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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 how each performed during their opportunities this spring.

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Most baseball predictions are relatively straightforward. Sure, you can argue over whether Joey Votto will be better than Albert Pujols or who will win the AL East, but as long as the focus is on just one outcome, it’s at least easy to understand the train of thought.

That’s why, when one person decides to power rank all 30 MLB teams, things inevitably go awry.

There’s a general consensus about how the top and the bottom should look, but in between the two extremes, things can get pretty screwy. One man’s top-three team is in another man’s bottom five.

Luckily, Bleacher Report’s Featured Columnists have found a solution. Twenty-six of the site’s most knowledgeable writers, representing 18 teams, all wrote in with their lists, which we combined into this—our composite power rankings, in which the group consensus outweighs our individual biases.

For each team, you can see our average ranking, as well as the extreme highs and lows they reached on our ballots. The numbers are accompanied by commentary from 18 different writers, so you can read a whole range of different perspectives on how the 2011 season will shake out.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this survey—now let’s see how we do!

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Each year spring training shows a glimpse into the season ahead, but also a glimpse into the future.  We get to see the heroes of today shake off the rust of winter, but we also get to see the heroes of tomorrow take their hacks and show us what’s to come.

With these guys, it can be hard to get too excited, because a lot can happen in professional baseball, and best case scenario we’re not seeing these guys for at least another year.

All we can really do is, as Dick Vitale might say, “remember the name.”  Baby.

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One of the most exciting aspects of spring training is the positional battles that every team faces.

Last year, young players such as Jason Heyward claimed starting spots for their teams, while veterans such as Bengie Molina held off charges from rookies to hold onto their spots, even if it didn’t last long.

2011 is no different.  Every team has a positional battle ongoing.  Some of these battles are more important than others.

Here are the projected winners for 10 of the biggest positional battles this spring training.

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In 2010, Roy “Doc” Halladay joined a new team, switched leagues in the process and pitched better than ever.

In Doc’s case, that’s saying something. He was coming off eight consecutive stellar seasons as the Toronto Blue Jays ace (which included six All-Star appearances, a Cy Young Award and four other top-five finishes), and although he pitched in relative obscurity, many already considered him to be the best pitcher in the game.

Those who did not know the Phillies’ new ace of aces all that well before 2010 were astonished by his combination of work ethic, nasty stuff and humility.

Those who knew him from his AL East days—where he led an inferior team into battle against the likes of the Yankees and the Red Sox—still marveled at how easily he dominated the National League.

No matter how you choose to view Halladay’s inaugural season in the season circuit, you come away quite impressed.

Traditional Stats: 21-10, 2.44 ERA with 219 strikeouts against only 30 walks in a league-leading 250.2 innings pitched. He also led the majors with nine complete games.

Halladay posted a 2-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in his first ever postseason.

Inside Numbers: A WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 6.98 and career-best full-season marks for WHIP (1.041 walks and hits per nine innings) and ERA-plus (165: the higher the better—100 is average).

Geeky stats aside (and there are tons more that show Doc to be at or near the head of his class), we haven’t even mentioned his special accolades.

Halladay, of course, threw a regular-season perfect game at Florida and hurled a no-hitter against a powerful Cincinnati Reds team to open the playoffs.

He capped it all off by capturing the NL Cy Young Award. In a season that featured very strong performances by the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright and the Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez, Halladay won the award unanimously.

To a team player like Roy Halladay, the opportunity to pitch for a championship contender made 2010 his most memorable campaign.

Indeed, after receiving his Cy Young Award last November, the modest right-hander was quoted by several news sources as saying, “It’s by far the most fun I’ve ever had playing this game. It was just tremendous from Day 1 to the end.”

The beauty of Halladay’s demeanor is that for all he has attained personally in a career that will one day earn him a plaque in Cooperstown, he is motivated by team accomplishments. Setting the stage for new teammates Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee, Halladay wanted to pitch in Philadelphia—for a team and a city that he could help bring a championship.

Last year, for all of his heroics, the team fell six victories short. This year—injuries to Chase Utley and Brad Lidge notwithstanding—the sky is the limit, and expectations are extremely high.

To which this columnist poses the following question:

What can Phillies fans and baseball pundits expect to see out of Halladay this season?

After all, with only 31 wins this year (and if a relative journeyman like Denny McLain could do it…) Doc will earn his 200th regular season victory this year.

Okay, it’s fairly safe to say that no pitcher will win 30 games again, and earning 20 is no mean feat. But what’s a reasonable number?

On the one hand, Halladay, who will turn 34 in May, is certainly pitching like he is in his prime. He is also coming off a combined 272-plus innings of work last year. Can he manage a similar workload in back-to-back years?

Halladay has pitched at least 220 innings in seven of his last nine seasons, including the last five.

There are two ways to look at this.

Pessimistically: It’s bound to catch up with him.

Optimistically: He’s used to the heavy workload and thrives on it—and can one question his preparation and work habits?

