Baseball

Is it me or is there an update on Cliff Lee’s health every week? I just wish he would come back already so I can talk about his pitching instead of his injuries.

Well, it sounds like I am going to be talking about Lee’s injuries for at least another couple of weeks, because now it appears Lee won’t be joining the Seattle Mariners until May.

In baseball, the umpires are looked upon to make the tough calls. They know many of their decisions will be hated by some and loved by others. So for Joe West, a seasoned ump with 32 years of major league experience, his latest decision should have been a no-brainer.

He should have kept his mouth shut.

If you looked close enough, you could see hype return.

Last night's dominance of the Yankees has grabbed headlines for a certain young Rays pitcher. David Price put himself back in the national spotlight pitch by pitch. 

Rays fans saw a flashback to the pitcher they've been waiting for.

Only one month into getting his first taste of the major leagues, David Price was called upon to get the most important outs in franchise history. Price held the world by a string when he closed out Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS. 

But then a funny thing happened.

It was a great night for St. Louis on Friday as the Cardinals defeated the Brewers 5-4 with a little help from an unlikely source.

Nick Stavinoha.

Being placed in a high pressured situation with two outs in the ninth inning, the Texas native blasted a two-run, pinch-hit home run that gave the Cardinals the lead.

It was his first plate appearance of the season.

Everybody dreams about it when they are a kid. In the ninth inning down by a certain amount of runs and one swing of the bat can win the game.

It was a dream that Stavinoha cherished.

I was watching the Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays game on Thursday night and when Orioles’ closer Mike Gonzalez loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, it looked like manager Dave Trembley was going to throw up in his mouth.

I could only imagine what Trembley was thinking or how he was feeling when Gonzalez blew his second save in three chances yesterday against the Toronto Blue Jays. I know it’s only four games into the season, but Trembley has to be already losing patience with Gonzalez.

We're four games in, and it would seem that Trey Hillman feels that both Mike Aviles and Mitch Maier haven't sat enough to fully cool off from their torrid spring.

Both men all but forced their way into their spots on the 25-man roster entering Spring Training.

In 21 games and 57 plate appearances, Aviles hit .471/.517/.725 with one-third of his hits going for extra bases (three doubles and five triples).

Happy Birthday Lynn!

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Miguel Tejada, Baltimore Orioles
Tejada went 3 for 5 with a HR and 4 RBI.

Brett Gardner did not start last night in the New York Yankees' fourth game of the season. Brett Gardner did not play in the game.

Apparently Gardner was sore. As best as can be determined, his derriere was sore from sitting on the bench.

It is inexplicable that Gardner, who was declared the starting left fielder, has now been benched in half of the Yankees' first four games.

Mets fans are passionate, loyal, and at times pessimistic.  They also hold very high expectations.  One can understand the pessimism, as we have been witness to quite the roller coaster in the past few years. 

I consider myself one of the more optimistic fans of the Amazins'.  As evidence, I provide you with exhibit one (read Opening Day Optimism ).

Someone once said: "Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore."

Last night, Javier Vazquez at times looked as though he might have been looking for his ruby slippers.

Javy, you're not in Atlanta anymore.

Many Yankee fans and most of the Yankee brass have trumpeted the return of Vazquez as just what the Yankees needed. They've pointed to the Yankees' lack of a fourth starter in the playoffs last season and proclaimed that Vazquez solves that problem.