Simultaneously, many miles away, Alex Rodriguez was attempting to become the seventh player ever to hit 600 home runs. A-Rod’s feat would be one of the greatest in baseball history. Some players who failed to reach 600 homers in their entire career: Stan Musial, Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Ernie Banks and Ted Williams.

As I sat watching these two historic events (Garza eventually completed his bid for a no-hitter) unfold I stumbled upon this Bill Simmons’ Tweet: “ Note to ESPN exec who just cut away from a double no-hitter so we could see A-Rod try for his 600th tainted HR: You’re fired.”

I thought to myself, why would you not want to see A-Rod’s 600th homer when you would only miss a single batter in the 6th inning of the double no-hit bid? Putting Simmons obvious bias against the Yankees aside, I concluded this moment reflected the change happening in the MLB and the reason 2010 will be known as the year that changed baseball for a generation.

When I was younger, I always had a dreadful thought that all sports were planned in advance, similar to the WWE. It seemed plausible and the thought that I was watching something fake upset me. This same feeling relates to what steroids have done to baseball. People do not like seeing something fake. They want to know that the men on the field have put in the hard work day in and day out to earn their spot.

Since the day Babe Ruth put on pinstripes and starting hitting balls deep into the Bronx night, the home run has been king of baseball. There have been periods when hitters have been the weaker link, but the home run remained the drawing card.

How can you not love a home run? It is a truly magical moment when a ball sails majestically into the night sky. Home runs are the ultimate feat of power; a symbol of strength. Homers are so quintessentially American. The only thing that has changed is how fans perceive the home run.

The lack of coverage for Rodriguez’s 600th home run should be expected. “Give the people what they want” is an infamous motto. Simply put, fans no longer care about tainted homers.

Rodriguez might end up sharing the steroids poster boy image with fellow user Barry Bonds. Ask yourself how many homers the all time leader hit. You may not remember Bond’s 762 home runs, but Hank Aaron’s 755 seems to be a number that resonates throughout sports.

Hammerin Hank never hit 50 homers in a season, but he came to play every day. The combination of his natural talent and endless hard work resulted in him being the Home Run King and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Rodriguez is on pace to overtake Bonds as the all time leader and baseball fans will be left with two frauds at the top of the most important list in the MLB. However, until a clean player steps forward to take the thrown, Aaron will act as steward to baseball’s most important record.

As steroid users lay claim to some of the most important offensive records in the sport, attention has turned to the mound. 2010 will not turn out to be an obscure year where pitching dominates and home runs become rare feats. This year will be remembered as a turning point where pitchers once again dominate the MLB.

There have been five no-hitters this year which is three shy from tying the record of eight, set in 1884! Two of those no-hitters were perfect games; only 20 perfect games have ever been thrown. Remember when having an ERA under 3.00 merited Cy Young conversations? Before today’s games started 18 pitchers had ERAs under 3.00. That is simply staggering. Add in an endless number of young hurlers who are consistently throwing 95 miles per hour or above, it becomes clear the baseball scene is changing.

If you cannot see the pattern, those juiced home runs are being replaced by sizzling fastballs, devastating curves, dirty change-ups and filthy sliders.

In the year the most hyped prospect of all time, Stephen Strasburg, has dazzled with his triple digit velocity, everything is leaning the pitchers’ way. For the first time in 13 years, the National League defeated the offensive-minded American League in the All Star Game. The NL did it with pitchers blowing gas by AL hitters who had a difficult time catching up to the heat without being aided by performance enhancers.

I grew up watching Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire captivate audiences with impossible moon shots that sent stadiums into pandemonium. My generation was taught to love the home run. If you wanted to be a big leaguer you had to have power.

This generation will grow up watching Ubaldo Jimenez throw a 98 mile per hour fastball that moves across the plate. Kids will attempt to copy Tim Lincecum’s change-up and Felix Hernandez’s hard curve. The pitcher once again is on top of baseball and it will stay that way for a generation.

I hope that baseball gets clean and in fifteen years there won’t be another Fox59 intern writing about the problems a generation of users has created. Fans will know that what they have witnessed is real.

Despite the lies, the oversized biceps and the used syringes, I will tune in to every Alex Rodriguez at bat waiting for his 600th home run. Maybe I simply cannot escape the lure of the long ball, or maybe I’m just a sucker for history (even if it is tainted).

Do you ever wish you could forget the Mitchell Report? Have you ever tried to block out Manny Ramirez’s 50 game suspension, A-Rod’s confession and Rafael Palmeiro’s lies in front of the grand jury? Wouldn’t it be great if everything in baseball was written beforehand so no controversy ever arose?  Only something a kid would want, right?

I understand the reasoning behind having the All Star Game count for home-field advantage. However, having something as important as home field being decided by a game that is so debated is a a bad idea. Lets go back to the All Star Break being a BREAK, and focus on having fun and seeing the best players play.

