It Comes Down to This

For the first time in baseball history the Division Series will see all four series' go to a decisive fifth game.

The San Francisco Giants completed an improbable comeback yesterday in Cincinnati, taking three straight on the road and enabling them to reach their second National League Championship Series in three years. In the Oakland, the Detroit Tigers ended the A's Cinderella season by riding the arm of Justin Verlander all the in the American League Championship Series.

With that there is four teams left fighting for the final two spots in baseball's version of the Final Four.

Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
Tonight in the Bronx will be the 23rd time this season these two teams play one another with the first 22 being even as can be, 11 wins each. It's only fitting that two teams that battled all year for a division crown will have one game between them to decide the fate of their season, not to mention the fact they will win the season series.

Alex Rodriguez's struggles have forced
him to the bench in Game 5.

The biggest news heading into Game 5 is the decision of New York manager Joe Girardi to sit a struggling Alex Rodriguez in the most the team's most important game all season.

Rodriguez's postseason struggles, not only this season, but throughout his career, have been well documented. Many believed he exercised those demons when he hit .365 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in the 2009 postseason en route to his first World Series title and New York's 27th in franchise history.

However, he has made the last out in each of the last two Yankee seasons and hasn't hit a postseason home run in 79 at-bats. His last coming in the 2009 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The decision shouldn't come as much of a surprise after Girardi decided to pinch-hit for the 14-time All-Star in each of the last two games with the game on the line. Rodriguez has two hits in 16 at-bats this postseason with nine strikeouts. He does not have a hit against a right-handed pitcher and is the main reason why Girardi elected to sit him against Baltimore's Jason Hammel.

But in a way it's a double-edged sword for the simple fact Rodriguez has hammered Hammel throughout his career. In 22 career at-bats against the 6-foot-6 righty from Greenville, Rodriguez has eight hits, four in which have left the yard. That is a .364 average.

Veteran Eric Chavez, who started 50 games at third base this season when Rodriguez went down with a broken hand, will start in his place and bat ninth.

Chavez has only faced Hammel six times in his career with one hit, but that one hit just happened to be a home run.

Rodriguez isn't the only Yankee struggling to find his stride, in fact some players have been worse. Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher are a combined 3-for-31 with 12 strikeouts and only one run drive in. But with Andruw Jones left on the playoff roster and Brett Gardner has all of three at-bats since April 17, Girardi doesn't have another viable option in the outfield like he does with Chavez at third.

Cano is hitting just .111, but has driven in four of the 11 Yankee runs this series.

All that being said, as the old cliche goes, momentum is only as good as your next day's starting pitcher and New York wouldn't have any one else on the mound tonight in the Bronx. Girardi gives the ball to CC Sabathia after a stellar, 120-pitch performance in Game 1 of this series. Sabathia is 5-0 in six career ALDS starts and 8-3 in the postseason since joining the Yankees prior to the '09 season.

For the Orioles, their offense has struggled just as much.

Jason Hammel was the Orioles best pitcher
much of the first half and they need him
to be that in Game 5.

Adam Jones, who many believe is a dark horse in the AL Most Valuable Player discussion, and Matt Wieters are both batting just over 100 and have to drive in a run. Jones just .105 (2-for-19) and Wieters at .118 (2-for-17). Mark Reynolds and rookie Manny Machado are among the two Baltimore regulars that are batting under .200.

Nate McLouth has really carried the Orioles offense in this series with 11 total bases and a team-leading five RBIs. McLouth is also the only member of Baltimore starting eight that has a batting average over .300 (.318).

But the Baltimore pitching staff has kept the Yankee bats at bay which continues to be the best way to counter a struggling offense. The Orioles starters have posted a 1.85 earned run average through the first four games of the series, but really it has been the work of Buck Showalter and his bullpen that tell the story.

Aside of their All-Star closer Jim Johnson struggling in two of his four outing against New York and allowing six runs (five earned), the bullpen has been nails. Showalter has used six other arms out of the 'pen outside of Johnson and they have tossed 13 brilliant innings. In those innings they have allowed just one earned run and that of course being Raul Ibanez's walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game 3. Their ERA is a video game-like 0.69 with 13 strikeouts and only have allowed 12 base runners (seven hits, five walks).

Ten different times the Orioles caught the Yankees in the standings during the regular season, but never let them pass them. Even this postseason, every time the Yankees have won a game, the Orioles have come back with a victory. Is today the day they finally pass them?

I guess we'll find out.

BAL X-Factor: Adam Jones
NYY X-Factor: Curtis Granderson

NYY wins, 4-2

Season Preview: National League Division Winners

Beach. Desert. Whenever your team has been the last month, it doesn't matter anymore with Opening Night upon us. With the American pastime back and playoff twist, it's time to crown a champion before a pitch has even been thrown.

National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers

It's not upstart to think the Dodgers could win this division. Los Angeles is only two years removed from back-to-back National League Championship appearances -- both in which they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.

After struggling the first 92 games (41-51) of the season in 2011, the Dodgers showed a glimpse of the future and rallied for first-year manager Don Mattingly, going 41-28 in the second half and finishing third in the NL West at 82-79.

Last season, the team road the bat and arm of Matt Kemp and Clatyon Kershaw, respectively. And will have to do the same this season if they are to get back to October. 

Kemp finished second in the NL Most Valuable Player voting after one of the best offensive seasons in baseball history. Flirting with the NL Triple Crown most of the year, Kemp fell eight points short of becoming the first NL player to earn that honor since Joe Medick did so in 1937. However, Kemp led the NL with 39 home runs and 129 runs batted in.

With Andre Ethier in a contract year, the re-signing of Juan Rivera, a healthy Juan Uribe and James Loney coming off a second half in which he hit .320, the Dodgers offense should be much better in 2012.

On the mound, Kershaw became the Dodgers modern day Sandy Koufax, baffling hitters all season long. The 24-year-old left-hander took the next step a year ago, becoming one of the game's most premium pitchers and learned the value of throwing first pitch strikes. After walking 81 batters in 2010, Kershaw nearly cut that total in half last year, issuing just 54 free passes.

He led the NL in wins (21), earned run average (2.28) and strikeouts (248), winning the NL pitching Triple Crown and ultimately landing him his first career Cy Young Award. It was the first 20-win season by a Los Angeles pitcher since 1990 (Ramon Martinez).

