Due to overwhelming response, here is an extended list, 11-20 top MILB players to follow.

A few things. A lot of these guys were considered for the top ten. The selection process is difficult because, whether you know it or not, there are numerous minor league players using Twitter. That led to adding an Honorable Ten list.

Reminder about how this was decided: frequency, interaction, humor, overall just compelling feed. Interacting with their fans/followers was big in deciding. Tweet frequency counted a lot as well. Humor matters. Every single guy that made these lists had a way with a joke or making fun of themselves. When their personalities shine through, the flow of the content is fun and interesting to read. For guys trying to make it to the big leagues, they experience a lot of transition and adversity. Every player named in the Twitter Ten and Next Ten shares a fascinating look into the unique life of baseball.

Starting with #11, a player whose use of Twitter gives him an important connection to fans. After being so protected by his team, that connection has been meaningful.

11. Bryce Harper @BHarper3407 – Washington Nationals
12. Cody Decker @Decker6 – San Diego Padres
13. Tyson Gillies @TysonGillies21 – Philadephia Phillies
14. Thomas Neal @TdaddyNeal – Cleveland Indians
15. Will Middlebrooks @16WMBrooks- Boston Red Sox
16. Mike Trout @Trouty20 – Anaheim Angels
17. LV Ware @LV_Ware – Atlanta Braves
18. Deck McGuire @deckmcguire – Toronto Blue Jays
19. Ryan Tatusko @RyanTatusko – Nationals
20. Michael Crouse @_crouse_ – Blue Jays

Honorable Ten Mentions:

1.Bryan Harper @BHarp45 – Nationals
2. Chris Swauger @cswag8 – St. Louis Cardinals
3. Matt den Dekker @UpperDekker – New York Mets
4. Bryan Longpre @BryanLongpre- Blue Jays
5. Jack Murphy @JackMurphy219 – Blue Jays
6. Justin Fitgerald @jfitgerald31 – Giants
7. Trent Mummey @trentmummey7 – Baltimore Orioles
8. C.J. Cron @CCron24 – Angels
9. Jordan Comadena @Funky2414 – Houston Astros
10. Kellin Deglan @keldegs – Texas Rangers

For information and reservations call 914.668.9580 or log onto www.bgcmvny.com.

Singleton is in his 10th season as a New York Yankees analyst for the YES Network alongside Michael Kay, and also handles play-by-play duties for the network.

“We are delighted to honor Ken Singleton at our 100th Anniversary Gala,” said Boys & Girls Club President Danny Sawh, and Executive Director Lowes Moore in a joint statement. “His outstanding career on the baseball diamond and in the broadcast booth have distinguished him as a true champion. The Boys & Girls Club of Mt. Vernon has been a bulwark against delinquency and a recreational outlet for youngsters for a century, and we hope today’s youngsters will follow in his giant footsteps.”

Raised in Mount Vernon, Singleton played both baseball and basketball in high school, and also played baseball in the Bronx Federation League at Macombs Dam Park, across the street from Yankee Stadium. After receiving a basketball scholarship to Hofstra University and playing baseball as well for one year, Singleton was drafted by the Mets in 1967.

Denzel Washington

In April 1972, he was traded to the Expos and, in 1974, was traded to the Orioles. His .438 on base percentage (in 1977), 118 walks (in 1975) and 35 switch-hit home runs (in 1979) are all still Orioles single season records.

Singleton is one of only six players in Major League Baseball history to hit 35 or more switch-hit homers in a season. During his career, Singleton was named to the American League All- Star Team in 1977, ’79 and ’81. He was named Most Valuable Oriole in 1975, ’77 and ’79.

Singleton received the Roberto Clemente Award from Major League Baseball — the highest off-the-field honor in baseball — in 1982. The award recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.

He retired after the 1984 season as a three-time All-Star with a 1983 World Championship ring.

Before joining YES, Singleton divided his time calling play-by-play and providing commentary on Yankees telecasts on the MSG Network. In 1998, he was part of MSG’s production team that won four New York Emmys for its Yankees coverage.

Singleton joined the MSG Network in 1997 from The Sports Network (TSN), where he served as analyst for the Montreal Expos from 1985 to 1996. From 1991-96, he also called play-by-play and served as analyst for CIQC Radio, the Expos’ flagship radio network. In 1996 and 1997, he was named by FOX Sports as a lead analyst for Saturday afternoon baseball broadcasts. In 1997 and 1998, he worked as an analyst for Major League Baseball International.

Our featured bloggers that provided us with the in depth Report Card series that has just concluded are back to give everyone an in depth look at what the off season holds for the major league teams they cover.  A look at what each team needs, what each team has already gained and lost, and some of the youth in each team’s system will be examined in these articles.  You can find all of the author’s information at the bottom of the article.

For Baltimore Oriole fans, the off-season has become a time for hope–wild, forlorn hope filled with if’s and maybe’s. For 14 seasons now, that winter rose of optimism has turned brown and droopy by June. The good news for Bird Boosters is that there are no significant players departing Baltimore for free agency, unless you consider Vladimir Guerrero and his 13 homers out of the cleanup spot, and Cesar Izturis and his .450 OPS in 18 games significant. Furthermore, the Orioles have already added their most important piece by signing Dan Duquette, who takes over for the departed Andy MacPhail as “Vice President of Baseball Operations.” Duquette’s administrative strengths seem to match the club’s organizational weaknesses, especially in international scouting and player development, but the degree to which Duquette will be given free reign under owner Peter Angelos is also a matter of hope in Baltimore.

If the Orioles are ever going to soar in the AL East, the pitching must improve. The young arms that the Birds were counting on in 2011 struggled for a variety of reasons and the result was a staff that finished last in the league with a 4.92 ERA. Twenty-seven (27!) different hurlers took the mound for Baltimore last season, including Mark Worrell, Mark Hendrickson, and Jo-Jo Reyes. Need I say more? Signing Mark Buehrle and Roy Oswalt would help dramatically, but it is highly unlikely that either would come to work at Camden Yards. Why would anyone volunteer to face the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, and Jays 72 times a season?

At least the Orioles have a strong nucleus up the middle with catcher Matt Weiters, shortstop J. J. Hardy, and center-fielder Adam Jones. Nick Markakis is a solid offensive player and won the Gold Glove, as did Weiters this year. Indeed, offense is not a problem for the Orioles who finished 6th in SLG, and ahead of division rivals Toronto and Tampa Bay. The missing piece in the Orioles’ offensive puzzle was Brian Roberts. Lacking a true lead-off hitter, the Birds’ OBP of .316 ranked 10th in the league and they’ll be hoping Robert is finally healthy while looking for alternative ways to fill this void just in case.

With a serious lack of depth in the minors, the Orioles don’t have any real trade pieces with perhaps two exceptions: Jeremy Guthrie and Robert Andino. Guthrie is consistently healthy and pitches better than his record indicates. Trading Guthrie, however, would be contingent upon signing a free agent pitcher (or two.) Manager Buck Showalter was a strong Andino supporter and wants him to fill a super-sub role in 2012, but it is exactly his ability to play outstanding defense at multiple infield positions, as well as his ability to murder southpaws that would make him extremely attractive to NL teams.

The Orioles do not have an obvious prospect such as a Desmond Jennings waiting in the wings to debut in 2012, but two players could have a big impact if they continue to improve. Pitcher Steve Johnson, the son of former Oriole pitcher Dave Johnson turned in a stellar 2.96 ERA in the Arizona Fall League. Johnson has bounced around the minors and isn’t even on the 40 man roster, but on a team desperate for pitching, he may well receive an opportunity. The other potential contributor is Joe Mahoney, Baltimore’s Minor League Player of the Year in 2010, who battled injuries in 2011. A strapping (6’6″, 240 lbs) left-handed hitting first baseman (an open position for the Orioles heading into 2012), Mahoney hit .325 with a .902 OPS in Arizona this fall.

Austin Gisriel
Author of Safe at Home: A Season in the Valley and other baseball stories.
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0054RDL28
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/austingisriel
Follow me on Twitter

These report cards were written by twenty nine talented individuals across the internet that keep a close eye on the team they cover.  It was the first of our “Featured Blogger” series.  The second part, an Off-Season Outlook, will be brought to you the remainder of this week.  The same writers will return in the Spring to provide a 2012 Season Preview about the teams.

