Incase you missed it, the Yankees have been quite the story since Saturday when the struggling Jorge Posada asked to be taken out of the lineup after being demoted to ninth in the lineup. He claimed her had a bad back and needed a day off to clear his head. GM Brian Cashman said Posada wasn't hurting and the next day Posada apologized to the team and his GM. End of the story right? Wrong, Derek Jeter then told reporters he thought Posada didn't need to apologize because he didn't do anything wrong, this only angered management more. If the Yanks think this is bad now, just wait until it's Derek Jeter, C.C. Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez that start to struggle like this.
The Tigers, Reds and Giants are among the hottest teams in baseball right. The Tigers have won seven in a row and 10 of their last 11, they're getting it done thanks to pitching and Victor Martinez's hot bat. The Reds just swept the Cards and have won eight of their last 10 to jump into first place while the Giants also have won eight of their last 10 to jump the Rockies for first in the West.
While most baseball fans will tell you the Yankees-Red Sox or the Cardinals-Cubs are the best rivalry in baseball I'm here to tell you they're wrong. The Reds-Cardinals rivalry is quickly becoming one of the best rivalries in the game. It started last summer when the two were competing for the NL Central and Brandon Phillips called the Cards "a bunch of complainers" going on to say that he "hates the Cardinals". That then led to this fight last August between the two teams. The Reds would go on to win the Central and things seemed to cool off until yesterday when Francisco Cordero hit Albert Pujols on 0-2 count, 1 out with a runner on second base and the Reds up two. Cordero was seen yelling at the Cardinals dugout after the game because Gerald Laird was apparently yelling at him, now if Pujols didn't take the beaning personal then Laird and his solid .200 batting average might want to pack up his stuff and get on the bus. This rivalry is just heating up and it's only May, keep an eye on this series the rest of the year because more fireworks are going to come.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 17-22, 5 GB 4th NL West. Josh Collmenter became the first pitcher in the last 100 years to win his first career start while throwing six shutout innings and allowing two hits or less when his team had only one hit, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Atlanta Braves: 23-19, 3.5 GB 3rd NL East. The Braves just took two of three from division foes the Philadelphia Phillies so you'd think they're feeling good right now right? Wrong! Chipper Jones has a slight tear in his meniscus in his right knee. Given Chipper's history a trip to the DL is looming.
Baltimore Orioles: 19-20, 3.5 GB 5th AL East. The Orioles are treating Tropicana Field like it's their home away from home this year improving to 5-1 after taking two of three from the Rays this weekend. If you remember the O's swept the Rays in the Trop to start the season this year.
Boston Red Sox: 20-20, 3 GB t-3rd AL East. For the first time this season, the Red Sox are playing .500 baseball and they got there thanks to a sweep of the Yankees in New York. Four previous times the Sox had a chance to get to .500 but failed to, finally they've gotten there and look to improve over .500 with a two game series with Baltimore.
Chicago Cubs: 17-21, 5 GB 5th NL Central. The Cubs seemed to have caught some luck on Sunday when they got rained out and avoided having to face Tim Lincecum. Their luck ends there though as the Cubs get ready to take to the road to face the Reds, Marlins and Red Sox this week.
Chicago White Sox: 17-24, 9 GB 4th AL Central. Ozzie Guillen has gone to a six-man starting rotation to give his pitchers an extra day of rest but also to try and figure out which starter is the weak link and could face a demotion. The six in the mix are: Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, Edwin Jackson, John Danks, Phil Humber and Jake Peavy.
Cincinnati Reds: 23-17, 1st NL Central. Dusty Baker has had to do a lot of juggling with players hurt to keep the Reds close in the Central, now that those injured players have started to return since May 5th the Reds have won nine of their last 11 including a three-game sweep of the Cardinals. The sweep allowed the Reds to jump the Cards for first in the Central.
Cleveland Indians: 24-13, 1st AL Central. It was only a matter of time before adversity struck the Indians and finally it arrived. Grady Sizemore has been placed on the 15-day DL with a right knee contusion, the move is retroactive to May 11th. Let's see how these young Indians handle this.
Colorado Rockies: 20-18, 1.5 GB 2nd NL West. The Rockies started the season hot, seemingly putting their slow starts to a season behind them. However, in their last six series the Rockies are 1-5 which is why they've fallen from first to second in the West. Their problem has been the cooled off offense coupled with spotty pitching. The Rockies need to right the ship soon before too much damage has been done.
Detroit Tigers: 22-18, 3.5 GB 2nd AL Central. The Tigers have won seven games in a row and jumped the Royals for second in the Central thanks largely to great pitching and Victor Martinez. V-Mart has a 13-game hitting streak going and 15-for-37 with a home run and 12 RBI in 10 games since coming off the DL. The Tigers hope that Verlander's early no-hitter propels the team much like Jack Morris' did in 1984 as the Tigers went on to win the World Series.
Florida Marlins: 23-16, 2 GB 2nd NL East. One reason the Marlins are where they are this year is because of closer Leo Nunez. Nunez blew eight saves last year but this season he's a perfect 14 for 14 in saves. Javier Vazquez has a first inning ERA of 15.75 this year, Vazquez for whatever reason just can't escape the first inning this year as he's allowed runs in the first in all eight of his starts.
