New York Yankees at Boston, not suprisingly, accounts for two of those, on April 22 and July 8, from Fenway Park.  The Yankees have one other Sunday Night appearance, April 15 vs. the Angels.  The two-time defending American League Champion Texas Rangers host Chicago in the April 8 SNB opener.

The World Series Champion Cardinals also have three appearances (May 20 and July 15, in addition to Opening Night April 4).

ESPN’s first seven Sunday Night games will feature at least one playoff team and several of MLB’s biggest stars will be on display, including the Angels’ Pujols; the Yankees’ Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano; Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury; Texas’ Josh Hamilton; Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria; Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard and Chase Utley; St. Louis’ Matt Holliday and Lance Berkman; Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp; Atlanta’s Chipper Jones and Brian McCann; Chicago’s Paul Konerko; and Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman.

This season will also mark the debut of analyst Terry Francona, who joins play-by-play commentator Dan Shulman and analyst Orel Hershiser in the Sunday Night Baseball booth. Sunday Night games are also available via ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 and ESPN Mobile TV.

ESPN Radio’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team will again be play-by-play commentator Jon Sciambi and analyst Chris Singleton.  ESPN Radio, entering its 15th season of MLB coverage, will also broadcast a game of the week each Saturday during the regular season, the State Farm Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, and every Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series game.

The Sunday Night Baseball schedule as selected to date follows (all telecasts begin at 8 p.m. ET).  Game selections for the remainder of the season will be made three weeks (June and July 1, 22 and 29) or two weeks (August and September) in advance.

ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Schedule
Date     Teams (all telecasts at 8 p.m. ET)
April 8     Chicago White Sox at Texas
April 15     L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees
April 22     Yankees at Boston
April 29     Tampa Bay at Texas
May 6     Philadelphia at Washington
May 13     Angels at Texas
May 20     St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers
May 27     Washington at Atlanta
June 3-July 1     TBD
July 8     Yankees at Boston
July 15     St. Louis at Cincinnati
July 22-Sept 23     TBD

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

RHP’s Brad Peacock and A.J. Cole, catcher Derek Norris, and LHP Tom Milone – all top ten ranked in the Nationals system – were traded to Oakland in exchange for starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

Most of the focus has been on the considerable loss of Milone and Peacock. Cole has the least amount of minor league service time, and is still extremely young and unproven at 19. But he was a top five prospect in the Nationals system, spending 2011 in Class-A Hagerstown, and finishing with a 4.04 ERA. His journey has just begun and with Oakland, but the fallout can still be felt in Washington. Nationals fans have a heck of a lot to look forward to, with Bryce Harper on the horizon and Stephen Strasburg still waiting to achieve his full potential.

The Nationals get points for fearlessly pursuing the future, by trading guys thought to be a certain part of that future.

Note: The Nationals also received righty pitching prospect Robert Gilliam.

Five Questions With…

Phillies Brian Gump

Brian Gump spent 2011 with the Clearwater Threshers, his second stint with the Phillies Class-A affiliate. The outfielder finished the season hitting .286 in a career high 86 games.

He’s in the spotlight in the first installment of ‘Five Questions With…’

1. This will be your **third year at the pro level. What is your focus, what would you like to improve going into spring training?

I’m always trying to improve on my game across the board, inch by inch. This off season though, I was really focused on gaining strength as opposed to just being in really good shape. On top of that, getting more consistent with a few things in the hitting department that Mizerock and Hendu worked with me on last year. Mainly, finishing lower to stay through the ball/zone longer (which I would go in and out of and saw great results when I was consistent with it which is very promising) and working on shifting my approach to less of an opposite field approach first and more of a go ahead and be aggressive and pull the ball first mindset.

2. You had a strong 2011 at Clearwater. Did you make any adjustments or changes in your approach?

Although not being an everyday player is presents its own set of challenges and difficulties, in my mind that’s a generous assessment of my 2011 season if you’re looking strictly at batting statistics. With that being said, last season I feel like I matured the most as a ball player and as a man than I have in a while. **It was my first real full season because my initial full season I missed a chunk when I broke my arm. I learned a lot both physically and even more so mentally about the day in and day out approach you need to bring to the field and the importance of controlling your thoughts in game and off the field. Your mind can be your best weapon or your worst enemy, especially for a 4th outfielder type like I was last year where your last at bat can simmer in your head for a few days before you get another one. I did a good job at times and other times I admittedly did not do a good job of filtering my thoughts and using it for my benefit. Baseball is a game of failure so controlling your thoughts and attitude in the face of failure is paramount to a professional baseball players success.

Physically, I worked on pulling the ball a bit more (and still am) and felt I was much better about identifying and laying off changeups and other off speed pitches. I was also able to start to pick up on what the battery was trying to do each game to our offense as a whole and to myself personally.

3. Best advice you’ve gotten from someone within the Phillies organization?

That’s a tough one to isolate. As players in the Phillies system, we are pretty damn lucky to have so many high quality instructors around us on a daily basis helping us develop as ball players and men. I’ve received countless bits of wisdom and advice across the board so its tough to really pick one out. I guess the first thing that flashed in my head when I read the question though was from [Chase] Utley. Its strange how sometimes the smallest things resonate in your head. He told us in my first spring when he was talking to the hitters, “you hit a great off speed pitch by hitting the fastball that’s thrown before it”. There is nothing more true in baseball than that.

4. A little fun. What is your favorite baseball movie character and why?

Ah man, its got to be between Crash Davis and Nuke LaLoosh. I love Bull Durham. Both of those characters are classic.

5. And, finally, what’s your favorite winter sport? A team you root for?

Football and then Basketball. I grew up a 49ers fan so this has been a really exciting season for me to see them finally getting back to being an elite team. Basketball wise, again, born and raised a Lakers fan. This year is going to be an interesting one for them after the CP3 fiasco. I’m really bummed to see Odom go like he did, but my man Kobe always has some tricks up his sleeves, and by sleeves I mean legs, even if those legs ARE starting to get older.

METS GCL TEAM FOLDS

The 23-year old Gulf Coast Mets have closed their clubhouse doors after the big club decided to not continue fielding a team in that league. While the move might seem small, there’s no mistaking that the decision is part of the bigger plan. The Mets need to cut costs in order to build a better club and this is a small step in that direction.

The bigger picture also includes an improved farm system, something the Mets are putting their efforts into. Shutting down one of their affiliates might seem counter-productive, but the focus shouldn’t be in question. Guys such as Zack Wheeler,  Matt Harvey, and Jeurys Familia – all RHP’s- are close to major league ready. There’s young pitching at the higher levels waiting to be plucked for a big league debut, and their development, though not without bumps, has gone very well. Wilmer Flores and Reese Havens are still question marks. And the Mets don’t have a young catcher in the wings. But the system is in overhaul.  Cutting the team could prove helpful in reorganizing a slowly improving system. Even more important is a front office that might be willing to spend more in the June Draft.

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.

Despite the historic collapse of the Braves in 2011, not all is lost in Atlanta. The core of veterans they expect to have back next year, combined with their impressive group of youngsters, should once again make the Braves a contender in the NL East. They are not expected to be major players in free agency, and will instead look to make minor moves to get ready for spring training.

Key Free Agents Leaving the Team: The Braves have no major free agents who will be hitting the open market. Outfielder Michael Bourn and starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens are both unsigned for 2012, but are also still under team control, and will go through arbitration if they cannot come to terms beforehand. Scott Boras represents both players and the Braves are not looking to spend, so fans should not expect long term deals, but Bourn is almost certain to be back, and Jurrjens will also return unless he is traded.

Key Areas Needing Improvement: Offense is the most glaring deficiency for the Braves. They have some solid pieces in catcher Brian McCann, outfielder Jason Heyward, and first baseman Freddie Freeman, but lack the lineup needed by a top contender.

Chipper Jones, no longer as productive as he once was, remains injury prone and will turn 40 shortly after the start of the season. Heyward is coming off a horrific sophomore campaign where he hit .227 with 14 home runs, but has the talent to vastly improve on those numbers.

Pieces That Are In Place: The strength of the Braves is their pitching. They have a lockdown bullpen headed by set-up men Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty, and closer Craig Kimbrel, who will all be 27 or younger next year. In 2011, the trio struck out 290 batters in 238.2 innings and had a 1.66 ERA. They are bargains, and the earliest any of them will hit free agency is 2014.

