Inside Pitch

Another really interesting slate of interleague games set for this weekend and we've already had a big story develop as the White Sox rolled to their 10th straight win -- their longest run since 1976 -- with today's 6-0 whitewash over the Cubs. The South Siders scored four runs in the first off Carlos Zambrano, who might have pitched his last inning for the Cubs after blowing up in the dugout at teammate Derrek Lee.

Check out the video. Ugly stuff. Zambrano has immediately been suspended by the Cubs. Richly deserved.

In other matchups this weekend:

---The Yankees face old manager Joe Torre for the first time in a three-game set in Los Angeles. Torre knew this weekend was coming.

---Roy Halladay pitches against his old team for the first time as the Phillies "travel" to their home park to meet the Blue Jays in the set moved from the Rogers Centre because of the G-20 summit. What a shame. Would have easily been a 40,000-plus crowd and an amazing scene tonight in Toronto.

---The Twins are at Citi Field to meet the Mets, with Johan Santana starting tomorrow. Ex-Bisons Jesus Feliciano, who went 3 for 5 last night, and Josh Thole are in tonight's lineup.

---Arizona is at Tampa Bay in the first family reunion of Justin and B.J. Upton.

---Tim Wakefield is on the mound as the Red Sox open a series in San Francisco.

---Mike Harrington
(twitter.com/bnharrington)

CLEVELAND -- I'm on the way to Progressive Field to see the second big-league start of Stephen Strasburg's career. We'll have a full live blog here to keep you updated after things get underway around 1:05 (this post appears courtesy of our favorite tool, the advanced timer). The game has been added to the TBS schedule -- the network pushed off Red Sox-Phillies for Indians-Nationals!! -- but I harbor no guarantees it will be on in Buffalo.

Local blackouts are supposed to apply and that's usually trouble when it concerns the Indians. But non-DirecTV folks note that Tuesday's first Strasburg start against the Pirates was shown on MLB Network and there were blackout concerns about the Bucs on that one as well. 

Strasburg, of course, has completely blown up in the wake of his 14-strikeout performance Tuesday against the Pirates. The Tribe should double its average crowd today by drawing in the 35,000 range. Comment was sought from experts and experienced eyes everywhere. MLB.com caught up with Indians Hall of Famer Bob Feller, who is a press box regular and should be in the house watching today. 

Strasburg even read the Top Ten list on the Letterman show Thursday night. Jeez. And it's pretty darn funny too. Check it out below. And be sure to come back from today's live report from the latest Strasburgfest!

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington) 

The injury-riddled Yankees and bedraggled Mets open a three-game series tonight in Citi Field in the marquee matchup of interleague play. Tonight's game features a brutal pitching matchup of Javier Vazquez and Hisanori Takahashi. But things get much better for the games Saturday night (Phil Hughes vs. Mike Pelfrey) and Sunday night on ESPN (CC Sabathia and Johan Santana).

The Jerry Manuel Watch certainly continues. A big blowup against the Yankees -- in their home park that's likely to be filled with Yankee fans -- would certainly hurt the Mets' skipper's case. And then there's three games coming with the Phillies too. The end might be near.

Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post has a fascinating column this morning about how the Big Apple has become an American League town after generations of folks considered it a National League town. Some pretty amazing attendance numbers in that story too. Remember all those years people said no one would go watch the Yankees in the Bronx?

Other intriguing interleague matchups this weekend: Red Sox at Phillies, Tigers at Dodgers, Giants at A's, Reds at Indians.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Think the Red Sox are a little desperate when the Yankees come to town tonight to open a three-game series? The teams play two more games next week in the Bronx -- then don't meet again until August.  The Red Sox need to make some hay this weekend. The Celtics and Bruins are big news in Boston this weekend too but the Sox still garner their share of the ink.

