Baseball

The Mets went into this past offseason with the intention of upgrading their pitching staff but came away deciding to stand pat with the five they had.

They justified it by saying that those same pitchers they currently had were all pitchers that had had success in Flushing in the past and that they would again in the future.

Welcome to Tribe Talk, where Bleacher Report's Tribe fans weigh in on the ups and downs of the Indians each week throughout the season.

This week, we rate Manny Acta's performance as an in-game strategist, debate the merits and drawbacks of chewing out individual players publicly for their mistakes, and wonder if Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner will ever again be, well, Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner.

The Cubs (4-5) missed out on a sweep against the Brewers Thursday, but another sweep-worthy team, the Houston Astros, comes to town starting today at 1:20 p.m.

The offensively challenged Astros (1-8) got their first win of the season against St. Louis yesterday, but the Cubs should have no problem getting back on the winning track with a three-game weekend series against the ‘Stros.

Bernie Williams' baseball career ended under circumstances that seemed mysterious to some individuals, but not to those who know him.

Williams has basic values he will always honor. His parents taught him to treat others the way he wanted to be treated, and all he asks is that others provide him the same respect he gives them.

Bernie Does Not Reveal His Feelings

Williams has never felt completely at ease with other people and never reveals his feelings easily, if at all.

Mike Nicotera, the agent for Red Sox center fielder Mike Cameron, writes that his client has returned to Boston to meet with team doctors sometime this morning after an initial diagnosis that he may be suffering from a kidney stone(s).

Nicotera wrote: “I spoke to Cam last night. Seems to be a kidney stone that he needs to pass. He’s going to follow up with doctors in Boston today.”

This past Tuesday, Toronto starter Ricky Romero took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox.  While the no-hit bid fell that inning, Romero ended the game with a career-high 12 strikeouts, allowing two runs on only one hit, an Alex Rios two-run home run. 

There was a collective sting felt around San Diego when franchise ace Jake Peavy was dealt to the Chicago White Sox last season. It stung even more when he returned from an ankle injury and made three starts for the White Sox, compiling a 3-0 record, 1.35 ERA, and a 0.85 WHIP in 20 innings of work.

Flash forward to 2010 and it has been a tough first two outings for Jake Peavy (8.44 ERA, 1.88 WHIP), allowing seven hits, three runs, and pair of walks to a suspect Cleveland lineup, followed by an eight-hit, seven-run beating by Toronto.

After a bleak 0-2 start, the Cincinnati Reds kicked it in gear and won five of their next six, before losing two straight to the Florida Marlins

At the 10-game mark in 2010 there are some things that need to be noted.

First: The seven-time Gold Glove winning third baseman, Scott Rolen leads the team with three errors. He is the only Reds player to have committed more than one miscue.

If you've read my articles so far this season, you many have noticed that I'm a strong believer in the Oakland A's being a good, underestimated team. I'm thinking their good start will continue to go overlooked until they're still playing this well after 30 or 40 games.

A 7-4 start is good, but with such a small sample size, what critic will be deterred by an 11-game record?

The given coming into the season was that the A's had a good-to-formidable pitching staff, and a defense designed to give an extra cushion for the pitching.

Who does Austin Jackson think he is?

I tell you, these kids nowadays.

Someone should teach this rookie some manners. He’s played about a week and a half in the big leagues, and you’d think he owns the place.

It all started on Opening Day, in Kansas City.

The 23-year-old whippersnapper of a leadoff hitter and center fielder for the Tigers was in the box against Zack Greinke. Yes, THAT Zack Greinke—the one who’s stingier in giving up runs than Jack Benny was with his money.