The starting rotation is similarly strong; headed by veteran Tim Hudson. Youngsters Jair Jurrjens, Brandon Beachy, and Tommy Hanson, who will all be 26 or under next year, held down rotation spots in 2011 and will be counted on again this coming year. There are also a number of high profile pitching prospects ready to go in the minors, to be brought up or used as trade bait.

Even though the Braves must improve offensively, they still have some building blocks. All-Star catcher Brian McCann is a free agent, but with vesting team options for 2012 and 2013, it is a certainty that he will not be going anywhere. Freeman and Heyward were considered two of the best position player prospects to debut in recent years, and are poised to develop into cornerstones of the lineup as they get more experience and the aging Chipper Jones is phased out.

Possible Trade Pieces Within the Organization: The Braves’ surplus of top minor league pitchers puts them in the enviable position of having the pieces to be a front runner for just about any potential trade they may want to pursue. Mike Minor and Julio Teheran are expected to contribute at the major league level in 2012, so it would be surprising to see them as part of any trade, but even beyond them the cupboard is far from bare.

Arodys Vizcaino and Randall Delgado are two hard throwing righties with #2 starter ceilings and no current clear path to the Braves’ rotation. Vizcaino has had some injury issues and Delgado has been inconsistent, but they remain two highly regarded prospects.

Kris Medlen pitched parts of the past three seasons in Atlanta as both a starter and reliever, missing most of 2011 with injury. He would be no more than a spare arm in the Braves’ bullpen in 2012, but is still just 26, so he could be an attractive option for another team seeking pitching help.

Any Moves Already Completed: The Braves made a big move by trading Derek Lowe to the Cleveland Indians for lower level minor league reliever Chris Jones. The Braves will also pay for $10 million of Lowe’s $15 million 2012 salary. This seems like a steep price, but the move opens up a spot in the rotation for either Minor or Teheran.

Young Players Who Will Make an Impact in 2012: There are two prospects who figure to make the strongest impact with the Braves in 2012. They are lefty Mike Minor and righty Julio Teheran, both starting pitchers.

Minor already filled in admirably this past season with 15 starts in Atlanta, going 5-3 with a 4.14 ERA. He possesses a 91-93 mph fastball and solid curveball and changeup. The former first round pick figures to have the first shot at taking Lowe’s spot and will provide a lefty presence in the Braves’ rotation.

Teheran will be just 21 in 2012, but has already shown that he is one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. He has a similar repertoire to Minor, but throws a tick harder. Teheran went 15-3 with a 2.55 ERA in Triple-A last year, and also made a handful of appearances with the Braves. He will likely be depended upon as the team’s 6^th starter, or used out of the bullpen.

Andrew H. Martin
Baseball Historian
@historianandrew

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 Braves finished 89-73 in 2011, good for second in the NL East. However, the season was a major disappointment because they finished with one of the most historic collapses in baseball history. In late August the Braves were on pace for 95 wins and had a 10.5 game lead in the wild card race over the St. Louis Cardinals, but lost 18 of their final 27 games, allowing the eventual World Series champions to sneak into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season.

Rotation: B
Starting pitching was a bright spot for the Braves. Tim Hudson provided his typical workhorse effort at the top of the rotation with 16 wins, and youngsters Brandon Beachy, Tommy Hanson, and Jair Jurrjens all showed their ability, each posting  ERAs below 3.70. 23 year old Mike Minor capably filled in for 15 starts (5-3, 4.14 ERA).

While overwhelmingly positive, the Braves’ rotation did have some concerns. The aging Derek Lowe struggled to a 9-17 and 5.05 ERA. Additionally, while the young starters pitched well, they also struggled with injuries, and missed over thirty starts combined.

Bullpen: A
This unit was the best in baseball. Craig Kimbrel was the most dominant closer in the majors, posting 46 saves, a 2.10 ERA, and a staggering 127 strikeouts in 77 innings.  He did blow 8 save opportunities, including three in his last 9 appearances, coinciding with the team’s collapse. This was offset by the fact that between June 14^th and September 8^th, he allowed only 14 hits and 0 runs in 36.2 innings.

Lefties Jonny Venters (1.84) and Eric O’Flaherty (0.98) each had sub-2.00 ERAs as the late inning set-up men. Cristhian Martinez also emerged as a surprisingly effective long man in his first full season in the majors, leading the Braves with a 0.966 WHIP.

BD Report Cards brought to you by Seamheads

Catchers: A-
Brian McCann was the best offensive catcher in the National League, hitting .270 with 24 home runs and 71 RBI. Never a Gold Glove contender, his below average defense has been in steady decline for several years. The 22% of base runners he threw out in 2011 represented his lowest number since 2007. Backup David Ross was a perfect second string catcher, hitting well enough (.263) and providing strong defense; throwing out 33% of stolen base attempts.

Infield: B-
The Braves’ infield was inconsistent. Chipper Jones remained its leader, despite once again missing significant time with injury. He showed he could still hit, popping 18 home runs and 33 doubles in 126 games, but his defense continued to decline at third base. Second baseman Dan Uggla hit 36 home runs and had an impressive 33 game hitting streak, but still only managed to hit .233 on the year. His poor range reflected his below average defense. Alex Gonzalez had a good fielding year at shortstop, but did not do much at bat, with a .241 batting average and 15 home runs. The highlight of the Braves’ infield was rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman. He was solid at the plate, hitting .282 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI, and held his own in the field.

The Braves were thin on infield bench help, with the exception of Martin Prado, who filled in at third during for Jones. The other infield part timers were ineffective and/or retreads. Brooks Conrad hit just .223 and is an average defender at second and third. The Braves tried to catch lighting in a bottle with Julio Lugo, but he appeared in just 22 games, hitting a measly .136. Shortstop Jack Wilson, who was traded for at the deadline, had little impact, as his once stellar defense was merely average, and his bat was customarily anemic.

Outfield: D
Disappointment reigned in the Braves’ 2011 outfield. Jason Heyward was counted on to improve upon his 2010 Rookie of the Year performance, but struggled with injury and ended up hitting just .227 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI. Martin Prado was unspectacular in left, showing little range and a weak arm, while hitting.260 with 13 home runs.

Centerfield was particularly chaotic. In 81 games Nate McLouth proved that not only could he not hit (.223 with 4 home runs), but that he had also regressed to an average defender. The Braves made a major move to upgrade the position at the trade deadline, by picking up speedy Michael Bourn. He immediately became the team’s most productive outfielder, hitting .278 with 22 stolen bases and 30 runs in his 53 games. Bourn also dramatically improved Atlanta’s outfield defense with his impressive range.

Eric Hinske was the main outfield option off the bench. While he showed some pop with 10 home runs in 264 at bats, he hit only .233 overall and was below average in the field. Jose Costanza hit well (.303) and was a plus defender, but only played in 42 games. Jordan Schaefer showed a weak bat and a strong glove before being included in the Bourn trade.

Top Offensive Player
The Braves’ offense was inconsistent, but they did have one stalwart in Brian McCann. He finished second on the team in home runs, third in RBI, and was their leader in OPS, which was even more impressive coming from the catcher position.

Top Pitcher
Craig Kimbrel encountered a few typical rookie bumps, but was the clearly the best pitcher for the Braves. He was a lockdown closer, and had one three month stretch where he was not only virtually unhittable, but the opposing team did not score a single run against him.

Andrew H. Martin
Baseball Historian
@RedSoxFanNum1

Hellickson threw 189 innings and finished 13-10, 2.95. He had a very good 1.153 WHIP and a 4.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). He allowed just 146 hits and averaged just one home run allowed per nine innings. Hellickson joined teammate Evan Longoria (2008) as the only Rays to win the ROY Award.

Kimbrel was a strikeout machine in his freshman year in the ATL. He led the league with 46 saves and averaged 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He also led the NL in games finished (64), while he compiled a 4-3, 2.10 mark and earned a place on the NL All-Star team. Kimbrel is the first Brave to win the award since Rafael Furcal took top rookie honors in 2000. Other franchise winners are David Justice (2000), Bob Horner (1978), and Earl Williams (1971).

