Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - We are less than two weeks into the new season and already there have been a few eye-openers. Tony Pena's Royals are off to a blistering start. The tandem of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling is struggling. Greg Maddux certainly isn't looking like a four-time NL Cy Young Award winner.

However, what I'd really like to touch on first is a controversy that cropped up this week regarding an event that was supposed to be held at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. I find it unfortunate that the Hall of Fame canceled the 15th anniversary celebration of the movie "Bull Durham" scheduled for April 26-27.

Tim Robbins, who portrayed pitcher Nuke LaLoosh in the movie, and his long- time companion, actress Susan Sarandon, who played the character Annie Savoy, the No. 1 fan of the Class A Durham Bulls, were supposed to take their sons to the anniversary gala. However, that all changed earlier this week when Dale Petroskey, president of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, wrote a letter to Robbins saying the festivities were cancelled. to Robbins saying the festivities were cancelled.

Robbins and Sarandon have spoken out and joined protests against the war in Iraq. Just because they don't agree with President Bush's policies, shouldn't have any affect on the festivities to celebrate one of the best baseball movies ever.

However, Petroskey, a former official in the Reagan administration, had a tough choice to make because the Hall of Fame holds more than just baseball memories. It brings a special sense of pride being an American because, quite frankly, baseball is the all-American game.

Petroskey released a statement on Friday detailing why the decision was made to cancel the festivities for April 26-27.

"The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, is a special place. The Game's greatest players, managers, umpires, and executives are honored here, and it's where the game's rich history is preserved. Those who have served in the U.S. military are also honored here. Active duty and retired military personnel receive free admission, and last Memorial Day, a plaque was dedicated to honor the 64 Hall of Fame members who have served this country in the armed forces during wartime.

"As much as The Hall of Fame honors our armed forces, this institution should never be used as a platform for public pro-war sentiments - nor public anti- war sentiments. Given the track record of Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, and the timing - with our troops committed in Iraq - a strong possibility existed that they could have used The Hall of Fame as a backdrop for their views. Mr. Robbins and Ms. Sarandon have every right to express their opinions. But The Baseball Hall of Fame is not the proper venue for highly-charged political expressions, whatever they may be."

While I agree with Petroskey that the Hall of Fame isn't the place to cause a ruckus and voice an opinion about the war, I don't think Robbins or Sarandon would have tainted the anniversary to use it as a platform for their political beliefs.

OFF TO A QUICK START

I know it's still early in the season, but Pena's club has already made a dramatic turnaround from 2002. The Royals, who were 7-0 entering Friday night's game against Cleveland, didn't win their seventh game last year until the 19th game of the season.

What seems to be driving the Royals in the right direction this year is the early success of the young arms of Runelvys Hernandez and Jeremy Affeldt. Entering Friday's game, the duo was a combined 3-0 and the 24-year-old Hernandez had an ERA of 0.69

Not since the strike-shortened 1994 season has Kansas City finished with a record at or above the .500 mark, but that could change that could change this year. Kansas City has gotten off to this incredible start without the power of outfielder Carlos Beltran, who is on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle.

"This is a lot of fun," said Royals outfielder Raul Ibanez said. "It is still early, so things are magnified if you are doing well or doing poorly, but when you can string a bunch of victories together like this, you are definitely going to enjoy it."

NOT YET IN THE ZONA

Last year, Johnson and Schilling finished 1-2 in the voting for the National League Cy Young Award, but so far this year the numbers that are staggering are 0-2 over the first four starts for the dynamic duo in 2003.

The 39-year-old Johnson, who has won four straight NL Cy Young honors, has struck out 15 batters so far this year, but hasn't gone past the seventh inning in either of his two starts.

As for Schilling, his ERA is at 6.57 going into the weekend. But don't let that fool you. One of his starts came at Coors Field, when the Rockies lit up the powerful righthander to the tune of five runs over five innings.

The Diamondbacks entered Friday night's game having lost seven of their first nine games. It was at this juncture last season the D'Backs turned things around. Arizona was 4-5, but then won six in a row.

"We haven't played baseball the way we're capable of, and we know it," outfielder Luis Gonzalez told the Arizona Republic. "We just got to get in the right frame of mind. Our team is capable of running off a hot streak."

ATLANTA'S ACE FALTERING

Four-time NL Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux is finding a hard time figuring out what is wrong this season. He's 0-3 for the first time since 1989 and has an ERA of 11.05 so far. The Braves have been outscored 43-5 in those three games.

"It's not about making a good pitch half the time, some of the time. (It's about) making good pitches most of the time," said Maddux. "We're pitchers not hitters, we've got to be good more than three out of 10 times,"

Maddux is next scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Marlins, one day before he turns 37.

Braves catcher Henry Blanco said Wednesday night, he felt Maddux would be back in form and hopefully soon to rescue a team that started the year by losing six of its first nine games.

"He's a smart guy. He'll figure it out," said Blanco. "Hopefully he'll do it pretty soon so we can start counting on him again."

PEDRO REMAINING A RED SOX

The Boston Red Sox made the smart move earlier in the week by exercising the $17.5 million option on the contract of ace righthander Pedro Martinez for 2004. The Red Sox weren't required to make a decision on Martinez's contract status for next season until November 5, but both sides wanted to put the controversy of Pedro staying for another season in Beantown.

"I am thankful and glad that they picked up the option," Martinez said. "I'm also thankful that we both left the door open for negotiations in November after the season. Hopefully then we can get something done. I am glad that it's over. Now I want to focus on baseball."

Martinez, a three-time Cy Young winner, went 20-4 with a 2.26 ERA last season. He didn't receive a decision in his first two starts this season, but has an impressive 0.60 ERA. He's just five innings away from pitching 1,000 as a Red Sox. Boston has managed a total of only five runs in his two starts in 2003.