In three months’ time this year, the Dodgers went from sinking to the division cellar to swimming in the D-Backs’ pool, a turnaround so unexpected it saved manager Don Mattingly’s job.

The year of 2013 will be remembered for many highlights on the baseball field, and the explosion of mature-beyond-their-years contributions from these confident, sometimes cocky and always watchable kids has been one of the sport’s most electrifying developments.

The 2013 Indians season was one built around comebacks. Cleveland had an assortment of players bounce back from poor showings in the past, and the organization as a whole did its best to usher in a new era.

The Mariners endured a disappointing 2013 season, but they made the biggest headlines of the year with the signing of free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano.

The year of 2013 will be remembered for many highlights on the baseball field, and the explosion of mature-beyond-their-years contributions from these confident, sometimes cocky and always watchable kids has been one of the sport’s most electrifying developments.

In three months’ time this year, the Dodgers went from sinking to the division cellar to swimming in the D-Backs’ pool, a turnaround so unexpected it saved manager Don Mattingly’s job.

The 2013 Indians season was one built around comebacks. Cleveland had an assortment of players bounce back from poor showings in the past, and the organization as a whole did its best to usher in a new era.

Is a club better off getting one cornerstone player to build around while whiffing on the rest of its picks, or by acquiring several useful players but not any stars? The best Drafts end that discussion by scoring on both fronts. And baseball’s best Draft of the past decade certainly did that — the 2009 Angels.

Perhaps there was never any way for the A’s to top the magic of a 2012 season that saw them shock the world and win their division on the final day of the regular season. But they sure did try.

Some people think it would be a good idea for Reds first baseman Joey Votto to make more outs. To get on base less. To help out the opposition. At least, I think that would be the intent. Friends, you can’t make this stuff up.

The Metrodome, home of the Twins for 28 seasons, hosted its final game Sunday, a 14-13 Minnesota Vikings win against the Detroit Lions. While the downtown Minneapolis dome may have continued to host the Vikings after the Twins moved to Target Field in 2010, plenty of baseball memories also occurred there since it opened in 1982.

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig was arrested on Saturday morning in Florida on a charge of reckless driving, according to a report from the Naples Daily News.

Every team in baseball entered 2013 with sights set on making it a better year than the one before. Some obviously had higher hopes than others, aspirations that included the promise of a trip to the postseason. As demonstrated by a few of those with seemingly all the right tools to make 2013 a special year, high hopes can sometimes be sent on a detour.

Every team in baseball entered 2013 with sights set on making it a better year than the one before. Some obviously had higher hopes than others, aspirations that included the promise of a trip to the postseason. As demonstrated by a few of those with seemingly all the right tools to make 2013 a special year, high hopes can sometimes be sent on a detour.

These days, the Hot Stove is all about Masahiro Tanaka. Now officially the hottest commodity on the market after being posted by his Japanese club, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, Tanaka “finds himself in the perfect storm,” as Major League clubs vie for his services, writes our Tracy Ringolsby.

These days, the Hot Stove is all about Masahiro Tanaka. Now officially the hottest commodity on the market after being posted by his Japanese club, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, Tanaka “finds himself in the perfect storm,” as Major League clubs vie for his services, writes our Tracy Ringolsby.

Masahiro Tanaka is worth every syllable of his hype, because his brilliant right arm says so. He was 24-0 last season with a 1.27 ERA. Not bad, and the same goes for his lifetime numbers.