It was the first time since Fernando Valenzuela (LAD) and Dave Righetti (NYY) were Rookie of the Year winners in 1981, that the league’s two awards went to pitchers in the same year.

Below is the complete results of this year’s vote.

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.

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.

It was a night filled with agony and anticipation mixed with a pulsating sense of dread, fear, and hope. Finally, exhalation, for the Rays and Cardinals. The Red Sox and Braves fell to earth and saw all hope shattered. Rookie Freddie Freeman’s face as he grounded into a double play to end the Braves chances, put the harsh period on what looked like a sure thing. The heartache etched into his young face as he watched the opponent celebrate.

In the mix of all the action young rookies and hopeful prospects such as Freeman were trying to make an impact, rising to the occasion  to show the team what they are capable of. For them it’s one part sports contest, one part audition.

For Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances it was a chance not to help the team clinch a playoffs spot, that was done, but it was to showcase a little bit more of his talent. He allowed one hit and two walks, striking out two Orioles batters. It looked good early for the Yankees and the game appeared to be in cruise-control. But Betances name will now be attached to one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history. The Rays rallied from a seven-run deficit to defeat the Yankees 8-7. Betances did what he needed to do, pitching two innings, allowing a hit and two walks. He also struck out two. Looking ahead to 2012, he can rest assured that he’s passed a very big test. The Rays were simply entering into some sort of unimaginable destiny.

On September 4th Tampa was nine games back in the Wild Card on September 3rd, trailing the confident Red Sox. On September 28th they were down seven runs going into the eighth inning and preceded to win the game 8-7 in the 12th inning. Evan Longoria was the star of the upset, but the bullpen had a one-run lead to protect. Rookie relievers Jake McGee and Brandon Gomes played a big part in the Rays holding on.  Gomes pitched a scoreless 11th and McGee did the same in the 12th when the ball was handed over to closer Kyle Farnsworth. McGee had pitched 33 innings for Triple-A Durham before his call-up in May, finishing with a 2.70 ERA and 38 strikeouts. His Durham teammate Gomes had put in 25 innings for the Bulls with a 1.07 ERA. The Rays called on him in May after sending McGee back to the minors.

The Yankees pen also brought out a few young arms including George Kontos, possibly the Yankees most major league ready reliever, and Andrew Brackman pitched in the loss. Kontos pitched 2/3 an inning allowing no runs and no hits. Brackman also pitched in short-relief , also scoreless in his 1/3 of an inning of work.  The Phillies were also not in a do-or-die situation, nothing more than winning a ballgame and setting a franchise record with 102 wins, they too put some of their young pitchers in the spotlight. Justin De Fratus picked up his first major league win when he pitched a scoreless 12th. Michael Schwimmer pitched two innings of one-hit baseball.  De Fratus made his major league debut on the day the Phillies clinched the National League East, add the 28th, a second non-pressure situation to his major league resume. Not a bad way to begin. Career milestones and Phillies milestones seem to go hand in hand for him.

The Phillies National League rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, called Allen Craig up in June from Triple-A Memphis with 42 at-bats under his belt between there and Double-A Springfield.  Playing the role of spoiler, the Houston Astros could do nothing with Chris Carpenter whose glittering start included eleven strikeouts. Craig went 2-5 with a home run in the Cardinals 8-0 victory. It was a comeback no one believed would happen. The Braves were in control with an 8 1/2 game lead for the wild card.

As the Cardinals fought their way back, Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was closing in on a most unfair destiny. Will people remember that the 23-year old rookie set a major league record with 54 saves in 79 appearances? Hopefully, but add him to the Braves disastrous ending. September was his undoing. He blew three saves in eight opportunities. Let it also be remembered that the Braves were not hitting and the Braves pen was worn out. It was a nothing game to the Phillies. Not a game they needed anyway. The Braves season ended in a 4-3 loss to their long-ago longtime rival.

Ryan Lavarnway was behind the plate for the Red Sox when Robert Andino hit the game-winning single that gave the Orioles, a team with nothing but pride to play for, the 4-3 victory. Lavarnway’s was another face in a crop of prospects that experienced that historic day in baseball. All Lavarnway can do is look forward to his bright future. One that all who watched that brilliant night of baseball got a good look at.

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripken Jr. will give the keynote address at the Hutch Award Luncheon on Feb. 1, 2012. Proceeds will benefit early cancer detection research at the Hutchinson Center .

This year’s Hutch Award nominees are:

• Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals
• Tony Campana, Chicago Cubs
• Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins
• Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees
• Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
• Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Justin Masterson, Cleveland Indians
• Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
• Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox
• Josh Willingham, Oakland Athletics

The Hutch Award recipient will be selected this fall through a vote of all surviving former awardees. A total of 46 players have been honored since 1965, when Mickey Mantle accepted the inaugural award. Baseball’s Sandy Koufax, Carl Yastrzemski, Willie McCovey and Lou Brock all received the Hutch Award; in recent years Jamie Moyer, Craig Biggio, Jon Lester, Mark Teahen and Tim Hudson have joined their ranks.

The Hutch Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of legendary baseball player and manager Fred Hutchinson. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center – founded by Fred’s brother, Dr. Bill Hutchinson, after Fred succumbed to cancer at age 45 – is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of cancer and related diseases.

For more information about the Hutch Award, including a full list of past recipients, or to learn more about the luncheon, visit www.fhcrc.org/hutchaward.

This season has certainly had its share of surprises: the Diamondbacks dominance in the west, Adam Dunn’s struggles just to get a glimpse of the Mendoza line and Jose Bautista proving that 2010 wasn’t a fluke, just to name a few.  On the other hand, some things have gone as expected: The Yankees and Red Sox will make the postseason, Mariano Rivera is still a dominant closer and Ozzie Guillen’s anger management classes haven’t had much of an effect, just to name a few.  Least surprising of all, though, may be the performance of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Most preseason predictions had the Phillies winning the NL East and it was easy to see why.  The group of starting pitchers was given all sorts of nicknames before even showing up to spring training.  The last time this happened was with the 1995 Mets and Generation K (which we all know didn’t go so well).  The question never seemed to be “would they win” but “how many would they win”.  So it’s easy to understand the lack of noise surrounding the team’s success so far this year.  A situation living up to expectations is rarely newsworthy.  What is surprising, however, is how little noise is being made about how good this team has actually been.

For starters (pun unfortunately intended), four members of the Phillies rotation boast ERA’s under 3 (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Vance Worley).  Halladay and Lee have also amassed over 200 strikeouts already.  Worley is 11-1 with a 2.85 ERA and he’s just a rookie.  Hamels is 14-7 with a 2.60 ERA and also has a WHIP under 1, yet he’s almost an after-thought…a very dangerous after-thought.  So even though veteran Roy Oswalt may not have lived up to what some had hoped for him, the team doesn’t seem to be all that affected.

The bullpen, a seemingly weak area for the Phillies coming into this season, has found a couple truly dependable arms.  Ryan Madson has been an effective closer, saving 29 of his 31 opportunities (through Friday, September 9).  Meanwhile, lefty reliever Antonio Bastardo has gone from specialist to just plain special in his first full major league season.  Bastardo has an ERA under 2, a 0.81 WHIP, 66 K’s in 54.1 innings and has kept opponents to a .119 batting average.

The Phillies are on their way to the best record in franchise history.  After Friday night’s win (their 5th straight) the Phillies have 93 wins, 8 short of the franchise best 101 (1976 & 1977) and there are still 21 games to go.  In other words, the Phillies have never been this dominant in the franchise’s 122 seasons (129 if you include their time as the Philadelphia Quakers).

Perhaps what’s most impressive about this accomplishment is that they’ve done it when virtually every offensive player (not named Shane Victorino) is having an down season.  Furthermore, many important pieces of this team have spent significant time on the disabled list at various points in the season.  Still, the Phillies have been able to sustain their dominance since April.  Credit their pitching.  Credit their manager, Charlie Manuel.  Credit their GM, Ruben Amaro, for making some key moves prior to, and during, the season.  Really though, credit the team as a whole, as they find ways to win on a daily basis.

