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The Yankees and Rays are two teams that wouldn't surprise anyone if they were both playing October baseball in 2010. Both squads have great offenses and a lot of their success is reliant upon the play of their third basemen. Evan Longoria and Alex Rodriguez are not only two of the best hitters in the game, but they also rank among the best all-around players in baseball. Everyone who watches A-Rod on a daily basis knows what an amazing talent he really is. New Yorkers don't get to see Longoria all of the time, and while everyone knows how good he is, it is still amazing that this 24 year-old is still a couple of seasons away from entering his "prime."

Entering just his third season, Longoria already has participated in two All-Star games, won the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year Award and the 2009 AL Gold Glove at third base. Longoria was a popular preseason choice for the 2010 AL MVP by many of the national sportswriters and for good reason. Through the first 282 games of his career, Longoria has a .279 batting average, 62 home runs, 206 RBIs, 169 runs scored, a .355 on-base percentage and an OPS of .889. Through the same number of games to start his career (282), A-Rod had a very impressive .322 batting average, with 53 home runs, 186 RBIs, 219 runs scored, a .373 on-base percentage and an OPS of .924. Both A-Rod and Longoria have proven to be two of the best defensive third basemen in the game as well.

Longoria has played in 41 career games in March and April combined and is a fast starter. He has a .338 batting average, with 11 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .407 on-base percentage. The Yankees have also fallen victim to Longoria's bat. In 28 career games against the Bombers, he has a .283 average, with eight home runs, 19 RBIs, .371 on-base percentage and an OPS of .958.

The rivalry of the Yankees and Rays may be in its infant stages with the ascension of the Rays as a contender in 2008, but one thing is for sure: it's going to be interesting to watch this third base matchup of Alex Rodriguez and Evan Longoria for many years to come. These two players really bring to life the term, "Clash of the Titans."

With a new season comes a whole bunch of predicitions from every media outlet in the country. So why not join them? Today, I went around and talked with some of the YES Network employees, who are all on Twitter and all have different jobs here at YES to get their opinion on who will win each division, the Wild Card and the two major AL regular season awards. I'm going to list the people by their Twitter names first, then their actual names and title here at YES. Here we go:

@BobLorenz, Bob Lorenz, YES Network In-Studio Main Anchor

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@jaredames23, Jared Boshnack, YES Network Pregame and Postgame Producer

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Rays

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@Riggo06, Cameron White, YES Network EVS Operator

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Tigers

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

AL Cy Young: Zach Greinke

@JackCurryYES, Jack Curry, YES Network On-Air Talent and YESNetwork.com Writer

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Jon Lester

@yestoresearch, Jeff Quagliata, YES Network Research Manager

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Tigers

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia

He also wants to make a note that he thinks his Braves will win the NL Wild Card this season.

@BPTV17, Chris Shearn, YES Network On-Air Talent and Host of Batting Practice Today 

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Twins

AL West: Angels

Wild Card: Rays

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@bkabak, Benjamin Kabak, Yankees Blogger on River Ave. Blues and YESNetwork.com

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Twins

AL West: Rangers

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Evan Longoria

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

@glenngiangrande, Glenn Giangrande, YES Network Head Writer

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: White Sox

AL West: Angels

Wild Card: Mariners

AL MVP: Mark Teixeira

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez 

@JoeAuriemmaNYY, Myself or Joe Auriemma, YESNetwork.com Producer, Digital Media

AL East: Yankees

AL Central: Tigers

AL West: Angels

Wild Card: Red Sox

AL MVP: Kendry Morales

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

There you have it. The 2010 American League predictions from the different voices here at YES. Let's hear what you have to say! Post your predictions on MY YES.

For as long as I can remember, Major League Baseball's Opening Day is the one event I look forward to each and every year. It's the signal of a new beginning, a new season and the marathon that lies ahead. It's a day when Yankee fans begin a long journey, cheering on their favorite team and hoping that the end result will bring to the Bronx a repeat champion and force Joe Girardi to once again change his number to 29 in 2011. This day brings a joy to all fans of all teams across the country, praying that their squad will give them a chance at redemption in 2010. This is the one time all season that the 30 teams will be on a level playing field.

Tonight marks another special beginning as the two biggest rivals in sports go head-to-head, thus adding another chapter to the already long novel these two franchises have written. However, this night is the one event that is actually bigger than the rivalry. It's a night in which fans of all teams rejoice that the game is back.

I can remember going to my first Opening Day game with my father back in 1988 and taking the day off from school. The Twins were in town, and I can just remember thinking that I would rather be no place else that day than Yankee Stadium. I got to see my favorite player, Don Mattingly, hit an RBI double to put the game out of reach, making it 7-0 at the time and looked forward to the Summer ahead that already included a Yankees team with a 1-0 record. Billy Martin and the Yankees went on to win that game 8-0 but would not fair as well the rest of the season, finishing up 85-76. That didn't matter though, because on that day, the Yankees brought me back.

