This is a significant week for teams struggling at the start of the season. Are they just slow getting out of the box or are the problems going to last much longer?Colorado seems to have the biggest upside of the slumping teams. After getting swept at home by Arizona they fell to a complete game by Odalis ( I can beat anybody ) Perez, a very confident pitcher. A complete game in Coors Field is worth noting.

The Rockies will hit. Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle, Jason Jennings, and Shawn Chacon are capable pitchers. The Dodgers Andy Ashby gets a test tonight pitching in Coors. With Kevin Brown out for at least one start, Ashby’s comeback now will be watched very carefully. The LA bull pen has been very good and is rested tonight.

The Orioles play the Yanks. New York has struggled over the last week. Roger Clemens throws tonight after his debacle in Toronto where he pitched on three days rest. Clemens is no spring chicken. Let’s see how he bounces back today. The Orioles are better than they have looked, but are not capable of much in the AL East.

Detroit, at home, better get off the schneid today. Delvin James on the hill for Tampa Bay is making his major league debut. The Rays have played better at home so far and Detroit is now taking each game like it’s the seventh game of the world series. The only problem…Jose Lima on the mound for the Tigers. Two homers will be OK, but if Lima gives up more, it’s trouble once again.

Texas goes with Doug Davis in Anaheim. The Rangers are hitting again. Unfortunately their bull pen was chewed up by Seattle over the last four games. Davis is coming off a two hit shut out of Oakland and should get the job done tonight. Texas hits righties better than lefties and Aaron Sele hasn’t thrown that well as of yet. The Angels appear to be in more long term trouble than Texas.

Can the White Sox slow down Cleveland. If they do, it will be 6′ 11″ Jon Rauch getting the ball and and stopping the Tribe. The last time Cleveland got off to a start like this Birdie Tebbetts was the manager and Fred Whitfield played first base…1966. This should be a good series. Cleveland wiped out Minnesota last week and now it’s their other AL Central competition tonight in Comiskey.

Kirk Reuter seems to always draw the number three or four starter on the opponent’s staff. Tonight it’s Brett Tomko for San Diego. The Giants are having one of those season’s where nagging injuries are popping up all the time. Yesterday, it was Ryan Jensen turning his ankle. He now joins Jeff Kent, Jason Schmidt, Robb Nen and a limping Barry Bonds as Giants who will have to battle back from these aches and pains. The Giants are a different team on the road. For some reason , they don’t hit and they seem more vulnerable in other team’s venues.

Probably the reason is that the home team hits in their own park, but has big trouble with offense in Pac Bell Park. Different game.

The A’s have little room for error as they chase the Mariners already. Seattle plays like an NBA team, winning their games with late rallies. It’s almost immaterial what happens early in the game. For Seattle the game starts in the seventh inning. They simply crush the ball in the last three innings.