Once October begins, the Phillies regular season accomplishments will cease to mean a whole lot.  Many teams have coasted through the regular season only to make a quick trip back home to join their lesser counterparts.  All season long though, something special has been going on in Philadelphia and it shouldn’t be ignored.

Around the Division:

Atlanta Braves -  Brandon Beachy’s 142 strikeouts give him the most ever by a Braves rookie pitcher.  Jair Jurrjens was the previous record-holder with 139 K’s in 2008.  More impressively, rookie closer Craig Kimbrel notched his 41st save on 8/31, breaking Neftali Feliz’s record (40) set just last season, for most saves by a rookie.

New York Mets - Johan Santana is getting closer to making an appearance for the Mets this season, just to prove to fans that he does still exist.  Second-year first baseman Ike Davis will not need ankle surgery after all, however Jay Horwitz, the team’s long standing VP of Media Relations, is out indefinitely with a broken ankle of his own (and that WILL require surgery).  Horwitz has been the Mets PR guy for over 30 years, has only missed 3 games during that time and hadn’t missed a game in 21 years.

Washington Nationals - On September 3, rookie Tom Milone became the first pitcher to hit a home run on the first major league pitch he faced since Adam Wainwright did it for the Cardinals in 2006.  Stephen Strasburg looked sensational in dominating the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first major league start since last year’s Tommy John surgery.  Strasburg’s next start is Sunday, 9/11 against the Astros.

Florida Marlins - Hanley Ramirez will be out for the remainder of the season, closing the books on the young shortstop’s most disappointing season to date.  Ramirez will have surgery next week.  According to Larry Beinfest, the Marlins president of Baseball Operations, the surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews and will start out as arthroscopic surgery with a possibility that open surgery will be necessary.  Ramirez’s recovery time will depend on the type of surgery he ends up having.

Shai Kushner is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com.  Email Shai at: BaseballDigestShai@gmail.com.  Follow Shai on Twitter at: @BD_ShaiKushner.

The baseball season is long.  Six months, 162 games, never more than a 3-day break, it’s a lot.  So it’s not surprising that some players lose a bit of focus as the season transitions from pennant race to postseason/offseason preparations.  In the division that houses the two winningest teams in the National League, this point of the season has come a little early.  It would take an epic collapse to keep the Phillies or the Braves from playing October baseball (this is still unlikely even though the 2007 Mets proved that it’s possible) .  Meanwhile, the Mets, Nationals and Marlins probably don’t look at third place as a goal worthy of bragging rights.  With five weeks remaining in the season, players might start wondering what’s in it for them.

Let’s take a look at five pitchers who may still benefit from showing what they can do, even though the standings might not be affected…

Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies – The ups and downs of Lidge’s career would give most people motion sickness.  Lidge has been invincible in some seasons and quite vincible (it’s a real word!) in others.  His perfect 2008 for Philadelphia (48-48 in save opportunities, including the postseason), as well as being the man on the mound when the Phillies won the Word Series has earned him a special place in that city’s heart.  Of course, since that magical year, Lidge has been at best, injured, and at worst, awful.  Now, in his walk year, Lidge has only appeared in 12 games (just 9 innings) as September approaches, and has lost his closer role.  Lidge has performed well in his limited time and will have the postseason to show what’s he’s got left in the tank.  Many teams will be looking for new closers next season, and Lidge’s performance these next few weeks can go a long way in determining whether or not he’s a consideration.

Derek Lowe, Atlanta Braves – When the Braves signed Derek Lowe to a 4-year $60 million deal prior to the 2009 season they declared that the had found their ace.  Through the first 2 and a half seasons of that deal, Lowe’s results may not be ace-like, but he has been successful.  Lowe is 39-34 with a 4+ ERA during his tenure in Atlanta.  He is also going to be 39-years old before next year’s All-Star break.  The Braves will likely offer arbitration to two of their young starters, Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson (who may/may not be arbitration eligible), so the $15 million that Lowe will make next year might become an issue.  Atlanta’s decision to hold onto Lowe for the remainder of this season was likely based on his postseason experience and a desire not to shake up the successful flow of their rotation.  However a glut of exciting rookie pitchers (Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado, Mike Minor, etc.) will make Lowe, and his high salary, expendable coming into next season.  Lowe now has September and the postseason to either convince the Braves to keep him or convince other teams to spend high for his services.

John Lannan, Washington Nationals – Chances are you’ve heard about the Nationals pitching of the future (some of whom are in the present): Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen, Jordan Zimmermann, Brad Peacock, just to name a few.  But one pitcher, John Lannan, is vying to be a senior member of this exclusive club, and he’s only 26 years-old (27 in a month).  The lefty starter has been consistent since joining the Nationals major league club in 2007.  However, he’s only been consistently mediocre.  This season, however, Lannan is on pace to achieve personal bests in wins and ERA.  As a back of the rotation starter with a $2.75 million contract, Lannan is something of a bargain.  He is arbitration eligible for one more season before becoming a free agent.  If Lannan continues to show improvement, the Nationals may want to consider him as a long-term answer to any #4/#5 starter questions.  However, with so many potential major league arms in the farm system, they may want to consider selling high on Lannan to bring in some offense.  Of course, a poor showing by Lannan will leave the Nationals with few options, and will likely leave Lannan out of the mix for the future excitement in D.C.

Bobby Parnell, New York Mets – While most Mets pitchers could make this list, Parnell may have an integral role in the Mets success next season.  Then again, if his inconsistency remains an issue, he also may not.  It’s not that he doesn’t have the “stuff”.  Parnell sports a mid-to-high 90′s fastball with some sink, as well as a nasty slider.  However, that’s about all that’s nasty about the righty reliever.  As the Mets try to figure out who their closer will be next season, they are looking in house at the young, talented and inexpensive Parnell.  However, for Parnell to take advantage of this opportunity he will to improve his control, his command and his consistency.  He will also have to develop the killer instinct that seems common to successful relievers.  Otherwise he’ll just end up as another name on the list of great throwers who never figured out how to pitch.

Chris Volstad, Florida Marlins – The 6’8″ sinkerballer debuted in July of 2008 and immediately impressed, going 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA that season.  Volstad showed enough in those 15 games (14 starts) to give the Marlins the idea that they had drafted another gem.  Unfortunately, his work since that season has been disappointing.  In 2009, the righty took a big step back, going 9-13 with a 5.21 ERA.  His 2010 season was only slightly better (12-9, 4.58) and this year, his worst so far at 5-11, 5.61.  While Volstad is not necessarily considered a key component to the future of Marlins starting pitching (relative to Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco), the team will need him to improve if they expect to match up with the other starting staffs in the division.

This is a tricky time of year for baseball.  While some of the divisions still have interesting races going on, the NL East has pretty much been decided.  It’s easy for attention to wane.  However, a closer look at some of the interesting story lines within each team reveals plenty to watch for in the seasons final weeks.

Shai Kushner is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com.  Email Shai at: BaseballDigestShai@gmail.com.  Follow Shai on Twitter at: @BD_ShaiKushner.

There is little doubt that the story in the NL East this season has been pitching.  Eight of the National League’s top pitchers in wins come from this division, four of the top eight in ERA come from this division, four of the top six strikeout leaders come from this division, and in all likelihood the CY Young Award winner will come from this division.

But this may not be the story for long.

Even though many of the division’s most recognized names (like Chipper Jones, Ryan Howard, Hanley Ramirez, David Wright, Jayson Werth) might be having down seasons here are a batch of youngsters with whom you might want to get acquainted.

Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves – The only reason this 21 year-old (almost 22) slugger might not win the NL Rookie of the Year is because his rookie teammate Craig Kimbrel leads the majors in saves.  Freeman leads all National League rookies in: home runs, RBI’s, batting average, slugging pct., OPS, runs scored, and lists of accomplishments.  He also happens to have a stellar glove, a powerful arm and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until he rescues some kids from a burning orphanage.  Chipper Jones has already declared Freeman to be the next face of the Braves franchise.  Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Freeman’s rookie achievements is that he’s done it all after getting off to a terrible start.  In April, Freeman hit just .225 with 3 HR’s, 8 RBI’s and a handful of skeptics.  However, strong showings in May and June erased much of the early-season doubt and a terrific July (.362/6/18) has turned just about everyone into a believer.

