SMERLAS AND BOB WARMING UP TO BILLS

BEST BASEBALL PLAYER: GIVE ME TROUT OVER CABRERA

COT DEAL DID IT ALL FOR THE RED WINGS

NCAA LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIPS SHOW OFF NYS TEAMS

The Answer Man makes another spring visit:

QUESTION: Fred Smerlas and you were talking up the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday night’s show. Was I hearing things?

ANSWER: No, you heard right. Fred and I both think the Bills will be an improved team this season.

I’m not ready to jump on the playoff bandwagon. By “improved,” I mean in the 7-9 or 8-8 range.

Fred and I both are impressed with Buffalo’s offensive potential. Quite a few things have to pan out, but I’m going out on a limb by projecting the Bills to finish in the top 10 in total offense.

What’s to like about the offense?

Doug Marrone is an offensive-minded head coach. He won’t be as conservative on Sundays as Chan Gailey tended to be. He probably realizes that his team currently has a better chance to win slugfests than defensive duels.

Rookie EJ Manuel has the physical tools to be Buffalo’s first “franchise quarterback” since Jim Kelly. Five rookie QBs started Week 1 last season. Why not Manuel this season?

I don’t believe Buffalo is a legitimate threat to end its 13-year playoff drought this season – no matter which QB starts. So why not give Manuel on-the-job-training. The more snaps he takes this season, the more prepared he’ll be next season.

The Bills last season arguably had the NFL’s weakest collection of wide receivers. Three speedy rookies – Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin and Da’Rick Rogers have the potential to spread the field and connect on many more long passes with Manuel than last year’s less-gifted WRs had with Ryan Fltzpatrick. Opponents won’t be able to focus on stopping Stevie Johnson.’

C.J. Spiller probably is among the NFL’s five-best running backs and should thrive in Marrone’s big-play offense.

Some analysts believe seventh-round draft pick tight end Chris Gragg could be a steal. Catching passes is his strength.

The offensive line figures to be average – a significant improvement over most of the past 13 years.

Buffalo’s offense could be even more dangerous if strong-legged rookie kicker Dustin Hopkins can beat out veteran Rian Lindell.

Buffalo’s defense also has the potential to improve, but I won’t be sold until the linebackers prove they can be an upgrade.

At the very least, if all goes reasonably well, the Bills should be one of the NFL’s most exciting teams to watch. It’s been a long time since we could envision that.

QUESTION: Who is the best baseball player today?

ANSWER:Mike Trout. No doubt in my mind.

Miguel Cabrera even more obviously is the best hitter in baseball. Entering the last week in May, it will be an upset if he DOESN’T win his second straight Triple Crown (lead the American League in batting average, home runs and runs-batted-in).

Here’s how Cabera ranks in the American League in the three Triple Crown categories entering Friday night:

.391 batting average (1st)...No. 2 James Loney .350

14 home  runs (2nd)...No. 1 Chris Davis 15

55 RBIs (1st)...No. 2 Chris Davis 44.

I’ve always given Cabrera props for moving from first base to third base last before last season to make room for free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder. Cabrera never will win a Gold Glove for defense at third, but he’s at least adequate.

Trout is the total package. I know this is saying a lot and premature, but I believe he can be a healthy Mickey Mantle.

Trout started slowly this season, but any worries about a sophomore jinx have vanished with a strong May:

April -- .261 batting average (29x111), 9 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HRs, 16 RBI, 4x5 stolen bases

May 1 through May 24 -- .359 (28x78), 4 doubles, 3 triples, 8 HRs, 19 RBI, 6x8 stolen bases.

He also is a Gold Gold-caliber outfielder and the defending AL stolen-base champion.

COT DEAL, RED WINGS HALL OF FAQMER, DIES AT 90

Ellis “Cot” Deal, the first manager of the Rochester Community Baseball Red Wings, died Tuesday in his native Oklahoma has died. He was 90.
In 1957, after more than 8,000 shareholders purchased the Red Wings franchise from the St, Louis Cardinals, Deal was named manager the community-owned team.

