Fielder Hits First HR In 109 ABs - RealGM Wiretap

Prince Fielder hit a home run against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night Devin Funchess Rush Jersey , his first with the Texas Rangers.

Fielder had gone 51 at-bats to start the season without a home run before that blast, but also 109 at-bats going back to last year with the Tigers, including postseason.

The Rangers acquired Fielder in a trade with the Tigers this offseason.

Angels Seeking Upgrade In Left Field But Options Limited - RealGM Wiretap

The Los Angeles Angels are looking to make an upgrade in left field, but their options appear limited.

Billy Eppler said Monday that he's "had conversations with free agents on the outfield market as recently as 24 hours ago," but wouldn't specify whether big names like Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon or Justin Upton were among them.

Arte Moreno has been adamant about staying below the $189 million luxury-tax threshold, a source said, and there were no indications of him changing his mind. The Angels would still like an upgrade in left field, but it doesn't look like they'll spend a lot to do so.

锘? The 2007-2008 season ended up being yet another exciting college basketball campaign. As always, there were Cinderella's like Davidson Scott Simonson Rush Jersey , but in the end it was the traditional powers that were in San Antonio, Texas for the Final Four where Kansas edged Memphis in a thrilling final. North Carolina, UCLA and Memphis left Texas disappointed, but those three teams are likely candidates to reach Detroit, Michigan for the 2009 version of the Final Four.

The Tar Heels are the clear favorites to cut down the nets in the Motor City. It was assumed that Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington or Danny Green would head for the NBA. Few thought, but many hoped, that all would return to Chapel Hill. But here they are for at least one more year playing college ball. Anything but a national championship would be disappointing for a team that went 36-3 last year and returns their top six players.

However, there are plenty of other traditional powers who hope to bring down the favorites Robert McClain Rush Jersey , including UNC's nemesis Duke. The lack of an interior threat forced the Blue Devils to depend on their perimeter game. And when the outside shot stopped falling, Duke stopped winning. Coach Mike Krzyzewski hopes junior Brian Zoubek and freshman Miles Plumlee are the answer. With Gerald Henderson, Greg Paulus, Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Lance Thomas, Duke has plenty of other scoring options, but they need to find one in the paint.

UCLA lost four key players, including the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love James Bradberry Rush Jersey , the fifth overall pick. Yet, if anybody can reload quickly, it is the Bruins and Coach Ben Howland. The talent on the perimeter will be unmatched in the Pac-10, but the difference will be finding an interior threat that can replace Love. As usual UCLA has a talented group of freshmen coming into Westwood, but 6-8 forward Drew Gooden is no Love.

An old favorite who has been struggling lately will also be back on the national stage. Connecticut has enough talent to reach the Final Four and a year of experience for their young team can do nothing but help. Having center Hasheem Thabeet gives Uconn a presence under the basket that few teams can match. But does Coach Jim Calhoun have enough depth to make a serious run and are the team chemistry issues that have plagued the Huskies over the last few seasons finally over?

Derrick Rose may have been the first pick in the NBA Draft, but that does not mean Memphis is lacking in talent. Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier are senior leaders on a team that generally lacks in senior leadership. With some young talent waiting to make their mark, the Tigers can make another championship run.

Coach Rick Barnes returns plenty of experienced players, but losing D.J. Augustin hurts. The point guard left for the NBA after averaging 19.2 points and 5.8 assists per contest as a sophomore. With a brutal schedule that includes non-conference games against UCLA and Michigan State, it will not take long to learn just how good the Longhorns are this season.

Those Spartans of Michigan State will have home state advantage if they can make it to the Final Four. Even without Drew Neitzel, Coach Tom Izzo has a more talented squad than he has had in recent years. The difference maker could be highly touted recruit Delvin Roe. The power forward could be the missing part to a puzzle that includes a talented group of sophomores on the perimeter in Chris Allen Vernon Butler Rush Jersey , Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers and the team's leader, junior Raymar Moragn.

But it is not just the traditional powers that will make noise this basketball season. So-called mid-major conferences like the Atlantic 10, Missouri Valley, Mountain West and West Coast Conference all have teams that can make plenty of noise in March.

Dayton, Temple and Xavier are the cream of the crop in the A-10. Dayton returns Chris Wright from injury and there is enough talent around him to make the NCAA Tournament and do some damage once they get there. This is also the year Temple returns to prominence after a few down years. But it is Xavier that dominated the conference a year ago and returns a couple stars in C.J. Anderson and Derrick Brown.

The Missouri Valley Conference still might not reach the level they did a couple years ago, but there are quality teams in the conference. Creighton and Southern Illinois are the traditional favorites and will be again this year. After six straight seasons without a conference championship, the Bluejays drought is expected to end this year. Like SIU, the Creighton strength is on the perimeter and whichever team can find more production out of the frontcourt will be the favorites to take home another MVC title.

Out west it is UNLV and BYU who a.