And while Kershaw needs a repeat performance, right-hander Chad Billingsley holds the key to the rotation's success and needs to get over his recent second half woes. Over the last three seasons, Billingsley has come out of the gate strong, but has fallen back at the finish. During that time, Billingsley is 24-15 in the first half, but only 11-18 after the All-Star Break.

Los Angeles needs him to put together a full season like he did in 2008. The the injection of youth at the back end of the bullpen of Kenley Jansen and Javy Guerra leads late look to be secure.

Remember, this is the same division that saw the San Diego Padres be at the forefront until the final day of the regular season before the San Francisco Giants shocked everyone to overtake San Diego and ride the wave all the way to a World Series title. Nobody picked Kirk Gibson's Arizona Diamondbacks last year. So, why not the Dodgers this year?

After all, there will be magic in the air.

National League Central: Cincinnati Reds

Stan the Man

If you haven't heard, the Los Angeles Dodgers were sold Tuesday night.

And while Magic Johnson is the face of the new ownership group and Mark Walters is the controlling partner, another man holds the key to future success.

No, it's not Stan Musial, but rather Stan Kasten.

Kasten, 60, 

Unexpected Homecoming

Pettitte's intimidating glare is returning
to the Bronx.

Andy Pettitte is doing something he vowed he would never do.

After more than a year away from the game and announcing his retirement, Pettitte signed a 1-year, $2.5 million contract to return to the New York Yankees on Friday. It is a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League spring training.

In a move that shocked us all, Pettitte called his return "embarrassing". But nonetheless, New York is welcoming him home.

Pettitte first got the itch to pitch again when general manager Brian Cashman called him in December, offering him a deal worth about $10 million. However, Pettitte wasn't ready to commit and Cashman went out and acquired two right-handers, trading for Michael Pineda and signing Hiroki Kuroda.

But when the left-hander came to camp as a special instructor this spring, he made it be know he wanted to play.

Pettitte's return to the Yankees could add a second lefty to the staff, along with ace C.C. Sabathia. He is expected to be battling for the fifth spot in rotation with right-handers Phil Hughes and Freddy Garica. If the three-time All-Star makes the team he will probably not be ready until mid-May, leaving manager Joe Girardi with a difficult, but yet somewhat easy decision.

Who wouldn't take a chance on a player like Pettitte with his resume.

Over his 16-year career, Pettitte has totaled 240 wins, 203 in which came in pinstripes, trailing only Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing for the most in Yankee history. The other 37 came as a member of his hometown Houston Astros.

He is second on the Yankees all-time list in games started (396) and strikeouts (1,823).

Pettitte won 20-plus games twice in his career and logged 200 or more innings ten times, including four out of the last six years.

His 16 consecutive seasons of a winning percentage of .500 or better are tied with Lefty Grove for third all-time. Hall of Famer Pete Alexander (19) and Greg Maddux (17) are first and second, respectively. Pettitte's 148 victories from 2000-09 are the most during that decade.

But it's his postseason accomplishments that speak volumes.

Pitching in eight different Fall Classic's, Pettitte's 13 games started in the World Series are second in baseball history to Ford's unbelievable 22. However, his 19 career postseason wins are the most all-time, helping him become a five-time World Series champion.

In 2009, Pettitte's most recent title, he became the first pitcher in postseason history to win all three series-clinching games as a starter, not to mention the fact Pettitte was the winning pitcher when the Yankees clinched the AL East Division title that same season.

He was also the 2001 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player when New York took down the record-setting Seattle Mariners in five games.

The question is now, how will Pettitte's body respond three months shy of his 40th birthday?

In his most recent season of work, Pettitte had one of his best seasons, compiling an 11-3 record with a 3.28 earned run average and making his first All-Star team in nine years. However, he missed two months that season with a groin injury.

Possessing one of the best pickoffs move in history, Pettitte has caught 99 base runners sleeping in his career, the most all-time. Steve Carlton's 144 would be the Major League record, but it wasn't made an official stat until 1974, ten years into his illustrious playing career.

Pettitte is back, and will trying to pick hitters off his time around.

Season Preview: Comeback Player of the Year

Health and productivity continue to be the keys to success in a grueling 162 game regular season. Many found themselves battling both a year ago, but will look to bounce back in 2012 and return to form.

American League Comeback Player of the Year: Alex Rodriguez, NYY

The New York Yankee third baseman was plagued by injuries much of 2011, playing in a career-low 99 games since becoming a full-time starter. After dealing with a major hip procedure prior to the start of the 2009 season, Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this past July, causing him to miss 38 straight games.

Rodriguez hopes to reclaim the
magic of 2009.

Upon his return on Aug. 21, Rodriguez suffered a sprained left thumb fielding a ground ball off the bat of Minnesota's Joe Mauer. The injury effected the way he swung the bat the rest of the season, batting .191 with just three home runs and ten runs batted in.

Not to mention his forgettable American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.

Rodriguez hit .111 in the series, recording two hits in his 18 at-bats. He struck out six times, including ending the Yankees postseason for the second straight year with a punch-out.

The now 36-year-old slugger batted .276 last season, driving 16 out of the ballpark and 62 runs overall, ending Major League record of 13 consecutive seasons with 30 HRs and 100 RBIs. His 172 total bases, .461 slugging percentage and .823 on-base plus slugging were all career-lows with a minimum of 150 plate appearances.

After famously opting out during Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, Rodriguez re-signed with the Yankees not long after, signing the a record 10-year $275 million contract.

Since that time, Rodriguez's numbers doesn't warrant him as the highest paid player in the game. He has averaged 124 games, 27 HRs and 97 RBIs a season. And while those are may be career-years for many other players throughout Major League Baseball, they are far removed from Rodriguez's '07 and third AL Most Valuable Player Award campaign.

That year Rodriguez led the majors with a record 54 HRs for a Yankee right-handed hitter, 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored.

All signs point to an aging and declining third baseman, but don't write Rodriguez off yet.

He took Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's advice in the offseason, seeking knee treatment in Germany. Bryant has found his second wind in his unbelievable 16-year career, leading the NBA in scoring.

Expect the same on the diamond from Rodriguez.

Notable Considerations: Carl Crawford, BOS & Kendrys Morales, LAA
In his first year as a member of the Boston Red Sox, Crawford was one of the team's biggest disappointments. Fresh off his 2010 season, that saw him win his first career Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, the former Tampa Bay Ray left fielder signed a seven-year $142 million contract in the offseason.