This year’s Featured Bloggers are listed below along with their website and the link to their Report Card:

American League East
Baltimore Orioles - Austin Gisriel, Seamheads
Boston Red Sox – Michael Lynch, Seamheads
New York Yankees – William Tasker, The Flagrant Fan
Tampa Bay Rays – Yossi Feins, The Rays Rant
Toronto Blue Jays – Peter DeMarco, Some Thoughts On Baseball

American League Central
Chicago White Sox – Terry Keshner, Planet Back
Cleveland Indians – David Henderson, Tribe Cards
Detroit Tigers – Nick Waddell, Seamheads
Kansas City Royals – Todd Fertig, I-70 Baseball
Minnesota Twins – Von Hendry, Seamheads

American League West
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Bryan Grosnick, Roto Hardball
Oakland As – Jason Leary, Junk Ball
Seattle Mariners – Nick Waddell, Seamheads
Texas Rangers – Dan Edmonson, Chicken Fried Baseball

National League East
Atlanta Braves – Andrew Martin, Baseball Historian
Florida Marlins – Eddie Gilley, Eddie Gilley Blogspot
New York Mets – AC Wayne, Mets Public Record
Philadelphia Phillies – Matthew Buesing, Fire And Ice Sports
Washington Nationals – Aaron Somers , District On Deck

National League Central
Chicago Cubs – Robert Harris, Blue Batting Helmet
Cincinnati Reds – Gary Schatz, Full Of Schatz
Houston Astros – Michael Barr, Fan Graphs
Milwaukee Brewers – Paul Heinz, Paul Heinz.com
Pittsburgh Pirates – Ryan Sendek, Analysis Around The Horn
St. Louis Cardinals – Daniel Shoptaw , C70 At The Bat

National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks – Patrick Lagreid, Baseball On My Brain
Colorado Rockies – Michelle Hoag, Rockies Woman
Los Angeles Dodgers – Paul F Sullivan, Sully Baseball
San Diego Padres – Michael Metzger, Padres Trail
San Francisco Giants – Julian Levine, Giants Nirvana

Bill Ivie is the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com and the founder of i70baseball.com, an official Baseball Digest website covering the Cardinals and Royals.

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BaseballDigest.com aims to keep up that tradition.  This season, we bring you a Report Card on each team in Major League Baseball from writers that cover that team directly.  At the bottom of each write up, you will find the writer’s name, website, and any other pertinent information.  

The Orioles bolted from the gate in April, going 5-1, then played their best ball of the season in September going 15-13 against mostly playoff contending teams. Unfortunately, May, June, July, and August also happened and the Birds once again finished well below .500 at 69-93. Many Baltimore backers thought that 2011 would be the year that the Orioles would become more competitive and perhaps make a run at .500 baseball, but when almost all of the young pitchers failed to progress, the Orioles, like a new graduate with a degree in German Medieval Literature, took up residence in the basement. The staff finished last in the league in both ERA (4.92) and WHIP (1.454).

Rotation: D-
The season got away from the Orioles when the rotation disintegrated. Brian Matusz, who many felt would emerge as the ace by season’s end, began the year hurt, pitched poorly, got demoted a couple of times, and finished with an historically abysmal season, going 1-9 with a 10.69 ERA and a whopping 2.114 WHIP in only 49.2 innings. Jake Arrieta did go 10-8 before an elbow injury ended his season, but he was inconsistent as his 5.05 ERA might suggest. Zach Britton also had consistency issues, but finished the year on an upswing, ultimately recording an 11-11 record. Jeremy Guthrie logged 208 innings and often pitched just well enough to lose. On a good team his 9-17 record might easily have been reversed. Chris Tillman and Brad Bergeson were non-factors.

Bullpen: C-
With the exception of Jim Johnson (2.67 ERA with 9 saves, most of which came in September) the best thing to come out of the Orioles’ bullpen was the return on trades of Michael Gonzalez and Koji Uehara. Pedro Strop came to the Birds for Gonzalez and dazzled Oriole fans–and AL hitters–with a 0.73 ERA and 12 K’s in 12.1 innings.  Uehara brought back Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter. Troy Patton also emerged as a solid left-hander (20K’s in 30 IP, 1.000 WHIP). Otherwise, Baltimore’s pen was non-descript; Jo-Jo Reyes was an August 2nd waiver claim, making 26 appearances and that should tell you all you need to know about Baltimore’s pitching. (You may have noticed that I neglected closer, Kevin Gregg. Well, he often neglected the strike zone and he neglected to nail down 7 would-be victories, which tied him for third in all of baseball for blown saves, so turnabout’s fair play.)

BD Report Cards brought to you by Seamheads

Catchers: B+
Matt Weiters emerged as one of the best catchers in baseball after being written off by the talking heads who forget that players develop at their own pace. A Gold Glove winner and an All-Star, Weiters slugged 22 homers and caught 133 games, proving that he is durable as well. He received rave reviews for his game-calling and ought to receive an award for not losing his mind while handling Oriole pitchers. Back-ups Jake Fox, a hitter who happens to catch and Craig Tatum, a catcher who can’t hit, were non-factors. Fox was out-righted and Tatum was claimed by Houston in October.

Infield
Brian Roberts appeared in only 39 games for the Orioles, but the infield was actually a strength. J. J. Hardy socked 30 homers and was nominated for a Gold Glove. Third baseman Mark Reynolds slugged 37 homers and played outstanding defense–once he was moved to first base. Without doubt, the most improved player on the entire team was Roberto Andino, famed Red Sox killer, who hit .263 while playing excellent defense at second, third, and short. Ryan Adams hit .281 in limited time at second base. Derek Lee was not the answer at first, while Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell are the answers to the question, “Who moved from prospect to suspect in 2011?” Chris Davis hit .276 after coming over from Texas and saw action at third.

Outfield: C
Adam Jones was solid in center and at the plate, and Nick Markakis won a Gold Glove in right and was an offensive contributor, but left field was a giant hole for most of the season. Felix Pie contributed nothing and was released at season’s end. Luke Scott, the Orioles’ MVP in 2010 battled a sore shoulder and was shut down half-way through the campaign. Towards the end of the season, Nolan Reimold appeared to regain the form he exhibited in his 2009 rookie year finishing with 13 homers. DH Vladimir Guererro was a weak link hitting fourth.

Top Offensive Player
The Orioles didn’t have a great all-around offensive player in 2011, but Adam Jones was a good all-around offensive player. He hit .280 with 25 homers and 83 RBI in 151 games. His .785 OPS ranked 38th in the AL.

Top Pitcher
Jim Johnson, who began the year as the set-up man and ended the year as the unofficial closer was by far the best and most consistent pitcher for the 2011 Orioles. His 2.67 ERA led the team by a wide margin. He also led the team in appearances and WHIP (1.110).

Austin Gisriel
Author of Safe at Home: A Season in the Valley and other baseball stories.
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0054RDL28
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/austingisriel
Follow me on Twitter

In 2010, the Baltimore Orioles decided to move Sean Gleason to the bullpen. He started at Class-A Frederick and finished at Double-A Bowie with an overall 3.02 ERA in 65 innings pitched between there and Frederick.

“You have to be ready in a lot shorter amount of time,” he said Friday before a game with the Mesa Solar Sox. “It took me about a month. It’s all about throwing less pitches.”

Gleason’s participation in Arizona Fall League came after a season split between Frederick and Triple-A Norfolk. He finished the season with Norfolk, putting in 9 appearances with six innings pitched, and finishing with a 4.22 ERA.  He made the jump with a fair amount of ease.

“I gained confidence to compete at the next level. I went there and wasn’t over matched at any point.”

There is a strong possibility he starts 2012 there, and a call to the majors is entirely possible. At twenty-six he’s proved he could pitch effectively at every level. Fall League is set to be followed by a stint in winter ball. While in Arizona has been a place to do a bit more of what he’s focused on. Throwing the change more frequently.

“I’m facing better hitters here and emphasizing throwing that pitch, and different sequences. It’s a great opportunity to do that. The changeup is a big pitch. It’s about throwing it more and more.”

His time with the Orioles has come to what could be a turning point. If he’s not put on the 40-man he’ll be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December. Players will not tell you that they’re too worried about those decisions, but if they are, it helps to have a good focus on what they have going for them.

“Number one, I’m healthy. This is a good time for me to make an impression and it’s all been a good learning experience.”

*You can follow Sean on Twitter @s_gleason

Epstein fired manager Mike Quade on Wednesday after just a little over one season in Chicago. The Sun-Times has the story.

