Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson was fired today and there is some speculation about the job security of Rangers manager Ron Washington among the media-types in these parts.

Neither should come as a surprise considering the nature of this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business. It's always the manager/coach that takes the heat (or credit) whether it is deserved or not. That's just how it is in sports and that's not going to change anytime soon.

 Ask me and I still think it's too early to change leadership in Texas. The pitching has been inconsistent, the defense has been horrible and the offense has struggled. Look at the Rangers lineup on a nightly basis. Look again. Then look at the lineups in the rest of the American League West. I don't think anybody expected the Rangers to compete for a title this season, but  the way the team has been losing this year has just been ugly. It has people wondering about the direction of the club and its manager. It's too early to raise the white flag. Then  again, nobody asked me.

 

Giants starter Barry Zito has been sent to the bullpen and the jokes about the highest paid reliever in history have started. That's too bad. Zito is obviously off his game. I think he has been prone to "thinking too much" on the mound in the past, but those problems should be behind him. He's too experienced for that stuff. Send him to the disabled list or a gym. His arm strength is gone and it is nowhere to be found. Maybe all of those innings pitched while with Oakland are catching up to him. Who knew not missing a start all those years because he was so durable would come back to haunt him 

Is Rangers shortstop Michael Young playing out of position? Is Ian Kinsler? So far, the answer is no. So far ...

Say what you want about Rangers GM Jon Daniels and his history of trades but leave him alone when talking about the Josh Hamilton and Edinson Volquez deal. Hamilton is leading the Rangers and MLB in RBI. Volquez is 4-0 for the Reds.

Yankee fans should be a tad worried because Alex Rodriguez is on the disabled list. This guy always plays hurt and never misses a game. He plays every contest like it is his last so the fact that he is on the DL is a huge deal. Then again, Alex could be wising up in his old age (33). Rest now, play later. I still can't see agreeing to go on the DL as an easy decision for him.

MLB.com's Tom Singer. Look him up.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are on top of the division and playing great baseball. I wonder if fans are showing up at the park to watch. It's not a surprise anymore. These guys are good.

Making an issue about the decision of Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder to go vegetarian is just in poor taste.

Who knew watching Tampa Bay could be so much fun?

Cheers to the wonderful people at The Make-A-Wish Foundation for making my niece's dream come true and allowing to meet every princess her heart desired on a recent trip to Disney World. Jeers to the people that scowled or made comments as she and her little brother and mother used a special path for special needs children to get to the front of the line for rides and events. Keep in mind that the only thing tougher than hearing "We are a 'Wish' family" is actually having to say it.

Boooooo

 

 

 

 

 

I'm wondering if Miguel Tejada is going to play for his team in the Caribbean Series next year or in the World Baseball Classic next spring. He's upset with how the birth certificate interview went down and he partly blames his country for it. He is known as Pelotero de la Patria, or ballplayer of the country, on his island so it's kind of a big deal if this guy is mad at the country. Here's what he said about the Dominican Republic when asked about the recent media backlash on the island.

 

"I really don't care what Dominican people think. You know why? Because they are involved in this situation, too," he said. "These guys got my birth certificate because somebody from the Dominican gave it to them.  He didn't find it by himself."

 

"I don't play for the Dominican. I play for Houston," he continued. "That's the people that I really want to care about. The Dominican, they can think whatever they want to think. That's my country but at the same time, they are the ones that are involved in this because that American guy went to my country and he let him go through my personal stuff. They are not supposed to do that. In my country, they let him do it."

HOUSTON -- Now that Miguel Tejada's correct age has been uncovered, the Astros shortstop has a weight off his mind. But that doesn't mean he appreciates the way it came to light.

Tejada said he believes his family was misled by ESPN, suggesting the network had indicated a camera crew that went to the Dominican Republic was affiliated with the Houston Astros. He also expressed displeasure with the way a recent interview was presented and the way it was conducted recently in Philadelphia.

Tejada says that during that interview, ESPN reporter Tom Farrey surprised him with a copy of his birth certificate while on camera. Tejada reacted by walking out of the interview.

"They called me about two days before the interview and told me it was going to be more about baseball," Tejada said. "When I got there, I thought it was about baseball and they throw me a 98 mph fastball inside."

"E:60," an hour-long investigative show on ESPN, plans to air its report on Tejada on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT.

Tejada said he was particularly disappointed with how his family was treated.

"They went to my father's house," he said. "They got the camera everywhere in my father's house. I don't know what they tried to find. They interviewed my father, and they interviewed people from my neighborhood and everything. They [ate] in my father's house. They make my sister cook for them. That's why I feel mad. ... I had an enemy inside of my father's house, and my family treats you nice. And look at what they did to me. My family is really mad right now."

ESPN spokesperson Mac Nwulu on Monday, told of Tejada's reaction, defended the network's approach to the overall package.

