Marz’s thoughts:  The Cardinals will head to Mississippi today to attend the funeral of Josh Hancock. This is a sad day for the team, the organization and the Hancock family. It will be Tony LaRussa’s job to get the focus of his team on track as best he can. This team was struggling the entire month as it is and turning the tide will be important.
P.S. – I am looking forward to a better month for the Cardinals organization.

Cuch’s thoughts:  I really enjoyed the Cubs broadcast on Comcast yesterday afternoon where Len Kasper and Bob Brenly were talking about the first major league win for Rocky Cherry. I particularly enjoyed the part where they talked about the teams rookie hazing which has him carrying around a pink strawberry shortcake bag!
P.S. – I can’t believe that EJ the Engineer has a THOUGHT!

EJ the Engineer’s thoughts:  How come John keeps getting on me! You know, the only reason we have all these former players on the show is because it is the only way they will talk to him anymore! Take that Marzano.

Marz’s thoughts:  There were two great starts in yesterdays action and neither got the win for it. Well, one team got the win and that was in Los Angeles where Brad Penny pitched well. He has looked good all year and is one of the main reasons why LA is on top in the NL West.
Curt Schilling had one of his best starts of the year but a blown save by Jonathan Papelbon cost him the win. I hate to see older pitchers who you know aren’t going to have many more opportunities for wins in the Major Leagues lose out like that.
P.S. – Another reason the Dodgers are on top is Alyssa Milano is their biggest fan! Have you seen her blog?!?   Alyssa Milano’s blog!

Cuch’s thoughts:  17 hits and another win later and the best team in baseball is the Milwaukee Brewers. How about that? They have solid pitching. Jeff Suppan looks great. He just bought a house near the ballpark and the 1-2 punch of Turnbow and Cordero is looking sharp!
P.S. – Has everyone gotten their vote in for Cleveland’s Ultimate Wedding Giveaway yet? If not, pick a winner now and get that couple hitched at Home Plate!    Indians Wedding Giveaway!

Program Note: Another great edition of Under the Bus Tuesday – remember to get yours in for next week!

Marz’s thoughts:  Tomorrow on the show, we will break down the swing of David Wright who ever since the Home Run Derby in 2006 has been struggling with his offense. He is not keeping his hands close to his body and i will get to the bottom of the issue tomorrow.
P.S. – I just met our Marlins reporter Joe Frisaro today and he is one stand up guy…unlike our producer Chris Caron!

Cuch’s thoughts:  Despite the change in colors to the jersey, fans in Arizona are getting the same old Brandon Webb. He had only 2 k’s but you can not argue with 7.0 innings of work and just 1 run allowed. He grabbed yet another win and his club posted 17 hits en route to a win over LA. Brandon Webb and Jake Peavy will make for a great Cy Young race down the stretch.
P.S. – I am also throwing the defending champion Miami Heat under the bus for getting swept out of the playoffs and I am throwing the NASCAR fans under the bus for being classless and throwing stuff at Jeff Gordon after he won his race. That is ridiculous!

All of our thoughts:  There is this saying that "Baseball is life" and anyone who has ever played or watched the game knows just how important it is to win games and play well as an individual. However, when something tragic happens as it did in St. Louis when the Cardinals lost Josh Hancock, you learn that losing a teammate transcends everything.
On behalf of the the entire Leading Off crew, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hancock family and the Cardinal organization.

Josh Hancock Tribute on MLB.com

Everyones thoughts:  Vinny would like to thank the viewers for their birthday well wishes. John would like to thank the viewers for being able to put up with looking at his face for two hours.

We mentioned on the show that April the 27th has the most no-hitters thrown on it in Major League history. Below is the list…
1) 1944 – Jim Tobin – Boston vs. Brooklyn
2) 1968 – Tom Pheobus – Baltimore vs. Boston
3) 1973 – Steve Busby – Kansas City vs. Detroit
4) 1994 – Scott Erickson – Minnesota vs. Milwaukee
5) 2002 – Derek Lowe – Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay
6) 2003 – Kevin Millwood – Philadelphia vs. San Francisco

Because of this information, we on the show picked who will get a no-hitter today! If one of our guys does, cheesesteaks and pizza will be flowing through the studio on Monday! Below are our picks…

Marzano – Roy Oswalt
Cuch – Ian Snell
Chris the producer – Jake Westbrook
EJ the Engineer – Ramon Ortiz
Joy the Marlin – Anibal Sanchez

Marz’s thoughts:  I can’t wait to see Phil Hughes pitch tonight for the Yankees. I spoke with Yankee coach Larry Bowa and he said he is a can’t miss pitcher. He thinks he can be a 15-18 game winner in this league and last a long time. There will be a lot of pressure on him, but i think he will thrive in it! Tune into our show tomorrow at 10 ET and we will break down his start.
P.S. – How does Macoooooch not get my Joe Morgan stance reference! That young whipper-snapper.