Part of the deal between St. Louis and Rochester was for the Cardinals to stock the Red Wings. St. Louis had two Triple-A affiliates  at the time – Rochester and Omaha. The Cardinals owned Omaha and assigned most of their high-end veteran Triple-A players there. Deal’s Wings got most of the leftovers. Rochester was 74-80 in 1957 and 77-75 in 1958.
As far as I know, Deal was the oldest living Red Wing when he passed away this week. He was lucky he lived beyond 36.

On July 7 26, 1959, during a game in Havana shortly after the Cuban Revolution, Deal gave umpire Frank Guzzetta the choke sign after a poor call. Guzzetta  supposedly told Deal during the argument that he feared making a close call against the Sugar Kings because many fans and soldiers in the capacity fired-up crowd had machetes and guns.

Before leaving the field, Deal designated infielder Frank Verdi to take over the third-base coaching duties.  The game was called when a stray bullet struck Verdi’s helmet liner. The bullet bloodied Verdi’s ear and landed on his shoulder. Deal didn’t wear a helmet liner. Who knows what could have happened if he had been protected? Deal did not wear a helmet liner. He might have been seriously wounded or worse.

The Wings were in a 5-20 slump Aug. 1, 1959, when Deal reigned.

Deal was one of the most popular and versatile Red Wing players. He spent portions of seven seasons with Rochester. He was steady right-handed starting pitcher, a switch-hitting part-time outfielder . He even caught in a pinch.

Here were his best years:

1952 – 14-9 record; 3.56 ERA... .277 batting average; 5 HRs; 22 RBI

1953 – 16-9 record; 3.72 ERA... .279 batting average; 2 HRs; 30 RBI

1956 – 15-7 record; 4.39 ERA... .311 batting average; 7 HRs; 2 RBI.

Deal hurt his arm in spring training 1948 and never fulfilled his potential.

In brief stints with the Boston Red Sox and Cardinals, he was 3-4 with a 6.55 ERA. He later was the pitching coach for six major-league teams.

Deal was elected to the Red Wings Hall of Fame in the Class of 1994.

NEW YORK STATE LACROSSE ON DISPLAY IN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Four of the eight teams in this weekend’s NCAA men’s lacrosse championships are from New York State – Cornell and Duke in Division I, LeMoyne in Division II and RIT in Division III. That’s not bad.

Here’s the schedule for the games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia:

Saturday – Division I semifinals...Cornell vs. Duke 2:30 p.m. ... top-seed Syracuse vs. Denver 5 p.m.

Sunday – Division II national championship game: LeMoyne vs. Mercyhurst  1 p.m. ... Division III national championship game: RIT Tigers vs. Stevenson 4 p.m.

Monday – Division I championship game – Cornell or Duke vs. Syracuse or Denver  1 p.m.

The coaches of all three champions could be Section V products: Cornell’s Ben DeLuca (McQuaid), Mercyhurst’s Chris Ryan (Irondequoit) and Stevenson’s Paul Cantebene (Irondequoit)...RIT coach Jake Coon was a goalie for Nazareth and the Tigers have six Section V players...Ryan has 18 Section V products on his team.

IF RELIABLE RAZORSHARKS CARRY WINNING SPORTS BANNER FOR ROCHESTER

BIGGEST LOSER IN THE PREAKNESS STAKES WAS THE BELMONT STAKES

THE AMAZING MIGUEL CABRERA

Thank goodness for the Rochester RazorSharks.

For those of you who haven’t noticed, several of our pro teams aren’t doing so well heading into this summer.

The Red Wings have an 18-26 record after Sunday’s 11-0 romp at Lehigh Valley.  That’s no surprise, considering that the expected three starting outfielders (Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Arcia and Wilkin Ramirez) and two possible infielders (Pedro Florimon and Eduardo Escobar) all are currently playing for the Minnesota Twins and about half of Rochester’s preferred Opening Day pitching staff began the season on the disabled list.