Speaking of best players, please stop this ridiculous fan voting. Why do we let the game come down to a popularity contest with the winner being someone who is hitting 50 points under the deserving starter. Why are people allowed to vote up to 25 times? It’s interesting that the MLB is encouraging ballot stuffing.

The best players should be playing in the All Star Game, but there is one exception. Although the rule is often opposed, I like having at least one player from each team. More deserving players may get booted, but are you really going to make the season even more depressing for Pirates fans?

One of the biggest debates of the 2010 All Star Game surrounds the phenom: Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg has only pitched in five games which does not merit an all star appearance despite his incredible performance. Many people are arguing that the fans want to see Strasburg, so he should be included in the game. We must pay respect to the baseball veterans who have earned a spot on the team. If Stephen Strasburg had pitched the entire season and put up all star numbers then he would be on the team.

NL All Stars

C- Colorado- Miguel Olivo- The NL’s catching is thin this year which falls in line with a renaissance of the pitcher. Olivo may be the exception; in 2010 he has belted 11 homers while hitting .306. He is playing surprisingly well; the last time he hit over .300 was in 2005 when he played in only 37 games. Adding a.908 OPS and 38 RBIs makes Olivo deserving of the starting spot. It seems fitting that in the year pitching dominates, catchers as a whole have failed offensively.

1B- St. Louis- Albert Pujols- Before anything is said about Pujols, Joey Votto must be mentioned. Votto is having a spectacular season and he is a viable option to start at first base for the NL. Albert Pujols is batting .313 to Votto’s .312. The Cardinal has 18 homers which is one more than the Red’s first basemen. Pujols barley leads Votto in RBIs, hits, and OPS. I also give Pujols the advantage defensively. So, a down season for Pujols puts him in the All Star Game barely ahead of Votto, who should be commended for his efforts playing for a first place team in Cincinnati. Pujols adds another all star start to his resume which will land him in Cooperstown.

2B- Atlanta- Martin Prado- The Brave’s second basemen has gone under the radar in recent years playing in the same division as Chase Utley. Prado is having an incredible season as he leads the NL in batting average. He has been the most reliable offensive threat for Atlanta. He is on pace to score over 120 runs and collect over 200 hits. Without Prado, Atlanta might not be the surprise first place team they have become. Look for Prado to continue this run throughout the season and beyond; he gives 100% every game and seems to have found his niche.

SS-Florida- Hanley Ramirez- Hanley Ramirez has received more attention for his confrontation with former manager Fredi Gonzalez than his play on the field. The Marlin’s shortstop is hitting just under .300 with 12 homers and 51 RBIs. Add in an .877 OPS and Ramirez remains one of the premier offensive threats in the league. The choice is tough with Rockies’ shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hitting .306 and is on pace to score over a hundred runs. Keep in mind that Tulowitzki was hurt and has played 13 less games than the Marlins shortstop. Hanley is a tremendously talented player who should boost his numbers in second half.

3B-New York- David Wright- Wright remains in his rightful place as one of the most consistent players in the National League, after a 2009 season that saw his power disappear.  Placido Polanco is also having a great season in addition to the impressive renaissance year by Scott Rolen in Cincinnati. Wright is hitting .310 with a .936 OPS while belting 14 homers. He already has 61 RBIs in addition to 13 stolen bases. Wright is the backbone of a surprise Mets team that is contending in a tough NL East. If the Mets plan to make the playoffs, they will have to ride on the shoulders of David Wright.

OF-Milwaukee- Ryan Braun- Braun is quickly making himself a staple as one of the best outfielders in the NL. He is on pace to score and drive in over 100 runs. Braun is hitting .299 and will surely exceed that by the end of the season. He has 11 stolen bases and has improved his play in left field. Braun’s production is not as impressive as recent years, but he still deserves a spot in left field for the NL. You have to wonder what Braun’s numbers will look like if Prince Fielder leaves the Brewers.

OF-Los Angeles- Andre Ethier- Ethier has developed into one of the best pure hitters in the league. Before breaking his pinky during batting practice, Ethier was in the running for a triple crown. Still, the Dodgers right fielder is hitting .312 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs. His .917 OPS and relentless approach at the plate has made him one of the most complete offensive weapons in the NL. Ethier has also improved his arm strength and has the ability to gun runners out. Ethier’s intensity on the field separates him and has garnered comparisons to Paul O’ Neil from manager Joe Torre.

OF-Colorado- Carlos Gonzalez- In 2010, the young Colorado center fielder has shown he is a complete player. Gonzalez is a spectacular fielder and helps the Rockies as much in the field as he does at the plate. Carlos is hitting .302 with 12 homers, 46 RBIs, 47 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. Gonzalez gets the nod over Corey Hart, who has put up impressive power numbers, and Jayson Werth who is having a solid season. You have to wonder if Billy Beane regrets shipping Gonzalez to Colorado.

