Baseball

How the Kansas City Royals are building a playoff contender

The Kansas City Royals haven’t exactly set the baseball world on fire in recent years, but they’ve slowly been building a core of young, talented players that may lift the team from the depths of the AL Central to a playoff contender. Harlan Ambrose looks at the team, position by position.

Baseball

Chronicling the future success of the New York Yankees

The New York Yankees spent the offseason following the 2011 season in the shadows – rare territory for baseball’s biggest spender. The team is getting older, and a shift in culture toward dominating on the mound instead of counting on the long ball is slowly taking over.

Baseball

The Pittsburgh Pirates: Beating Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan had a knack for ruining his opponents. Like his adversaries, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been beaten down for years at the hands of the rest of the league. But now, things finally are looking up for the Pirates, as key acquisitions, emerging prospects and smart money management may be turning this hard-luck franchise around, and sooner than you think.

Baseball

Boston and Atlanta: Much ado about (doing) nothing

The 2011 seasons for the Red Sox and Braves unravelled in spectacular, tragic fashion. The offseasons for both have been relatively quiet, but that may not be a bad thing. Both will be counting on bounceback seasons from key players such as Carl Crawford and Jason Heyward. Harlan Ambrose breaks down each team from the outfield in.

Baseball

Escape from Oakland

The Oakland Athletics have been in a tumultous state for years now, making it hard for fans to decide whether they’re coming or going. The net result is a state of rebuild for Billy Beane’s team, and if this attempt doesn’t work, the next rebuild may be in San Jose.

Baseball

Of Bryce and Men

The Washington Nationals have a dream of a prospect in Bryce Harper, drafting him first-overall in the 2010 MLB Draft. While Harper’s status as a future All-Star seems little in doubt, the Nationals should still be prepared to begin the 2012 season without his services. Harlan Ambrose explains why.