Stephen Strasburg's debut tonight in Syracuse officially became a sellout early this afternoon. The Chiefs normally sell about 4,000 tickets a night in Alliance Bank Stadium and, like most Triple-A teams, don't have nearly that many in the park many early-season nights. Not so tonight. It figures to be SRO with more than 12,000 in the house. I've been to Alliance Bank Stadium many times. Wonder how the parking lots are going to hold up to that kind of crowd.

Tonight's Twins-Orioles game is the first rainout at new Target Field -- thus making it the Twins' first rainout in the great outdoors since Sept. 20, 1980.

Desperation comes early for the Cubs. They've called up 20-year-old shortstop Carlin Castro from Double-A Tennessee. Yes, Double-A. He was hitting .376 in the Southern League. Let's see how he does in the National League.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Some sobering news out of San Diego today as Dave Roberts, the Bisons' modern-era stolen base leader and the man whose theft of second base in 2004 changed the course of Red Sox history, has been undergoing treatment for lymphoma.

According to the Associated Press story linked above, Roberts was diagnosed in mid-March and has a good prognosis after two rounds of chemotherpay. He is currently working for the Padres as a special assistant after spending last season in the Red Sox broadcast booth.

Roberts never needs a reservation in any Boston restaurant after stealing second in the bottom of the ninth off Mariano Rivera and scoring the tying run in Game Four of the 2004 ALCS. That allowed the Red Sox to stave off elimination and eventually win that game in extra innings -- starting an eight-game winning streak that culminated in Boston's first World Series title in 86 years.

Roberts was called up to the Bisons late in the 1998 season and played parts of four years with the Herd. He had back-to-back 39-steal seasons for Buffalo in 1999 and 2000, and batted .303 for the Bisons in 2001. He has 97 stolen bases for the Bisons -- 30 more than any player.

Roberts is one of the great guys in the game. It was great to see him get all the accolades he got in '04 and he handled the attention with the same kind of grace he showed when he worked in relative anonymity in Buffalo.

UPDATE: In a conference call this evening with San Diego and Boston reporters, Roberts said "My spirits continue to be high and I expect to beat this fully."

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

For today's Inside Baseball column, I took a detour over to Fenway Park last week during the Sabres-Bruins sseries and checked in with the struggling Red Sox.  The early signs are not good as the Yankees and Rays are off to fast starts while Boston is having problems in just about every area of its game.

Also making their debut this week are our first rankings of the regular season. I don't quibble over these too much this early in the season. Who's 14th vs. who's 16th doesn't make a lot of difference. More of a conversation stage at this point.

I didn't know much about late Rockies president Keli McGregor, who was found dead last week at age 48 in a Salt Lake City hotel room. But I remember seeing him at the 2007 World Series against Boston. Huge guy. Former college and NFL player. And if you read one ESPN.com story today,it should be this one by Amy K. Nelson on McGregor's death and legacy. Great stuff.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

BOSTON -- The day's hockey work is over (update: It was until the Sabres called up Cody McCormick tonight), so why not sneak over to Fenway Park for some baseball? Can't resist. But while the Bruins are starting to create quite a buzz around town, the Red Sox are doing nothing but causing angst.

The Olde Towne Team entered tonight's game against Texas just 4-9, its worst start since opening the 1996 season 2-11.  Boston is coming off a four-game sweep at the hands of the Rays and has dropped six straight in the Fens, its worst run since a 12-game slide in 1994.

It gets worse. Mike Cameron (hernia) and Jacoby Ellsbury (chest contusion) both went on the disabled list before tonight's game. Cameron could be looking at surgery.

Dustin Pedroia said Monday night that the Red Sox simply haven't shown up for some games this year. GM Theo Epstein mostly agreed with that assessment when he met the media today.

"We have to own it, take responsibility for it and recognize that It has to change," Epstein said. "It's a very disappointing stretch of play. But it's also an opportunity to confront it and show some leadership."

