It’s almost that time of the year again.

Soon we’ll be serenaded with the sounds of lawnmowers cutting green grass, the pop of the ball hitting a glove, the crack of the bat and the meshing of cleats to freshly-patterned dirt. 

Yes, it’s almost baseball season.

Sorry to go all Ken Burns on everyone, but pitchers and catchers report in less than a month. And from there it won’t be long until the pomp and circumstance and general hope that springs eternal on Opening Day.

So, with that in mind, it’s time to start looking ahead to 2011 and at the guys no one can win without, the stars that create a dangerous combination and the ocassionally unsung heroes.

Here are the top 20 No. 2 starters in baseball.*

*Unless otherwise noted, the listed pitchers were designated  the No. 2 starter on each team’s depth chart as of this posting.

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