ESPN

Philip Humber's stock rose just a bit on Saturday after he threw the 21st perfect game in major league history. OK, it was against the Mariners, but that doesn't make it less impressive -- just more likely. We've seen nine perfect games thrown in the last three decades, after just 12 in the rest of baseball's history. Is Humber's perfecto a sign of the times?

How many perfect games will be thrown in this decade? (three already)

•  
  9%
  Three
•  
  16%
  Four
•  
  32%
  Five
•  
  42%
  More than five

(Total votes: 45,842)

What was a bigger factor in Philip Humber's perfect game against the Mariners?

•  
  57%
  Good pitching
•  
  43%
  Bad hitting

(Total votes: 55,749)

Did you know who Philip Humber was before Saturday?

•  
  24%
  Yes
•  
  76%
  No

(Total votes: 15,348)

Opening Day -- well, Opening Night, really, and we technically already had one of those in Japan, but who's counting? -- is finally here, as the Cardinals will take on the Marlins tonight in the first stateside regular-season MLB game. It's bound to be an exciting season with so many players having changed teams, but has the power structure been altered significantly?

Vote: Pick each division and pennant, and the winner of the World Series

Rank: Baseball's best teams? | Top players in the game?

Which team is more likely to make it back to the World Series?

•  
  21%
  Cardinals
•  
  79%
  Rangers

(Total votes: 63,581)

Which of these players would you most want on your team?

•  
  6%
  Miguel Cabrera
•  
  17%
  Roy Halladay
•  
  6%
  Felix Hernandez
•  
  39%
  Albert Pujols
•  
  31%
  Justin Verlander

(Total votes: 64,564)

Which of these AL East teams is most likely to miss the playoffs?

•  
  30%
  Rays
•  
  54%
  Red Sox
•  
  15%
  Yankees

(Total votes: 38,308)

Which is the best team in the American League?

•  
  21%
  Angels
•  
  21%
  Rangers
•  
  21%
  Tigers
•  
  23%
  Yankees
•  
  14%
  Another team

(Total votes: 66,943)

Which is the best team in the National League?

•  
  10%
  Marlins
•  
  10%
  Giants
•  
  46%
  Phillies
•  
  8%
  Reds
•  
  26%
  Another team

(Total votes: 63,887)

We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)

Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)

Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)

Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)

• Vote: Who gets your vote for MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year?

This season has been a bit of a snoozer for the Seattle Mariners, and yes, that's a bad Ken Griffey Jr. joke. A chic sleeper pick to win the AL West before the season, the Mariners have instead been outscored by 143 runs and still have some work to do to steer clear of 100 losses. But that may not stop the team from being in the middle of one of September's hottest races.

Felix Hernandez is only 11-10 this season, but is there something to be said for being a game better than .500 for a team that is collectively 30 games worse than that mark? Hernandez also leads the AL in strikeouts and ranks second in ERA, but if SportsNation's votes are any indication, he has some work to do in the Cy Young race.

Mike (New York)

I cannot buy into King Felix being a lock for the CY young. Since when wins did not mean much? Shouldn't it be taken into consideration which pitcher provided the most wins for their team when started. Doesn't wins, more or less, play into a pitcher's chances in the hall of fame?

Jayson Stark

Thanks for getting into this, Mike. I'm not one of those people who says, unequivocally, that wins are meaningless. Are they an overrated stat in this day and age? Yes. But meaningless? No. So I'm not willing to just trash the win column, like a lot of people are, come Cy Young time. But I also believe the Cy Young is a performance award: Who has pitched the best? And it's tough to ignore the difference between how good CC's team is and how good Felix's team is, especially offensively. Felix beats CC in pretty much every category except wins, and beats him convincingly in ERA and WHIP. So let's see how this turns out. But as much as I admire and respect CC, I don't think he has pitched better than Felix Hernandez this year. Transcript

Steve (Middletown, CT)

Does Felix Hernandez have any shot at winning the Cy Young award? Other than win-loss record all his numbers are better than Sabathia and if he played for any other team he'd probably be the one with 18 wins. Thoughts?

