Early Surprises and Disappointments
By ASA
I realize it’s EXTREMELY early in the MLB season and teams change at a rapid pace over the first month or two of the season. However a few teams have grabbed my attention by looking much better than most anticipated while a few others aren’t living up to early expectations. This will be an ever changing list as the season progresses, but here are my early season observations.
SURPRISES
Seattle Mariners – Seattle has jumped out to an early lead in the A.L. West after finishing with a paltry 61 total wins in 2008. One of the surprising parts is the Mariners have done it versus a fairly tough early season schedule. They opened the year with seven consecutive road games vs. Minnesota and Oakland . They have since played host to the Angels, Tigers and Rays.
Seattle leads the majors in team ERA at 2.95 after finishing 25th in the same category last season. The two lefties at the top of the rotation have been impressive. Erik Bedard was shut down at mid-season last year, and has been lights out in his return in 2009. He has allowed just four earned runs in his three starts thus far. Jarrod Washburn has equaled Bedard’s efficiency allowing the same number or earned runs (four) in his three starts. Felix Hernandez gives them a solid 1, 2, 3 in the rotation. However their bullpen has been the key ingredient to the Mariner’s success thus far. They have an ERA of just 2.21, allowing opponents to hit just .220. If their pitching continues to impress, Seattle might just keep this early season success moving forward.
San Diego Padres – San Diego is an obvious choice here as the team currently in near the top of the N.L. West standings after finishing 36 games below .500 in 2008. A very impressive East Coast stretch taking four-of-six games at the New York Mets and at Philadelphia have us taking notice for the time being.
The Padres have two very good top of the rotation pitchers in Jake Peavy and Chris Young. However, they aren’t really “lighting it up” in any key category as they sit middle of the pack in both overall pitching and offense. The key question with this team is, will they hold onto their key players throughout the year? The Padres ownership situation is in flux, as the current regime is possibly looking to sell. They were already looking to trade Peavy, but those trade talks (mainly with Atlanta) fell through. If this team is struggling later in the season, word is the owners will dump salary to make the team’s payroll look more attractive to buyers. For now they are on my surprise list, however that could definitely change.
DISAPPOINTMENTS
Milwaukee Brewers – Being from Wisconsin and following this team very closely, the Brewer’s struggles are not a surprise to me. After last year’s run to the playoffs with a very solid lineup, the Brewers had a chance to make another run. Problem is, their starting pitching was decimated when the Yanks swooped in to grab C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets went on his merry way.
Because of that, Milwaukee ’s #3 and #4 starters from a year ago now have moved up to #1 and #2 by default. A starting rotation of Jeff Suppan, Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra and Braden Looper is serviceable, but nowhere near the level needed to contend. Their potent lineup has failed early in the season, hitting just over .230. New hitting coach Dale Sveum has attempted to jog their free-swinging attitude in an effort to cut back on the strikeouts. While it has gotten a little better, the Milwaukee hitters have still whiffed over 100 times already this season. This team will have to outscore opponents in 2009, and thus far the Brewers have not been unable to do that by averaging just four runs per game. Their pitching will most likely be a liability for most of the season unless they make a deal.
Tampa Bays Rays – How can I not put a team that was in the World Series last year and has started well below .500 on my disappointment list? The struggles begin with their starting pitching.
Last year the starters on this team were fantastic. Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, James Shields and Andy Sonnanstine made up one of the best staffs in the majors. They led the Rays to a #3 mark in overall ERA in 2008. The first three listed above had ERA’s of 3.70 or less.
This year, all four have an ERA that is a full 1.00 higher than where they stood at the end of last year. The bullpen hasn’t done much to help out. Their current ERA is 5.31 after a mark of just 3.45 (fourth in the majors) last year. Add those two things up and you have a pitching staff that now ranks #21 in overall ERA.
Their massive home-field advantage has also failed them early in 2009. The Rays had more home wins than any team in baseball last year with 57. This year, they have started just 2-5 in the Tropicana Dome. I expect all of the above numbers to get better, and most likely move this team off my disappointment list. However for the time being, I’m keeping them right here.