Some numbers on the Sox heading into tonight:

---They haven't led for 48 straight innings
---They're 0 for their last 32 in RISP situations dating to April 14
---They're ninth in the AL in batting average (.249), 11th in runs (50 in 13 games) and 12th in team ERA (4.58).
---No shortage to the slumpees list: JD Drew is just 6 for 41 (.146) with one home run, David Ortiz is 6 for 38 (.158) with no home runs. Victor Martinez is batting .212 with one home run and Kevin Youkilis is at 2.17.
 ---Struggling arms too: Jon Lester is 0-2, 8.44,  John  Lackey is 1-1, 5.63, Tim Wakefield enters tonight's start 0-1,  5.11.

It's only April but the Sox are already six games behind the first-place Rays and 5 1/2 behind the Yankees. Heard lots of griping and hand-wringing on the subway coming over here.  With good reason.

---Mike Harrington

Final: Bisons 8, PawSox 2

Bottom of the eighth: The Bisons added more insurance when Russ Adams' fly ball to right field scored Chris Carter from third. Herd 8, PawSox 2 

Bottom of the sixth: The Herd added four runs in this inning and the star once again is Chris Carter. He hit a double to deep center field to score two runs and push his RBI total for the day to four. Mike Cervenak hit a grounder to third to score Mike Hessman, then Carter scored on a single by Ruben Tejada. Bisons 7, PawSox 2.

Top of the sixth: Darnell McDonald, the former Bison, hit a line drive to left to score Angel Sanchez, who singled to start the inning. Bisons 3, PawSox 2

Bottom of the second: Big inning for the Herd. Clean-up hitter Ike Davis started the inning with a hit to right and Mike Hessman followed with a hit to right. Then Chris Carter hit a triple that hugged the first-base line before stopping in the corner of the warning track to score two runs. Russ Adams sent Carter home with a one-out single. Lead-off man Jason Pridie ended the inning with a strikeout. Bisons 3, PawSox 1.

Top of the second: Clean-up hitter Tug Hulett took R.A. Dickey deep into Heron’s Landing for the game’s first run. PawSox 1, Bisons 0

2:52: They just introduced the PawSox lineup and are Bisons are being introduced now. Starting pitchers are R.A. Dickey for the Bisons and Adam Mills for the Red Sox.

---Rodney McKissic

It's Opening Day in lots of places today, including Progressive Field in Cleveland and the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Same for Wrigley Field, Citizens Bank Park, Busch Stadium, Petco Park and Safeco Field. Tomorrow, the Yankees get their World Series rings as they kick off year two in The House that George & Jeter built.

But the big one is today at 4 p.m. on ESPN when the Red Sox help the Twins take it outdoors in Minnesota for the first time in 29 years in the inaugural regular-season game at Target Field (above).

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune put together a special section on baseball's newest park and the Web presentation is worth your reading time. Great stories, great graphics. They also have a breaking news blog with minute-by-minute updates on the festivities.

Park looks great. Sure looks like it might be cold come October and (gasp!) November. But we'll deal with that when we have to. Good for the folks in Minnesota to get a chance to finally be outside. Good riddance, Metrodome!

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

AP Photo: Target Field during its exhibition opener April 3 against the Cardinals.

Attention Red Sox fans: Daisuke Matsuzaka has been scheduled to pitch here on an injury rehab assignment Thursday for the Pawtucket Red Sox against the Buffalo Bisons in a 4:05 p.m. game in Coca-Cola Field. Dice-K is working his way back from back and neck troubles that derailed him through most of spring training.

Matsuzaka threw five shutout innings in his first rehab start Saturday against Rochester.

Matsuzaka signed a six-year, $52 million contract with the Red Sox in the winter of 2006 and was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic for Japan in both 2006 and 2009.

 He became the first Japanese pitcher to start and win a World Series game when he got the victory in Game Three of the 2007 Fall Classic at Colorado, and joined Babe Ruth and Cy Young as the only Red Sox pitchers to win a Series game and collect two RBIs.

He was 33-15 over his first two seasons in Boston but struggled to a 4-6 record and 5.76 ERA in 12 starts last year as questions rose about a hip injury in the WBC and he bickered with the Sox over his conditioning regimen. Those questions remained through spring training this year.

