Author: Grant Eckert.

The NBA’s impact on the world could be considered minimal, if it were not for the advanced technology of global television and the personal outreach both to and from the team members. This is exemplified by the NBA China experience. Chinese citizens are extremely knowledgeable about the players and the game itself and enjoy watching it on television. It is also considered a gesture of friendship that team members are participating on a global scale with other sports minded people. China is just one country that is being reached out to by the NBA Events and Promotions Department.

Even in countries where basketball is behind soccer as a popular sport, the interest shown in the game and the activities surrounding the game are an important commercial message from the United States. Yet, the connection between the international fans and the team members was anything but commercial. The fans knew the team members and their playing style; they knew the colors and jersey numbers of favorite players, and they were enthusiastic in their support both for the team members and for the game.

Perhaps more than any other single factor in the global impact of the NBA is the presence of 7′6″ center Yao Ming from China. Ming currently plays for the Houston Rockets and was their first round draft choice in 2002. Previously he played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. The tallest player in the NBA, he is also the first draft choice in the NBA to be selected with no American playing experience. Even to allow Yao Ming to play for the NBA required extensive negotiations and agreements about the details of his playing experience. The cooperation between countries is another impact that the NBA has provided globally.

The NBA program known as Basketball Without Borders is another global awareness program. Basketball Without Borders is a program that uses basketball as a method to implement social change. Dozens of present and former NBA team personnel and players act as camp coaches in the program. Young people from many economic, national and cultural backgrounds are united each year on four continents to learn together through playing basketball. The program teaches basketball, but includes a forum for social issues and emphasizes the awareness of healthy living and education.

To date, the program has been presented in nine countries on five continents. More than 250 different NBA team personnel, coaches and players from 30 different NBA teams serve as camp coaches for 1200 youngsters from 100 countries or territories. The volunteers and the campers have racked up more than 85 million travel miles and donated more than one million hours of community service.

Additional people have been reached through the community relations outreach efforts wherever the camps are held. In addition, 37 NBA Cares Legacy Project sites have been created in communities outside the United States and Canada. These sites are places where children and families can come to grow, play and learn. For example, a Learn & Play Center in the desperately poor township of Soweto, South Africa was built in 2003. In 2004, at a Reading and Learning Center, held at Vila Olimpica de Jornalista Ary de Carvalho, the crew held Basketball and Books clinics and conducted Read to Achieve events.

Other events and facilities include those in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Beijing, China, Shanghai, China, Vilnius, Lithuania, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Paris, France. The NBA program has built dormitories, basketball courts, clinics, laundry facility and guest house, library and computer center for a school, dining halls, and Habitat for Humanity Homes. In addition to the basketball clinics, the Basketball Without Walls program offers educational and awareness programs such as literacy, HIV/AIDS awareness, Special Olympics clinic, Skills for Life in a Box, Healthy Lifestyle Clinic, Fitness Clinic, and numerous visits to schools, hospitals, clinics and medical facilities.

With this type of personal interaction all over the world it is hardly surprising that the NBA truly has a global impact. The mobilization of money, talent and materials toward specific projects not only means high visibility for the sports organization, but the one-on-one contact with the young people involved in the project is a personal outreach that cannot be matched elsewhere.
In addition to the group projects through the NBA, other projects are being funded directly by NBA players. Given this personal contact, it is not surprising that there are fans of NBA teams all over the world, and widespread support for the principles espoused and demonstrated by the organization.

About the Author:
Grant Eckert is a freelance writer who writes about sports and leisure activities, similar to what consumers read in SLAM Magazine

Author: Marcia Henin.

Fans can find latest sports News, such as football and basketball scores as well as current events on the sports web sites. There is a long list of sports news sites. Now, people or sport lovers do not have to press buttons of TV remote to find out the various sports news, scores, and events at various news channels.

With the arrival of Internet, it has become possible for the sport lovers to get all the required information at their fingertips and that too within a matter of seconds. Readers can find the truth and rumors about basketball players and games through basketball news. Below is a description of certain well-known basketball news sources:

CNN sports web site provides the latest basketball news and basketball coverage. Fans can find top NBA stories through this site. They can find basketball coverage and news from renowned writers such as Marty Burns, Steve Aschburner, and Ian Thomsen. The web site also includes videos of the crucial match winning moments.