Crawford struggled to get a acclimated to his new surroundings, batting just .155 in the season's first month. He missed some time with a left hamstring injury, but finished the year with a .255 batting average and just 18 stolen bases.

It should be noted Crawford averaged 45 stolen bases during his nine years with Tampa Bay, leading the AL four different times.

However, despite Crawford undergoing offseason wrist surgery and expected to miss Opening Day after a recent setback, the 30-year-old's second year in Boston should be much better.

As for Morales, he hasn't seen big league action in nearly two years after breaking his leg in a celebration at home plate following his walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners on May 29, 2010. Unlike Crawford, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are aiming towards Morales' return on Opening Day.

The Cuban defector will take most of his swings as the team's designated hitter with the signing of Albert Pujols and emergence of Mark Trumbo. If healthy those two players hold the key to Morales' future success, adding protection for the switch-hitter.

Others: Adam Dunn, CHW

National League Comeback Player of the Year: Jason Heyward, ATL
Heyward opened his career with a bang, homering in his first career at-bat on Opening Day 2010. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after batting .277 with 18 HRs and 72 RBIs and was drawing comparisons as the left-handed version of Hank Aaron.

The 22-year-old become only the second player in Major League to homer in his first career at-bat on Opening Day and then follow it up with a home run in his first at-bat the next Opening Day, joining former New York Mets infielder Kazuo Matsui.

Heyward looks to continue his
promising career in 2012.

Matsui also homered in his first at-bat on two straight Opening Days from 2004-05.

However, Heyward couldn't avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and with that came a nagging injury.

Heyward played in only 128 games last year, batting a dismal .227 with 14 HRs and just 42 RBIs. His on-base percentage dropped from .393 in his rookie season to .319.

And while a shoulder injury hampered him most of the year, Heyward's step backwards could been attributed to a lack of confidence. The smooth swinging right fielder struggled in Atlanta's '10 division series matchup with the San Francisco Giants.

He batted just .125, and those struggles could have carried over into his second year in the majors.

Sandwiched in between Dan Uggla and '11 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Freddie Freeman, Heyward has the protection he needs to succeed. Who knows, maybe we'll see a third straight Opening Day home run.

Notable Considerations: Buster Posey, SF & Jayson Werth, WAS
Posey was the one that came in a stole Heyward's '10 NL Rookie of the Year Award after batting .305, commanding an electric pitching staff and leading the Giants to an improbable NL West Division title. The San Francisco backstop would eventually help the Giants win their first World Series title since moving west.

Posey's sophomore season was cut short after a home plate collision that torn ligaments in his ankle and caused him to miss the team's final 117 games.

Prior to the injury, Posey was hitting .284 with four HRs and 21 RBIs.

And while his presence in the lineup was missed, the pitching staff missed him dearly. With his ankle processing nicely and on track to start the season with the club, Posey will return as the game's best young catcher.

In the nation's capital, Werth is coming off his first season with a new club. He shocked everyone when he signed a mega seven-year $126 million contract with the Nationals last offseason, but quickly learned what he left behind was pretty special.

Werth batted .232 for Washington, adding 20 HRs and 58 RBIs - numbers that didn't follow the ones he put up in bandbox in Philadelphia.

An All-Star and World Series champion with the Phillies, Werth played four years under Charlie Manuel, averaging 23 HRs and 75 RBIs per year. He hit .282 as a Phillie, now raising the question, was he a product of a great lineup and hitter friendly ballpark?

I don't think so.

Werth showed he can still run, stealing 19 bases after swiping just 13 the year before. He stole a career-high 20 bases in back-to-backs seasons (2008, '09) for the Phillies.

Washington continues to be one of the more spacious fields in the majors, but with the injection of youth and optimism heading into the season, Werth could actually prove his worth.

Others: Johan Santana, NYM & Adam Wainwright, STL

Tek Takes Final Bow

Varitek wore the 'C' on his chest with
pride and dignity, just how like he
played the game.

Nearly two weeks after watching an emotional Tim Wakefield say goodbye, the Boston Red Sox bid another franchise legend farewell.

Longtime Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement Thursday in front of a abundance of former teammates, coaches and media members at a press conference held at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Varitek was emotional to say the least, but who wouldn't be after a fantastic 14-year playing career.

The 39-year-old played his college ball at Georgia Tech, where he set numerous team records that still stand today, including games played (253), runs (261), hits (351) and doubles (82). Following his colligate career, Varitek was drafted in the first-round by the Seattle Mariners in 1994.

But his time in the Emerald City was short lived.

On July 31, 1997, Varitek, along with right-hander Derek Lowe, was shipped to Boston at the non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb in one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history.

This time it was the Red Sox giving away a a veteran reliever for a rising prospect, or in this case prospects, that became one of the franchise's all-time greats.

It was just seven years earlier Boston made the mistake of trading a young Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros for Larry Andersen. Bagwell went on to hit 449 career homes runs and become the franchise's foundation for a decade and a half.

Throughout his career, Varitek played in 1,546 games for the Red Sox -- 1,488 came as a catcher, setting the team record for the most games caught, shattering Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk's record of 990.

Varitek threw out 301 would-be base-stealers in his career, ranking him fourth on the active list. Ivan Rodriguez, who is an owner of 13 Gold Gloves, is the active leader with an astonishing 661. However, before his retirement, Varitek was the active leader in stolen bases allowed, surrendering 992. In 2009, Varitek gave up 108 stolen bases, allowing 100 for only third time in his career and led the American League, including a game in which he saw his future teammate, Carl Crawford, tie a Major League record, swiping six bags in a game.

As for his bat, Varitek help transcend his position as a switch-hitting catcher, hitting .256 with 193 HRs and driving in 757 runs.

The three-time All-Star's best all around season came in 2005 when he hit .281, adding 22 HRs, 70 RBIs and winning his only Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.

But Varitek's career was more than just about his numbers as he was the epitome of a gamer, leader and captain.

'Tek', as his teammates call him, is one of the greatest game callers in baseball history. He called a Major League record four no-hitters, catching Hideo Nomo (April 4, 2001), Lowe (April 27, 2002), Clay Buchholz (Sept. 1, 2007) and Jon Lester (May 19, 2008).

He stood put to New York Yankees and third baseman Alex Rodriguez, famously shoving his glove into Rodriguez's face that escalated into a bench clearing brawl and paved the way for Boston's improbable 2004 postseason run, exercising their playoff demons and ending an 86-year curse.

