Tell your statistics to shut up  —  OK, somebody has to panic.  Might as well be me.  —  No, it's definitely not “too early” when a team is already six games behind two other teams, both of which so far have demonstrably — almost comically — better everyday lineups than your team does.

With Ike Davis and Jenrry Mejia up with New York Mets, Jerry Manuel's calls for help are answered  —  Say this much for the Mets in the day-by-day torture they seem to be putting Jerry Manuel through: If he does wind up losing his job before Mother's Day, it won't be because they didn't give him everything possible he asked for.

Pineiro guides Angels to fourth straight win  —  ANAHEIM — When the Angels signed right-hander Joel Pineiro as a free agent this offseason, they knew exactly what they were getting — a sinkerball pitcher coming off a career year with the Cardinals in which he won 15 games and had a 3.49 ERA.

High anxiety, as owner Henry exhibits concern  —  The Red Sox' struggles are no longer a media/fan concern.  —  The concern goes much higher up.  —  “Of course I'm concerned,” wrote Sox owner John Henry in an e-mail.  “We can't dig ourselves too deep a hole.  The Yankees and Tampa Bay are so strong.”

Does the stretch cost a pitcher fastball speed?  —  Earlier today, Rob Neyer wrote about Ubaldo Jimenez's no-hitter at his Sweet Spot blog at ESPN.  He linked to an article by Thomas Harding about Jimenez's switch of pitching deliveries mid-game: … That's certainly fascinating to me …

JAYS POUND ROYALS IN FRONT OF SMALLEST-EVER CROWD AT DOME  —  TORONTO — They finally broke out after a weekend of relative silence.  The Toronto Blue Jays batters sprayed the ball across the field and over the fence on Monday night, but whenever it left the playing surface …

Marquis trying to be too perfect on hill  —  Starter admits to not letting natural athleticism take over  —  WASHINGTON — A day after having the worst outing of his young season, Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis learned he will start against the Dodgers on Friday at Nationals Park.

Trouble in Charmless City for O's  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  Follow him on Twitter.  —  First off, I stand by the story.  Every single word.  —  Orioles owner Peter Angelos and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken …

Odds & Ends: Bell, Dye, Ortiz, Davis, Strasburg  —  Links for Monday...  - The MLBTR Forums are rocking with over 3,600 members.  Join the discussion today!  Just added a prospects section; we've also got areas to discuss trade rumors, free agents, the draft, general baseball, fantasy baseball, and every team.

Eckstein's HR in 10th lifts Padres to fifth straight  —  SAN DIEGO(AP) David Eckstein homered in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the San Diego Padres their fourth straight win, 3-2 over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.  —  Eckstein's leadoff shot against Jeremy Affeldt (2-2) …

LaRoche returns to D-backs lineup  —  First baseman missed four games with quad strain  —  PHOENIX — After missing four consecutive games with a strain in his upper right quadriceps, Adam LaRoche was back in the D-backs lineup Monday for their homestand opener against the Cardinals at Chase Field.