Dodgers fans are ecstatic that the McCourts are selling. The LA Times has the full story.

The Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander was the most dominant pitcher in the game en route to 24 wins. Jose Bautista didn’t match his 54 home runs of a year ago, but had another 40+ home run season. Lance Berkman looked like his career was done in 2010, but he hit 30 home runs this season and is an NL MVP candidate. Jacoby Ellsbury was the king of the AL DL a year ago, but this season was a candidate for both the comeback player of the year and AL MVP awards.

Curtis Granderson had a bust out season, topping 40 home runs for the first time in his career. Teammate Derek Jeter picked up his 3,000th hit, while another, Mariano Rivera, broke the all-time record for career saves. Across town, Jose Reyes won his first batting title in what might be his last year as a Met.  Albert Pujols had an “off” year and still hit 35 dingers and Matt Kemp met and exceeded all expectations.  With all of that in mind, the finalists for the individual awards in each league should look something like this…

AL MVP – Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano (NY), Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS), Jose Bautista (TOR), Justin Verlander (DET)

AL Cy Young – Justin Verlander (Det)

AL Rookie of the Year – Jeremy Hellickson (TB), Ivan Nova (NY), Eric Hosmer (KC), Mark Trumbo (LA), J.P. Arencibia (TOR)

AL Manager of the Year – Manny Acta (CLE), Jim Leyland (DET), Ron Washington (TEX), Joe Girardi (NY)

AL Comeback Player of the Year – Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS), Melky Cabrera (KC)

NL MVP – Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder (MIL), Matt Kemp (LA), Lance Berkman (STL), Justin Upton (AZ)

NL Cy Young – Ian Kennedy (AZ), Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee (PHI), Clayton Kershaw (LA)

NL Manager of the Year – Kirk Gibson (AZ), Ron Roenicke (MIL), Clint Hurdle (PIT), Charlie Manuel (PHI)

NL Rookie of the Year – Freddie Freeman and Craig Kimbrel (ATL), Danny Espinosa (WAS), Javy Guerra (LA)

NL Comeback Player of the Year – Carlos Beltran (NY,SF), Lance Berkman (STL)

But baseball isn’t about the individual, it’s about the teams.

Early on the Indians, Royals, and Pirates played beyond expectation. In fact the Indians held first place in the AL Central for 85 days. The three teams would eventually fade, but the Arizona Diamondbacks did just the opposite. They were six games under .500 in mid-May, but played at a torrid pace the rest of the season to win the division title. Meanwhile Boston and Atlanta entered the final month of the season as virtual locks to make the post-season only to be eliminated on the final night of the season.

The LA Dodgers and the Mets had ownership and money issues, the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds were huge disappointments, and the Baltimore Orioles, despite much promise, finished last in the AL East for the fourth straight year. In the end the Yankees, Tigers, Rangers, Phillies, Brewers, and Diamondbacks captured their divisions while the Rays and Cardinals entered the playoffs as wild card entries.

What’s that? How did the Baseball Digest team do at predicting the post-season teams? Let’s take a look.

Well it appears, ahem, one person knew what they were talking about with the AL East. Yes, that would be me. Michael Maher, likewise, was the only one of our bunch who had the insight to pick the Tigers in the AL Central. He was also the only one to pick the Rays to win the AL wild card. Four out of seven dentist, er writers, chose the Rangers correctly in the AL West, while none of us had the Diamondbacks sniffing a title in the NL West.

Bill Ivie stuck his neck out picking the Braves to win the NL East, while everyone else selected the Phillies. Needless to say, his neck hurts. Bill’s beloved Cardinals didn’t win the NL Central as he had selected, but he was brought joy on the night of Game 162 when they made the post-season. Meanwhile Simon Sharkey-Gottlieb, Kirk Verner, and Matt Wilson all correctly chose the Brewers for the Central crown, but just like the NL West, no one got the NL wild card correct either. So the finally tally of correct predictions..drum roll please…four writers with 3 right each. Meanwhile Josh Landsburg, Mark Healey, and Bill Ivie…um, better luck next year. (In fairness, Bill did get 2 playoff teams correct, just in the wrong spots)

Michael Maher 3
Drew Sarver 3
Simon Sharkey-Gottlieb 3
Matt Wilson 3
Shai Kushner 2
Kirk Verner 2
Josh Landsburg 1
Mark Healey 1
Bill Ivie 0

Please check back after the league championship series for updated standings, and be sure to bookmark Baseball Digest to view all of our post-season coverage.

Drew Sarver is a senior writer  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

George Kell had an impressive major league career than spanned fifteen seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. In addition to being named an All-Star ten times, Kell batted over .300 nine times, including beating out fellow Hall of Famer Ted Williams for the AL batting title in 1949 while striking out just 13 times that season.

In a July 2006 Baseball Digest article, Bill Dow wrote about fan favorite George Kell. Click here to check out the article!

Kell’s 13 strikeouts in 1949 were par for the course during his playing days. In over 7,500 plate appearances, he struck out just 287 times. By contrast, he walked 621 times during his career.  He twice led the league in hits and had 385 career doubles to go along with 50 triples.

After retirement, George Kell began a forty year broadcasting career for the Detroit Tigers that spanned 1957-1996.  In 1983, the Veteran’s Committee inducted Kell into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The beloved announcer passed away in his sleep on March 24th, 2009.

Also Born Today:

Hall of Famer George Davis(1870-1940) was a sensational ballplayer at the turn of the century, leading the league in outfield assists before shifting to the infield and leading the league again at the shortstop position. He was the first player in history to hit a triple and a home run in the same game.

Julio Franco(b. 1958) appeared in 23 MLB seasons between 1982 and 2007, despite spending the 1995 season in Japan and playing in Japan, Mexico and South Korea between 1998 – 2000.  He played one game as a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999.

Mark Bellhorn(b. 1974) played ten seasons in the big leagues, but may be best remembered as a member of the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.  Bellhorn homered in Game 6 and Game 7 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees, and became the first second baseman to homer in three straight postseason games when he slugged a two run homer against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 1 of the World Series.

Michael Maher is a senior writer for BaseballDigest.com.  He can be reached at MinorLeagueSpotlight@Gmail.com. You can follow him on Twitter @BD_Maher and check out his blog.

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www.norfolktides.com

Baseball Digest.Com: This year marks your fifty-sixth consecutive year you have been associated with a professional club. Is that a record of sorts?

Dave Rosenfield: I do not know if it is a record but fifty years with one team, the Norfolk Tides is a lot. I arrived here in 1962 and have served as General Manager since 1963.

BD.Com: Where else did you work, what team were you GM for?

Rosenfield: I have only worked in three places: five years in Bakersfield, CA,
one year in Topeka Kansas, and the rest in Norfolk. All as General Manager.
Except for my first year here, I did not have the GM title.

BD.Com: What was your first job working in baseball?

Rosenfield: My first job in baseball in 1956 was with the class A Bakersfield Boosters, the worst name in baseball history. It was a brand new ownership and that was their corporate name, that is what they called their team.  I was their GM; I coached third half the time and played a game or two. I was a catcher.

BD.Com: Did you play professional ball?

Rosenfield: I played one year pro ball at Stockton, California and Eugene, Oregon. I never played above Class A. I did not play a lot, and did not play well, I decided I was not going to be a Major League player and went back to school. I always played catcher.

BD.Com: Did you play baseball in high school or college?

Rosenfield: I went to UCLA, played there and got my degree in language arts and that was my seventh or eighth major. I changed majors every ten minutes.

BD.Com: Do you speak a foreign language now?

Rosenfield: I took a year and half of Spanish; I can understand but cannot speak it.

Rosenfield: I went to UCLA for a year and a half and played one year at Los Angeles City College. LA City College was a Jr. College.

BD.Com: While in college, what career were you considering?

Rosenfield: Ballplayer. I started college at sixteen and played freshman ball there.

BD.Com: While in UCLA, did you study Sports Management?

Rosenfield: No, it had not been invented yet.

BD.Com: What are your responsibilities for the Tides?

Rosenfield: I handle the entire end of the business. Tickets, advertising, stadium management and contract negotiation with sub-contractors.

BD.Com: What is the economy like in Norfolk?

Rosenfield: It is improving a little. It has been a rough two or three years.

BD.Com: Where were you born and raised.

Rosenfield: I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and moved to Los Angeles when I was five.

BD.Com: Who did you root for as a youngster?

