The baseball season is barreling through May and already we have major injury news, hot prospects realizing their potential and the inevitable separation of the contenders and pretenders. This week, we will look at the surging Milwaukee Brewers, Nick Swisher's new deal, interleague play match-ups and of course, steroids. Brewers rolling in NL Central The Milwaukee Brewers 25-11 and have a 7.5 game lead over the second place Chicago Cubs. The early success is a direct reflection of the work done by general manager Doug Melvin and manager Ned Yost of slowing bringing up their young talent and gradually placing them into leadership roles. First baseman Prince Fielder had the legacy coming through the minors and he has carried that into Milwaukee in 2007 with a .300 average, 11 home runs and 31 RBI. He has been flanked by an array of young talent in shortstop J.J. Hardy, second baseman Rickie Weeks and outfielder Bill Hall. However, it is the pitching that has spurned their rise from .500 to division leaders. Starter Ben Sheets is finally healthy and showing his skill set. Along with Jeff Suppan and Chris Capuano, they have formed a top rotation to get the ball to a deep bullpen. Ownership had faith that Melvin in the front office and Yost on the field could turn the corner with this team and that patience is paying off in early wins and a possible playoff trip. Swisher, A's sign for five years Oakland A's first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher signed a five-year deal with a club option for 2012 to stay with the organization that drafted him for the foreseeable future. The deal is economical for the A's, but with their restraints, a five-year deal makes you one of the core players and Swisher just isn't deserving of it. Swisher is batting .281 this season with six home runs and 18 RBI. He has also sacrificed in the field by moving around the field to accommodate for all of the injuries that have hit the A's in the first six weeks. Swisher is a fine player who is a good fit for the loose team, but he isn't a core guy, like third baseman Eric Chavez because he doesn't work hard enough on his craft. His swing has the same holes it had when he first came to the major leagues. He will be productive for the length of the contract because he has natural talent, but he shouldn't be counted on to lead a team into October. He just can't do it. Stop with the Steroids Steroids are back into the mainstream discussion this week with the Barry Bonds/Curt Schilling fiasco and Boston's David Ortiz making his inappropriate statement about his own innocence. George Mitchell's investigation won't help rid baseball of the steroid discussion, but only prolong the day in which we won't have to talk about it. The best way to handle this is to admit there was a problem in baseball and label that era as the ?Steroids Era.? This way, a problem can be admitted and we can move away from playing jury and get back to just celebrating a game that is more popular than ever, according to the man who is trying to hold is back, Commissioner Bud Selig. Interleague play is back Besides the playoffs, this is my favorite time of the baseball season. Teams are beginning to identify themselves and interleague play is starting, where dream match-ups turn into reality. Here are the top three series to look forward to this weekend: The Atlanta Braves travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox in a very possible preview of the World Series. It also has an historical perspective with the Braves playing in Boston previously. In the Northern California, Bay Area rivals meet in the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's. Starter Barry Zito makes his return to Network Associates Coliseum and two teams try to find their stride heading into June. Finally, in New York, it's the Mets and the Yankees once again. They match-up has the chance to be disastrous for both teams. If the Yankees get swept, they lose all of the momentum from signing Roger Clemens and if the Mets get swept, they will be put right behind the Yankees again. Should be great theatre in New York this weekend. Douglas Benton can be reached at [email protected]