Fox sports web site displays score of current basketball coverage. It covers news for the basketball clubs such as Kings, Tigers, Bullets, Wildcats, Crocs, Taipans, Breakers, Blaze, 36ers, Razorbacks, Hawks, Singers, and Dragons.

WNBA web site covers the News and coverage of women basketball. Readers can find schedules of different matches on this site. The web site also includes basketball coverage and information related to players. The history column provides information on how the women basketball has shaped over the years.

Top 25 Basketball Teams:

ESPN has displayed the NCAA men’s basketball rankings for the year 2008. The top 25 basketball teams are North Carolina, Memphis, UCLA, Kansas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Texas, Georgetown, Duke, Stanford, Butler, Xavier, Louisville, Drake, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Washington State, Clemson, Davidson, Gonzaga, and Marquette.

Basketball enthusiasts may find best coaching and instruction information on most basketball web sites. They provide sources for basketball coaching sessions, basketball books and videos, basketball camps, and basketball equipment. They cover topics such as basics of basketball and motivational guidelines. There are chat rooms, where fans can discuss their favorite basketball players and teams.

About the Author:
Submitted by Content Editor at Inter-Dev - Internet Marketing Company.

Author: Jimmy Cox.

Most of us have a tendency to think of tactical situations in terms of offense. The jump ball, out-of-bounds, and free throw line-ups are generally considered to be excellent scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, only one team will have an opportunity to score: the one that gets the ball. One team will be required to take the defensive.

Generally each team will have the same number of scoring and defensive chances during the course of a game. It will be necessary to “defense” these situations just as often as we attempt to score from them. Often there is hesitation among players when these plays occur, indicating little practice time has been given to them.

A specific approach should be developed for each tactical opportunity. Although there may be many ways of “de-fensing” an out-of-bounds play, the fact that you have one method rehearsed and practiced gives your boys an air of confidence.

Out-of-Bounds Defense

Out-of-bounds plays run with the ball taken out directly under or near the throw-in team’s goal have proved notably successful. The percentage of success on this play must be the highest of all attempted set plays in basketball. There are good reasons for this success. The throw-in team forces the defensive team to turn around and defend almost facing the goal instead of with their backs to the goal. This is strange and in itself creates lack of confidence on the part of a defensive player.

The tight screen and subsequent roll to goal is possibly the toughest play in basketball to stop under normal circumstances. In this unique situation, it becomes doubly difficult. The ball handler is virtually a free passer. It is impossible to put the same amount of pressure on him that could be applied if he were in bounds where the defensive player becomes a threat to get his hands on the ball. In view of these advantages, it is not surprising that out-of-bounds plays under the goal are quite successful.

The defense must first of all realize that it is at a disadvantage, that this is a tough play to stop. The defense must make a decision to stop the lay-up or the jump shot. Surely the good, aggressive defensive team will set as its goal the defense of any attempted shot. Still, all teams would rather have the opponent take a jump shot rather than a lay-up.

One approach to “defending” this play is a collapse to some sort of zone defense every time it occurs in a game. The zone would be used until that particular play is over. There are teams that do not use the zone in any situation so this would not be the answer for them. They would prefer using their regular man-for-man defense.

The man-for-man defense should show the ball handler some perimeter receivers. They should sag a great deal. They should sag so much that a pass to a cutter or potential scorer directly under the goal would be impossible. They should sag so much that their defense looks like a zone. The man guarding the passer should get between his man and the goal and use vigorous arm-waving tactics to prevent a direct pass to the goal area. Do not allow the offense to spread your team.

Jam tightly in a knot of defensive men in the critical scoring area. If the offense spreads you they get an easy screen and roll play. If they don’t spread you, they may pass directly to a receiver on the perimeter for a quick jump shot. The choice of these lesser of two evils doesn’t present a difficult choice for us. Here is the basis for nearly all out-of-bounds plays against man-for-man defenses. It may not look like this and it may be somewhat different, but the great majority of teams will use some version of the screen and roll.

Tactical defense can help your team hugely. It should be well practiced and then used in games.