Rosenfield: I was a big Hollywood Stars fan and lived near the Hollywood ballpark. I saw my first professional ballgame in 1939. The Los Angeles Angels won their first nineteen games of the season. They were referred to by the newspapers as the Yankees of the West. The first game I ever saw was their game twenty, and they were beaten by San Diego.

The star of the San Diego team was a little guy who played some in the Big Leagues. His name was Dominic Dellasandro.

BD.Com: What was the first Major League game you saw?

Rosenfield: It was opening day when the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958. They played at the LA Coliseum at the time and beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5, before a crowd of 78,000.

BD.Com: What do you love the most about your job with the Tides?

Rosenfield: The fact that it is different at different times of the year. It is never boring. Part of the year you are selling, dealing with the fans, and the players and the press.

Everything has been fun. A TV reporter once asked me, “Do I still get excited on Opening Day?” I told him, “the first time I am not excited on opening day, that would be my last opening day.” I love the game.

BD.Com: When did you first start following the game?

Rosenfield: I started listening to the 1938 World Series when I was seven years old. My dad was listening to the Yankees vs. Cubs while I sat on the floor next to him asking questions, I had no idea what it was about. I saw my first game the next spring and have loved baseball ever since.

BD.Com: What is the most difficult part of the job?

Rosenfield: I never thought any of it was difficult! This has never been like a job. It is fun!

BD.Com: What is the most memorable or outstanding memory you have with the Tides?

Rosenfield: I may be the only person who has ever been involved with building two ballparks in the same city. The first was in 1970, Metropolitan Memorial Stadium in Norfolk. We played there from 1970 to 92. The park was leveled and no longer exists. Our new park is Harbor Park, (a) built and opened in 1993, and is our current park.

When I first arrived here, we played in Portsmouth, Virginia at Portsmouth Stadium and then we renamed it Lawrence Stadium. We moved to Met Park in 1970.

BD.Com: At the Baseball Winter Meeting in Anaheim, CA in 2004, you were named “The King of Baseball”. (b) What is that about?

Rosenfield: They honor somebody who has been around a long time. That was me! If you hang around a long time, you get to be King.

BD.Com: You were a four-time winner International League Executive of the Year. What years were those?

Rosenfield: I won those awards in 1975, 1982, 1987 and 1993.

BD.Com: Do you have a favorite baseball movie?

Rosenfield: Yes, Pride of the Yankees, the Lou Gehrig story. I almost played Lou Gehrig as a kid. I was raised in Los Angeles; a call was put out for kids who played baseball. Over 500 kids showed up. They weeded out about four hundred and fifty and called back about fifty. I was included in the group. We played some ball and they talked to us.

It got down to two kids. My buddy and I went to the same elementary school but he got the job. His name was Douglas Croft. I could have been a star but it was not meant to be.

BD.Com: What do you do to relax at days end?

Rosenfield: I watch TV. I like detective stories, I watch Matlock a lot, Everybody Loves Raymond and Mash. My name once appeared in a Simpson’s episode. One of the writers on the show Ken Levine was a broadcaster for us for a while. He used my name on an episode in which Homer got a job as a mascot for a Major League team and he was terrible,

He got called into the General Managers office and on the door it said, Dave Rosenfield. All you could hear was lots of yelling and screaming. Everytime it runs, I get a long distance call from someone who saw it.

BD.Com: What are your thoughts on instant replay in the Major, not counting ball and strikes?

Rosenfield: I think on certain things, absolutely! It is important to get it right.
It is so easy to review a lot of plays because every game is on television, on air or in house. An official could review close plays. It is important to get it right.

BD.Com: What are your thoughts about aluminum bats as used in college baseball?

Rosenfield: I am not an engineer but the thing I do not understand is how we can send men to the moon in a spacecraft that withstands five million degrees on entry and yet we cannot make metal that has the same properties as wood.

If we could use metal bats that would not kill someone, it would be a huge savings. Good metal bats are up to $300.00 each and you would only need five or six bats. With balls coming back so fast to infielders, you would almost have to give them combat pay!

BD.Com: What GM in either the Majors or Minors do you admire?

Rosenfield: The most capable, versatile, highly qualified GM that has ever been around is Frank Cashen. He was GM of the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets in their heyday.

He was an attorney and sports writer; he ran a racetrack and understood the game. He was one of the last true General Managers. GM’s today are not General Managers. They are directors of player personnel. Most GM’s today have little or nothing to do with business. I am referring to Major League GM’s.

They handle player contracts, etc. Television contracts, concession contracts are handled by business people. Frank Cashen could do it all. He is retired now.

BD.Com: What do you do during the off –season?

Rosenfield: I get ready for the next season. Something else I do is make the International League Schedule. I have made league schedules since 1963. It is a complex ordeal.

BD.Com: How did this come about?

Rosenfield: I got started in 1963 while in the Carolina League. I was new in the league and as you know, it is on weekends a team draws the largest crowd. We went to a league meeting and the schedule was handed out. I noticed I had seven weekend dates while the gentleman who made the schedule, his team had twenty-seven.

The president, a Southern gentleman asked if anyone had any comments. I raised my hand and said “sir, this does not seem fair” He asked me if I could do better and I endeared my self to him by saying, “a monkey could do better”

“You got two weeks to make a schedule”, he said so I went home, never having done one and put a schedule together. I had only been in baseball at that time for seven years. I brought it back to the next meeting and it was adopted. I have made one ever since.

BD.Com: Is it true you are in the International League Hall of Fame?

Rosenfield: Yes, I was inducted in 2008 joining Mr. Frank Verdi who managed the Tides for four years. He was a dear friend and I am proud to join him in the Hall of Fame. He played one game in the Major Leagues. Frank played and managed in the Minor Leagues many, many years. He managed five different teams in the International League. I am proud to be in the Hall of Fame with him.

(a) Harbor Park, with its outstanding view and sound design, is one of the finest baseball facilities in existence. The ballpark is located in downtown Norfolk on the Elizabeth River, and was opened in 1993. The Tides christened their new home on April 14th of that year with a 2-0 victory over the Ottawa Lynx.

The Park has a nautical image with shipyard crane-like light towers and arrays of colorful flags with a brick exterior.

The facility is owned by the City of Norfolk and the Tides have a 20-year lease.

(b) The “King of Baseball” is a long-standing tradition in which Minor League Baseball salutes a veteran from the world of professional baseball for long-time dedication and service to the game.

Norm Coleman is a sports writer, actor and photographer. He lives in Half Moon Bay, CA.

After a deal for Rich Harden fell through at the last moment, the Boston Red Sox took a risk on another brittle pitcher, the Seattle Mariners Erik Bedard. To land the talented, but often disabled lefty, the Red Sox and Mariners got the Los Angeles Dodgers involved for a three team deal.

In addition to Bedard, Seattle also sent right-hander Josh Fields (the pitcher, not the former White  Sox third baseman) to Boston. The Red Sox dealt catcher Tim Federowicz, and pitchers Juan Rodriguez and Stephen Fifer to the Dodgers for outfielders Trayvon Robinson and Chih-Hsien Chiang, who Boston then spun to the Mariners. Despite some time on the DL, Bedard appeared to return to his old form this season and is a low risk move for Boston. He’ll eventually take the place of Andrew Miller in the rotation, with Clay Buchholz likely out for the season with a back injury, but for now Boston will employ a six man rotation.

San Diego Padres set up man Mike Adams and  closer Heath Bell both heard their names thrown around in numerous rumors all week. As things came down to the wire on Sunday it was first announced that Bell had been dealt to the Texas Rangers, but it turned out it was Adams that was being sent to Texas. He’ll team with another pickup, Koji Uehara, to strengthen the Rangers’ pen. In return the Padres received pitchers Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and their fans are having the time of their lives right now. Normally the Pirates are sending veterans to other teams in July, but after acquiring Derrek Lee from Baltimore on Saturday, the Bucs picked up outfielder Ryan Ludwick from the Padres on Sunday. The Pads will get a player to be named later or cash.

The Dodgers and Cardinals finalized their deal for Rafael Furcal. The shortstop and cash went to Missouri for outfielder Alex Castellanos.

Arizona added to their bullpen by sending slugger Brandon Allen and pitcher Jordan Norberto to Oakland for reliever Brad Ziegler.

Deals can still be made as the calendar turns to August, but players must pass through waivers in order to be moved.