The pitching has the potential to improve, particularly if the deep starting rotation consisting of Kyle Gibson, P.J.Walters, Samuel Deduno, Andrew Albers, Liam Hendriks and Cole De Vries remains intact and healthy. The bullpen is less likely to improve.

There are two very promising starting pitchers at Double-A New Britain (Trevor May and Alex Meyer) but they aren’t dominating the Eastern League and barring injuries to Rochester’s starters, it is unlikely they’ll be rushed to Triple-A to bolster the bullpen.

Rochester’s 4.65 ERA ranks 10th in the 14-team International League and the Wings have been outscored by 43 runs in 44 games. With 100 games remaining on the schedule, it is difficult to project the prolonged stretch of winning baseball that would be needed to become a playoff contender.

There hasn’t been enough hitting to offset the below-average pitching. The exception has been first baseman Chris Colabello. The seven-year veteran of independent league baseball has been the story of the young season for Rochester – if not the entire IL. In his second pro season at age 29, here’s how Colabello ranked in the IL entering Monday:

.361 batting average (3rd)

61 hits (1st)

111 total bases (1st)

11 HRs (t1st)

.657 slugging percentage (2nd)

17 doubles (2nd)

34 RBI (3rd).

The last Red Wing to hit at least 30 HRs and drive in more than 100 runs in one season was legendary slugger Jim Fuller in 1973 – 40 years ago. He had 39 HRs and 108 RBI. He was the IL MVP despite batting only .247 and striking out a team-record 197 times. At his current pace, Colabello would hit 36 HRs and drive in 111 runs.

I hope for Colabello’s sake that his pursuit of those numbers is curtailed by a well-deserved promotion to Minnesota . There is a good chance that Twins veteran first baseman Justin Morneau will be traded before the deadline. He’s in the last year of his contract and could help a contending team as a DH-first baseman. Colabello would be the reasonable man to replace him on Minnesota’s roster.

The Rhinos, touted as a high-scoring team entering this USL Pro season, have a 1-6 -1 record and have been outscored by a ridiculous 17-4 margin. I have no idea what sort of attendance the team is drawing at Sahlen’s Stadium, but I fear they’ll be closer to “gatherings” than  “crowds” if the team’s level of play doesn’t significantly improve – quickly.

Replacing frustrated coach Jesse Myers with tried-and-true Pat Ercoli Sunday was a move waiting to happen and certainly can’t hurt. Too bad Pat couldn’t turn back the clock to bring back a half-dozen or so of his former Rhinos in their primes.

The Rattlers are 1-3 in Major League Lacrosse. The team has lots of talent – this is the best outdoor lacrosse league in the world – but most of the league’s other teams appear to have more.

The Rattlers never have drawn decent crowds in Rochester – not even when they were MLL’s best team. It didn’t help this year when there was virtually no publicity in the preseason and the schedule included two “home” games in two other states.

The state of the Rattlers appears shaky at best.

The RazorSharks are 12-1 in the IBA-PBL and outscoring opponents by 16.8 points per game. The only problem (besides some apparent  Rochester-biased  officiating in one notorious title series) that I’ve had with the well-managed team through the years is trying to figure out exactly how good or bad the competition has been. The front office has the winning formula and has dominated with superior coaching and players. But how does the overall talent level in the Ieague measure up with the NBA D-League and the other basketball minor leagues. I have no idea. Does anyone?

And – does it matter? Everyone loves a winner. The RazorSharks usually pad their home live attendance (just like every other pro team in town) but have developed a fair-sized fan base and loyal following. As long as the team continues to beat up on inferior competition, it figures to continue to do well at the turnstiles and at the box office – no matter where it plays.

