Here in Toronto, the Jays are still in first place. They had a tough series against the Yankees, losing two out of three - but beat their frustration out on Jon Danks and the White Sox last night, and have still yet to lose more than two in a row (and with the Royals losing six straight, the Jays are the last of the early season "surprises" that has yet to falter).

A couple of days ago I got an email from MLB.com titled "Feel-Good Stories Ruling Diamond". It turned out to be a letdown - it was mostly about Zack Greinke, which is certainly one feel-good story but others seemed to get short shrift.

The BEST story of 2009, as far as I'm concerned - and I'm a Blue Jay fan - is the Anaheim Angels' starting rotation. Angels starters have a league-leading 3.78 ERA, ahead of the Royals' Greinkefied 3.88 ERA. This is a staff that is being led by its 3-4 starters, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver; the aces, John Lackey and Ervin Santana, have both been on the DL since March, while the #5 starter, Nick Adenhart, was killed in a car crash.

Yet another starter, Dustin Moseley, went on the DL, and Kelvim Escobar had a bit of a setback in his rehab. Still they're leading the league - Saunders also punctuated the point by beating Greinke 1-0 a week ago in what is so far the game of the year. And now they've got Lackey and Santana both coming back within the next couple of weeks.

(incredibly, the Angels' bullpen is dead last in the league with a 6.50 ERA. But I just traded for Jose Arredondo in my fantasy league so things have to get better)

My preseason pick for the AL West was the Athletics - though I admitted at the time that I didn't really like them, nor anybody else in the division. The Angels still have some creaky bodies, and have almost completely failed to develop their most recent generation of prospects - still, I respect what they've done, and they have to be considered favourites to win another division title (though obviously the Rangers, if they continue to get OK pitching, are a contender. The Athletics lost 14-1 last night)

Editor's Note: I'm a little behind, John Lackey actually made his debut today, and lasted two pitches. Unfortunately, Ernie Shore did then not come in and throw a perfect game.

LOW-HANGING FRUIT

I've already ranted a couple of times about how much I hate the intentional walk, and there's really no need to do so again - but as Crash Davis said, you don't mess with a streak.

On Wednesday, Ryan Zimmerman's 30-game hit streak came to an end. There was some grumbling about the Giants' decision to intentionally walk Zimmerman in the 7th inning - most people seemed to think it was the right tactical move, though some questioned whether it broke one of baseball's unwritten rules. But it should also be pointed out that the move was an EPIC FAIL - Elijah Dukes singled to drive in two runs and Washington won the game.

Tonight, I watched the last couple of innings of the Yankees' comeback victory against the Twins. Closer Joe Nathan got into big trouble, then almost pitched out of it - but with two out in the 9th, he intentionally walked Robinson Cano, setting up the inevitable Melky Cabrera game-winning single. Memo to managers: stop walking Robinson Cano!

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE IT, YOU DON'T HAVE IT

Getting back to that series against the Yankees, the Jays won the first game but lost the next two. Over 43,000 fans showed up to the CrapDome to watch Roy Halladay beat A.J. Burnett on Tuesday; I was one of only 20,000 fans who showed up to the Crapper the next day to see the Jays lose 8-2. Scott Richmond was bombed - of the seven hits he gave up, six were just crushed, including Brett Gardner's first career homer (a no-doubter on contact).

Oh well; the Jays and Yankees play 15 more times this year, so there's plenty of time for both Richmond and Burnett to get revenge.

The Yankees remain an enigma; a whole bunch of bad things have happened to them, but their top talent has helped pull them over .500 with an 18-17 record. Now they have replaced the Cody Ransom/Angel Berroa black hole at third base with A-Rod. Early returns on Rodriguez and his hip are mixed; Rodriguez homered in his first at bat, but hasn't done much since. Defensively, he has looked like Brooks Robinson - though unfortunately Brooks is now 71 and is being treated for prostate cancer.

Both the Yankees and Rays pulled off spectacular comebacks last night, which sucks for Jays fans but on the other hand the Red Sox somehow lost to Chris Jakubauskas and the Mariners - the home team will stay in first for at least a couple more days.