Varitek was on the field for both of Boston's most recent World Series championships ('04 and 2007) despite owning a .237 career postseason average. However, all three of the ALCS' Varitek played in against the Yankees, he delivered.

In the playoffs, he hit .279 against New York and five of his 11 postseason HRs came at their expense. Those 11 HRs are a playoff record for a catcher and his 63 career games in October are a franchise record. Varitek never hit a World Series home run, but won all eight Fall Classic games he played in.

When he came to the plate in the first inning of the series-clinching Game 4 of the '04 World Series against St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Jason Marquis, it was the first time in baseball history that two Little League World Series participants faced off against one another on baseball's biggest stage.

It could have been Varitek's shove to the
face of Rodriguez that turned the Red
Sox fortune around.

In December 2006, Varitek was named only the third captain in team history, joining Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice. Over the years, he proved he was worthy of that honor, playing with grit, through injuries that only the training staff knew of and being the ultimate team player.

He showed his already irreplaceable value to the pitching staff this season, especially for Josh Beckett. A year after Beckett went 6-6 and posted a career-worst 5.78 earned run average with Varitek only catching six of 21 starts, 2011 was far different.

Varitek caught 29 of Beckett's 30 starts this past season and watched the right-hander flourish. The former Florida Marlin went 13-7 and with a minimum of 20 starts, set career-lows in ERA (2.89) and WHIP (1.03).

Just like Wakefield, his presence will be missed on and off the field.

He was also a member of the 2006 United States World Baseball Classic team, hitting a grand slam against Team Canada.

Varitek and New York's also recently retired, Jorge Posada, were the Fisk and Thurman Munson of this generation and now leave the game and the only franchise's they've ever known and love behind, but legacies that will last far beyond our lifetime.

Waking Goodbye

Over 19 years, Wakefield was the epitome of
a team player.

Tim Wakefield's knuckleball has fluttered passed it's final big league bat.

The 45-year-old veteran called it a career Friday after playing 19 seasons in Major League Baseball -- 17 in which came with his wearing a Boston Red Sox uniform.

Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988 as a first baseman, Wakefield made his Major League debut in 1992 as a pitcher. He finished the season with an 8-1 record and a 2.15 earned run average in 13 starts. However, he lost 11 games in 1993 and spent most of the 1994 season pitching for Triple-A Buffalo.

Wakefield was called up in September, but never appeared in a big league due to the strike-shortened season. The Pirates released Wakefield prior to the start of the 1995 season.

The Red Sox saw his potential and decided to take a chance on the then-28-year-old right hander.

Wakfield started the year at Triple-A Pawtucket, but injuries paved his fast track back to the majors. In his first 17 games with the Red Sox, Wakfield emerged as the team's most reliable starter, throwing six complete games, accumulating to a 14-1 record with a 1.65 ERA.

Using his knuckleball more then he ever had, Wakefield finished the year 16-8, narrowly missing his first 200 inning season, throwing 195 1/3 innings and posting a 2.95 ERA. It would be the only season Wakefield would see his name finish on the American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player ballot, finishing third and 13th, respectively.

Over the years, Wakefield became one of the most versatile pitchers the game has ever seen. He appeared in 627 games over his career, 463 of those coming as a starter and the other 164 out of the bullpen.

After throwing three consecutive seasons of 200-plus innings (1996-98), Wakefield started to mainly work out of the Boston bullpen. From 1999 to 2002, Wakefield appeared in a total of 190 games for the Red Sox, but only 66 came as a starter. During that span Wakefield appeared in 45 game or more each season, including saving a career-high 15 games in '99, but never starting more than 17 games in a year.

But it's one of his relief outings in the postseason that will forever live in infamy.

After being responsible for two of the three Red Sox wins as a starter in the 2003 ALCS, Wakefield entered the decisive seventh game in Yankee Stadium as a reliever with the score knotted at five, in the 11th inning and Aaron Boone coming to the plate.

On his first pitch of the game, Wakefield surrendered one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history as Boone launched it deep into the October night, sending New York fans home dancing -- something his knuckleball didn't quite do.

Wakefield went from being potentially the series' MVP and hero to the instant choker and goat.

However, just a year later on the same stage, Wakefield and Co. would have their revenge.

Facing a 3-1 series deficit, and at one point 3-0, Wakefield won Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS, the second of Boston's eight straight postseason wins, capping the most improbable comeback in postseason history en route to their first World Series title in 86 years.

In 2007, Wakefield would win a career-high 17 games and win his second World Series championship with the Red Sox despite only appearing two games that postseason.

Two years later, Wakefield was his selected to his first and only All-Star team, becoming the second oldest player in history to be named his to first career All-Star Game at age 42. Hall of Famer Satchel Paige was the oldest, making his first All-Star appearance in 1952 at 45.

At the break, Wakefield was 11-3, but was hampered by lower back and calf injuries the second half, allowing him only to pitch in four games the rest of the season.

This past season, Wakefield recorded his 200th win and by no means was it easy. He started the year in the bullpen, but by May he was back in the rotation.

Wakefield recorded his 199th career win on July 24, but waited nearly two months before his historic milestone. With the bullpen blowing numerous leads, the knuckleballer made eight appearances before recording his final Major League win on his ninth attempt.

On Sept. 13, he allowed five runs on five hits over six innings in Boston's 18-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Speaking of September, Wakefield was one of the many Red Sox pitchers that struggled in the season's final month. In the greatest collapse in baseball history, that saw Boston finish the season 7-20 in their final 27 games and squandering a nine-game wild card lead, Wakefield went 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA.

He relinquished five runs in all five of his September appearances, including what would be his final career start, coming in a 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees.

Wakefield finishes his career with a 200-180 record and a 4.41 ERA. 186 of his 200 wins came as a Red Sox, good enough for second on the franchise's all-time list behind Roger Clemens and Cy Young's 192.

He is only the second pitcher in Red Sox to tally more than 2,000 strike outs with 2,046. Clemens is the all-time leader with 2,590. However, Wakefield is first in starts (430), appearances (590) and innings pitched (3,006).

Only Carl Yastrzemski's 23 and Ted Williams and Dwight Evans' 19-year services to the organization preponderate Wakefield's 17.

