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Make no mistake, the Chicago White Sox can easily run away from this division. However, if they’re going to put down the upstart Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians, they must find someone who can close out the game for them. They tried out All-Star setup man Matt Thornton, and it didn’t work out so well. He has yet to record a save and has given his manager fits.

White Sox manager said in his latest press conference that he would use everybody in an attempt to figure out his closer dilemma.  Chris Sale could be an option, but he was the pitcher responsible for blowing the three-run lead against the Oakland Athletics.  He had one of those “trout him in, drag him out” type outings that day. The poor guy couldn’t get an out, hence the phrase “trout him in, drag him out.”

However, prior to one of his most disastrous outings, Chris Sale pitched 7.1 innings while striking out nine batters and only allowing three runs. He threw career-high 34 pitches the day before, so it appears that he is simply not ready for back-to-back outings and will need some rest. In the meantime, Sergio Santos should be handed the closing role.

In a Chicago bullpen that has a 6.75 ERA, Santos has not been part of the problem. In 7.2 innings, he has struck out nine batters and has only given up five hits. He has the mentality to pitch in the seventh inning, the eighth inning or, most importantly, the ninth inning.  

However, if Ozzie Guillen elects not to have just one closer immediately, then a combination of well rested Chris Sale and Sergio Santos would be an effective solution to the problem since they would both be kept fresh and Ozzie can work the matchups with Santos, who is a righty and Sale, who is a lefty.

Regardless of what the manager does, something must be done if the White Sox are to move forward.

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Like every Tampa Bay Ray before him, Sam Fuld came out of nowhere and became a house hold name instantly with amazing web gems and stunning offensive stats on a team that surely needed it.

So far this season, Fuld has hit .313 and has stolen six stolen bases. Since starting in the departed Manny Ramirez‘ place, the Tampa Bay Rays are 3-2 with a short sweep of the Boston Red Sox, outscoring them by a 2-1 ratio.

Keep in mind that the Red Sox were the team everyone picked to win it all and the Rays represented the team everyone picked to fall off the map. Everyone except the fantasy analysts of ESPN.

Who’s talking fantasy now?

Right now Fuld and center fielder B.J. Upton (.282) are the top producers in the Tampa Bay lineup, with Johnny Damon starting to hit his stride (5 for 9 5RBI), and even Felipe Lopez providing some help as well.

However, what’s really important is that star third baseman Evan Longoria should be back in a couple weeks and should team up with emerging Rays star Sam Fuld.

The good news for the Rays is that their bullpen is holding their own right now. Only one reliever has given up three runs, no more than that.

Keep in mind that some of the runs given up were from the Boston beat down last Monday.

Most relievers are more likely to give up a few runs because there is no pressure when given a ten run lead. The starting rotation is starting to fix itself as well.

Right now the Rays are in prime position to blow through the rest of April and get a huge shot in the arm with the return of Evan Longoria.

This weekend they have the Minnesota Twins, a 4-7 team experiencing some pitching problems, the Chicago White Sox, who according to Ozzie Guillien, have no closer, the Toronto Blue Jays, who are likely their toughest upcoming opponent, and the Twins again.

There are so many things that can happen to the Tampa Rays going in, but there is still hope for the slow starting team from the Trop.

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With the Arizona Diamondbacks, versatility is the key for their lineup and their new general manager Kevin Towers made it a priority during the offseason to supply manager Kirk Gibson with a strong, versatile bench filled with “do what it takes” kind of players who can play any position and are competent as starting players.

Thanks to Tower’s acquisitions, Kirk Gibson and his newly assembled cast of all-star coaches (Pitching coach Charles Nagy, First base Eric Young, hitting coach Don Baylor and bench coach Allan Trammell to name a few) has the luxury of utilizing Willie Bloomquist (plays infield and outfield), Xavier Nady (plays outfield and first base), Melvin Mora (plays all infield positions except shortstop) and brought back utility infielder Ryan Roberts who got some starts in at third base.

Because of this Gibson has been able to shuffle the starting lineup multiple times during the opening segment of the 2011 season to see what works best and what should be avoided in the future.

“We know it’s going to take 25 guys plus some and you want to try to keep everyone involved and play the matchups,” said Kirk Gibson on his new versatile team.

Kirk may not look thrilled at times (in fact he kind of resembles the baseball version of Bill Belichick), but he is definitely pleased with his new unlikely leadoff man’s performance over the first week of the season.

Willie Bloomquist has started the season as the leadoff hitter and starting shortstop for the Diamondbacks while regular shortstop Stephen Drew was recovering from an abdominal injury from spring training, has hit .357 with a home run to open up one of the Cubs games earlier in the week to go with his five RBI and five stolen bases.