SP-Colorado- Ubaldo Jimenez- There really is no need for an explanation here. Jimenez has had one of the most dominant first halves in decades. If you are being compared to Bob Gibson, then something really amazing is happening. Despite two rough starts recently, Ubaldo has compiled a 1.83 ERA and already has 14 wins! He has completed 3 of those games and has 102 strikeouts with a 1.05 WHIP. Jimenez accounts for 34% of all Rockies’ victories. I wish some of the spotlight on Steven Strasburg would shift onto 2010’s best pitcher.

CP-Los Angeles- Jonathan Broxton- Broxton has absolutely dominated for the Dodgers this season. He has 16 saves in 18 attempts with a 1.87 ERA that was greatly inflated after a debacle against the Yankees. Don’t let the one bad game fool you, Big Jon has 49 strikeouts compared to only 7 walks. He has yet to give up a homer and continues to electrify crowds in Los Angeles. Respect goes out to Billy Wagner who is having an unbelievable season in Atlanta. Broxton enters every game to “Iron Man” and he has been exactly that for the Dodgers.

AL All Stars

C-Minnesota- Joe Mauer- The reigning AL MVP is the easy choice at catcher. He brings in a .302 average with a .809 OPS and more walks than strikeouts. Mauer’s power numbers are down in 2010; he has totaled only three homers and 34 RBIs. However, he has been able to score 41 runs and is hitting a gaudy .480 with runners in scoring position with two outs. The Twins backstop remains one of the best at handling his staff and controlling the game. A 2010 MVP seems out of reach, but without Mauer, the Twins would have a hard time keeping up in the tight AL Central.

1B-Detroit- Miguel Cabrera- Cabrera is having an MVP caliber year for Detroit. He has been wrecking the ball all season which has led to 20 homers, 68 RBIs, and a .337 batting average. Cabrera has shown patience by walking 37 times, helping to boost his OPS to an incredible 1.040. Add in the fact the Miguel is on pace to score over 120 runs and the first basemen is clearly having one of the best seasons in all the MLB. He sure has come a long way from the baby faced Marlin prodigy.

2B-New York- Robinson Cano- The new Yankee stopper is situated comfortably at second base. Cano has been the biggest threat in New York’s lineup by hitting .353 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs. He has taken on the role of A-Rod protector when in reality A-Rod may need to be protecting him. Cano has also scored 56 runs, a tribute to his .402 OBP. For years the Yankees looked to trade Cano, but now he may be the biggest factor in the New York’s 2010 success. Cano has given the Yankees an absurd amount of production and is even making all his throws to first (who needs Chuck Knoblauch anyway).

SS-Texas- Elvis Andrus- Andrus tops a group of multiple candidates who are viable options at shortstop for the American League. No SS has put himself far above the rest. Andrus, playing for the first place Rangers, is hitting just under .300 with 54 runs scored. Andrus has the athleticism and speed to be a game changer at any moment. He has become a serious threat on the base paths by racking up 22 steals so far. Andrus has also helped Texas defensively by becoming a solid fielder who has great range. Looks like moving Michael Young over to third was a good idea after all.

3B-Boston- Adrian Beltre- Beltre came to Boston on a short term deal and has turned out to be the gem of the free agent class. He has continued his stellar play at third and has hit .349 with a .944 OPS. He is on pace to drive in over 100 runs and has belted 12 homers. Beltre was in no way expected to put up such impressive numbers. He has been solid in all areas including 40 runs scored. Maybe his almost MVP season for the Dodgers in 2004 was for real.

OF-Texas-Josh Hamilton- Hamilton is having a monster year in which he’s hitting .343 with 18 homers and 58 RBIs. The most feared bat in the AL West is also on pace to score over 100 runs and currently has a 1.000 OPS. Josh is doing everything for Rangers and is one of the main reasons the team is the surprise of 2010. If Hamilton can avoid injury he will surely be an MVP candidate this year and in the future. Hopefully, people can start to forget Hamilton’s past and focus on his incredible play.

OF-Kansas City- David Dejesus-  David Dejesus has always been a solid major league outfielder. His fantastic play in 2010 has gone largely unnoticed because he plays in Kansas City. Dejesus is hitting .331 with a .875 OPS despite having little help. He scored 39 times and has driven in 35 which is impressive considering the amount of opportunities he is given. Dejesus just beats out Ichiro who is putting up another impressive year on his way to Cooperstown. Whoever is smart enough to pry Dejesus away from the Royals will be gaining a player that can help push a team into the playoffs.

OF-Texas-Vladimir Guerrero- Talk about a renaissance, Vlad has taken his big bat and smacked all his nay sayers in the face. Big Bad Vlad is hitting .339 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs. Add in 51 runs scored and a .962 OPS and you have yourself an MVP candidate.  The production the Rangers are getting out of Vlad for one year and 5.5 million must be giving Mike Scioscia and the Angels nightmares.