BELMONT STAKES NO BIG DEAL AS TRIPLE CROWN DROUGHT HITS 36 YEARS

Oxbow’s upset win in the Preakness Stakes was a big victory for jockey Gary Stevens and trainer D. Wayne Lukas but a huge loss for horse racing in general and the Belmont Stakes in particular.

Orb’s powerful performance in the Kentucky Derby made him the 3-to-5 favorite in the Preakness last Saturday. There wasn’t a trainer in the nine-horse race that didn’t say Orb was the class of the field.

So why did Orb lose?

Everything that right went right for Orb and jockey Joel Rosario in the Kentucky Derby went wrong in the Preakness – the weather, the pace of the race and racing luck.

 Before the Derby, no one knew how Orb would fare on a sloppy track.

He wound up liking the muddy surface more than any horse in the 19-horse field. Rain was in the forecast for Baltimore last Saturday afternoon but the track was dry and fast for the big race.

Orb took advantage of a blistering early pace in the Derby. 24-to-1 pacesetter Palace Malice’s fractions were 22:57 (1/4 mile), 45:33 (1/2 mile) and 1:09.80(3/4 mile). Palace Malice was finished when the serious running began. The horses trying to keep up with him early also ran out of gas. The race set up for the closers and Orb closed fastest of all. He circled the field on the final turn and won going away by 2 ½ lengths.

Orb had no such pace luck in the Preakness.

Oxbow, a 15-to-1 long shot, under heady veteran jockey Gary Stevens, cruised to the early lead and was able to set comfortable fractions (23:94; 48:60; 1:13:28). The other speed horses were content to stalk rather than fight for the lead.

Oxbow had plenty left in the tank and stole the race by a misleading 1 ¾ lengths. It wasn’t that close. Oxbow’s 1:57.54 was the slowest winning Preakness time since 1961 but no one in the Oxbow camp was apologizing.

Orb prefers to race wide to avoid traffic and get a clear run through the stretch. But he drew the dreaded No. 1 post for the Preakness. He was boxed in for most of the race and couldn’t get to the outside to make his customary late run. He finished a disappointing fourth.

The only way thoroughbred racing gets major national attention is the pursuit of the Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Unfortunately, the annual Breeders’ Cup usually pales in comparison.

But Orb went from stud to dud. From awesome Kentucky Derby champ to 3x5–favored chump in the Preakness. The Triple Crown drought now is 36 years.

I’m sure Belmont Park will try to sell an Orb vs. Oxbow showdown for the June 8 Belmont Stakes. But for the sporting public at large, it figures to be just another horse race.

Assuming Orb and Oxbow both are entered , they aren’t likely to scare off any fresh challengers in the Belmont Stakes. I believe it is more likely that we’ll see three different winners in this year’s Triple Crown races than Orb or Oxbow double up.

MIGUEL CABRERA PICKING UP THE TRIPLE CROWN SLACK

No thoroughbred horse has won a Triple Crown since 1978.

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has a big shot to become the first baseball player EVER to win consecutive Triple Crowns (lead his league in hitting, home runs and runs-batted-in).

If you watched Cabera’s hitting performance Sunday night, you probably wouldn’t bet against him He was 4x4 with 3 HRs and 5 RBI in an 11-8 road loss to Texas.

Here’s how Cabrera measures up in the three Triple Crown categories in the American League (entering Monday):

.387 batting average (1st......No. 2 James Loney is hitting .356)

11 home runs (t2nd....one behind Mark Reynolds, Robinson Cano, Chris Davis and Edwin Encarnacion)

47 RBI (1st...No. 2 Chris Davis has 40).

Cabrera is one of the relatively few sluggers earning his mammoth long-term contract (8 years for $152.3 million...through 2015). And baseball’s best hitter seldom misses a game.

