Baseball

Carlos Beltran met with the doctors in Vail, Colorado this week in what was supposed to be a final test before he started rehab, but even though he is “making progress,” Beltran has not been cleared to resume baseball activity.

The Mets wouldn’t call it a setback, but in reality it is hard to imagine that this isn’t exactly that. Two weeks ago they said it would be any day until he was going to start running again, but here we are and Beltran still off his feet.

Power Rankings for MLB Week Three

1) New York Yankees (10-3)

Supporting Players: Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera

Best Game: Friday, April 23 @ LAA (A.J. Burnett vs. Ervin Santana)

2) Philadelphia Phillies (8-5)

Supporting Players: Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Placido Polanco

Best Game: Wednesday, April 24 @ ATL (Halladay vs. Tim Hudson) ESPN

3) Tampa Bay Rays (10-4)

The Chicago White Sox are having early season troubles. They sit at 5-9 and are already five games behind the Minnesota Twins and tied for last in the division.

After such high expectations, it's easy to wonder what the causes are for their early season struggles?

There's no leadoff hitter.

Juan Pierre: .192 avg, 5 R, 1 RBI, .263 OBP, 6 SB/1 CS
Scott Podsednik: .468 avg, 6 R, 6 RBI, .537 OBP, 7 SB/0 CS

It seems like the White Sox made a mistake.

The first two weeks of fantasy baseball have been wild so far and there are plenty of waiver-wire players that can help you for the near future. This is the time of year when fantasy owners panic and drop guys off to slow starts.

Already in a few leagues, I have seen the likes of Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence, Brandon Webb and numerous others dropped like flies because they were off to slow starts.

Just call him Nate McClutch.

The Braves center fielder, who was hitting a mere .138 with just one RBI all season, sure picked a good time to break out of his slump.

McLouth hit a leadoff 10th-inning solo blast against Jose Contreras to cap Atlanta’s stunning comeback 4-3 win over division rival Philadelphia.

The Braves have now won five of their last six games and find themselves in a first-place tie with the Phillies atop the National League East standings.

Hello all! Wow, it has been a while since I've last written, so this may be quite long, because I have a lot to say!

The truth of why I'm writing today is to get my mind off the loss of my dog this morning. She was 10, and she will be deeply missed.

I'm seeking refuge in the New York Yankees, who have gotten off to a great start to the season here in 2010, picking up where they left off back in November. There is something about this team that just jumps out at you. Something that gives me the feeling of invincibility. It is a great feeling.

That's what the Pirates might be doing. But they aren't.

Only a few pieces ago, I opined that Dan McCutchen, the Pirates' latest fifth starter, could enjoy accelerated promotion because of injury, failure or trade, of higher ranking pitchers.

He in fact, did, as a result of Ross Ohlendorf's injury. Having been moved into Ohlendorf's spot, he is now effectively "second" starter, even though he isn't yet of that quality.

We realize the season is just two weeks old, but one can't help but imagine what kind of start the Indians would be off to if they had managed any hitting at all to this point.

The casual observer may realize the Tribe offense has been poor, but just how poor is pretty unbelievable.

As a team, the Indians are dead last in baseball, hitting a pathetic, embarrassing .214 on the year.

It’s the end of the second week of the 2010 Major League Baseball season.

Production this week was near empty for these sluggers. Each of them is desperately trying to find a repairman for his mechanics.

1) OF Colby Rasmus, STL

The Cardinal outfielder has been suffering. Hitless in his last 15 plate appearances, Rasmus could only provide a single walk to help his team this week.

Rasmus had a .000 AVG this past week, which dropped his season total to .179 AVG.