Here are some thoughts after reviewing Sunday's boxscores:
Yankees starter Phil Highes is doing his best to make manager Joe Girardi look good after naming him his 5th starter in spring training. Hughes shut out the White Sox on 4 hits and a walk in 7 innings of work on Sunday, lowering his ERA to 1.44.
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano hit his 9th HR of the season and went 2-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Cano is hitting .387-.433-.763 on the season.
Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos made a statement in his major league debut by going 4-5. Ramos was called up to replace injured catcher Joe Mauer. Ramos definitely helps his trade value, as he will not have a position for the next few years. Ramos for Heath Bell anyone?
The Diamondbacks were questioned for trading young starter Max Scherzer to the Tigers in a multi-player deal for Edwin Jackson this offseason. The questions will continue as Jackson was rocked in 4 innings of work in Chicago on Sunday, giving up 11 hits, a walk and 8 runs. He did not strike out a batter, and has a 17/10 K/BB ratio and has given up 28 runs in 31+ innings so far.
Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez went 3-5 with 2 HRs, 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored on Sunday. He is hitting .316-.409-.526 on the season with 5 HRs, 14 RBIs and 2 SBs in 4 attempts.
Tigers starter Justin Verlander held the Angels to one run on 3 hits in 8+ innings, striking out 7 in the process. Teammate Austin Jackson went 3-5 with an RBI, two days after going 5-5 in Friday night's game. I think the Tigers are happy with their offseason deal with the Yankees.
The Rays are showing teams how to build through their farm system, as they got another quality start from Wade Davis on Sunday. Davis out-dueled Zach Greinke, shutting out the Royals on 3 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings of work to win his 3rd game of the season. He lowered his ERA to 2.79.
Andre Ethier loves to hit at Dodger Stadium. Ethier hit 2 HRs and drove in 4 on Sunday in the Dodgers 9-3 win over the Pirates. He now has 9 HRs, 26 RBIs, and is hitting .365-.432-.729 on the season. He can hit without Manny in the lineup.
Dodgers second baseman Blake Dewitt went 4-4 with 3 RBIs on Sunday and is now hitting .297-.408-.359 on the season. He has not hit a HR yet, and I was expecting him to approach 15 this season.
I was on the Lastings Milledge bandwagon before the season started, but he may be just a month or so from seeing more bench time if he continues to hit .233-.289-.300. AAA outfielder Jose Tabata is hitting .333 and has stolen 12 bases so far this season. Tabata may not hit for the power he was projected to have a few years ago, but he is a good contact hitter.
Mets starter Johan Santana proves it is difficult to pitch in Ctizens Bank Park, as he was handed a 5-2 lead in the 4th inning, but the Phils scored 9 runs with 2 out in the 4th to chase Santana. Santana gave up 10 runs on 8 hits, 4 of which were HRs.
Rockies pitching prospect Jhoulys Chacin held the Giants to one hit and 3 walks in 7 shutout innings on Sunday. Chacin struck out 7 and induced 8 ground ball outs. The Rockies will have a decision to make if he continues to pitch like this.
Orioles starter Kevin Millwood held the Red Sox to two solo HRs in 8 innings of work on Sunday. He struck out 4 and walked 4 and lowered his ERA to 3.15.
Ben Sheets is making Billy Beane's $10 million decision look terrible up to this point. Sheets gave up 9 runs on 10 hits, including 3 HRs in 3+ innings on Sunday vs the Blue Jays. Sheets ERA sits at 7.12.
Is it time to buy low on Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman? Lee is hitting .191-.234-.236, while Berkman is hitting .211-.318-.421. Both should hit close to .300 this season, but have to say i am worried about Lee. I traded for him in one league looking for power, and he hasn't sniffed a HR yet.
I know I have harped on him this season, but how much longer does Bobby Cox stick with Nate McLouth in the lineup everyday? McLouth is hitting .172-.299-.297 this season.
Are the Pirates slowly phasing Octavio Dotel out of the closer's role? Dotel left LA to be with his wife for the birth of their child, but manager John Russell indicated that either Joel Hanrahan or Even Meek would have received the save opportunity even if Dotel was available. Dotel has not pitched since April 28th, and has given up 13 runs in his last 6 appearances dating back to April 13th.