Mike Stanton, OF, Florida Marlins – An opposing minor league manager once described Stanton by saying, “He looks like a 15-year-old playing on an 8-year-old’s Little League team.”  Now, this manchild is threatening to lead the National League in home runs in only his second major league season.  Entering Thursday’s games, Stanton had hit a home run in four straight games, giving him 29 on the season and placing him one long ball behind NL leader Albert Pujols.  The 21 year-old (almost 22) outfielder will likely hit at least 35 HR’s this season.  That would put him in a group with Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Frank Robinson, Hal Trosky, Mel Ott and Eddie Mathews as players with 35 HR’s at the age of 21. If he happens to make it to 40 HR’s this season, he would join Hall of Famers Ott and Matthews as the only players to hit that many before turning 22.   Even if Stanton falls short of these accomplishments, he has already done enough in his first 700 major league at-bats to suggest that fans will be enjoying his tape-measure shots for years to come.

Lucas Duda, OF-1B, New York Mets – From the moment Lucas Dude dons his uniform and walks onto the field, he just looks like a pro ballplayer.  His size and his swing look like elements of a slugger that could give opposing pitchers a handful of sleepless nights.  However, his early returns had anyone outside of the Mets organization sleeping easy.  A September callup in 2010, Duda had just 1 hit in his first 33 major league at-bats.  He followed that up, however, with 13 hits, 5 doubles, 3 home runs and 12 RBI’s in his next 37 at-bats.  His 2011 story wasn’t all that different.  Duda started off with just 4 hits in his first 20 at-bats, being used primarily (and unsuccessfully) as a pinch-hitter.  However, as injuries to Ike Davis, Angel Pagan and other Mets starters began to mount, Duda’s opportunities increased.  He took advantage, hitting a solid .283 in June and reaching .300 (with a .912 OPS) for the month of July.  When the Mets traded Carlos Beltran to the San Francisco Giants, the door was open for Duda to audition to be a part of the Mets lineup of the future.  While some may have feared that the added playing time may have exposed some of his weaknesses, Duda has seized the opportunity and shown an impressive ability to make adjustments.  Once deemed by scouts as having 5 o’clock power (power that impresses during batting practice but is gone by gametime), Duda is leading people to believe that he just might be ready for prime time.

Domonic Brown, OF, Philadelphia Phillies – This has been an odd year for the talented rookie outfielder.  The Phillies organization has done a terrific job of building the farm system in the past few years.  However, many of those players found themselves on other teams by the time they made it to the majors, having been dealt for important pieces in the Phillies pennant and postseason pushes.  The one player who has continuously survived that fate has been Domonic Brown.  While the Phillies starting pitching may have been much of the focus coming into this season, the most anticipated member of the everyday lineup could easily have been the rookie.  In an early Spring Training game, Brown broke a bone in his right hand, an injury that would require surgery and delay his ’11 debut until late May.  Brown got off to a pretty hot start but cooled off terribly in June.  In July, Brown began to show the promise and the consistency that had been expected of him, batting .296 with 6 HR’s and 12 RBI’s for the month.  As this year’s trade deadline neared, Brown’s name showed up regularly as potential trade bait.  However, GM Ruben Amaro said repeatedly that he had no intentions of trading the talented youngster.  When the Phillies finally acquired All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence from the Astros they chose to move four of their talented farmhands instead of including Brown in the deal.  While this kept Brown in the organization, it didn’t keep him with the big league club.  Brown was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room for Pence.  While this may seem like a demotion, it’s actually an opportunity for Brown to play every day (as opposed to sitting on the Philadelphia bench) while learning how to play left field.  An outfield featuring Brown and Pence in the corner spots with Shane Victorino in center is a scary prospect for the rest of the division.

Wilson Ramos, C, Washington Nationals – Most conversations about the future of the Nationals revolve around their pitching.  Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Brad Peacock and Drew Storen are just a few of the talents giving hope to the historically unsuccessful franchise.  However, the one constant for all of these arms will need to be a dependable battery mate.  In his first full major league season, Wilson Ramos has given reasons to believe that he’ll fit that bill.  His stats may not be as impressive as the other young hitters on this list.  A .246 batting average with 9 HR’s and a .709 OPS is little more than pedestrian, even for a catcher.  But at just 24 years-old, Ramos is described by teammates and coaches as being beyond his years.  Ramos strong arm behind the plate has been evident since his time in the minors.  This year he’s thrown out about 35% of attempted base stealers, an impressive number to begin with, and likely to improve with experience.  Ramos will likely benefit from having catching legend Ivan Rodriguez as a teammate and mentor.

Pitching may be the magic word for the 2011 National East but these young hitters are already making a statement of their own.

Shai Kushner is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com.  Email Shai at: BaseballDigestShai@gmail.com.  Follow Shai on Twitter at: @BD_ShaiKushner.

For four weeks beginning today, consumers can donate cans of food to local, participating Atlanta-area Chevrolet dealerships. Consumers who bring 10 cans of food to these dealerships will receive a voucher for a free ticket to the Braves versus New York Mets game on Sept. 16.  Additionally, consumers can test-drive new Chevrolet cars at these participating dealerships, and for every test drive, AutoTrader.com will donate $10.  Anyone who test-drives a new car will also have a chance to register to win a VIP experience at the Sept. 16 game, which will include a suite at Turner Field and an on-field experience prior to the game.

“AutoTrader.com is proud to sponsor the Drive Away Hunger program for the second consecutive year,” said AutoTrader.com Director of Community Relations Michele Blondheim.  “We have always been committed to making a difference in communities across the country and we are happy to do our part in driving away hunger.  By partnering with the Braves, long-time Braves pitcher John Smoltz and local Chevrolet dealers, we hope to build on the successful 2010 program with even more awareness and donations this year.”

Community food banks across the country continue to report a rise in demand for food and a struggle to meet the need at a time when support – particularly from government sources – is projected to decline in the future.  AutoTrader.com, a long-time partner of the ACFB, saw this dynamic last year and created the Drive Away Hunger program to help fill that critical gap.

“I’m honored to join AutoTrader.com, Chevrolet dealers and the Braves to give back to the community that gave me so much during my proud career here in Atlanta,” said former Smoltz. “I’ve always been taken by the sense of togetherness in this city, and I know residents will band together to support this worthy cause.”

When the program culminates at Turner Field on Sept. 16 before the Braves vs. Mets, collection food bins will be placed in front of the stadium and representatives from AutoTrader.com, participating Chevrolet dealers and the Braves will announce the final collection tally and award the financial donation to the ACFB.

“We are so pleased to partner with AutoTrader.com once again for this important effort,” said Bill Bolling, executive director of the ACFB. “Times continue to be challenging for many Georgians and the need for food assistance is still growing. We’re grateful to AutoTrader.com, area Chevrolet dealerships, the Atlanta Braves and John Smoltz for their support and look forward to what’s sure to be a very impactful program.”

Last year’s Drive Away Hunger campaign raised tens of thousands of dollars and collected over 11,500 pounds of food for the Atlanta area. The program was extended from two weeks to four weeks this year.

If we were to truly honor Deion Sanders, the right way, this article would include a link at the bottom of the page leading to its continuation at NFL.com.

If we were to truly honor Deion Sanders, the right way, this article would include not only a link to a previous Baseball Digest print edition mention of Sanders’ career, it would include a video making it stand out among the rest, done in Flash.

If we were to truly honor Deion Sanders, the right way, this article would no longer refer to Deion Sanders as ‘Sanders’, but ‘Deion’. ‘Neon Deion’ would be even better. However, like Sanders at the end of his induction speech this past weekend into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, applying a bandana to his bronze likeness, we’re going to simply make do.

As one of the greatest two-sport athletes of all-time, Sanders excelled in both football and baseball. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Sanders attended Florida State University, where he made a name for himself on the basepaths, the gridiron, and in track and field competitions. One story has it that Sanders once played game one of a doubleheader, left to compete in a leg of a 4×100 relay only to return to start in the second game of the doubleheader.

