What is up with the closers this year? I was psyched to see Alfredo Aceves get the closing gig in Boston if only for the fact that he has both SP/RP eligibility, then he promptly goes ahead and gives up 4 hits and 3 earned across two appearances without recording an out. His ERA and WHIP (which coincidentally are tied to my head to head week 1 performances) were infinity. He's been dumped, and I don't care. I'll use his roster spot to pick up two start pitchers each week. Melancon hasn't done much better. In fact lets look at the relief pitchers that are most commonly rostered who have blown saves or taken a loss so far this year...

Sergio Santos, Chris Perez, Heath Bell, Jose Valverde, Carlos Marmol, Mark Melancon, Kery Wood,  Joe Nathan, Mariano Rivera... there are probably others, but I just caught those names with a quick glance. How about the pitchers that have been reliable this year?

Frank Francisco (3 saves!), Jim Johnson, Fernando Rodney, Brett Myers, Jonathan Broxton. 

I know it's early and I'm not drawing any conclusions from these lists. The names on either one could flip flop at a moments notice. Chasing saves is a volatile practice gamers. It takes nerves of steel, ice in your veins, bravery in the face of danger...

I hope you ate your Wheaties.

While most of the baseball world's attention is on the majors, the minor league season is under way as well. Some of the best prospects are already off to a hot start and showing why they are held in such high regard.  Not all news is good news in the minors, though, as one of the top prospects in the Nationals organization had to be helped off the field in his second game of the season.

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The St. Louis Cardinals decided to let Albert Pujols walk in free agency and the move is paying off. The defending champions are off to a 2-0 start and their "great" first baseman is hitless in his new home.

Ok maybe I'm jumping the gun a little. Pujols lined out in his first Angels at-bat, but you can sense his impact to the culture and atmosphere around the whole Angels team. And the Cardinals are just a good team. I don't think anyone expects them to run away from the Brewers and Reds, but they have the right mix of veterans and youth to make another push toward the playoffs. Here are some other nuggets from the last 24 hours to consider.

• The man that played first base for the Angels last season was across the diamond for the first time in his career last night and made an error on a very routine play on his very first chance of the game. Mark Trumbo is just one of several Angels that could be a movable part throughout the season. What the team does to give Albert Callaspo (starter last year), Bobby Abreu (starter his whole career), and even Mike Trout (already raking one game into minor league season) at-bats will be interesting to see.
• Andre Ethier continued where he left off in Spring Training last night by belting two extra base hits. He is in a contract year and has said he wants to stay with the Dodgers. It will be the first test for the new ownership group. 
• For those managers that have a coin flip of a decision to make on who to start the wind will be blowing out today at Wrigley Field.
• J.P. Arencibia is back in the Blue Jays lineup after catching 16 inning on Opening Day. Not exactly shocking given that he had a day off inbetween. 
• The teams that are in the running for Roy Oswalt include the Cardinals, Angels, and Red Sox. The Red Sox would have money to spend according to Larry Lucchino. Signing Oswalt would enable the Sox to send Daniel Bard back to the bullpen where they know he can be successful and where they need someone that they know will be successful. Alfredo Aceves was valuable last year in long relief - who knows if he can handle the role the Red Sox have for him right now.
• Jorge De La Rosa threw a 45-pitch simulated game as he tries to make his comeback to the mound. 

So, I got about 1,000 words into today's daily notes, and then my STUPID LAPTOP BATTERY died cause the power cable slides out too easily and the battery is shot so it lasts about 45 seconds on battery power. It was probably the best Daily Notes I've ever written. Pultizer Prize winning stuff. There was this great break down about the Chi Sox bull pen, and how I picked up Hector Santiago before yesterdays game for my Blog Wars team. Well here is take two.

On to today's VERY TICKED OFF BULLETS...

The other day I tweeted the Marlins vs. Cardinals game on Wednesday was the soup and salad to the M's vs. A's series appetizer to Thursday's main course. I was asked if Friday would be seconds or desert. I haven't decided yet. I do know that yesterday was a pitching buffet. The scores from yesterdays games more closely resembled matches from the English Premiership than MLB. Onto the recap of action! Max Payne style...

At this time, I would like anyone who thought Kyle Lohse would take a no-hitter into the 7th, raise their hand...I thought so. What else happened?

• David Freese picked up where he left off in October getting 3 hits, 2 RBI and a run. He's a popular pick for sleeper at 3B this year, we just wonder if he can stay healthy.
• Rafael Furcal got himself 3 hits, an RBI and a steal. It's a good start, but he's old. Despite the talent pool at SS, I wouldn't rush out and pick him up based on one game.
• Josh Johnson gave up 10 hits in 6 IP, walking 2 and ringing up 4. Not great for the WHIP or ERA, but at least losses aren't usually a category in fantasy, right?

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Seeing that the season is here and the top five players are almost consensus top five players, I decided to combine the top 5 into one post. 

Key Stats: 

• Jose Bautista has 97 home runs in the last two seasons. That is 18 more than the next best player in baseball (Albert Pujols). He retains third base eligibility in most leagues this season and he added batting average to his repertoire last season. 
• There's nothing like a get out of jail free card to radically change the value of a player. That's what happened to Ryan Braun in this off-season. The NL MVP will have the whole world watching as he deals with any potential questions in a potential slow start regarding PEDs and the departure of Prince Fielder. Fielder's departure won't be all bad news for Braun fantasy owners. Braun easily stole a career best 33 last season, and with less to lose by stealing this season and more walks likely coming his way that total could approach 40 this season.