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GAME SUMMARY

• Final Score: Detroit 3, Orioles 0
• WP: Edwin Jackson (5-3): 8 innings, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 7 K, 101 pitches
• LP: Jason Berken (1-1): 7 innings, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K
• SV: Fernando Rodney (10)
• HR: Curtis Granderson (13)

Edwin Jackson threw his best game of the season and Fernando Rodney finished off the Orioles as the Tigers hurled a shutout in beating the Baltimore Orioles, 3-0.

For the last couple years, my dad and I have kicked around the same uncomfortable conclusion regarding Matt Cain and his lack of offensive support.  The gist was, with so many obvious talents at such a young age, perhaps it would be better for the Kid to ply his wares in a more pitcher-friendly environment.

We were not speaking, of course, about the home park because there are few diamonds more hospitable to the guy on the bump than Pac Bell Park (some call it AT&T).

The Cubs have been one of baseball’s big disappointments this season.

The only team that has underachieved more has been the Yankees, but since A-Rod came back, they have been on a tear, which leaves the Cubs all alone.

However, through the past five games, they have gone 4-1, which may be an anomaly in a disappointing season. But it could also start to signal change.

The Cubs haven’t been pulling off small, one-run wins.  They have won three of their past four wins by at least three runs.

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Another week and another batch of Hot 8 players are making a splash. Last week's list featured David Price, who picked up his first win in dominating fashion on Saturday. Ross Detwiler, who won his first two starts after being called to the big leagues and Jake Fox who finally got the call up from Iowa and has gone 3-4 all as a pinch hitter. Not to mention Sean Rodriguez who is about to be called up by the Angels any day now...dammit! I am not supposed to let that one slip, my bad!

Team (Current Record|Last Week's Ranking)

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (34-17|1)—Did anybody think that Juan Pierre would be such a good fill-in for Manny, leading the team in RBI last week? Matt Kemp has also been hot. The Dodgers lead all of baseball in batting average (.281) and on-base percentage (.370).

They also lead the National League in runs (279), hits (508), and RBI (264). Although Billinglsey struggled last week, the Dodgers still lead the MLB in batting average against (.236) and are second in ERA (3.77).

Diiiiing....Diiiiing....the bells were ringing profoundly, declaring prominence and striking intimidation into the opponents' core.

Blasting out of Miller Park's speaker system, the bells, ensued by a guitar solo, left no doubt of who was in to pitch.

The crowd rose and cheered as No. 51 came of the leftcenter bullpen and a mystifying rush fell across the stadium.

Trevor Time has come to Miller Park.

I know this is looking way, way ahead, but I'm extremely excited about the future O's. I think this team can contend for a wild-card spot next year if the pitching is intact. They're offense will be a force to be reckoned with, especially with the top and middle of the order. If the pitching holds up, they will do well in years to come.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse on the injury front. It looks like Carlos Beltran will be held out of today’s starting lineup due to a stomach virus that caused him to leave yesterday’s loss to the Marlins. Instead, the Mets will put Angel Pagan in center field, and they will hope for the best.

Don Mattingly was named hitting coach in 2007 and took on the task of transforming an impatient Dodger team into a more disciplined offensive ball club.

While there has been a lot of focus, and rightfully so, put on the impact of Manny Ramirez’s arrival last season, Mattingly becoming hitting coach was a major factor that turned things around in Los Angeles.