Done Deals

Boston – Kansas City: The Red Sox have added to their depth by picking up Mike Aviles from the Royals for infielder Yamaico Navarro and pitcher Kendal Vez. In Aviles, the Red Sox get a player who can play 2B, SS, and 3B, all positions that have seen players banged up this season. He also swings a decent stick. Aviles fell victim to the youth movement in KC and was sent to the minors at one point this season. He could face a demotion again when Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie returns from the DL.

Texas – Baltimore: The Rangers spoke with a number of teams about relievers and were hoping to land the Padres’ Heath Bell.  But the asking price was too high for the pitchers that Texas most coveted. So instead, the Rangers went a cheaper route by sending corner infielder Chris Davis and pitcher Tommy Hunter to the Orioles for Koji Uehara.

It’s a low risk move for both teams. Uehera is good, but not outstanding. He’s a strikeout pitcher despite not having overpowering stuff, but also can’t be used on back-to-back days due to his tendency to get banged up. Davis has been a productive hitter in the minor leagues, but hasn’t been able to put it together in “The Show”. He strikes out way too much and can’t hit left-handed pitching. Unless the Orioles deal Derrek Lee, Davis will probably only see occassional playing time at DH and 1B.

Hunter is a #4 starter at best. He pitches to contact and isn’t going to blow anyone away.  The Rangers’ number one pick in 2007, Hunter got off to an 8-o, 2.31 start last season, but went 5-4, 5.07 in his final 14 starts plus one relief appearance. Hunter is also an injury risk and missed a good chunk of this season with a groin injury.

Detroit – Seattle: The Tigers wanted to shore up their starting rotation for the stretch run and feel they did so by picking up Doug Fister from the Mariners. Fister can’t be judged by the 3-12 record he amassed with a bad Mariners club. In 21 starts, Fister allowed less than a hit an inning and walked just two hitters per nine innings while he struck out 5.5 batters. He also allowed just four home runs and had a 2.8 WAR with the Mariners.

Reliever David Pauley accompanied Fister to give the Tigers some depth in their bullpen. In return, Seattle received pitcher Charlie Furbush, outfielder Casper Wells, third baseman Francisco Martinez and a player to be named later.

Furbush is a 25-yr old left-handed strikeout pitcher that was used as both a starter and reliever by the Tigers. No word yet if he’ll replace Fister in the rotation or Pauley in the pen. Wells is a fourth outfielder that can play all three outfield spots, but doesn’t hit much.  Martinez is a highly touted third baseman, but only the second best hot corner man in the Tigers organization. The 20-yr old Venezuelan is still developing his power, but had pretty good splits (.282/.319/.405) for Single-A Erie.

Arizona – Washington: The Diamondbacks added to their rotation by sending infielder Zach Walter, a former 9th round draft pick, to the Nationals for veteran starter Jason Marquis. The soon-to-be 33-yr old joins his sixth organization after 1+ seasons in the Nation’s capital. Marquis was 8-5, 3.95 in 20 starts this season and averaged six innings each time out. With a WHIP over 1.4 and 0.8 WAR, Marquis is a shaky back-end-of-the-rotation starter. He missed most of last season with elbow surgery.

Rumors

Ubaldo Jimenez: The Rockies have reportedly lowered their demands since they have yet to make a deal.  The Red Sox, Reds, and Indians are said to be negotiating the most, while the Yankees are still in play.

Hiroku Kuroda: The Dodgers right-hander really doesn’t want to leave LA, but has reportedly told the cash-strapped team that he’d be willing to accept a trade to the Rangers, Red Sox, or Yankees.

Josh Willingham and Ryan Ludwick: The A’s and Padres outfielders are still being talked about and are expected to be moved at some point this weekend. Right now it appears A’s GM Billy Beane is asking too much for Willingham.

Heath Bell: Unless the Padres lower their demands, the team’s closer won’t be going anywhere.

Denard Span: The Nationals have been working for days to try to land the Twins’ outfielder. A rumor spread earlier this afternoon that the Twins were trying to get the Yankees involved in a possible three-team deal.

Rafael Furcal: The shell-of-himself shortstop is close to being sent from the Dodgers to the Cardinals.

Update 7:20 PM

Hiroki Kuroda has refused to waive his no-trade clause and will remain an LA Dodger. The ramifications of Kuroda off the market is that the Rockies can now boost their asking price back up for Ubaldo Jimenez.

Drew Sarver is a senior writer  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and can be followed on Twitter at @BD_Sarver and @MyPinstripes.

Dayan Viciedo, RF, Charlotte Knights, International League, White Sox – Viciedo has raised his average every month since the start of the 2011 season. He finished June hitting .371, 43 hits, nine of them doubles. He’s begun July at an excellent pace. He’s gotten nine hits in his last ten games, hitting .325. July also saw him being selected to play in the Futures Game. Overall, he leads the league with 62 RBI and 16 home runs. Highlight: Hard to choose between the July 1st two-home run-game or the July 7th three-RBI-game.

Michael Maness, RHP, Batavia Muckdogs, New York Penn League, St. Louis Cardinals – Maness has a 0.32 ERA in three starts in July, allowing just 2 earned runs in 28 innings. In four innings of relief he had a 0.oo ERA. Since June 19th he’s walked just three batters. Highlight: On July 1st he went six innings, allowing a run (unearned) a hit, and a walk.

Darin Gorski, LHP, St. Lucie Mets, Florida State League – Gorski has dominated the league all season. He has not had a loss yet and collected 9 wins. He’s also leading the league in strikeouts with 102 and his 1.82 ERA is the FSL lowest. Between June 12th and mid-July he has been a revelation: 9 hits, 10 earned runs, 29 strikeouts in 37 innings. He finished June with a 0.79 ERA. Highlight: A one-hitter on June 27th against the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Tyler Townsend, 1B, Frederick Keys, Carolina League, Baltimore Orioles – Townsend is on the 7-day DL, but before July 13th he was on an offensive tear. Between June 1st and July 11th he put together a seven-game hit streak. He leads the league with 50 RBI. He’s also collected 23 doubles and 13 home runs. Highlight: On July 9th he had a 3-hit, 4-RBI game. He also hit a home run and drew a walk.

My eye on… Anthony Gose, CF, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Eastern League, Toronto Blue Jays

Gose is putting up good numbers for the Fisher Cats, hitting .256, with 39 RBI and 9 home runs in 88 games this season. 

“I think he’s definitely gotten himself in place to be a better player,” said Fisher Cats manager Sal Fasano. “Defensively he’s doing ok. I think he’s got the potential to be Gold Glove caliber in the outfield. If he can consistently bring it on a day to day basis it can be.”

In a a game in early July, Gose exhibited quick thinking and feet on the bases, laying a bunt down, as well as getting a hit off of Phil Hughes. His speed and ability to use it smartly showed improvement. He appears to be translating his tools into skills.

“He’s gotten better on the bases. I think his getting caught percentage is a lot better than last year,” Fasano said.

Gose is in his first season at the Double-A level and exhibiting good pitch recognition and even better patience at the plate than earlier in the season.

“I was better at baseball than pretty much anything else,” he said.

Lee attended high school Benton High School in Benton, Arkansas, but before then he was already shaping into an athlete.

“I knew at a really young age. It was probably when I was ten or twelve years old,” he thought for a moment, then said. “I was decent at basketball.”

There were surely many kids with talent and desire to play sports, but despite any uncertainty, Lee had a clear sense of direction.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I knew I could then, but I wanted to from a really young age. I feel fortunate that I knew what I wanted to be doing that young. I wanted to do something with it. Deep down inside I always wanted to play professionally for sure.”

Lee set about trying to improve, driven by ambitions and a natural ability. As he continued to excel, he knew baseball was his ticket.

“The older I got the more I realized it was reality and I was at least going to get a chance to get a scholarship and play in college.”

Lee was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1997, but opted for college at Meridian Community College instead. He was again drafted in 1998 by the Baltimore Orioles but chose to move onto the University of Arkansas.

There was some time spent as a position player when he played the outfield. But once he got to college, his destiny was clear to everyone around him.

“Until I got into college I played outfield and hit, but once I got into college it was just pitching. I was a decent outfielder and hitter too, so I was able to play more positions. But I think it was pretty evident to myself and a lot of my coaches that pitching was probably what got me at least a scholarship and into professional baseball.”

He was drafted again in 2000 by the Montreal Expos in the 4th round. From there, the road to the big leagues for Lee was not a well-traveled one.

“I made it to the big leagues in 2002. So it was pretty quick.”

