but stay healthy and nourish an uncertain pitching staff.

If all goes right, Martin should have a bounce back season in '11 and be a hot free agent target this coming winter.

Cy for Cole?

Hamels could win a lot of
games in '11.

The Philadelphia Phillies have arguably the best starting rotation in Major League Baseball.

With the return of left-hander Cliff Lee in the offseason, signing a five-year $120 million, the Phillies have four potential aces on their current staff. The staff has combined for 14 All-Star appearances, three Cy Young Awards, six 20-win seasons, two National League Championship Most Valuable Player Awards and a World Series MVP.

This staff has the potential to be one of the best ever assembled.

Ace Roy Halladay is coming a year where he won the NL Cy Young Award, threw a perfect game against the Florida Marlins and no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds. Lee is fresh off another great postseason, this time with the Texas Rangers and second consecutive World Series appearance. Roy Oswalt has pitched in the postseason three of his ten big league seasons. Then lies left-hander Cole Hamels, who might be flying radar more than ever heading into 2011.

Hamels got back onto the baseball map last season, bouncing back from an up-and-down year in 2009, where he went only 10-11 with a 4.32 earned run average. The left-hander had high expectations heading into '09 after being named the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP in Philadelphia's journey to their first World Series title since 1980.

Hamels has since battled back to being a front of the line starter for the Phillies, getting backing to his old form throwing the ball in the mid-90s last October.

This could have been attributed to less pressure with numerous brand names in the rotation along side him.

Hamels could be a sleeper for this year's NL Cy Young Award.With a staff that has four potential 20-game winners in the same season, Hamels seems to have the biggest upside. Still only 27, Hamels has yet to reach his full potential and could break out this upcoming season. The lefty will be matched up most of the season with opponents No. 4 four starters when indeed they are No. 4 starters, Hamels, however, is not a No. 4 starter on any other staff in the big leagues.

That could be a formula for a lot of wins for the season ahead and another trophy to add to his already decorated cabinet.

All is No Longer Wright in St. Louis

Every fifth day could be a
nightmare for the Cards
without No. 50.

The St. Louis Cardinals now face an uphill battle in 2011.

After finding out ace Adam Wainwright will need his second Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his throwing elbow, the season ahead just got even more complicated.

The Cardinals, who are already having to face the fear of losing superstar first baseman Albert Pujols in the offseason to free agency, now, face another obstacle losing their ace for 12-15 months. Wainwright has been nothing short of spectacular since arriving to the show. The right-hander became the Cardinals closer in his rookie campaign, saving four of the five chances he was given in the postseason, not allowing an earned run and striking out 15, eventually leading St. Louis to the 2006 World Series crown. 

He was transformed into a starter after the '06 season and won 14 games that season, throwing 202 innings. Since then Wainwright has turned in a legitimate front of the rotation starter reducing his earned run average every year in the big leagues.

Wainwright won 19 and 20 games, respectively in the last two seasons and finishing in top three of the Cy Young voting of each of those seasons.

There is no question that Wainwright's presence will be missed in '11 and add pressure to right arm of Chris Carpenter. 

A former Cy Young Award winner, Carpenter is also considered to be an ace with some of the best stuff and command in baseball. The Cards will need another huge season from the three-time All-Star if they are to reach their ultimate goal.

Left-handed phenom Jamie Garica, who is coming off an unbelievable rookie season, will need to avoid a sophomore slump to fill the shoes that Wainwright has left. It's uncertain if they can be filled, but only time will tell. With manager Tony La Russa leading the way and the addition of Lance Berkman and Matt Holiday, who still has with six-years left on this current contract, the Cardinal offense should provide plenty of protection for "Fat Albert".

No matter what move the Cardinals decide to make none can replace a player the caliber of Waingwright. The road to dethrone the defending National League Central champion Cincinnati Reds just got a little more rocky.

65 Million Dollar Man?

Bautista led the majors with
54 home runs in '10.

Jose Bautista will be staying north of the border for the next five years, agreeing to a five-year extension with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bautista is coming off a career year where he led the majors with 54 home runs and was a first-time All-Star. The deal is worth about $65 million, but could have huge upside for the Jays, having a player enter his prime, or a daring gamble.

Over the last couple of years, Toronto has been notorious for signing players to long-term deals that seemingly do not work as planned.

Most notably the seven-year contract they gave to Vernon Wells in 2006 and the six-year contract with Alex Rios in 2008, both whom are no longer with the organization and never lived up to their respective agreements. Wells was injured much of the contract and after finally producing a bounce back year in 2010, he was traded to the Angels this offseason. As for Rios, he was placed on waivers late in 2009 and claimed by the Chicago White Sox in August.

