What's a Start?

I remember Earl Weaver getting all worked up when reporters would ask him about his teams good or bad starts. Earl would shoot back with something like "what the hell is a start, is it 15 games 25 or 50 games? You tell me because I don't know what a start is."

Earl nor Abner Doubleday spelled it out for us but I've always said check with me by the Preakness, by the 3rd Saturday in May you should have a good handle on "the start" and by Memorial Day weekend we've had 2 months to separate the pretenders from the contenders. 

Most teams have played nearly a third of their schedule, so far my list of some winners and losers.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Winners

Rays- Best record in baseball

Blue Jays- Above .500 without Halladay! Power packed line-up.

Twins- Best in class despite loss of closer Nathan.

Rangers/A's- Solid and neck and neck in the West.

Losers

O's - 2-16 nuff said!

White Sox- All that pitching. Does Ozzie survive the summer?

Angels- Still think they win the West, but below .500 today.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Winners

Nats- .500 without Strasburg, nice turnaround!

Reds- Didn't see this coming. One pace to win 90+

Padres- Adrain Gonzalez isn't going anywhere with SD in a pennant race.

Dodgers- Torre handled George all those years the McCourt divorce won't do him in.

Losers

Astros- Orioles of the NL.

Brewers- If they keep falling the price might be right for Prince Fielder.

Note, this is a marathon not a sprint, Earl Weaver's not even sure if it's a start.

Back on the Fan Tuesday at 2:00.  Scott