In 1992, the Yankees and the Red Sox started off the season at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees were coming off two of their worst seasons in 1990 and 1991 in the history of the storied franchise, but as soon as the bell rang at Oak View School in Bloomfield, NJ, my friend Gerald and I ran to his house to catch the end of that game. It didn't matter how bad the team was. The Yankees beat Roger Clemens and the Red Sox 4-3 that day and all was right in the world again. That's how thousands upon thousands of kids young and old feel throughout the country today and will feel tomorrow. Everyone wants that chance of running home to catch their favorite team pull out a victory.

It doesn't matter what's going on in the world. I couldn't even tell you what was a big story in the news at the time of these two tales, but I do remember baseball and the start of a new season. So tonight, when you are watching the game again, remember to share the experience with your friends, your family, or even a complete stranger, because maybe someday this night will have a lasting impression on someone who will remember the experience for the rest of his or her life.

Technically spring does not begin until March 20th, however, my spring in Tampa has come to an end. One thing that I have taken away from this camp, more than in previous seasons, is how mentally prepared and relaxed these players are going into the 2010 season.

This relatively tranquil camp is all thanks to an October/November postseason run that garnered a 27th world championship to the most storied franchise is sports history. Sitting here in the press box on my last day before I make my way back up to New York, I've been thinking about the interviews that Chris Shearn and I have done. Each player has made it known that they are not content with just winning the 2009 title and that the goal is the same every year.

The core four won their world championships at a relatively young age on a very veteran ballclub. Now they have assumed the role of leaders and I always got the sense that they felt they had unfinished business. They have achieved that goal and it's like the weight of the world and the biggest city in the world is off their shoulders. Each of them can now focus on winning as they always do and do it with a clear mind.

The young players that were a part of the 2009 roster and on the postseason roster all echoed that they gained years worth of experience in just one month of baseball. They all have one more year under their belt and all of them are extremely comfortable in front of the camera. I can remember interviewing Brett Gardner, David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes for my Down on the Farm features, when they were making their way through the Yankees system. Now each of them -- under the intense pressure of questions coming at them from a national press corps during the 2009 Fall Classic -- has made them professionals even at their young age.

Of the almost two weeks of coverage on YESNetwork.com, my favorite day was getting to talk to Johnny Damon and Phil Coke in Lakeland. I know many fans are very upset with Johnny, but in typical Damon fashion, he went out of his way to make sure we had a one-on-one video interview and that he answered all of my questions. It's really funny that Johnny was one of the calming factors to a clubhouse in turmoil when he arrived to New York in 2005 and now that he is gone, a lot of the other players took his lead.

I also got a chance to speak with Javy Vazquez who did say that he felt a change in the clubhouse and the atmosphere of the camp from the last time he was here in 2004.

There are quite a few things I'm really going to take away from this trip. I got to meet a lot of the younger Yankees and will possibly see them in New York sooner than later. One of those younger players that I have had the chance to interview several times over the last couple of years is Jesus Montero, who is a terrific young man that can crush the ball.

I've also learned some non-baseball related things on this trip. One is that Joe Girardi's daughter Serena is going to be in an upcoming animation produced by Ray Negron called Henry and Me. She is an aspiring young talent and a natural in front of a microphone.

All-in-all, we tried to bring you the best coverage from Tampa and now that this chapter is complete, I'll meet you all back at the bat!

It feels like the Yankees just won their 27th World Championship and now it's already time for Spring Training games. Starting on Wednesday, March 3rd, YESNetwork.com will be in Tampa to cover the Yankees as they begin the quest for another World Championship.

In the time we are in Florida, we will try and produce as much content as possible. Our coverage will include interviews with players, coaches, and writers as well as blogs, vlogs, podcasts, daily shows, behind the scenes photo galleries and some surprises.

Chris Shearn will once again join our team as on-air talent and will be reporting from his blog, Off the Wall.

Don't forget to check out @JoeAuriemmaNYY, @BPTV17 and @YESNetwork on Twitter for any breaking news and updates for new content has been added to YESNetwork.com.

This year I want to do a little something different. I would like to give everyone an opportunity to ask a question to their favorite player, coach or just a general question for one of our many broadcasts from Spring Training. Please message me via MYYES, Twitter direct message me (@JoeAuriemmaNYY) or email offthewall@yesnetwork.com to have a chance to have your voice heard and we will do our best to get these questions in.

I want to give another shout out to my colleague here at YESNetwork.com, Jon Lane. He has been providing quality coverage of the Spring Training stories thus far with his blog, Life in the Fast Lane. Be sure to check that out as well.

Another season with more stories to be told. We will do our best to bring them all to you right here at YESNetwork.com