Jerry Crasnick

Steve, In past years I would have said no, but Felix's numbers are so staggeringly good, he might have a shot. The voters showed last year that they're willing to put W-L totals aside and focus on the other numbers. That said, Sabathia is 18-5 and Felix is 10-10. That's a pretty big gap. Transcript

Tito (Brooklyn)

Do you think CC Sabathia is the frontrunner for the AL CY Young award right now?

Joe Morgan

I've always said that but everyone seems to think that his numbers don't matter because he pitches for the Yankees. All CC has done is continue to win, while others were talking about Cliff Lee being the best pitcher in the AL. Right now we have many different ways to look at how a pitcher is performing, but the name of the game is to win. I feel that he should be the Cy Young Award winner because he's the only one carrying the Yankees rotation right now. But there's something about the Yankees that people don't want to give him credit for. I'm amazed that Mark Teixeira and Jeter did not get a first place vote for MVP last year. Transcript

Bill (Seattle)

Felix Hernandez probably should get some Cy Young votes given his numbers, but that Win-Loss record is going to kill him isn't it?

Keith Law

Probably, although the voters did get it right with Greinke last year. The voting pool on each award is different each year, so you never really know until the results are out. Transcript

• Rank 'Em: How does the AL Cy Young race shape up at midseason?
• Rank 'Em: NL Cy Young race? | NL MVP race? | MLB Power Rankings?

Cliff Lee hasn't had much difficulty polishing his Cy Young credentials against hitters in recent seasons. General managers, on the other hands, have mastered the art of keeping awards out of his hands.

Lee won the AL Cy Young in 2008 but any chance for a repeat in 2009 was derailed when the Indians traded him across leagues to the Phillies. Another offseason swap landed him back in the AL, but will a strong first half only serve to spark yet another trade? Or might Lee mount a Cy Young season from the depths of last place?

• "If you guys think you're going to get him easily than you're kidding yourselves. This isn't Bill Bavasi running the team anymore, we are not giving up players like Choo and Cabrera for nobodies anymore. I would almost rather just keep Lee, get the two draft picks at the end of the year and watch Z do what he does best which is drafting great talent." -- SN commenter CGhereICome

Mike W (Chicago)

Lets start this off with Cliff Lee. What are the odds he goes to Cincinnati for a playoff push and what would it take to get him?

Jerry Crasnick

Mike, I find the Reds to be a very interesting stealth Cliff Lee candidate. There's something special going on with that team, Walt Jocketty has a history of making deals like this, and the owner, Bob Castellini, is a very motivated guy. But Edinson Volquez's comeback clearly complicates matters. I think they'd like to give Volquez another couple of weeks before they jump in with both feet on Lee. Full transcript.

• Rank: Where does Griffey rank among 1990s position players?

It's a testament to Ken Griffey Jr.'s immense talent that, as his career ends, fans look at his 630 home runs and 10 Gold Gloves and ask "What If?"

What if, for instance, Griffey had stayed in Seattle, where his career began in a dramatic fashion and continued in a record-breaking one. What if he'd stayed entirely healthy, averaging more than 99 games per year during his 30s? What if he'd hit more than 192 home runs over his last ten years? What if, what if, what if. Let's at very least appreciate the man for what he was: one of the greatest-hitting center fielders who ever lived, a player who was, at his best, pure energy on the field. That he retires quietly, a shell of the player he once was, is no shame. At his Hall of Fame induction five years hence, all we'll remember are the good times.

“

I was there for his first game in Seattle. Even then you had a sense he was going to be great. Thanks for all the memories and making things right by finishing your career with the Mariners.

” -- triple_double_32

“

Thanks for the memories griffey.. He was the reason why i even liked baseball as a kid. The best pure swing ever, always the nicest person, and actual role model to a child.... HOF 1st ballot. Wish you could of played for the pin stripes.