As for his place with the greatest knuckleballers in history, Wakefield is surpassed by Joe Nierko, Eddie Cicotte and Hall of Famers, Hoyt Wilhelm, Ted Lyons and Phil Nierko. But if Nierko was the godfather of the knuckleball in the 60s, 70s and 80s, then Wakefield was the heir to the throne in the 90s and the turn of the century.

Wakefield may not be a Hall of Famer, but his place in Red Sox history is assured.

He Was Just a Kid

Throughout his career, Carter was a leader
in every sense of the word.

Less than a year after being diagnosed with brain cancer, Hall of Famer Gary Carter lost that battle Wednesday, passing away at age 57.

It was just last May Carter and his family received the shocking news that he had a malignant tumor in his brain. It was apparent the cancer was spreading and taking a tole on Carter's health, causing many to wonder how long he had left.

In January, Carter's condition took a turn for the worst, validating everyone's deepest concerns. The cancer had spread and saw several more tumors appear on his brain.

While we continue to mourn the loss of one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, it's time to celebrate the life of not only a Hall of Famer player, but a Hall of Fame person.

Carter was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1972. He made his Major League debut just two years later, becoming arguably the greatest player in franchise history. In his first full season with the Expos, Carter hit .270 and slugged 17 home runs. He was named to his first of 11 All-Star Games and finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.

1984 would become Carter's best offensive season, posting career-highs in plate appearances (669), at-bats (596), hits (175), batting average (.294) and runs batted in (106). Not to mention his 106 RBIs led the NL.

That December, with Montreal preparing to rebuild, Carter was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for four young prospects.

It was the move that saved the Mets franchise and brought them their second and most recent World Series title.

A team already armed with the power-hitting Darryl Strawberry, electric Dwight Gooden and slick-fielding Keith Hernandez, Carter was brought in to be the savior. And he was just that. On Opening Day 1985, in his first game as a Met, Carter justified the 4-for-1 trade with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning, receiving his first taste of the New York spotlight.

In a town where many crumble, Carter embraced the challenge, flourishing under pressure and captivating Shea Stadium. That was never more apparent in the postseason.

Playing in 30 career playoff games, Carter owned a .280 career average with four home runs and driving in 21 runs. He had 33 career hits in the postseason, but none bigger than four of the 12 hits he had in the 1986 postseason.

In Game 5 of the NLCS, Carter, who was batting a dismal .047 prior to the at-bat, laced a game-winning, walk-off single in the 12th inning, giving New York a 3-2 series advantage -- a series the Mets clinched the following night in 16 innings.

Reaching the World Series for the first time in his career, Carter hit two home runs over the Green Monster in Game 4 of the Fall Classic, becoming the only player in history to homer twice in a All-Star and World Series game.

But it's his 10th inning single in Game 6 that will forever live in New York lore.

With two out and nobody one, Carter, with his tenacious personality, refused to be the final out of the series, orchestrating the most improbable and greatest rally in postseason history. The veteran catcher lashed a base hit into left field and three batters later, Mookie Wilson would hit his infamous ground ball that some how trickled under the glove of Bill Buckner, forcing a decisive seventh game.

Carter and Co. would reach the pinnacle of the sports world two nights later.

If Hernandez was the team's captain, then Carter was his first mate.

Carter would spend three more season with the Mets, but was released in 1989 and bounced around the NL his final three seasons, spending a year each with the Giants and Dodgers before returning to where it all began.

However, Carter managed to bring a crowd to their feet one last time.

In his final Major League at-bat, Carter lined an opposite field, RBI double over Andre Dawson's head, giving the Expos an eventually 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 27, 1992. He played in just 95 games that year, batting .218 and retired at season's end.

He finished his career with a .262 average, 324 HRs and 1225 RBIs. Carter is one of only five players to play at least 50 percent of his games as a catcher and record 275 HRs, 350 doubles, 1,000 RBIs and 1,500 hits while doing so, joining the recently retired Jorge Posada, Ivan Rodriguez and fellow Hall of Famers, Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk.

Even in the biggest fight of his life, Carter
never lost the smile that inspired us all.

Carter totaled four 100 RBI seasons as a catcher, including three straight from 1984-86, tying him with Bill Dickey for the third most all-time. He won five Silver Sluggers in his career and finished as high as second in the NL Most Valuable Player voting, that coming in 1980.

That same season Carter would win his first of three consecutive Gold Gloves, showing he was just as good behind the plate. Possessed with one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball history, nobody ran on Carter.

He is one of five catchers to catch more than 2,000 games in his career, catching the fourth most in history and an NL record 2,056 games. According to ESPN's Tim Kurkjian, along with three other catchers, Carter holds the Major League record for being behind the plate in 90 percent of his team's games in five different seasons.

Also one of game's greatest game callers, it wasn't a coincidence Gooden's best season came in Carter's first year as his battery mate. Gooden posted career bests in wins (24) earned run average (1.53), complete games (16) and innings (276.2), capturing his only NL Cy Young.

Carter was named the All-Star Game MVP two times in his career (1981, '84) and was the recipient of the '89 Roberto Clemente Award.

In 2003, after a baffling five-year wait, Carter was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in his sixth year on the ballot, receiving 78.02 percent of the vote. That same season his No. 8 would be retired by Montreal -- the team and cap he would go into Cooperstown wearing.

But it was his infectious smile and enthusiasm, passion and love for the game that earned him the nickname the 'Kid' over his 19-year career and the rest of his life.

Carter, who was the head coach of Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team, made his final public appearance on Feb. 2 in his team's first game of the 2012 season. Honoring Carter the only way they knew how, the Sailfish won on a walk-off base hit by senior Travis Murray.

Murray's position? Yep, you guessed it. Catcher.

Carter wasn't only the savior the Mets needed, but the one baseball needed as well.

Nothing Maddon-ing About This

Maddon has made the Rays contenders
 and turned the franchise's fate in 2008.

Joe Maddon isn't going anywhere. And the Tampa Bay Rays made sure of that Tuesday.

The 58-year-old manager was given a three-year extension by his current employer, insuring his place on the Tampa Bay bench through the 2015 season. Maddon was entering the final year of his current contract after previously signing his first three-year extension with the organization in May 2009.

Since being hired as the Rays manager in November 2005, Maddon has rapidly become one of the game's best managers. Under his watch, the Rays have made three appearances, won two American League East Division titles and an AL Pennant.