GRADING THE BASEBALL TEAMS AT THE ONE-QUARTER MARK

Here are Bob’s grades for the 32 Major League Baseball teams one-quarter into this season. The grades reflect overall performance and performance compared to preseason expectations:

American League: Yankees A+...Cleveland A+...Boston A-...Texas A...Kansas City B-...Baltimore C+...Minnesota C+...Oakland C...Seattle C...Tampa Bay C...White Sox C...Detroit C-....Houston D...Angels D-...Toronto D-

National League: Atlanta A-...Arizona B+...Pittsburgh B+...Colorado B+...Cincinnati B...St. Louis B...San Diego C+...Cubs C...Mets C...Philadelphia C...San Francisco C...Washington C-...Miami C-...Milwaukee D+...Dodgers D.

SHORT SHOTS

One of the many reasons the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. The Chicago Blackhawks would be an intriguing Stanley Cup Finals matchup: 

Pittsburgh’s playoff-best power play (10x31; 32.3 percent) vs. Chicago’s playoff-best penalty killing (24x24; 1.000 percent).

I don’t think the left-field fence at Frontier Field should be moved in as much as it was for last Saturday night’s Legends Game, but I can’t say the same for the left-centerfield wall. With the end of the Steroid Era, several major-league teams reduced their outfield dimensions for this season. I think it would be appropriate to do the same at Frontier.

Shorter fences would mean fewer long flyouts, more doubles and home runs and more fun for most fans who prefer crooked numbers over OOOOOOs on the scoreboard.

The Wegmans LPGA Championship next month will be a huge success. It always is. But honestly, can you name five winners on the LPGA Tour this year?

You have to like Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel. In an out-of-town radio interview last week, he said Buffalo’s offensive system is less complicated and more suited to his football talents than the one at Florida State. He said he’s having fun and doing well. If he’s the best QB in training camp, should he start Week 1? I don’t see why not.
Couldn’t Dwight Freeney have helped Buffalo’s pass rush?

The Syracuse Crunch are doing pretty well in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs: 7-0 record; outs coring opponents 30-15.

Yankees TV ratings and attendance are down despite the team’s surprising record. The weather hasn’t helped, but have the injured big-name stars been missed more at the gate than in the standings? Starpower sells.

I know there was a full-page ad and almost a full page devoted to local golf listings, but it was good to see the 12-page sports section in Sunday’s Democrat and Chronicle.

Fort Myers Miracle/Cedar Rapids Kernels update: Minnesota’s two Single-A teams are a combined 60-24 and outscoring opponents by a combined 131 runs.

Only in the New York Post Department: In an article by Joel Sherman analyzing the job being done by New York Mets manager Terry Collins, the headline and drophead read: That’s a Bunch of Junk: Roster of rubbish makes it impossible to evaluate Collins.

For the record: The four Buffalo Bills drafts overseen by Buddy Nix:  2010 C.J. Spiller, Torrell Troup, Alex Carrington, Marcus Easley, Ed Wang, Arthur Moats, Danny Batten, Lervi Brown, Kyle Calloway...2011 Marcell Dareus, Aaron Williams, Kelvin Sheppard, Da’Norris Searcy, Chris Hairston, Johnny White, Chris White, Snow White (just seeing if you’re paying attention), Justoin Rogers, bit Michael Jasper...2012 Stephon Gilmore, Cordy Glenn, T.J. Graham, Nigel Bradham, Ron Brooks, Zebrie Sanders, Tank Carder, Mark Asper...2013 EJU Manuel, Robert Woods, Kiko Alonso, Marquise Goodwin, Duke Williams, Jonathon Meeks, Dustin Hopkins, Chris Gragg.

The Baltimore Orioles, 29-9 in one-run games last season, are 6-6 in one-run games this season. The Cleveland Indians are 11-3 and the Yankees are 8-3.