Dice-K's rehab here will be Buffalo's second home game of the season. The Bisons and PawSox open the home schedule Wednesday at 3:05.

--Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

BOSTON -- It poured the whole time I was in Beantown but we're counting the days to Sunday night's season opener against the Yankees so I couldn't help myself. Yep, I hit the subway to head over to Fenway Park (left as it looked Monday afternoon) and get that spring feeling again.

Didn't go inside as I opted against the official tour for a later time. (Of course, I've been fortunate enough to see most every nook and cranny anyway during past trips to the ALCS and World Series). Stopped in the world famous souvenir store across the street and walked around the perimeter. Didn't mind the rain at all.

As it turned out, it was a big day at the park as the Sox were unveiling their 2010 changes to the mayor and  other bigwigs. As part of the 10-year initiative to really pump up the place for its 100th anniversary in 2012, there have been huge changes since we entered the 21st century and it's really helped modernize things.

The Boston Herald spent much of its story discussing the structural improvements to the park but did mention the food. The Boston Globe was big on the addition of veggie burgers.

The Globe has a small video you can check out here (embed code wasn't working so sorry if you clicked on it before and got nothing!) 

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The spring training schedule opens today with the Braves and Mets at 1:10 from Port St. Lucie, Fla. Check it out on SNY beginning at 12:30 but be wary: Lots of Twitters on the Mets beat that it's raining hard down there. If they play, 2009 Bisons star Nelson Figueroa will throw the first pitch of the spring for the Mets.

(11:30 a.m. update: Looks like they'll play although Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News reports a very Bison-like lineup that includes possible 2010 Herdmen Jesus Feliciano, Mike Hessman, Ike Davis, Chris Coste, Jason Pridie and Luis Hernandez).

Now that the calendar has flipped to March -- and even though we have the NHL trade deadline staring us in the face tomorrow -- we'll be starting to crank up ye olde Inside Pitch blog as well. Mets/Bisons chatter, Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Blue Jays and whoever else meets our mind.

Today's game is the only one on the schedule matching two big-league teams. Action really heats up Wednesday (including the Yankees' opener in Tampa against the Pirates) and Thursday, when everyone plays and the schedule is highlighted by CC Sabathia starting against Roy Halladay in a Yankees-Phillies World Series redux in Clearwater. Wonder if any Phillies will go down as payback from some of the plunkings A-Rod took last October, er, November.

---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

While the Bisons were greeting the return of one Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer last week in former manager and new Mets executive Terry Collins, another one was getting his official introduction in Pawtucket.

Former Bisons infielder and skipper Torey Lovullo, who managed last year in Columbus, was unveiled to the media at McCoy Stadium as the replacement for the popular Ron Johnson after the longtime skipper everyone calls "RJ" got promoted to Terry Francona's staff in Boston. Lovullo certainly has the seal of approval from Francona, his final big-league manager in 1999 in Philadelphia.

Check out this video of Lovullo getting his Red Sox jersey from Providence affiliate WNLE.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The Winter Meetings start Monday in Indianapolis and I have a rundown of some things to look for in Sunday's Inside Baseball column. Easily the biggest story is what the Blue Jays are going to do with Roy Halladay. The longtime ace has told the team he will not waive his no-trade clause during the season. So they either trade him now or he plays it out in 2010 and becomes a free agent after next year, with Toronto only getting draft picks. New Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos thus has to act.

Does he trade Halladay in the division, as the Yankees and Red Sox seem to be lining up to one-up each other? Or does he look elsewhere? You make the call.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

In today's Inside Baseball column, I look at the ridiculous postseason success of ageless Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. He has an 0.99 ERA, fifth all-time in World Series play and second in the last 60 years to Sandy Koufax. While every other team's closer had a major slip-up in the postseason, Rivera was impenetrable again. Had Hideki Matsui not had six RBIs in the clinching game, Rivera almost certainly would have been the World Series MVP.

