We have already ranked the top 10 teams, lineups, infields, outfields, bullpens and rotations heading into the 2012 season.
As we wait for Prince Fielder to make his decision, here are the top 10 stories for 2012:
1. The attempted rebranding of the Miami Marlins
They are baseball's great gamblers, having bet heavily on a complete overhaul of the organization: A new ballpark, a new color scheme, new uniforms, a new manager, a new shortstop in Jose Reyes, a new rotation leader in Mark Buehrle, and a new closer in Heath Bell. Some baseball executives fret over the strategy, but it's worked for other teams, such as the San Francisco Giants. If the Marlins rush to the top of the standings next season and immediately establish a new era, this has a chance to be an extraordinary success. If the Marlins flame out early and fans don't show up, epitaphs for the franchise will be written.
To continue reading the top storylines for 2012, as well as Buster Olney's blog every morning, sign up for ESPN Insider.
Buster Olney
ESPN Insider- Senior writer ESPN Magazine/ESPN.com
- Reporter for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball
- Author of "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty"
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Buster Olney
Buster Olney is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. He began covering baseball in 1989, as the Nashville Banner's beat reporter assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Later, he covered the San Diego Padres (1993-94), the Baltimore Orioles ('95-96), the New York Mets ('97) and the Yankees ('98-2001). Olney joined ESPN The Magazine in 2003, after six years at The New York Times, and he's the author of two books. "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty," is a Times best-seller, and "How Lucky You Can Be", about basketball coaching legend Don Meyer, was released in 2011.
He grew up in central Vermont collecting baseball cards and listening to Red Sox, Expos, Phillies and Pirates radio broadcasts, and was a rabid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He graduated from Vanderbilt University the same year as hoops legend Will Perdue, and ranks among the all-time leading scorers in pickup basketball at Memorial Gym. He claims to have witnessed the Commodores' winning football season in 1982 (although anthropologists have not yet confirmed this).
Olney also contributes to ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS, "SportsCenter" and "Baseball Tonight."
Follow Buster on Twitter: @Buster_ESPN
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