Full Day Monday's

It's always great to have a full slate of games on a Monday. A ton of great pitching performances, so i am going to give my top 10 of the night.

1. Zack Greinke- Another outstanding outing and an unbelievable start to the season. Greinke is 6-0 with a 0.40 ERA. The only two pitchers to start a season with numbers like this are Fernando Valenzuela and Walter Johnson. His command and his breaking stuff is making him un-hittable right now. White Sox batters are not even close with their swings. Highlight of the night.
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905054423497&c_id=kc

2. Jon Lester- The Redsox will need Lester to pitch like this, especially against the Yanks if they are gonna win the AL East. That division has 4 legitimate contenders (assuming the Rays call up David Price and demote Andy Sonnanstine.) Lester had great movement on his breaking stuff and got six of his strikeouts with the Yankees looking. Had one bad inning in the 5th.
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905054424785&c_id=bos

3. Fransisco Liriano- His slider was devastating tonight. I really like this guy and he has the ability to be one of the best in the game. I mean he was a couple years ago.
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905054423501&c_id=min

4. Ryan Dempster- Another solid start from a Cub. Great movement on his fastball, changeup and curve. Also the Giants are not very good.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4423997&c_id=chc

5. Aaron Harang- Regaining the form he had a couple years ago when he broke out with the Reds. The location on his fastball tonight was excellent. Marlins will K and he got 9 of them.
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4425239&c_id=cin

6. Josh Johnson- Peter Gammons calls him the third best pitcher in the NL and predicted a Cy Young from the 25 year old flame thrower. Another great start from Josh.
http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905054425237&c_id=fla

7. Paul Maholm- A top draft pick in 2003, Maholm has finally come into his own this year and his having a stellar start to 2009. Has 3 wins and a sub 3 ERA for the Pirates

8. Joe Saunders- Another lefty with great location tonight. Right now carrying the Angels staff which has suffered tragedy and injuries with the starting rotation
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4425213&c_id=ana

9. John Maine- As Andrew Smith said, a very gritty start from Maine tonight. For a guy that has struggled since his injury in 2008, he showed something tonight bouncing back from one bad inning and 6 walks to pitch a solid game, striking out 8 and getting the win.

10. Felix Hernandez- Did not have a great start tonight, ending his scoreless inning streak. But he still had 9 strikeouts and I love watching this guy pitch.

Both Beltran and Tex hit two last night. New York fans like that. Tex from both sides of the plate and Beltran with a runner on each time.

And From the Grand Slam Department:
Ryan Howard http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905044417049&c_id=phi

Highlights From Sunday May 3rd

Great day in baseball on Sunday.

From our Atlanta Braves fan Contributer: Nate Grefe

Watch as Prince absolutely crushes this ball. Not having a stellar start to the year, but he shows his power here. Few people in the majors can hit the ball this hard:
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4400523

Verlander had a great day too. Averaging an 11-inch drop on the curveball and hitting 99 on the fastball. Dominating:
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4404891

Gotta rep the Braves rookie, he's got all the tools and is showing consistent improvement:
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4368677

More Stuff worth checking out

Carl Crawford- Six Steals!!!!
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905034406847&c_id=tb

Johnny Cueto- Another great outing from this kid. Having a stellar start to the season
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905034404887&c_id=cin

Chad Billingsley- His 5th win of the year. Nasty stuff and I just like hearing Vin Scully
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905034408725&c_id=la

And from the Grand Slam Department
Derrek Lee- Another moon shot. Two appearances in a row on the blog.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905034403687&c_id=chc

Highlights From Saturday May 2nd

Dan Haren- I'm not gonna call this guy underrated but for how good he is, there is simply not enough people talking about this guy.
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905024396795&c_id=ari

Ted Lilly-Some nasty stuff this game. Not a good day for Jeremy Hermida. Those breaking balls had some real bite.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4387109&c_id=chc

Adam Jones- One of the best young hitters in the game. Having an MVP like start to the season.
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4381533&c_id=bal

Aaron Hill- One of the many hitters on the Blue Jays having a fantastic start to the season. I hope these guys can keep it up. Very clutch home run here and also had a game winning single in the 11th.
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905024386653&c_id=tor

Derrek Lee- He absolutely crushes this ball.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4383587&c_id=chc

Justin Upton- The kid is 21 years old and is starting to come into his own this season. He just sweats talent. The amount of raw power he has at this age is scary. Give him two years and he will be one of the best hitters in the game.
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4392981&c_id=ari

Quick Thoughts on the Mets Game
1. Jose Reyes has been lost at the plate to start the season
2. Sean Green has pitched poorly all season. I know you don't bring in your closer in a tie game on the road but this might of been one of those situations you do it.
3. Granted they lost, the Mets showed some fight this game which I have not seen all season.
4. Stick a fork in Ollie, he is done pitching in the majors for now. I think he can go down to the minors for a month and figure it out. But for now, do not let him anywhere near a major league pitching mound.
5. Minaya-Instead of spending 15 million on Perez and Cora, don't you think Derek Lowe would of been a great fit for this rotation?

Thoughts and Highlights

Jake Peavy- Everything was working for him tonight
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905024380935&c_id=sd

Randy Johnson- Win number 297! Doesn't have the fastball but that slider was vintage
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905024380923&c_id=sf

Grand Slams
Ryan Theriot
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905014366081&c_id=chc

Evan Strongoria
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200905014373163&c_id=tb

Ollie already sucking out there in Philly. If he cant pitch well there, he is useless. I cant wait till Derek Lowe and Ollie Perez face off against each other. Doubtful that will happen, hopefully Manuel will never let this guy start again! What a joke!

Joakim Noah

From Contributer Jack Colicchio

"Most people know that for the series, Noah is averaging 10.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.2 blocks a game, and 0.9 steals a game shooting 51% from the field and 70% from the line. All in 40 minutes of work.

But did you know he's got a PER of 17.3, leading the team? Maybe.

But here's what's interesting. The team's offensive efficiency when he's on the court is is 125 points per 100 possessions. Team leading.

The team's defensive efficiency when he's on the court is 106. Second only to Tyrus, who puts up a 104.

His efficiency differential is a whopping 19 points, leading the team, with no player even approaching him.

He's not playing well. He's playing amazingly."

Sports Center Encore of Bulls Celtics Series- Some of the greatest basketball games I have watched.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4122628&categoryid=2459788

Highlights from April 30th.

Matt Garza- this guy is an average pitcher at best but does have the stuff to have nights like this.
http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4364625&c_id=tb