The Check Swing: Hope you didn't write the Red Sox off...

The past week of baseball has been a good one. We had a few pitchers flirt with no-hitters, including Anibal Sanchez seeking to become the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter while allowing a run since the late Darryl Kile did it. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox seemingly have their act together as they ran off a five game winning streak to end the week pulling within a game of .500. If you wrote the Red Sox off this early in the season, shame on you this team is too good to go through the entire season playing the way they did early. Still like my Red Sox-Phillies World Series prediction.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 8-12, 5.5 GB 4th NL West. Arizona's woes stems from their weak starting pitching that they're getting. D'Back pitchers have made only two quality starts in the last 13 games and Mr. Perfection, Armando Galarraga has allowed eight home runs in 21 innings pitched. Ouch.

Atlanta Braves: 11-12, 5 GB 4th NL East. The Braves spent the week making a road trip in California, starting with the Dodgers (1-2) and the Giants (3-0). The sweep of the Giants is some revenge from last year's playoffs and the Braves first sweep of the Giants since 1998.

Baltimore Orioles: 8-12, 5 GB 5th AL East. Another series with the Yankess, another rain out which led to the Yankees getting another two game sweep. Saturday's 15-3 loss gave us reason to believe that some bad blood might be brewing as Russell Martin was beaned in the 9th after hitting two home runs that night. With 14 more games to go this might not be over yet.

Boston Red Sox: 10-11, 3.5 GB 3rd AL East. The Sox went 6-1 this week and swept the Angels in LA. It would appear the Sox have this thing figured out. One of the funnier hijinks came from the Angels series when fans threw money at Carl Crawford as he stood on-deck. Crawford would get the last laugh hitting a two-run home run Sunday in a 7-0 win.

Chicago Cubs: 10-11, 1.5 GB 4th NL Central. The Chicago Cubs love being .500 in fact they love it so much their record has been; 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9 and 10-10. Only the 1915 Red Sox and 1970 Yankees have accomplished this feat, and only reached 9-9.

Chicago White Sox: 8-14, 5.5 GB 5th AL Central. To say that Ozzie Guillen isn't happy is a bit of an understatement. The team started 6-3 and now find themselves 8-14 meaning they've gone 2-11 in their last 13 games. Offense is the problem here as the Sox have been held to three runs or less in 10 of their last 13 games. Alexi Ramirez, Gordon Beckham, Adam Dunn and Alex Rios are all batting under .240 this season.

Cincinnati Reds: 11-11, 1 GB 3rd NL Central. The Reds lost Scott Rolen to the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury as cortisone shots couldn't help the third baseman. Infielder Chris Valaika was called up Sunday to take Rolen's place. Meanwhile, Mike Leake had a good start after coming back from his arrest receiving some boos with cheers and some razzing. Two fans in Bengals helmets had signs that read, "Mike Leake we gave you the bunt sign not the steal sign" and "Steal us a win Leake". Oh those Cincinnati fans.

Cleveland Indians: 13-8, 1st AL Central. The Indians had a to go this week with some AL Central foes. They went 2-2 at Kansas City and 0-2 at Minnesota. If the Indians hope to contend they'll need to be better than the 3-6 mark they're at right now vs the Central. Good news is they can improve that mark with two home series this week against KC and Detroit.

Colorado Rockies: 14-7, 1st NL West. Ubaldo Jimenez returned this week from the DL and went 0-1 in his two starts. In his start Sunday, both he and Josh Johnson flirted with no-hitters as for the second time in three games the Rockies almost were no-hit. But Dexter Fowler was in no mood for that, Friday night he ruined Anibal Sanchez's no-hitter with a 9th inning lead-off broken bat single and Sunday in the 6th he stroked a lead-off double to the gap.

Detroit Tigers: 12-10, 1.5 GB t-2nd AL Central. The Tigers for the first time this season are over .500 and did so with Victor Martinez on the DL with a groin injury. One reason for the wins is a move of Ryan Raburn to second base for offensive purposes. With Raburn at second, more at-bats opened up for outfielders Brennan Boesch and Casper Wells who are making the most of them. Justin Verlander recorded his 1,000th career strikeout and the Tigers have beaten the White Sox 9 straight times dating back to last year. Also Max Scherzer is off to a 4-0 start.

Florida Marlins: 13-7, 1.5 GB 2nd NL East. While the Marlins might be happy with the pitching their getting from Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez they can't be excited about Hanley Ramirez and his .182 batting average. Not only is he struggling but his power seems to be gone too as Ramirez has only four doubles with zero homers. The Marlins need Ramirez to return to form if they want to contend.

Houston Astros: 8-14, 4 GB 6th NL Central. The Astros scored 16 runs in their first two game in the weekend series at Milwaukee. Apparently they tired themselves out as they scored one run on five hits in Sunday's rubber match.

Kansas City Royals: 12-10, 1.5 GB t-2nd AL Central. Last week the Royals had a chance to jump the Indians for the Central lead at home. They went 2-2 and gained no ground, now they find themselves in position to do it again with a 3 game series in Cleveland starting tomorrow.