Sanders wasted no time getting a jump on a collegiate career that would result in records being set and his football jersey number being retired. In his freshman year, Sanders started on the football team in the secondary, played outfield leading his team to rank fifth in the nation and took advantage of his base-swiping speed to help lead his track and field squad to a conference title.  While the Seminoles had no reason the keep their receipt when it came to Sanders, it was Deion who would do all the returning. As a two-time All-American cornerback, Sanders intercepted 14 passes over his career including three in bowl games and broke the longest interception return for a TD by one yard when he managed to grab a pass on defense and return it the entire length of the field in 1988.

Considering how much Sanders accomplished in his collegiate career, it is no wonder both professional baseball and football teams alike were interested in signing him. I’m guessing if there were a National Track and Field League with the same impact across the nation as MLB or the NFL, where kids hang posters of track and field stars in their room the way they do their favorite baseball and football stars, an NTFL team would have looked to draft Sanders as well.

The New York Yankees selected Sanders in the 30th round of the 1988 draft and he signed with the team in June of that year. I give credit to the Kansas City Royals for having the foresight to draft Sanders years ahead of the Yankees. The Royals drafted Sanders while he was still playing for Fort Myers High School however, Sanders decided not to sign with a professional team at that time. The NFL also came calling for Sanders’ services as the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.

To play two professional sports in a lifetime is an incredible feat. To play two professional sports within a same season is incredible. To play two professional sports within the same season at the level Sanders was able to is other-worldly. Bo Jackson is probably the only other athlete who could relate to what it took for Sanders to continue a professional football and baseball career at the same time. Sanders definitely knew what Bo knew, and vice versa.

In his young professional career, like at Florida State, Sanders got out of the box quickly in both sports. He returned his first career punt return for a touchdown. With the Yankees, in 1989, Sanders hit a home run in pinstripes and later that week scored a touchdown wearing Falcon black. He remains to this day, the only player to ever do so. Another honor bestowed to Sanders ,and only Sanders, is that he is the only professional athlete to ever play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.

Not a fan of arrogant professional athletes? Then you probably aren’t a fan of Sanders. Actually, according to this recent Hall of Fame speech, it’s not that you aren’t a fan of Sanders, you aren’t a fan of Prime Time. Prime Time is a character, a persona, that Sanders came up with at Florida State. He knew he would need to stand out amongst the other great athletes of his time and Prime Time was his way of putting his numbers up against the stats of other great players, and then giving himself the advantage when it came to being remembered and earning an unbelievable living for himself as a professional athlete. Once, as a Yankee, Sanders came up to bat, dug in, and drew a money sign with his bat before taking his stance. Future Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, catching that game, took offense to the gesture and let Sanders have it after Sanders didn’t run out a pop up to the infield. Arrogance was something that Prime Time delivered to make Deion Sanders even more entertaining. High stepping touchdowns became a cultural phenomenon, and started with  Sanders. I don’t recall ever seeing him high step in a run on the baseball diamond which is probably a good thing. I highly doubt Carlton Fisk would have appreciated that either.

The June 2004 edition of Baseball Digest featured an article displaying how Curt Schilling felt about Sanders’ antics on the baseball diamond. You can read what he had to say here.

It was while playing with the Atlanta Braves that Sanders’ juggling act really stepped up a notch. Clearly, the longer the baseball season lasts, the more it interferes with the football schedule. The Yankees weren’t exactly making the playoffs in the late ’80s, however, once Sanders started wearing a jersey with Atlanta across the chest, this calendar juggling became more of an issue because the Braves were in the post-season and in the early ’90s, on quite a regular basis.

In 1991, Sanders contributed to the Braves’ run to the National League West division title. However, because of a clause in his contract with the Falcons, he had to report to his football job the very next day and went on to miss the postseason. This prompted a reworking of his deal with the Falcons. He would now be able to report to the Falcons for training camp in August after playing baseball April-August, however, if the team were to make the playoffs, he could now rejoin the Braves for the postseason.

That renegotiation came with some impeccable timing. The Braves did in fact make the playoffs in 1992 and even earned their way into the 1992 World Series. If it weren’t for Dave Winfield’s heroics in game 6, the Braves may have found a way to win that Series and Sanders would have been a great reason why. Sanders played in four games in the 1992 World Series and batted .533 with 4 runs, 8 hits, 2 doubles and 1 RBI. All of that was accomplished while playing with a broken foot.

One knock on Sanders, in which he called out his critics during his Hall of Fame speech, was that people believed he didn’t like to tackle. That he avoided contact. While Sanders had his own answer for his football critics, the baseball folks that followed his career would be slow to say the same thing. On the baseball diamond, Sanders enjoyed contact. He amassed 558 hits in his career and led the NL in triples in 1992 with 14. Sanders is a career .263 hitter, with 39 HRs and 186 stolen bases, having played with the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants.

Showcasing your athletic skills on two grand stages provided to you in the way that MLB and the NFL do, the media is bound to take notice. College Football News named Sanders #8 in its list of 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time. ESPN named Sanders #74 in its list of the 100 Great Athletes of the Century, released in 1999. While Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past weekend, you won’t see a Deion Sanders plaque in Cooperstown. His numbers simply don’t warrant that type of honor. However, there is no doubt that Sanders had an impact on the game of baseball. Attend a Braves game at Turner Field. Do you hear that annoying chant all around you? That’s the tomahawk chop and Sanders is credited for bringing it to Atlanta upon his arrival.

This article will not continue in a link leading to NFL.com and while that would be appropriate given the subject of the piece, it’s simply not going to happen. Canton is a more appropriate place for Sanders to be enshrined as opposed to Cooperstown. The fact that he left his mark on two professional sports while in his ‘prime’ is impressive enough to warrant a feature story here.

In Sanders’ Hall of Fame speech, he made it very clear that he did all of it for his mama. All the hard work, all the antics, all the dedication and desire. He had a lot to thank her for and he made it clear that she was his motivation behind his success. Obviously there is one more thing he has because of her, that helped make all things possible. One more thing to thank her for, Deion. Look at today’s date. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

Also Born Today:

Jayson Heyward turns 22 today. Heyward, a current stand out and right fielder for the Atlanta Braves, was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey. With stars like Chipper Jones aging and soon to wrap up his time with the team, it will be on youngsters like Heyward to carry the load and continue the success the team has seen in recent years forward. Heyward hit a home run in the first at-bat in each of his first two years in the majors and is a career .277 hitter.

Troy Percival turns 42 today. Percival played in the majors from 1995-2009, splitting time between the Angels, Tigers, Cardinals and Rays. He is one of only six Angels pitchers to strike out 100 batters in a season with starting a single game. Percival, a four-time All-Star selection, has a career ERA of 3.17 and won the World Series with the Angels in 2002.

Ryan Maloney is a Staff Writer for BaseballDigest.com, author of the popular Chicago Cubs blog, Prose and Ivy and contributing writer to MLB.com/Entertainment.

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Most fans keep a close eye on the names they know, but it is the names you do not know that start to become important in the stretch run.  Not just for the teams that are playoff bound, but those that are looking to their future as well.

Here are three offensive players and three pitchers in the National League that qualify for the Rookie Of The Year award.  If you are not watching these guys by now, it is time to start.

Taking a look at the offensive guys in the National League leads to a few names that may be worth examining.  Danny Espinosa of the Nationals and Freddie Freeman of the Braves have both clubbed over 15 home runs.  Darwin Barney of the Cubs is hitting .288 and has over 100 hits already this season.  The Mets Justin Turner can boast 20 doubles to his credit and Dominic Brown of the Phillies has a .393 slugging percentage in limited action.  Here’s the top three as I see it:

The Odds On Favorite For Rookie Of The Year
This is becoming a two-horse race but, in my opinion, Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves is pulling away from the competition.  Freeman may not lead rookies in home runs, but he has put up a respectable 15 dingers to this point in the season.  Add in a .296 batting average, .362 on base percentage, .474 slugging percentage, 55 runs batted in and 40 walks and you have a first baseman that is among the best in the league, not just one of the best rookies in the league.

The Runner Up
Danny Espinoza has been wrecking pitchers with power numbers that are impressive for a young man playing shortstop for any organization.  The Nationals’ shortstop has launched 17 balls out of stadiums this season while tying Freeman for the lead among rookies with 55 runs batted in.  Equally impressive is 12 stolen bases, showcasing that he is not a one trick pony and will apply some speed to his career as well.  His on base percentage is 86 points higher than his batting average, which would be very impressive if he was not hitting .228 meaning he is reaching base at a .314 clip.  His .422 slugging percentage places him second when ranked next to other rookies in the league.

