::checks box score::
Double and a homer tonight, it says here. 
Touche.
Royals (only) fan here, and I have to agree with Spiral Stairs - our starters are looking pretty good. Teahen, Gordon and Shealy will find their groove eventually. And Dotel and Luke Hudson will be back soon, to boot. I like the way this season is starting, even if we have a losing record at the moment.
Are you taking dictation from Yoda?
Dear Mets fans:
Tee hee.
Love,
The Atlanta Braves
That pretty much describes Chacin’s effort against the Orioles today. He was perfect through the first three innings, then gave up three in the 4th and was pulled in the 5th, giving up another 3 runs.
It was certainly nice to take 3 from the Blue Jays, and Tejada has really started to hit after a somewhat slow start. Nick Markakis is looking really good, and just about everyone in the line-up has been contributing in one way or another. Even Melvin Mora, who is hitting well below his usual average at .257, has made some important hits and leads the team in homers and RBI.
Pitching, which has been the Orioles’ achilles heel over the past few years, is also improving. The starters’ ERA is OK, but not great. The bullpen, however, has been excellent, and is second or third in the league in ERA.
Jay Payton made his first start today after being out with injury, and went 3-5, so that’s good. Hopefully Ramon Hernandez will be back behind the plate soon; Baltimore needs both his arm and his bat.
Of course, like the past four years, i can revel in the Orioles’ good April performances, knowing that they will probably once again be in fourth place in the AL East come July. This is the fifth year in a row that the O’s have been above .500 in April, and they have not been above .500 at the end of any of those seasons. I hope against hope that this year might be different, and they can keep it up, but past experience does not encourage optimism.
I thought idiot ownership was the O’s achilles heel. 
Yeah, but that’s sort of a constant; at least the pitching staff changes from year to year, and so can improve, at least in theory.
By the way, was anyone watching the Yankees-Red Sox game tonight? Four straight home runs for Boston!
Is there a new thread yet?
Yanks are in last place and have some serious pitching issues tied to injuries and early overuse of the bullpen.
So, here’s my thought. Yesterday as the Yanks have to make a decision to play or not, Brain Cashman* consults the forecast and checks with the weatherman.
Weatherman, “There will be a window of opportunity to play.”
Brian, “But, there might not be.”
Weatherman, “I am pretty sure there will be no problem playing, maybe a light drizzle at times.”
Brian, “Wait, doesn’t that look like a chance for a Tornado?”
Weatherman, “No”
Brian, “Is that a T-storm building?”
Weatherman, “Yes, but it is building over Kansas.”
Brian, “We can’t be too careful.”
Weatherman, “That possible thunderstorm has no chance of affecting the Bronx.”
Brian, “Look, there is a chance of tonight rain being too much isn’t there, I mean at least a chance.”
Weatherman, “Well of course there is a chance, but …”
Brian, “No Buts, I can’t take a chance, we’re shutting this thing down now!
Jim
- The Yankee GM
Heh. I noticed that, too. Game was called an hour before the first pitch was to take place, with what can only be described as a pitiful drizzle falling on the field. Works nice for the Yanks, because they can test out Hughes tonight against the JV and save Pettite for Matsuzaka on Friday.
Mets headed to Washington after a nice series in Colorado, in first place and with the best record in the majors. David Wright and Carlos Delgado still have exactly one (1) home run between them. This is odd.