Hey Baseball…It’s Me Corey

**This would have appeared earlier this morning, but the outlets on the right side of the Bolt bus that was taking me to Boston were not working. So it was either switch seats and sit next to someone else, or wait until I got back to my parent’s house. Clearly I wasn’t willing to give up my personal space.**

As I pulled up the MLB standings this morning, I made a startling discovery.

And no, it wasn’t that the Cleveland Indians are in first place by the largest margin of any division in baseball.

I realized that the baseball season is already a fifth of the way over.

Between the NBA and NHL Playoffs and the never ending winter this year, I just haven’t gotten into baseball yet. Let’s face it, when it is 45 degrees and pissing rain it just doesn’t feel like baseball season. I still keep up with the Red Sox as much as one can while living out of market, and can probably name most of the teams leading their divisions. But for the most part I have been ignoring America’s Pastime.

I don’t think baseball likes flowers or chocolates, and I can’t exactly take it out to a nice dinner now can I? So in order to make up for my lack of attention, I will be giving all of my Wednesday afternoon, all of my Wednesday afternoon, to you baseball.

Since a fifth of the season is in the books, here are five of the most interesting storylines from the 2011 MLB season so far.

1 – The Cleveland Indians.

It would be easy to point out that the White Sox and Twins have been rubbish when trying to figure out how the Indians sit atop a division that is usually a three horse race (Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota). But the Tribe have gone 10-3 in their last 13 against the Angels, A’s, Devil Rays and Tigers. Those teams are a combines 25-15 over their last ten games. So it’s not exactly beating up on bad competition.

Cleveland ranks 4^th in BA, 2^nd in OBP, 7^th in Runs, and has the highest winning percentage in baseball. The pitching has kept pace, ranking 8^th in ERA and 1^st in quality starts. Justin Masterson, who the Red Sox traded for the right to rent Victor Martinez, and Josh Tomlin have been lights out. The Indians, like the Devil Rays (Their momma call em Devil Rays, I’m gonna call em Devil Rays) a few years back, have quietly built a quality group of young players. They don’t have anyone with more than six home runs, but they all can put the ball in play. They are the anti-Yankees.

Tune in tonight as they go for their 15^th straight home win against one of the best young arms in baseball, Tampa Bay’s David Price.

2- The Phillies Pitching

We all knew it would be good, but damn. They are 3^rd in ERA, 1^st in quality starts, and 6^th in batting average against. All without a particularly strong start from Cliff Lee. Philly’s offense has been so-so thus far, but if the pitching keeps shutting people down like they were Blockbuster video stores, they don’t need to score many runs to remain atop the NL East.

3 – Underachievers

Chicago Cubs – Bringing in Carlos Pena and Matt Garza was supposed to improve the Cubbies talent, as well as bring a winning attitude from their days with the Devil Rays. Pena is hitting .213 with 3 homeruns and Garza is 1-4. On the brightside, they aren’t as bad as the White Sox.

Chicago White Sox – Other than Gavin Floyd the starting pitching is a combined 7-16. No one, other than Paul Konerko, is hitting above .300 for an offense that ranks 19^th in batting average. That’s not good for a team with the 5^th highest payroll in baseball.

Boston Red Sox – This was supposed to be one of the best Red Sox teams ever. On paper anyway. Apparently, with the increased costs and all, they don’t play many games on paper these days. The Sox have shown signs of life the last few weeks after a abysmal start but seem petrified of .500. Every time they get near it, they run away from it like they were the Lakers, and .500 was adversity.

4 – Derek Jeter