Baseball

Yes, it's only been four games. Yes, the opening day home run raised everyone's expectations. Yes, he's human.

However, something is undeniably not right with Jason Heyward right now. After four games, he leads the National League in strikeouts, including four in yesterday's 13-inning loss to the Giants.

In that loss, Heyward left four men on base, but more importantly, he seemed nearly clueless at the plate, swinging so wildly that he looked more like he was clearing brush than trying to drive in runs.

Center field. That vast, green expanse where fly balls go to die. Where the swiftest, most athletic players thrive and make jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring plays on a daily basis.

Just ask Vic Wertz.

On Sept. 29, 1954, Mr. Wertz hit a prodigious drive out to center field in the Polo Grounds. It looked for sure like Wertz's drive was going to break the 2-2 tie between the Giants and the Indians, giving the Tribe all the momentum in Game One.

But, on the eighth day, God said, "Let there be Mays."

Well last night’s game was a debacle, but the Yankees have their ace, CC Sabathia (0-0, 8.44 ERA), out there today trying to right the ship against rookie RHP Wade Davis (0-0, no ERA) and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sabathia was strong in his last start until he fell apart in the sixth inning giving up three runs on two hits and a walk before he was pulled. The Yankees are hoping that his stamina improves today. Here are some Yankee notes:

Before the season began, Major League Baseball was already stirring about the possibility of a blockbuster trade that would send the St. Louis Cardinals' star first baseman to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ryan Howard.

The deal never materialized, leaving fans to wonder if a trade for Pujols was imminent.

There are several reasons why the Cardinals would be looking to deal the slugger and perennial All-Star.

The New York Yankees have one player, Nick Swisher, who can play at least three positions; right field, first base, and pitcher.

Last night offered an opportunity for him to be used in the last role, after he was successful in his debut almost a year ago against the same Tampa Bay Rays, pitching one full inning of scoreless ball.

Today, in one of my two day jobs (I work about 30 hours weekly at a newspaper and about 24 hours at a gas station), I traveled around Birch Run and Clio, Mich., and asked folks this question: "Whom should the Detroit Lions take in the upcoming NFL draft?"

I might as well have asked the people what the Houston Astros should do to improve their team.

Many of the Lions fans said defensive players while others said offensive players. One man said they should draft new coaches while one man, not surprisingly, wondered if it's possible for them to draft new owners.

He may not necessarily be a person who should start for a professional baseball team, at all, but the Milwaukee Brewers' brand new catcher is probably one of the more entertaining members of the organization. This crazy awesome picture of him holding a huge fish is just one example of his uncanny ability to entertain.

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In his first start of the season for the White Sox Triple-A affiliate, RHP Carlos Torres made a very strong pitching appearance. He threw six shutout innings with four hits, a walk, and eight strikeouts to earn the win for the Charlotte Knights.

The 26-year-old pitcher from Santa Cruz, CA was drafted in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox in 2004. In 2009 his impressive numbers gave him a chance to play with the major league team last September.

In a poll currently running on Boston.com, 77 percent of respondents have said they think Red Sox manager Terry Francona should be utilizing 3B Mike Lowell as designated hitter.

At the outset, let me start by stating that the Boston.com poll is flawed. The site gave voters only two responses (play Ortiz, play Lowell) when there are really three options available—Tito also has the choice of platooning the two depending on whether a right-hander or left-hander is the starting pitcher for the opposing team.

Caption: KC RF Rick Ankiel was left holding just his bat handle after his eighth inning showdown with Sox fireballer Daniel Bard. Unfortunately, Ankiel flared a base hit into left-center field on this swing to deliver the game-tying and game-winning runs in KC's 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Red Sox.