"We've been working on this story for several months," Nwulu said. "Throughout the process, and to all interview subjects, we've represented that we're working on a larger story about Miguel Tejada, which is exactly what the 'E:60' piece is. We are comfortable that all our questions and practices were appropriate in the pursuit of this story."

The document presented in the interview revealed the shortstop was born on May 25, 1974, not May 25, 1976, as listed in the Astros media guide. He is 33, not 31. Tejada revealed his age to club officials and the local media soon after the interview. The wrong birth date has been listed for Tejada in baseball circles since he signed with Oakland in 1993; all of his personal legal documents have his correct age.

Tejada said he changed his age as a teenager from 19 to 17 to give him a better chance at pursuing his dream as a professional baseball player.

"When they signed me back in '93, I was a young kid," Tejada said. "I really wanted to sign with professional baseball because I thought that was the only way I thought I could help my family. That's the way that everybody did it back in those days. My coach told me that's how we are going to do it, and I followed him."

Before Major League Baseball began verifying dates of birth and other information, it was not uncommon for some players from Latin America to give a younger age.

"My age has nothing to do with what I do on the field," he said. "In Houston and the Orioles and Oakland, they just worry about what I do on the field, how I play on the field. I don't want to bring it up because I don't think the team is really paying attention to that. It's not like I did it when I was a free agent. I did it a long time ago. It's not even on my mind every day. What I've got on my mind is play baseball and winning games. Enjoy baseball."

Houston general manager Ed Wade said Tejada's age revelation "has no effect on our club."

"I don't think there is any kind of short-term impact on our club, and I don't foresee any long-term impact," Wade said. "He's still a premium player. We are happy to have him. He has a couple years left on his deal. I would like to see him play a lot longer than that in our uniform."

Tejada's contract with the Astros expires at the end of the 2009 season.

CHICAGO -- The National League's newest hero on the mound wears his game pants long, his jersey loose and his hat low, a fraction off center and to the left.

When he throws, his right arm slashes through the air after each delivery and then snaps back up like he is popping an imaginary whip. He's 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, and his name sounds like it came right off the cover of a comic book.

Cincinnati pitching sensation Johnny Cueto wears a red cap, not a red cape, and he isn't from the Planet Krypton, but his super efforts this season have gained national attention and out-of-this-world comparisons. He turned 22 in February.

"That's our little superhero right there," said fellow Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez, 24. "He has a lot of talent. I think one thing that helps him is that he doesn't know a lot about the players he is facing. When you know a lot about the team, there is lot to think about and you can get nervous. He just pitches like he pitches and doesn't worry about it. They don't know him either, so that's good, too."

That could change because Cueto's reputation is growing. In his big league debut, he gave up one hit and one run, striking out 10 hitters in seven innings against Arizona, and followed that start with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings against Milwaukee. He gave up five hits and five runs against Pittsburgh is his latest start, taking the loss and evening his record at 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA.

Cueto throws strikes and has good control for a pitcher of any age. He went 16 innings and struck out 22 batters before he issued his first big league walk. He didn't reach a ball three count until his third start.

"Cueto is aggressive and that's hard to teach young guys," Reds pitching coach Dick Pole said. "He's not afraid to throw the ball inside to either handed hitter. That's something a lot of young guys don't do or know to do."

The approach has worked. Cueto was the 2006 and 2007 Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Year and went 12-9 with a 3.07 ERA in 161 1/3 combined innings with Class A Sarasota, Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville last year.

He is scheduled to start Saturday against the Brewers at Great American Ball Park.

"I've played in a lot of leagues. There is no pressure on my part," Cueto said. "I can pitch and I just concentrate on that. I'm enjoying this. I want to play for 20 years and keep getting better. I know I'm young. I still have a lot of games to play."

He's already come a long way.

Cueto signed with the Reds for $35,000 in 2004 following an early morning, 15-pitch tryout for Reds scout Johnny Armaraz in the Dominican Republic. Armaraz, now with the Braves, was on his way out of the country that day, but made a special trip to see Cueto pitch.

"He tried out at 7:30 in the morning and Johnny liked him," said former Reds pitcher Mario Soto, now director of operations for the Reds in the Dominican Republic. "What I know is Cueto has great stuff and he's a guy that is not afraid to pitch inside. That's one of the keys to big leagues if you want to be successful. That's a big plus when you are throwing 96, 97 mph with a good change and a slider."

In three seasons in the Minor Leagues, Cueto went 14-12 with a 3.28 ERA. He earned a spot in the rotation by dazzling the club during Spring Training. He posted a 2.08 ERA in his first four appearances in Grapefruit League play.

"I told my mom I wanted to play in the big leagues and I made it," Cueto said. "She always pushed me to play the game, always wanted me to go out and work out. Before I signed, she was always telling me to go to the stadium, 'Get up and go play.' 'Go run, go practice.'"

