The “Nation”: The Angels didn’t dominate the Beanies this week, but they beat them decisively, taking two of a three game set. Red Sox fans oohed and ahhed about Justin Masterson’s major league debut, but the rest of us (methinks) oohed and ahhed about how the Angels are quietly making their case for being the best team in the American League. Joe Saunders if 4-0, Ervin Santana looks unhittable, and Scot Shields has nine strikeouts in ten innings. And all of that is without John Lackey, the most underrated pitcher in the game — who’s one rehab start from a 16-3 season. Then too, the Belinsky’s have the best defense west of the Mississippi. Tell me I’m wrong.

Speaking of the Left Coast … I saw a good bit of the Orioles series in Seattle (on television, of course), which prompted me to do a tutorial on the Mariners. I came away less than impressed: while their website says they have their “Mojo-Risin” (gag), the only thing that’s “risin” in Seattle are visiting team’s batting averages. The certain-savior, Eric Bedard is sidelined and the bullpen is a mess. J.J. Putz is on his way back, but you have to wonder what the Mariners will do for starting pitching, outside of Felix Hernandez. Jerrod Washburn and Miguel Batista just aren’t going to cut it. So suddenly, the Mariners and Orioles seem headed in opposite directions, which would have been impossible to say at any point in the past ten years. Or longer. Ironically, the key to the turnaround for the Orioles is Bedard, who was shipped out for Adam Jones – who is the real deal. Everytime I saw him I thought, this kid is going to hit the hell out of the ball. And so far, at least, he has …

Speaking of Centerfielders: There is no greater argument for patience than Felix Pie. Pie is slated as the Cubs centerfielder of the future, the second coming of Billy Williams. The Cubs have never (and I mean never) had a Mantle-type centerfielder (Williams played left in ’69, their darkest year), peopling their greatest teams with the likes of singles-hitting forgettables like Augie Galen, Chuck Klein, Frank Demaree and the otherwise excreble Solly Hofman who, in 1908, retrieved Fred Merkle’s shot to center. So … anyway, the Cubs have dubbed Pie “the hope” and have worked, and worked and worked to make him do what they know he can do and what he has done in the minor leagues. Which is hit the leather off the ball. But it has never clicked – until now. Last week the Cubs brought in their minor league hitting instructor, Dave Keller, to tutor Pie and he’s suddenly, inexplicably caught fire, his shoulders down on the ball, his head steady, his hands back where they should be. He hit one out of Wrigley, his first there, on the 22nd, and I thought Lou (who’s made Pie his own special project) was going to do a little dance. The kid’s arrived.