Rivera was by far the most reliable closer this October/November. But I'm curious to find out, especially from the Yankee fans out there, who you might have trusted the most on other teams? If you don't have Rivera in pinstripes, which closer would you take?

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Pretty amazing game Monday night in Denver to draw the Division Series round to a close. The Phillies showed why they're the defending champions by rallying for three runs in the top of the ninth -- after giving up three runs in the bottom of the eighth -- and held on for a 5-4 win over the Rockies to close the series in four games.

So we had three sweeps and one four-gamer in the first round but each series had at least one fantastic finish and the Phils-Rox had a double dose of drama once they hit frigid Denver. A big story in the opening round was the failure of closers. Jonathan Papelbon, Huston Street, Joe Nathan and Ryan Franklin all flamed out when their teams needed them most. Makes you appreciate Mariano Rivera come October even more.

We'll have plenty more later in the week on the LCS (Phils-Dodgers opens Thursday in LA and I'll be on hand for Yankees-Angels I and II Friday and Saturday in the Bronx). But for now, give a quick look back to the ALDS and NLDS with a vote in our poll below.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

(Photo: Associated Press)

It's a sunny but chilly day at Ralph Wilson Stadium as I get set for our Bills Live chat at noon. I'm told it's about the same in Fenway Park as the Red Sox and Angels get set for Game Three of the ALDS shortly after noon. You wonder if this is the day the Angels finally end their long playoff hex against Boston. So far, the Sox have done nothing at the plate. And they have to put all their faith today in Clay Buchholz.

The Yankees are 9-0 against the Twins this year.And today they face Carl Pavano. This series should be over tonight. I'll be on hand Friday night in the Bronx and I'm expecting to see Game One of Yankees-Angels.

Umpire Phil Cuzzi tells the Newark-Star Ledger "there is no excuse" for his blown call in the 11th inning Friday. Sure isn't. What else is he doing out there but watching that line? May as well scrap the two OF umps in the postseason and just go to replay.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that the Yankees were so frustrated by Joba Chamberlain that they nearly sent him to Scranton in August, and that Chad Gaudin will almost certainly start in the ALCS while Joba will stay in the bullpen.

Hello, Cardinals? The playoffs started. You might have wanted to show up. No home runs by Albert Pujols since Sept. 9. An end-of-season slumber that never ended when the postseason started. The Dodgers pulled off just the third sweep ever against St. Louis. The others were in the World Series in 1928 (Yankees) and 2004 (Red Sox).

After yesterday's snowout, the weather is expected to be warmer today in Denver for the Phillies and Rockies. Philly has gone back to J.A. Happ and scratched Pedro Martinez. That means Cliff Lee can go in Game Four.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

The playoffs begin at today at 2:30 with Game One of the Rockies-Phillies series. Be sure to check our complete preview in today's paper and vote in our polls for the ALDS and NLDS. But as we head toward the first pitch of the postseason, give us a preliminary thought on who is going to win it all.

The Yankees getting No. 27? The Red Sox cementing team of the decade with their third title in six years? The Cardinals, Angels or Phillies tying Boston with their second of the decade? The upstart Rockies? The Dodgers' first crown since 1988, further adding to the legend of Joe Torre?

Make your pick. Even leave a comment or two on where you think Inside Pitch is going to be for the Fall Classic

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Be sure to catch our MLB playoff preview in Wednesday's paper (a one-day delay thanks to the Twins and Tigers and the NFL). Vote here for the ALDS winners.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

All reports out of New York are that the Yankees are picking the division series option that opens Wednesday, regardless of the result of Tuesday's Tigers-Twins playoff. And MLB has announced Sunday night that the Yankees will have viewer-friendly 6 p.m. start times on TBS. Here's the rundown of start times for the first four days of the postseason

Wednesday
Rockies at Phillies, 2:37
Twins/Tigers at Yankees, 6:07
Cardinals at Dodgers, 9:37

Thursday
Rockies at Phillies, 2:37
Cardinals at Dodgers, 6:07
Red Sox at Angels, 9:37

Friday
Twins/Tigers at Yankees, 6:07
Red Sox at Angels, 9:37

Saturday
Dodgers at Cardinals, 6:07
Phillies at Rockies, 9:37

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

----Give it up for former Canisius College pitcher John Axford, who's made four September relief appearances for the Brewers this month to cap the long road back from Tommy John surgery. Had a great phone interview with Axford Thursday as he's the subject of Sunday's Inside Baseball column. The 26-year-old Canadian, who pitched for the Griffs in 2006, started this season in Class A ball and made it all the way to the majors in five months!!

