Bartolo Colon's Strike Streak, Baseball Bans Pujols-Type Perks & More

Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols reacts after flying out against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, April 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (AP)

In case you missed it, the week's top headlines in Major League Baseball.

Liriano Can't Shake Off Struggles

Francisco Liriano hoped to carry his strong spring outings into the season but so far it just hasn't worked out for the Minnesota Twins lefty.

Liriano is 0-3 with a 11.02 ERA. He's allowed 22 runs and 25 hits in 16 1/3 innings this season and has walked 13.

Liriano sounded confident that he could turn things around as he sat in front of his locker Thursday night in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium as the Twins were getting ready to head to Tampa Bay.

He's logged just four, five, 2 1/3 innings in his first three starts going 0-2.

Yesterday against the Rays, he threw five innings and picked up the loss with manager Ron Gardenhire saying that his starter didn't seem like he was going out to the mound with "too much confidence," according to the Pioneer Press.

His last win was last season on August 20 against the Yankees.

"The last three years I've always started like that. Things always improve but right now I'm committing a lot of mistakes," Liriano told Fox News Latino in Spanish. "I'm throwing a lot of pitches in the middle (of the zone) and giving up a lot of walks. I'm not throwing my pitches for strikes like I'm supposed to. I'm always behind the count."

Liriano hit the scene with the Twin in 2006 as a reliever, making 12 relief appearances, going 1-0 with a 3.22 ERA. He finished his rookie season 12-3 with a 2.16.

While he's gone through Tommy John surgery and battled some shoulder problems - he went on the disabled list with a strained shoulder after a two inning start last August 25, Liriano said he's physically fine and that it's up to him to find a way out of his recent funk.

"I physically feel 100 percent. Mentally, you always have to be positive and look for a way to improve and not frustrate yourself. Whatever you have to work on you have on you have to do it and improve on it."

Going to the bullpen could be a start.

Strikes on Strikes on Strikes

Major league teams are always expecting some form of consistency out of their pitchers especially their starters.

Oakland A's starter Bartolo Colón, 38, gave his club that and more last Wednesday as he fired 38 strikes, the longest mark in baseball since 1988.

The previous high was set by Tim Wakefield in 1998, firing 30 consecutive strikes. And he did it primarily floating knuckeballs after knuckleballs to the plate.

Colón said he never imagined throwing so many pitches for strikes without being any being called a ball.

Roughly 82 of the 108 pitches he threw were strikes.

''I felt like I threw a lot of strikes, but I never thought I threw 38 in a row," the Dominican righty said through an interpreter. "I didn't know anything about it until I came in here."

Baseball bans Pujols-like contracts

Looking to cash in those huge contracts that Los Angeles' Albert Pujols or Washington's Ryan Zimmerman have recently inked during the offseason that include personal-service deals after your baseball days are over? Well, try another sport.

Major League Baseball and the player's association announced Friday that contracts that include special compensation for reaching a certain "milestone" will no longer be approved. Both parties agreed to the new rules.

ESPN.com first reported the revisions.

Alex Rodriguez signed a deal in 2007 similar to the ones Pujols and Zimmerman just signed during the offseason.

Pujols' deal would net him up to $10 million, including $3 million if he gets his 3,000th hit and $7 million if he passes Barry Bonds' all-time home run mark. The Dominican All-Star's contract also gives him the option to rake in a 10-year, $10 million personal services deal once he retires as an active player with the Angels.

Yanks Crash Fenway's Birthday Weekend

What should have been a festive weekend commemorating Fenway Park's 100th birthday was short of it as the Boston Red Sox wrapped it up with one of their worst losses to their longtime rivals, the New York Yankees, on Saturday.

Former Red Sox coaches and players strolled onto the field during Friday afternoon's pre-game ceremonies to celebrate the first game played at the historic ballpark in 1912. Ironically, it was against the New York Highlanders who later became the New York Yankees.

The Yanks spoiled it by banging out five home run en route to a 6-2 victory and made matters worst for their hosts by coming back from a 9-0 deficit Saturday, beating the Sox 15-9.

Yanks' Piñeda Suffers Setback

Are the New York Yankees perhaps re-thinking their decision of trading top prospect Jesus Montero to Seattle for pitcher Michael Piñeda?

Who knows. But what's certain now is that Piñeda could be out for a longer time after he threw 15 pitches in his first rehab assignment Saturday. Piñeda felt discomfort in his right shoulder and was quickly removed.

The Dominican right hander will have an MRI today, the team announced.

The 6-foor-7, 260-pound righty who enjoyed success with the Mariners last year as a rookie going 8-6 with a 3.03 ERA and earning a spot in the All-Star game, was limited in spring training.

Where Has The Power Gone?

When will Fat Albert go yard? That's been the daily question as Albert Pujols has now gone 16 games and 65 at-bats without hitting one out in his first season with the Los Angeles Angels.

Pujols' homerless streak is the longest of his 12-year career in which he's amassed 445 home runs.

Angels Lockup Erick Aybar

There are a lot of teams in the hunt for a shortstop and Erick Aybar could have instead tested free agency and received a better deal but at the end of the day, last year's Gold Glove winner decided to stay with the only organization he's ever known.

Aybar and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a four-year, $35 million extension Thursday.

"I knew there would be a lot of teams looking for shortstops but I've always said it and will continue to say it: I've always wanted to stay with this team," the 28-year-old Dominican said, according to MLB.com.

The deal is good through 2016.

Adry Torres, who has covered MLB, NFL, NBA and NCAA basketball games and related events, is a regular contributor to Fox News Latino. He can be reached at elpiloto137@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @adrytorresnyc.