Spring Training Games Underway

Like my other post on Spring Training, this should be great. Fans get to see players in new uniforms for the first time in a game. Baseball is, finally, back. For the first time since September, I can look at the ESPN ticker and under the MLB tab will be real game scores instead of the old 'he said, then he said' stuff about steroids.
Now the Awards predictions. I am still working on the previews, though.
NL Cy Young Award: Roy Oswalt
AL Cy Young Award: Francisco Liriano
NL MVP: David Wright
AL MVP: Justin Morneau
these could be edited before the season gets going.
By the way, keep an eye on Mark Prior with the Padres, I have a feeling he'll be back to pitch in the big leagues.

Fantasy Baseball Advice

Fantasy baseball leagues are filling up everywhere, and it is time to study if you haven't joined yet. Let me bring a few guys to your attention. One steal is 3B Melvin Mora, who hit 104 RBI's last season. At age 37, it would be unfair to expect such numbers again, but keep him in mind for the bench later on or as a utility player. Of the Jimmy Rollins-Jose Reyes-Hanley Ramirez shortstop craze, you need to compare the stats here. Ramirez strikes out a ton, his 122 strikeouts in 2008 were exactly 40 more than Reyes and 67 more than Rollins. Ramirez, however, had a .400 OBP, 42 points better than Reyes and 51 points better than Rollins. Rollins should have a better year this year because of injuries last season, but how much farther can he go? Ramirez, also known for his power bat, had an easy lead over the other two in home runs with 33. Reyes had 16 and Rollins 11, but Rollins hit 30 during his MVP 2007 season. The biggest stat with these table-setters: Stolen bases. Reyes had the most steals with 56, then Rollins at 47, and finally Ramirez at 35. If you take the averages from the last three years, though, here they are:
Ramirez averaged 46 SB's, Reyes averaged 66 SB's, and Rollins averaged 41 SB's, making Jose Reyes clearly the stolen base king.
However, considering all that Hanley Ramirez brings to the table, I would go with him over the other two. 46 stolen bases is all I need, plus his 30 HR and 80 RBI bat and .400 OBP. The only downside is the strikeouts, but it is more than worth it.
As for the New York third basemen, take David Wright over A-Rod because of A-Rod's inconsistencies and new steroid admittance. Wright has a higher batting average, and so is more productive. Alex Rodriguez saw a drop of 30 walks in a down year for him, and David Wright had 94 to Rodriguez' 65. Wright collects more hits, too. Wright is young and beginning a career, and with Rodriguez at 33, he could be leaving the prime of his career soon. Wright is only 26 and is still entering his prime.
Take my advice. It's the Wright thing to do.

NBA Trade Deadline Deals

In a major surprise, the Chicago Bulls appear to have been the biggest winner at the deadline. GM John Paxson was hanging on a thread, but made three moves. The biggest was first, dealing F Andres Nocioni and F Drew Gooden to the Sacremento Kings for C Brad Miller and G John Salmons. This was a total steal, because Salmons is a great scorer, 18 PPG. At that point the Bulls had John Salmons, Larry Hughes, Ben Gordon, Derrick Rose, and Thabo Sefolosha all competing for the two guard spots. So, some had to be delt. Larry Hughes was sent to New York for Tim Thomas and Jerome James, while Thabo Sefolosha was sent to the New Orleans Hornets for a first-round draft pick in the upcoming draft. In other deals, Rafer Alston was sent to the Orlando Magic from the Houston Rockets to replace Jameer Nelson who is injured. There was no big superstar moves like last season, when we saw Jason Kidd, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and others move. Shaq was again on the rumors possibly going to Cleveland for Ben Wallace and Wally Sczierbiak or Pavlovic. No deal was done, much like for Amar'e Stoudamire. The Suns are rejunvinated under their new coach. I can see the Suns making the 6th seed when all is done. This refilled Bulls team that has many new guys replacing traded guys will make the playoffs and could work their way up the seeds, too. The Celtics made no deals, and are slipping in the East.

Baseball Spring Camps Open

The grass is fresh, the sun is warm, and thirty franchises are getting ready to go for 2009. I am proud to present my brief Baseball Previews for 2009, coming up in a segment of posts. Baseball is an exciting game, all about numbers, confidence, talent, and speed. Baseball is my favorite sport, and it is a thrilling time of year for baseball fans all over. Not to mention that Arizona and Florida love it because of the huge revenues from taxes on everything purchased there. But it is more than that, because in Spring Training, anyone can shine. Now is where you can prove yourself or get your veteran body back into shape while enjoying the comfortable weather down south. As for the fans, you can watch competitive baseball while seeing new prospects or just relaxing in the sun on a picnic blanket in the outfield lawn. Yep, there's nothing like Spring Training. So sit back, relax, and watch.

NBA Trade Rumors

Many trades rumors are floating around the NBA, as always as the deadline gets ever closer. The first notable move was already made. On Thursday night, the Heat visited the Bulls on TNT and it was a close game in the final seconds. A steal by Dwyane Wade gave the Heat possession with a few seconds left in a tied game, then the inbound was passed to Shawn Marion, who dunked the ball to give the Heat the lead with one second left. The Heat won, and that was Marion's last basket as a member of the Miami Heat. Marion, dealt to the Heat for Shaq last deadline, was dealt to the Toronto Raptors for Jermaine O'Neal. Going with Marion to Canada is Marcus Banks. That won't be the last deal around, though. The Rockets proposed sending Tracy McGrady to the Nets for Vince Carter and Trenton Hassell. However, the Nets rejected because of salary issues with T-Mac. Instead they want to send Carter and Josh Boone to Houston, getting Ron Artest, Luther Head, Shane Battier, and Carl Landry back. Many rumors aren't that formal yet, though. ESPN reports Chris Bosh could be headed to the Bulls in a three-team deal. Amare Stoudamire is getting phone calls from '20 teams' he said earlier. The Bulls are a team involved in that deal, too. Things are unraveling in the desert, where the Suns find themselves out of a playoff berth although they have a winning record. Defensive-minded coach Terry Porter was fired because he couldn't do enough there. I think the Bulls should trade Larry Hughes, Joakim Noah, Thabo Sefolosha, and Kirk Hinrich to the Suns for Amare Stoudamire and Grant Hill. Lots of stuff is going around; lets hope the teams come up with some kind of deal.

Inaugural Post!

Welcome to the Sports Inside Look blog, or Sports Insider. On this blog, I will talk about the sports goings-on around and my opinion. You might hear what could be the perfect trade that no one has talked about. You might hear a question about a teams' roster. You might hear anything of importance about sports. First, let me tell you there will be very little presence of college sports on this blog. Pro sports, mainly the MLB, NFL, and NBA, are the main topics of discussion. There should be a post every week at least, except for special times. Thank you for reading, and get ready for some of the most interesting sports coverage you've ever heard!