MLB Update: Biggest Surprises So Far
Braves Ramiro Pena
We are now a couple of weeks into the Major League Baseball Season which is roughly about one tenth of the way to the post season. Even though there is still a long, long way to go, let’s take a look at the season’s biggest surprises so far:
Los Angeles Angels– With Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton at the top of the lineup, the Angels were supposed to be unbeatable this year. But so far, not so good as they are 4-9 and tied with the Houston Astros for last place. Hamilton is barely over the Mendoza line with two home runs and Trout and Pujols are both under .300. Throw in an injury to ace starter Jered Weaver and one can see why things are not going well in Anaheim.
Toronto Blue Jays- The few people who were not picking the Angels to win it all were likely going with the Jays. Toronto loaded up in the off-season, acquiring stars such as Jose Reyes, R. A. Dickey, Mark Buerhle, and Josh Johnson. So far Reyes has gotten hurt, Dickey has been hit and the Jays are 6-7 in fourth place.
Boston Red Sox- The Sox are coming off a disaster of a season with a lot of new faces. So far they have performed. Jackie Bradley and Mike Napoli have the Sox off to an 8-4 start and in first place. Clay Buchholtz has been nearly un-hittable in his three starts.
Tampa Bay Rays– The Rays have been one of baseball’s most consistent teams over the last five seasons, but they are off to a terrible 4-9 start. They have not hit at all scoring only 34 runs all season long.
Colorado Rockies- One of baseball’s most ignored teams is 9-4 and hanging right with the defending world champions, the San Francisco Giants. Dexter Fowler leads them with six home runs and Troy Tulowitzki has 11 RBIs
Atlanta Braves- The fact that the Braves are good is not a shock. But the fact that they are 11-1 and have totally handled the Washington Nationals is a bit surprising. Little did we know how good Justin Upton really is. He hit his eighth homer tonight as the Braves improved to 12-1 with a win over the Kansas City Royals. IF his brother B. J. Upton starts to hit, this team will really be tough.
New York Mets- When they lost Johan Santana for another full season, the Mets had reason to think “here we go again”. But so far, they have been decent thanks to the pitching of Matt Harvey and the hitting of David Wright. By season’s end they will have over 90 losses, but for right now, the Met fans have to feel pretty good.
