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It is that time of year. Small sample size is now over. If the batting average is still poor, it is not a slump, it is a problem.

Here is the bottom 10:



1.Juan Rivera- .103

2. Brett Gardner- .128

3. Alexi Casilla- .128

4. Ryan Ludwick- .135

5. Brad Hawpe- .135

6. Dan Johnson- .140

7. Carl Crawford- .143

8. Will Venable- .149

9. Kila Ka'aihue- .152

10. Austin Jackson- .152





Except for Crawford, none of these players are entrenched at a position and could be in danger of either losing playing time, or worse, being demoted.

Other players that could be demoted after a rough start include Brandon Belt, Pedro Alvarez, and Chris Johnson. These players have nothing left to prove at the minor league level, but the parent club may feel it could be in their best interests if they don't start hitting.



Alvarez looks like he is eating his way to playing 1b later in the year and probably for the rest of his career.



Venable is particularly troubling. Except for five at bats, he has faced only right handed pitching....



I'm gonna pick on a guy that I've drafted in a few leagues. Derek Jeter.

Jeter has hit 54 baseballs this year. Only 14 have found air, the rest have killed worms.

Not coincidentally, Jeter has all of one extra base hit this year.

27 shortstop eligible players have more rbi than the icon. 11 have as many runs scored or more.

You and I each have as many hr's and sb's as Jeter.

While Yankee broadcasters and fans overthrill to Jeter's march for 3,000 hits, his owners clench teeth.



I've watched six Yankees games this year. Jeter's range, or lack thereof, has allowed an extra hit to the opposition in each game.

I don't have the answer in what to do with him.

But, it is an issue the Yankees will have to deal with, probably after Jeter reaches his 3,000th hit....





For every guy that said, "I just couldn't pass up Morneau in THAT round", there were 14 that could.....



Matt Kemp, Drew Stubbs, Johnny Damon, and Jonny Gomes. All outfielders, sure, but these four are the only players, so far to have three hr's, three sb's, and double digit runs and rbi. A nod to Jacoby Ellsbury who has nine runs and nine rbi.



At game time last night, not one Oriole was hitting over .266....

They scored 11 runs....



The Yankees have only played four games away from home this year....



The Mets have only won one home game....



The Red Sox have not won an away game still....



The Tiger tandem of Austin Jackson and Ryan Raburn lead the majors in striking out....



You and I have as many extra base hits as Miguel Olivo, Jason Bartlett, Juan Rivera, and Reid Brignac....



Lead off men are supposed put the ball on the ground and set the table.....

Brian Roberts and Jose Reyes lead everybody in fly balls.



Is this another pitcher's year?

28 teams in the Main Event have an E.R.A. under 3.00......

Only one team has a batting average over .300

Why is it that so many of these under-performers are on my teams?



It's only April, it's only April, it's only April I keep telling myself.



You're in last place, you're in last place, you're in last place the daily standings emails keep telling me.



Why does Jacoby lead the Sox in home runs? Why does Aaron Hill lead the Blue Jays in steals? Why am I stuck in the office when I could be at an afternoon game?



Que sera, sera.....

hill ran so much- he pulled his hammy. that will teach him to quit running and start hitting homers.

I agree all are in trouble except for Crawford and avoided them all except for #1 on the list. Crawford could be in for a down year trying to justify that contract in a new environment. Or he could find his groove and post MVP numbers. Could go either way. He's not the only one in Boston off to a slow start. No panic.....yet.



I felt a change of scenery and a full-time job in a solid lineup and AL East hitter's park could be a good situation for free agent to be Juan Rivera. Whoops.



Posada is gone after this year even if he hits 40 HR. I think Jeter is moved from SS, not sure where but DH will be open for the last two years of his deal. Is this the same player throwing a tantrum over not getting an automatic mega-deal extending well into his 40's? His lack of range is more than enough to justify moving an icon from SS. Yankees fans love Jeter, but they love winning more. No way they go for Rollins, but I could see Cashman going after Reyes. Issue being whoever trades for him is going to do everything they can to re-sign him and I don't see the Yankees trading for him and moving Jeter this year. Jeter should offer Cashman to move. He owes him big time for the 3 year 51 million gift.



Some questioned why Ellsbury was being drafted in the 3rd/4th round while guys like Pierre, Bourn, Davis, Pagan, Crisp etc were going several rounds later. Meet the new Carl Crawford?

One other thing I forgot to include as my rant about Jeter's regression threw me off my game



Only seven shortstop eligible players have multiple home runs this year. Tulowitzki alone, has as many as any two other shortstops in baseball.

Just as a comparison, 17 catchers have multiple home runs.