MLB

As a Phillies fan, I am hoping that the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies' season is not becoming that of the New York Mets' 2009 season, one riddled with injuries and a lost season before the All-Star break

I can hear the laughing all the way from Queens.

Really though, here's what the Phillies awful 9-1 loss means: The Phillies are in third place, 1.5 games behind the Mets and a half-game behind behind Washington. A win today by the Phillies only assures them to be a half-game behind the Mets.

Not to mention what Washington does.

The outlook isn't brilliant for the Local 9 these days.

The Sox have weathered a first month of the season filled with injuries, ineffectiveness, and all other manner of "suckitude," and have surprisingly come out of it with an 11-12 record.

They have beaten up on the dregs of the AL—thank God for doormats—going 9-4 against the Royals, Jays, O's, and Rangers, while running up a less than impressive 2-8 record against the Rays, Yanks, and Twins. What's surprising is not that there have been issues, but what they are.

There is nothing worse than a strikeout.

A strikeout is not just another out, it is an out that is a completely wasted at-bat for the offensive team.

I have no problem proclaiming to the world that I’m a huge nerd, so it’s no surprise that I really like infographics. 

For those of you unfamiliar with what an infographic (or information graphic) is, according to Wikipedia it is a “visual representation of information, data or knowledge.”  Also known as interesting info portrayed in a cool way.

While the Mets are celebrating their ascension back into relevance with their eight-game winning streak and Phillies are floundering without their anchor, Jimmy Rollins, the Nationals are on a high of their own.

Brett Gardner continues to have a big impact for the New York Yankees.

Last night the Yankees came from behind to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4. Derek Jeter was the hero of the game as he had a single, a two run homer and a two run triple. Jeter drove in four runs and scored another.

But Gardner was critical too. Gardner went 2-3 with a stolen base. And two of the runs Jeter drove in were Gardner crossing the plate.

Please read this carefully.

Take your time to understand the import of what you are about to read.

For if the following hits you as it hit me when I first read it, you will be amazed.

As reported in the New York Post today, last night Derek Jeter passed Ken Griffey, Jr. as the active player with most hits in his career.

But the incredible part, the part you have to read carefully is the other part of the Post report.

Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta certainly didn't get off to the start he and his club were hoping for. After years of rough April outings, there was hope things under Acta would change.

The standings may not indicate it, but I think they have. Acta's Tribe only won nine games, but they were lucky to even do that after being outscored by 27 runs in the month of April. The team is showing a lot more promise than most expected and it has been the pitching that has carried them to this point.

May is a new month, which means they are closer to the point where they historically heat up.

The Phils were desperate for one of two things before they left San Francisco: a win or a day off. They got both—just in time to settle down for a nine inning nap.

After last night’s 9-1 slaughter by the Mets, Charlie took the podium. Usually he recites the team stats, but last night he shifted his hat with a nervous smile and said, “Hey, does anyone have the phone number for Pedro Martinez?”

As the calendar officially flipped over to May this morning, it became impossible not to reflect on what the past 30 days has entailed for baseball’s reigning “World” Champions.

April had its questions, its uncertainties, and its collective breath-holding, but as the smoke cleared from Major League Baseball’s most volatile month, New York still finds itself where it feels it belongs.