The AL East Roundup:

AL EAST	W	L	GB	L10	STK	E#
Boston Red Sox	16	8	–	7-3	W1	—
Toronto Blue Jays	13	12	3.5	5-5	W2	135
Baltimore Orioles	12	14	5.0	3-7	L2	133
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	11	14	5.5	5-5	W1	133
New York Yankees	9	14	6.5	2-8	L1	133

Tigers 8, Orioles 4. Another day and another loss for the O’s. Last night’s debacle makes it 7 of 8 for Baltimore. While Oriole losses bring smiles to our little faces, this one we can empathize with. Baltimore pitchers walked 8 batters and threw 2 wild pitches. ouch.

Blue Jays 6, Rangers 1. Roy Halladay pitched a complete game. How rare is that these days, especially this early in the season? There are 20 teams that are yet to have a pitcher throw a complete game. Roy Halladay? HE HAS TWO! If Halladay wins the Cy Young this season, the Jays will look like geniuses. If Halladay is on the DL by the all-star break? well, oops.

NOTES FROM AROUND THE AL EAST…

• General George S. Steinbrenner released his missive yesterday, and while he is not happy with the team, Joe Torre and Brian Cashman have his support.

It is time to put excuses and talk away. It is time to see if people are ready to step up and accept their responsibilities. It is time for all of them to show me and the fans what they are made of. Let’s get going. Let’s go out and win and bring a world championship back to New York. That’s what I want.- George Steinbrenner

• It is Boston’s other Japanese import that is causing the Yankees grief.
• The benches cleared last night in the O’s/Tigers matchup after the ultra-sensitive Miguel Tejada thought an inside pitch was a little too close.
• Jaret Wright. $3 million well-spent. It is May 1, and Wright is beginning his second stint on the DL, already.
• Gustavo Chacin is latest Blue Jay to hit the DL.
• Tampa Jesuit graduate, Dave Magadan, has the Red Sox hitting on all cylinders.

Down On The Farm: All Andy Sonnanstine Does Is Win

Jacksonville 9, Montgomery 6. Mike Prochaska continues his early season struggles. This start was 5 runs in 5 innings on 7 hits. His ERA is now 6.46. Evan Longoria was 1-4 with his 5th home run, a 2-run shot. Reid Brignac was 1-5.

Brevard County 13, Vero Beach 6. The other Mike with a hard to pronounce last name also struggled last night. This time it was Mike Wlodarczyk. He also gave up 5 runs in 5 innings. 5 Rays had 2 hits apiece, including Patrick Cottrell who hit his 3rd home run and is now hitting .354 on the young season.

Columbus 5, Rome 3. Jeremy Hellickson was slightly more human in his second start of the season. After giving up only 1 hit in 6 shutout innings his last time out, this time he gave up 3 runs (2 earned) in 5 innings. He struck out 3. Ryan Royster was 2-4 with his 3rd home run and is now hitting .338.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

• Andy Sonnanstine was named player-of-the-week in the International League. In two starts Sonnanstine worked 14 innings and allowed only 8 hits and 2 runs. He struck out 18 and now leads the IL with 37.