He Deserves A Look
The Nationals have put together quite the young team and anchoring it all down behind the plate is Wilson Ramos.  Ramos is putting together enough of an offensive season to get himself some looks in the rookie races.  Hitting .248 with a .322 batting average and a .405 slugging percentage while parking 9 balls over the fence and driving in 34 runs can get you some press time as a rookie.  Back it up with a fielding percentage of .992 and throwing out 35 percent of would be base stealers and a lot of teams would like to have a guy like that on the roster.

What may be more impressive in the National League is the crop of rookie pitchers that will be vying for a Rookie Of The Year nod this season.  The obvious stats will see people talking about New York’s Dillon Gee and Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel due to their dominance in wins and saves.  Stat heads will point out Josh Collmenter from Arizona and Brandon Beachy of Atlanta as an under-appreciated players due to the lack of punch in the obvious categories.   San Diego’s Cory Luebke may have the same problems on top of playing on a under-performing team that will keep him hidden from most fans’ eyes.

The Odds On Favorite For Rookie Of The Year
The Atlanta Braves may be cornering the market on this year’s award, depending on if it goes to an offensive player or a pitcher.  It is hard to argue against Braves closer Craig Kimbrel.  He does not just lead rookies, but leads the National League with 34 saves in 39 chances.  His sub 2.00 earned run average has earned him three wins and two losses in the five games that he did not save and has been dominant over his 56 innings pitched.  So dominant that he finds himself third in strikeouts by a rookie pitcher with 87, behind pitchers with more than 30 innings more than himself.  His 87 strikeouts far outweigh his 22 walks and he has only allowed one ball to leave the yard all season.

The Runner Up
Coming in second to a player of that caliber is not a bad effort and if it was not for the season Kimbrel is putting up, it is possible that Cory Luebke would turn a few more heads in San Diego.  A swingman pitcher who has appeared out of the bullpen 29 times and as a starting pitcher eight times, he is putting together a solid season for a team that is falling apart.  His earned run average is just over 3.00, has pitched in 88.1 innings, and has struck out 91 hitters on the season.  Only 22 walks to his credit and a measly six home runs shows that he can be dominant and stingy with the best of them and lands him second on this list.

He Deserves A Look
The New York Mets have struggled to win, been surrounded by rumors of trading their star shortstop and have faced financial ruin this season.  In the middle of all of that stands Dillon Gee.  He leads all rookies in innings pitched with 112.1, in games started with 18, and wins with 10.  His earned run average is under 4.00 and he has struck out 74 batters to only 46 walks.  The frustration with Gee is his hit batters, of which he has 11, and his home runs, he has surrendered 11 of those too.

Around the league there are pitchers and hitters that will look to capitalize on solid rookie seasons and avoid the Sophomore Slump.  While these players are showcasing themselves around the National League, it is important to take a look at one player that is not on this list that will mean something more to our i70baseball fans.  Here is our honorable mention.

Daniel Descalso by Erika Lynn

i70baseball Honorable Mention
The Cardinals have produced more than a few rookies this season, on the mound and at the plate, but it has been one player that has shown that he not only belongs in the big leagues, but also that he is getting better as the season goes on.  Daniel Descalso has built his average up to a respectable .262 while getting on base to a .339 average.  His power numbers are low but his value to the team, playing multiple positions and putting the ball in play on a regular basis, is mounting and he is becoming a typical Tony LaRussa type player for many seasons to come.

As the season comes to an end, keep an eye on these seven players and their impact on their teams and the league when the dust settles.  One of these players will take home a Jackie Robinson Award and etch their name into the history books.  The rest will attempt to build on a solid rookie campaign and make a career out of it.  Time will tell how well these names will become known.

Bill Ivie is the editor at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

Philadelphia Phillies – There are a handful of dates that we celebrate annually: birthdays (ourselves and loved ones), wedding anniversaries, holidays, etc.  For Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., it’s likely that July 29th has reached that level.  For the third straight year, Amaro Jr. pulled off a deal to make a strong Phillies team even stronger.  While there was some talk about the Phillies adding another arm to their oft-injured bullpen, the need for a strong right-handed outfield bat has been apparent since spring training.  By acquiring Hunter Pence from the Astros, the Phillies didn’t just add a talented right-handed hitter for this year’s postseason, they added a young talent who can be under team control through 2013.  Coming into this season the Phillies age was one of their most mentioned drawbacks.  The 28 year-old Pence is a quality response to any aging questions.  Pence didn’t come cheap.  The Phillies had to fork over two of their top minor league pitchers, Jarrod Cosart and Josh Zeid (whose switch to the bullpen made him instantly more effective), as well as their top hitting prospect (albeit in the low minors) Jonathan Singleton.   However, the Phillies were able to improve their team without trading away their prized youngster, rookie Domonic Brown.  While it’s true that Brown’s 2011 season has been short of highlights, he was highly sought after during the trade deadline.  Instead, he will likely be a part of the Phillies outfield of the future.  It’s also worth noting that in the last four years the Phillies have pulled off three trades with the Astros and current GM (and former Phillies GM) Ed Wade.  Some in Philadelphia like to say that Wade has done more for the Phillies organization as the Astros GM than he did as the Phillies GM.

Atlanta Braves – For a little while it seemed like the Braves had missed out on any opportunity to improve their outfield issues.  Beltran was the first to go.  Pence soon went to the rival Phillies.  BJ Upton was BJ Unavailable.  With the trade deadline approaching, all signs pointed to the Braves showing up to the prom dateless.  Then the music faded in, the crowd parted, and the answer that was there all along stood out…Michael Bourn.  In acquiring Bourn the Braves got more than just the majors stolen base leader, they got themselves the center fielder they desperately needed, the leadoff hitter they desperately needed and a potential sparkplug for an offense that had been lacking spark almost all season.  Perhaps even more impressive, the Braves didn’t really give up a whole lot in order to get him.  Outfielder Jordan Schafer was once considered a top prospect in baseball but that was back in 2008.  Since then he’s been suspended for HGH use, undergone wrist surgery, played through a couple disappointing seasons and is currently on the disabled list with a fractured finger.  The other three players received by the Astros, all minor league pitchers were not considered top prospects although they do have some potential upside, if brought along correctly.

New York Mets – The trade deadline was a tricky situation for Mets GM Sandy Alderson to manipulate.  The team had played just well enough to keep fans’ faint hopes alive through the All-Star break.  However, potential free agents Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, as well as the handcuffing option on Francisco Rodriguez’s contract all had potential to affect the team’s future.  If this were a choose your own adventure book, it’s at this point that the reader would have to decide between keeping the team as is and fighting for the postseason, or giving up on playing in October 2011 for the potential of October baseball in the coming years.  Alderson wisely chose the latter.  He not only kept Reyes but he made known his intentions to keep Reyes in a Mets uniform for years to come.  By trading away Rodriguez and his option, Alderson was less concerned with the two prospects he will get (they will both be chosen from a list of five Brewers minor leaguers sometime in September) than he was with making sure the Mets could focus their money next year on Reyes.  Obviously there are many factors that will determine whether or not Reyes calls Citi Field home next season, but Alderson made sure that Rodriguez was not among them.  The Beltran trade was a challenge as well.  While the Mets didn’t have to get rid of Beltran, the idea of not getting anything aside from memories in return for him when he (likely) signs elsewhere was not ideal.  However, potential trade partners were well aware that Beltran is only a rent-a-player and, while valuable, is likely not someone worth sacrificing the future to acquire.  Reports suggested that the Mets were offered a variety of mid-level prospects from a few teams in exchange for Beltran, but they held out and eventually scored Giants prospect Zach Wheeler.  The tall righty was not only considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Giants organization, he is generally ranked one of the top 40 prospects in all of baseball.

