Most teams begin to assess their club right about this time of year. Some will be talking about huge surprises.

There really is no denying that the Baltimore Orioles fast start has been a surprise. Every one I spoke with in Spring Training was convinced they didn't have enough pitching to compete with the Rays, Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays. So far, the pitching has held up well. The Guthrie for Hamel deal certainly looks like a winner. Brian Matusz has a long, long way to go. I have little faith in him. I drafted him at the end of the pitching run in an AL only league, but I don't start him. He's my extra starter.

The Red Sox will have to mix and match in the outfield until they get Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury back. There is currently no return time for either. The Red Sox look at the waiver wire every day. But one thing is certain-Will Middlebrooks has responded extremely well to his opportunity. I have no idea what the club will do when Kevin Youkilis returns. I know what I would do. I think Youk could fetch the outfielder they need in trade. But they also need pitching. Put a package together that includes Youkilis (when he's healthy) and the return might be worthwhile.

Dayan Viciedo is heating up a bit. It's about time, right? He looks a bit thinner to me, but it may be my television. Hawk Harrelson calls him "Tank" for a reason.

I wish I could figure out Porcello, Scherzer and Fister. If you're frustrated and I'm frustrated, how do you think Jim Leyland feels? I paid for almost all of the Tigers rotation in a RotoWire Steak League and they're killing me. Can't dump them because the waiver wire is thin. I'll have to wait it out. I still like all three of them. I'm a slow learner.

I have always liked Edwin Encarnacion. Brett Lawrie has been a bust as far as I'm concerned.

Two super players with Chicago ties have passed away. Kevin Hickey and Moose Skowron were both very well respected Chicago based guys. They will be missed.

I'll be On The Scene at Coors Field during the early part of June. I'll be checking out the digs and watching the Angels take on the Rockies. Looking forward to being there. Always looking for dining suggestions in downtown Denver. Keep in mind-my wife will be with me. Don't give me the names of your favorite Gentlemen's Establishments.

The Dodgers really don't look like the same club without Matt Kemp. Very few bats to carry a game. I look for the Dodgers to go after David Wright in a big, big way. Even if he does sign with the Mets. That would make him more appealing. The Mets could turn their franchise around if they agree to deal Wright. Think of the prospects they could extract from Arizona for Wright. Amazing. It'll be fun to watch what happens. Mets do things quietly. So do the Dbacks and Dodgers.
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So, who's killing your team/teams? How about Justin Upton, or Joe Mauer or Albert or Robbie Cano or Moore or Goldschmidt...I have way too many. Yes, friends. It was me. I'm the one that was very bullish on Paul Goldschmidt. I put him everywhere. I almost hung his picture on my bedroom wall. I have learned something in my years in baseball. It is very difficult--no, make that impossible-it is impossible to hit a home run from the bench. Or even a single. How in the world can a hitter ever learn to hit quality pitching while sitting on the bench? Goldschmidt stinks against right-handed pitching. True. How will he get better? Not watching Lyle Overbay. If you aren't going to play him, send him back to Triple-A.

I look for Trevor Bauer to be on the Diamondbacks roster at some point this season following his promotion today to Triple-A Reno. He'll have trouble with hitters there if he doesn't show command.

Oh-I forgot. Dee Gordon as another of my team killers. He's seeing a good view of the game now from the bench more and more frequently.

I have always liked Jeanmar Gomez as a back of the rotation starter. He may have some less than great outings, but I've always liked his stuff. I think he'll win a few more games this season. He'll be around in the rotation. Especially since Josh Tomlin has a bad wrist and can't pitch. Hey-how about that Johnny Damon tearing up the American League. What did the Indians ever do without him? He's all the way up to .226.

Is it possible to have too many good players? That may be the problem with the Angels. Who do you sit every day? Wouldn't it be better to trade one of their outfielders for a relief pitcher? Right now-Peter Bourjos is riding the pines. They should trade him and give him a chance to play somewhere.

Kerry Wood's last appearance was today at Wrigley in Chicago. He has decided to retire. Does he know something nobody else does? Is he the Orlando Hudson of the Padres? Would he have been shown the door? I don't think so. The Cubs don't have the $$$ to eat his contract that everyone thinks they have. He struck out the last guy he faced. He went out a Cub. He was one helluva pitcher in his prime. He had a good career and I really enjoyed watching him.

No doubt the Cardinals are an amazing team. But I really worry about their ability to stay healthy. We are now seeing Beltran hurt. Berkman was hurt. They have outstanding depth, but their big guns have to stay healthy.

When I saw the Giants play I was really stunned at their poor defense. They booted the ball around. They misjudged balls in the air. Brandon Crawford was having the most problems. I think part of it was mental. He'll be fine.

I hope you'll check out my series on Major League baseball drafts for my RotoWire On The Scene column. The last column of the series will run next week.

No radio for me this Wednesday with Jeff and Triple D. I'll be away, but I'll be back the following week. Thanks for those of you following my segments on the show and for your kind comments back to me on twitter. Your kind words are appreciated.

I'm curious to know your selection as the team that's been the biggest surprise this season? Either good or bad. Let's talk about it.

Follow me on twitter @BerniePleskoff and on MLB.com in the Voices section. As always, your comments and questions are always welcome on both sites.