Boston, your new third baseman looks an awful lot like your old third baseman...

American League East

Baltimore Orioles

Shortstop Luis Hernandez is as slick a fielder as there is in the American League, but there is little indication that he can handle major league pitching. The switch-hitter who replaced the departed Miguel Tejada in the field, Hernandez has yet to get comfortable in the batters box. Backup Brandon Fahey is just that and is not considered a replacement, and the club is becoming frustrated with the lack of offensive production out of the position. This is clearly a work in progress.

Boston Red Sox

When third baseman Mike Lowell went on the disabled list last week there was not much of a debate as to whom would play the hot corner. First baseman Kevin Youkilis, the Sox third baseman before they traded for Lowell a few years ago, easily slid back over to his natural position. He has not made any brilliant plays, but he will make every play look routine. This will also increase the fantasy value of Youkilis, as he will once again have third base eligibility.

New York Yankees

To say second baseman Robinson Cano is struggling is a serious understatement. Manager Joe Girardi benched him on Monday against Tampa Bay, but Cano responded well with the tie-breaking pinch-hit home run in the late innings. The home run was the first of the year for Cano, and, strangely enough, it was the first run he has scored all season. It took his 14 games to touch home plate. Expect him to turn it on as the season progresses, much as he did last year. He was in the starting lineup on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays recalled third baseman Evan Longoria this week, and he promptly hit his first major league home run on Monday, a line drive that landed about 20 rows deep in the left-center field seats. This kid clearly has some serious power, as well as power to the right center field gap. Often likened to David Wright of a few years ago, Longoria clearly has an extremely high ceiling. He has been batting fifth in the order of late; expect plenty of opportunities for him to knock in runs. Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and B.J. Upton will on base all the time.

Toronto Blue Jays

Closer B.J. Ryan made his first appearance of the season on Sunday. He also recorded his first save of the season by working the 10th inning in a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers. He allowed a leadoff triple to Marlon Byrd but then retired the next three batters without allowing Byrd to score. The Jays are clearly being cautious with Ryan, and they will likely not allow him to pitch in back-to-back games for the first couple of months of the year. Setup man Jeremy Accardo is likely to vulture saves all season long though.

American League Central

Chicago White Sox

Nick Swisher is just what the doctor ordered. He has filled in well for injured center fielder Jerry Owens, both in the batting order and in the field. From day one, the Sox have penciled him in as the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. Swisher is an above-average defensive player at all three outfield positions in addition to being a very capable first baseman. A typical Moneyball player, he sees a ton of pitches and takes plenty of walks. The bonus is that he is capable of hitting 30 home runs. He is better suited to hit in the middle of the order, especially when Owens comes back, but he may be too productive to move when the time comes to make a decision.

Cleveland Indians

The Indians put closer Joe Borowski on the disabled list Tuesday with a sore triceps. He was absolutely terrible in blowing a save on Monday against the Red Sox. He allowed a leadoff home run to Julio Lugo, who scored on two consecutive sacrifices, a single to David Ortiz, and a go-ahead two-run home run to Manny Ramirez. His fastball topped out in the mid-80's, which clearly will not get out major league hitters, especially guys like Ortiz and Ramirez. The fill-in closer could be Rafael Betancourt, possibly the most productive eighth inning pitcher over the past calendar year.

Detroit Tigers

Catcher Ivan Rodriguez boosted the confidence of the team on Monday with a home run in the seventh inning and a game-tying two-run triple in the eighth inning. The team went on to score two more runs in the eighth to secure an 11-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Pudge is in great shape this year, having undergone a rigorous offseason training program. Also encouraging is the fact that he is drawing some walks this season. He has three walks so far, which does not sound like many until you hear that he trotted to first base only nine times last season.

Kansas City Royals

The Royals are winning the division; they quietly have the best earned run average in the major leagues. Starting pitchers Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke are both 3-0 with earned run averages under 1.00. Bannister tossed a complete game in his last outing and allowed just one run, and Greinke looks absolutely filthy in the first month of the season. Both pitchers finished strong last year, and it seems to have carried over into this season. Expect much of the same from these guys, at least for the time being. They must prove they can pitch for an entire season before than can be fully counted upon.

Minnesota Twins

Center fielder Carlos Gomez is loaded with talent. Not only does he have amazing range in the field, but he also has a plus arm for the position. He threw a laser beam on Tuesday when Tiger Carlos Guillen attempted to tag from third base. Guillen got about 30 feet down the line, decided better of it, and went back to third. In addition, on Monday Gomez led off the game by trying to lay down a bunt with two strikes. That is something you just will not see too often out of a position player. He is clearly confident in all of his abilities, and Hall of Famer Rod Carew has been working with him on his bunting. The best is yet to come.

American League West

Los Angeles Angels

It is growing ever so clear that right fielder Vladimir Guerrero needs to become a full-time designated hitter. Though he has one of the top outfield arms in all of baseball, he has clearly lost a step on defense. He often plays the ball without taking chances or diving to make outs. With Torii Hunter entrenched in center and Gary Matthews Jr. and Garrett Anderson in the corner spots, the team features its best defensive outfield. Reggie Willits and Juan Rivera are very capable backups.

Oakland Athletics

Mike Sweeney seems to have a stronghold on the designated hitter spot in the batting order. That job fell to Jack Cust last year and the early part of this year, but Cust has been thrust into the starting outfield due to the struggles of young star Travis Buck. With Sweeney garnering a majority of the playing time of late, the former starting first baseman/designated hitter has been rendered virtually useless in his bench role. Expect this to continue, barring an injury or two.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners placed ace pitcher Érik Bédard on the disabled list on Tuesday with an inflammation in his left hip. The Mariners originally scratched him from his start on Sunday, the second time they had scratched him in eight days. The club had said the minor injury was not a big deal, and this decision cements the fact that they are going to be overly cautious with their stud pitcher. With Bédard down, the club may call someone up from Triple-A, but the club may instead choose to move Brandon Morrow from the bullpen into the rotation. He is considered a future starter and has a huge upside.

Texas Rangers

Catcher Gerald Laird had a big day at the plate on the Sixth when he hit two home runs and drove in six runs. Some had said he would lose his starting job to prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but the job was clearly his from the beginning. Salty definitely needed more defensive seasoning in the minor leagues, although his bat in considered major league ready. Laird handles the staff very well and has occasional pop in his bat, so he may just keep the job until the Rangers are out of contention in the division.