Eye on division rivals

We begin with the Rays, those freshly minted media darlings. Frankly, I am offended by appraisals of the Rays-Yanks tension that suggest Tampa Bay is only now a real Major League team. Such commentary does a terrible disservice to Rolando Arrojo's unforgettable 14-win season in 1998. The Cuban defector still holds the franchise record! And what of Esteban Yan's club record 266 appearances? Do we strike them from the record books? Fun fact: Esteban Yan is also the Rays' all-time leader in OPS! And who could forget this historic battle? He ganked Wally's fanny pack, yo! In actual baseball news, Rocco Baldelli is out indefinitely with some sort of "metabolic and/or mitochondrial" disorder. No jokes here.

Tough day for the Jays, who lost bullpen stalwart and potential fifth starter Casey Janssen for the season with a torn labrum. No, I imagine the signing of Armando Benitez does not comfort this blow.

Peter Schmuck is getting tired of Daniel Cabrera's act. His column is accompanied rather nicely by Jeff Zrebiec's mesmerizing open to Tuesday's game story, "Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera didn't have control of his arm or his legs today against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium." But then, just a day later, we have this. I can't call it. Also, the Orioles are pleased with the early returns on their let's do the opposite of what we did last year approach to building a bullpen. Among those recently cut by the O's, Rays' all-time OPS leader Esteban Yan!

The Yankees, in the rich tradition of A-Rod's infamous slap, continue to make fools of themselves whenever they attempt to play like gritty gamers. Billy Crystal could pull off a better take-out slide than anyone in the Yankees' starting nine. Bill Kristol, too! In other news, Johnny Damon is nursing a bruised foot.