RedSox, Indians, Mets, Rockies RedHOT!

The Red Sox, powered by offseason acquisitions look to be a team to reckon with this year in AL East. Mike Lowell has fit in nicely, thank you very much. Lowell went 4 for 4 yesterday to support the pitching of Josh Beckett. Beckett's day started rather slowly. He struggled mightily in the first inning, but survived to walk off the mound only surrendering one run. The Red Sox bats did the rest. Look for this team to gel as the season moves on.

The Indians have reeled off six wins in a row! After watching the hot start put up by the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland decided to show a little muscle of their own. Hoping their pitching would be the key for them this season, they have relied heavily on the bats instead. Only one of the starting nine is struggling at the plate; Ronnie Belliard at .143. Every other player, with the exception of Ben Broussard (.286), is at .300 or better for the season. I'm not so sure this team can continue to post numbers like that for any length of time. With the exception of Hafner and Boone there is simply not alot of proven talent in the lineup. Time will tell.

The Mets. Wow! The Mets. Their offseason moves look to be complimenting an already star studded team. Unlike the Indians, the Mets have a proven lineup 1-8 that can deliver on any day against any pitcher. David Wright appears poised to establish himself as one of the premier players in the league. His power and leadership skills are making a positive impact on a daily basis. No doubt, with Rick Down there to hone the little things, Wright will blossom this year. I see this team as the cream of the crop. Pitching, Hitting, Fielding, Coaching... that about says it.

The Rockies are definitely a surprise. Packed with a bevy of young talent and sprinkled with just the right veteran (Todd Helton), this team could be a force. Helton is a masterful hitter that rarely gets his kudos because of the Coors Field stigma. Make no mistake, He can hit! Throw in the young talented bats of Hawpe, Holliday and Clint Barmes and the run production shouldn't be a problem. Can they put up the pitching numbers? I think that is the major question for this team. They should be fun to watch, but I think my money rests on the Dodgers in this division. They are loaded with talent and once Grady Little figures out how the pitching breaks down they should be solid all year long.

Yanks stumble out of gate

Poor George. He must be going through a few sleepless nights in New York. The beloved and fabled Yankees, yes the same Yankees with 26 World Championships, are a woeful 1-4 starting the 2006 campaign.

You can point the finger in a few spots, mainly the Murderers Row of the 3-4-5 hitters, but I have my own view on why they sit at 1-4. Hey, it's a long season and these guys are proven winners. They are perennial front runners that know what it's like to grind it out for 6 months.

Will they have their hands full in the division with the improved Blue Jays and rival Red Sox? You bet. Will it make the road tougher starting off slow? You bet. Will they put the off field distractions behind them and get some team unity going? You hope. You see, that's what I see wrong. From a distance mind you.. but you can sense something.

There seems to be no unity. Zip. Zero. Nada.

Nobody is picking up the slack. In the past, one Yank would falter in a crucial point of a game.. no problemo.. next guy.. or the next guy would step up and deliver. The Yankees of today, laden with talent, are simply laying down.

A-Rod looks run down and tired. Jeter is being pitched deep inside on a consistent basis (although he made a nice adjustment in his first at bat last night). Sheffield, well.. Gary's troubles have only just begun if you ask me. With the news about the Grand Jury testimony on the Balco trial... there are some damaging, very damaging, statements coming to light. Has this permeated the Yankee locker room? I think so.

On the field, the players are so immensely talented it is difficult to determine anything in the clubhouse causing a loss on the field. But, if you watch the dugout.. if you watch the interaction on the field. Something is amiss. It is like a rift going through a close knit family. You can see and feel the tension. It comes down to unity. One for all and all for one. It is the unwritten code in baseball. A key to success in every championship team that has ever stepped on the field is team unity. You can't manufacture it. You can't package it. You simply have to be lucky enough to have it. It comes from trust, faith, caring and sharing the same desire. You will hear it described as chemistry or a number of other terms. But, Unity is what is missing from the Yanks. They can physically go out and perform every day, no problem. They just aren't playing for the team yet. Will they? Yea, the season will move on and the Yankee cream will rise to the top. But, without Unity ... will they be able to get number 27? I don't think so.