[abell1198]

In the American League 2000's Division, the 2004 Boston Red Sox are starting to put some distance between them and the rest of the field. The Red Sox lead the division with a record of 37-20. Boston is currently 10th in the AL in batting average at .280. 1B David Ortiz (.321, 13 HR, 42 RBI) and DH Manny Ramirez (.310, 14 HR, 58 RBI) lead the lineup, while SP Curt Schilling (7-4, 3.11 ERA) and SP Tim Wakefield (7-1, 3.17 ERA) are tops on the mound. The bullpen is hurting, ranked 103rd in the AL with a 6.40 ERA.

Two teams are tied for second place at 31-26, 6 GB. The first is the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays team batting average is a dismal .236, ranking them 103rd in the AL. LF Carl Crawford leads the team with a .298 average. SP Edwin Jackson (7-3, 2.76 ERA) is the best pitcher thus far. The bullpen is ranked 1st in the AL with a 1.62 ERA. The second team is the 2007 Boston Red Sox. The '07 Red Sox are 94th in the AL with their .244 team batting average. 2B Dustin Pedroia leads the team with a .319 average. SP Josh Beckett (4-2, 2.54 ERA) leads the pitchers. The Red Sox bullpen is ranked 7th in the AL with an ERA of 2.70. CL Jonathan Papelbon (3-1, 0.76 ERA, 14 Saves) leads the pen. Boston has been streaky in May, with winning streaks of 3,4 & 5 games and four 3 game losing streaks.

In fourth place are the 2003 New York Yankees at 29-28, 8 GB. The Yankees are 9th in the AL in home runs (69), but 103rd in defense (.654). SS Derek Jeter leads the team with a .338 batting average. SP Mike Mussina (8-4, 3.22 ERA) and SP Roger Clemens (6-3, 2.46 ERA) lead the starters. The bullpen, led by CL Mariano Rivera (0-2, 1.89 ERA, 12 Saves), is 9th in the AL with a 3.01 ERA.

The 2002 Anaheim Angels are in fifth place at 28-29, 9 GB. SS David Eckstein (.318) and CF Garrett Anderson (.316) are tops in the lineup. SP Kevin Appier (7-5, 3.29 ERA) leads the pitchers. The Angels need SP Jarrod Washburn (1-10, 6.19 ERA) to snap out of his funk and start contributing. The Angels were also streaky in May, with two 4 game winning streaks and a 3 game winning streak, but also with losing streaks of 5 and 3 games.

The 2000 New York Yankees are in sixth place at 27-30, 10 GB. CF Bernie Williams (.321) and SS Derek Jeter (.313) lead the team in hitting. Williams made the news for the Yanks on May 12, when he went 3 for 4 with three home runs against the 1905 Philadelphia Athletics in a 10-9 win (11 innings). Williams hit a two run shot off of SP Chief Bender on a 2-2 pitch in the 1st, then victimized Bender a second time on a 1-1 pitch in the 3rd inning with another two run shot. Williams was then walked three times, once intentionally, before he came to the plate in the 11th. Williams took the first pitch deep, winning the game with a walk-off grand slam!!! I'm not even a Yankees fan, but I would have loved to have seen that!! SP Andy Pettitte (7-4, 3.68 ERA) leads a weak starting rotation ranked 101st in the AL with a 5.42 ERA. The Yankees suffered through a 10-19 May and had three 4 game losing streaks. The road has not been kind to New York, as they've posted an away record of 8-19.

In seventh place are the 2009 New York Yankees at 26-31, 11 GB. SS Derek Jeter leads the team with a .320 average, while SP C.C. Sabathia (7-4, 3.12 ERA) leads the pitching staff. Sabathia made news for the Yanks on May 19 with a 7-0 win over the 1921 New York Yankees. Sabathia allowed two hits, struck out six and walked four. 2B Robinson Cano (.265, 6 HR, 32 RBI) made news the following day on May 20 in a 3-2 loss to the '21 Yankees. Cano went 5 for 5 with four singles and a double.

Eighth place is held by the 2005 Chicago White Sox at 24-33, 13 GB. The White Sox are 96th in the AL in runs scored (216) and 99th in OBP (.312). 1B Paul Konerko is hitting .317 to lead the team, while SP Mark Buehrle (4-4, 3.45 ERA) is the best pitcher. SP Orlando Hernandez (6-5, 4.86 ERA) made news for the team on May 13 with a 1-0 win over the 1954 Cleveland Indians. Hernandez allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked two. The White Sox were swept by the 1942 New York Yankees and 1919 Chicago White Sox this month and have posted a miserable road record of 7-23 for the season.

The 2001 New York Yankees are in ninth place with a record of 22-35, 15 GB. SS Derek Jeter (.325) is one of three .300 hitters in the lineup. SP Roger Clemens (5-3, 3.71 ERA) leads the pitchers. The Yankees won only one series this month while being swept by the 2003 New York Yankees, 1951 New York Yankees and 1995 Cleveland Indians during an 11 game losing streak.