AWESOME COLLECTION OF TALENT FOR LEGENDS GAME INCLUDES 2,957 CAREER HOME RUNS

ORB SHOULD WIN PREAKNESS BUT BEST BET LOOKS LIKE EXACTAS

MINNESOTA’S TWO SINGLE-A FARM TEAMS CONTINUE TO ROLL
WORTH NOTING IN BASEBALL

Many decades ago – when even many top-notch Major League Baseball players supplemented their incomes with post-season barnstorming tours -- fans in cities such as Rochester got to see star-studded lineups at Red Wing/Silver Stadium. The 2013 Red Wings yearbook highlights such a game played Oct. 12, 1959.  The rosters included Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Rocky Colavito, Willie McCovey, Elston Howard, Hoyt Wilhelm, Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Junior Gilliam and hometown hero Johnny Antonelli.

Not surprisingly, that exhibition game drew an announced crowd of 7,002 fans. The game grossed $14,144. Each player received $750 and a new belt from the Hickok Company.

American League umpire Ken Kaiser’s annual winter baseball banquets consistently featured some of top stars in the game. Frequent head table guests included Nolan Ryan, Don Mattingly, George Brett, Kirby Puckett, Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs.

But Saturday’s Pepsi Field of Dreams Legends Game at Frontier Field (gates open 4 p.m.; game time 6 p.m.) will feature the greatest collection of baseball legends on one field in Rochester’s history. The 10 former big-league superstars scheduled to appear: Johnny Bench, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Trevor Hoffman, Reggie Jackson, Pedro Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mike Schmidt Ozzie Smith and Frank Thomas.

That group combined for:

 2,954 home runs: Jackson 563 (13th-all time)... Schmidt 548 (15th)...Frank Thomas 521 (t18th)...McGriff 493 (t26th)...Bench 389 (57th)...Henderson 297 (138th)...Boggs 118...Smith 28...Hoffman 0...Martinez 0.

9 Most Valuable Player Awards...Schmidt 3...Bench 2...Thomas 2...Henderson 1...Jackson  1.

37 Gold Gloves...Smith 13...Bench 10...Schmidt 10...Boggs 2...Henderson 1...Jackson 1

6 Hall of Fame plaques...Bench...Boggs...Henderson...Jackson...Schmidt...Smith.
3 future Hall of Fame plaques...Hoffman...Thomas...Martinez.

6 batting titles...Boggs 5...Thomas 1.

14 home-run titles...Schmidt 8...Jackson 4...Bench 1...McGriff 1.
A fortune in career salaries, led by Martinez $146,259,585 and Thomas $104,734,000.

Best seasons by the 10 participants (in my opinion):

Johnny Bench (1970) .293; led NL with 45 HRs and 148 RBI; Gold Glove.
Wade Boggs (1985) .368; 240 hits; 107 runs; 78 RBI.

Rickey Henderson (1990) .325; 119 runs; 189 HRs; 61 RBI; 65x75 stolen bases; .439 on-base percentage...AL MVP.

Trevor Hoffman (1998) 4-2 record; 1.48 ERA; 53 saves;0.849 WHIP(walks+hits/inning).

Reggie Jackson (1973) .293; 32 HRs; 117 RBI...led AL in HRs and RBI...unanimous AL MVP.

Fred McGriff (1993) .271; 37 HRs; 101 RBI...4th in NL MVP voting.
Pedro Martinez (1999: 23-4 record...2.07 ERA...37 walks...313 strikeouts...Cy Young Award.

Mike Schmidt (1980) .286; led NFL with 48 HRs and 121 RBI...Gold Glove...unanimous NL MVP.

Ozzie Smith (1987) .303; 75 RBI; 43x52 stolen bases...Gold Glove...2nd in NL MVP voting.

Frank Thomas (2000) .328; 115 runs; 43 HRs; 143 RBI; 112 walks.
Times Flies Department (ages of the Legends)  Jackson 66...Bench 65...Schmidt 63...Smith 58...Boggs 54...Henderson 54...McGriff 49...Hoffman 45...Thomas 45...Martinez  41.