 

About the Author:
Now There Is a Way To Coach Basketball Team To The Top Of The Ladder With These Surefire Secrets! Click Here For Free Online Ebook http://www.basketballrule.net/

About the Author:
Now There Is a Way To Coach Basketball Team To The Top Of The Ladder With These Surefire Secrets! Click Here For Free Online Ebook http://www.basketballrule.net/

Author: Mitchell Dowdy.

With the advent of the great American pastime, Players, Coaches, Parents and Inventors have made amazing strides in the development of baseball mitts and gloves. Advancing Player performance at all levels which is tempered by distributed cost are the challenges faced by all.

Many significant advances are protected by United States Patents. Contemporary gloves make these original designs seem obvious in their development. But at the time, these changes were ground breaking.

An early Patent, Ball Players Glove. Although not baseball specific, the abstract gives full detail on what it is used for and whom they are to protect. Filed by Edwin Loucks of New York on August 23, 1887 under Patent Number 368,724. Essentially, this is an open finger glove with leather palm and rear strap with buckle.

The ringing goal for his invention was to be ’serviceable, cheap and extremely durable.’ Here, Player protection while participating in this new game drove its development.

As it has been said before, what is old is new again with time. Even in 1887, cost control for players was in the thoughts of their parents and equipment makers. The best mouse trap in the world is useless if the cost to acquire it outweigh the benefits of having one.

Further United States Patent 1,056,909 in 1913 by Charles M. King of Washington DC as assignor to AG Spalding & Brothers a New Jersey Corporation. In the Abstract, “The object of my invention is to produce a base ball glove or mitt in which the palm portion is constructed to present a more adherent surface in catching a base ball.”

Notice that baseball way back then was two words. But this summary pretty much starts it all; modern age of improving glove technology and the gloves ability to catch a baseball. Here creating equipment to functionally assist the Player.

US Patent Number 01,496,824 Robert F. Nixon Jr. of Philadelphia Pennsylvania took things up a notch with his patent in 1924 by most notably adding fingers to his Baseball Gloves and Mitts Design.

Through the history of baseball, design changes like these have been added to those then contemporary models. Each improvement enabling Players to stretch just a little farther or make plays during the heat of the moment not previously seen.

Another US Patent Number 2,750,594 by Henry Denkert of Johnstown NY added one of the most recognizable features still used in baseball glove and mitt manufacturing today. He created the baseball glove with a pre-formed pocket. His creativity forever solved an ongoing problem. “Gloves of conventional construction take considerable time for the pocket to form properly and since the padding can shift its position, the pocket may not retain its proper shape.” This break through occurred in June 19, 1956

From this point forward gloves look much as they do today. Changes in assembly, materials and processes still add to the equipments ability to function at a higher level then their predecessors.

One lingering question on the mind is would the historical greats have done better or worse if contemporary equipment was available to them. Would a 1924 Major League short stop have the same skill and ability if he was trained with a superior performing glove. Would he have learned to use two hands as well as he did when his glove demanded two hand performance?

It almost seems obvious that the player using a pocketless glove would have a significant in developing the use of two hands for all catching situations. When choice is provided between using two hands or clasping with one, modern players, particularly new players, opt for the single hand solution. Without great Coaching, breaking these habits is extremely difficult and could spell the demise of the Players advancement.

About the Author:
Mr. Dowdy is an Official Distributor for NW Kelley USA Baseball you can also click over to Hirsch Group for more tips/articles or even Hirsch Group Blog for current events. Thanks for reading my article!

Author: Mitchell Dowdy.

Runners on second and third. The pitch is low and outside and passes the catcher. The scramble is on and the catcher recovers the ball quickly to find the third base runner half way to home plate. Catcher makes a throw to third as runner retreats only to have the ball bounce off the batters bat which is on his shoulder.

The hundred dollar question here is did the batter commit interference? There are several answers to this daunting question.

First, was the Batter still in the batters box?

The batter is not required to leave the batters box on a passed ball unless a teammate is attempting to steal a base, then the batter is required to move out of the defenses way. So, in part 1 of this play, the batter moved correctly and there is no interference.

Has the Batter moved out of the batters box?

