While looking toward the future with our comprehensive slate of current content, we'd also like to recognize our rich past by drawing upon our extensive (and mostly free) online archive of work dating back to 1997. In an effort to highlight the best of what's gone before, we'll be bringing you a weekly blast from BP's past, introducing or re-introducing you to some of the most informative and entertaining authors who have passed through our virtual halls. If you have fond recollections of a BP piece that you'd like to nominate for re-exposure to a wider audience, send us your suggestion.

Take a trip back to the 2007 winter meetings in Nashville in the piece reprinted below, which was originally published as an "On the Beat" column on December 2, 2007.
 

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.—It might not be fair to call David Wright Mr. Met. After all, he doesn't wear a size-22 baseball cap. However, the six-time All-Star third baseman is the closest thing to a Mr. Met in the non-mascot division. He was one of the franchise's first-round picks in the 2001 amateur draft following his senior year of high school in Chesapeake, Virginia, made his major-league debut three years later, and is now the franchise leader with 1,426 hits.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—John Farrell knows the Boston baseball scene. He was the Red Sox' pitching coach for four seasons (from 2007-10) before serving a two-year stint as the Blue Jays' manager. Thus, he understands the scrutiny all Red Sox’ managers are under in New England.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Brian Cashman is either the eternal optimist or a pretty good fibber. Either way, the Yankees general manager downplayed the idea that his team could be without the game's highest-paid player for as much as half of next season.

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Last week, we looked at the wish lists for National League clubs now that the Hot Stove season has heated up in force. This time, let's look at what American League teams are trying to acquire this offseason:

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Workers were putting up the tree at a local restaurant the other day, and it was the first sure sign that it was that time of the year. Then, a few days later, the Marlins lit enough Yule logs to create a fire sale and, sure enough, the Christmas season was officially upon us. With that in mind, let's take a look at the shopping lists of the 15 National League clubs. We'll even look at what the Marlins might be looking for, though if Santa Claus is a true fan of competitive balance, he will put a large lump of coal in owner Jeffrey Loria’s stocking.

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The stolen base has quietly been making a comeback in recent seasons. Teams might not be running like they did three decades ago in the world of cookie-cutter stadiums and artificial turf, but managers have been showing more of a willingness to press the issue on the bases.

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The offseason is here and the coals of the Hot Stove are already being stoked with trades, decisions on contract options, and potential free agents being re-signed. The furnace will crank up another notch when free agency begins Saturday and the general managers' meetings take place next week in Palm Springs, California. So, let's not waste any time; let’s take a look at five off-season subjects that figure to create some buzz:

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While looking toward the future with our comprehensive slate of current content, we'd also like to recognize our rich past by drawing upon our extensive (and mostly free) online archive of work dating back to 1997. In an effort to highlight the best of what's gone before, we'll be bringing you a weekly blast from BP's past, introducing or re-introducing you to some of the most informative and entertaining authors who have passed through our virtual halls. If you have fond recollections of a BP piece that you'd like to nominate for re-exposure to a wider audience, send us your suggestion.

Madison Bumgarner's second World Series start was a success, but his first may have been even better. John Perrotto recounted Bumgarner's Game Four start in the 2010 World Series in the piece reprinted below, which was originally published as a "World Series Prospectus" column on November 1st, 2010.
 

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Javier Lopez is one of the brightest and most articulate major-leaguers. The Giants left-handed reliever holds a psychology degree from the University of Virginia and, though he majored in a liberal arts subject, he understands sabermetrics and how they can be used to help build a championship team. Lopez was a member of the 2007 world champion Red Sox.

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Most general managers say that starting pitching remains the most difficult commodity to acquire. That would be hard to tell, though, by what Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has done the past two seasons.

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One of the easiest jobs in baseball would seemingly be writing out the Yankees' lineup. With the game's biggest payroll, three future Hall of Famers at the top of the lineup, and All-Stars filling out the other six spots, it would seem Joe Girardi needs nothing more than a rubber stamp.

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