Los Angeles Angels: 12-10, 2.5 GB 2nd AL West. Jered Weaver (5-0) and Dan Haren (4-1) were the first pitchers to go 4-0 in the team's first 15 games since the 45 Tigers did it. Tonight Weaver is trying to 6-0 in his team's first 23 games, last accomplished by Randy Johnson who won six games in a similar stretch in 2002 for Arizona.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 12-11, 3 GB 2nd NL West. The Dodgers are going to be taken over and ran by the MLB. That's what happens when your owner uses the money he made for himself and doesn't put any back into the team and when he goes through a messy divorce with his wife. Good news is Andre Ethier is on a 21-game hitting streak.

Milwaukee Brewers: 11-10: 0.5 GB 2nd NL Central. Zack Greinke went 2 2/3 innings in his first rehab start and thinks he's ready to come back but the Brewers want him to make at least one more start, so he's looking at May 2-5 as his 2011 season debut. Meanwhile the Brewers have committed 7 errors all season resulting in an MLB best .991 fielding percentage. Ryan Braun was given a 5-year, $105 million contract extension.

Minnesota Twins: 9-12, 4 GB 4th AL Central. It only took the Minnesota Twins three weeks to do but they have finally won their first series of the season. In all fariness to the Twins they had split a 2-game series with KC and 4-game series with Baltimore. Still no time table for a Joe Mauer return off the DL.

New York Mets: 9-13, 6.5 GB 5th NL East. Things are starting to look up for the Mets after going 4-2 on their recent homestand. They got slugger Jason Bay back after a late July concussion knocked him out for the rest of last year and the start of this one. Bay hit his first home run on Saturday but they also lost center fielder Angel Pagan to the 15-day DL.

New York Yankees: 12-6, 1st AL East. No doubt the Yankees have to be happy with the results they've gotten from Russell Martin. He's hitting .328 with 6 HR and 16 RBI. Last year he hit .248 with 5 HR and 26 RBI. However some cause for concern is Mariano Rivera has blown two saves this week.

Oakland Athletics: 11-11, 3.5 GB AL West. The A's can't hang their hat on much except their pitching. Oakland leads the majors in pickoffs with 8, 4 coming from Brett Anderson alone. Andrew Bailey is on the rehab and could be back by early May.

Philadelphia Phillies: 15-6, 1st NL East. The Phillies could be in trouble for a while here as closer Jose Contreras landed on the 15-day DL with a right elbow strain. Ryan Madison will presumably take over the role until Contreras is ready. Still no time frame for a possible on Chase Utley.

Pittsburgh Pirates: 9-12, 2.5 GB 5th NL Central. This week the Pirates claimed Brandon Wood from the Angels and he could be the possible replacement to Ronnie Cedeno at short. Wood will be used at short, third and possibly second. In other news the Pirates have struckout a major's best 177 times or roughly 8.4 times per game. Could be a painful summer in Pittsburgh.

San Diego Padres: 8-14, 6.5 GB 5th NL West. Not much has been going right for the Padres. Their starting pitchers have combined for a 2.85 ERA in their last 17 games but in those 17 games they're only 5-12 which means the bats have struggled mightily. They scored a combined 3 runs while being swept by the Phillies this weekend in a 4 game series.

San Francisco Giants, 10-11, 4 GB 3rd NL West. A four game losing streak has the defending champs under .500 for the first time this season. Walks were the killer to the Giants this weekend as the Braves swept them in San Fran for the first time since 1998. The Giants can rebound this week with a road trip to Pittsburgh and Washington.

Seattle Mariners: 8-15, 7 GB 4th AL West. The Mariners are still struggling to score runs for Felix Hernandez as he won this week in a 1-0 game. For Felix he might have to keep teams to 2 runs or fewer if he hopes to repeat as Cy Young. The Mariners continue to have the worst record in baseball.

St. Louis Cardinals: 12-10, 1st NL Central. Albert Pujols seems to have broken out of whatever plagued him to start the season, he's hitting .250 with 7 HR and 17 RBI. He left Sunday's game with a mild hamstring strain but isn't expected to miss any time. Meanwhile, Ryan Franklin isn't winning any fans over after getting boo'ed he complained about it and he also blew a game as the set-up man. Mitchell Boggs is the new closer for the time being.

Tampa Bay Rays: 11-11, 3 GB 2nd AL East. James Shields looked impressive on Sunday throwing a complete game shutout and second consecutive complete game. After a career worst 2010 Shields is off to a 2-1 start with a 2.35 ERA. Good news for Tampa.

Texas Rangers: 14-7, 1st AL West. As if losing Josh Hamilton wasn't enough the Rangers have now lost closer Neftali Feliz to the DL with right rotator cuff inflammation. The Rangers sincerely doubt that he'll be ready to come off on the May 6th date and are being extremely cautious considering his age and value to the club. No closer has been named but Darren Oliver and Arthur Rhodes have closed games since.

Toronto Blue Jays: 9-12, 4.5 GB 4th AL East. Since starting the season 5-2 the Jays have proceeded to go 4-10. Jose Bautista is proving last year was no fluke though, he's hitting .359 with 7 HR and 10 RBI, his 7 dingers tie him for the lead with Curtis Granderson and Adrian Beltre.

Washington Nationals: 10-10, 4.5 GB 3rd NL East. With Ryan Zimmerman going on the DL, the Nats have gone 7-5 since he left. It's not bad considering the team still isn't hitting that well which also means their pitching has still been solid. Jayson Werth is still struggling hitting .200 with 3 HR and 5 RBI.

One last thought: After re-upping Braun one has to wonder if the Brewers make any move at Prince Fielder or let him walk when the season is over.