[pat]

Currently, it's 1973 and we'll update the previous years, some other time. But right now, the hiatus is over and we've simmed a smooth season last year. I'll just update with some of my features in the forums.

1. Mr. April: Andre Lasaros, OF, Philadelphia Phillies. Lasaros’ recent tear has separated him from the pack and bodes for a strong April. He's batting .403 with four homers and 21 RBIs. We’ll recognize Orioles slugger, Alexander “Moses” Jones, for bringing his rod this month, hitting .313, 9 HR, 28 RBI.

2. Cy April: Ramon Iglesias, LHP, Texas Rangers. Iglesias ran his April record to 5-0 with a 0.41 ERA and didn’t give up a single homerun in 44 innings. We’ll give a nod to Atlanta’s Joe Cardinan who had a 3-0 record with a 0.46 ERA but Iglesias never faced a pitcher.

3. World Series (in April) winner: Baltimore Orioles. With the lineup clicking -- particularly searing Maginnis, Dusty Lane, Alexander Jones and Walter Hanham, it's May and Baltimore has a four-game lead in the AL East. They string a 9 & 7 game winning streaks in the course of the month. Could they have any more critics?

4. April's Child: Will Cleaton, CF, Texas Rangers. Out of nowhere, rookie Cleaton ranked 13th in all of Majors with a .333 average in April and added two homers and 15 RBIs just for fun.

5. Who the heck? Pittsburgh Pirates. The team is getting older, the team is getting slower, and is nowhere near the expectation of their once proud dynasty and all of their fans right now.

6. April management: Jake Shorkey, Baltimore Orioles. Shorkey is doing a wonderful job of balancing a potent hitting attack with what was considered before the season to be only adequate pitching. In the process he's stunning the AL East.

7. The injury bug: Tom Glenn, RHP, New York Mets. Who else but Tom can hurt his team more –- and help everyone else -- by simply not being in the rotation? Flash back last season when the Philadelphia Phillies surprised everyone with their winning spurts and when they made the playoffs, they stunned the baseball world.

8. April's magic moment: April 27, 1973. Mike “The Duke” Maginnis. All time walks leader. The Baltimore Orioles lost to the Oakland Athletics 1-3 but they felt winners after seeing the long time Oriole get his walks crown. He said after the game, “I could retire now.”

9. On the record: "I am bitterly disappointed as I'm sure all Expos fans are by the lack of performance by our team." –-Expos manager Martin Szymaniak after his team fell to 4-15 on April 30.