-Dexter Sports
5:25 PM
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Aramis Ramirez just hit a walk-off to center field to give the Cubbies a 4-3 win over the White Sox. Ramirez also hit a dinger off of Octavio Dotel earlier in the game. If the rest of this series is anything like this game, we sure have some great baseball in front of us. Kerry Wood gave up a double to start the ninth, but settled down nicely.

Tomorrow's Matchup: Jason Marquis vs. Jose Contreras 1:05 PM ET

-Dexter Sports
11:14 AM
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Tonight will be the much anticipated debut of Joba Chamberlain, The re-emergence of the Pedro Factor in New York and Dontrelle Willis will try to get the Tigers rolling in Oakland. Ken Griffey Jr. will go for 600 in Philadelphia, and the Giants will send Barry Zito to the mound to get win number 9 out of the last 13 games for San Fransisco. But now, lets go Around the Diamond, checking in on the latest news around the Major Leagues.

Top Stories:

• Red Sox slugger David Ortiz could be facing season ending surgery to repair a partially torn tendon sheeth in his wrist. Ortiz will at least be out a month to heal the wrist. Two weeks will be spent with the wrist in a cast, and then a rehab assignment will follow. Manager Terry Francona says that surgery is most likely not needed. Ortiz leads the team in HRs and RBIs. Kenny Lofton, Barry Bonds, Richie Sexson, or any aging Giant could be an option for the Red Sox. For now, Sean Casey will most likely fill in at DH.

• Joba Chamberlain will make his debut for the Yankees against Roy Holliday and the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. Kyle Farnsworth will fill in as the setup man, which could be quite scary. Farnsworth has given up six runs in his last six appearances. I think the Yankees will be hunting for a cheap fix in the pen.
  

• Bill Hall of the Milwaukee Brewers wants out, his agent told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt. Hall is upset with the shared playing time between himself and Russell Branyan. Though Hall is a super utility type player, there wont be much interest in him. Possibly the Orioles for the right price, or some other team that is still in it but weak at shortstop. Possibly the Rays and Brewers could hook up again. The Rays are in need of a decent slugging shortstop. Hall hit 35 HRs in 2006.

Other News Around the League:

• Hal McCoy, long time beat writer for the Cincinnati Reds, talks about how the Reds cannot win on the road. 9-20 on the road isn't a great number, but still it doesn't seem to be the end of the world. This team was built for their home stadium, with a bunch of home run slugging, free-swingers. In other Reds news, Adam Dunn is extremely upset with Reds fans lack of interest in Ken Griffey's 600 chase. Reds fans didn't sell out Great American Ballpark on Sunday. It is sad to see Cincinnati's son be forgotten about and good for Adam Dunn. Way to stand up for your teammate. Now, if you could go up to the plate and not strike out, Reds fans would be happy.

• Sam Mellinger comments on Trey Hillman's current downfall in Kansas City. Hillman's National League style was working to begin the season, and still might be, but pitching and hitting have both slumped at the same time. GM Dayton Moore still believes that Trey Hillman is the right man for the job. So do I. Come on, give this guy a break. He is going to need time to develop his roster. He has a lot of young talent that he is depending on, and it will take a good couple years to harness it.
  

• Are Ozzie Guillen's latest comments the last string in Chicago? Unlike most, I think not. Guillen, yet again has pulled off a genius move. With a lack of offense really being the case, the best way to get a proven hitter is to rattle your GM into thinking that his assembled roster isn't good enough yet. Though Kenny Williams took slight offense to his bellyaching, He will probably respond with yet another mid season deal for offense. This is why I love Ozzie Guillen. He is a thinker (or maybe not).
  

Wow, some very interesting stuff has gone down on the web. Here are some links for your Monday enjoyment.

• Badger Blogger is reporting that sources close to the Milwaukee Brewers are going to replace Ned Yost today with bench coach Ted Simmons. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt refutes this on his blog, saying there is no decision on Yost yet. Yost has managed the brewers since 2003. Though the Brewers have struggled, I cannot see this happening anytime soon. Yost should have a leash at least until the trade deadline. Especially with Ryan Braun's bat heating up and with shades of the Brewers coming out of their current slump.

• The Kansas City Star looks at how the Royals would do in the National League. I believe that this team might be a better one in the National League. If you move Billy Butler to first base (he has been taking ground balls) and make that bullpen just a bit better, they could compete in the NL Central. Throw in the fact that Trey Hillman loves to play small ball and you have a great NL ballclub. Like I have said before, I believe the Royals have the best pitching in the AL Central.

• Former Barry Zito Teammate Nick Swisher thinks that his former Ace will be just fine on the mound the rest of the season. Swisher said his 0-8 start is a simply, "a rough patch for him," and that he would get over it. As much as I want to agree with Swisher, It just seems to little too late. Zito walked six in five innings in his outing against the White Sox this weekend.
  

• It looks like Craig Biggio is preparing to make a comeback to baseball. Biggio will be coaching high school baseball. Congrats to St. Thomas High School in Houston. His son Conor is a football and baseball player there. Biggio will be the best at teaching his kids how to take one for the team.

• Many reports are swirling around the league that Willie Randolph's job is also on the line. The Mets were victorious in an 112 victory at Yankee Stadium. As with the case of Ned Yost, I think that Randolph's job is safe well into July. Though he has last year's drop off at the end of the season on his conscience, Randolph should get his troops rolling here quite soon. Like Yost, Randolph lost one of his best pitchers in Pedro Martinez, and has looked for a replacement constantly.
  