Before his major league debut in 2002, he spent time at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, going 12-5 with a 3.64 ERA. At Double-A Harrisburg (now the Washington Nationals Double-A affiliate), he went 7-2 and finished with a 3.24 ERA.

Looking back at those days, however, there were plenty of respected veteran baseball men guiding Lee. His cutter, so important to his success, was developed with the help of his A-ball pitching coach, Ace Adams.

“A lot of credit goes to him.”

There were others who saw what he needed to adjust.

“Louie Issac helped me out in Cleveland with a lot of mechanical stuff.  Carl Willis my pitching coach in Cleveland along with Louie helped me a lot. Tommy John was pitching coach in Double-A and he helped me on two-seam fastballs and just how to pitch.”

He knows that minor leaguers battling to make it to the big leagues struggle to stay focused and confident. But he remembers those days. Lee, like any other successful major league player, keeps it simple.

“Nothing comes easy. You have to be blessed with talent, but nothing replaces hard work. Nothing replaces repetition.”

He still recalls his first encounter with a big league veteran that he held in high regard. When he walked into a major league clubhouse for the first time, he needed to know he belonged.

“I walked in the clubhouse and the first person I saw was [former major league pitcher] Terry Mulholland. And he’d been playing forever it seemed like. And just how I was expecting those guys to be way different, I was expecting something out of the ordinary, but they were just regular guys. What jumps out the most is him just sitting there talking to me and welcoming me. I don’t really know how to explain how it felt but it was a very surreal moment for me.”

He goes back to those minor league guys working hard to keep the self-doubt away.

“It’s a one in a million chance, but someone’s got to do it, so why can’t it be you? The game is the same it’s been since Little League, except the guys at this level are more consistent. It’s about taking batting practice, taking ground balls, as long as that’s what you do in Little League, it’s just the same game, but it’s whoever is most consistent and does their repetitions.”

Lee recognizes the shift in the youth of today. Getting a real bat and glove and actually playing cannot be replaced by electronic baseball. The native of Arkansas sees it one way.

“You have to get from behind the computer screen and video games and get out in the yard and play.”

*Photo courtesy of Meridian Community College

“Big Game James” or James Shields as he is most commonly referred to is a pitcher who does not have overpowering velocity, nor does he have otherworldly talent. Shields strength is in his control, having only walked 244 batters in almost 1,100 innings pitched during his career.

The 29-year-old was only in his second full season as a starter for the Rays during their playoff run. His teammates gave him the moniker of “Big Game James” for his clutch pitching throughout the regular season against some of the tougher lineups the Major Leagues has to offer, including those of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

It wasn’t that he was dominant, but he was serviceable in those starts, pitching better than the Major League average of a 4.50 ERA, finishing the year with a 3.85 ERA. It made those wonder why was this moniker placed upon a pitcher that was not dominant.

During the national October broadcasts, a playoff run that ended at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, analysts would mention the moniker and regular fans back home wondered: How can a pitcher earn a moniker in less than two years of service time. Their inquiries seemed to be proven over the next three seasons in which Shields did not perform up to previous levels.

It culminated into a miserable campaign last season in which Shields posted an unsightly 5.18 ERA. Throughout the season, Shields struggled with his trademark control, leaving pitches over the plate and hitters had field days. Shields surrendered 246 hits in only 203 innings pitched while batters hit a robust .294 against him, one of the highest marks in the majors.

No one knew what to expect of Shields this season, in fact many thought his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy with all of the young guns within the Rays farm system. However, Rays ownership showed some form of support to their embattled righty by trading Matt Garza to the Cubs, guaranteeing Shields a spot in the rotation.

Shields has since run away with the opportunity, being the veteran leader on a young staff and becoming one of the elite pitchers in the Major Leagues. The right hander has not magically developed more velocity on his fastball, it sits around 88 to 92 mph, but instead has become a pitcher.

Pitchers mature at different rates, some make the big leagues by just sheer talent, blowing fastballs at unheard of speeds past batters who have no chance at making contact. Others, like Jamie Moyer, had to defy doubters and prove they can retire hitters.

Shields is not on either extreme end of the spectrum — he does not have the high 90s heat of an Aroldis Chapman nor does he have to be as precise as a Moyer — instead he falls within the middle.

After taking such a beating last season, Shields learned that he needed to mix up his pitches, not only changing speeds but location as well, making the hitters see the ball up, down, inside and outside.

Hitters no longer see a first pitch fastball on the outside corner then a change-up, but instead can see a first pitch curve, two-seamer in on the hands, cutter on the outside corner or a change-up, leaving the hitters guessing and flailing at what they will see next.

Shields may not be a household name like his flame-throwing counterparts, but he has pitched his way amongst the elite and has finally earned the moniker, “Big Game James.”

Around the Division:

Baltimore Orioles: One Orioles acquisition has played up to his previous standards — shortstop J.J. Hardy. Major League baseball fans from across the county have also taken notice and have given Hardy some respect by voting for him to be a member of the All-Star team. His .293 average and eight home runs put him in the upper tier of shortstops in terms of statistics and he has been well worth the money he is being paid.

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox Adrian Gonzalez is having the type of impact Mark Teixiera had on the Yankees during his initial campaign. Perennially searching for another impact bat, the Sox finally acquired Gonzalez, a former N.L. All-Star, who has adapted well to the pressure of playing for Red Sox nation. His .353 average and 15 home runs are more than the Sox expected, but the returns are welcome.

New York Yankees: Ivan Nova had been handed a starting job right out of Spring Training and has only impressed. Privately the organization had hoped that Nova would pitch to a league average ERA, and he has surpassed that to be the winningness rookie pitcher in the Majors.

Toronto Blue Jays: Star pitcher Ricky Romero made some startling comments after another hard-luck loss which prompted him to have a closed-door meeting with his teammates. In Romero’s nine losses, the Jays offense has only scored 13 runs, making his frustrations inevitable. The Jays offense needs to wake up if they want to win games in the tough Eastern division.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer covering the A.L. East for BaseballDigest.com. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

However, in 2011, the check book of the Steinbrenners has hardly been utilized, except for a disastrous signing of a reliever named Rafael Soriano. Instead, it has been Cashman scouring the free-agent market, the waiver wire and other team’s minor leaguers, all in an attempt to find a hidden gem.

This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be for a team with a payroll upwards of $200 million, but it’s the scenario they are currently in with the amount of injuries that have struck the club. Prior to the Opening Day the Yankees were counting on receiving innings from either Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in the fifth spot, but injuries forced them both into the rotation.

Both starters were not expected to give the Yankees much more than innings and a chance to win — by no stretch of the imagination did they think the two veterans would pitch to the level they are. Garcia is only 5-6 on the year, but holds a 3.63 ERA and has the ability to make the perfect pitch in the most dire of circumstances.

Colon on the other hand has magically found the velocity he once had while in his 20s, except this time, it has a twist. Instead of blowing a straight four-seam fastball by hitters, the 38-year-old utilizes a devastating two-seam sinking fastball that can reach 96 mph. His 3.10 ERA is lowest on the staff, but a hamstring injury forced him to DL.

To replace Colon and fill-in for his scheduled start last Thursday, Cashman looked under rocks for anything promising, anyone who could give his team a chance to win. While scouring the free-agent market, Cashman encountered a pitcher who opted out of minor league deal, one that saw him post a miniscule 1.87 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies Triple A affiliate.

Brian Gordon, a 33-year-old career minor leaguer, received a call from Cashman who said he wanted Gordon to take the hill in the Bronx for a Thursday matinee. Gordon, a former outfielder, switched to pitching full-time while in the Texas organization and was tutored by Nolan Ryan.

In front of a sold-out crowd, some of which his own family members, Gordon twirled a gem, justifying all the work he put in throughout his life. Cashman must of been smiling throughout, noting that another one of his bargain-basement acquisitions were making a positive impact on the field.

Cashman has showed that he doesn’t need to just go out and buy whatever former All-Star is available, but instead is able to critically evaluate talent that others may have overlooked. It is a trait that shined during the off-season when Cashman decided to take a chance on Russell Martin, a former N.L. All-Star whose production had dropped precipitously. On top of the lack of production, management complained about Martin’s attitude within the clubhouse, but Cashman saw enough positives to take a chance.

After a hot start to the season by blasting nine home runs, Martin’s bat has since cooled down, but his defense has been otherworldly and its specifically helped one Yankees starter turn in a good season — A.J. Burnett.

