AL East

Julio Lugo began a rehab assignment Wednesday for the Pawtucket Red Sox and came away feeling better, physically, than his performance would indicate.

Lugo, who batted leadoff and played shortstop, was 0-for-3 in three official at-bats and drew a walk in an International League game won by Pawtucket, 8-7, over Rochester in 11 innings.

He handled four routine plays in the field and was credited with three assists and one out.

It's a mighty fine day to hate the New York Yankees.

If you thought Alex Rodriguez' hip injury or Chien-Ming Wang's meltdown were karmic retribution for treating the rest of the league as a trade deadline shopping center, plundering the annual free-agent market, and fleecing taxpayers into subsidizing a cash cow of a stadium for the richest organization in baseball, you weren't thinking big enough.

I may have trust issues, so excuse my hesitance to put any real meaning into early individual numbers.

But they are all we have up to this point...

The team, and by team I mean the Boston Red Sox, is 7-6. 

Not great, not bad, slightly better than mediocre, etc.

Some have struggled, some have been great, and some have been okay. 

Let us dive into a quick take on each hitter in the everyday lineup...

Jacoby Ellsbury:  OPS+ 55

According to Mark Feinsand of the Daily News, Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady was diagnosed with a partial ligament tear in his right elbow that will not require Tommy John surgery so he will only be out 4-6 weeks instead of the remainder of the year.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Seattle Mariners o8.5 (100)
Tue Apr 21, ‘09 10:10p - MLB Odds
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The Toronto Blue Jays are off to their best start in recent memory, and everyone is trying to figure out why and how.

Is it the young pitching staff coming through? Did Cito Gaston and Gene Tenace get magical wood for the bats? Are they using oversized gloves in the field?

Not really sure those are the answers, and you don't want to be a cynic when cheering for the home team, but the reason the Jays are 10-4 to start the season might have more to do with their opponents than anything else.

The lineup for today's game has been posted and here it is:

Jeter(ss)
Damon(lf)
Teixeira(1b)
Posada(c)
Cano(2b)
Swisher(rf)
Matsui(dh)
Ransom(3b)
Gardner(cf)

Some notes courtesy of Peter Abraham:

The Yankees are batting .125 with runners in scoring position at home so far this year.

Brian Bruney has retired 20 straight batters; his last seven outings are 6.2 perfect innings striking out twelve.

I am hopeful the Yankees will play tonight, since it has only been misting all morning, but I'm not sure what is going to happen tonight. If the game is played it will be Andy Pettitte vs. Dana Eveland. Jason Giambi must be chomping at the bit to get started, as he makes his return I am sure to applause. The Big G is a character and the fans have grown to love him.

With two weeks behind us in this young baseball season, there are a high number of what could be called "surprise teams" in baseball right now. There are also a number of teams that are underperforming expert expectations. Allow me to come to your aid and provide hope to the hopeless and rain on a few parades.

1. Florida Marlins

"Vintage Lester dominates Orioles" read the headline after Sunday's 2-1 Red Sox victory over Baltimore.  While headlines are known for hyperbole, by definition, Jon Lester's third and best start of 2009 was vintage.