SP-Seattle-Cliff Lee- While pitching for a failing team in Seattle, Lee has been completely dominant. He has compiled a 7-3 record although he should have double digit wins easily. Lee’s ERA is 2.45 not to mention a 0.92 WHIP. Are you ready for this? Lee has 78 strikeouts compared to five walks on the season! There is no doubt Lee will be traded by the deadline, but he should be the starter for the AL if he’s still in the league. In the year of the pitcher, Lee continues to stand out.

CP-New York-Mariano Rivera- The best closer of all time continues to amaze fans. Rivera has a 0.92 ERA with 17 saves on the season. He has struck out 29 batters while only walking six thanks to his magical cutter. Once the Yankees have a lead late, the game continues to be over. I think Rivera could pitch another five years and still be one of the best closers in baseball. This guy is absurd.

So, how does a player with such a vast amount of talent fail to live up to expectations? The answer can be found in the saga of Milton Bradley.

Milton Bradley is currently in his 11th major league season with his eighth team. Only once, has Bradley made an All-Star team, which occurred in 2008 while he was with the Texas Rangers in 2008.

Bradley has proven he has the talent to be a perennial All-Star in the MLB. He has a great arm in the outfield and still is a very dangerous hitter. Yet, he continues to manifest outbursts of anger that have dampened his career.

He has been tossed from team to team, each organization believing Bradley will learn to control himself in a new city. Eventually, each team laments the failed Milton Bradley experiment and moves on to a player who knows how to control his emotions.

We may never know the real reason behind Milton Bradley’s vast array of emotional problems. However, it has become obvious, that no matter where Bradley plays, he will bring controversy with him. He relentlessly argues with the media; his motives are quite suspect as it seems he is the person who is constantly stirring up controversy.

Starting in high school, Bradley displayed his problems with authority. Bradley was temporarily kicked off his high school baseball team during his sophomore season. As a young player with the Expos and Indians, Bradley was perceived as a showboat.

After hitting a home run, he would stand at the plate watching the ball and would quickly undo the velcro on his batting gloves. In the baseball world, this is a clear message of arrogance and disrespect. However, Bradley held on to the tradition and almost ended up in a fight with the Dodger’s Paul LoDuca due to his arrogance.

In 2003, Bradley hit .321 with 10 homers in only 101 games and was considered one of the most talented players in the Indian’s organization. During spring training in 2004, Bradley had a heated confrontation in the dugout with Indian’s manager Eric Wedge. He was banned from camp for a day and pulled from a game later after not going hard after a fly ball. Cleveland believed Bradley’s emotional issues were beyond repair and shipped him to Los Angeles.

For the Dodgers, Milton Bradley was a soap opera all his own. He did not get along well with the majority of his teammates and brought the club’s morale down. After a fan in the stands tossed a water bottle in Bradley’s direction, Milton proceeded to the edge of the stands while screaming at fans. He threw the water bottle at a fan from point blank range and was booed off the field.

Bradley continually broke bats out of frustration and once threw a bag of balls onto the field after being ejected. The Dodgers could not stand his antics any longer and sent him to Oakland.

Bradley continued to turn a cold shoulder to the media and most of his teammates. After a season and a half of mediocre play for the A’s, he and his personal baggage were shipped to San Diego. During his 42 games with the Padres, Bradley hit well before an incident that ended his season.

As the story goes, first base umpire Mike Winters directed an obscenity towards Bradley. Milton responded by going after the umpire before being restrained by manager Bud Black amongst others. He ended up tripping over Black and tearing his ACL. Only Bradley could manage to tear up his knee due to an angry outburst.

In 2008, Bradley had a productive season with the Rangers earning his first All-Star appearance. After an 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals, Bradley went after Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre. Bradley claims Lefebvre had made derogatory comments towards him.

He signed a three-year 30-million dollar contract with the Chicago Cubs in 2009; not surprisingly, controversy ensued.

Bradley was suspended early in the season for making contact with a home plate umpire while arguing a call. In June, Milton threw a tirade in the dugout after flying out. He was kicked out of the dugout by manager Lou Piniella and was berated by the manager for his poor behavior all season.

In late September, Bradley was suspended for the remainder of the season after he made derogatory comments about the Cubs organization to the media. He claimed everyone in Chicago was against him and none of the problems he had in Chicago were his fault.

The Cubs so desperately wanted Milton Bradley out of Chicago that they were willing to trade him to the Mariners for the struggling Carlos Silva. The Cubs organization also took on a large portion of Bradley’s contract.

In 2010, Bradley has already been kicked out of a spring training game and was caught directing his middle finger to a section of Texas Rangers fans.

Bradley is an enigma wrapped in a puzzle. He is talented and could be a superstar in Major League Baseball, but cannot overcome his emotional issues. While constantly surrounded by controversy, he has single handedly divided locker rooms.

He is a selfish player who is more concerned about his image than winning. He is a virus that can easily destroy the chemistry of the clubhouse; for that reason, no organization should take a chance on Milton Bradley.

