Major League Baseball Update

I don't know if you have been paying attention to the first month of baseball, but there are interesting developments to start the season. I know it is a long season and there is a lot of baseball left to be played, but there are some teams off to a great start that have been fun to watch.

Going into this week, here are the AL standings with some comments:

AL East: Baltimore and Tampa Bay (you read right) are tied with Boston in first.
AL Central: The White Sox are the only team with a winning record in the division.
AL West: Oakland tied with the LAA Angels in first.

Biggest AL Surprise So Far: The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays are tied for first in the AL East. For perspective, I think it was reported that Tampa Bay has never finished April with a winning record (11-14 last year) and they finished the 2007 season 30 games back at 66-96. Baltimore was 12-14 in April last year and finished 2007 just ahead of Tampa Bay 27 games back at 69-93.

Biggest AL Disappointment So Far: The Detroit Tigers. They are 11-15 and 4 games out of first after making several big off-season moves.

Now for NL standings and comments:

NL East: Florida is in first place. Who are these guys?
NL Central: The Cubs are playing well early, but can they survive the June Swoon?
NL West: Arizona is in first place. Young roster with average age of 27.7.

Biggest NL Surprise So Far: The Florida Marlins. Quick, name any player for the Marlins? I can't. Yet, here they are again finding new talent and winning games. The team that finally got a new stadium that is scheduled to open in 2011, when they will also be called the Miami Marlins, always seems to find a way to be competitive.

Biggest NL Disappointment So Far: The Colorado Rockies. After the magical run last year that included baseball playoffs in the snow (boys of summer?), the Rockies are in 4th place in the division, 8 games behind the young D-backs.

Two interesting questions to start the season:

1. Will it be the White Sox v. the Cubs in the World Series?
2. Will the Yankees make the playoffs after getting rid of Joe Torre?