The real test for any young pitcher in the major leagues is facing a good fastball hitting team. The key to success is getting command of your off speed stuff, thus upsetting the timing of the aggressive hitters.

The Orioles, a team comprised of overly aggressive swing from your heels fastball hitters, provided a challenge for the A’s pitching staff.

Once Dan Haren got comfortable he followed the example set by Kirk Saarloos a night earlier, rarely giving the Birds a fastball over the center of the plate. Instead, the two youngsters showed some pitching chops by keeping Baltimore off balance while they were on the mound.

The real test will come when the A’s face Texas, Seattle, and Los Angeles three teams with big time smart hitters who can crush the fastball.Tim Hudson’s first outing for Atlanta was reminiscent of his 2004 late season work for Oakland. Hudson was all over the place in his NL debut, rarely showing the command he had earlier in his career. Still when he needed to get the big out, he got it, getting his first win in the process.

The questions still surround Mark Mulder. Only an eighth inning rally against Philly’s all of a sudden arson squad bull pen, saved Mulder from a disturbing loss in his first effort for the Cards.

Mulder still looks like he is short arming the ball.

David Eckstein might be considered the best hit and run man in baseball, but the Giants Edgardo Alfonzo is not far behind. Watching Alfonzo hit the ball to right field with runners in motion is a thing of beauty.

Omar Vizquel will make the highlight films with spectacular plays in the field, but what I like about him is he is always in the game. He’ll take an extra base, move up on a short passed ball, be in perfect position on defense, doing the little things that never show up in the box score.

Vizquel might be a Hall of Famer after all.

With all the publicity surrounding Chicago pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano has the best stuff on the Cub staff. Now if Zambrano would just grow up and leave the umpires alone, he might win 20 games this year.

The Padres rip the ball in Colorado, then come home and score 3 runs in 21 innings in Petco Park against the Pirates. If San Diego could find an offense at home, they actually might win this division.

The Halos Frankie Rodriguez is still throwing those maximum effort sliders. If he stays with that plan his arm will go south by September. Until that happens he is the most dominant closer in the AL.

Who needs spring training? Everyday Eddie Guardado said he would be ready.The Seattle closer who didn’t appear in an “A” game all March came out of the shoot throwing zeros for the Mariners.

Have you noticed that Oriole bad boy pitcher Sidney Ponson can beat the Yankees? If he becomes too much of an annoyance for the Bombers they’ll just buy him from Baltimore.

Worst trade from 2004? The Orioles shipped young hard throwing starter Denny Bautista to KC for sore armed reliever Jason Grimsley. After a great spring, Bautista stuck it to the Angels in his first start Friday night while Grimsley has a permanent seat on the Baltimore DL.

I have the utmost respect for LA GM Paul DePodesta, but first baseman Hee Seop-Choi has more holes in his swing than any hitter I’ve seen in the big leagues this year. Jeff Kent should be playing first base. LA should look for a good defensive second base man to team up with Cesar Izturis.

Don’t miss the annual baseball art show at the Krevsky Gallery, 77 Geary Street in San Francisco. The show runs until April 30th, Tuesday thru Saturday 11 30 am – 5: 30 pm.

Even though the White Sox blew a 5-0 lead to the Indians, their rotation had the most impressive start in the AL. El Duque continued his mystifying magic, Jose Contreras controlled his splitter, Freddy Garcia controlled himself, while Mark Buehrle looked like the best lefty in the league not named Johnson or Santana.

Teams looking for bull pen help will be zeroing in on Detroit’s Ugueth Urbina very soon. Former Cub flamethrower Kyle Farnsworth has settled in very nicely as a capable set up man for closer Troy Percival, thus making Urbina very expendable.

Hitters are usually ahead of pitchers this time of year. Makes the Marlins Dontrelle Willis’ complete game shut out of the Expos even more outstanding.