Exposing a competitive-balance fallacy

Hot Stove U., which runs from Jan. 11 to Feb. 18, taps into the vast knowledge of ESPN's diverse collection of contributors and presents 30 need-to-know topics for 2010.

JAN. 11

• Why MLB needs Joe Mauer in Minnesota
  
• Sidebar: Why the frugal Twins keep winning

JAN. 12

• Why the Cubs' contract situation is so bad

JAN. 13

• Why stat-oriented teams look "old-school"

JAN. 14

• Why Jeter is the second-best shortstop ever

JAN. 15

• Why the best pitchers hate facing Braun

JAN. 18

• Why there are rules that fans don't get

JAN. 19

• Why talent evaluators can thank Zduriencik

JAN. 20

• Why Pena is the game's purist slugger

JAN. 21

• Why pinch-hitting is often a bad idea

JAN. 22

• Why Yankee Stadium is a pitcher's park

JAN. 25

• Why the run is the most underrated stat

JAN. 26

• Why WAR is the best assessment stat

JAN. 27

• Why Boston has the most productive system

JAN. 28

• Why baseball is seeing prime catching talent

JAN. 29

• Why the Pirates have the best blueprint

FEB. 1

• Why MLB's competitive balance is better than you realize
• Sidebar: Why a radical idea on realignment is needed

FEB. 2

• Why Lee is the best fit for his new ballpark

FEB. 3

• Why Utley doesn't need to steal more often

FEB. 4

• Why Hernandez is king of franchise pitchers

FEB. 5

• Why Scioscia is the game's best manager

FEB. 8

• Why Damon would be good fit in Cincinnati

FEB. 9

• Why Nyjer Morgan is the best defensive OF

FEB. 10

• Why David Wright will get back on track

FEB. 11

• Why Jim Thome is as good as Eddie Murray was

FEB. 12

• Why middle men are so difficult to evaluate

FEB. 15

• Why Tim Lincecum's changeup is MLB's best pitch

FEB. 16

• Why young, elite pitchers start declining early

FEB. 17

• Why third base coaches are too conservative

FEB. 18

• Why Hit/fx and Field f/x will be baseball's next breakthrough

FEB. 19

• Why stress pitches matter more than pitch count