(Did I mention that in the history of Major League Baseball, no pitcher born in Colorado and past the age of 30 has ever pitched more than 250 innings in consecutive years? You can look it up. I didn’t, but you can.)

My own middle ground is to hope that Halladay finishes the regular season with somewhere around 230 innings and a full tank for the expected postseason run. Doc has been so consistent the last several years that it is reasonable to expect an ERA at or under 2.75 and about 19 wins (he will be at the mercy of an offense that may not produce as much this year.)

Then, as he everyone knows, it’s all about the playoffs.

Toward that end, the man widely regarded as the best pitcher on Planet Earth took the ball yesterday in a matchup against AL Cy Young contender Jon Lester and the powerful Boston Red Sox.

Halladay (now 3-0) outdueled his Red Sox counterpart, scattering five hits and yielding only one run in 7.2 innings of quality work. Ryan Madson got the last four outs to earn the save.

Alas, it was only March 21, but it was an encouraging sign.

If the same box score unfolds seven months from now, it will be huge.

When it comes to Roy Halladay, is anyone betting against it?

For more information on Matt Goldberg’s new books, other writings and public appearances, please e-mail: matt@tipofthegoldberg.com or contact him via his Bleacher Report home page.

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The Yankees farm system has produced some big-time prospects as of late.

Phil Hughes, Robinson Cano, Joba Chamberlain and Jesus Montero are just a few home-grown talents that have or are ready to make a splash at the big leagues.

But not all of the blue-chip prospects the Yankees have in their arsenal break into the bigs wearing pinstripes.

Austin Jackson was part of the Curtis Granderson deal and debuted with the Detroit Tigers.

Ian Kennedy showed flashes of brilliance during his limited time in the majors with the Yankees, but he was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks which was also a part of the Granderson deal. 

Some players are looked at as untouchable, but others can be moved. If the right deal is put on the table, sometimes it is just too hard to say no, regardless of the potential an unproven player might have.

It is just a chance that any general manager has to take.

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Throughout spring training fans have been able to see the future of many organizations. With just over a week left until Opening Day, many of the game’s top young prospects have been sent down to minor league camp.

Many of the high-profile prospects will begin the year at either Double-A or Triple-A. However, there are also some great young players who will begin the year in Single-A.

For the purpose of this list, any player who will start the season in A-ball (including short-season, Single-A and High-A) and will play there for a significant period of time or who will be promoted to A-ball and will spend significant time at that level later in the season is included. Thus, players such as Mike Trout and Wil Myers who are only expect to be in Single-A for about a month or so are not included.

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When thinking of Manny Ramirez, many moments go through a person’s mind. Many are good, but several are anything but.

On the side of being one of the better hitters of his time (or any time for that matter), are the moments that created the saying of “Manny being Manny”.

Plenty of comical instances have occurred while Ramirez has been in the league, whether it be missing a dive for a ball and ending up sitting on it, or cutting off a throw while playing left field.

Things that Ramirez has done make millions of fans scratch their heads time and time again, but despite the many memories of wackiness, many don’t know everything about the “real” Manny.

A prime example of Ramirez may have never been so clear as the other day, when Manny was the first player hitting in the cages in the early morning.

Saying he works hard is an understatement. He has transformed his hitting into a pure work of art during his career. Hitting 555 home runs can’t be executed without going the extra mile, taking the extra cuts.

He’s done his share of stupid things. There’s no way to deny that. But when player after player praises about his work ethic, you shouldn’t look into it any further. He has a drive casual fans wouldn’t realize is there.

Ramirez is out to prove his worth. With that said, he isn’t preparing very much more than he would any other season. But he wants to show he has plenty left in the tank. So there he was, 7:30 in the morning, hitting in the cages, perfecting his already beautiful swing.

Ramirez is clearly not the old Manny, the one who was a threat for 40 home runs and 120 RBIs any given season. It’s obvious why he wouldn’t be putting up those same numbers, seeing as he will turn 39 in May.

With that said, Ramirez is less than two and a half years removed from the end of a 37-homer, 121-RBI season, while playing in Boston and LA with the Dodgers. But what happened after that season is what seemed to start a downward spiral.

Before the 2009 season, Manny took “Being Manny” to another level, when he was suspended 50 games for taking a women’s fertility drug. Even with how funny that may sound, what he used was supposed to help lower his chances of testing positive for a steroid.

So with what happened before that season, it’s a fair case to say Ramirez isn’t a hard worker, and that he tried to cut corners for success. But any Ray would tell you otherwise.

According to MSNBC, during his days in Boston, it was a common scene on game day for Manny: Hit in the cages the morning before a night game, play fungo hits off the Green Monster, go home to eat lunch, and then head back to the ballpark for even more work before the game.

It’s clear seeing that he once took a phone call, a swig of Gatorade and a bathroom break in the Monster during an inning that Manny is a bit of a goof. Or a very big one, with his baggy pants and long dreads to go along.