---Andy Pettitte and the Yankees go for the AL East clincher today at 1 against the Red Sox (it's on ESPN).

---The real intrigue starts Monday in Detroit, when the Twins and Tigers start a four-game series that's the only division race left. Meanwhile, the NL wildcard is still in play because the Braves have gotten red-hot. The Rockies are suddenly only 2 1/2 games in front and the Braves have a huge edge in the schedule.

The Braves play one more today at hapless Washington, host Florida for three and finish the year with four at home against the Nats, who are going to lose at least 105 games. The Rockies, meanwhile, might catch a break with the post-clinch hangover Cardinals today. They're off Monday, then open a three-gamer in Denver against the Brewers on Tuesday. They finish with a three-gamer at Dodger Stadium.

It was nearly 2 a.m. today before the Yankees got to officially celebrate their return to the playoffs once they wrapped up a 6-5 victory over the Angels. It's only the first step for manager Joe Girardi's team, which has a 5 1/2-game lead over the Angels in the fight for the AL's best record and a six-game edge on the Red Sox in the AL East.

No late night tonight as the Yankees and Angels play at 3:35. Then it's time to meet the Red Sox for the final time in the regular season starting Friday night in the Bronx. The magic number to clinch the division is six.

Click here for the MLB.com recap of the Yankees-Angels game with video highlights.

---Mike Harrington

I've been pretty close to declaring all the races over but I'm still waiting to see if somebody is going to go all Mets on us and choke one away. The Tigers were the first candidate but Sunday's win in Minnesota gave them a three-game lead in the AL Central and some desperately needed breathing room.

The Angels, Phillies, Cardinals and Dodgers appear to have safe division leads while the Red Sox and Rockies seem to have a stranglehold on the wildcards. Give the standings a look here.

But can the Red Sox really catch up to the Yankees? The lead was nine games earlier this month and now it's down to five (just four in the loss column). The Sox have won 10 of 11 and open a four-game series tonight in Kansas City while the Yankees open a three-gamer in Anaheim.

The teams open a three-game set Friday in the Bronx and Boston has a very, very soft schedule the rest of the way. Both teams could end up with 100 wins. It's still a longshot that the Yankees would blow the lead but their pitching is a concern with Joba Chamberlain blowing up Sunday in Seattle and sore-shouldered Andy Pettitte going tonight.

Both teams are going to make the playoffs but things will be very interesting if the Sox can close the gap before this weekend. And the division winner likely gets the Tigers in the division series, a much more favorable opponent than the Angels.

---Mike Harrington

A reminder that my weekly power ratings are done through Thursday's games (on the theory that a new series starts on Friday). I give you that once-in-a-while reminder because I would have certainly put the Twins a little higher up this week if I was doing them at, say, midnight on Saturday.

Whereas it looked like every division race was basically over at the start of the week, we suddenly have a hot one in the AL Central as Minnesota is just two games behind the suddenly skidding Tigers after back-to-back victories over Detroit. A fly ball lost in the Metrodome roof (what else?) keyed a five-run fifth Saturday in the Twins' 6-2 win. And this is all happening wtih Justin Morneau and Joe Crede apparently gone for the year with injuries.

As for the rankings, it's certainly easy to put the Yankees at No. 1. But Nos. 2-6 remain quite a mess. This week, it went Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox, Phillies, Cardinals and only the Halos were in the same spot as last week. Pretty unusual for this time of year.

