Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know...
That the Cubs put an ugly finish to an ugly 2-4 road trip, losing 10-0 to the Diamondbacks. It's early, and they are 10-10, but so far the Cubs have not looked like the runaway best team in the National League that they were supposed to be. Manager Lou Piniella knows something is wrong.
"We're beginning to find out those other teams want to kick our butts. You're not going to win without playing with intensity every day, and the quicker that sinks in, the better."Besides simply playing poorly, the Cubs have had to deal with Milton Bradley's issues and injuries, and now a problem that might land Aramis Ramirez on the DL. This weekend the Cubs will play the schizophrenic Marlins, so we'll see which team shows up, on both sides of the field.
From the Trainers' Room ...
Since you can never have enough Alex Rodriguez news ... it looks like he may be back even sooner than the May 15 target date the Yankees have used as a benchmark. Rodriguez will begin playing in "games" today. He'll be the DH in an intrasquad game. After that, he'll play extended spring exhibition games, because the Yankees can control the conditions in those better than in regulation minor league games.
Numbers Game ...
White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski ended an 0-for-14 drought with his first hit of the season against a left-handed pitcher, homering against Erik Bedard. It was his 100th career homer. Pierzynski also threw out Adrian Beltre trying to steal second. Would-be base-stealers had been 22-for-22 against Pierzynski this year.
In Their Own Words ...
"I would be willing to bat 11th as long as I'm in that lineup.'' -- Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre, who hit ninth, behind the pitcher in Wednesday's game against the Giants. Manager Joe Torre's logic was that he wanted his three speed-burners (Pierre, Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson) all ahead of No. 3 hitter Manny Ramirez.
Advance Scouting ...
If the Rays are going to wake from their early-season slumber, this would be a good time. The red-hot Red Sox, winners of 12 of their past 13, will make their first visit of the season to the Trop (7:08 PM ET). Last time they were there, they watched the Rays beat them for the AL Pennant. Josh Beckett starts against Matt Garza.