The quotation above was once uttered by Vincent Edward Scully, a man who has been broadcasting Dodger games for over 60 years. Take a moment and consider the significance of that statement.

Scully has been there for all six Dodger Championships. He was there for the infamous move of the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, where his voice brought a community together. Scully saw first hand “Fernandomania” as well as “Nomomania.” His voice floated with Kirk Gibson’s homerun in the 1988 World Series and summed up the event perfectly as usual: “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened.”

He made the infamous call in the 1986 World Series which was given away by the Boston Red Sox: “A little roller up along first, behind the bag, it gets through Buckner!” He is synonymous with not only the Dodgers and baseball, but all sports because Vin Scully has done the job better than anyone else.

“Good is not good when better is expected.” (Vin Scully) To try and summarize the life and times of the broadcasting legend is almost impossible to do without creating an encyclopedia. If you asked him about the most important things in his life, he would likely not talk a great deal about sports, baseball or the Dodgers. Scully has always prided himself on being a devoted husband and family man. His incredible values and morals have brought a special presence to the broadcasting booth.

The point of this article is not to be a summation of Scully’s life. Those who do not have the privilege of listening to Scully on a daily basis deserve to know how much he means to people.

So, to get the background out of the way, here are some notable events in Scully’s career: 61 years with the Dodgers, NFL announcer on CBS from 1972-1982, PGA and tennis broadcaster in the 70’s and 80’s, NBC broadcaster for baseball in 1983-1989, Ford Frick Award winner, Lifetime Achievement Emmy winner, Radio Hall of Fame inductee, National Sportscaster of the Year three times, California Sportscaster of the year 29 times, National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame inductee, Broadcaster of the Century named by the American Sportscasters Association and named top sportscaster of all time by the same group.

Not bad for a kid out of Brooklyn who graduated from Fordham University.

“It may sound corny, but, I enjoyed listening to Vin call a game almost more than playing in them,” said Dodgers Hall of Fame lefty Sandy Koufax. “He’s been a special broadcaster for a lot of years and he’s been wonderful to listen too for a lot of years. He definitely is the All Century broadcaster as far as I’m concerned.”

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Vin Scully is his ability to call a game down the middle. Despite seeing more than 8,000 Dodger games, he never calls the game as a fan. Certain announcers in baseball feel the need to refer to the home team as the “good guys” as well as remain monotone for impressive plays by the opposing team. Scully has too much respect for baseball to broadcast only for the hometown crowd. He calls it how he sees it, no matter who may be winning.

He’s always ready with an interesting anecdote about each player on both teams no matter how irrelevant they may be. A great deal of Scully’s on air information comes from the vast amount of research and preparation he puts into every single game. Hs is able to weave stories of the past into the present game, bringing a unique look at baseball to the viewer.

His encyclopedic knowledge of the sport’s history is enough to make a die hard baseball fan salivate at his every word. However, Vin realizes that there are viewers who may be simple novices to baseball and always takes them into account when explaining the situation.

“All my career, all I have ever really done, all I ever have accomplished, is to talk about the accomplishments of others,” he said. “We can’t all be heroes. Somebody has to stand on the curb and applaud as the parade goes by.” Despite Scully’s unparalleled popularity and success, he has remained incredibly humble.

When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Scully was so beloved that fans brought transistor radios to the games at the Los Angeles Coliseum. This resulted in Vin’s voice echoing throughout the stadium as if it was a natural background noise to the game.

In 2008, for the Dodgers 50th Anniversary of playing in Los Angeles, an exhibition game was played against the Red Sox at the Coliseum. The same tall net fence was set up in short left field and the scene of the Dodgers 1959 championship was successfully re-created. The night however, belonged to Vin Scully who was saluted with a standing ovation by the record crowd of 115,300.

The Dodgers have a number of players who will be forever remembered in the books of baseball history.

Sandy Koufax is one of the most dominant forces that MLB has ever seen. Jackie Robinson changed the game by breaking the color barrier and brought an entirely new dimension of aggressiveness to baseball. Orel Hershiser still holds the record for most consecutive scoreless innings and Duke Snider is one of the most under-appreciated five tool players in MLB history.

Walter O’ Malley is considered one of the most brilliant owners in baseball history and is credited with bringing baseball to the West Coast. Before his career abruptly came to a close, Al Campanis oversaw a tremendous amount of success in his 19 years as general manager. And Tommy Lasorda led the Dodgers to 1,599 wins, including two world championships.

But no player, owner, general manager, or any Dodger employee can ever be compared to Vin. Scully is the backbone of the Dodger organization. He will forever be the bright-eyed, smiling face of the franchise.

“A lot of people in the ballpark are now beginning to see the pitches with their heart,” Scully once said. Vin is more than the voice behind the action on the screen. He is a friend, who each day thanks you for inviting him into your home. He welcomes you by “wishing you a pleasant good evening wherever you may be.”