In our scenario his teammate is attempting to steal home plate, but then retreats after the catcher recovers quickly. So, on the retreat is the batter to return to the batters box? No, the batter should stay where the ended up on the initial play of the passed ball and steal attempt.

Did the Batter move to serve an intentional purpose?

If it is obvious, which I believe would be difficult if not impossible to distinguish, that the batter aligned himself to force the defender to work around his position to make the throw to third. It is unlikely that this can be determined, but if so, then yes, it is interference.

Was the Batter responding to instructions from the Umpire?

Particularly in little league where players, bless their hearts, follow instructions from the Umpire without giving it a second thought, Umpires often give instructions as a good intentioned part of the learning process.

Unfortunately, any Umpire giving any instruction removes the player being instructed from any liability or penalty arising from that instruction. During the course of any game, Coaches are to instruct and Umpires are to rule on what the Players do.

If we change our scenario slightly, the runner at third has a good lead, but does not attempt to steal home plate and is walking back to the base with his back to the catcher.

With the Batter still in the batters box, there would be no interference as the Batter is protected by being in the box.

Should the Batter leave the box, then his has committed interference as there was no play at home plate and the Batter had no reason to leave the batters box.

If the Batter following the Umpires instructions, then there is no interference as the Umpire is interfering with the game.

Was the batter intentionally getting in the way of the defender, then yes, it would be interference.

What is most important to remember is that the call on the field is up to the Umpire. They can only call what they witness. To argue what they witness does nothing but waste time and frustration everyone.

What you can argue are the rules and how they are applied to an event the Umpire witnessed.

For a complete call, the Umpire must have taken note that the runner attempted to advance on the passed ball. This is the critical moment of the decision as it results in two significantly different decisions.

Players must also be aware of their responsibilities. In our fist scenario, as the runner made an attempt then the Batter moved correctly. The latter found the Batter at fault.

About the Author:
Mr. Dowdy is an Official Distributor for NW Kelley USA Baseball Visit Hirsch Group LLC for more news/tips/articles on the subjects of baseball, construction, building codes or check out the Hirsch Group Official Blog for what is going on now.

Author: Ken Petersen.

Pedro Martinez almost retired in a Mets uniform. It could have happened last year, if Martinez, in the midst of a grueling rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, decided to call it quits rather than endure the pain with no guarantees. Two weeks into spring training, Martinez, was asked about retiring with the Mets. However, he’s expected to sign an extension, perhaps even before his contract expires at the end of this season.

Martinez is ready to begin the final lap of his 4 year contract that he’ll get paid $53-million for. And if he regains his Cy Young form, the Mets most likely would enter discussions about a new deal before Martinez reaches free agency. Martinez has openly disclosed his interest in staying with the Mets. However, he prefers to focus on pitching and to let Omar Minaya bring up the subject with him first.

Martinez says that he would talk if they approached him. He has also indicated that he’s very thankful and satisfied with the way the Mets have treated him so far. Even though the Mets has Martinez’s respect whether they offered him an extension or not, he’ll just have to go somewhere else if they don’t. Martinez has mentioned that he wouldn’t ask them to extend his contract. He’s just going to wait and fishing the season.

The Mets would be better off trying to secure Martinez. In the past, the Mets have relied on personal relationships to help fortify the franchise, whether it was Minaya’s aggressive courtship of Martinez in 2004 or COO Jeff Wilpon bringing back Tom Glavine for the 2007 season with negotiations that involved little more than a handshake. That could easily happen again with Martinez, as long as he proves himself to be an elite starter before the All-Star break. The Mets would like to see the proof first before placing a large wager on his surgically repaired right shoulder. Minaya says he wants to evaluate Martinez’s performance before he makes a decision.

The early reviews of Martinez have been excellent. Martinez impressed fans during yesterday’s bullpen session with an impressive display of control and surprising speed. With Wilpon among the spectators, Martinez showed off his curve ball.

Guy Conti was extremely impressed by the session. In addition to being his longtime friend, Conti is Martinez’s personal pitching guru, and no one in the organization knows him better. It was Conti who believed that Martinez would be effective when he returned last season and he is even more optimistic 6 months later. Conti says that Martinez is always telling him not to wish him luck but rather wish him good health and he’ll make his own luck.