When Drew returned to the lineup for the Diamondbacks’ home opener against the Cincinnati Reds, Bloomquist still started at left field. However, despite his solid start, manager Kirk Gibson isn’t sure he’ll keep him in the starting lineup all the time.

“I don’t know“, Gibson said, “I can’t play everyone every day but he’ll be involved for sure and it’s a good problem to have. Everybody is getting healthy, everybody wants to be in the lineup, everybody’s versatile, they can play and it’s my job to keep them all involved and keep them all sharp.”

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The whole beauty about Opening Day is not just about the fact that baseball season has begun once again but that there are so many new story lines just waiting to be shown. Each and every team—even the Pirates and Royals—have something about them that is so intriguing.

The definition of intrigue is to “arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate,” meaning that there is something that makes one curious.

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Ever wonder why only two teams (New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays) have won consecutive World Series championships since 1993? Ever wonder why only one team (Boston Red Sox) has won multiple World Series championships in the last decade? If you had to ask these questions, then the answer is that there is parity in baseball, and any team can rise up and take the prize.

Last year, the San Diego Padres went from worst to first, then first to second in the same year. The San Francisco Giants made a few deadline moves here and there, and BOOM! World champs!

Every year, the six division title teams from the previous season need to look over their shoulders and watch out for that team coming after them. The problem is, they’re all looking at the wrong teams.

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From the beginning, the battle for third base was supposed to go to top prospect Matt Dominguez. He could field well but could not hit well, thus prompting Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez to send Dominguez to Triple-A for some seasoning. 

There’s no doubt that he will be back to help the Marlins in their playoff run, but until then, there are two players left to battle it out for the position.

Donnie Murphy is known to Marlins fans for his game winning hits during the time he was called up in the summer of 2010, giving him the name Donnie $^@# Murphy. More of a glove than a bat, Donnie can also hit as well. In 2010, he hit .318 in 44 at-bats.

After losing the third base job two years ago, Emilio Bonifacio has turned himself into a speedy super utility player with the ability to play in the outfield and infield. He says he’s ready for a second go-around. The problem with Bonifacio is still his hitting. In 2010 he hit .261 in 180 at-bats, but when he does get on base he is a top threat to steal.

So far it looks like Donnie Murphy is the favorite to win the starting job. Which would be something that manager Edwin Rodriguez would like to do while having Bonifacio assume the role of super utility man.

The Marlins have until Thursday to announce their final 25-man roster.

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Sometime, fantasy drafts look easy, but they’re really not.

Some owners feel like they’ve scored with their picks, and some owners realize a week later that there are a lot of holes on their team. Then there are the lazy owners who left their drafts to auto-picking, only to realize their team looks horrible. But there is still hope to fix the team, and MLB Featured Columnist Tony Capobianco will go over every scenario.

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Fate can have a way from helping you win it all by snagging the best player ever, and it can totally screw you by giving you the last pick. No matter if you are a smart enough baseball fan, or the kind of fan who only knows the players on his favorite team, with the proper guidance from Bleacher Report and MLB Featured Columnist Tony Capobianco, then you too can win with a low pick.

Why the ninth pick? Because that’s the pick I got in my draft.

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A few years ago, the Florida Marlins acquired infielder Wes Helms from the Philadelphia Phillies, who absorbed the remainder of his salary.

The Marlins only had to pay one dollar. 

Now there is another player that the Marlins can pick up for the equivalent of the Dollar Menu item at McDonald’s.

Just recently, the New York Mets released second baseman Luis Castillo. Whether or not he plays this season is irrelevant for the Mets, because they still have to pay him the remaining $6 million of his four-year, $25 million contract. This would be the perfect time to bring back an old friend.

The Florida Marlins seemed set on having Omar Infante at second base and rookie third baseman Matt Dominguez at third.

If that’s the case, they can sign Castillo as a reserve infielder to improve their bench. Dominguez already has the glove for the major leagues, but his bat is still the issue. His current batting average in spring training is .219. Castillo’s spring average is .286, and if the Marlins do sign him, they can have him as their second baseman and shift Infante to third base.

The lineup with Castillo could look like this:

1: Chris Coghlan, CF 

2: Omar Infante, 3B 

3: Hanley Ramirez, SS 

4: Mike Stanton, RF 

5: Gaby Sanchez, 1B 

6: Logan Morrison, LF 

7: John Buck, C 

8: Luis Castillo, 2B 

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There are no guarantees in life and sports.

No sport has a more graceful preseason than baseball and spring training.

Within that grace is the spirit of the underdog and the non-roster invitees who strive to get their names onto the Opening Day rosters.

Who will rise to glory in April as a major leaguer, or fall into the depths of the minors?

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