Since then, Rios has also bounced back hitting 21 home runs in '10, while driving in 88 runs.

The Blue Jays have reason to be concerned, but hopefully that will not be the case with '10 Hank Aaron Award winner. Although, we are talking about a player that had never hit more than 16 home runs in an entire season until last year and had been with five different organizations in his short seven-year career.

Bautista made the biggest jump in home runs in a single-season compared to his previous season total in baseball history. His inability to go to right field with power could prove be a problem for the Jays as well, 53 of the 54 home runs were either hit to left or left-center.

The question has already been asked, is the Silver Slugger worth $65 million, or have the Jays made another huge contract gaff to kick off the decade? Only time will tell.

Young a Class Act

Young talking to the media at Ranger camp
in Surprise, Arizona.

Michael Young has been through every high and low in his 11 seasons as a Texas Ranger, while being the face of the franchise during that time.

Only a year after their first World Series appearance in franchise history, Young supposedly wants out of the only team he has ever known.

With the offseason acquisitions of Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and the emergence of Mitch Moreland in the postseason last year, it makes Young wonder where he is going to get his at-bats.

Young was asked to move from his original position at second base to shortstop in 2004 when they traded their superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano. After becoming a Gold Glove shortstop in 2008, the Rangers asked Young to moved positions again, this time to third base.

In 2009, Young willing did so without a peep, making room for highly regarded prospect, Elvis Andrus. It was a formula for success with the Rangers reaching the playoffs in 2010 for the first time since 1999, after being a laughing stock much of the decade.

Young would be asked one last time to move positions with the signing of Beltre, he would no longer play the field, but be the designated hitter in Arlington.

Then the final straw had been drawn. Texas traded for Napoli, cutting into Young's at-bats. Now the face of the franchise of the past decade and the man that was willing to do what was best for the team has had it and wants out. At the age of  34, the Rangers may be thinking Young is on the backend of his career.

Young's career has been extremely under appreciated by most Ranger and baseball fans. Young silently had five straight 200-hit seasons, 2003-07, while winning a batting title in 2005 at a .331 mark. He also won the 2006 All-Star Game MVP and responsible for driving in the winning run in '08 at Yankee Stadium with a sac fly to center field.

All that being said, Young has flown under the radar much of his career to the average baseball fan, which is just the way he would want it.

The Rangers are replacing Young at third base with a .275 career hitter and his two best seasons have come conveniently in contract years. Beltre has been a quality player during his Major League career, but his work ethic and dedication to the game has been in question for sometime, especially after signing that five-year contract with the Seattle Mariners prior to the '05 season.

Now, when the Rangers have finally reached the mountain top and have become a significant World Series contender, they seem to be pushing out the face of the franchise of the past decade and someone who went through all the hardships of being on a bad team much of his career.

Yet, Young reported to camp this week, saying he will not be a distraction and is focused on the season ahead with this club. Would we expect any different from the six-time All-Star, who is the definition of a consummate professional.

If Young wants out of Texas, he has earned that right, but one thing is for sure when he steps between those white lines it will be business as usual, no matter what uniform he is wearing.

Mr. Young you are truly a class act.

Edmonds Calls it a Career

Edmonds reaction to his walk-off home run
in the 12th inning of Game 6.

After 17 major league seasons Jim Edmonds has decided to close the final chapter in a storybook career.

The eight-time Gold Glove winner was truly a human highlight reel ever since he donned a Major League uniform in 1993.


Edmonds, 40, signed a Minor League contract with the St. Louis Cardinals back on Feb. 4, only to have an achilles injury halt his final comeback. Edmonds spent time with six Major League clubs during his outstanding playing career, including stints with the Angels, Padres, Cubs, Brewers, and most recently the Reds.

Although he will always be remembered for his eight spectacular seasons with the Cardinals.

How could we forget the "Superman" diving catch in Kansas City on June 10, 1997 as a member of the California Angels, robbing David Howard of an extra-base hit. Or even the catch in Game 7 of the 2004 National League Championship Series that robbed Houston's Brad Ausmus of a two-run double, almost punching the Cardinals ticket to the Fall Classic single handedly.

Not to mention the game-winning home run Edmonds hit in the 12th inning in Game 6 of that series, putting the Redbirds in that position.

  
Edmonds finishes with a .284 career average and 393 home runs in 2,011 career games. He was also a key member of the Cardinals 2006 World Series championship team. The four-time All-Star is widely considered one of the top center fielders of the past two decades. The question will arise soon enough if he will someday have a plaque in Cooperstown.

That question will be answered in 2016, until then I am sure I speak for a lot of us when I say thank you, "Jimmy Baseball". We will miss you, but won't soon forget you, as you are the human highlight reel.