Cueto credits his family in the Dominican Republic and his new Reds family for keeping him grounded. The joke is that Cueto and Volquez are siblings because they spend so much time together. Veteran closer Francisco Cordero is the paternal figure of this Dominican group, always keeping an eye on the two youngsters and making sure they are doing the right thing. Cordero and Volquez were teammates with the Texas Rangers.

"[Cueto] looks young, but when he gets on the mound, it is like he is a veteran. He owns the mound," Cordero said. "He is a good listener. If he stays healthy, he can be a pitcher of the franchise. I tell him to keep working hard. People are always going to say things, but just believe in yourself and dedicate yourself. Don't get a big head."

Big smiles, on the other hand, are common, especially when the jovial Volquez is involved. Volquez and Cueto share an apartment near the ballpark in Cincinnati, and they also roomed together during Spring Training. Last winter, Cueto and Volquez worked out together at the Reds' Dominican baseball academy in Boca Chica, about 25 minutes away from Cueto's home in San Pedro de Macoris.

They say the extra work helped them earn spots in the Reds' rotation.

"I have my car, so I take him places, show him how to dress for trips, talk to the fans and things like that," Volquez said. "He's been playing here for four years, but he didn't know the life of a big leaguer and what to expect. He's smart. He learned quickly. Now, we just laugh all the time. He likes to play around a lot. He's funny. He's always kidding around. He's like my little brother. Cordero is the father. That's the joke."

Having "brother" Edinson around has made life easier for Cueto because he admits he gets homesick at times. Cueto is currently trying to bring his mother to the United States, but can't because of visa issues. She spent two months with him in the Minor Leagues last season. He also longs to see his longtime girlfriend and his infant son and daughter. Cueto, his parents, girlfriend, children and his four siblings all live together in the same house in the Dominican Republic, so not having family around is challenging at times.

"I want [mom] to be here," he said. "I made it to the 40-man [roster], then 25-man and she didn't see it. I'm here, but she is not. I'm going to keep trying to get her here. She can take care of me, cook for me."

In a perfect world, every member of Cueto's family would be with him in the United States. The notion might not be too far-fetched. Cordero's brothers live with him in Cincinnati and his family members, including his young son, visit him from the Dominican Republic often.

"Volquez, we are great friends, good teammates," Cueto said. "I met Cordero here. He's a good person. He watches out for me. He answers everything I ask him about everything."

Cueto's size and fastball have drawn early comparisons to another diminutive Dominican power pitcher, Mets starter Pedro Martinez, but Cueto said it's too early in his career to be mentioned in the same breath as his baseball idol. Cueto wears jersey No. 47, but sported no. 45 in the Minor Leagues in Martinez's honor.

"I don't know Pedro personally, but I can't wait to talk to him," he said. "People see me pitch and they say I can be like him. I'm just starting. I'm not Pedro Martinez."

Vicente Padilla still snarls on the mound. The scowl, the strut and the way he stares at the ground on his way to the dugout at the end of each inning are all the same as last year.

But this Padilla could not be any more different. The Rangers could not be any happier. Padilla is 1-1 with a 3.79 ERA after three starts this season. Last season, the first of a three-year, $33 million deal, he went 6-10 with a 5.76 ERA and struggled with a sore triceps muscle in his throwing arm.

"Everything is different," Rangers pitching coach Mark Conner said. "He's healthy, number one, and I think he is on a mission this year to prove that last year was a fluke. His pitching is more along the lines of what he did the year before."

In 2006, Padilla had a career year, winning 15 games and finishing with a 4.50 ERA. He signed the multiyear deal in the winter that followed but didn't live up to expectations the next season -- anybody's expectations.

He was at a loss at times. It showed.

"I think everybody has emotions, and I am no different," Padilla said. "You do get a little upset when you make a bad pitch or there is an error. You just have to let it go. I think before, I let it bother me more. What can you do about it? Nothing. You just have to keep going forward and get the next guy out. I let it anger me before."

The money also mattered.

"The contract affected me," he said. "It's a lot of money, and they wanted me to do the work, and I wanted to demonstrate that I earned that money and I was worth it. I wanted to be better than the year before. But you can't let that affect you or make you do things you don't normally do. I know that now."

What Padilla did was play while he was injured. He struggled with his command and velocity, posting a 3-8 record with a 6.69 ERA before being placed on the disabled list last June because of the triceps. His mental toughness was likely also being tested, as he was the first pitcher in Rangers history to lose eight games by June.

"He got the contract, and people were expecting big things. He tried to do that, but he was hurt," Conner said. "He finally admitted that after he had not pitched very well. I knew something was wrong. I think he wanted to show he could live up to the contract, but pitching while you are hurt is very difficult. You can't fault him for that, but you wish he would have said something sooner."

