Batters on totally opposite extremes

ESPN.com

Updated: April 7, 2008

AP Photo/Tony Tribble

Pat Burrell hits the first of his two home runs -- a two-run blast -- in the Phillies' 5-3 win Monday.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

The sample sizes might be small, but among the surprises from the first week of the 2008 season are some of the players who are above the .400 mark and others who have struggled to reach the Mendoza Line.

The likes of Miguel Cabrera, David Ortiz and Jim Thome are all struggling, and they look like they could use a little more spring seasoning. On the other end of the spectrum, Luke Scott seems to be enjoying his digs in Baltimore and Billy Butler is among those thriving in Kansas City.

Whether or not these guys can maintain their success or struggles would seem unlikely. There's a reason why the season is 162 games. And when some of these players who are struggling get hot, look out, because the ball figures to then fly all over the park.

SURPRISE .400-PLUS HITTERS
Player Team Batting average Skinny
Luke Scott Orioles .500 .336 batting average in 214 at-bats in '05
Ryan Doumit Pirates .458 .212 batting average after the All-Star break in 2007
A.J. Pierzynski White Sox .458 .213 batting average last April
Pat Burrell Phillies .435 .209 batting average last September
Billy Butler Royals .400 10-for-24 career vs. C.C. Sabathia and Justin Verlander

SURPRISE SUB-.200 HITTERS
Player Team Batting average Skinny
Alfonso Soriano Cubs .094 Career .302 batting average in April
Kenji Johjima Mariners .095 .327 batting average last April
Miguel Cabrera Tigers .111 Lowest batting average for month: .158 (June 2003)
David Ortiz Red Sox .115 Worst batting average in month with Bos.: .212 (April 2003)
Jim Thome White Sox .179 .340 batting average last April

Past Baseball Tonight Clubhouses: April 6 | April 3 | April 2 | April 1 | March 31 | March 30

FORWARD THINKING: TUESDAY

• Tigers at Red Sox, 2:05 p.m. ET: Kenny Rogers (0-1, 3.00) will get the start for the Tigers, who are the only team in the majors that has yet to win a game this season. He'll be opposed by Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-0, 2.31). The right-hander was 8-4 with a 4.86 ERA in 14 starts at Fenway Park last season.

• Mariners at Rays, 7:10 p.m. ET: Erik Bedard (0-0, 1.80) will get the start for the Mariners. He was scheduled to start against the Orioles on Sunday, but was scratched after experiencing inflammation in his left hip. Matt Garza (0-0, 8.44) will counter for the Rays. In two starts against the Mariners while pitching for the Twins last season, Garza allowed 18 hits, including four home runs.

• Reds at Brewers, 8:05 p.m. ET: Rookie right-hander Johnny Cueto (1-0, 1.29) will make his second career start for the Reds. He gave up one hit and had 10 strikeouts in his first start against the Diamondbacks. Jeff Suppan (1-0, 2.84) will go for the Brewers. He had a 5.48 ERA in four starts against the Reds last season.

• Complete list of pitching probables for Tuesday's games

NEWS AND NOTES

• Greg Maddux earned career win No. 348 in the Padres' 8-4 victory over the Giants on Monday. He began his career in 1986 and has a 348-214 record.


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BBTN ON THE AIR: TUESDAY

TIME WHO'S ON?
Midnight ET
ESPN		 Host: Karl Ravech
Analysts: John Kruk, Eric Young, Eduardo Perez

BASEBALL TONIGHT MINUTE: K-ROD STRUGGLING

MONDAY'S NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

GOOD
• Joe Crede's tiebreaking grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning powered the White Sox to a 7-4 win over the Twins. Crede also doubled and scored in the fourth inning.
BAD
• Tom Gorzelanny allowed seven runs on six hits and walked four in just 2 1/3 innings in the Pirates' 10-8 loss to the Cubs. Pittsburgh rallied to tie the game at 8-8, but eventually lost the game in the top of the 12th when the Cubs scored two runs.
UGLY
Tigers• The Mariners lost their fourth game in a row to the Orioles and second straight one-run affair in falling 5-4 at Camden Yards. Seattle (2-5) has the second-fewest wins in the American League, ahead of only Detroit (0-6).

FANTASY: PREVIEW OF TUESDAY'S GAMES

Will Harris examines the pitching matchups in store for the 12 games on Tuesday's schedule in the American League and National League.

Will also looks at current injuries and details player reports that could help shape the way you put together your roster for Tuesday's slate of games. Daily Notes

YANKEES GAIN SPLIT OF SERIES AGAINST RAYS

THIS DATE IN MLB HISTORY (APRIL 8)

• 1974: In the fourth inning of the Braves home opener against the Dodgers, Hank Aaron hit an Al Downing pitch into the left-center-field stands for career home run No. 715, breaking Babe Ruth's record.

• 1993: Indians second baseman Carlos Baerga became the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning, connecting in the seventh inning of Cleveland's 15-5 win over the Yankees.

• 1994: Braves pitcher Kent Mercker no-hit the Dodgers, 6-0, fanning 10 in the process (also his first complete game in the majors). Chan Ho Park also came on to pitch in the ninth inning for the Dodgers to become the first Korean player to appear in a major league game.