In other diamond doings:

---No Inside Baseball column just for this week due to a double dose of Bills chats and Sabres training camp. We'll be back starting next week and running all the way through the World Series.

---If you didn't stay up to see the Yankees' 10-1 victory in Seattle, they got a huge scare when CC Sabathia took a Franklin Gutierrez line drive to the chest. He was OK but it was a couple inches here or there from a potentially dramatic turn to the Yankees season and some serious damage to their big-money ace. Check out the video here.

---It's Durham (Tampa Bay) vs. Memphis (St. Louis) in Tuesday's Triple-A National Championship Game in Oklahoma City. Formerly known as the Bricktown Showdown, the game will be televised at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

---Cleveland's Double-A team, the Akron Aeros, won the Eastern League title in four games Saturday with a 10-6 win over Connecticut (San Francisco). Lots of nice prospects going up to Triple-A next season for the Tribe. Too bad they're still not coming to Buffalo.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

MLB gave teams the go-ahead to release their 2010 schedules Tuesday and most of them took advantage of an earlier-than-normal marketing opportunity to do just that. The minors do it (the Bisons' 2010 schedule has been out for a while), so this is a good move.

The Yankees and Red Sox will open the season at Fenway Park on April 5 -- but I wonder if that becomes the Sunday night, April 4 ESPN opener. The Yankees also end the season in Fenway Oct. 1-3 -- but don't play there at all in June, July, August and September!

Other highlights: The Twins take it outdoors to open Target Field on April 12 against the Red Sox, the Mets come to Cleveland for an interleague series June 22-24, the Blue Jays have a blockbuster nine-game block June 18-27 against the Giants, Cardinals and Phillies and the Yankees play Joe Torre's Dodgers in Chavez Ravine from June 25-27 (will it be a World Series rematch?). The Yankees will also be in Toronto in the final week, Sept. 27-29, before heading to Fenway.

The 2010 rotation for interleague is AL East vs NL West, NL East vs. AL Central, NL Central vs. AL West.  You can start thumbing through the day-by-day schedule here. You can also go to the links below for team-specific slates of the clubs near Buffalo. Each link takes you to April and you can then choose the month you want at the top of the page.

Yankees   Red Sox    Blue Jays    Indians   Pirates  Mets  Tigers   Phillies    Reds

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

There's a ton of heavy rain on the East Coast today. Derek Jeter needs one hit to pass Lou Gehrig and the Yankees have 9/11 ceremonies planned pregame before meeting the Orioles so they certainly want to get the game in but there might be an inch of rain or more in New York in the next few hours (the TV images at Ground Zero this morning showed heavy rain). The Mets' game in Philadelphia and the Rays' last-ditch series opener at Fenway against the Red Sox might also get affected.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

MLB.com did a lot of stories this week on the No. 9 in baseball in honor of the once-a-century date of 9/9/09. Go here to read one that would be interesting to a lot of WNY folks: The connection to Ted Williams as Robert Redford wore No. 9 in the Buffalo-filmed 1983 flick "The Natural"

"I wanted to make a baseball movie for many, many years because baseball had been such a big part of my life. The No. 9 that I wore, that I was dedicating to Ted," Redford said in a recently released Ted Williams documentary on HBO. "I just had it in my head as the perfect character to pattern myself after in terms of hitting and determination and the ability to block things out and focus on just what you were there for."

As we sit 25 years later, there is basically no better baseball flick than "The Natural." Sure, it's sappy in spots. But great fantasy -- and great Buffalo locales -- make it a time-tested classic.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

It's still early to really forecast but Tropical Storm Danny could be impacting the East Coast this weekend and that could mean weather trouble for three key series -- the White Sox at the Yankees, the Blue Jays at the Red Sox and the Braves at the Phillies.

