"What Come May" Is Done

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs currently have the best record in the Major Leagues. The New York Yankees are in last place in the American League East. The Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates were hot at the start of the season, now simmered into the bottom rung of their respective divisions. And, the Detroit Tigers are still struggling.

So, now what?

500 for Manny! In the top of the seventh inning of the Boston Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards Saturday, Manny went solo off of Chad Bradford to become the 24th player in baseball history to accomplish 500 home runs in a career. About time, don't you think?

What About 600? Ken Griffey, Jr. finally got his 599th on Saturday in Cincinnati against the Atlanta Braves. There's nothing wrong with Junior. He's just due to close out this benchmark soon enough. Just be patient.

Just a Game Apart: I'd like to skip the Rays as a subject matter, but you have to witness this to believe it. The Rays are a game ahead of the Boston Red Sox with the best record in the American League. You can't make this stuff up.

Be Careful What I Write: After lauding the National League Central, the race has broken out a bit. The Houston Astros fell into a four game losing streak with the Milwaukee Brewers making their move. Right behind the Brewers is the Reds while the Bucs are back down at the bottom. The Cubs are currently owners of the best record in baseball right now. This pennant race is far from settling any month soon.

Chipper's Batting What?!? Batting .400 is a feat that is rarely done these days. Not in today's ballgame. However, the Braves' Chipper Jones is showing that long time veterans can season into remarkable hitters. By the end of May, he is batting .413. One would hope he would hold on to stay .400, but this game can change that soon enough.

Who Are These Guys? Check any statistics this season and scratch your head a few times. Honestly, where did these guys come from? The Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton leads everyone in RBIs. Who? How about the Reds' Edinson Volquez, baseball's current leader in Strikeouts and ERA? Again...who? The San Francisco Giants has another surprise pitcher keeping pace with Volquez in these same statistics: Tim Lincecum. I mean...who? Lastly, the Reds called up Jay Bruce who all of the sudden has taken over the ball club. Seriously, who are these guys and where did they come from? Soon, they will become household names or making an appearance at Yankee Stadium for the All-Star Game.

What About My Hometown Team? In a dramatic 10-inning tilt in Kansas City, the Twins pulled off a victory with an amazing comeback. Earlier in the game, Delmon Young frustrated manager Ron Gardenhire with a game-changing error. However, Craig Monroe's bat saved the error and Gardy's blood pressure. His three-run shot got the Twins back in the game. In the end, the Twins left KC ready for the visiting New York Yankees. The good news is that the Twins are in second place behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. The bad news is that the Yanks are making life uneasy for the home team, taking the first two of the series so far. That's the Twins for ya!