Burnett’s curveball is his best pitch, but it’s also one that has such tremendous movement that wild pitches could occur. However, with Martin behind the dish, Burnett is no longer afraid to throw his best pitch — even with runners on base because of the confidence he has in Martin.

The confidence Burnett has in Martin should mirror what the Yankees and their fans should have in Cashman. Sure, he has made mistakes during his tenure, but he has proven that he has learned from them, acquiring players who will make the team better — and for less money.

Cashman may have a boatload of money at his disposal. but his keen eye for talent has and will continue to keep the Yankees afloat during the march for title No. 28.

Around the Division:

Baltimore Orioles: One cannot help but be impressed with the way Orioles righty Jeremy Guthrie has thrown the ball thus far on the year. His low to mid 90s fastball has always been impressive and he has seemed to finally found the command of it this season, walking only 17 batters while holding a 3.56 ERA. Unfortunately, he also holds a 2-8 record.

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox continued their winning ways with a weekend sweep of the Brewers. If the Red Sox had not suffered through their early April swoon, then at this point of the season, they could have been running away with the division.

Tampa Bay Rays: James Shield continues to make his mark as one of the elite pitchers in the American League. His complete game, one-run gem yesterday against the Marlins was his fifth complete game of the season, three of which shut-outs. Shields has one of the lowest ERA’s in the league, standing at 2.40, no doubt making his case for an All-Star game start.

Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays made wave this weekend by extending Yunel Escobar’s contract for another two seasons, the deal totaling $10 million. Escobar is currently the place holder for Jays top prospect Adeiny Hechavarria who is also a shortstop by trade.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer covering the A.L. East for BaseballDigest.com. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

Francona holds a record of 684 wins and only 505 losses during his tenure, but his biggest wins, including one that ended a curse and gave Boston their first World Series title since 1918, occurred in October of 2004.

It was his inaugural season as manager of the Red Sox, a team that has a fan base like no other. In fact, because of their antics, they are referred to as “Red Sox Nation.” Francona had been out of the managerial workplace since 2000 when he was fired by the Philadelphia Phillies, yet he was able to guide a ball club, not lacking in character, to the postseason.

This historic Red Sox team included the likes of Manny Ramirez, Kevin Millar, Johnny Damon and David Ortiz. Each player added a certain spice to the clubhouse, spices that without the right manager at the helm could combust and turn into flames.

However, Francona cooly handled his rowdy bunch, even when faced with an improbable circumstance — down three games to none in the American League Championship Series. Instead of panicking, he guided his team to four straight wins, stunning the Yankees, shocking Major League baseball and ending a curse.

With his very first season in the books, Francona was already a Beantown legend, but he has continued to add to his sparkling resume. Three seasons after effectively ending the curse, the Red Sox won again, sweeping the overmatched Colorado Rockies aside in four straight during the 2007 World Series.

The Red Sox, once the perennial little brother to their fiercest rivals, The New York Yankees, have now moved to the top of the chart. Prior to the beginning of this season, prognosticators had the Sox, not the Yankees, as the American League East favorites.

Sure, the favorite label could be trickled down to the acquisitions that were made in the off-season, but the games are not played on paper — instead they are played in between those white lines.

Entering as favorites seemed to put added pressure on the Sox to begin the season as they dropped their first eight contests. In fact, they were below .500 until mid May, a stretch that could essentially end a teams’ hopes of making the postseason.

However, once again it was Francona at the helm, delivering the same guided speech — The results will come, play hard, make sure to follow the fundamentals, this team is too good to continually lose. And once again, he was right.

Ironically their turn around also started against the Yankees as they swept them aside to reach .500 for the first time on the season and a month later swept them again, both times in the Bronx.

One of the biggest compliments that can be given to a manager is the assessment of pushing the right buttons, meaning he puts his players in positions where they can best succeed. This is where Francona excels, much like a four-time World Series winning former manager of the Yankees, Joe Torre.

Torre and Francona manage with their guts, they don’t just rely on the stats which could be from a small sample size, but instead have a great feel for the game, seeing the players who are excelling and who has the heart to win the game.

Torre and Francona also had to manage teams full of superstars, players who may think they are above their manager because of their on-the-field success, but both have meshed with their teams perfectly. Torre’s laid-back style fit the business attitude of the Yankees and Francona’s outsized personality fits the Sox.

Maybe another 10 seasons down the line, Sox fans will look back and reminisce on a managerial run that included multiple World Series victories and change in the balance of power within the East. Then, Red Sox players and fans alike will know how lucky they are to have had Francona at the helm.

Around the Division:

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles, in an effort to limit the innings of their top-pitching prospect, Zach Britton, decided to skip his start through the rotation. The O’s hope by limiting Britton’s innings now, while they are not competitive within the division, it will keep him healthy when they are fighting for the crown a few years down the line.

New York Yankees: The story surrounding the Yankees revolves around Derek Jeter who is closing in on 3,000 hits. He will be the first Yankees player to reach the plateau, but his recent calf strain and DL stint will make those wait longer to see the legend reach the 3k mark.

Tampa Bay Rays: Newest Ray team member, Johnny Damon broke a franchise record this week. Damon reached base for the 38th consecutive game, eclipsing the previous high of 37 set by Ben Grieve.

Toronto Blue Jays: Struggling rookie righty, Kyle Drabek, was option to Triple A this week after his struggles during his past three starts. The rookie had been struggling with control after starting the season off by impressing those who faced him.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer covering the A.L. East for BaseballDigest.com. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

Chamberlain, the one-time can’t miss phenom who came up breathing fire in 2007, had seemed to find his niche in the bullpen this season, but this injury will hinder the progress he made. The Yankees tried a formula to make sure arm problems would not plague their young righty, but to no avail.

During his time in the Minors, along with fellow former top prospect Phil Hughes, innings were limited, pitch counts enforced and everything was monitored closely. Once in the bigs, the Yankees enforced the “Joba Rules,” partly because they wanted to protect him and partly because of then manager Joe Torre’s penchant for overusing his relievers.

The rules stated Chamberlain could not throw more than a certain number of pitches per outing nor pitch on back-to-back days. It was the Yankees way to make sure they did everything within their power to protect their investment.

They did the same with Hughes, limiting his innings and only slowly increasing them to prepare his arm for the long haul of a Major League season. However, no matter what the Yankees did, it has not worked.

Hughes has found himself on the disabled list this season following a noticeable drop in velocity — 95 mph to 90 mph — and complaints of arm soreness. Chamberlain suffered a tear in his elbow requiring the elbow reconstruction surgery known as Tommy John, which has a rehab period of 10 to 14 months.

Two top prospects with above average stuff, both following the same plan, yet they both suffered the same fate — arm problems. The Yankees followed a philosophy that is the norm for numerous organizations when it comes to developing arms, but one particular organization has been entirely different and largely successful.

The organization is the Texas Rangers. Once Nolan Ryan, the author of seven no-hitters during his MLB career, took over the reigns as team president, the Rangers had a new philosophy.

Ryan comes from the school of thought that for a pitcher to be successful, they need to pitch — a lot. He does not understand how a pitcher can only be trained to throw six or seven innings a game and then teams wonder why they often suffer injuries.

He says that it’s the equivalent of training a horse to only complete half of a race but then expect him to finish it easily — it won’t happen. Therefore, the Rangers began their transformation in the Minors and slowly implemented their changes on the Major League level.

Thus far the Rangers have seen great results — none of their pitchers have suffered arm injuries and they have been able to throw more pitches and thereby pitch deeper into the game.

Derek Holland, the team’s top lefty, has developed under the system Ryan implemented and has thrived. The 25-year-old has completed almost 300 innings in only 44 career starts, showing the importance of allowing pitchers to throw enough pitches.

However, the Yankees have not changed their philosophy, and down on the farm are the Killer B’s — Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos — who have yet to throw more than five innings in any start for Double A Trenton.

Yet, the Yankees will expect the both of them to not only be top-of-the-rotation starters, but be able to pitch deep into games. Maybe it is time the Yankees learn from their prior mistakes and let the kids pitch.

The Killer B’s have all the promise in the world, both possessing mid 90s fastballs and devastating hooks, but none of that will matter if they suffer arm problems.

There is no tried and true formula for developing arms, but analyzing in simplistic terms — The only way to prepare for a race is to run the equivalent of one. The only way to prepare for pitching in a grueling MLB season is also to throw the equivalent of one.