Padilla is letting his actions do the talking this season. He began training for the season in January, in Nicaragua, and said that he arrived at camp in better shape than usual. He also began a light throwing program one month before the start of Spring Training.

"This year he came in with a new attitude," Conner said. "I watch him in between innings, and he's right there patting guys on the back. I think he feels better about himself. He looks that way."

The change is noticeable. Padilla laughs and jokes with his teammates more than he did in 2007. He will never be confused as a media darling, but he is also making an effort to be more available to the press corps.

"All of the pitchers came into Spring Training with the attitude that they were trying to help each other as much as they can, and that's what they have been doing. Padilla has been a big part of that," manager Ron Washington said. "Last year, he wasn't outward. The change in him ... I think you have to speak to him, because I can't speak for him, but I just see the change."

Padilla doesn't know what all the fuss is about, saying that it's easier to be in a better mood when you are not in pain. He laughs at the notion that he is a changed man, because he didn't realize he was seen as such a bad guy in the past.

"No matter how old you are or how long you play this game, you are going to learn something," Padilla said. "You can never know it all in this game. You can learn something every day if you want to pay attention to it. I see that. I know that."

ARLINGTON - The American League East's two most popular teams squared off in front of a nationally televised audience Sunday night. The teams with division's best record face each other Monday.

 

Who knew last night's Yankees-Red Sox match up would be trumped by today's Orioles-Blue Jays contest? Nobody. It hasn't happened.

 

Yet.

 

"That's the reality and that's been the way it has been, but you get tired of it," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Ask those guys out there (in the clubhouse) and they get tired of finishing backseat to those teams. That's what everybody is striving for. The whole American League is good but obviously those two teams are going to be at the top.  You play them so many times, it takes a toll on you."

 

Want the spotlight to shift to Canada? Keep winning.

 

The Orioles and the Blue Jays sit atop the division with identical 7-5 records. Boston is 7-6 and Tampa Bay is 6-6. The Yankees are in last place with a 6-7 record. The Blue Jays are coming off a triumphant three-game sweep in Texas.

 

It's early, very early, but please excuse the Blue Jays for being in a collective good mood lately. Gibbons knows all about the predictions for the AL East and how his club is supposed to finish in the middle or back of the pack, he's just not ready to believe them yet. The way he sees it, every team in the division is capable of winning on any given night.

 

The Texans speaks with so much confidence, you almost want to believe him. His players apparently do.

 

"You read about teams that are supposed to lose 100 games, but nobody knows that," Gibbons said. "These are still professional clubs and you still have players on the team that have been good big league players. Baseball is not like football where if you are bigger and stronger, you can just overpower them. Anybody can win in this game and I think we are seeing that."

 

It's already been quite a ride for Toronto. The club went 1-2 against the Yankees to start the season and went on to sweep the Red Sox in the series that followed. The club came into Texas riding a three-game losing streak after being swept by Oakland.

 

"We are playing about .500 but we could be doing better," Blue Jays designated hitter Frank Thomas said. "I think it's early and a lot of the teams are close together. By the end of the month, you'll see teams pull ahead. Hopefully, it's us."

 

If big Frank hopes to get his wish, the Blue Jays will have to continue to pitch well. Toronto is currently fourth in the American League with a 3.60 ERA behind Kansas City (2.58), Minnesota (3.48), and Oakland (3.53). The club is third in the AL in strikeouts with 83, behind Boston and Oakland.

 

Former Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay along with fellow starters Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowin and Jesse Litsch are among the league leaders in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.

 

"Our pitching is good," Gibbons said. "I think we have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. That's a bold statement but I really believe it. Top to bottom, we didn't have as many holes to fill as we had in the past."

 

The return of injured closer B.J. Ryan on Sunday helped fill one gap. Ryan picked up the save in Arlington against the Rangers in his first appearance since last April by giving up a triple to Marlon Byrd, the first batter he faced, but recovering to retire the next three batters in order to seal the 5-4 victory in extra innings.

 

"It wasn't the prettiest thing ever, but the bottom line, we got it done," Ryan said. "You make some pitches when you have to, kind of back against the wall."

 

The return of third baseman Scott Rolen, currently on the disabled list because of a broken finger, will bolster the Blue Jays offense although they seem to be doing just fine without him. Second baseman Aaron Hill leads the team in batting average with a .326 mark.  He also has nine RBIs, second on the team to Vernon Well's team-leading 12 RBIs. Wells is hitting .320 with three home runs. Matt Stairs is hitting .296 and Shannon Stewart is at .280.

 

"We have a good, complete team," infielder Marco Scutaro said. "We have young guys and some veteran mix. The most important thing for us is to stay healthy. We stay healthy and we can do something good this year."