Scully has a purity about him, a love of all that is good in the world. He wonders at the marvel of children with their family at the ballpark. He can’t help but eloquently describe a beautiful scene on the field or in the crowd. Vin is not afraid to be silent, he admits that many times the broadcaster must allow the viewer to be engulfed by the magnitude of the moment. Sometimes, silence is the best gift a baseball broadcaster can give the audience.

Scully makes the viewer feel like he is apart of their family; and for Angelenos he is a constant force in ever changing lives. He is there in the beginning, when a child watches Dodger baseball in the arms of a parent for the first time. For years, Vin’s voice is the last thing to be heard before going to sleep. He is there at family dinners and at sports bars. He makes baseball a stabilizing force in the life of those who listen to him.

He shows us that baseball can bring us together. He is more then an announcer. Vin Scully is a mentor to all who are lucky enough to hear him say “it’s time for Dodger baseball.”

In my expert opinion, the answer to the ketchup question is yes — it is worth the investment. If you don’t buy the name brand, your ketchup will most likely be runny, and you will realize that the upgrade would have been well worth the price.

When one maps out a draft strategy for fantasy baseball, they must have the same internal struggles. You must decide what positions will be your “ketchup”; meaning the positions you want to draft early, or in an auction draft, the positions you want to pay up for. The positions you want to pay up for are the ones with the least elite players so owning a top man at the position will give you a big edge.

On the other hand, there are things in the supermarket that I would never recommend paying up for. Milk, for instance, is the same white liquid substance, no matter which you buy. Your cereal will not suffer in accordance to the milk that it soaks in. This theory is the same that I have with closers. In years past, I have always paid up for closers.

The problem with that strategy is that well-used closers only pitch about 75 innings per year. In 4×4 and 5×5 leagues, saves are only one category. So while the top pitchers may give you 75 excellent innings, the starting pitchers that you went cheap on will give you 175 sub-par innings.

Therefore, closers are the “milk” of fantasy baseball. The primary example is Ryan Franklin from 2009. Coming off a steroid scandal, and having not even been a good pitcher before then, Franklin was lights-out last year. After becoming the closer for the NL Central champion Cardinals, Franklin posted a 1.92 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched), while posting 38 saves.

Those numbers compared favorably to any closer in baseball, including ones taken in the top 5 rounds of fantasy baseball drafts.  Every year closers emerge, and every year closers get hurt.  Use the bottom rounds and waiver wire to rack up the saves. Here are some exceptions for some high quality “milk” guys who could become your pitching staff’s bread and butter:

Bobby Jenks, CWS: For some reason on both ESPN and Yahoo! Pre-rankings, Jenks was listed near the bottom of closers. This guy can still light up a radar gun with his four-seam fastball, and he couples that pitch with a dirty curveball. Yes, his numbers were not all that impressive last year, with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.  Don’t forget though, Jenks was injured for part of last year and still ended up with 29 saves.

This year, the White Sox are going to be much improved.  With a starting rotation consisting of two aces (Mark Buehrle and Jake Peavy), followed by two up and coming studs that were both first round picks (Gavin Floyd and John Danks), how can they not be? All four of those guys can keep them in any given game. Aside from Boston, they might have the best starting rotation in baseball. Carlos Quentin, a former MVP candidate, is back and healthy. Jenks may be good for 35-40 saves with solid numbers (1.80 ERA so far), so take him confidently after the first 10-15 closers are off the board.

Neftali Feliz, TEX: Well that didn’t take long for this phenom to yank the closer role out from under Frank Francisco’s feet.  Like the chair that Francisco launched at the fans a few years ago, he may never be able to take his role as closer back either.

Feliz lights up the radar gun at nearly 100 mph.  His ERA as a rookie was 1.74 with an astounding 0.68 WHIP in thirty one innings pitched. He strikes out over a batter an inning with his impressive stuff, and again this year is under a two ERA. This guy was a top prospect while in the minors, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. If Texas’ pitching can continue to get production out of Colby Lewis and the bottom of their rotation, they too will be a contender.  Expect excellent peripherals (ERA and WHIP) from Feliz with a chance at 40 saves.

Injury Replacements:

Fernando Rodney, LAA: Brian Fuentes hasn’t pitched since opening day and was placed on the disabled list April 14^th retroactive to April 6^th. He is supposed to return next week, but who knows if he will be immediately placed back into the closer role after not pitching for so long.  Fuentes was not exactly lights out last year when he posted a 3.93 ERA with an awful 1.40 WHIP.  Yes, he converted 48 saves for a very good Angels team, but any good relief pitcher could have in that role. Not saying Fernando Rodney is much better, if better at all, but Mike Scoscia likes a prototypical closer (as shown by him using the rookie Francisco Rodriguez as his closer throughout the playoffs when they won the World Series in 2002).  Fuentes is a side-arming lefty while Rodney is a hard thrower.  Yes, he is wild, but if Rodney continues to not allow base runners (0.63 WHIP so far), or Fuentes suffers a setback, this role may become Rodney’s to lose.