I’M PASSING ON ORB WIN BET IN FAVOR OF EXACTAS

Kentucky Derby champion Orb deserves to be the big favorite to win Saturday’s 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, but he figures to return less than $4 for a $2 win bet.

I’m going to pass on Orb to win in an attempt to cash in on exactas (first two finishers in order).

The Preakness is 1 3/16th miles (1/16th shorter than the Derby).

Here’s how I see the nine-horse race from last-to-first:

9th – Titletown Five (30x1 morning-line odds)...Outclassed...0x3 this year...Son of two-time Breeders’ Classic champion Tiznow, but apparently did not inherit much of his daddy’s talent...Only victory in seven career starts was in a maiden race last October...Has won only $87,398...Pressed pace in the Louisiana Derby before fading to finish ninth...Fourth in Grade 3 Derby Trial...Decent half-mile workout (:47 3/5) inspired trainer D. Wayne Lukas to start him in the Preakness...Owners include former Green Bay Packers stars Paul Hornung and Willis Davis.

8th – Govenor Charlie (12x1)...Only three career starts, all this year...Has improved in every race but this is a very tall order...Son of 2007 sprint champion Midnight Lite...Pressed a hot pace to win the Sunland Derby by five4 lengths March 24 but hasn’t raced since...Declared out of the Derby with on bone bruise...Trying to match Bernardini: won the 2006 Preakness in his fourth career start, all as a 3-year-old.

7th – Itsmyluckyday (10x1)...It probably won’t be if you bet on him to finish in the top our...Favored in the Florida Derby and finished second to Orb...In the middle of the pack in the Kentucky Derby but finished a disappointing 15th...Consistent sort: 11 career starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third...Won’t be a shock if he wins but it would be a surprise.

6th – Departing (6x1)...Can’t ignore...Three wins in four starts this year...Won the Illinois Derby...Trainer Al Stall believes skipping the Kentucky Derby makes this bay gelding a legit contender in this spot.

5th – Mylute (5x1)...Rosie Napravnik began her career at Pimlico and has dreamed of becoming the first female jockey to win the Preakness...Steadied early in the Kentucky Derby. Rallied late to finish fifth, less than four lengths behind winner Orb...Will be closing late on Saturday...Only victories in 10 starts were his maiden win at Arlington Park and a 10 ¾-length romp in an optional claiming/allowance race at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

4th – Oxbow (15x1)...Chance at a price...Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens...Post 6 has produced the most Preakness winners (15 since 1908, most recently 1999)...Calumet Farm has had a record seven Preakness winners, but none since 1968...Had an interesting trip in the Kentucky Derby. He was the only horse close to the fast pace set by Palace Malice that had anything left in the stretch. He was second to Normandy Invasion with ¼ mile to run, briefly poked his nose in front at the top of the stretch, ran into traffic at the 3/16th pole and faded to sixth.

SHOW --  Goldencents (8x1)...The Santa Anita Derby winner was a disappointing 17th in the Derby. He got caught is a blistering speed duel with Palace Malice (half mile in 45:33 and three-quarters in 1:09.80) and backed up around the far turn. Was all but eased in deep stretch...Hated the sloppy track. Candidate for huge improvement Saturday...Looms a big threat if jockey Kevin Krigger can set a moderate front-running pace or sit slightly off a suicide pace set by Governor Charlie and/or Titletown Five and then take the lead and hold off the closers for the stretch run.

PLACE --  Will Take Charge (12x1)...My long-shot special...This huge, long-striding colt ran in mid-pack in the Derby until making a strong five-wide move with ¼ mile to run. He ran into traffic at the 3/16th pole, lost all momentum  and wound up eighth...Could be dangerous with a clean trip.