 

That's the belief in the clubhouse. Don't be surprised to see players donning team t-shirts with a catchy slogan about teamwork, confidence, underdogs, and opportunity in the near future. Just call it a hunch. Bet on a lightning bolt or dumbbell somewhere on the t-shirt as well.

 

"This is such a good league," Gibbons said. "You could almost guarantee the Wild Card was going to come out of the American League East but that's not the case anymore. We have a good bunch of guys,  a bunch of gamers. We don't press. We will compete every day."

 

 

 

If anybody is plugged into baseball in the Dominican Republic, it's Angels coach Alfredo Griffin.

 

He's everywhere it seems. Griffin can be spotted at every Caribbean Series, either in the stands or in the dugout, and was a fixture with the country's club during the World Baseball Classic in 2006 as a coach. He's still a legend in San Pedro de Macoris for his big league career and will always be revered as one of the first famous infielders from the island.

 

He is the definition of "Soy Dominicano."

 

So when Griffin spoke about the Dominican participation in the upcoming World Baseball Classic in 2009 recently at Angel Stadium, people stopped to listen. Hopefully, his countrymen were taking notes.

.

"(Dominican Republic) will have time and they should be prepared this time around," he said. "The biggest problem is the timing of it. People go from Santo Domingo where they are relaxing, then go to Spring Training and then start playing games very quickly. The conditioning wasn't there and everybody knew that. That's why the pitchers were on such a low pitch-count. That made it difficult for our teams."

 

"Maybe the players have to get ready sooner," he said. "I don't know if it has to come from Major League Baseball or the players personally, but they have to be ready to compete this time around. We do that, we will do better."

 

The Dominican team finished the 2006 World Baseball Classic with a 5-2 record, losing to Cuba in the semifinals. They were considered the favorites in 2006, sporting a roster of All-Stars and up-and-coming players. Among the starters were Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano, Miguel Tejada, Jose Reyes along with pitcher Daniel Cabrera, Francisco Liriano and Bartolo Colon.

 

The roster wasn't enough. Griffin is not guaranteeing an All-Star roster will bring home the trophy in 2009, either. He's wise enough to know anything can happen in baseball.

 

"In baseball, you really can't predict anything," he said. Every team has good players and if you look at the Dominican team, Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero didn't participate in the Classic and they are two of the best players in the game. I don't know what happens if they play."

 

"The Dominican team didn't have a lot of good pitching, either, "he continued. "There weren't that many good pitchers available. Japan played good baseball. Cuba played good baseball. That's why they won. I think if the Latin teams and the team from the United States prepare, they will be a lot better in the next one. I still don't think anybody was prepared or knew what to expect."

 

That should be different this time around. Ask Griffin and he'll likely agree that more intrasquad and game-type of simulation would benefit the Dominican team. The club simply did not see enough live pitching to be prepared for the stiff international competition. Hitters also seemed to be off the mark, at least by a week.

 

Just don't ask Griffin where the club should play. Griffin, like most of his countrymen, believe location of the tournament does not matter and scoffed at the notion of the proposed boycott if the Dominican Republic did not play host to a round.

 

"Those people talked without knowing what was going on and I didn't support that," he said. "I don't know anybody that did. If you want to make a case, present it and discuss it, maybe I can listen, but you just don't say our country is not going to play if we don't have a round in Santo Domingo. I don't agree with that thinking. There are other ways to handle the situation. Players knew better. They knew it was too early to say anything like that so nobody took it seriously."

 

Griffin should know. He's plugged in. As usual.

 

 

ARLINGTON -- Their lineup reads like a who's-not-who in the big leagues, but the anonymous Orioles just might be the best team nobody knows about this season.

Gone are high-profile players Erik Bedard, Miguel Tejada and the underachieving Orioles that followed them. In their place is a cast of characters known only to hardcore baseball fans and their respective family members.

The results are surprising to anyone outside of the Baltimore clubhouse. The Orioles, after topping the Rangers 8-1 on Tuesday, are 6-1 after the first seven games of the season and in first place in American League East.

Yes, that's the same division as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Blue Jays were supposed to be the surprise of the East, right?

Wrong. The Orioles are riding a six-game winning streak, matching their longest winning streak of 2007.

"This is 2008, and I think the guys have really kept the focus and they've done a lot of little things very well," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "The fundamentals have been good, and we are playing team baseball. When you get two out of three -- pitching, defense and timely hitting -- you will have a chance to win. You get all three, you will win. We are getting all three right now."

He's right.

Who needs Tejada at shortstop when you have Luis Hernandez? Hernandez, from Venezuela, was claimed on waivers by Baltimore from Atlanta in 2006. Tejada and his Houston Astros are at the bottom of the National League Central.

Who thought we would be talking about replacing Tejada's legacy so early in the season?

