MLB

Now seems as good as any to step back from the San Francisco Giants' season and take a look at how things are shaping up thus far.

The boys are coming off a two-game "sweep" of the San Diego Padres—a small measure of retribution for the three-game variety the Fathers put on SF when our guys visited Petco about 10 days ago.

But, in this writer's opinion, two games a series do not make so there's no need for a specific recap dedicated to the duet.

Filed:April 22nd, 2009

Cub reliever Luis Vicaino (Cubbie Nation/file)

Luis, we hardly knew ya.

The Cubs made moves Thursday, designating reliever Luis Vicaino for assignment and recalling Jeff Samardzija from AAA, in an effort to stabilize their bullpen.

On this date in history, 95 years ago, baseball was first played at what is now known as Wrigley Field.

But the Cubs didn't exactly pay homage to the anniversary, as a lack of offense and a porous defense contributed to a 7-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on a Thursday afternoon.

On Apri. 23, 1914, the park at 1060 West Addison St., then known as Weegham Park, opened its gates for the first time.

The Texas Rangers have made it very clear that the solution to their ongoing pitching problems rests on the arms of their two prized pitching prospects.

Both Baseball America and ESPN have deemed the Texas Rangers farm system to be the best in baseball for 2009. The Rangers' prized pitching possessions are 20—year—old, right-hander Neftali Feliz (fourth overall prospect, according to ESPN) and 22—year—old, left-hander, Derek Holland (No. 21 overall).

On Wednesday night, Holland made his Major League debut out of the bullpen in Toronto.

If you go to Metsblog.com and check out the in-game comments for today's 12-8 Mets loss to the Cardinals, you would think that the world is ending or something.  People are calling for Jerry Manuel and various members of the coaching staff to be fired, for core players to be traded, and for a nice tall glass of whiskey to deal with the pain. And Matt Cerrone tells us after the game that:

It wasn't anything we didn't know already. Albert Pujols is one of the best hitters in the majors.

I may go out on a "limb" and say he's the best hitter.

Prove me wrong.

El Hombre's quest for another ring led the Cardinals past the Mets in a 12-8 slugfest on Thursday afternoon. The victory completed the sweep of New York as the big bats once again refused to be silenced.

I attended my first Toronto Blue Jays game of the season last night.  It was a usual Wednesday night at the ballpark, full of cheers, hot dogs, and a pint of beer. 

I was enjoying myself immensely until the ninth inning, when Michael Young of the Texas Rangers hit a solo home run off of closer B.J. Ryan to the section next to where I was sitting to tie things up at 7-7.

The young man who caught the ball had been sitting quietly all night long, enjoying the game with his girlfriend in section 141—one of the non-drinking sections at the Rogers Centre.

The Toronto Blue Jays have had issues with their current closer this year. 

BJ Ryan, a formerly established closer, has not done very well to date this season. Ryan blew his second save of the season last Tuesday, and there is chatter that his job could be on the line.

Ryan has also had velocity issues, with his fastball speed down to the 85-87 range.  If Cito Gaston makes a change at the closer role, who will he turn to?

I know this is a bit premature, but around the trade deadline when Matt Holliday is available, what do you give up for him?

The A's love young, major league-ready prospects and the asking price might be high. So if you're the Yankees, who do you give up for the prized left fielder?

A factor that needs to be considered when trying to acquire Holliday is that if you give up premium talent for him, you need to be able to sign him to a long term deal.