” -- casperusmc999

“

Not many class ac t guys like Griffey come around in a lifetime. He played the game exactly the way it should be played, with integrity and class. Thanks for the memories Junior !

” -- sdchargersguy

• Vote: What do you make of Mike Sweeney challenging teammates to fight him?
• Rank 'Em: How do you rank the greatest outfielders in MLB history?
• Chat wrap: Howard Bryant took questions about his new book about Hank Aaron.
• ESPN.com: Buster Olney's take | More: Larry LaRue's Tacoma News Tribune blog

The Mariners went silent after Tuesday's game in Baltimore, ironically escalating how much the rest of us discuss precisely what they're mad about in the first place. Many players refused to speak to Tacoma News Tribune reporter Larry LaRue after he wrote the story, as told to him and confirmed by anonymous players, about Ken Griffey Jr. sleeping through a pinch-hitting opportunity. Luckily, the players wised up and spoke after Wednesday's loss ... oh wait, no, they still wouldn't talk. Counterproductive, much?

• "So, the M's won't speak when the reporter is in the room? Probably because they don't want to have to answer his questions with lies. Also, boycotting this reporter hurts the fans, because we want to know the truth, and we want to have the players address the media. The way the team is handling this issue will drive fans farther away. Someone like Lee should have just said, I won't address that particular issue, but let's talk about my pitching performance and the team's performance. The more they deny, and keep the issue going, the more defensive they appear." -- SportsNation commenter coreyshank72

Of course, what probably has front office folks in Seattle sleepless is Griffey's anemic batting average and nonexistent power numbers. The problem is how do you gracefully kick him to the curb, even if you want to? Not only is Junior a Seattle icon, he might be one of the best outfielders ever to play the game. Rank 'Em.

Mike (Ohio)

So, was the biggest crime Griffey sleeping during the game or the 2 anonymous players going outside the clubhouse to the press?

Joe Morgan

That is a great fan question. For me, it's the two guys going outside the clubhouse. If you have something to say, say it to the guy you're talking about. Or, if you feel like you have to go to the newspaper, at least be man enough to put your name on it. But that clubhouse in Seattle has been in disarray for the last couple of years. Full transcript

Mike (Ohio)

Hi Jerry, a question I posed to Joe Morgan earlier: Was the biggest crime Griffey sleeping during the game or the 2 anonymous teammates who went outside the clubhouse to the press? Thanks

Jerry Crasnick

Mike, Obviously, it makes Griffey look bad, but this wouldn't be nearly as big an issue if the Mariners weren't so anemic offensively. As for the two anonymous teammates, I get the impression that they were just confiding in the reporter and didn't realize the story would blow up the way it did. For what it's worth, Larry LaRue, the guy who reported the story, has been around a long time and is well-respected in the industry. He's not a guy who would just invent something to stir the pot and cause problems. Full transcript

• Rank 'Em: Are the Mariners dead last in your MLB Power Rankings?
• More from ESPN.com: Rob Neyer's SweetSpot blog on the Griffey situation

Mayor of Seattle? Governor of Washington? Overlord of Microsoft? Ken Griffey Jr. probably could have named his next gig in the Evergreen State during the height of the lovefest that accompanied his return to the Mariners last season. But missing a pinch-hitting call because of a clubhouse nap is a gaffe on part with some of the more memorable political campaign flubs -- from Michael Dukakis in a tank to the first George Bush and the grocery scanner.

So is it time for Griffey, hitting .208 this season, to take his 630 career home runs and ride off toward Cooperstown? SportsNation commenters are of different minds.

Update: Mariners' manager Don Wakamatsu now denies the claim that Griffey was snoozing in the clubhouse.

