THE PREZIDENTIAL ADDRESS
From the desk of the Prez:

Game of the Week mishap; Borowski's a bum (arm); Rolen's return?; Granderson to take BA; K-Rod's wrong; and more...

SAITO IT AIN'T SO
After four perfect appearances to start the season, Saito blew up my Game of the Week on Monday. The Japanese import was tagged with his first blown save and loss of the year, allowing three runs on four hits in the 9th inning against the Pirates. Saito has not yet walked a batter this season and last night he threw 20 of his 28 pitches for strikes. This my friends is simply bad luck. It happens over the course of six months of baseball. BUT - How come it seems we, gamblers, are always on the backside of a two out ninth inning home run, and rarely seen screaming in the streets from a gift win?  This game can be considered a bump in the road for the Dodgers closer -- and for the Prez.

BOROWSKI'S BUM
Speaking of closers that bombed on Monday night, Joe Borowski turned a 4-3 lead into a 6-4 defeat as Manny Ramirez hit a two-run, two-out homer into the left-field bleachers. Borowski met with Tribe manager Eric Wedge, General Manager Mark Shapiro and the team's medical staff after the game to discuss the condition of his right arm and shoulder. "I hope we can pinpoint something," said Borowski, noted the Plain Dealer. "Right now, it's driving me crazy. I'm grasping at straws. Maybe it's something. Maybe it's nothing." He could undergo tests today. Borowski, who led the American League with 45 saves last year, started the ninth with what appeared to be a slo-pitch softball offering to Julio Lugo and continued pitch batting practice to the Red Sox until they found victory. A change in the Indians bullpen is expected today.

LOWDOWN ON LO DUCA
Paul Lo Duca told the Washington Post he has "played it in my mind probably the last four months what's going to happen when I go there." Tonight at Shea Stadium in New York, he will find out how he is received by the fans of his former team, the New York Mets. "I got a great last name, because if they're booing me, I could just say, 'They're saying Duke!' " Lo Duca said. "I don't know. I really don't know. It's going to be very interesting." Lo Duca, who spent two seasons as the Mets' catcher, had an eventful offseason in which he signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Washington Nationals. He was, in essence, replaced in New York by former National Brian Schneider, who was traded to the Mets as part of a package for center fielder Lastings Milledge, who also faces an uncertain reception at Shea. Schneider is off to a fine start for the Mets, hitting .324 in 10 games and throwing out two of five would-be base stealers." Like the Mets need any more distractions or opposing players motivated to beat them down further.
 
ROLEN'S RETURN STILL A MYSTERY
Jays third baseman Scott Rolen had the pin removed from the tip of the injured middle finger on his right hand, and the off-season acquisition said he is ahead of progress in terms of his activities. "I've started hitting. I've been throwing. Baseball preparation-wise, I'm ahead of schedule," Rolen told the Toronto Sun. "The time frame (for return) doesn't change because of the healing process. That nobody can speed up." The finger looked swollen, but surprisingly healthy considering the extent of the damage. When Rolen injured it in a spring training fielding mishap, the skin around the bone collapsed, leaving the finger dangling and torn away from the nail. The defensive minded third baseman has no definitive timetable for a return to active duty.  

DETROITS GRAND-er-SON
Curtis Granderson is about to take the biggest step yet in his recovery from a broken right hand the injury that has forced him to miss all of the Tigers' games so far. Granderson, the Tigers center fielder and leadoff hitter, will start taking batting practice today. You think the 3-10 Tigers have missed his bat at the top of the order?

ZACK ATTACK
What can you say about the Royals Zack Greinke.  The right-hander was terrific again last night, tossing a 107-pitch complete game at the Mariners to match teammate Brian Bannister at 3-0. He simply toyed with the Mariners batting order and his 2:1 groundball to flyball ratio is sweet. His command has been even better and this level of performance can't continue. Or can it?  Greinke is back on track from his initial solid 2004 campaign, and his five different pitches at five different speeds are simply too much for opposing hitters right now.

HAMMERIN' HANK
Hank Blalock walked, singled, and homered last night against the Angels. The 27-year old oft-injured third baseman is on track to finally live up to his potential. If he can remain healthy that is. His numbers across the board have kept Texas from being dismal offensively. If he can continue to hit left-handed pitching, the Rangers could actually win more than 70 games this year.

BAD BOY BRADLEY
Milton "misunderstood" Bradley extended his hitting streak to nine games with three singles against the Angels on Monday night. The one-time doubles-machine has not shown any of the power he had when he was with Cleveland and Oakland, and he’s hitting cleanup for what was once a Texas scoring machine. Not a good sign for a Rangers unit that will depend on plating-more-players than their opponents.

ROD NOT RIGHT
K-Rod threw again Monday night against the Rangers, after having an ugly Sunday night showing. Rodriguez did retire the side in order in the win over Texas, with two groundouts and a flyout, but he isn't healthy and you can see it from a mile away. For those backing the Angels this afternoon, feel good that the team isn't likely to throw him on the mound for the third straight day.

TEIXEIRA TAXING
Mark Teixeira’s slow start can be placed at the foot of an uncharacteristically horrid .136 batting average against lefties. Normally, the switch hitter does far better against them than against righties. Finding away to reverse this trend is essential for the Braves chances -- because Atlanta is in a division loaded with left-handed pitching. Expect Teixeira to jump start his numbers after facing Scott Olsen and Mark Hendrickson of Florida the next two days.

TODAYS TIP
Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays -- Pitchers: Steve Trachsel vs. Shaun Marcum -- Umpire: Hunter Wendlelstedt. --- Look, the Jays have arguably the best pitching staff in the American League, and Marcum is one of the non-primetime names on the staff. Look for an over-the-top performance from Marcum tonight helping the Jays get back to their division winning ways. Trachsel has a history of success against Toronto, but an UNDER the total (Hunter Wendlestedt's larger than life strike zone) – and a side play is in order today on the Jays’ Marcum.

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