From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each week.
I used to always enjoy lists like our own Frankie Piliere's Top 50 Free Agents. Then Milton Bradley happened. Now, as a Cubs fan whose been scorned by the clubhouse-dividing, unaccountable-yet-entitled lunatic, I can't look through the list without being skeptical of many of them. Which one is going to ruin someone else's favorite team like Bradley ruined mine? With this in mind, I present 11 potentially dangerous free agent signings in this year's class.
Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.
After an awful start to 2009, the Rockies fired Clint Hurdle, promoted Jim Tracy and proceeded to play like the best team in the National League for the rest of the regular season. They lost an exciting playoff series to the eventual NL champion Phillies, but there is no reason to think the Rockies are going away with all their young talent.
In fact, the Rockies are in position to make themselves a candidate to be a dynasty. Seriously. They can move forward with a starting lineup of Todd Helton, Clint Barmes and six proven guys who are 27 or younger. The pitching staff and minor-league talent are equally as impressive. Now it's simply a matter of cultivating their young talent while making sure they don't halt any momentum.
In Advanced Scouting, MLB FanHouse's professional talent evaluator breaks down each of the playoff teams from a scouting perspective.
With several key players still left on the roster from their run in 2007, the Rockies will have the playoff experience that they were lacking two years ago. This will not be a team that scares and they'll come out as ready and seasoned as any club in the mix. So, what's the formula for taking them out? This is a lineup that is as geared for the good fastball as any in baseball -- filled with hitters that never met a heater they didn't like.
Whoever is able to quiet this lineup will need a good mix of breaking pitches and be able to pitch backwards whenever possible. While they aren't a free-swinging lineup by definition, these are potent, fastball-hunting bats that, if challenged, will burn you again and again.
As a whole, the baseball season in Chicago has been a disappointment. The Cubs were expected to contend for a World Series title only to be thrown off track by injuries and Milton Bradley, while on the other side of town the White Sox have failed to exceed expectations. As is usually the case when this happens to large-market teams, wholesale changes are made.
The White Sox parted ways with Jim Thome and 2005 World Series hero Jose Contreras, and it's likely other players such as Jermaine Dye, Bobby Jenks and Paul Konerko could be following them out of town this winter. Still, that doesn't mean everybody in the White Sox organization is leaving.
Colorado downed Cincinnati 5-1 with a five-run third inning and six scoreless innings from its bullpen after starter Jose Contreras suffered a strained quadriceps running to first base.
Ahhh, the National League -- where pitchers can play out their golden years without a care in the world.
Think of the NL as baseball's rest home.
Just in the past few weeks, Brad Penny and John Smoltz have reached the legendary fountain of youth that Ponce de Sabathia discovered last year in the wilds of Wisconsin.
"In reality, it's a little tougher to pitch in the American League than it is the National League," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who formerly managed in Seattle and Tampa Bay.
As for Contreras, he represents rotation insurance for the Rockies, who have been without stalwart Aaron Cook since he injured his right shoulder on Aug. 21.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
For the second consecutive year, the Indians have given a playoff contender a huge boost. For the second consecutive year, they traded the previous season's AL Cy Young award winner. And for the second consecutive year, he's absolutely dealing in the National League.
Through five starts, Cliff Lee is 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 2 complete games and 39 strikeouts (with only 6 walks) in 40 innings. Sound familiar?
Ever since the Chicago White Sox traded four pitchers to the San Diego Padres for Jake Peavy in a trade deadline shocker, they've been pretty cautious with their newest acquisition. Even though adding him to their starting rotation would be a nice boost for a team trying to reach the playoffs, they don't want to risk injuring Peavy's ankle, which he strained in June, any further.
However, after another successful rehab start in Charlotte on Monday night, Peavy's time may be drawing near.
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the Stream Team, where we tab pitchers that are likely to help you in your quest for fantasy gold.
Manny Parra was able to put up a quality start on Tuesday, but the win and the strikeouts didn't come, so we'll chalk that up as an unsuccessful pick. Tonight, we went with Jeff Niemann against the Orioles. Surprisingly, the 4-11 Jose Contreras would have been a great spot start today, as he struck out eight, walked one, and allowed only one run against the Royals in an afternoon game in Chicago.
In 
As a whole, the 
Starting Five
Every Sunday, 
A month after they shocked the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Ever since the 
Looking to cycle spot-starters each day? Check out the 