In last place are the 2006 Detroit Tigers at 20-37, 17 GB. SS Carlos Guillen (.316, 5 HR, 21 RBI) and RF Magglio Ordonez (.305, 10 HR, 31 RBI) are powering the lineup. The starting pitching is 95th in the AL with a 5.24 ERA and the Tiger's defense is ranked 101st at .657. The Tigers are 106th in runs scored (193) and 105th in OBP (.296). SP Justin Verlander (3-8, 5.78 ERA) made news for the team on May 4 with a 6-0 win over the 1919 Chicago White Sox. Verlander allowed two hits, struck out two and walked two to earn his first win of the season.

The National League 2000's Division is led by the 2003 Florida Marlins at 35-22. 2B Luis Castillo (.313) and RF Juan Encarnacion (.307) lead the lineup. SP Brad Penny (8-0, 2.55 ERA) has been lights out. The Marlin bullpen is ranked 1st in the NL with a 1.65 ERA, while the entire pitching staff has allowed the fewest runs in the NL at 173.

The 2002 San Francisco Giants are in second place at 34-23, 1 GB. LF Barry Bonds (.367, 17 HR, 49 RBI) is the team's only .300 hitter. Bonds was the NL's Batter of the Month for May, as he hit .419, 9 HR, 30 RBI. SP Russ Ortiz (5-3, 1.90 ERA) is the leading pitcher. Ortiz made news on May 27 with a 6-0 win over the 1936 New York Giants. Ortiz allowed three hits, struck out two and walked two. SP Kirk Rueter (5-4, 5.32 ERA) also made news for the team on May 24 with an 8-0 win over the 1928 St. Louis Cardinals. Rueter allowed three hits, struck out two and walked one. The San Francisco bullpen is 9th in the NL with a 2.87 ERA, led by CL Robb Nen (1-0, 0.59 ERA, 19 Saves).

The preseason favorites, the 2005 Houston Astros, find themselves in third place at 32-25, 3 GB. The Astros put together some streaks in May, winning eight games and six games, but losing six games in between the two winning streaks. The team has no .300 hitters. 2B Craig Biggio (.284, 9 HR, 21 RBI) is the Astro's best hitter. The starting pitching staff is ranked 10th in the NL with a 3.01 ERA, sporting a big three of SP Roger Clemens (7-3, 2.31 ERA), SP Andy Pettitte (6-4, 2.43 ERA) and SP Roy Oswalt (6-5, 2.71 ERA). CL Brad Lidge (0-0, 1.59 ERA, 17 Saves) leads the bullpen.

In fourth place are the 2000 New York Mets at 31-26, 4 GB. 2B Edgardo Alfonzo leads the team with a .309 batting average. SP Al Leiter (5-3, 2.84 ERA) is the Met's best pitcher. New York posted a winning record this month despite losing their last three series.

Two teams are tied for fifth place at 30-27, 5 GB. The first team is the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals. 1B Albert Pujols (.303, 9 HR, 33 RBI) leads the team in hitting, while SP Chris Carpenter (6-5, 2.62 ERA) leads the pitching staff. The Cardinals posted a 13-16 record in May, dropping them back after a promising start. The second team in fifth place is the 2007 Colorado Rockies. The Rockies, not surprisingly, are putting up some offensive numbers. Colorado is 2nd in the NL in hits (601), 2nd in batting average (.298), 3rd in runs scored (316), 4th in slugging (.445) and 7th in OBP (.355). CF Willy Tavaras is hitting .376 and is one of five .300 hitters in the lineup. SP Jeff Francis (6-4, 3.49 ERA) leads a starting staff ranked 102nd in the NL with a 4.70 ERA.

In seventh place are the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks at 27-30, 8 GB. The Diamondback's defense is killing them, ranked 102nd in the NL (.656). LF Luis Gonzalez (.330, 15 HR, 39 RBI) leads the lineup, while SP Randy Johnson (3-4, 1.38 ERA, 149 K's) leads the pitchers. The Arizona bullpen is ranked 7th in the NL with a 2.70 ERA.

The 2008 Philadelphia Phillies are in eighth place with a record of 26-31, 9 GB. The Phillies defense is the worst in the NL, as is their starting pitching (5.46 ERA). The bullpen is ranked 95th with a 5.27 ERA. On the plus side, the Phillies are 5th in the NL in home runs with 65. CF Shane Victorino (.342, 11 HR, 44 RBI) leads the team in batting average, but watched his 21 game hitting streak end on May 17. 1B Ryan Howard (.249, 19 HR, 51 RBI) is powering the lineup when he hits the ball.

In ninth place are the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies at 23-34, 12 GB. 1B Ryan Howard (.310, 13 HR, 35 RBI) leads the team in hitting, while SP Cliff Lee (4-4, 2.25 ERA) leads the pitchers. The Phillie defense is ranked 100th in the NL. Philadelphia was swept by the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies and 1962 San Francisco Giants in the middle of May during a seven game losing streak. The Phillies are terrible away from home, posting a 6-21 record.

The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals are in last place at 21-36, 14 GB. 1B Albert Pujols (.306, 11 HR, 43 RBI) is the team's only .300 hitter. SP Chris Carpenter (3-6, 2.35 ERA) is having trouble getting wins, while SP Anthony Reyes (5-4, 3.63 ERA) has been a solid contributor. 3B Scott Rolen (.278, 6 HR, 23 RBI) made news on May 17 in a 10-3 win over the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates when he went 5 for 5. Rolen hit two singles and three doubles in the win.