Perhaps, the Yankees way will finally work out and the Killer B’s will fulfill their promise, or they will be another sobering reality of the volatile world of developing pitchers.

Around the Division:

Baltimore Orioles: Brian Matusz made his return off the disabled list yesterday and suffered through a rough outing. To the average viewer, things did not seem right for the once top prospect. His fastball had lost roughly five miles per hour prior to his injury.

Boston Red Sox: The Sox continued their dominance over the Yankees with yet another sweep in the Bronx. This season is very reminiscent of the 2009 season when the Yankees failed to win a game over their rivals until August.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays won two of three during their series against the Orioles over the weekend as they try to close the gap between them and the first-place Red Sox who have been on a tear as of late.

Toronto Blue Jays: The Jays pitching staff ran into a well-oiled offensive machine over the weekend as they could do nothing to stop the vaunted Red Sox attack. Surrendering games of 16 and 14 runs in the series, the staff will look to rebound once they face the Orioles tomorrow.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com covering the A.L. East. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds, Derek Lee and J.J. Hardy were added to mainly be stop gaps for the youngsters who are still developing in the fruitful Oriole farm system, but also to increase the numbers in the win column — a column that has only seen a high of 70 wins since 2006.

After firing their manager three-fourths through the 2010 season, the Orioles hired Buck Showalter to help turn this once proud franchise around. Showalter immediately had an effect on the young team, becoming a dreaded opponent for the bullies of the American League East to play during the latter stages of the 2010 season.

However, after an off-season in which the front office splurged — by their standards — on free agents and through trades, they expected better results from their acquisitions. Every player, aside from the clutch play of Hardy, both defensively and offensively, has underperformed.

The perennial basement dwellers acquired Reynolds from the Arizona Diamondbacks primarily for his ability to hit the ball out of the yard. The feeling among scouts and analysts was the O’s received a middle-of-the-order hitter, but he has yet to live up to his reputation.

The former 44-home run hitter has never hit for a high average, his career .237 batting average speaks for itself, but he always made up for it with his ability to hit the long-ball. However, Reynolds has struggled in the normally hitter-friendly Camden Yards, blasting only nine home runs, five of which in his home ballpark.

His .188 average through the seasons first 57 games would even make Mario Mendoza blush — the player most notably known for his ability to hit near the .200 mark, earning the moniker, The Mendoza Line.

Lee, formerly of the Chicago Cubs, arrived in Baltimore with the hopes of resurrecting a career sliding downwards because of injury. Unfortunately, the injury-bug has found him again, already limiting him to only 43 games in which he has not produced.

The former No. 3 hitter of the Cubs barely resembles the premier National League first basemen he was only two seasons ago when he blasted 35 home runs. This season, his RBI has only reached 15, a mere shadow of his career-high of 111.

Even Guerrero, the Texas Rangers main power threat from their DH spot last season, has not taken to the friendly confines of Camden Yards. In his one season playing in Texas, Guerrero seemed to have found the jet stream almost every time he connected, blasting 29 home runs, 16 of which in Texas.

These three men were signed to add to the win total, something they have failed to do with their limited amount of production within the lineup. They have underperformed while clogging up positions for the young players who could use the valuable experience of playing on the Major League level.

Players such as Manny Machado — the O’s first round pick in the 2010 Amateur First-Year Player draft — Mycal Givens and Tyler Townsend could take their current spots and fill in admirably.

For the O’s to once again compete in the East, they need to develop their top prospects. In a season that seems destined to continue their playoff-less streak, giving the kids a chance is the way to set the clock in motion, setting them up for a date in October soon enough.

Around the Division:

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox opened their pivotal three-game set in the Bronx with a win behind Jon Lester and closed out by the recently suspended Jonathan Papelbon. The Sox have once again tied the Yankees for first place and are eyeing a possibility of another sweep.

New York Yankees: The Yankees Mark Texiera was hit in the knee-cap by an errant pitch in the first inning of last night’s game. The sound was awful, a cling that made fans and management fear the worst, but X-Rays were negative and for now Texiera is listed as day-to-day.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays were busy on the first night of the 2011 MLB Draft, holding 10 picks throughout the first night. Already known for their strong farm system, the Rays added plenty of quality players including Taylor Guerrieri, a high school student who has top-of-the-rotation potential.

Toronto Blue Jays: After being stated as the best player no one knows about, Jose Bautista — he of the Major League leading 20 home runs — is the AL’s leading vote-getter through the first two rounds. It seems as if baseballs newest hitting threat is receiving the attention he rightfully deserves.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com covering the A.L. East. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

It is enough cause for celebration for fans and team members alike after beginning the marathon season with a 34-year-old Venezuelan with diminished stuff holding down the No. 5 spot in the rotation and a rookie holding the No. 4.

Freddy Garcia won the No. 5 spot in the rotation after fending off a very impressive Bartolo Colon during the Spring even though the portly righty had actually out-pitched Garcia. Yankees management said the decision came down to who had the stamina to pitch an entire season and Colon had not stepped on a Major League mound for a two years.

However, after ineffectiveness and then an undiagnosed injury to Phil Hughes, the former 18-game winner from last season, Colon stepped into the rotation. The righty has turned back the clock and is pitching better than his Cy-Young season in 2005.

After not pitching last season and undergoing a controversial elbow procedure, Colon is once again firing the ball in the mid 90s, except this time it is accompanied with otherworldly movement. It can be argued that Colon, who has threw the Yankees first complete game shutout since 2009, has been ace 1A.

Garcia, too, has outperformed expectations. His 3.34 ERA is second on the staff, but he has only four wins to show for his great work on the mound. Even Ivan Nova, the neophyte, has showed enough promise that the Yankees see him as an integral piece for the future.

It helps that the 23-year-old has great poise on the mound to go along with good stuff. His mid 90s fastball is tough to hit in the air, but he does go through some rough patches just like any other young starter. Patience will be a virtue for him and the Yankees.

The question for the Yankees is how long can their good fortune last? Colon and Garcia are not the type of pitchers you expect to count on prior to beginning the season. Except, now the Yankees can not afford them to fall on their face. They need to continue to get exceptional efforts from their staff or else things could get ugly for the 27-time World Series champions.

Concern over how long their pitchers can last has already reached the mind of general manager Brian Cashman. He recently made a statement that he is not comfortable with the team he currently holds, noting areas that could use some improvement.

None of the improvements will occur to the offense, unless it comes from within — the promotion of top hitting prospect Jesus Montero. However, the pitching, if need be, will be scoured for during the next month before the trading deadline.

The trade market looks bleak thus far with only uninspiring options such as Jon Danks — 0-8 thus far on the season — are available. None would be difference makers for a team looking to contend for a championship.

Cashman may need to look no further than down on the farm at his two most prized pitching prospects in Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos. Betances, standing at 6-foot-9, is currently 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA for the Yankees AA affiliate, The Trenton Thunder.

The Grand Street Campus product has been plagued by control issues since he was drafted at 18 years of age in 2006, but has showed an increasing ability to pitch out of trouble. With a blister issue limiting his innings earlier this season, he would not have an innings limit on him if the decision to promote would be in order.

Banuelos, the 20-year-old Mexican native, has also impressed, pitching to a 3-0 record. His control has been spotty, something that has not plagued him before, but his 2.12 ERA speaks for itself. The Yankees would love to see him develop one more season in the Minors before promoting him, but his performance may dictate otherwise.

With Colon and Garcia exceeding expectations and the possibility of them breaking down at any moment, the Yankees need to explore their possible replacements.

The Killer B’s are ready to sting Major League hitters — however, the Yankees hope the old goats can continue to defy father time and help steer the Yankees to the postseason.

Around the Division:

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles promising start to the season is almost a distant memory now after they have dropped to five games below .500. Manager Buck Showalter knew he was taking over a rebuilding team and the pieces are in place for that to happen.

Boston Red Sox: In his first start off of the DL, John Lackey completed six innings while allowing three runs — a quality start and the Red Sox defeated the Athletics to keep pace with the Yankees. They now are ready to face their rivals in a three-game set that will decide first-place in the division.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays have fallen by the way-side after their climb to the top of the division. After dropping two of three over the weekend to the Seattle Mariners, they are only one game above .500 and are striving to straighten out their current slide.

Toronto Blue Jays: After a series victory over the Orioles, the Jays are now tied with Tampa for third place in the division. They next visit the Kansas City Royals and look for Brandon Morrow to get back on track.

Ryan Lazo is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com. He can be reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.