Starting today, the New York Yankees play the Boston Red Sox for the first time in 2011.  The over-hyping of this series began earlier this week when the Red Sox got off to one of their slowest season starts in their history.

Just how important is this series?  It all depends on who you ask.

On Wednesday, I wrote that it was too early to leap off the bandwagon of the 2011 Red Sox. I still believe that—however, alarm bells have started to ring as the 0-6 Sox limp home to Fenway Park to face their hated rival, the New York Yankees.

The vaunted offense of the Sox has disappeared over the last four games.

Dating back to their first season in 1977, the Seattle Mariners have had their share of disappointments.

It may be hard to stay loyal at times, but these wily M's have a knack of sprinkling in some magic moments that help fans keep the faith.

    While the New York Yankees surprised no one by taking a three-game series from the Minnesota Twins in their trip to the Empire State, there are certain observations that should instill both optimism and pessimism for the Twins as the season trudges through its first weeks.

The 2011 Boston Red Sox were supposed to bring balance to the Force, not destroy it. Sadly after a 0-5 start, people are beginning to doubt whether or not this team is the powerhouse that ESPN spent all winter screaming about. Luckily it’s only April, there is still a lot of baseball left to be played. The Sox need help though, help that only one man can provide.

Charlie Sheen

That’s right. When you are losing, who better to turn to than a man who knows all about winning? Duh.

Last season, the Mets were supposed to be strong offensively and weak in the starting pitching department.

It was the opposite.

This season, the Mets are firing on all cylinders and sit at 3-2 without playing a home game. For a team that went 32-49 on the road last season, they're off to a good start.

The Texas Rangers are jumping out of the gate quickly in this early 2011 MLB season. But the question is, will they be in the running down the stretch?

It's only six games into the season, but the Texas Rangers look like repeaters for at least the American League pennant. Part of the reason is that they are 6-0 over those games. The other reason is who they won the games against.

The Rangers started with a sweep of the Boston Red Sox, early favorites to win the American League East. A strong offense just blew apart the Red Sox rotation, with Ranger scores of 12, nine and five runs in three games.

View From the Rockpile: Musings from a Mile High along the Journey to Rocktober

Although Rocktober magic has made the club's recent slow starts a distant memory, the Rockies entered 2011 determined to get off on a better foot than in previous seasons.

Coming off of a less than stellar 7-11 2010 record against the divisional rivals, the Los Angeles, Dodgers, the Rockies welcomed an early season opportunity to make a statement that they are a force to be reckoned with in the 2011 Wild Wild NL West.

By Friday the Chicago Cubs will have already been downed two starting pitchers; Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner.

Wells has a right forearm strain, while Cashner has a strain in the back of his rotator cuff. After two MRI's, neither player showed any structural damage. Both will be put on the DL by weeks end and are expected to be sidelined nearly a month.