There’s plenty of “what-if’s” to go around involving Manny. What if the bullpen doesn’t come through and Manny starts to complain, or he shows his age and crumbles in the big role the Rays have him in?

Then there’s the other end of looking at this scenario. If Manny hits anywhere close to his pre-’09 self, it will be a big success and could make the Rays contenders depending on the bullpen and the rest of the lineup.

Ramirez can provide protection for Evan Longoria in the order, but all we can do is guess how that will turn out for the Rays. But those who jump to the conclusion that signing Manny will do a lot more hurting than helping is clearly not looking at the whole picture.

The fact that after the departure of many of the teams’ stars, most thought the club would tank in 2011, is why this move is a solid one. The Rays had nothing really to lose in this situation. The Rays will only pay him $2M this season, so there doesn’t seem to be much risk in signing a potential Hall-of-Famer.

If Manny fails, the Rays don’t have to keep him. Simple as that. Since he isn’t playing the field and has the Tropicana Field air conditioning, I don’t think laziness will set in ever for Manny, who can just worry about his hitting.

The Rays didn’t sign a washed-up former star to get rear ends in the seats at the Trop. Nothing may be able to help that cause. It’s the Rays spending the money they have on a player that still has a high ceiling.

Ramirez is having a good spring so far in preparing for his 19th season. He’s been hit with the reality that he’s 40, not 30, and he’s making seven figures, not eight. But he will work his back-end off to prove he’s still a threat.

Sure, getting paid like he has, Manny should be working hard. But people aren’t saying he works harder than most for nothing. It’s not a cover up to keep him happy. It’s the truth, with many witnesses to prove it.

So it’s clear Manny will, one way or another, have a large impact in Tampa Bay in 2011. He’s had his blunders, some more embarrassing than most. But behind that comical, sloppy nature is a drive to succeed. So yes, there’s more to Manny than just being Manny.

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Marco Scutaro was the “highlight” signing of 2009’s offseason. For those who are true fans and/or have played the game, you know that he was not the big solution. In fact, he should never have been signed in the first place. He is simply overpaid and overrated. If the Red Sox did want to sign him it should have been at a much cheaper annual salary. 

Fans were becoming increasingly frustrated with the product being put on the field. No disrespect to Boston‘s finest, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkillis, Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia but the fans simply did not feel that the overall product being presented to them correlated to the ticket prices they had to pay (the highest in all of baseball). 

2010’s offseason was different. This offseason the Boston Red Sox were very busy and rightfully so. It is thought across the MLB that the Red Sox and the Phillies were the two teams that improved their teams the most this offseason. The Red Sox signed All-Star veterans Adrian Gonzalez (formerly of the San Diego Padres) and Carl Crawford (formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays). The Phils bolstered their starting pitching by signing Roy Halladay (formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays) and Cliff Lee (formerly of the Texas Rangers).

My question to you is…which player is better out of those the Red Sox signed and why? Is it the new Boston Left Fielder, speedy Carl Crawford or is it the always reliable, defensive machine Adrian Gonzalez?

Carl Crawford has tremendous speed, solid outfield play, a great bat and it seems like the only thing he can’t do is fly. Adrian Gonzalez is not quite as mobile but has more pop with his bat and is probably an even better defender at his position (1B) than Crawford is at his (LF). Gonzalez does not have much speed but he has a detailed goatee which gives him extra brownie points.

Gonzalez’s goatee aside and being completely serious, Carl Crawford seems to be the better overall player. It will be interesting to see them play on the same team as they should fuel one another’s game and they will likely have career years in 2011.

It’s an exciting time to be a Boston Red Sox fan.

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For some reason, the New York Mets gave Oliver Perez every chance possible to make the team’s Opening Day roster this year. Some people may even say that there are 12 million reasons why the team did it.

Perez started spring training with a chance to make the Mets starting rotation. After just a few outings, it was more than obvious that this would not occur. However, instead of cutting Perez at that point, the team gave him another opportunity.  Perez would have a chance to make the Mets as a reliever.

This also went poorly.

Perez struggled on the mound and continued to allow runners to reach base. His velocity also never returned to what it had previously been. Perez could not throw a 90 mph fastball. Without this ability, he could not be successful. His control problems also continued to manifest themselves as he walked eight batters in just 9.2 innings.

As poorly as Perez pitched this spring, he actually improved upon his ERA from spring training last year. He had a 8.38 ERA this spring. This obviously was not the improvement that the team was looking for, though.

Sandy Alderson announced today that the team has come to a decision about Perez. They have decided to cut him and move on. In addition to the news last week that the Mets were cutting Luis Castillo, fans are definitely happy. They only question that they may have is why it took so long for these players to be cut.

The team’s actions are showing that they are only going to put the best 25 players on the Opening Day roster. This is something that the team has not done in the past.  

While there are certainly still concerns, think Carlos Beltran’s knee and the second base battle, the team should have stability moving forward.

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