Only one month into a very long 6 month regular season spanning 162 games, there is little we can know for sure, but there are definitely some stories taking shape that we can look into. So what do we know?
The Yankees are still the Yankees from a year ago. Dominant lineup, dominant pitching, and looking every bit the part of the reigning World Champs. Only one problem, they are second in their own division, 1 game behind the pesky Tampa Bay Rays as of this writing. They lead the American League in runs scored and team ERA, and will push the Yankees all season long for top spot in the AL East. Just how long before everyone forgets about the Red Sox and basically writes them off?
Ron Gardenhire continues to make his case as one of, if not, the best manager in all of baseball. His Minnesota Twins are off to a fast start again, and if not for the Tigers playing some good early baseball, they would be in the process of running and hiding in the AL Central. Closer Joe Nathan went down for the year prior to opening day. No problem, insert Jon Rauch. Reigning MVP Joe Mauer is already on the DL, and all they do is bring up a young catcher in WIlson Ramos who only had 4 hits in his big league debut. Justin Morneau continues to be the quietest superstar in baseball. Whatever you throw at gardenhire, he continues to handle it in stride, and just win.
We know next to nothing about the AL West. Prior to the weekend series, the Texas Rangers were in last. Come the end of Sunday following a sweep of the Mariners, the Rangers were in first. The Northern San Diego via Los Angeles but residing in Aneheim Angels are playing completely uninspired baseball so far, leaving this division wide open for the taking, yet nobody appears to want to take it.
The Rangers cant pitch one week, then the next week, can't hit, and then when they find a way to do both, have little prayer on closing it out. Vlad looks revived, but not to worry, the other big offseason acquisition Rich Harden is doing his best effort of canceling that out. On the other hand, the Mariners can pitch all day, but it will get very rough losing 1-0 and 2-1 on a constant basis. The A's may just sneek by everyone else and take sieze control of this division late, kind of like that little guy in the race who has no chance, but steals victory when the other 3 knock each other down by accident. Cool Runnings anyone?
In the NL East, surprise surprise, the Phillies are off to another good start, and in first place, but after a recent string with 10 wins in 11 games, the Mets have closed it to a game back, along with the Nationals. The Phillies still have to be the favorites to win the division and the entire National League again, but maybe, just maybe, a couple other teams will hang with them.
The Cubs continue to be lovable losers, with a losing record after the first month, and after a wild move of demoting opening day starter and staff ace Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen, things don't have the brightest outlook. Unless some things change quickly for the Cubs and the rest of the NL Central, it will be a fight for second in the division behind the Cardinals.
The NL West continues to be much like the AL West, and pretty much be the irrelevant division of its respective league. The Padres are off to a hot start, but it remains as the Padres, and the skeptics aren't going anywhere anytime soon. We will see if they can keep it up.
The big surprise is that of the Dodgers, who are off to an 11-15 start, and with all that talent, that is a big surprise. The Giants may have the best pitching in the entire league, so they will hang around all season behind Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and a ressurected Barry Zito.
The Diamondbacks can mash the baseball, averaging nearly 1.5 homeruns per game after hitting their 40th last night. Unfortunately for them, they can't pitch after Dan Haren. Brandon Webb may never be back at this pace, and the bullpen has little prayer to hold a lead when not playing the Astros.
So a couple predictions through one month:
AL playoff teams being the Yankees from the East, Twins from the Central, and the A's from the West with the Rays easily winning the Wild Card. Watch for the Rangers to change the West winner.
NL Playoff teams being the Phillies from the East, Cardinals from the Central, Giants from the West, and the Rockies playing some good baseball later in the season to take the Wild Card.
I must say a Twins-Phillies World Series with the Twins winning it all.
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