Florida Marlins – The only trade the Marlins made was acquiring veteran outfielder Mike Cameron from the Red Sox for cash or a player to be named later (or a player to be named Cash, I guess).  This is not to suggest that there weren’t players of interest on the Marlins team.  Pitchers Ricky Nolasco, Leo Nunez and Randy Choate, as well as utility player Omar Infante could have fetched the Fish a nice return.  However, the Marlins did not consider themselves buyers or sellers during this trading season.  Instead they intend on keeping their young team in tact as they build for the future (or the near future as they move into a new stadium next season).  While none of the players mentioned are rookies, they are all young enough to be participants in a potential Miami rebirth.

Washington Nationals – The Nationals could be considered sellers these past few weeks, although they were more like garage sale sellers than major vendors.  Over the course of the past few weeks the Nationals traded a couple minor leaguers for Jonny Gomes, who is barely a part of the Nationals present and is unlikely to factor into their future.  Should they choose to offer him arbitration, and should he decline and sign elsewhere, the Nats would get a supplementary draft pick, but other than that this trade doesn’t appear to have much of an impact on anyone aside from the players involved.  Washington did net themselves a couple of talented minor league hitters, outfielder Erik Komatsu and infielder Zachary Walters.  Neither of these players has reached Triple-A yet, but the prices, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jason Marquis (and his contract) respectively, were not especially steep.  Hariston Jr. and Marquis were most likely not going to play a role in the Nationals future.

Properly evaluating deals involving prospects is not an easy task.  Who knows what Cosart, Wheeler, Komatsu or any of the others will ever achieve, or whether or not they’ll even achieve them with their new teams?  While the deals involving NL East teams ranged from acquiring missing pieces for the postseason, to bringing in potential future stars, to maintaining the core squad, it seems that each of the teams came out ahead at this year’s trade deadline.  Maybe we should revisit this article in a year or two to see how things really panned out.

Shai Kushner is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com.  Email Shai at: BaseballDigestShai@gmail.com.  Follow Shai on Twitter at: @BD_ShaiKushner.

Houston receives pitcher Jordon Schafer and minor league pitchers Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens and Juan Abreu.

Click here to learn more about the trade from mlb.com’s Mark Bowman.

Let’s face it folks…

The NL East has pretty much found its groove.  The Phillies have been the winning-est team in baseball for quite a while now.  The Braves continue to maintain their Wild Card dominance (which is a really strange term if you think about it).  Meanwhile, the Mets, Marlins and Nationals fight it out for “best of the rest” considerations.  While I will obviously continue to cover the happenings within the division for the rest of the season, beginning with recapping the trade deadline (which I’ll do next week), I’ve decided to take a step back and field a few of the items that I’ve received in my virtual mailbag this year.

Q: What percentage chance would you give to the Mets in re-signing Jose Reyes? (D. Ain, Brooklyn, NY)

A: Right now, I’m putting it at 60%.  Coming into the season the feeling around the league, or at least from those who like to think they’re around the league, was that Reyes was not  a Sandy Alderson-type player (low OBP, dependent on stolen bases, etc.).  By late May, Reyes had pretty much established himself as an any-GM-type player.  In turn, rumors of trading Reyes away quickly faded and rumors of the Mets making moves to free up money to sign him quickly surfaced.  That the Mets traded K-Rod was no surprise, but they traded him when they did in order to make sure that his 2012 option was, well, not an option.  So the Mets have made their intentions quite clear.  The front office wants him, the fans want him, and even a familiar hamstring injury hasn’t scared them off.  But it may have scared off some other teams.  Maybe. Still, there will certainly be plenty of potential suitors.  If Reyes chooses to test the market he will obviously get some lucrative offers from all corners of the league.  The Mets appear ready to stay in the mix for as long as Reyes lets them.

Q: Who are the top 5 prospects of NL East teams? (M. Esquandolas – Burlington, VT.)

A:   1) Bryce Harper, Nationals – I probably don’t have to tell you about this guy.  If you haven’t heard of him, you will.  He’s struggled some since being promoted to double-A Harrisburg, but this means little.  The Nationals didn’t sign him to excel in the minors.  In fact, he’s probably there as much to refine his skills as he is to properly mature before becoming a major leaguer.  While early-season accounts suggest he has a ways to go, it’s probably best to keep in mind that he’s only 18 years-old and barring anything unforeseen, will likely be a part of the sport’s future for years to come.  2) Julio Teheran, Braves - While scouts, and wannabe scouts, may debate Teheran’s ceiling, nobody can deny his talent and minor league results.  In 18 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett this season, Teheran has an 11-1 record, 1.67 ERA, a 1.050 WHIP and 98 K’s in 107.2 innings.  He has a low/mid-90′s fastball (which has registered as high as 97 on occasion), a nasty curve and a dangerous changeup.  Some question his command, others worry about the lack of movement on his fastball.  But, at just 20 years-old, Teheran has given the Braves enough to believe in that they refuse to discuss him in any potential trades (so far, at least).  3) Brad Peacock, Nationals – This 23 year-old righty’s value has definitely jumped from 2006, when he was picked in the 41st round of the draft.  Throughout his minor league career, Peacock has shown the ability to strike batters out, but he’s steadily maintained an unremarkable ERA in the 4′s.  However, after taking some advice from Nationals minor league pitching coordinator Spin Williams and Double-A Harrisburg pitching coach Randy Tomlin, Peacock has made some adjustments to his delivery.  They seem to be working.  Peacock went 10-2 with a 2.01 ERA, 0.861 WHIP and 129 K’s in 98.2 innings with Harrisburg before being called up to Triple-A Syracuse.  While Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen and Bryce Harper get much of the Nationals-related hype, it seems that Peacock may be just as much a part of their future.  4) Matt Harvey, Mets – The Mets first round draft pick from 2010 has had an impressive pro ball debut.  His 8-2 record, 2.37 ERA and 92 K’s in 76 innings for Single-A St. Lucie was enough to promote him to Double-A Binghamton.  While he hasn’t fared as well since the promotion, he’s shown that he has four reliable pitches (fastball, slider, curve, changeup) which is enough to give hope to many in the Mets organization right now.  5) Zack Wheeler, Mets – Honestly, it really is something of a coincidence that these 2 pitchers rank 4th & 5th on my list; it’s not me trying to be cute.  Since being taken as the 7th overall pick in the 2009 draft, the tall righty has shown plenty of raw talent.  Like the other pitchers on this list, Wheeler has a low/mid-90′s fastball that can be dialed up a little from time to time.  His curveball has reportedly improved somewhat from what it was last year with Single-A Augusta.  The Mets were certainly looking at his ceiling when they acquired him from the Giants in return for Carlos Beltran this past week.  Most reports sum Wheeler up by saying that he’s got great stuff but also has control issues.  In other words, this talent needs to learn how to pitch.  The Mets obviously believe in their organization’s ability to teach and in Wheeler’s ability to learn.

Q: Which NL East stadium is the best? (D. Climent – Weehawken, NJ)

A: This should be fun…

1. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia) – It’s really a perfect combination of classic and modern, and the prices are manageable, in relative terms.
2. Citi Field (New York) – While the stadium hasn’t seen enough Mets success to take a spot in anyone’s hearts just yet, it’s so nice that even most Yankees fans will concede that it’s the better NY stadium.  Only question, why aren’t the fences blue?
3. Turner Field (Atlanta) – Probably the most technologically advanced of the NL East ballparks, despite being the second-oldest in the division (and it’s only a barely-bar mitzvah’d 14 years-old).  The stadium’s address is 755 Hank Aaron Drive, which is a nice touch.
4. Nationals Stadium (Washington) – The retro-style ballparks are beginning to become as cookie-cutter as the cookie-cutter parks they replaced.  Nationals Stadium is probably the best example of this.  It’s nice, very nice even, but there’s really nothing that makes it stand out.
5. Sun Life Stadium (Florida) – It’s a football stadium that happens to host baseball games.  Always has been.  I could go on, but the Marlins are moving to a new stadium next year, so there’s really no point.

Thank you to all who sent me questions.  Please keep them coming.  I’m sure there will be more opportunities to get to some of other emails I’ve received.  I’ll be getting summing up the NL East’s role in the MLB non-waiver trade deadline once the dust settles.

And of course, thanks for reading.

Shai Kushner is a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com.  Email Shai at: BaseballDigestShai@gmail.com.  Follow Shai on Twitter at: @BD_ShaiKushner.