Houston Astros: 15-25, 8 GB 6th NL Central. There hasn't been much to cheer about in Houston as the Astros struggle to win games this season. Just like the Astros are struggling so are the security guards and cops working the game as they failed to catch a fan on the field Friday night. For what it's worth, the Astros claim that the perp was eventually caught. Sure he was.
Kansas City Royals: 20-19, 5 GB 3rd AL Central. Thanks to Eric Hosmer and their offense the Royals got their first series win against the Yankees in New York since 1999. Hosmer helped lead the charge hitting his first two home runs in back-to-back games.
Los Angeles Angels: 22-19, 1st AL West. While trying to intentionally walk Paul Konerko Wednesday night, relief pitch Kevin Jepsen uncorked this wild pitch allowing Alexi Ramirez to score, the Sox eventually won 6-4. More bad news, through Sunday the Angels batters have struck out 309 times which is the most in the American League.
Los Angeles Dodgers: 19-22, 4 GB 3rd NL West. Chad Billingsley became just the 44th pitcher to lose a game in which he and relief pitcher Kenley Jansen allowed only one hit combined. With Stephen Drew standing on second, Billingsley went to pick him off only shortstop Jamey Carroll never covered the bag. Drew took third and scored on a sacrifice fly later in the inning. Tough way to lose a game.
Milwaukee Brewers: 19-21, 4 GB 3rd NL Central. Since 2007 the Brewers have won 33 of 36 games at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. So if you're wondering, yes the Brewers did go on to sweep the Pirates this weekend. Ryan Braun is hitting .309 with 12 HR and 33 RBI, he's just throwing his hat in to the MVP conversation.
Minnesota Twins: 12-26, 12.5 GB 5th AL Central. You hate the write the Minnesota Twins off this early in the season but at the quarter of the season mark the Twins have been downright awful. The Twins rank 12th or worse in every major hitting or pitching stat in the American League this year.
New York Mets: 19-21, 6.5 GB t-4th NL East. Two days after it seemed Carlos Beltran was back, hitting three home runs in one game he was missing a game due to a swollen eye. Don't worry he was back in the lineup Sunday. Justin Turner hit his first career home run Sunday, if you remember correctly Turner took a pitch to the face in 2003 College World Series trying to bunt. Props to Turner for sticking with it.
New York Yankees: 20-18, 2 GB 2nd AL East. Never mind the Posada drama going on in the Yankees clubhouse these days. The new speculation in New York is Bartolo Colon and his stem cell surgery he had done in the offseason. The doctor who performed the surgery has been known to use HGH, which is banned in baseball. The doc claims he didn't use it in Colon's surgery, only time will tell.
Oakland Athletics: 20-20, 1.5 GB 3rd AL West. .500 baseball seems to be the A's MO over the last two seasons. Last year the A's finished the season at 81-81 good for .500 and were at the .500 marks 33 times. This year they're back at it as they've been .500 12 times already this young season.
Philadelphia Phillies: 25-14, 1st NL East. Roy Halladay picked up his second straight complete game and for the second time in a row Halladay also picked up the loss. Halladay also picked up his major league leading fourth complete game this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 18-22, 5 GB 4th NL Central. Former Pirates shortstop Mario Mendoza is the man credited for the term Mendoza Line, which is a .200 batting average. The Pirates have five starters who are close to the Mendoza Line, Andrew McCutchen at .235, Ronny Cedeno at .232, Jose Tabata at .226, Lyle Overbay at .224, and Pedro Alvarez at .210.
San Diego Padres: 17-23, 5.5 GB 5th NL West. No one in the Padres locker room was happier than Mat Latos was Sunday after their 8-2 win. Latos had been on a 0-10 streak and was finally able to lay his streak of bad luck to rest.
San Francisco Giants: 22-17, 1st NL West. Tim Lincecum's Sunday start was rained out which means he'll get start today in Denver against the Rockies. Lincecum has made it a habit to own the Rockies, so we'll see if that trends continues.
Seattle Mariners: 16-23, 5 GB 4th AL West. Brandon League had to be the happiest guy about the back-to-back rain outs in Cleveland this weekend. His last appearances have seen League take four losses including three blown saves. League was supposed to be given Saturday/Sunday off but had not lost his job...yet.
St. Louis Cardinals: 22-19, 1.5 GB 2nd NL Central. Never mind the fact that the Cards got swept by the Reds this weekend. The real highlight came when Kyle Lohse did his best impersonation of Tony La Russa Thursday in Wrigley Field. Don't believe me, check it out.
Tampa Bay Rays: 23-17, 1st AL East. The Rays got Evan Longoria back this week and couldn't be happier after struggling to stay afloat in the East early without him. Now that he's back he makes the Rays much more scarier the way they've been playing without him.
Texas Rangers: 21-19, 0.5 GB 2nd AL West. The Rangers have hit the tri-fecta this season. Julio Borbon joined Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz on the DL meaning their Opening Day outfield is now hurt. This marks the third time in history a team has had their Opening Day outfield on the DL at the same time.
Toronto Blue Jays: 20-20, 3 GB t-3rd AL East. Jose Bautista hit three home runs on Sunday giving him 70 home runs since the start of last season. Of those 70 home runs only three of those have gone to the opposite field. Ironically enough all three of those homers have come at Target Field, where the Twins call home.
Washington Nationals: 19-21, 6.5 GB t-4th NL East. Roger Bernadina made the catch of year on Friday against Marlins robbing Mike Stanton of a double at the least. While he might have made the catch of the year it's not safe to say that this is the play of the year though.
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