On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups
Baltimore Orioles (14-11) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (14-11) - 7:05PM Est.
It's the matchup we've been waiting our entire lives for. The series to end all series. The rivalry to end all rivalries.
We approach the end of baseball's first month with two teams perched atop the AL East who are tired of beating the weak and weary "teams" that litter this sport called baseball. They're ready for real competition, and they're ready to decide once and for all: who is the team to beat in the mighty AL East?
No it's not the Red Sox and Yankees (you fool!), it's the Orioles and Rays.
On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups San Francisco Giants (6-9) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (10-4) - 3:45PM Est.
Seeing as how the theme of the day here at FanHouse is new rivalries to replace the Yankees/Red Sox one we've all been force fed for years (Hey, did you know that the Yankees and Red Sox are playing again today? And that's it's on ESPN? It's only like the 18th time already this season! Don't miss it!) I'd like to dedicate today's On Deck to our friends on the left coast.
I'll start if off with the only day game on the slate today, as the unstoppable force that is the Arizona Diamondbacks look to bury the San Francisco Giants a little deeper in the NL West. It's also the only game on today's docket that features two Cy Young Award winners, though both pitchers are headed in completely opposite directions. Brandon Webb starts for Arizona tonight, and he's looking to get off to the first 4-0 start of his career. Webb is coming off another stellar performance against the Rockies and is 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA this season. He's also 4-0 with a 2.96 ERA against the Giants since 2006. The Giants will counter with Barry Zito's ghost, and though Barry pitched well against the Cardinals in his last start, he's still 0-3 and trying to avoid the first 0-4 start in his career. Zito has a record of 2-3 in his career against the Diamondbacks, but his ERA of 2.73 indicates he hasn't gotten much support from his teammates in those starts. If he doesn't show up tonight, don't be surprised if he's drowned in McCovey Cove after the game.
On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups
New York Yankees (72-59) vs. Boston Red Sox (80-51)-7:05PM Est.
I know that for any of us who don't live in the northeast, we're tired of being force fed the greatness of the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry. Yeah, we know, you both hate each other. We get it. Still, tonight's game starts a very important series for both teams. The Yankees had made a charge all the way from 14.5 games back of Boston to four games back as recently as August 19th. Since then though, the Yankees have struggled and Boston's been hot. Now New York finds itself 8 games behind the Red Sox, so the six games they have left against them are huge. If the Yankees lose this series, I think it's safe to say they won't catch Boston. Hell, I think that now, but it would make it official. Daisuke Matsuzaka starts for the Red Sox, and he's looking to avoid a three-game losing streak. Against the Yankees, Dice-K is 2-0 with a 6.29 ERA. Andy Pettite goes for the Yankees, and he'll be facing a Boston team that scored like 95 runs in four games against the White Sox this last weekend.
Status Check is FanHouse's conversation with fans from the rest of the blogosphere. Today, we talk with Geoff Young from Ducksnorts, Anthony Trifiletti from Friar Watch, and jbox from Gaslamp Ball. Q. How far can the Padres go this season?
A. Geoff Young from Ducksnorts: Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I think the Padres can go as far as they want this year. Of course, I thought that last year, so who knows. They have two studs at the front of the rotation in Jake Peavy and Chris Young, as well as veterans Greg Maddux and David Wells to pick up the back end. This mix gives opponents a lot of different looks, and even if they knock out the starters, they have to deal with -- statistically -- the best bullpen in baseball. It's popular to gripe about the Padres' offense, but Adrian Gonzalez is proving that last year was no fluke, while Mike Cameron, Khalil Greene, and Kevin Kouzmanoff all have been swinging the bat well of late. The addition of Michael Barrett, who destroys left-handed pitching, gives San Diego another weapon. The Padres really just need to stay healthy, keep executing well, and hold off at least one of Arizona or LA the rest of the way. Once the post-season starts, it's a crapshoot, but I think the Padres have put themselves in excellent position so far and should come out okay if they keep doing what they've been doing over the first 2 1/2 months of the season.