Martinez will make his first start March 6th against the Nationals in Viera. The date is unusual because it’s one of the Mets’ few night games. Martinez seems to be welcoming the opportunity without worrying about his upcoming free agency. He knows he has to prove that he’s healthy and worthy of another contract. The Mets probably needed him more than he thought. Last season was more about survival for Martinez. However, this year Martinez started a completely different mentality. He has people believing he could win a 4th Cy Young Award.

About the Author:
Ken Petersen is a staff writer for i-Sportsbook.com and CasinoUnreal.com

Author: Mitchell Dowdy.

Baseball training mitts and gloves are not new. Their basic shape and design replicate the gloves used by the early Players of the game. When padded gloves made their appearance after world war II, utilizing two hands was the only way to gain ball control.

These padded shells did not offer much if any pocket by witch to trap the ball using the glove only. As the padding in these gloves tended to shift during play, the pocket formed through use would also shift.
Commercially available training gloves include the Kelley Athletics Training mitt, Akadema APG97 Infielders Training Glove, a.k.a. the Pancake; Mizuno GXT1 Training Glove and Valle Eagle Trainer Pancake Training Glove. These gloves share similar geometry and shape.

Using a round training mitt has two obvious advantages. First, off axis catches can still be trapped over any portion of the glove. The rigid perimeter creates a stable base for glove operation as a whole. Second, as Coaches drive grounders to the Player with a baseball bat from 40 feet or more, a properly placed glove will give the visual indicator or a complete circle. This circle is important as it confirms to the Coach that the mitt is perpendicular to the ground. Oblong shapes are tell tale signs that the Player does not have their hand in the proper position. This type of instant feed back allows Coaches greater efficiency in monitoring player position throughout the drill.

Imagine throwing a baseball at a large flat board. If perpendicular to the play, any ball striking the board will simply bounce back towards its origin. This is a great advantage for Players as the ball is in front of their line of site and between them and the play. Now, rotate the board 30 degrees behind perpendicular. Most players not using two hands have their glove in this position as they are reaching out in advance of the ball. With our board, any ball striking will continue its forward progress. The baseball will bounce up and behind the player.

If lucky, the ball will not go too far and the made scramble for control will end in with the base runner only advancing by one. Unlucky Players take the bounce in the face or chest where serious injury can occur.

Several versions of this type of baseball training device have been granted Patents in the United States. From simple rigid materials 4,208,051 held by Thomas S. Robertson 1980 to the Triangle pad, 4,802,669 held by Peter C. Birmingham, 1989

It is interesting to note that under United States Patent 4121824, in 1977 Robert Hirschfield developed what on the outside appears a typical small glove, while the inside is reinforced to impair the ability of the glove to close.

The invention concerns a partially inflexible device which may be worn as a glove by one attempting to increase his glove/hand reaction time proficiency in the baseball skills of catching, fielding and catch/throw agility. It also may be used by an instructor or coach in demonstrating or teaching those skills to players of any skill level.

The glove has the palm portion thereof made inflexible whereby a user cannot flex the palm to catch a ball by squeezing it with his glove hand. Instead, the user is forced to use his free hand to trap a ball between the inflexible palm of the glove and the free hand. The inflexible palm portion of the glove can be integrally formed with the glove; it can be an insert, permanently secured into a pocket of the glove; or it can be an insert which can be easily inserted into and removed from a pocket of the glove.

Summary of the Hirschgield Invention:

Participation in the sport of baseball requires, as does participation in any physical activity involving the use of special techniques, the development of certain fundamental skills. Unless those fundamental skills become “second nature” to the player so that he executes them virtually automatically, and without hesitation or concentrated effort, his level of play will be curtailed.

This invention relates to improving one’s skill in the baseball arts of fielding, catching and the combination of catch/throwing. As will be shown, by using the subject device, one automatically will practice the proper techniques of fielding ground balls, line drives and fly balls; of catching a ball thrown by another player and of catching and throwing a ball in one fluid motion.