In a year of firsts for the organization and only his third season as manager, Maddon lead the budget-conscious Rays to a franchise record 97 regular season wins and their first postseason appearance in franchise history, outplaying the high-paying New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox for the division crown. Tampa Bay defeated the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS to clinch their first playoff series victory, advancing to the ALCS to take on the Red Sox.

The series would come down to an epic seventh game -- a game Tampa Bay eventually won, 3-1. However, they were defeated in their first ever World Series appearance, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.

The following year, Maddon and his troops would take a step back, finishing the year 84-78 -- third in the division, causing many to wonder if their success was just an anomaly.

That wasn't the case.

In 2010, Maddon and the Rays went back to work, clinching their division for the second time in three years. This past season, Tampa Bay would make the most historic September comeback in baseball history, over coming a 9-game wild card deficit only to first their first ever AL Wild Card berth the final day of the regular season.

Although, back-to-back years they have been ousted from the postseason in the ALDS by the Texas Rangers.

Maddon has built a foundation for success down South, but it hasn't been easy.

He spent his first two years in Tampa Bay as a Devil Ray, watching his team finish in the cellar of the AL East, combining for 127-197 record and drafting young players that would define the team's recent success.

In the first round of the 2006 amateur draft, Maddon and Co. selected shortstop Evan Longoria out of Cal State Long Beach with the No. 3 overall pick. Then, eight rounds later, the Rays selected Desmond Jennings, who played in 63 games this past season as a rookie.

In 2007, with the No. 1 overall pick, Maddon took left-handed phenom David Price out of Vanderbilt and played a major role in the team signing free agent first baseman Carlos Pena.

Longoria won the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year. Price has become one of the game's most premier pitchers, winning a career-high 19 games in 2010. Pena set career-highs home runs (46) and runs batted in (121) in his first year with the Rays and hit a combined 144 HRs in his four years with the team before leaving as a free agent prior to the start of last season.

But after a year away from the organization, Pena signed a one-year deal this offseason to return. As for Jennings, he batted .259 with 10 HRs and 25 RBIs, playing a major role in the Rays' magical September run.

And despite being drafted by the Rays just month before Maddon was hired, Jeremy Hellickson is his second rookie to earn the AL Rookie of the Year of the honor, going 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA in 2011.

Maddon is not only the fourth manager in franchise history, but the longest tenured as well.

The franchise's first manager and current Yankee pitching coach, Larry Rothschild, held the mark prior to Maddon's arrival, managing the club from 1998 to 2001.

Maddon is one of three successful managers in baseball that studied under Mike Scioscia, who is a two-time AL Manager of the Year.

The former Angels bench coach established early and often he would do things his own way. With his thick-rimmed-rose-color glasses, Maddon is known for his unorthodox managerial style and preaching the fundamentals of the game he loves so dear.

On Aug. 17, 2008, with a four-run lead, Maddon elected to intentional walk Texas' Josh Hamilton with the bases loaded rather than pitching to him as the potential tying run. It was only the sixth intentional walk handed out with the bases loaded in baseball history.

The move prevailed as the Dan Wheeler struck out Marlon Byrd to end the game, preserving the lead in a 7-4 win.

Maddon was won the AL Manager of the Year twice ('08, '10), has accumulated a 495-477 record in his 972 games and is now greatest manager in franchise history with at least four more years to add to his legacy.

Defecting by the Bay

Reed-y To Go

The door is open, and Chicago White Sox' rookie reliever Addison Reed should walk right through.

In early December, general manager Kenny Williams traded closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays, in exchange for a then-22-year-old starting pitching prospect, Nestor Molina, leaving the vital closer role vacated.

Only in his second year in Major League Baseball and first as a full-time closer, Santos' 30 saves ranked eighth in the American League, but with the team's plethora of young relievers, Williams felt he was expendable.

Atop that list is the 23-year-old Reed.

Reed made his Major League debut last season on September 4 as one of the month's usual call-ups, but it would be quickly known he was anything, but the usual September call-up, dazzling his piers.

In on mob-up duty with his team trailing 9-0, Reed threw 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run, on four hits, while striking out three in Chicago's eventual 18-2 lose to the division rival Detroit Tigers. Following his debut, Reed would appear in six more games for the White Sox in 2011, including a string of six straight scoreless innings before having it snapped by Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera, tagging the right-hander for a three-run home run.

It was the first home run surrendered by Reed in his career.

Reed finished the year with a 3.68 earned run average, while striking out 12 and walking just one in 7 1/2 innings. But it was his road to the show that is most impressive.

A Southern California native, Reed attended Los Osos High School, where he played varsity baseball all four years. However, known for his big bat in the middle of the Grizzlies' lineup, Reed didn't starting pitching until his junior year, pitching his first two high school innings that year.

It wouldn't until his senior season that Reed would flourish in his future home.

Reed went 5-1 during his final year with the Grizzlies, posting a 2.53 ERA and becoming the ace of the staff. Not to mention never losing his ability to hit, batting .446 with 10 doubles, 13 home runs and 34 runs batted in.

After his graduation, Reed attended San Diego State University, joining Hall of Famer, Tony Gwynn's squad. He spent three seasons as an Aztec, mainly closing games for National's ace and good friend, Stephen Strasburg. In 2009, he led the nation in saves, converting all 20 of his opportunities, setting a new team and Mountain West Conference record.

Reed decided to forgo his senior season at San Diego after being drafted in the third-round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft by the White Sox.

After a great season in the rookie ball for the Great Fall Voyagers, Reed begin this past season with only one thing in mind. Combining for 43 appearances for four different teams, including Class A Kannapolis, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem, Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, Reed rapidly ascended the Minor League system.

Prior to receive his call-up, Reed's numbers were eye-popping. In 78 2/3 innings, he posted microscopic 1.26 ERA, giving up just 43 hits. He also struck out 111 Minor League hitters compared to only 11 base-on-balls.

He was recently named to MLB.com's Top Prospect list, which increased from 50 to 100 this year. Reed found himself just making the cut, claiming No. 100.

Veterans Matt Thorton and Jesse Crain, both whom have experiencing closing, are the favorites heading into camp to land the closer job, but both have been discussed in possibly trade rumors this winter, leaving the door open.

Along with his intimidating 6-foot-4 stature and unorthodox delivery, Reed is armed with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a devastating change up that could have him closing games on the South Side by the end of 2012.

Washing Into the Future

Washington's determination and energy have
made him a fixture in the Texas clubhouse.