"I'm always out there looking to make the play, turn a double play," Hernandez said. "We have a lot of young players, but we are playing good. There's a lot of enthusiasm. The veterans are helping young players."

It shows. Hernandez has four hits in his first nine at-bats and has scored three runs this season. He also has three RBIs. Not bad for a player who admits being nervous has affected his play in the past.

"You never know how long you are going to be in one place, so you just try to take advantage of the opportunity," Hernandez said. "One shortstop leaves like Miguel Tejada and another one comes. He's happy with his team. I know a superstar like that is going to help them. I'm happy with where I am."

Trembley should be happy as well. He likes what he sees from his shortstop so far.

"He seems to have relaxed now. He's making the plays. He's making some contributions offensively, which I will take as a bonus," Trembley said. "I want him to make the routine plays on a consistent basis. He seems to be a lot more focused. I think the pressure is off."

It's hard to blame Trembley for being so relaxed these days. The bullpen has been solid, posting a 1.10 ERA through the first seven games of the season, and it seems every move the Orioles have made is working out perfectly. It's easy to say who is at least the early winner in the Tejada-to-Houston trade: the Orioles.

Matt Albers (1-0, 0.00 ERA in 6 1/3 innings), Dennis Sarfate (2-0, 0.00 in 3 1/3 innings) and Luke Scott (.529), all acquired from Houston, have made immediate contributions. George Sherrill (0.00 ERA, four saves) and outfielder Adam Jones, both acquired in the trade with Seattle for Bedard are also making their marks.

Aubrey Huff? Remember him? He's only hitting .333.

Granted, they are not exactly household names. But maybe these overachieving Orioles will reach that status one day. And maybe they do it for good reasons.

"We have a young team, including me, I'm not old, so we have energy," catcher Ramon Hernandez said. "We don't really have any names that make you go 'Wow,' but we have guys who want to play the game. Everybody is doing their job and if we keep working as a team, we'll be able to do some good things."

The secret is really no secret at all, he says.

"We're having fun and we're playing good baseball," the catcher said. "We're playing the game the way it should be played. It's clean. We are making the routine plays and moving runners over. The little things you have to do to win. That's why we are winning."

ANAHEIM - The list starts with good defense, being fundamentally sound and the ability to make spectacular plays. Then comes the blazing speed on the bases, the solid hitting approach and the baseball smarts.

 

The Angels have everything they want from their shortstop except for one player with all those qualities. For now, they have the combination of Macier Izturis and Erick Aybar giving them a new take on the term "all-around player."

 

"(Izturis) had a great Spring Training and he played well for us the last couple of years at whatever position we moved him," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's a natural shortstop. With he and Erik Aybar, I don't think there is any question that defensively we are going to have the stuff we need on the field."

 

Izturis was the Opening Day starter at shortstop and has started six games. Aybar has made two starts this season. Izturis is hitting .143 while Aybar posts a .100 batting average. The thinking behind trading shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the White Sox this winter is looking good in theory and on the field.

 

"When we got (Izturis), Orlando was here, some guys that were playing everyday," Scioscia said. "I think he'll grow in playing everyday into that comfort level that Orlando had. (Izturis and Aybar) are extremely intelligent players and they pick things up very quickly. They can make any plays you need at shortstop. Whereas Izzy is very fundamentally sound, Erik has the spectacular in him that a lot of shortstops don't have.  It's a good combination right there."

 

 

Izturis is considered the better hitter and leader. Aybar is considered the better all-around athlete. The tricky part is the notion that Izturis is the better everyday shortstop now and Aybar could be the better player in the future. Both should get plenty of at-bats this season but Izturis will likely get more playing time this season, at least initially.

 

"My goal this year is to be in the lineup everyday," Izturis said. "I have never been in this situation before but you have to have a positive attitude about it. You have to come here prepared like you are going to play and hopefully the manager puts you in there. It's his decision and I respect what he does."

 

When asked, Aybar echoed his teammate's opinion. Maybe he simply overheard him. The two locker next to each other in the Angels home clubhouse.

 

"That's the manager's decision and we just play when he says it is our turn to play," Aybar said. "One day, he'll play and the next I will. Or he will go two or three and I will go. I'll just keep working hard that way and help the team how I can."

 

But make no mistake, Aybar wants to be the everyday player, too. He knows he has some work left to do.

 

"I think you can improve everyday," he said. "You always need to get better at something like stealing bases and taking walks and other things in baseball. I feel like I'm learning something everyday and I'm going to keep doing that this year."

 

 

That's where the similarities end. Ask anybody that has seen the two play to explain the differences.

 

"Aybar is explosive all around with his feet and his arm but I think he needs to think a little bit more about the game and use his intellect more," said Angels first base/infield coach Alfredo Griffin. "He has all the natural ability you want in a player. This is a good year to show what he has.