A variety of situations arises during a baseball game where those techniques must be executed competently and quickly. To name but a few, an infielder must be able to field a ground ball and throw it without hesitation where the batter, or any base runner for that matter, is running quickly; an outfielder must be able to catch a batted ball, whether in the air or after it bounces, and with a quick release throw to the appropriate base or to home plate; an infielder, usually the second baseman or shortstop, must be able to catch a thrown ball and quickly pivot and throw to effect a double play. A game may be won or lost depending on proper execution.

Accordingly, baseball players at all levels of skills continually practice in an effort to increase and advance their level of play. Correspondingly, instructors and coaches of players who range from elementary school-age children to professional ballplayers insist on the development and enhancement of certain fundamental skills through repeated practice of properly demonstrated techniques. Players and coaches alike have had a long felt need for a training device that would enable one to develop those skills while reducing, if not eliminating, the potentiality of developing “bad habits” or poor skills.

The subject invention, which satisfies the aforementioned long felt need, is a device that provides the necessary means to advance the skills of any player. It is worn as a glove; indeed, its outward appearance may be that of an ordinary baseball glove. However, the pocket (that portion of the glove which covers the player’s palm) and the portion at least one-third of the way up each finger is made inflexible, though it may be shock absorbent. Accordingly, when a ball is hit or thrown to a player wearing the subject training device, he must cover the ball with his ungloved hand immediately upon the ball’s making contact with the rigid pocket, or else the ball will not be caught. In that way the player is properly taught to catch the ball with “two hands”, i.e., to cover the ball immediately upon contact.

The preference for a “two handed” catch exists in virtually all situations — ground balls, line drives, fly balls and thrown balls. Naturally, there are exceptions to any rule, but they are just that, exceptions. Sound fundamental skills require that one be able to perform the basics in a proficient way, and then be able to adapt as extraordinary situations arise (e.g. where one must jump, lunge or stretch in order to reach a thrown or hit ball with one hand).

Even with contemporary baseball glove technology, it is obvious that the advances in manufacturing and function still rely on basic skills to reach peak Player performance. Simple devices that can only function if used properly are the key to any Player success.

About the Author:
Mr. Dowdy is an Official Distributor for NW Kelley USA Baseball you can also click over to Hirsch Group for more tips/articles or even Hirsch Group Blog for current events. Thanks for reading my article!

Author: Robert Bentz.

A park that a player hits in will certainly effect his fantasy baseball stats since he gets to play in that park half of the time. A good fantasy baseball manager takes this into consideration when picking players who have changed teams for the new season.

Another factor is whom to play in that particular week. If one of your part timers is playing in Philly and Cincy that week, you may want to give him a shot on your major league roster.

When it comes to analyzing parks for the best chances for success, Fantasy Baseball Dugout has done much of the homework for you.

According to The Sporting News, the following seven ballparks were considered hitters parks.

1. Citizen’s Bank Park (Philadelphia) — 241 homeruns in 81 games last year! Babe Ruth must have wished he hit here, with steroids instead of hot dogs and beer.

2. Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati) — didn’t the Reds old stadium look the same as the Phillies? This was their answer?

3. Coors Field (Colorado) — we’ve all heard about the thin air there. If Juan Pierre played here half the season, he’d probably have had a homerun last year (Pierre had 668 at bats last year and no dingers).

4. Yankee Stadium (New York) — of course, a lot of this stat has to do with the season that A-Rod had last year.

5. Comerica Park (Detroit) — had Gary Sheffield not had that collision with Placido Polanco last year, these numbers may have been higher.

6. US Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox) — Since 1999, there have been more than 200 dingers hit here every season!

7. Miller Park (Milwaukee) — led by boppers like Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, the Brew Crew out-homered the NL average by 62 homers last year.

So whom do we see as hitters who may benefit from park changes this season? I guess you could call these guys hitting sleepers for 208. Let’s take a look:

1. Nick Swisher (Chicago White Sox) — Swisher hit 78 dingers in the past three years while playing in Oakland’s cavernous McAfee Coliseum. A move to US Cellular Field will help Swisher’s homerun totals. It is possible also that Swisher will hit # 2 in the lineup behind Orlando Cabrera and in front of Jim Thome and Paul Konerko. If that’s the case, Swish is going to get some pitches to hit.

