The Expos finally get to go home. Only problem is the team plane missed Montreal by about 3000 miles. They play the Mets today in San Juan in the first of 20 or more “home games” in Puerto Rico.

Why? The only viable reason is MLB is being sued by the former minority partners of the former owner Jeffry Loria, and the moguls can’t sell the franchise to anyone until that lawsuit is settled. MLB has indicated they will choose a new home for Montreal’s team by the All Star game, so the lawsuit is probably going to be settled shortly.

Meanwhile, the Mets blew another ninth inning lead and now go to Puerto Rico to open the Expos Caribbean schedule.

The opposition is running on Mike Piazza every chance they get. Expect more this weekend. Piazza’s day as a ML catcher is over, he needs a new position even if it means not breaking the home run record for backstops.

A lot more baseball this weekend.Eric Chavez struggles against lefthanders, he has throughout his major league career. Over the course of 162 games Chavez will punish weak pitching, but he still doesn’t show overall plate discipline to hit the good pitching in clutch situations.

Erubiel Durazo is a one hot hitter. I wouldn’t pinch hit Ron Gant for him anytime as Ken Macha did yesterday with the game on the line. Durazo was 1-9 or something like that against Aaron Fultz, but this is 2003 and Durazo is on fire, I take my chances with him any day before a washed up Ron Gant.

Ted Lilly hung a curve ball to Mark Teixeira big time and that essentially cost the A’s the win. Lilly will be fine, but you have to remember arm strength is his big bugaboo and it would be a good idea to limit his pitches as they A’s want to keep Lilly in the rotation every fifth day all season, something he has never been able to do in his 42 start career.

On to Anaheim where the Angels got a much needed win from Jarrod Washburn last night versus Seattle. Tim Salmon and Adam Kennedy are the only players missing right now, but the team is not 100% healthy on the field.

Tim Hudson has been wild in the early season, but his arm looks great, he just is overpowering at times. John Lackey has been very inconsistent and is typical of a pitcher searching for consistency in April. This is a long season and these two teams will battle for the division crown.

A’s-Angel games are real fights, good matchups in the bull pen and provide some of the best baseball in the American league.

The Giants are cruising right now. Kurt Ainsworth pitched the best game of his career last night. Hideo Nomo did his usual thing in SF but the Dodgers couldn’t touch Nomo. LA’s hitting is suspect in my opinion, their pitching and the closer will keep them in most games, but they need to get some legit help for Shawn Green.

Tonight another pitchers duel is on the horizon between Odalis Perez and Kirk Reuter. With a day off yesterday the rest of the Giants bull pen will be needed tonight. Joe Nathan is a big plus in the middle to the seventh inning.

If Randy Johnson doesn’t strike out 12 or more tonight at home versus the Brewers you know something is up with him. This is one team that he dominates every time out.

The Philadelphia’s go to Great American Ball Park to play the Reds. With the Phillies hitting the ball, watch Jim Thome and Pat Burrell get loose this weekend in the newest home run haven in baseball.

Paul Wilson is capable for Cincinnati and he faces a rookie Brett Myers who pitched a beautiful game in his last start.

Jeff D’Amico (Pitt) hasn’t gotten many people out last year or this year. Carlos Zambrano will be a big winner eventually for the Cubs who should score enough today even if the weather is 30 degrees.

Two former Athletics Kenny Rogers (Minn) and Cory Lidle (Toronto) meet today in SkyDome. Toronto’s Cliff Politte, one of my top eighth inning guys, threw a meatball to Trot Nixon in the eighth inning last night and Nixon essentially won the game with a big two run homer for the Red Sox. Mike Timlin barely closed the game giving up three in the ninth for the 8-7 win.

Lidle dominated Minnesota last weekend so lets see if he can do it again to the punchless Twins. Anything will look better to Minnesota after being swept by the Yankees in NY.

Esteban Loaiza has thrown the ball well for the ChiSox, today he gets to face the Tigers in Detroit. The Tigers batting averages look like the weights on a 12 year old little league team.

Carlos Pena .150, Omar Infante .154, Dimitri Young .097, and slugger Bobby Higginson .207 to just point out a few of the problems.

Mike Maroth pitched well for Dteroit yesterday, but they just don’t hit. It will get better, the law of baseball averages always applies eventually, but this slump is painful to watch.

Chan Ho Park takes another shot at the Mariners tonight. He hasn’t lasted very long in either of his starts this season so why should tonight be any different? Freddy Garcia beat Park in Texas last Sunday and shopuld do it again tonight, but there will be runs in this game.

David Cone pitching for the Mets at age 40 in the home opener for the Montreal Expos in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

What were the odds of this happening if I asked the question two years ago?

Now that’s baseball.