Kuzul

With the addition of MLB Network and expanded coverage on ESPN and other networks, a baseball fan can literally watch hundreds of baseball games each year from their own home. That said, nothing beats attending a game in person, as it is as much a part of summer as anything.I have the privilege of living in the Chicago area and going to several games each year at the baseball mecca that is Wrigley Field, and with so many stadiums being rebuilt in the last decade it is one of the few classic stadiums still standing.Baseball went through a stretch in the 1960 and 1970 when "cookie cutter" multipurpose stadiums were all the rage, and because of that there was an era of stadiums that were uninspired to say the least.Still, there have been some truly great stadiums over the years, and what follows is the 50 greatest stadiums in baseball ...

Baseball is all about rebuilding.Just ask the 1997 Florida Marlins. Or maybe the 2003 Marlins.With by far the biggest minor league system out of any of the major professional sports, baseball teams are constantly cycling through new players.All it takes is a slow start to the season. If teams find themselves out of contention early, it's not uncommon to see them dump big contracts and look towards the farm system and the future.So, to fully have a grasp on where your team is headed, it is important to keep an eye on the minor leagues and the top prospects.Let's take a look at the young guns that can eventually help rebuild some of the teams in the AL West.Also, I'll just do it by position, as opposed to ranking them in order. A prospect all-star team, if you will.  Begin Slideshow

When many teams around MLB contact the Los Angeles Dodgers front office about the possibility of a prospective trade, the first player usually brought up in any conversation is outfielder Matt Kemp.In the weeks prior to the trade deadline last season, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti was adamant that Kemp wasn't available for trade, but that didn't stop other teams from inquiring. It could be a different story this year. Kemp's current contract expires at the end of this season, and owner Frank McCourt may very well base the decision to retain Kemp on his production during the first half of the 2011 campaign.If Kemp isn't extended for more than two years, he will become a free agent for the first time after the 2013 season. Considering he will earn $6.95 million this year, his salary demands could easily reach eight figures as he enters his final year of pre-arbitration.Like ...

In the 127-year history of the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise, there have been many great seasons and Hall of Fame players, including several outstanding Aprils. Originally from Brooklyn, the Dodgers not only switched cities, but also changed team names, including wacky names like the Robins, Atlantics, Grays, Superbas, Grooms and Bridegrooms. The Major League Baseball season begins in late March or early April, and it can be tough to have a successful season without a strong start. As a franchise, the Dodgers have won 22 pennants, the second-most of any team behind the New York Yankees, due in big part to a plethora of great Aprils. Here are the 10 greatest Aprils in Dodgers history.Begin Slideshow

Forbes has released its list of the most valuable franchise in Major League Baseball. And, as in most things that have to do with money, they appear to have done a terrific and thorough job.According to Forbes, the value of baseball franchises has never been higher. Still, some of the more valuable teams, like the Mets, also are the most financially troubled.The most shocking and disturbing thing about this list is the gap between the value of the top teams and the bottom teams.Now, I want you to enjoy this slideshow so I won't give away too many details, but the gap is larger than a billion dollars. The increase in value is fairly slow and steady until we approach the upper-echelon of organizations.I'll leave the dynamics of how and where the teams are generating their revenue and value to Forbes.We are going ...

Mike Ozanian is a senior editor at Forbes, and this is a guest column for Bleacher Report.Baseball has emerged from the recession with a big bang. The average MLB franchise is now worth $523 million, an all-time high and 7% more than last year. All of the league’s teams rose in value except for three: the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians. The increase in team values is the result of greater revenue for teams playing in new stadiums, like the New York Yankees (up 6% in value to $1.7 billion) and Minnesota Twins (up 21% to $491 million) as well as the Florida Marlins (up 13% to $360 million), who are scheduled to move into their new stadium in 2012. Strong attendance and local television ratings boosted the values for teams like the Philadelphia Phillies (up 13% to $609 million) and Cincinnati Reds (up 13% to ...

With Opening Day only one week away and the list of injuries seemingly growing, fans across Dodgertown are left wondering if a door may open for one of several minor league prospects within the organization.The track record of general manager Ned Colletti suggests that he much rather prefers middle-of-the-road veterans over the youngsters, however a handful of the farmhands have already shown positive value over the course of Cactus League play this spring.There are still at least two to three roster spots wide open, and considering that Vicente Padilla, Jon Garland and Casey Blake may not be ready for the opener against the San Francisco Giants on March 31, management may indeed turn to one of the youngsters early.The following slides show seven current minor league players who may be called upon much earlier than anticipated, offer a brief background on each, as well as offer a short summary on ...

After a disappointing 2010 campaign, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed first-baseman James Loney only to a one-year deal.With a decrease in home-runs and batting average each of the last four seasons, anything more than a one-year deal may have been questioned.So, the question remains; Should the Dodgers give him one more year to get back on track, or put him on the trade block?Well, here are some potential candidates if L.A. chooses the latter. Begin Slideshow

The decision to award the 2010 Cy Young to Felix Hernandez was a historical aberration. His 13-12 record was by far the worst of any starting pitcher to win the award; his 12 losses were the most for any pitcher who failed to win 20 games. That did not matter in the eyes of the voters, however. Had he worn a jersey reading "New York" rather than "Seattle," he could have won close to 25 games, so good were his statistics other than his Win-Loss record. Now, with Opening Day just over two weeks away, our attention turns to the 2011 award, and whether or not someone can dethrone King Felix.Begin Slideshow

It's been going on for many moons in leagues across the nation.In Major League Baseball, it's no different. The rooks get messed with by the savvy vets.The objective? Humiliation.Over the past decade, hazing has gotten a bad rap, mostly due to the fact that high-school athletes seem to focus their hazing rituals on cruelty rather then good-natured fun.While most stories involve cross dressing and costume shenanigans, let's take a look at some funny times in MLB hazing history.Begin Slideshow