[Chief Rum]

Opening Day Pitching Dominates (April 4)

It figures that on a day when many of the best pitchers in baseball take the mound, that there are some true standout performances from the mound, led by 2004 AL Cy Young Johan Santana.

The Twins' ace was blisteringly hot in the second half of 2004, and continued that tonight, hurling a two-hit shutout. But he was nearly matched pitch for pitch by Scott Atchison--a second year former reliever. Atchison only allowed four hits, including the eighth inning double by SS Augie Ojeda, and the following run-scoring single by pinch hitter Michael Ryan. It would prove to be the only run in a 1-0 game.

Santana struck out nine batters in the game.

Among other dominant performances, PHI's Randy Wolf kept the Mets to one run in a 5-1 decision, the Brewers' Ben Sheets K'd nine Pirates on his way to a one-out-short-of-a-complete-game, one run performance, the D'Backs got a one run, unearned, performance from Brandon Webb in an eventual 6-5 victory, and the White Sox' Mark Buehrle five-hit the Tribe on his way to a shutout of his own in a 7-0 win.

Reds' pitcher Eric Milton was drilled by a comebacker and had to leave the Reds-Nats game after four innings. He might have ended up on the above list as well had he stayed in, as he had thrown four innings of hitless ball and fanned five. He has suffered a scratched cornea, but is expected to be ready for his next start.

Slew of Free Agent Signings (April 4)

Several teams signed some of the key free agents left on the market today as teams made final roster preparations for the beginning of the season.

CF Marquis Grissom signed with the Astros for $744,000 and was the premier hitter signed. He hit 22 HRs and drove in 90 RBIs for the Giants in 2004. His acquisition paired with the arrival of Jermaine Dye from the White Sox earlier this month has brought two new power bats to what had been a weak lineup.

The Brewers, Pirates and Indians also added pen help today, signing Otomaro Masaru, Ron Mahay and Shingo Takatsu respectively to low end deals. Mahay got the day's big money, getting just under $1.2 M. He appeared in 60 games for Texas in 2004, posting an impressive 2.55 ERA. Masaru is fresh over from Japan, and fellow countryman Takatsu (2.31 ERA, 19 sv) pitched for the White Sox last year.

Vargas, Friends Found Alive (April 5)

Florida Marlins' prospect SP Jason Vargas was found after a search his missing yacht stretched almost a week. The pitcher and two of his friends are okay, but are being treated for dehydration after running out of water.

Vargas reportedly said he got lost shortly after sailing away from the Miami port on March 30. Rough water apparently broke the radio antennae off of the yacht, making it impossible for Vargas and his friends to radi for help.

The three men are being treated at a hospital in Miami, but are expected to be released after a short stay. The Marlins said they have no plans to fne the pitcher for his trip gone wrong, and hope to have him report to Jupiter, their Single A affiliate, by early next week.

A Miami columnist has derisively labelled Vargas "The Yachtsman" and suggested the theme to Gilligan's Island be played at the beginning of all of his games.