For fans of many MLB teams, the first three weeks of the MLB season are the most enjoyable and successful. April does not just bring May flowers, but also hope for just about every baseball team’s fans, at least for a couple weeks. Usually the division leaders at the end of April aren’t the same one’s at the end of September and have their fans reminiscing on the month that was. This season there is no exception as of the six division leaders right now, I predict only half of them will be the division leaders when all is said and done.
American League-
East-
In the American League East we find the Toronto Blue Jays leading the Red Sox by just a slim 1 game lead with a 13-6 record. Although the Blue Jays have the best record (64-43) since Manager Cito Gaston took over during last season, I don’t see them holding on for the division crown. They could very easily make it as a wild card, but I think Boston, winners of their last nine, just has to much talent to not win the East this season. Also, the Yankees and Rays can give the Jays a run for their money and tire them down before the last month of the season when the pennant race really picks up. On the flip side, the Rays (7-11) have returned to last place and have a lot of people questioning their success from last season and wondering if they’ll become a one hit wonder. Personally, I wasn’t expecting a repeat of last years success for the Rays (stated in my MLB preview article), but I also didn’t expect a last place finish. Of course, it’s only been three weeks and there’s still 144 games to go. The Orioles started off 6-2 and in the front of the division with the Jays. Before Baltimore fans could get too excited for the season, the O’s dropped 8 of their next 10 to fall to 4th place.
Central-
The Central finds itself in a three way tie between the White Sox, Tigers and Royals who all have a 9-8 record. The Tigers and Royals were the in the bottom of the division last year but have switched roles for the 2009 season, at least for the first three weeks. Im not surprised to find the White Sox, 2008 Central champs, to be there and still expect either them or the Twins to win the division this season. The Royals are a much improved, talented team, but I feel they are still a couple more years away. I can’t imagine that the Tigers, the biggest disappointment last season, corrected all their problems this quickly and I can’t seem them winning the division this soon after a miserable year in 2008. The Indians (6-12) continue to be a disappointment for the second straight season and find themselves in dead last.
West-
Its great to see all the analyst pick the Mariners (12-6) to win the West after picking them to finish in last as soon as just a month ago. Im not going to flip-flop like most people on ESPN have, as I don’t expect the Mariners to win the division. Seattle fans, have fun while it lasts and let their success take your mind of the rainy weather, but it shouldn’t last all 162 games. They seem to be over-achieving at the moment and their roster doesn’t seem talented enough to win even the worst division in the AL right now, the West. The Angels, the popular pick to win the West, are 6-11 and in last place. Due to injuries, they’ve struggled early on and have yet to win consecutive games during this young season. If they can get some guys back from the disabled list and put their talent together, I see no reason why they can’t re-take the West. Texas continues to swing a powerful bat and find themselves in second at 8-9. They could stay there throughout the season if their pitching can step up. Oakland (6-10) did a lot of work on their offense in the off-season, but it hasn’t shown as they are last in the league with just seven home-runs and their key addition, Matt Holiday, has struggled early on.
National League-
EAST-
The Marlins have come back to earth as they’ve lost their last five after a 11-1 start. Granted, most of those wins came against the struggling Nationals, Marlin fans have been given a reality check over the past week. They could still win the struggling East even though it seemed to be one of the most talented divisions in baseball just four weeks ago. The defending World Series champs, the Phillies, seem to have a World Series hangover as they are just 8-8. The Braves, surprisingly, are in second but are just one game over .500 and have had a couple injuries in just the past week. The Mets worked hard on their bullpen in the off-season and it has paid off. Now they just have to repair their starting rotation who’s E.R.A. is over 6. If they can improve on their pitching staff then they should improve on their sub .500 record and compete for the division title. The Nationals, also know as the “Natinals” (as printed on their uniforms for a game), have become not only the laughing stock of the league, but also the sports world. They are on pace for a 132 loss season and lead the league in errors with 21. In recent National news, they fined Elijah Dukes $500 for being a couple minutes late to pre-game warmups after attending a local little league fundraiser. Good job Nats.
Central-
The Cardinals (13-5) find themselves in first and could stay there through September. They have won five in a row and Albert Pujos has 25 RBI’s, seven shy of club record. Surprisingly, the Pirates are in second (10-7) and have one of the best pitching staffs through the first three weeks. They also like to swing the bats on Saturdays, scoring 10+ runs in all three games played on Saturday. I can’t see the Bucs winning the division, or hanging in there till the end of September, but their fans can enjoy their successful April. We’ll see how long this winning thing lasts for the Pirates. While Pittsburgh is over-achieving, last years Central champs, the Cubs, are under-achieving. Chicago is in 4th at just .500 and have been outscored 22-6 during their current four game losing streak. They have to much talent to be embarrassed like that and should come around and be back on the top before the dog days of summer begin. The Reds (9-8), have plenty of young talent and I don’t see why they can’t make a run for a playoff berth. They have to fix their inconsistent pitching staff first and they could be alright throughout this season. The Brewers may be showing us that last year, their best season in a long time, may have just been a tease as they return to the cellar off the central at 8-9. In their defense, they did lose their two best starting pitchers, but they shouldn’t rely on some un-proven pitchers to carry them into October. Houston is 6-12 and in last place. Not a big surprise as they weren’t expected to do much. For Astro fans, there is no false hope, just agony for the six month season. On top of it all, they gave Manager Cecil Cooper a contract extension which is they’re way of saying, “thanks for leading us to last place, coach.”
West-
No surprise to see the 13-5 Dodgers in first place as the majority of people picked them to win the division, including myself. Surprisingly, the Padres may have returned to their old form when they had some talented teams just a few years ago. They are in second (10-7) after winning five of their first seven games. I don’t think many people saw this coming, but those same people must now be expecting a collapse from the Padres. Too many people felt that San Francisco would make a push for the playoffs this year and would have a much improved season. They are in the middle of the West, at .500, and have won five in a row after a slow start. Arizona has been a disappointment early on as they are in 4th with a 6-11 record. I thought they would challenge the Dodgers for the division title, but I may have been mistaken. Fortunately, there’s still 145 games left for them to prove me right. Colorado’s World Series run in 2007 set up their fan base for false hope over the next couple seasons, including this one. They are at the bottom of the West and, at 5-11, don’t seem to be leaving anytime soon. The Rockies have lost three in a row and 8 of their last 10. Also, Colorado has lost all five games decided in the 7th inning or later.
So if your team is in first place, enjoy it while it lasts, but don’t get to carried away. You don’t want to fall into the false hope trap that April provides in the MLB. After all, there’s still over 140 games left in the season.
* All Stats and records were current as of Sunday, 4/26/09, when this article was written.