Dykstra: Swinging for the Fences With Microsoft

When you last heard from me, we were contemplating the yields on the Barry Bonds. Well, the short-term yields are that Barry has hit one homer in two weeks. Nonetheless, he is now deadlocked with The Babe at 714 career homers, 41 homers behind Hank Aaron's record of 755. The watch continues, with intermediate- and long-term yields to be determined.

Unequivocally, the best short-term results this year reside in the Motor City. Obviously, I am not referring to the automakers. Rather, I am talking about Jim Leyland and the phenomenal job he has done with the Detroit Tigers, who have the best record in Major League baseball. Speaking of phenomenal, can I buy a deep in-the-money call on Albert Pujols? With just over a quarter of the regular season completed, Pujols has 22 homers and 54 RBI. This guy is a bona fide superstar.

As for the divisional races, the Red Sox and Yankees continue to battle for supremacy in the AL East, while the White Sox are tailgating the Tigers in the AL Central. Both Western divisions are highly competitive, with all the teams within hailing distance of first place.

Led by Pujols, the Cardinals lead the NL Central, with the Reds and Astros several games back. My two former teams, the Mets and the Phillies, are first and second in the NL East. However, those ever-present Atlanta Braves, once nine games under .500, have quietly played their way back into contention. I must admit that I am not particularly fond of the Braves.

In fact, one of my most memorable post-season home runs was one in Atlanta that knocked them out of the playoffs in 1993. I use to love "silencing the crowd" (similar to what I've been doing since I started writing and picking stocks for TheStreet.com). Nevertheless, the Braves have won 14 consecutive NL East titles; that certainly speaks to sustained excellence.