Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
The ironic part about proclaiming Nick Swisher the new Carlos Quentin is that one person found his career renaissance coming to the White Sox, while the other hopes to find his higher ground away from Chicago. And the two trips might not be mutually exclusive. But that's exactly what we're sayin': Swisher seems likely to have that career upturn that comes with a change of scenery in 2009.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
Poor Billy Beane. He goes to all the trouble to find and exploit market inefficiencies only to have them become, well, efficient in a matter of a few seasons. It wasn't so long ago that he was building a 100-win juggernaut in Oakland by picking up every patient hitter off of the scrap heap, glovework be damned.
Then Moneyball came out, on-base percentage became en vogue and Beane had to move another step ahead of the competition.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
As a baseball fan, I don't really ask a lot from my nightly highlight show. Mainly, I want highlights. That seems like a simple request, so maybe I should expand it. I want highlights of everything. Not just division leaders, not just big markets, not just relevant games. I want to see that Mariners-Royals highlight just as much as the Yankees and Red Sox.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
If you're the type of person who studies up on the top prospects from year to year in Major League Baseball, you knew who Evan Longoria was well before he made his first appearance for the Rays. From the moment he was taken third overall in the 2006 draft, Longoria was called a can't miss future star who would help the Rays climb out of the basement.
It didn't take long. After a surprising trip to the minors after Spring Training, Longoria made his debut on April 12 and immediately started to hit. He didn't stop, either, until the Rays had won the American League pennant and he'd taken home Rookie of the Year. Longoria made good on all the hype, now it is Matt Wieters' turn to do the same.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. Or something like that. This new Yankee spending spree has brought them to a place where few franchises have ever known. Well really, only one team spends like this. And it's the same team that spending money at the rate of running water today. Ladies and gentlemen, your New York Yankees.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
After being acquired by the Brewers midseason in 2008, CC Sabathia enchanted Milwaukee fans with a downright absurd stretch of 17 starts. In those starts, he completed seven games, won 11, struck out 128 hitters in 130 2/3 innings, compiling a 1.00 WHIP and a 1.65 ERA.
He finished sixth in MVP voting and fifth in Cy Young voting, and that was after only a half season of work. Along the way, he helped carry the Brewers to their first playoff appearance since 1982.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
One of the most surprising free-agent signings in the winter before the 2008 season was Jose Guillen. The Royals laid out $36 million over three years for the outfielder, a big sum for a team operating on a small budget.
There wasn't much in Guillen's history to justify such a large outlay of cash and he didn't change any minds with a poor 2008 season that helped the Royals to another second division finish. It was a move that didn't make sense when it happened and looks no better upon further review.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
No one has lit up the baseball offseason quite like the Cleveland Indians, am I right, folks? From the signing of a Cubs infielder to the signing of a Cubs relief pitcher, all signs point to another AL Central division title and World Series Trophy for the increasingly bored-of-victory Northern Ohio sportsosphere.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
Top prospects make their entrances into the big leagues in a variety of ways. Some start out in the bullpen, and eventually transition to the rotation. Others spend more time in the minors and hit the ground running when they're called up. Or maybe they're called up before they're ready, and get knocked around a bit before settling in.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
The Detroit Tigers were easily the most disappointing team in the majors last year. A preseason favorite to win the American League Central and compete for the World Series, they opened the year with seven straight losses, setting the tone for a last-place finish, one game behind the lowly Royals.
Next Big Thing is MLB FanHouse's look at emerging teams, trends and stars in 2009.
Next Big Thing