2. Mike Cameron (Milwaukee) — Cameron, a 13 year vet, enjoyed his most productive power season in ‘04 with the Mets when he banged out 30 homers. He had 21 and 22 the past two seasons in the MLB’s worst hitting park–Petco. In Milwaukee, he will return to those 30 homerun totals despite hitting lower in the lineup and seeing less good pitches.

3. Jacque Jones (Detroit) — Jones should benefit from playing at Comerica. After an injury plagued 2007 season when he hit just five homers, Jones will likely hit in the # 9 spot which should help his totals as well.

4. Pedro Feliz (Philadelphia) — Anytime a player gets traded to Philly, he’s got to be looked at as possibly having a better season. The former Giant will patrol third base except when Charlie Manuel wants to put in non-fan favorite Wes Helms. Feliz has been a mark of consistency with 22-20-22-20 homers in the past four seasons. Look for Feliz to love that left field porch in front of Harry the K’s restaurant at the Bank.

5. Cliff Floyd (Tampa Bay) — FBD has always been in awe of the raw power of the 6-4, 230 pound, left handed hitting Floyd. It will be interesting to see what the Rays do with the veteran on a team that should be more competitive this season. Floyd will see some action in right field or at DH with right handed hitting Jonny Gomes who had 17 homers last year, but hit just .244 last year and Rocco Baldelli. If the Rays fall out of the race early, however, the veteran Floyd’s playing time may suffer.

6. Ryan Zimmerman (Washington) — No, the former Virginia Cavalier has not been traded, but the new Nationals Park in Washington will help this up and coming star. The Nationals old park was more suited for a football field (which it was). FBD is expecting the new park to show a homerun bump for all the Nationals players over last year.

7. Milton Bradley (Texas) — Bradley played in two pitchers’ parks last season, Oakland and San Diego, where he popped 13 homers in just 209 AB’s. Bradley should get more opportunities with the Rangers this year and will be in a key RBI spot, the 5 hole, in the Texas lineup.

8. Geoff Jenkins (Philadelphia) — The left handed hitting Jenkins was an off-season pickup from the Brewers. He has hit 212 homers in the past ten seasons. He will platoon in right field with right handed hitting Jayson Werth who was a big part of the Phillies late season surge last year.

9. Austin Kearns (Washington) — At 6-3, 245, Kearns is built for power. He played in 161 games last year and hit 16 homeruns. Kearns is going to love the new Nationals Park.

10. Lastings Milledge (Washington) — Milledge is a good all around player who is going to get his chance in center field with the Nationals after being acquired from the Mets along with Paul LoDuca. Elijah Dukes, acquired from the Rays, may push Milledge for some playing time, but Milledge should have the edge.

As you are anlyzing your fantasy baseball draft plans, be sure to bump up the stats of the ten hitters listed above. They will all have stronger years in 2008 based on their more hitter-friendly ballparks.

About the Author:
BallparkBob is the editor of the Fantasy Baseball Dugout that providess free fantasy baseball tips to help you win your Fantasy Baseball League in 2008.

Author: Anthony Wayne.

The top 50 players in Fantasy Baseball, according to the crack staff at Fantasy Baseball Dugout.

Love our list? Hate our list? Tell us about it. You have two options for showing us love or unleashing the hate parade:

E-Mail
the comments board (located below)
The Top 50 will be updated regularly, and expanded during the month of March to include 100 players (just in time to help you with your draft).

If you e-mail us with comments, be a man about it (include your name and locale). Also, prepare to have those comments possibly reposted on the site.