WIN – Orb (1x1)...Was very impressive in coming from way behind to win Kentucky Derby by 2 ½ comfortable lengths fort his fifth consecutive victory. But there are questions. How much did he like the rain and slop and how much did the conditions hurt his rivals? Can he overcome the dreaded No. 1 post position? The last Preakness winner from the inside post was Tabasco Cat in 1994. Orb has started from the rail three times and appeared uncomfortable in his first two career starts..8 career races, with 5 wins, 1 third and $2,335,850 in earnings...Can save ground on the rail and should have ample time to pass the rest of the field before the wire.

I believe Orb will win at odds of 1x1 or less. But I’m greedy and can’t settle for a small return. I’ll spend $50...$10 dollar exactas on Orb and Goldencents and Orb and Will Take Charge; $5 exacta box on Orb/Goldencents/Will Take Charge.

Preakness notes: Six of the nine starters ran in the Kentucky Derby:

Orb (won), Mylute (5th), Oxbow (6th), Will Take Charge (8th) and Itsmyluckyday (15th)...D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled 5 Preakness winners among his 13 Triple Crown victories, will start Oxbow, Will Take Charge and Titletown Five in Saturday’s race...Over the last 25 years, there were only two wire-to-wire Preakness winners (Louis Quatorze in 1996 after flopping in the Derby) and Rachel Alexandra (2009)...Over the last 25 years, 10 post-time favorites won and 9 finished second...Of the last 25 Preakness winners, 22 ran in the Kentucky Derby. Derby horses also had 17 seconds and 17 thirds...Since pari-mutuel betting on the Preakness began in 1911, 67 post-time favorites won. Of those, 27 favorites went off at less than even odds. 17 of those horses won....The Preakness record time is 1:53 by Secretariat in 1973. It won’t be broken Saturday.

MIRACLE AND KERNELS A COMBINED 56-22

The Red Wings (16-25 record) and Double-A (Eastern League) New Britain Rock Cats (20-20) don’t yet appear to be playoff contenders, but Minnesota’s two Single-A full season teams – the Fort Myers Miracle (Florida State League) and Cedar Rapids Kernels (Midwest League) continue to roll.

Fort Myers won 2-0 over Dunedin Thursday night and is 29-10. Cedar Rapids won 7-6 over Burlington and is 27-12.

Star watch: Third baseman Miguel Sano (Fort Myers) leads the FSL in batting average (.368), home runs (10), slugging percentage (.677) and OPS (1.142: on-base percentage + slugging percentage)...Center fielder Byron Buxton hit a walk-off grand slam HR to win Thursday night’s game. He’s hitting .341 with 41 runs, 10 doubles, 4 triples, 5 HRs, 28 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

MARIANO RIVERA CONTINUES TO AMAZE...HARVEY HOT, MARLINS NOT

Mariano Rivera (Yankees) figures to blow a save one of these days – maybe. His 2013 pitching line: 18 games...16 saves...17 1/3 innings...14 hits allowed...1.56 ERA...2 walks...13 strikeouts...0.92 WHIP (walks+hits per inning)...Someone has suggested that it would be an appropriate honor for Rivera to start the All-Star Game for the American League. Why? He’s the all-time relief pitcher. Have him pitch the final inning of the game – not the first inning.

As of Friday morning, May 17, the hitters leading the two major leagues in batting were retreads James Loney (AL Tampa Bay) .367 and Carlos Gomez (NL Milwaukee) .355. Gomez could be the most-improved players in MLB.

The Detroit Tigers lead MLB in batting average (.282) and runs (206). The feeble Miami Marlins are last in MLB in batting average (.223), HRs (23) and runs (113).

Baltimore and Arizona each have a MLB-fewest  12 errors. Washington leads the majors with 32 errors.

Vernon Wells: 2012 Angels 77 games; .230 batting average (56x243); 11 HRs; 29 RBI...2013 Yankees 39 games; .295 batting average (43x146); 10 HRs; 23 RBI.

Matt Harvey (Mets) pitching line: 8 starts...4-0...1.44 ERA...56 1/3 innings...27 hits...14 walks...62 strikeouts...0.73 WHIP...batting average against .143.