AGRI Biz

The post-Thanksgiving season is Open Season for bargain hunters nationwide. Holiday shoppers flock to Best Buy and Target in search of discounted products they donÆt need. As the spending surge tapers down, it is clear that the shrewdest customer of the last few days was Tampa Bay Rays GM Andrew Friedman, who acquired Kelly Shoppach from the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. In doing so, Friedman bought himself a new starting catcher for ...

There are some things in life we know to be true. The sun rises in the East. Politicians are crooks. Family Guy will never be funnier than The Simpsons was at its peak. And the Boston Red Sox will sign Marco Scutaro. With Alex Gonzalez headed for Toronto and J.J. Hardy already traded, weÆre told that Scutaro, by far the best shortstop in this yearÆs free agent class, is as good as signed. While ...

For almost 20 years, Matt Groening's "The Simpsons" has been a cornerstone of American pop culture. Even if the show has declined a bit in the last few years, it remains a gleaming bastion of wit and entertainment. Here's what the show would look like if it were cast with Major League Baseball players.Begin Slideshow

Clay Buchholz is the pride and joy of the Boston Red SoxÆs farm system. With a minor league record of 31-14 with a 2.42 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 4.05 K/BB ratio, it was clear that Buchholz was destined for glory even before he hurled a no-hitter in his second career Major League start. The Red Sox think very highly of himùso highly, in fact, that GM Theo Epstein lost out ...

In discussing the Cy Young award, the debate is hindered by the question of what, exactly, the voters are judging the players on. In the 2009 NL Cy Young race, for example, people who look primarily to playersÆ skill sets supported Tim Lincecum. Writers who decide based on the impact a pitcher has on a team endorsed Chris Carpenter. And voters with limited cognitive abilities to analyze statistics cast their ballots ...

The Baseball Writers Association of America has selected St. Louis CardinalsÆ first baseman Albert Pujols as the 2009 National League Cy Young Award winner, according to a press release from Major League Baseball. ôThis is an incredible honor,ö said Pujols, who has not pitched a single inning in his illustrious 10-year professional career. ôI am truly humbled.ö Pujols hit .327 with 47 home runs, 135 RBI, and a 1.101 OPS in 2009. ...

The Cleveland Indians have begun talks with the Chicago Cubs about reacquiring Milton Bradley, according to Haul Poynes of the Dain Plealer. The Indians were forced to deal Bradley before the 2004 season after a publicized altercation with then-manager and notable clubhouse cancer, Eric Wedge. Feeling tightness in his groin, Bradley did not sprint to first after hitting a weak pop fly in a Spring Training game, March 31. Wedge, big bad ...

LetÆs be honest; Moneyball hasnÆt quite worked out over the last few years. The Oakland Athletics had gone 457-353 under Billy BeaneÆs leadership when Moneyball was published after the 2002 season. They continued their success for the next four years, going 368-280, but have gone just 226-260 since 2007. Players Beane maligned in the bookùCarlos Pe±a and Prince Fielder, for exampleùhave emerged as superstars . Meanwhile, the most successful of the prospects ...

What is the best way to measure a pitcherÆs skill? Is it his strikeout rate, demonstrating the pitcherÆs ability to prevent batters from hitting the ball? Is it innings pitched, showing his durability? Is it WHIP, the talent to keep runners off the base paths? Is it his defense independent pitching stats, an estimate of how many runs he would give up with an ôaverageö-fielding team behind him? Should you use ...

I read a rumor last night that inspired me. It set my mind in motion, and I came up with an idea so easy and exciting that I had trouble falling asleep. Everyone knows that Omar Vizquel is one of the greatest defensive shortstops in the history of Major League Baseball. A FOX Sports article reported that Vizquel will not return to the Texas Rangers in 2010. He is seeking a similar utility-infielder ...