Around the Horn

Everything went right for the Anaheim Angels last year. It was just one of those years.

After a slow start this year, they find themselves back at .500, but unless the starting pitching comes around, it won't matter how good their bullpen is, and it has been very good, the playoffs will be a long shot.

Other than Jarrod Washburn who sports a respectable 3.79 earned run average, the next best starter is Mickey Calloway at 5.55.

Aaron Sele has had one good and one bad start since returning from the disabled list, and John Lackey has recently showed signs of rebounding from his terrible start.

Ramon Ortiz who was the guy that was supposed to be a front of the rotation type guy, (not to mention was supposed to be a few years younger than he actually is) has four wins but is giving up close to six runs per game (5.87)

In the ever-popular game of guessing which manager will be next to fall, it would no surprise if it ends up being Chicago White Sox skipper Charlie Manuel.

The ChiSox are currently five games behind the Minnesota Twins and three games under .500 after getting swept by Minny this past weekend. Many picked the ChiSox to win the AL Central and the heat on Manuel is rising.

Speaking of struggling... Milwaukee Manager Ned Yost said on Sunday, "I see a lot of good things out of this ballclub, but our record keeps bogging us down."

Huh? The Brew Crews record stands at 15-29. Yep, that's a lot of bogging.

The San Diego Padres probably rushed Sean Burroughs to the major leagues last year. He struggled mightily and was sent back to AAA Portland where he batted .302.

The organization also toyed with making him a second baseman, but scrapped that and again handed him the third base job this year.

Again he started slowly, but recently has begun to hit like the Pads envisioned when they made him the ninth pick overall in the 1998 draft.

Aramis Ramirez homered Sunday against Arizona. It was the first home run for a Pittsburgh Pirates cleanup hitter this season. t came in game 44.

Willie Mays attended the Boston Red Sox-Angel game this Sunday at Fenway.

Imagine how many home runs he would have hit had he played his career there.

Between 1961-1966 playing in Candelstick Park, not exactly a home run haven (unless of course your name is Barry Bonds), the Say Hey Kid belted 40, 49, 38, 47, 52, and 37.

This was before the live ball and the lowering of the pitching mound.

Cal Eldred picked up his third save of both the season and his career for the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, while Robert Person got his first in four years for the Red Sox.

Maybe its me, but doesn't it seem like almost any major league pitcher can do that job and have at least short term success?

That is not to take anything away from the Mariano Rivera's and other stars at the position, but maybe that is why closers, for the most part don't get elected to the Hall of Fame.

Is there such a thing as a big series in mid May? Maybe not, but don't tell that to Yankee or Red Sox fans.

The Red Sox/Yankees series begins Monday night in Beantown with David Wells facing Casey Fossum.

The last time these teams met when they were deadlocked in a first place tie in Fenway? The Bucky Dent game in 1978. Not a good memory for BoSox fans.

When it comes to Pete Rose, everyone has an opinion.

Cal Ripken's is one that Bud Selig should take a look at. Rip contends that the issue of being eligible for the Hall of Fame and being eligible to work again in baseball should be kept separate.

Read between the lines here Bud. Rose belongs in the Hall, but not back in the game.

Hot? How bout the Reds trio of Adam Dunn, who leads the majors in home runs with 16, Austin Kearns who has 13, and Aaron Boone who has 11, all in the last 30.

Too bad the Cincinnati Reds don't have any pitching to go along with that imposing lineup.

Cold? Jason Giambi and brother Jeremy, hitting .203 and .205, respectively. Ouch.