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.
For the Texas Rangers, 2009 was a rousing success of a transition year. The team who used to simply try to outscore you altered their mindset. They put more of an emphasis on pitching and defense, and it paid off. They dropped down from first to seventh in runs scored in the AL, but the team ERA climbed from last (14th) to eighth. Their defense went from one of the worst in baseball to being considered one of the best.
The result was a huge step forward in the one stat that really matters for Ron Washington and his troops: they won 87 games, which was the most for the Rangers since 2004. Expect the growth to continue as the Rangers are loaded with young talent. The only problems could be money (more on that later) and the fact that their division is going to be really strong for the foreseeable future. But, hey, to be the best, you gotta beat the best.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
It must be nice being a Phillies pitcher.
The Philly sluggers put 12 runs on the board in yesterday's game against the Diamond- backs, giving them a total of 25 runs scored in the three-game sweep. Joe Blanton went eight innings and allowed three runs, which is going to be enough to earn a W on most nights when you're on the same team as these hitters. The team has now won eight of their last nine games and look to be the favorites to repeat as NL champions.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
The Nationals of all teams are the hottest club in baseball. They've won five straight games, scoring no fewer than five runs in each of their six games in August. Mike MacDougal recorded saves in four of those five wins, but the real hero in Washington is Ryan Zimmerman.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
A few weeks ago we discussed the possibility of the Padres promoting 21-year-old phenom Mat Latos. Well, he now has four major league starts under his belt, and, needless to say, he's doing just fine. After a solid outing Monday night, Latos is 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA and a sparkling 0.89 WHIP. He's struck out 16 while only walking 6 in 23 2/3 innings. He's also pitching in one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball.
So, he should be owned in all fantasy leagues, right?
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
We've seen our fair share of no-hitters and perfect games get busted up in late this season, maybe even more then our fair share. In fact, if Jonathan Sanchez hadn't finally made it all the way through nine innings back in early July, I'd think there was some sort of conspiracy against the no-hit bid in 2009.
Sunday, Brett Anderson took a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels. But, just like most of the attempts for perfection this season, the Angels found a way to play spoiler. This time it was Bobby Abreu in the seventh inning.
Abreu also was responsible for breaking up Anderson's perfect game, grounding a clean single through the left side with two outs in the seventh. Anderson promptly picked him off.
ST. LOUIS -- Prince Fielder had plenty of good memories of the Home Run Derby.
Just not the one that he actually participated in.
Fielder had watched his father, Cecil, slug monster homers in the Derby in 1990, '91 and '93, including a memorable one off the glass at Toronto's SkyDome in 1991. When the younger Fielder grew up and got his first shot at the Derby, in 2007, he hit only three homers.
Now, he's got his own story. He hit a total of 23 homers, out-homering Nelson Cruz, 6-5, in the finals, to win the Home Run Derby championship on Monday night at Busch Stadium, with local favorite Albert Pujols failing to even reach the finals.
The Midsummer Classic is just a day away, which meant only one thing. It was time time for baseball's annual all-or-nothing display of power -- the 2009 Home Run Derby -- an event that can often provide the most memorable moment of the All-Star Game festivities.
ST. LOUIS -- When the Home Run Derby begins on Monday night, there is certain to be a lot of talk about the guy who isn't in it, a guy who, by the way, has never even won it.
A year after Josh Hamilton put on a display that has become the defining moment of his career, whalloping 35 homers in the Derby at Yankee Stadium, he'll be back as a spectator. Although Major League Baseball would certainly have loved to have Hamilton return, he decided that, after two trips to the DL this year, it wouldn't be a good idea.
"It really is [going to be hard to watch]," Hamilton said. "I really wish I could be there and participate in it, but it's not the best thing for the Rangers and for me to get up there and hurt myself. These guys haven't been injured and they could very easily get up there and hurt themselves. To get up there and take that many hacks, especially that hard, wouldn't be a smart idea."
If one theme has emerged during the first half of the 2009 season in the National League, it's that it's Albert Pujols' world and we're all just living in it. After nine superb seasons in which he's only finished out of the top four in MVP voting once, he's somehow on pace for his best season yet.
With this year's Home Run Derby in St. Louis and Pujols making a point to perform in front of the home crowd, it's essentially him against the field Monday night. Do Adrian Gonzalez, Carlos Pena, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, Nelson Cruz, or Brandon Inge stand any sort of chance of spoiling Pujols' parade?
With the Home Run Derby taking place on Monday night in St. Louis as part of MLB's festivities for the All-Star Game, we've been left wondering exactly who would be representing the American League. The National League announced its participants last week, and now, finally, we know who will be swinging for the fences for the AL.
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.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the 
ST. LOUIS -- 
The Midsummer Classic is just a day away, which meant only one thing. It was time time for baseball's annual all-or-nothing display of power -- the 2009 
ST. LOUIS -- When the 
If one theme has emerged during the first half of the 2009 season in the National League, it's that it's 