Keep an eye on the weather to see if the division races are affected. And I know you fantasy folks could get major impact from this too.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Scorecards ready please for the latest episode:

---Johan Santana needs elbow surgery but it's minor and he should be ready by spring training. No Tommy John. You know it's a bad, bad year when your ace has season-ending surgery and it's considered good news. GM Omar Minaya, in another display that shows why he should be fired, says in a conference it was "so long ago" that he doesn't remember Santana having elbow trouble during spring training that nearly cost him the Opening Day start. Of course, all the beat writers and bloggers do. You'd think the GM would know everything about his top pitcher. Disgraceful.

---Billy Wagner accepts his trade to Boston for two players to be named. Several outlets are now reporting  one of them is Pawtucket outfielder Chris Carter, a 26-year-old who was an IL all-star last year for the Pawsox (.300-24-81 in 121 games). He's averaged 19 home runs and 80 RBIs the last four years in Triple-A with Pawtucket and Tucson.

---Oliver Perez back to New York to have his injured knee checked. J.J. Putz shut down from rehab at Class A Brooklyn, probably for the season.

---P Pat Misch and IF Nick Evans up from the Bisons in time for tonight's game in Florida. Misch likely to start in Perez's place later in the week. Evans finishes his Buffalo season at .211 with a team-high 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 66 games. But he did a good job recovering from his 7-for-75 disaster to open the year. His August numbers for the Herd were .289-5-16 in 26 games.

---IF Andy Green clears waivers and reports to the Bisons in time for tonight's game in Scranton. He was 16 for 36 and on a nine-game hitting streak when he was called up Aug. 16. Misch was supposed to be the starter but he's been replaced by 25-year-old right-hander Chris Mason, called up from Double-A Binghamton.

Mason, 25, joined the Mets organization as a free agent on July 24, 2009. He made four appearances (three starts) with the B-Mets and was 1-1 with a 2.87ERA with nine strikeouts in 15.2 innings of work. He also pitched in three games with St. Lucie (A) after joining the organization (10.0IP, 11H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 6K).

Mason is a former top Tampa Bay prospect. He was the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher and was named Double-A Pitcher of the Year by MILB.com in 2007 after going 15-4, 2.57 at Montgomery. But he has not been the same since, going 3-10 last year at Durham and 3-5, 6.24 this year at Montgomery. Hmmm. Damaged goods? Crack Mets medical staff will get right on that case.

Other than that, nothing much going on with the Mets today.

---Mike Harrington

(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)

Here's your early Inside Pitches heading into the ESPN tilt tonight at 8 in Fenway between the Yankees and Red Sox:

---Sabathia vs. Beckett? Must-see TV for sure. Too bad ol' CC couldn't have won that matchup in Game 5 of the '07 ALCS for the Indians.

---How times change. Big Papi sitting this one out for the Sox against the big lefty.

---Derek Jeter at 2,699 career hits. The Iron Horse holds Yankee record at 2,721. Until going 0 for 3 Saturday, Jeter had six straight multi-hit games and was 16 for 27, a Little League-like .593 batting average.

---Please tell me you didn't miss the end of today's Mets-Phillies game. Phils second baseman Eric Bruntlett turned an unassisted triple play for the final outs of a 9-7 victory, just the second time in history a game ended on such a play (Johnny Neun did it for the Tigers in 1927).

Bruntlett, who made an error earlier in the inning, took Jeff Francouer's liner near the bag, stepped on second for the second out and tagged Daniel Murphy for the final out. No chance for the runners, who were off on Brad Lidge's 2-2 pitch.

Here's the video of the play.

Just the 15th unassisted TP in history. Oddly enough, there were just three between 1928-1999 but there have been five in this decade and one for three straight seasons. Here's the complete list.

---Mets owner Fred Wilpon told the Post yesterday that GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel would be back next year. That information was confirmed today. Yeesh.

---This organization is Madoff-poor. Post columnist Mike Vaccaro wishes the Wilpons would just fess up. Here here.

Jeff Wilpon was less than honest with me Monday in Coca-Cola Field as he told me the Mets would spend on development -- when it turns out they were last in the majors in bonuses paid to draft picks from rounds 2-10.

---Mike Harrington