Game Day: Thursday, May 14th

I was down for the count yesterday.  No call no show.  I had a miserable headache and couldn't escape the doldrums for even a moment.

I am feeling better today and will put forth my best effort. 

A quick look at the standings has the Rays atop the AL.  That looks like a real bluff to me.  Shane McClanahan is back and pitching great and Drew Rasmussen is a legitimate two behind McClanahan but can we count on Nick Martinez as a legitimate three all season?  Can Griffin Jax make the transition to the rotation?  Is Jesse Scholtens the answer in the five?

Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley starting in the outfield.  Taylor Walls as the starting shortstop.  Nick Fortes at catcher.  

They play a good brand of baseball.  They play as a team.  Have a great bullpen.  It will be interesting to see how the Rays perform into July.

The White Sox and the A's are also winning.  The A's sit atop the AL west at 22-20 and the White Sox are only three games back of the Cleveland Guardians for first in the AL Central.  

Young teams playing well.  It is a testament to the farm systems around baseball.  The Rays, A's and White Sox are for the most part entirely home-grown relying on trades and their farm system instead of big name free agents.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays are coming.  The Orioles and Tigers aren't finished.  We are only a quarter of the way through the season.  

My money is on the Orioles, the Blue Jays and the Red Sox.  I am loving the underdogs early but the cream, as it has been said, rises to the top.


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