Cuch’s thoughts:  The under the radar move of the day comes out of Los Angeles of Anaheim where the Angels sent down Kendry Morales…put Juan Rivera on the DL and brought up BRANDON WOOD! This top prospect has been the ying to Howie Kendricks yang for some time now and the Halos future up the middle looks promising. He will wear #3 when he makes his eventual debut and i look forward to seeing him play.
P.S. – I think that Curt Schillings sock is not real at all. I think it is a ploy by the government. They stuck it in there on a day that they rose taxes to deflect our attention away. Come on – WHO CARES if the sock is fake, he didn’t cheat…but i will think conspiracy if you want me to.

Chris the producer’s thoughts:  Thanks to Ryan Freel for joining us today on the show and we are hoping that he doesn’t go streaking through our studios anytime soon!

Check back SHORTLY for a pic of host Petey McCarthy looking all WEIRD in his Rick Vaughn glasses and hat (courtesy of the Indians)

Tune in tomorrow at 10 am ET for tomorrows show and thanks to www.mlblogs.com for the attention today!!!

Marz’s thoughts:  Even with Ryan Howard struggling, the Phillies offense has heated up. Chase Utley, Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand have stepped it up and carried the team. Starting pitcher Jamie Moyer is 44 and is throwing like he is 34. If the Phils bullpen straigtens itself out with the addition of Brett Myers, they could be revived in the coming weeks!
P.S. – I got NOTHING today…i am in a state of confusion now

Cuch’s thoughts:  How often do you see two solid closers blow a save in the same game? That was the case in Anaheim as both Francisco Rodriguez and Todd Jones each let one go. Venezuelan Magglio Ordonez got into a fastball of Venezuelan K-Rod but he was redeemed when Reggie Willets crossed the plate with the winning run.
P.S. – Is it any surprise that Marzano has nothing today? Oh and the Mariners cancelled again? They are up to 6 games that they have to makeup!

Marz’s thoughts:   It’s nice to go to the ballpark and see so many older players doing well. I was at Citizens Bank Park yesterday and witnessed Craig Biggio launch a leadoff homerun against the Phils. Tonight, head out to Chase Field and watch as Randy Johnson makes his return to the field once again with the Diamondbacks. As an added note, he will be opposed by David Wells. If you get a chance, head out to the park to see guys like this or names lik Glavine, Maddux and Smoltz, you will not be disappointed.
P.S. – Don’t give EJ the Engineer……….a contract! He keeps messing up my microphone and music!

Cuch’s thoughts:  I had my doubts, but quietly in this early season, John Maine has impressed. I first thought that his outings in the playoffs although in a pinch and effective weren’t all that impressive and would be exposed in 2007. Maine so far has shown life to his fastball and has kept hitters off-balance enough to get some wins.
P.S. – Johnny Marz better be practicing his video game at home because he better not lose to Casey Stern when the big battle happens on the Xbox! That would let down the family…

Marz’s thoughts:  Mike Hargrove and Bill Bavasi are on the Hot Seat in Seattle. Mariners Chairman and CEO Howard Lincoln made it very clear in the off-season that the team would need to play better and if the team doesn’t start kicking it in gear, they are in trouble.
P.S. – I am writing a fictional book about Chris our producer… It’s a book about a skinny, physically fit guy who looks like Arnold Schwartzenegger. Like I said, it is fiction!

Cuch’s thoughts:  Is there anything more annoying for a Major Leaguer than to go out and strike out 12 players and have your bullpen give up the lead as the Devil Rays did for James Shields? Certainly, Shields would not throw his team Under the Bus, but it has to be a punch to the gut!
P.S. – Don’t forget – UNDER THE BUS Tuesday returns tomorrow on the show!! Get your comments in now for the show tomorrow….or email us baseballchannel@mlb.com

Chris the producers thought’s:  I am kinda hungry!

Marz’s thoughts:  There is more than just the Yanks and Sox this weekend. I am excited to see many different series’ play out starting tonight. The Mets are home against Atlanta and Tim Hudson looks like he is back to his old form. The Cubs host the Cardinals and that is one intense rivalry as well. Plus, don’t fall short on the A’s and Rangers and White Sox and Tigers. Enjoy the weekend games…I know i will.
P.S. – Happy Birthday to my mother…she turns 80 this weekend and to all lefty throwing kids – – LEARN THE CHANGEUP!

Cuch’s thoughts:  The World Baseball Classic committee announced that they have approved 8 teams with 8 more to come for the 2009 tourney. The teams accepted are the obvious ones and irrelevant for this point. The fact that the tourney is back on someones mind is nice. I thought the first run through was great but filled with errors that hurt players going into, during and after the games. I think the 2nd time around, we will get a much better idea of what teams bring to the world stage!
P.S. – Of course, baseball is my favorite sport but i love ALL sports and i am kind of dissapointed that i have very little interest in this years NBA playoffs. Who is with me? The first round is predictable and the final four will be the same again!

Chris the Producers thought’s:  Don’t forget it was ME who said Alex Rodriguez will finish with 75 homers and 175 RBIs this year! The Year of A-Rod! I have spoken….