• "If I were a 40 year old ball player who's main role was DH and Pinch Hitting i'd get drowsy to. I grew up a Griffey fan and have an autographer Mariners jersey of his (yes he AND his father signed it) hanging up in my man cave but watching him fade away like this sucks. Still love the guy regradless of how terrible he now is but it's time to say goodnight Kid. We've enjoyed watching you play for 20+ year and even through the forgettable Cincy years we still love you. Hang them up, go home and get some rest." -- cravenfrost01
• "These stories span Griffey's entire career. He's always been an insomniac. Don Wakamatsu has talked about these issues very seriously. Lou Piniella has told stories of Jr. waking from a catnap, picking up a bat and hitting a homerun. The man is a living legend, and this story only adds to the lore of the greatest player from this past generation." -- johnnykilroy30

The Common Man (Underground Bunker)

So is this it for Junior Griffey? An ignominious end, to be sure.

Rob Neyer

You know what would be a "fun" project? Making a list of the greatest players, then rating (or ranking) their career endings. Right now I have to think Junior's would rate pretty low (even with style points for finishing with M's). Full transcript

“

Good thing they are counting on his leadership to right Bradley's ship. Junior should have retired after 600, IMO.

” -- Fat_Pigs

“

All of the Griffey bashers can take a hike. KGJr is one of the greatest of all time. He's on a last place team that is going nowhere fast. I do agree, if he is having problems at home, he needs to hang it up and deal with it. His status and legacy is already cemented in the HOF.

” -- japetus

It's just like the census, only this one is fun and doesn't come in the mail. And nobody from FOX News or MSNBC will yell at you about it. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2010 MLB survey
2009 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 1)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (Overall: No. 7)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 16)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 23)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (Overall: No. 24)

Take part in the 2010 NFL survey
2009 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Overall: No. 3)
2. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 14)
4. Tennessee Titans (Overall: No. 15)
5. New England Patriots (Overall: No. 19)

Take part in the 2010 NBA survey
2009 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 5)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 9)
3. New Orleans Hornets (Overall: No. 12)
4. Houston Rockets (Overall: No. 17)
5. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 18)

Take part in the 2010 NHL survey
2009 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Overall: No. 2)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 4)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 6)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 8)
5. St. Louis Blues (Overall: No. 10)

Just who is this Jack Zduriencik guy?

Born outside a small town in Vermont with an oddly-shaped-but-aerodynamic head and forced to sled two miles down a mountain to school every day, Jack Zduriencik emerged from obscurity to become arguably the greatest luger in history and one of the best hopes for American gold in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

An innovative coach who brought the single-wing formation back to prominence at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and foiled opponents trying to steal play calls by conducting all on-field communications in Mandarin, Jack Zduriencik is Brian Kelly's replacement at the University of Cincinnati.

The first non-GM to win Baseball America's Executive of the Year award, Jack Zduriencik took over as the general manager of the Mariners in 2008 and managed a feat previously thought impossible by trading Yuniesky Betancourt and getting live baseball players in return. He also appears on the verge of landing former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee in an offseason deal some are calling a "heist." (Listen to Rob Neyer, left).

Actually, according to SportsNation, Jack Zduriencik isn't any of those things. Instead, voters say he's the doctor recently connected to Tiger Woods in a New York Times article.

We trust the not-so-subtle clues here will point you in the right direction.

• Your Rankings: Who are MLB's best general managers? | Who are MLB's best pitchers?

Ed (NoCal)

Can you tell us a bit of the trends you see in MLB from your vantage point, as you try to build the Rangers? Anything surprising to you?

Rangers GM Jon Daniels

Some off the top of my head ... Heavy emphasis on defense, and to a lesser degree versatility. Teams coveting their prospects. Teams in certain areas of the country pulling back financially in response to their local economies. Full transcript

Bobby (Seattle)

The Angels stand to lose a lot (figgins, lackey, vlade +); many of their rumblings indicate they plan to replace from within (wood, palmer/bell/etc.). Do you think they can reload mostly from within and still hold off TX and Seattle, let alone thrive in the playoffs? Or do they have to land at least 2 "biggies" (via FA or trade) to stay at or exceed their level?

Keith Law

Losing Figgins' OBP and Lackey's bulk innings hurt. They have to replace one of those, if not both, and I don't see internal candidates to do either. Full Nov. 20 transcript