Franklin Morales, COL: Huston Street has been on the disabled list since the beginning of the season.  His return date is not until Mid-May or so. All Morales has done so far is post a 2.25 ERA with an impressive 0.75 WHIP.  Street is another guy that has not always been reliable at times.  More importantly, he definitely has the “injury prone” tag at this point.  Last year was the first time Street had over 30 saves since 2006.  Ride Morales until Street gets back, and hope he suffers setbacks.

Closers in waiting:

Burke Badenhop, FLA: Badenhop, in eight innings so far this year, has seven strikeouts, a 1.12 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP. He’s been nearly unhittable. Leo Nunez has yet to give up an earned run so far this year as the closer, but judging by his career 4.56 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, something’s got to give. Pick up Badenhop and wait for Nunez to implode because this kid looks good and Fredi Gonzalez already trusts him.

Juan Gutierrez, ARI: This is not so much a compliment to Juan Gutierrez as it is me saying Chad Qualls is unreliable. Gutierrez has been borderline awful thus far with a 7.71 ERA, but his 1.29 WHIP says that may be bad luck. A report surfaced today that says A.J. Hinch may be considering switching closers after Qualls failed to convert his last two saves. Qualls has an 8.31 ERA with a 2.31 WHIP so far. His career numbers are respectable, with a 3.37 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, but those aren’t really closer numbers. He doesn’t really have closer stuff as he’s mostly a sinker pitcher with an average fastball at best.  Gutierrez may be in soon by default.

For one thing, there are no Cubs fans so out of touch that they don’t realize that their team can make an art out of losing. As a fan, it’s like reliving your most humiliating high school moment over and over again, knowing that it will end in the same way every time.  So again, why do I remain loyal to the Cubs?

I guess that after years of questioning I have come to some conclusions. First of all, Cubs fans truly epitomize the role of human faith in our society. We keep cheering on our Cubbies for the same reason that people buy lottery tickets and vote for a losing political candidate. Sure you breathe a sigh of dismay when the numbers don’t match up in the end, but regardless, there’s still a part of you that keeps faith for the next time.

Without that kind of faith in America, we would have never won the Revolutionary War and earned the freedoms we still claim today. Yes, I understand that the Cubs winning a World Series and the Americans gaining independence from Britain are not exactly parallel in importance.  However, it is that similar type of selfless faith in one’s beloved homeland, or home team, which gives me the lingering faith that the Cubs will one day prevail.

My second conclusion for being a diehard Cubs fan is sheer stubbornness. I do not care how many taunts I receive from other team’s fans saying the Cubs suck, or how many years it will take before I am able to laugh back in their faces. No matter what, I stubbornly believe that I will be alive to witness the Cubs win a World Series. If I didn’t believe that, then I would have to admit to being wrong. That’s just not something  a stubborn person is ever willing to do. Stubbornness may not be a virtue to some, but it most surely is to a Cubs fan. Without it, the magic of Wrigley Field and the Cubs would be lost upon dead spirited fans.

However, there’s no fear in that because for as long as the Cubs play baseball, their stubborn fans will cheer them on in blind faith. For they know that when the final out is made, and the Cubs will have finally won the World Series, the lifetimes of sneers and tears will all have been worth it.

If you too live the stubborn life of a Cubs fan, visit http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ticketing/college_discount.jsp for discounted College student tickets for some Cubs home games this season.

As a fantasy baseball owner, you may not want to admit it, but you too have a feminine side.  Don’t fear this side though, this feminine side could help you “look good” in the standings.  Your feminine side in fantasy baseball does not involve wearing designer clothes or putting on five layers of cologne or wearing lipstick or whatever you choose to do.

In fantasy baseball, we have a thing called man-crushes.  Let’s go to the urbandictionary.com definition of this word too. Man-crush:  a man having extreme admiration for another man, as though he wants to be him. Man-crushes can be the key or downfall to any fantasy owner.  While you should not reach too far for a guy you have a hunch about, if that hunch is right you are in luck.

I have always been a full believer that fantasy baseball’s so called “experts” know just as much as you do.  If you see something that they do not, go for it.  This year, my dad was quoted as saying “Take B.J. Upton this year.  He could be the best player in baseball”.

If you are like me, you can spot a man crush from a mile away.  First of all, anyone who claims someone will be better than Albert Pujols in any given year is either kidding or crazy. My father is probably half of both.  Such bold statements though are those made about possible man crushes.  In the case of B.J. Upton, he was swinging one handed for the last year and a half and while his batting average and power were down, he still stole 42 bases last year.

When it comes to fantasy and a possible 30/40 guy, I understand what he is saying.  Clearly though, Upton has never done that before so this is wishful thinking through his man-crush.  While B.J. Upton may pay off, I urge you to approach man-crushes with caution also.