 

"Macier has more experience," Griffin continued. "He's calm out there and he knows what he is doing.  He's not as explosive but that is not his game. They are very different in that way. Both fit with this club. Each has their own qualities but when you put them together, they do a great job."

 

Angels third baseman Chone Figgins sees it another way. He says Izturis is "the smooth one" and Aybar "is very athletic."

 

"They have two different types of players but both of them bring to the table the same thing: they can play and both are very good," Figgins said. "That's something that as an organization you have to be happy with. To have those two types of players is pretty amazing."

 

The two do have something in common: friendship. Izturis and Aybar are each other's biggest cheerleaders and supporters. They are also the most honest critics.

 

"You think they would put him next to me if we weren't good friends?," Izturis said. "We go with what the manager says. It's just business.  All I can focus on is what I can control -- my game."

 

 

LOS ANGELES - It was a good sign for the Dodgers when shortstop Rafael Furcal spent his afternoon before a game this week in the clubhouse debating the top player in the Toronto outfield instead of inside of the training room with a scowl on his face.

 

After two season marred with injury, Furcal is finally healthy. He looks happier than he has ever been and if push comes to shove, he'll take Vernon Wells, even an injured Vernon Wells, over his good buddy Alexis Rios if he has to.

 

Furcal is smiling again. He looks fit and his raspy voice is back to racing a mile-a-minute. He says his goals are simple. It's back to the basics.

 

"I just want to stay healthy all year and go far, at least to the playoffs," Furcal said. "I'm happy. When you are healthy, you are happy. It's different when you can't play at 100-percent. Last year, I could not do what I wanted to do. I couldn't play good defense. I couldn't hit the way I wanted to hit."

 

Well, he can now. A healthy Furcal might be the difference-maker in the National League West. In the first three games of the season, he is hitting .385 (5-for-13) with three RBIs. On Opening Day against the Giants, he went 3-for-4 and in the second game of the series, he scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The stage was set for another Furcal triumph in the series finale when he stepped up to the plate with his club trailing by one run and speedy Juan Pierre on first base in final inning.

 

But the stage collapsed. Furcal struck out looking and Pierre was thrown out attempting to steal on the play to complete a double play to end the game. The Dodgers can't win them all, but by the looks of Furcal so far, he sure makes you think they can.

 

Yes, he looks that electric. He looks like the Furcal that shined in Atlanta and landed the three-year, $39 million deal in 2005 with the Dodgers. The performance could not come at a better time. This could be Furcal's last year in Los Angeles and he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

 

Is that the reason he looks so good? Is he playing extra hard because it is a contract year? Note to self and others: Don't ask Furcal those questions unless you want him to roll his eyes and grunt. Maybe it's just me, but I seem to recall players in the final year of a deal playing extremely well in order to land another contract so maybe I was not that far out of line.

 

Furcal says he's playing so well so far because he is healthy. He also loves the game. A new contract is not an issue. Yet.

 

"I'm not thinking of that at all. I leave all that up to the lawyers," he said. "I just do my job on the field. I do the best I can do and it works out."

 

But what if he lives up to his expectations this year? What if his team goes to the playoffs and what if the Dodgers win the World Series? Will he come back to Los Angeles or just leave the Dodgers feeling blue? Remember, Furcal's first two seasons in Dodger Stadium were marred with an ankle injury, a sore shoulder and he came to the club fresh off of a minor knee surgery.

Doesn't he owe the Dodgers something for the first two years of disappointment? If Furcal plays like Furcal of the past this season, he would have still only fulfilled one-third of his part of the bargain. Will he come back to L.A.?

 

"I like it here a lot," he said. "Who would not like to be in a city like this with the fans and good players and a good manager. I'd like to be here but you don't know what is going to happen."

 

The Torre-factor might make a difference. Granted, the biggest factor will be money (it always is, no matter what the players say) but Furcal has already grown fond of manager Joe. Furcal has gone on record to say he likes the new skipper because he feels like Torre knows what he is doing. If that's not an indirect shot at former Dodgers manager Grady Little, I don't know what is.

 

"Torre is a tremendous manager and been good so far," Furcal said. "He's been a winner before and he's respected all over this league. He makes you want to play hard because you know the manager is working hard too. He motivates the players to be best you can be because he has won in this game."

 

The game, not the training room, is Furcal's primary focus these days. If somebody wants to debate American League outfielders, he's ready for that conversation, too. Just don't try to compare anybody to Vernon Wells because when Wells is healthy, he is one of the best in the game.

 

Sound familiar?

LOS ANGELES - If there was every any doubt about Fernando Valenzuela's legacy in Dodger Stadium, the thunderous ovation he received on Opening Day as part of the club's 50^th Anniversary celebration in the city squashed it.

