Tyler Kepner of Bats looks at how Nick Swisher came to the Yankees. If you think "the White Sox wanted to get rid of the contract", you are partly right, but it actually goes back to 1990:

1990 – Yankees sign Rivera from Panama.

1997 – Yankees trade Rivera to Padres in Hideki Irabu deal.

1999 – Yankees trade Irabu to Expos for Jake Westbrook (and others)

2000 – Yankees trade Westbrook to Indians for David Justice

2001 – Yankees trade Justice to Mets for Robin Ventura

2003 – Yankees trade Ventura to Dodgers for Scott Proctor

2007 – Yankees trade Proctor to Dodgers for Wilson Betemit

2008 – Yankees trade Betemit to White Sox in Swisher deal

Pretty cool in my opinion. I wonder if anyone has ever checked how many years the longest "trade streak" has lasted. I would guess you can get very, very far back. You can probably also collect interesting lists of names where superstar meet obscure utility guys.

Albert Pujols hit two home runs against Houston today, one grand slam and a three run shot. He now has 9 RBI, which leads the National League and is batting .429 so far.

If pitchers continue to pitch to him, he has a good chance of becoming the first triple crown winner in the NL since 1937.

Angels' catcher Mike Napoli hits his second home run of the day to give the Angels the 3-2 lead just after the Red Sox' Mike Lowell tied the game with a two-run bomb of his own.

Boston's pitcher Brad Penny started a bit wild, but most Angels are swinging away anyway. For example, Penny walked Chone Figgins on five pitches, but Howie Kendrick took a ball and then grounded out on a pitch on the corner. Why not wait until Penny shows he can throw two strikes in one at-bat?

The Angels really need to learn to be more patient at the plate if they don't want to rely on their pitching in every game.

Update: The Red Sox take the lead again on another two-run home run. Later Jason Bay (predictably) hits one off Justin Speier to make it 5-3 Red Sox. Papelbon will try to close it out.

Update: The Angels get another solo homer, this time by Torii Hunter and then load the bases on a double and two walks. But he gets Howie Kendrick to fly out to end the game after a ten pitch at bat on a 0-2 count (respect!).

The difference in this game is timing. Both teams had eight hits and three home runs and the Angels actually out-walked the Red Sox 4-3, but the Red Sox had a man on twice when they hit the ball out of the park.

Detroit's Justin Verlanders was ruffed up badly in his opening day start, but today, he pitched five innings, allowing three runs, but only one was earned. More encouraging, he allowed just two hits and struck out eight while walking four. The Tigers bullpen did not allow another baserunner and they beat the Rangers 4-3.

It's important that Verlander gets back to his pre-2008 form if the Tigers want to contend in the AL Central. Compared to last year when they went 0-7 to begin the season, their 3-3 start is looking pretty good.

By the way, the Indians are 0-5 so far.

Recap

Tragic news in the baseball world today: Nick Adenhart of the Los Angeles Angels died in a car wreck. He pitched Wednesday, allowing no runs over six innings. Adenhart was 22.

The Angels postponed their Thursday game against the Oakland Athletics.

For more information on Adenhart, ESPN.com provided a nice tribute to him.

Adenhart was a highly touted pitcher coming out of high school in Maryland. He tore a ligament in his elbow in his final start in high school and required Tommy John surgery. Adenhart planned to attend the University of North Carolina but decided to sign with the Angels.

I remember reading, but have not verified, that Adenhart revealed his elbow injury to major league teams interested in drafting him when he didn't have to. This move likely cost him money in his signing bonus but was the honest decision to make.

The prayers and condolences of everyone here with AtHomePlate.com go to the Adenhart family and the Angels in this tragic even. Baseball has lost a bright star and an even better person.

From TMZ via MLBTradeRumors.com

Cops say someone driving a minivan blew through a red light, causing the Mitsubishi that Adenhart was riding in to hit a light pole. Three people were killed in the crash, including Nick.

Cops say the person driving the van fled the scene -- but was later caught and charged with felony hit-and-run. The suspect is currently being treated for injuries in a local hospital.

We're told one of the other men killed in the crash was also affiliated with the Angels organization.

Nick was 22 years old.

What a tragic event. This really puts all baseball things into perspective. Angels fans (including me) were whining over the bullpen blowing Nick's great start and now that is the most irrelevant thing in the world. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.