Short Stops - 4/5

Dice-K makes his major league debut this afternoon against the Royals. You can probably put a mark in the 'W' column already. Do you really think the Royals can take 2 of 3 from the Sox?

Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi must be starting to sweat every time A.J. Burnett 21 starts. Burnett lasted only 2 innings plus 6 batters in the 3rd (none of which he retired) in getting takes the mound. Ricciardi took a $55 million gamble on Burnett prior to last season, in which injuries limited him to 21 starts. Burnett was shellacked by the Tigers yesterday. A 27.00 ERA is NOT pretty.

In case anyone cares, Super Roid man hit his 735th career HR yesterday.

What a difference a healthy Rich Harden makes. In his first start of '07 last night, Harden blanked the M's for 7 innings on 3 hits, striking out 7. A healthy Harden could make the A's a division winner.

The Blue Jays and Tigers have already been 'colded' out today. They'll make it up in September.

It's not the NLCS, but the Mets had to feel satisfied after sweeping the defending WS champion Cardinals to start the season. The much maligned starting rotation allowed just 2 runs and 18 hits (10 in the first game alone) in the 3 games.