-Dexter Sports
12:41 PM
Dexter-Sports Inbox

John Danks has quietly put up some really good numbers so far this season for the Chicago White Sox. He has six quality starts in seven appearances and with a 3.18 ERA he has held his own against hitters. That 3.18 ERA includes one game where he gave up 7 runs in two and a third against Minnesota. Danks also has 30 strikeouts in 39 innings to accompany a 1.11 WHIP.

The White Sox Acquired Danks and fellow righty Nick Masset from the Rangers for Brandon McCarthy and outfielder David Paisano in 2006. Danks' best pitch is his changeup, that sets up his mid 90's fastball and his decent working curve. Sometimes Danks can leave a fast ball hanging in the zone, but has become better at mixing pitches and having better command in ball games.

John Danks is one of those available that might be able to replace the Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia issues that have come unexpected and even replace someone such as Yovani Gallardo. Danks is the future of Chicago and could lead to a future of a playoff drive for your fantasy team. Danks is owned in 42.5% of leagues.

-Dexter Sports
5:04 PM

This Weekend's action has been interesting to say the least so far. The Jays sat Frank Thomas, Johan Santana was brilliant and Corey Hart got his first long ball as the Brewers continue to roll after a rough series in St Louis. But luckily the action doesn't stop there. Here are a couple things to look forward to in the rest of this weekends action.

• Royals prospect Luke Hochevar will make a start in place of the injured John Bale on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics. Hochevar is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 3 starts for the AAA Omaha Royals. Hochevar was the first overall pick in the 2006 draft. He looks to stick with the parent ball club and win a spot in the rotation.

• Speaking of the 06 Draft, lets take a look back at the first round. Beyond Hochevar was taken with the first pick in the draft, there were a lot of major league ready talent, if not already competing in the bigs already. Guy of mention are Evan Longoria, Tim Lincecum(how did he fall to 10?), Clayton Kershaw, Brad Lincoln, Brandon Morrow, Andrew Miller, Matt Antonelli, Max Schrezer, Ian Kennedy and Travis Snyder.

• So what is up with the Cubs ultimately deciding to go with Matt Murton? The Cubs sent down Eric Patterson for the often rumored Matt Murton. Murton went 0-2 and left 3 runners on base today in Chicago's whooping of Pittsburgh. My only guess to the switch is to give him one more chance to prove he is Major League ready before the Cubs let go of him via trade.
  

• Whether or not Brewers fans are nervous after the Ben Sheets incident, they should see it as a good thing. It might give management a bit more time to decide who they will drop when Yovani Gallardo comes back. My guess would be Manny Parra, but I also thought Claudio Vargas had a spot on this team.

• The Three Catchers in Houston experiment is over with Kaz Matsui coming back Friday from the 15 day DL. The Astros designated Humberto Quintero for an assignment. Though I am not sold on Kaz Matsui's ability to get on base, this will definitely help the top of the order in Houston.

• White Sox fans have to sit through another April of Paul Konerko struggles. Konerko is just hitting .176 so far this season. Though the White Sox are winning, it has to be frustrating to see. Konerko has more walks than hits so far this season. Fantasy owners, once he gets hot though, pick him up. He will stay that way for a long time.
  

-Dexter Sports

Wednesday night's action is going to be interesting for a bunch of teams. It should tell a lot for a lot of fantasy options as well. Lets dig in.

• Roy Oswalt should get his season started right this evening as his Astros take on Kyle Kendrick and the Philadelphia Phillies. Oswalt has said numerous times this season he hasn't had great stuff and has had to rely on the fastball. Though the Phillies aren't the easiest team to face in a streak, their lineup though is predominately right handed. If Oswalt can contain Howard and Utley, he should be all right.

• Matt Chico vs. John Maine: This is my favorite pitching match up of the night. I love what Chico brings to the mound, and though John Maine is a future ace, his ability to shut down and offense is still in question. Tonight will be the real test against a nationals offense that ranks 25th in runs scored.
  

• Two extremely touted offenses start a series tonight in Baltimore. The Orioles and White Sox have both shown that they can score this season. The Match Up I am interested in though in though is Jose Contreras vs. Adam Loewen. Both have faced control issues to start the year. I like Contreras to start a hot streak tonight and get in a groove, as he is known to do from time to time. THATS A FANTASY ALERT FOLKS!
  

• The Two AL Central Heavy Weights battle it out in Cleveland tonight. C.C. Sabathia will take the mound for the Indians. He is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA. Cleveland Indians fans don't worry, the Tigers send out Armando Galaragga for his first start of the year. He was acquired from the Rangers in the off-season. I like Sabathia to tease the Tigers Lineup and look great, even though he is 13-8 against the tigers all time with a 4.30 ERA.
  

• Jesse Litch will take the mound for the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. Manager John Gibbons has been high on this kid since spring training, and he might be the best number 5 starter available in fantasy leagues. Litch is 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA. He will face a struggling Rangers offense tonight.
  

• Livan Hernandez looks to be the first pitcher to four wins this season, as his twins come off being swept in a mini series against the tigers this week. The Twins offense will face Jamie Shields and a Rays team that is offensively powered so far this season by B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena. I think it is safe to say that Livan has been a pretty good filler for Johan Santana.