Opinion

Amidst the recent bullpen shakeup after the New York Mets respectable 4-5 start to the 2011 regular season, questions arise as to how fourth outfielder Scott Hairston will continue to fit himself into the Mets future plans.

Over the past nine years, the Minnesota Twins have dominated the American League Central. They have won six division titles in that span (seven if you count their tie for first in 2008), since Ron Gardenhire was named manager. Although they have not necessarily had the most talent, they play hard—and they scrap for every win possible.

Good Weeks

1) Philadelphia Phillies: Not only did they go 4-2 against divisional opponents, but the rest of the NL East is already showing signs of being a pretty mediocre group of teams. Atlanta will probably contend, but this has two-team race written all over it. If Philadelphia keeps putting up runs like they have over their first three series, the Braves will have a hard time keeping up.

After a weekend series with the hated Boston Red Sox, the Yankees welcome the Baltimore Orioles to town in a battle for first place in the AL East. With the Yanks just a game back and the Red Sox near the cellar in the division, all is right in the baseball world for New Yorkers.

At least it seems that way.

Is anyone really surprised? Really? It almost feels as if this is how it's supposed to be.

After parts of 19 seasons in which he accumulated 555 home runs and over 1,800 RBI, the former Yankee-killer we know as Manny Ramirez has called it quits. We've seen the last of his cell phone conversations in left field between innings, and no longer will his critics be able to accuse the 12-time All-Star of not playing hard.

Last week: 2-4
This week: TEX (April 11-13); at OAK (April 14-17)

So, What Happened?

Buzz saw, meet the Tigers; Tigers, meet the buzz saw.

The absence of Jayson Werth, Chase Utley and Brad Lidge from the Phillies left plenty of cause for concern at the beginning of the season.

Losing the team’s No. 3 and No. 5 hitters and the closer created a scenario where many hoped that the Phillies would be able to hang on until Utley and Lidge returned.

But instead of merely surviving, the Phillies, with a 7-2 record, are thriving.

After hearing that Tampa Bay Rays slugger Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance enhancing drugs for the second time in three years, I started to wonder...

"Should we let steroid users into the Hall of Fame?"

Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox seems to be pulling a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" act this spring.

Last night, he pitched fantastically, giving up just two hits and striking out 10 batters in eight scoreless innings as he led the Sox to a much-needed 4-0 win against the New York Yankees.

Trips to Miami have been less than stellar for the Washington Nationals, and through the first two of a three-game set against the Marlins, nothing has changed.

The Nats blew leads on consecutive nights and were up against Florida ace Josh Johnson in the series finale. A Marlins' sweep looked about as likely as Pudge Rodriguez hitting into a double play.