My biggest man crush of all time was Mark Prior.  As a die-hard Cubs fan, having a pitching phenom coming through the minors excited me.  While in his first year it paid off as he was second in Cy Young voting, I drafted him way too high year after year after that.  Year after year he got hurt.  While every injury was a freak incident (he had an Achilles injury, then was hit by a line drive, and then ran into another player), he soon got the “injury prone” label.

So be confident with your crushes but don’t reach too far.  If you know better than everyone else, reach for your guy early.  Just remember, guys you love can fail too.  Here are some bold predictions for the 2010 season for some of my personal man-crushes:

Josh Johnson, FLA: My ultimate man-crush.  Here’s a guy I picked off of the waiver wire last year and he was lights out.  A former top prospect, he had Tommy John Surgery and came back dealing in 2009.  All he did was become the ace for an 87-75 Marlins team with 15 wins in 209 innings with a 3.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts. He was selected to his first All Star team last year by the players, coaches, and managers vote.

In an article I read last year, they went through the pitcher with the best of every pitch in baseball.  According to this article, Josh Johnson was supposed to have the best fastball in baseball. Better than Tim Lincecum, better than anyone. He throws 99 mph consistently with sink on it.  Yes, his curveball and changeup are average. On days where he can spot his fastball, he is still unhittable.

In accordance with his barely over 3.00 ERA last year, I don’t see any reason why he can’t be under three this year.  I’ll take Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay, C.C. Sabathia, Adam Wainwright, Felix Hernandez, and Dan Haren over Johnson. That’s it. You heard me, I’ll take Johnson as the 7^th best starter in baseball over the likes of Zack Greinke, Johan, and Verlander. People don’t take into consideration young guys getting a year better. Well I do.

Fearless Forecast: 16-10, 2.90 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 205 K

Carlos Quentin, CWS: I know what you’re thinking, “Didn’t I read up there that he was a Cubs fan?”  Fantasy baseball and fandom are two different things. While I am a Cubs fan, as a fantasy baseball player you must be aware of every team.  Even the ones you hate.

While I definitely don’t like the Sox, Carlos Quentin is a player that’s hard to hate. In fact, I love him.  Looking at draft boards in both ESPN and Yahoo!, he is ranked somewhere between 90 and 100. We are talking about a guy who if he didn’t break a bat over his knee was the MVP in 2008. People forget he hit .288 with 36 HR and 100 RBI in 130 games. He had recovered from the hand injury last year but developed plantar fasciitis. Now, I will never claim to be a doctor, but from what I hear that injury hurts. Not only does it hurt, but it lags on for a long time. Last year, it did nag Quentin for a long time which is why he only hit .236. Even without being able to plant his foot, he hit 21 homers.

This year he is back to full health, and dropping on draft boards.  Just to compare, Adrian Gonzalez has moved up to about 20^th on draft boards and he hit 40 HR with 99 RBI last year, which Quentin would surely have surpassed had he stayed healthy in ’08.  If you can get Quentin with the 45^th pick or later, consider it an absolute steal.  Hitting in U.S. Cellular Field, he should be gold.

Fearless Forecast: .275, 36 HR, 107 RBI

Andrew McCutchen, PIT: Unfortunately, I was beat to the punch on the waiver wire to this guy last year. Yes, he’s on the awful pirates, but so were Jason Bay and Brian Giles during their glory years (not that Jason Bays are over). Pittsburgh can and does produce fantasy relevant guys every single year.

Coming up from the minors, this guy is your prototypical quality lead-off man. He hits for average, steals bases, and like Rickey Henderson, even hits some homers. In 108 games as a rookie, he hit .286 with 12 HR, 54 RBI, and 22 stolen bases.  This may or may not matter in your league, but his .365 OBP as a rookie impressed me. A year older, sure he could hit the sophomore slump, or he could improve on all those numbers. With Garrett Jones developing as a very good hitter behind him, he could score a lot of runs and see a lot of fastballs.  Expect a monster year from this guy.

Fearless Forecast: .300, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 35 SB

Tim Hudson, ATL: My final man crush is a guy coming off injury this season. Call me crazy, but I’ve watched him this preseason and he looks as good as ever.  In twenty spring innings pitched, he put up a 1.35 ERA while striking out 17 batters and walking just 3. When healthy, Hudson was an elite pitcher. In seven seasons in which he started at least 25 games, Hudson averaged 217 IP and had an ERA under 3.00 twice.

Tim is a two-time All Star and led the AL in wins in 2000.  Yes, the guy is coming off Tommy John surgery, but most people come back throwing harder and better (see: Josh Johnson).  Atlanta has a nice pair of aces with Jurrjens and Tim Hudson, and I can see Tim Hudson leading that rotation all year.  Draft this man and hope for his old glory days to come back.  Trust me; it’s looking like they are still here.

Fearless Forecast: 18-9, 3.10 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 165 K