MLB

In perhaps the most stunning development of the spring, news broke over the weekend that Nolan Ryan could be on his way out as CEO of the Texas Rangers.  

Ryan, who is also part-owner of the club, joined the Rangers’ front office as team president in 2008 and has also served as the team CEO for the past couple of seasons.  But a power struggle within the organization resulted in general manager Jon Daniels taking on the mantle of team president, which may lead to Ryan’s departure from the organization and a major PR blunder for the Texas Rangers.

Any fan who believes that athletes should be paid based on merit should be outraged over Mike Trout’s contract situation.

In a time where fans across the country complain about the A-Rods and Teixeiras getting paid way too much for too little production (something the latter openly admitted), there should be an equal amount of anger over a player getting screwed over despite providing superior play.   

And mark my words, Mike Trout absolutely provided superior play in 2012.

Many experts will argue that Trout was the best all-around player in MLB last season, leading the majors in runs, stolen bases, OPS+, and WAR en route to winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award and finishing second in the MVP voting.  He also single-handedly rescued Los Angeles’ season, as the Angels went from an 8-15 team and having the worst OPS in the AL in April to an 89-win squad with a top-three OPS at the end of the year.

The Phillies raced out to a 4-0 lead in the 2nd inning and never looked back. They scored one more in the fourth inning in route to a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Phillies starting pitcher John Lannan and the other four relievers combined for a one-hitter on the afternoon. Reliever Mike Adams followed Lannan and pitched one perfect inning with one strikeout. Charlie Manuel said he was pleased with the Phillies bullpen as of late, and it seems like everyone is getting their rhythm together in time for opening day.

Michael Young continued his consistent hitting streak through the spring, with two hits and two RBIs. Ben Revere and Yuniesky Betancourt chipped in as well, each with two hits. The Phillies frustrated Pirates opening day starter A.J. Burnett, who lasted just 1 1/3 innings before being pulled. The Phillies are now 5-5 through their spring exhibition schedule while the Pirates have lost seven of eight and are now 3- 7.

Say this for Zach Greinke:  he is not afraid to let people know about his motivations.

Greinke, a starting pitcher who split last season between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Angels, signed a 6-year, $147 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers back in December.  At the time of the signing, this deal was the second-largest in MLB history among contracts given to pitchers.

And in a rare bit of candid honestly, Greinke left no doubt that money is the biggest reason he will wear Dodger Blue this season. 

"I could play for the worst team if they paid the most," Greinke said in an interview with CBSSports.com. "If the last-place team offers $200 million and the first-place team offers $10, I'm going to go for the $200 million no matter what team it was."

The Phillies this year are another year older, and another year removed from their 2008 World Series Championship. Many of the 2008 squad's roster are still intact, but the window is closing fast on making it back with the same core group of players. Charlie Manuel is back at the helm of the club once again this year, and thinks that this group has what it takes to compete for another NL East title this year.