BASEBALL'S BIZARRO WORLD

Let's look at our two childhood teams: Jackie's Detroit Tigers and my Baltimore Orioles. The Tigers were supposed to buzz saw their way through the league and the Orioles were supposed to be, well, the timber. But this week has been interesting, hasn't it?

After giving up 39 runs in the first six games, the Tigers finally got a win last night in Boston, but still gave up five runs. Hey, Jackie's not complaining: it's a win. (And I'm not complaining, either, she brought over the wine last night.) And, in tonight's rubber-match, the Tigers could get the better of 41-year-old Tim Wakefield in his first start of the year. He's been working with new catcher, Kevin Cash, 30, who will probably amount to be little more than one of the worst hitters in the league who can corral a knuckleball. Cash replaced Doug Mirabelli (another terrible hitter) over spring training. Will Detroit's baesrunners be primed to take advantage of some passed balls? Perhaps. I'd say, "Go Tigers!" but Boston is another one of my childhood teams and rooting against them would result in me being cut out of my family's will, which is Boston-based. There won't be much money there but the Linguica futures are looking good, especially with a "Silva" pitching in the league (even though he's from Venezuela, not Portugal, as The Family would prefer).

And, thanks in part to a four-game sweep of our local team, the Seattle Mariners, the Baltimore Orioles (my adopted childhood team) are looking like the buzzsaw to be buzzed with. This week, at least. Maybe all that off-season trade drama will amount to something? After losing to Tampa Bay (yes, you read that right) in the home opener, the O's went on a six-game tear, scoring 38 runs. They are going into a double-header w/ Texas today after yesterday's game was postponed.  And now they are 2.5 games ahead in the AL East? What gives? Who cares? I can say "Go Orioles!" with out reprisal from The Family. And, as an Orioles fan, I know when it's time to enjoy. They are fleeting.