The franchise's first postseason series win. Check. First two American League Pennants and World Series berths. Check. Check.

These are just some of the accomplishments Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington has achieved during his tenure in Arlington, and was rewarded for his hard work Monday.

Washington, 59, who was in the final year of his current contract, was given a two-year contract extension, keeping the skipper in heart of Texas through the 2014 season. His original contract was also a two-year deal, consisting of two club options for 2009 and 2010, both of which were exercised.

But with no more options, it was time for a much needed extension.

After spending 11 seasons coaching with the division rival Oakland Athletics, 10 of them coming as the club's third-base coach, Washington was hired by general manager Jon Daniels prior to the start of the 2007 season.

In his first year as manager, the Rangers finished 12 games under .500 and last in the AL West. However, management never faltered, keeping their faith in the New Orleans native.

The sixth-longest tenured manager in baseball today followed up that season with the acquisition of future AL MVP Josh Hamilton from the Cincinnati Reds. Hamilton finished his first year with Texas leading the AL in RBIs (130) and playing in a career-high 156 games, but it was Washington's energy that pointed his team in the right direction.

Still under .500, the Washington-led Rangers finished second in the AL West. It wouldn't be until year three that Texas would finish above the .500 mark for the first time since 2004, again finishing second in the division with a record of 87-75.

Possessed with his own demons, Washington admitted to the use of cocaine during the '09 season, but it surfaced during spring training the following year. Daniels and newly appointed team president and CEO, Nolan Ryan, never wavered in their faith with Washington, letting him continue his life long dream when it should have been taken away.

He wouldn't disappoint

2010 brought Washington and Co. their first division title and playoff appearance since 1999. They ran threw the postseason, narrowly defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS and outslugged the defending World Series champion New York Yankees.

In their first World Series appearance in franchise history, they were upended by the surprising San Francisco Giants in five games.

After setting a club-record with 96 wins during the regular season this past year, Washington had to fill the agony of defeat for a second time in the World Series, this time even they could taste it. Holding a two-run lead in the ninth inning, the Rangers were one strike away from capturing their first World Series title before St. Louis' David Freese tied it with a triple and won it with a walk-off home run in the 11th.

Washington has accumulated a 427-383 record in his five seasons as manager, including improving his win total every year.

His 427 wins are the third most in Rangers history, trailing only Johnny Oates (506) and newly hired Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (581). Washington has finished in the top five of the AL Manager of the Year voting each of the last three seasons, finishing as high as second his fourth year on the job.

Texas as found their guy and will ride him until he's all washed up. 

Fresh Prince Of Detroit

Fielder now makes not only the
transition to a new team, but
a new league.

In light of the recent injury to Victor Martinez, the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a deal that will being free agent first baseman Prince Fielder to the Motor City.

Even though Fielder would not want this to be said, he is following in his father's footsteps. After spending the first five years of his career playing for the Toronto Blue Jays and a Japanese team, the Hanshin Tigers, Cecil Fielder also was catered by the Tigers, signing a five-year $36 million contract prior to the 1990 season.

Fielder's contract is said to be worth $214 million over a nine-year period and while that is not quiet the money fellow first baseman Albert Pujols received from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it could prove to be a better investment for this storied franchise.

Fielder, 27, will be 36 when his newly agreed upon contract expires. On the other hand, Pujols, who signed a 10-year $254 million deal in early December, is currently 32 years of age and will be 42 at contract's end.

A three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger, Fielder made $15.5 million a year ago, that includes a $50,000 bonus for receiving the nod to start at first base for the National League in the All-Star Game at Arizona, something that could prove to be a challenge for him in the American League.

With Pujols and now, Fielder's addition to the the AL, there is a plethora of All-Star caliber first baseman to compete with. They join Miguel Cabrera, who is Fielder's newest teammate, Mark Teixeira, Justin Morneau and last year's starting first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez.

In his first ever start in the Midsummer Classic, Fielder was named the 2011 All-Star Game MVP, thanks in large part to his go-ahead three-run home run in the fourth inning off C.J. Wilson. His home run was the main component in helping the NL win back-to-back All-Star games for the first time since they won three straight from 1994-96.

As for his career, Fielder was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first-round of 2002 amateur player draft and where he has spent the last seven seasons paired up with 2011 NL MVP, Ryan Braun.

Fielder made his Major League debut in 2005 and from then now, he has been a prolific run producer in Major League Baseball. The 5-foot-11, 275-pounder owns a .282 career average over his first seven seasons, including 230 home runs and 636 runs batted in.

He has driven in 100-plus runs four times in his young career and has proven to be one of the most durable players in the league. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2006, Fielder has played in at least 157 games, including playing in all 162 games in 2009 and this past season.

Finishing third in the NL MVP voting this season, it's the third time Fielder has finished in the top five in the last five years. Fielder tied a career-high, batting .299, while adding 38 HRs and 107 RBIs.

He finished with a .415 on-base percentage, due in large part to his high walk total. Fielder drew 107 base-on-balls, including 32 of those coming intentional to lead the majors.

It's not the first time Fielder has led the league in major offensive categories. In 2007, he hit a career-high 50 HRs, which led the NL. In '09 and 2010, he led the majors in RBIs (141) and BBs (114), respectively.

As for the team he joins, Detroit adds one of the most premier sluggers in the game and fill a void they didn't think they would be without. Just a week ago, Martinez, who signed a four-year $50 million deal last winter, suffered a torn ACL during his offseason workouts and will most likely end his entire 2012 season before if even got started.

While Fielder looks to be the Tigers response to the injury, it poses an interesting situation for general manager Dave Dombrowski and skipper Jim Leyland.

Detroit already has a franchise first baseman in Cabrera, who has proven to be not only more than a serviceable asset, but one of the game's most feared hitters. Cabrera, 28, just like Fielder, is much too young to take on a full-time designated hitter role.

Fielder's father, Cecil, also signed as a
free agent to join the Tigers.

One logical solution seems to be that Cabrera could move back across the diamond to the hot corner. Cabrera played third base regularly during his days with the formerly known Florida Marlins before making the transition to first in 2008, his first year with the Tigers.

He has played 383 of his 1,351 career games at third, but then again, there is a reason why a change was made.

In any event, it's a problem that Leyland won't soon complain about.

In the end, Fielder along with agent Scott Boras waited patiently and eventually got exactly what they wanted, something Boras and his clients are no stranger to.

