The 2013 MLB season is almost here. Texas and Houston will get things started on Sunday night as the Astros play their first-ever game as an American League team.

Veterans can be they key to any championship season. However, that doesn’t always extend to the bench or the dugout.

In June, Erik Spoelstra coached the Miami Heat to an NBA title at age 41, but he had to go through Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks, 46, to do it.

Regardless what the standings look like now, with the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox teetering near the bottom of the AL East, they are not likely to end the season there. The Baltimore Orioles are bad enough that they won’t let it happen this season, but just in case you’re wondering, the last time the Yankees and Red Sox finished last and next-to-last in their division/league was in 1966. The only other time was way back in 1925.

AL East
1. New York
2. Tampa Bay (wild card)
3. Boston
4. Toronto
5. Baltimore

Toronto Blue Jays

Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

— by Mark Ross

Pitchers are scheduled to report to spring training in less than a month, and if Major League Baseball’s offseason is any indication, a lot of teams’ postseason hopes will be riding on those arms that will get tuned up in Florida and Arizona.