Opinion

In the past two days, three Yankees have been put on the DL. Are the Yankees headed down the same road with injuries as they were last season?

Alex Rodriguez started the party with hip surgery in March and was put on the disabled list (or the DL as it is commonly known around baseball) until May 15th.

Xavier Nady was the next to go a little over a week into the season with a strain in his elbow. The Yankees aren't sure when he'll make his return.

This article originally appeared at the Baltimore Sports Report.

When the Orioles first acquired Felix Pie from the Chicago Cubs this past offseason, I remember saying to myself, “Hmm…..the experiment begins.”

When is Joe going to learn how to manage the bullpen? I'm starting to think Don Mattingly should absolutely be the Yankee manager at this point. Too bad he's with Torre in L.A. now.

Looking at the first two games of the Red Sox series (especially the first one), I can't help but wonder what's going on here. In the 11th inning after getting Ortiz out why is Marte still in the game? Let's be honest; he is typically a specialist (even though I hate that kind of management) and is not fit to pitch two innings.

One of the most unappreciated positions in baseball is the Catcher. I know, I am guilty of the sin myself.

Catchers are very knowledgeable about the game, actually driving the machine, so to speak. I haven’t done the research on it, but I believe the best managers are former catchers.

Yeah, Pitchers get all of the glory, all of the accolades.

The Catcher is there to get bowled over by a base runner, taking a risk on ending his career (apologies to Ray Fosse).

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Two games versus the Boston Red Sox in April does not mean anything.

As far as I am concerned, without Alex Rodriguez and the struggles of our number two starter Chien-Ming Wang, I am satisfied with a 9-8 start heading into Sunday.

Watching the last two games has been tough, because both games the Yankees could have easily won and they let them get away.

The positives I am seeing aren't outweighing the negative, but it is close.

Robinson Cano is hitting .366 and tearing the cover off the ball, adding two home runs and five RBI in yesterdays loss.

So three weeks ago, the season opened with the Braves knocking down the Phillies in impressive style, a little against expectations too. Strange word that, expectations. What does it actually mean?

What is the most probable outcome? What we are sure of more than anything else to be the case?

Something like that.

Every year, everyone has baseball expectations. Who'll win, lose, be the best, the worst. And you know the best thing about these expectations? The thing that really makes baseball exciting, interesting and madly intriguing?

Before I even begin with this article, I will state what should be obvious: The ongoing battle between Milton Bradley and the Chicago media has nothing to do with the Cubs' four-game slide.

Sorry, Windy City press, but you play no role in determining what actually happens on the field.

And this larger, so-called "locker room split" is just the media's way of stirring things up. Chemistry is something that's developed throughout the season.  

A dagger digs deeper into the hearts of the Minnesota Twins faithful each time Johan Santana authors another quality start for the New York Mets.

Santana, whom the Twins were forced to deal in February 2008 for four prospects, is off to a fast and furious start this season.

On Friday, the former American League Cy Young winner limited the Washington Nationals to one run over six innings while striking out 10. Thus far, Santana is sporting a 0.70 ERA with a gaudy strikeout-to-walk ratio of six to one.

Yes, I know.  It's a long season.  You have to play 162 and win at least 82 to have a chance (unless, perhaps, you're playing in the AL West) at glory.

And yes, I also know statistics rule baseball with an iron fist.

But let's take a look beyond the numbers with the 2009 Pittsburgh Pirates and recognize some things that make this 9-7 start all the more astonishing and impressive.

The numbers tell the tale of the rejuvenated pitching staff.  There's not much need to dig deeper there to be impressed, but there is something more about this year's staff.