Plethora Of Pitching

Lone Man

Larkin will rightly take his place among the
game's greats this Summer.

In his third at-bat, longtime Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin hit one all the way into Cooperstown.

Larking, 47, who received a remarkable 86.4 percent of the vote, gathered just 62.1 in his second year of eligibility a year ago, making his 24.3 percent vote increase the largest jump in baseball history since 1948.

That year pitcher Herb Pennock, who helped the Red Sox win two World Series titles and the Yankees another four, totaled 77.7 percent of the vote, a significant jump from his 53.4 in 1947.

A 12-time All-Star, Larkin was the National League version of New York's Derek Jeter.

Drafted with the fourth overall pick by the Reds in the 1985 amateur draft, Larking quickly made his presence felt in the Cincinnati lineup. In 1986, Larkin batted .283 in his rookie campaign and finished seventh in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Two years later, 1988 would be a year of firsts for Larkin. He was selected to his first career All-Star Game and awarded his first Silver Slugger, both which would become a common occurrence throughout his career.

Much like Hall of Famer Cal Ripken did, Larkin transcended his position, making shortstop not only a spot for slick fielding glove men, but also a home for some of the game's most prolific sluggers.

At age 26, Larkin, in what would be first of only two trips to the postseason, hit .300 (12-for-40), swiped three bases and helped lead a Lou Pinella-led Reds teams to the 1990 World Series title, sweeping the Oakland Athletics.

Larkin was voted the NL Most Valuable Player in 1995, hitting .319 with 15 home run, 66 runs batted in and stoles 51 bases. That year Cincinnati finished first in the NL Central and road the postseason wave all the way to the NLCS, where they were swept by the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves.

Despite never hitting a postseason home run, Larking was a .338 career hitter in the postseason and managed to steal 8 bases in just 17 games.

Larkin was one of those rare breeds blessed with speed and power, becoming the first shortstop in history to total 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season, that coming in 1996.

Following the 2004 season, at age 40, Larkin wanted to resign and continue his playing career with the Reds, but in so many words Cincinnati brass said they no longer wanted his service. Instead of choosing to play for another team, Larkin decided to retire. His No. 11 has not been issued to another player in Cincinnati since his departure.

In 19 seasons with the Reds, Larkin, who was the recipient of three consecutive Gold Gloves (1994-96), owned a .295 career average, laced 2,340 hits, hit 198 home runs and stole 379 bases. His 939 career base-on-balls is significantly greater than his 817 career strikeouts, making him a reliable source to out the ball in play and get on base.

July 22 marks the day Larkin will be inducted into Cooperstown, joined by the late Ron Santo,who elected last month by the Golden Era Committee after an unprecedented and maddening 32-year wait.

But 2012 belongs to Larkin.

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.

Big Z Headed South

Being unable to control his emotions has
really hurt the once bright career of
Zambrano.

The ongoing soap opera that is the career of Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano appears to have added yet another interesting chapter.

It has been reported that Zambrano has waived his full no-trade clause to join the recently renamed and revamped Miami Marlins. Chicago will receive pitcher Chris Volstad in return. With the deal excepted to get done within the next 24 hours, Zambrano must first pass a physical.

The agreement was contingent upon the Cubs paying $15 million of the $18 million owed to Venezuelan in 2012.

Zambrano, who signed a five-year $91.5 million contract extension in August of 2007, also has a vesting option worth $19 million for the 2013 season. That is in fact if he finishes in the top four of the National League Cy Young voting. Miami shouldn't worry too much as he has never finished higher than fifth.

Known lately more for his emotional outbursts and mind-boggling antics than his, at times dominating pitching, the volatile Zambrano still has a chance to salvage what has been, up to this point, a good, but yet roller coaster of a career.

A 3-time All-Star, the 30-year-old righty's best overall season came in 2006. That season Zambrano posted a league-best 16 wins, tossed 214 innings and struck out 210 hitters, finishing in the top five of the NL Cy Young voting. The following year, Zambrano set a career-high in wins with a 18-13 record.

Fresh off his contract extension, the 2008 season started out great for the Zambrano. The 6-foot-5 starter kicked off the year 12-4 with a 2.76 earned run average before suffering numerous arm injuries that caused him to miss multiple starts.

Zambrano returned to the mound on Sept. 18, 2008, tossing the first Cubs no-hitter in 36 years, shutting down the Houston Astros offense at Miller Park, 5-0. The game was moved to Milwaukee due to damages Minute Maid Park had suffered during Hurricane Ike, making Zambrano's no-no the first neutral site no-hitter in baseball history.

After that it was down hill.

Zambrano won 20 games combined in 2009 and '10 with 2011 maybe being his most disappointing season yet. Struggling to find his stride, Zambrano has faced multiple suspensions and last pitched for Chicago on Aug.12 in a game against the Atlanta Braves. In that game, he surrendered five home runs and was ejected after throwing inside to veteran Chipper Jones.

Post-game it was reported that Zambrano was set to retire. He was placed on the disqualified list and didn't pitch for the team the rest of the season, finishing the year 9-7 and a 4.82 ERA, only starting 24 games for the Cubs, his lowest total since his 2002 rookie campaign.

After recording more than 200 innings five times in his first seven years in the majors, Zambrano has yet to reach that mark each of the last four years, showing signs of deteriorating or lack of desire and control.

Although, a change of scenery might be just what the doctor order, Dr. Oz that is.

Zambrano and recently hired manager Ozzie Gullien have been friends for sometime and looks to be the main component as to why he decided to waive his no-trade clause and head to South Beach. Maybe Gullien, who is also know for being quite emotional and a native Venezuelan, could get the best out of the talented right-hander.

He comes to the Marlins owning a career record of 125-81 and a 3.60 ERA, not to mention his .241 career batting average, 23 home runs and 69 runs batted in, earning him three Silver Sluggers.

The acquisition of Zambrano would add to the many new faces that will occupy the New Marlins Ballpark in 2012. The Fish have already reeled in All-Stars Jose Reyes and Heath Bell this offseason, signed Mark Buehrle, who is the author of two no-hitters -- one being a perfect game -- and now have slugger Hanley Ramirez, who was originally opposed to switching positions, embracing his transition to the hot corner, making the Marlins a viable contender in the NL East.

It could be a match made in heaven or a disaster waiting to happen.

Bailing 'Em Out

Ringing The Bell

Happy Valentine's Day