Opinion

Ignorance and poor decision-making, not cocaine, will be the downfall of Ron Washington as manager of the Texas Rangers. After yet another heartbreaking 7-6 loss in a game the Rangers should have won against the Boston Red Sox, it is hard not to find fault in Washington's style of game management.

Anytime a team goes from leading 6-2 to losing the game by a run, fingers begin to be pointed. Five runs and a degrading loss later, fingers should be pointed at the manager.

The Colorado Rockies lost their foundation Tuesday morning.

Everything the organization represents was developed from President Keli McGregor, who tragically passed away Tuesday in his hotel room in Salt Lake City.

There was no bidding war with New York or Boston.

There was no mob of reporters wrestling for position to photograph him putting on an Angels jersey for the first time at a press conference.

All that greeted Joel Piñeiro upon his arrival in Anaheim was misplaced anger and disappointment by Angels fans who viewed his signing as an inadequate attempt at replacing John Lackey.

On WSCR "The Score" this morning, Cubs analyst Bob Brenly was asked about Alfonso Soriano's reaction to not running hard out of the box on a double in Monday's game.

To set the stage, Soriano admired what he thought would be a home run in the batter's box on a hit that should have been a triple.

When asked about it, Soriano said he hit the ball hard and that's all that matters.

On the Danny Mac Show, Brenly responded to Soriano's comment by calling him "selfish" and saying that he would have pulled the Cubs left fielder from the game.

"The so-called 'steroid era'—a reference that is resented by the many players who played in that era and never touched the substances—is clearly a thing of the past."—Bud Selig, Jan. 11, 2010

2010 is here, and the Yankees are on a roll!

The Bronx Bombers are 4 series into the season, winning all of them. There have been a lot of positives so far, but I want to focus in on one.

This may be the one that gets fans excited. We've been waiting for him to start swinging the bat, and lo and behold, here he is!

The mystery pinstriper is.......Brett Gardner!

Yankee fans have fallen in love with the speedy outfielder, and have waited patiently for him to start hitting.

Gardy is 10 for 30 with 4 RBI.

And 7 stolen bases.

After allowing just two walks all spring, it took Fausto Carmona two hitters to equal that number in his first start of 2010.

Collectively Cleveland sighed and exclaimed, "Oh boy, here we go again!"

He isn't fixed; he's still the same old rattled head case that can't throw strikes. This year is going to be even worse than we imagined. How could anyone put a single strand of hope into this enigma of a pitcher?

Carlos Quentin would eventually fly out and Paul Konerko would bring home the game's first run with a sacrifice fly. Remarkably, the damage was limited.

Looking for a team that is building its way to being competitive? Hoping to get in on the ground floor of a team loaded with young fantasy talent? The Cincinnati Reds might be your team.

Cincinnati general manager Walt Jockety has done a good job of assembling talented youngsters. Then he surrounded them with quality veterans who can produce on the field, lead in the clubhouse and mentor the kids.

The closer role is perhaps the most difficult job in major league baseball. If not the most difficult, it surely is the most highly scrutinized and insecure position on any team.

Before two weeks of the 2010 regular season had passed, four teams had already changed pitchers filling this important role.

Matt Holliday is looking like one of the best hitters in the game. Ike Davis made his big league debut. Could Brandon Morrow be turning the corner?

Let’s look at 10 of the biggest stories from yesterday’s games.

Hitting

B.J. Upton (1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R)