 

You can argue former pitcher Sandy Koufax and former manager Tommy Lasorda received more cheers but you can't argue that the barrel-chested, glasses-wearing, stoic-looking Valenzuela is the best pitcher to come out of Mexico and one of the best from a Spanish-speaking country - ever.

 

Fernandomania and the summer of 1981 breathed again this week.

 

"He's the number one pitcher from Mexico, the most talented and he revolutionized the game of baseball," said Mike Brito, the Dodgers scout who discovered Valenzuela. "He would fill up stadiums every where he went. Like Pedro Infante filled arenas, Fernando filled up parks. He is something special, a once in a lifetime pitcher. You think there is another Fernando out there, let me know. I don't think there is one."

 

Valenzuela's 173-153 record is the best among Mexico-born pitchers but who is the second-best pitcher to come out of the country? That's where the real argument begins - in any language.

 

The old school says it's Milwaukee's Teddy Higuera and his 94-64 record and 3.61 ERA that started in the mid-1980s. Mets starter Oliver Perez and his left-handed arm is the pick of this generation. Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo is the choice for the future.

 

Pitchers Aurelio Lopez, Elmer Dessens, Sid Monge and Armando Reynosa among others all made Mexico proud. But ask them and they'll say it was Valenzuela that put Mexico on the MLB map.

 

"If what I did in the big leagues helped others get here, I am happy," Valenzuela said. "It makes me feel good. I never like to going to them and telling them to do this or that because everybody is different, different styles. I prefer to stay away unless somebody asks. I will be happy to help them out."

 

Ask me and I'll say the real no. 2 on Mexico's magic list is the Dodgers own Esteban Loaiza. Since making his debut with the Pirates in 1995, Loaiza has a career record of 125-112, the second most victories among Mexico-born pitchers behind Valenzuela. One-time Dodger Ismael Valdez is third on the all-time wins list for Mexican pitchers with a career record of 104-105 in 11 seasons starting in 1994.

 

"There are not very many of us left pitching with a lot of experience and I never thought I would be second to Fernando Valenzuela in wins," Loaiza said. "I never thought I would have as many wins as I have right now. It's unbelievable. Fernando made history in the United States and did so much for Mexico. He opened the doors for Mexico, especially here in Los Angeles. He does so much for our country."

 

What Valenzuela does now is work in the Dodgers Spanish radio booth. He can be spotted on occasion leaning against the railing near the home dugout but says he likes to stay away from the field because he is not playing anymore. He jokes that he's like Santa Claus when it comes to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. It happens once a year and only if you've been nice.

 

Valenzuela has known Loaiza since the mid-1990s and says he still keeps track of the pitchers that come out of his country. He likes Perez and Gallardo, but also praises what Loaiza has been able to accomplish in his career.

 

"Esteban started pitching a lot early in his career because he got the opportunity and that's what everybody needs to show what he has," he said. "If teams give the kids a chance to pitch, they can win games. I saw Jorge de La Rosa in Spring Training and Joakim Soria. These kids are good. They need a chance and need a little support.  You score some runs for these kids so you don't think you have to be perfect."

 

"Look at Rodrigo (Lopez)," Valenzuela continued. "I was in San Diego in 1995 when Rodrigo was in the Minor Leagues. He got a chance to show what he can do with the Orioles and was good. He just needed a chance."

 

Loaiza's chance came with the Pirates in 1995 and he has gone on to win at least 10 games a season seven times. With the White Sox in 2003, he went 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA. With the Dodgers, he is the fifth man in the rotation.

 

"The good thing is I have been able to stay strong and healthy for a lot of my career," Loaiza said. "I think I know the hitters and how to pitch when I am out there.  I have been a professional pitcher for a long time now so I have been able to figure out how to get people out. I'm not going to stop doing that."

 

"He doesn't look like he is throwing hard but he is hitting spots a lot better," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "His experience is basically what is going to give us a chance to win. I think things he can do and the fact that he is not afraid to do it is because he's really not afraid to take a chance."

 

Brito is not quite as diplomatic. He likes Loaiza as a pitcher. He's just doesn't love him. Loaiza is on Brito's list of great Mexican pitchers - somewhere.

 

"Valenzuela was obviously the best from Mexico but Higuera was better than Loaiza, too," Brito said. "I would even say Valdez was better. Francisco Cordova was a great one, too. Loaiza had some good years, especially when he played for the White Sox, but he has lost some of his velocity. There was a time when he was really good."

 

Loaiza takes the criticism in stride. He's just happy to be mentioned among his country's legendary pitchers. He knows he's not Valenzuela. Nobody is and nobody ever will be.

 

"I'm going to keep playing as long as my arm allows me to," Loaiza said. "I want to keep playing until I can't get anybody out anymore. Then maybe I retire for one or two years, rest and then come back to baseball like Vinicio (Castilla)."