Every season, weird stuff happens. And this season is no exception.

Some of these mysteries are easily solved. Barry Zito, for example, was 2008’s biggest train wreck. Now he’s back, with his best FIP in four seasons, and his best K/9 since 2002. How’s he doing it? Turns out, he learned a slider.

Then there’s the formerly soft hitting Ben Zobrist, who is now a prolific slugger. What’s up with him? Turns out he took some lessons from a hitting guru.

Some mysteries are harder to crack. Here are a few of 2009’s unsolved mysteries. Can you solve them?

How is old man Ibanez this good? You don’t go from a .479 slugging to .716 at the age of 37. It simply isn’t done. What’s going on here?

How does Willy Taveras still have a job? He’s fast. I get that. But outside of his injury-shortened 2007, when he was 29 and at his peak, he’s never been as good as a replacement level center fielder. Now he’s 31 and declining and his OBP is .297.

What happened to Orlando Cabrera’s glove? Last year, his Ultimate Zone Rating was 14. So far this season it’s -7.6. That’s a drastic drop off. According to Fangraphs, Cabrera was worth $15.6MM in both 2008 and 2007. So far this season, he’s cost his team $3.3MM. It’s normal for a player’s range to diminish with age, but not this fast.

When did Marco Scutaro learn how to hit? Not only is the Blue Jays SS hitting for more power and better average, but his plate discipline is also much improved. In 2008 he walked 57 times. So far this season, he’s walked 56 times. That kind of patience is usually not learned over the course of an offseason.

Who are these Mets? Seriously, I’ve never heard of any of them. Argenis Reyes? Pat Misch? Where did they come from? You’re making Paul cry.

Has Billy Beane lost “it”? The A’s have been “rebuilding” for three years now and even with the acquisitions of Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi, this team looks to be getting worse.

What happened to Milton Bradley’s power? His isolated power currently stands at .138, which is his lowest mark since 2001 and is a full .1 lower than either of his last two seasons.

How is Brandon Inge doing this? We have no idea. But the Tigers 3B is on pace to hit 39 HRs with a .360 OBP (both would tower over his previous highs) while playing brilliantly on defense.

Why is Emilio Bonifacio still playing? Clearly, he has Marlins Manager Fredi Gonzalez’s mother tied up in his basement. That’s the only explanation.

What unsolved mysteries are you working on?

Piping hot from the Department of Small Sample Size, Blue Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro, of all people, has a .927 OPS one month into the season.

Many people have noticed his eye-popping 5 home runs in a single month, but considering that his previous career high for an entire season is a mere 9 homers, the power surge is not very likely to continue.

But what is more interesting is that one month in, Scutaro already has 22 walks, good for second best in the Major Leagues, behind only Jason Bay’s 23.

Now walks are usually considered something that is pretty much under a batter’s control – far more than batting average or even homers – and thus less susceptable to the whims of sample size.

What makes Scutaro’s walk total so amazing is that he was never all that much of a walker before – his highest single season total was 57, set last year, and his career 162-game average is a mere 52.

But at present, the 33-year-old Scutaro is on pace to walk 149 times this year, which is the kind of walk rate that would put a man up there with the all time greats.

Look, nobody expects Scutaro to keep putting up Pujols-like numbers all year.  But if he really has turned a corner with his pitch selection or is seeing the ball better or something, than that actually might explain some of the increased home runs, and it also means that even as Scutaro regresses back to the mean, he probably won’t regress all the way.

Because walks are more skill than luck, and Scutaro may have developed a new skill.

And considering that he plays shortstop, he doesn’t even have to keep putting up Pujols numbers to be an extremely valuable player, which makes it look like the Blue Jays got a steal in a player they essentially got from the Oakland A’s for a box of crackerjacks.

Did anyone ever tell you, you look like a penis with that little hat on? — Jimmy Dugan, “A League of Their Own.”

I’m watching the Oakland-Detroit game. It’s game 3 in Detroit. The Tigers are up 2-0 in the series and in the game.

The announcer is talking about how Kenny Rogers grew up in Plant City (the Strawberry capital of the world), went to Plant City High School and played for the Planters, and that during harvesting season he would miss school to pick strawberries.

“I bet he probably hates strawberries,” the color commentator chimes in.

This is fascinating banter. But I am having a tough time really appreciating it. I find that I’m distracted by A’s short stop Marko Scutaro, who is wearing a ski cap over his baseball cap. It’s a green ski cap with the yellow “A” on it.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a player wear a ski cap in a baseball game. Frankly, I’m shocked that MLB allowed it. It’s just…I dunno…there are no words. It’s disorienting, that’s what it is.

Currently, it’s 45 degrees and windy in Detroit. It’s supposed to go down to 35 degrees later in the evening. That’s cold, but not freezing. It’s warm enough that most of the other players are still wearing short sleeves.

I can’t find a photo of Scutaro wearing the cap, but it’s early. I’m sure somebody will post one eventually. And when they do…bam! I’ll update this post so fast it’ll make your head spin. So stay tuned.