MLB News and Notes

As long as the Detroit Tigers continue to get solid starting pitching, they will have a shot at staying in the race. The patience that management showed with Jeremy Bonderman and Mike Maroth in 2003 is beginning to pay dividends. After losing 19 games in 03, Bonderman was 11-13 last year and in 05 has already notched 5 wins against just two setbacks and he is 3rd in the AL in strikeouts with 41.The Angels have lost 4 of 5, while the Tigers have won 4 of 5. Los Angeles is 22-6 against the Tigers since 2002.Something has to give in Pittsburgh tonight when the Brewers and Pittsburg meet, as both teams are streaking. The Pirates come off a 7-3 road trip their best in 15 years, while the Brewers were 9-3 at home, their best in 23 years. The Pirates only hit 11 homeruns in the month of April, yet have already hit 21 dingers in May!The Jays got back on the winning track with a 3-game sweep of the woeful Royals and now head to Ohio. Two pitchers off to disastrous starts face each other in Ted Lilly and Jake Westbrook. Lilly was an all star last year, but is just 1-3 with a mind boggling 9.35 ERA while 14 game winner Westbrook is 1-6 and an equally inept 6.69 ERA.If you are looking for a worthy MVP winner this year, Chicago Cubs may have just the guy. They are a mediocre 15-18 but would have the worst record in baseball if it weren't for Derrek Lee. This guy's numbers are eye popping, beginning with the .383 batting average and 10 homeruns, 33 RBI's and 10 stolen bases. Washington has lost 3 of 4, including their last two to Arizona.Talk about foolish statements and you must consider Cincinnati's Eric Milton's, after he signed a $26 million contract with the Reds in the offseason. He said he wanted to play for a winner and signed with Cincinnati rather then Boston, New York or Los Angeles. What was this guy smoking! The Reds haven't had a winning season in four years and this year is beginning the same way as the rest, with a 13-21 start. Milton has been awful with a 2-3 mark in 7 starts and an horrendous ERA of 6.18.Had the Mets received the type of pitching from Tom Glavine that we have come to expect, they would be in great shape. They are 18-17 and if you flipped Glavine's record around they could be 22-13 as the veteran left hander is just 1-4 and a 6.87 ERA, ouch! Last year the Mets were crappy and Glavine was 5-2 at this juncture with a nifty 2.05 ERA, and on his way to the All Star game. The next 16 games could go a long way in determining New York's fate this season, as they play St.Louis, Florida, Atlanta and the Yankees.Chicago continues to roll and they get Mark Buehrle on the hill and this guy has been good at dodging bullets of late. He is 2-1 in his last 3 starts, but has yielded 28 hits, but his offence has picked him up. Scott Podsednik has stolen 17 bases already, which puts him on pace with last years total of 70, when he was with the Brewers.John Garland continued his spectacular performance last night when he notched his 7th victory against no losses.