So says FOXSports.com writer Ken Rosenthal, as Gaslamp Ball points out. After mentioning that the Dodgers and Padres would both be interested in Jermaine Dye (who isn't interested in Dye these days?), Rosenthal says the Padres are eyeing a deal for Adam Dunn.
Acquiring Dunn would be a risk - he becomes a free agent at the end of the season if he is traded - but that doesn't bother the Padres.
The Reds' price tag, however, probably would.
Dunn is their biggest chip, and the Reds would be excoriated if they traded another offensive part for bullpen help after sending outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez to the Nationals in such a deal last season.
The emergence of right-hander Justin Germano theoretically could make righty Clay Hensley available, but the Padres will need to be careful - they've got two 40-somethings in their rotation, righty Greg Maddux and lefty David Wells, plus oft-injured righty Jake Peavy.
Rosenthal makes a good point about the Padres having old guys in their rotation. And you can never have a surplus of good young pitching. But Dunn is an established power hitter, while Hensley is fresh off a rookie season, and currently in the minors. If the Padres are to attempt such a deal, they better make sure that they can sign Dunn after the year, and that they're certain Hensley won't become a star. I would hate to think that Clay Hensley could be the only thing keeping San Diego from acquiring Adam Dunn. One thing is for sure, if I'm Wayne Krivsky, I'm having buyers line up for Adam, offering the best pitchers they've got.
"It doesn't look good," manager Bud Black said ... "It looks as if it is going to be a disabled list injury . . . this could be longer (than 15 days). We'll know in a couple of days after an MRI is taken."
The problem, aside from the injury, is finding someone to replace Hensley in the rotation. The likely candidate is triple-A pitcher Justin Germano, who's spent time with the Padres previously, and was claimed off waivers from Philadelphia in spring training. The other three top candidates either are struggling in the minors (Mike Thompson and Tim Stauffer) or out for the season with injury (Cesar Carillo). Another logical fit is former Padre pitcher Brian Lawrence, who was cut by the Rockies recently, and could make his way to San Diego.
This might not seem like a hit to the Padres, but it is. Hensley won 11 games last year and sported a 3.71 ERA in 29 starts, and he had made back-to-back quality starts prior to injuring his groin Wednesday night. San Diego can only hope Hensley won't be out for long.
The Phillies are a trendy pick to win the National League East this season. With Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels on their side, who could blame anyone for being seduced by them? But the recent trend of teams that have built around bullpens and won doesn't bode well for these guys.
After yielding his first two runs of spring training in the seventh inning here Friday, reliever Antonio Alfonseca trudged into the Phillies' cramped clubhouse."How'd it go?" outfielder Shane Victorino asked. "I was horse (garbage)," Alfonseca said.
The misery continues:
The bullpen beatings continued Friday, as right-handers Brian Sanches, Alfonseca and Kane Davis teamed to allow seven runs over the final 3 1/3 innings of a 12-9 loss to the Detroit Tigers, and left manager Charlie Manuel seeking relief from his relievers. "We've got roles available there, and they're wide open," Manuel said. "Someone ought to be able to step up and take them, shouldn't they?"
Yeah, you would think. But nobody did in Atlanta last season and look how their string of division titles ended (and look at what Atlanta did to address that in the off-season). The Phillies don't want their string of division titles hopes of winning their first division title since 1993 go up in smoke. Check out these ERA's:
Right-handers Alfredo Simon (12.46), Clay Condrey (8.44), Jim Ed Warden (8.31), Davis (7.36), Sanches and Justin Germano (4.50) and lefty Fabio Castro (11.05) haven't inspired much faith from Manuel or pitching coach Rich Dubee..."I'm concerned about it," Manuel said. "I've been concerned about it all winter."
Status Check
So says FOXSports.com writer Ken Rosenthal, as 
If you thought his 12.21 ERA through his first three starts of the year were bad...you were right. But Hensley got even worse news after 
The Phillies are a trendy pick to win the National League East this season. With Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels on their side, who could blame anyone for being seduced by them? But the recent trend of teams that have built around bullpens and won doesn't bode well for these guys.
