Opinion

Yes, it's only been four games. Yes, the opening day home run raised everyone's expectations. Yes, he's human.

However, something is undeniably not right with Jason Heyward right now. After four games, he leads the National League in strikeouts, including four in yesterday's 13-inning loss to the Giants.

In that loss, Heyward left four men on base, but more importantly, he seemed nearly clueless at the plate, swinging so wildly that he looked more like he was clearing brush than trying to drive in runs.

The New York Yankees have one player, Nick Swisher, who can play at least three positions; right field, first base, and pitcher.

Last night offered an opportunity for him to be used in the last role, after he was successful in his debut almost a year ago against the same Tampa Bay Rays, pitching one full inning of scoreless ball.

Today, in one of my two day jobs (I work about 30 hours weekly at a newspaper and about 24 hours at a gas station), I traveled around Birch Run and Clio, Mich., and asked folks this question: "Whom should the Detroit Lions take in the upcoming NFL draft?"

I might as well have asked the people what the Houston Astros should do to improve their team.

Many of the Lions fans said defensive players while others said offensive players. One man said they should draft new coaches while one man, not surprisingly, wondered if it's possible for them to draft new owners.

In a poll currently running on Boston.com, 77 percent of respondents have said they think Red Sox manager Terry Francona should be utilizing 3B Mike Lowell as designated hitter.

At the outset, let me start by stating that the Boston.com poll is flawed. The site gave voters only two responses (play Ortiz, play Lowell) when there are really three options available—Tito also has the choice of platooning the two depending on whether a right-hander or left-hander is the starting pitcher for the opposing team.

If you looked close enough, you could see hype return.

Last night's dominance of the Yankees has grabbed headlines for a certain young Rays pitcher. David Price put himself back in the national spotlight pitch by pitch. 

Rays fans saw a flashback to the pitcher they've been waiting for.

Only one month into getting his first taste of the major leagues, David Price was called upon to get the most important outs in franchise history. Price held the world by a string when he closed out Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS. 

But then a funny thing happened.

I was watching the Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays game on Thursday night and when Orioles’ closer Mike Gonzalez loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, it looked like manager Dave Trembley was going to throw up in his mouth.

I could only imagine what Trembley was thinking or how he was feeling when Gonzalez blew his second save in three chances yesterday against the Toronto Blue Jays. I know it’s only four games into the season, but Trembley has to be already losing patience with Gonzalez.

We're four games in, and it would seem that Trey Hillman feels that both Mike Aviles and Mitch Maier haven't sat enough to fully cool off from their torrid spring.

Both men all but forced their way into their spots on the 25-man roster entering Spring Training.

In 21 games and 57 plate appearances, Aviles hit .471/.517/.725 with one-third of his hits going for extra bases (three doubles and five triples).

Brett Gardner did not start last night in the New York Yankees' fourth game of the season. Brett Gardner did not play in the game.

Apparently Gardner was sore. As best as can be determined, his derriere was sore from sitting on the bench.

It is inexplicable that Gardner, who was declared the starting left fielder, has now been benched in half of the Yankees' first four games.

Mets fans are passionate, loyal, and at times pessimistic.  They also hold very high expectations.  One can understand the pessimism, as we have been witness to quite the roller coaster in the past few years. 

I consider myself one of the more optimistic fans of the Amazins'.  As evidence, I provide you with exhibit one (read Opening Day Optimism ).

Someone once said: "Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore."

Last night, Javier Vazquez at times looked as though he might have been looking for his ruby slippers.

Javy, you're not in Atlanta anymore.

Many Yankee fans and most of the Yankee brass have trumpeted the return of Vazquez as just what the Yankees needed. They've pointed to the Yankees' lack of a fourth starter in the playoffs last season and proclaimed that Vazquez solves that problem.