Thanks for reading… and happy hating! Now… the first Top 50…

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees
David Wright, 3B, New York Mets
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Matt Holliday, OF, Colorado Rockies
Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
Johan Santana, SP, Mets
Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
David Ortiz, DH, Boston Red Sox
Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies
Jake Peavy, SP, San Diego Padres
Grady Sizemore, OF, Cleveland Indians
Jose Reyes, SS, Mets
Prince Fielder, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida Marlins
Adam Dunn, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Mark Teixeria, 1B, Atlanta Braves
Carl Crawford, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Ichiro, OF, Seattle Mariners
Brandon Webb, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Josh Beckett, SP, Red Sox
Francisco Rodriguez, CP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers
Lance Berkman, OF, Houston Astros
C.C. Sabathia, SP, Indians
Ryan Braun, 3B, Brewers
Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Angels
B.J. Upton, 3B, Rays
Victor Martinez, C, Indians
Aaron Harang, SP, Reds
John Lackey, SP, Angels
Jonathan Papelbon, CP, Red Sox
Carlos Zambrano, SP, Chicago Cubs
Dan Haren, SP, Diamondbacks
Travis Hafner, DH, Indians
Scott Kazmir, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
Curtis Granderson, OF, Tigers
Eric Bedard, SP, Baltimore Orioles
Nick Swisher, OF, Chicago White Sox
Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers
Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets
Alex Rios, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
J.J. Putz, CP, Seattle Mariners
Alex Gonzalez, 1B, Padres
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, Red Sox
Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees
Alfonso Soriano, OF, Cubs
Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds
Carlos Lee, OF, Astros
Roy Halladay, SP, Blue Jays

About the Author:
Anthony Wayne is a great writer and we are happy to have him.

Author: Anthony Wayne.

We all know what the Mets got when they acquired Johan Santana this week. They got baseball’s best pitcher. And, the Phillies and MVP Jimmy Rollins are now looking up at their arch rivals again regardless of who Jimmy thinks is the team to beat. Johan is now with one of the best teams in MLB; in the Senior Circuit, he now has the ability to face a pitcher every nine at bats. Hence, Santana’s already lofty draft position in fantasy baseball is now even greater.

But what did Minnesota get besides getting rid of a salary that the small market Twins knew they would not be able to afford after this season?

Carlos Gomez is the player that fantasy managers will be happy to pick up with a low round pick in deep leagues. Gomez played the role of defensive outfielder with a lot of speed in 2007 for the Mets. And, what speed he has! The 22-year-old Dominican is said to even be faster than Mets’ shortstop Jose Reyes who led the NL with 78 stolen bases last year.

Gomez swiped 12 bases in 15 attempts while playing in 52 games and hitting .232 in 125 at bats for New York. Gomez played a similar role to what Michael Bourne, now with the Astros, did with the Phillies.

Gomez is seen to have the inside track to earn the starting center field job with the Twins in ‘08. If he can hit just .250, he’ll be a nice leadoff man that can quickly get into scoring position for the big Twins bats like Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Michael Cuddyer. Expect Gomez to swipe 30-40 bases in 2008. We don’t expect he’ll hit for much average, but if he gets enough AB’s, Gomez can add 15 homers as well.

Kevin Mulvey is an interesting addition to the trade and should battle for the # 4 or # 5 starting pitcher spot with the Twins. Mulvey, 22, was the 62nd pick overall in 2006 when the fireballing right-hander gave up his senior season at Villanova to join his favorite team as kid. The New Jersey native has a fastball that can be overpowering and a biting slider. Mulvey was 11-10, 3.32, in 26 starts with the New Orleans Zephyrs (AA) last year in his first pro season. BallparkBob watched Mulvey throughout his career at Villanova and thinks Mulvey’s potential is enormous. Consider picking up Mulvey, especially if you play in a league that rewards strikeouts and retains players from year to year.

Philip Humber, 25, is the most seasoned of the pitchers the Twins picked up. The Rice graduate had a cup of coffee with the Mets in each of the past two seasons when he compiled 13 innings pitched. Humber had Tommie John Surgery and has never appeared to fully regain his fastball which is now in the 87-91 range. Humber’s out pitch is his curve. If the Twins decide to keep Mulvey at AAA this year, teh mroe experienced Humber could be the man to earn a starting job.

The final pitcher is Deolis Guerra. The 18-year-old Venezuelan pitched in High A last year for St. Lucie and probably has the most potential of all three, but Guerra is several years away from playing in the Show and should not be a consideration for Draft Day 2008 unless your Fantasy Baseball League lets you hold a 40-man roster for futures.

About the Author:
http://www.fantasybaseballdugout.com Anthony Wayne is an avid baseball fan. He’s visited the Field of Dreams in Iowa in honor of his favorite movie. He has won his fantasy baseball league 13 out of the past 15 seasons. Wayne is an editor for the Fantasy Baseball Dugout