I'm making this simple. One person per squad and how they basically sum up how the season thus far has gone and why each team is located where they are in the standings.
AL East
1. Boston - John Papelbon - Papelbon is the reason the Red Sox are currently residing in first place. Coming into the season the bullpen was laden with question marks and Papelbon has put those to side and then some. The rook has given up one run this whole season and is leading the AL in saves.
2. Yankees - Kevin Reese - Who? Exactly. The Yankees have been so decimated thus far by injuries that Kevin Reese got some playing time and the Yankees have given us a Terrence Long sighting.
3. Blue Jays - Alex Rios - The Blue Jays are in the running in the AL East this season because of their beastly team hitting average. Rios is having a breakout season and is leading the American League in batting average.
4. Orioles - Rodrigo Lopez - The Orioles starting pitchers have struggled immensely and Rodrigo Lopez is the perfect example having not won since his opening day start. Is Leo Mazzone's magic wand broken or does its engine need time to warm up in the colder Baltimore.
5. Tampa Bay - Seth McClung - Pick anyone in their rotation other than my boy Kazmir. None of these pitchers are really any good so they're not underperforming. They just have zero pitching past Kazmir.
AL Central
1. Detroit - Justin Verlander - A young prospect has burst onto the scenes for the Tigers and has pitched incredibly well, even outdueling Johan Santana in a matchup last week. Detroit's pitching staff has been well better than expected and has resulted in their shocking best record in baseball thus far.
2. White Sox - Ken Williams - The GM did not settle for keeping the same squad from last years champions. Instead he went out and got Jim Thome, monster numbers so far, and Javier Vazquez who has pitched extraordinary for someone slotted as the fifth starter. The White Sox are a force to be dealt with.
3. Cleveland - Jhonny Peralta - Everyones sleeper central team has struggled out of the gate this season. Similarly Jhonny, with the mismatched h, has been in a season long slump, and the manager Wedge insists on continueing to bat him 3rd in front of their biggest weapon Hafner. If Jhonny doesn't start moving up his numbers the Indians aren't moving up the standings any time soon.
4. Minnesota - Kyle Lohse - The Twins struggled out of the gate because their starters were getting rocked. Whether it be Lohse or Silva or even Santana who wasn't up to his standards the Twins have struggled. Now they are going to rely on three rookies Baker, Liriano and personally favorite Boof Bonser to get them back in the hunt.
5. Kansas City - Dougy Minkowitz - Doug has spent most of the season batting third, need I say more on why the Royals are the worst team in baseball.
AL West
1. Texas Rangers - Vicente Padilla - Padilla is 4-3 with mediocre statistics but a winning record. That's pretty much what the Rangers are a decent team who just happens to find themselves one game over .500 and somehow in first in the division.
2. Oakland A's - Rich Harden - Rich was supposed to be the dominant anchor to this rotation and many "experts" chose him as the Cy Young winner of the season. But once again he has struggled with injuries and the A's have not been as dominant as hoped with their staff and lie in the .500 range.
3. Seattle Mariners - Adrian Beltre - Flip a coin between the overpaid Sexson and Beltre. Both have been terrible and so have the M's. Beltre wins out because just like the M's it is not that surprising that he isn't good.
4. Anaheim Angels - Garrett Anderson - The Angels can't score runs, and have been terrible in the month of May a time where Garrett has missed a lot of action and when he has been in there he is hitting below .200.
AL East
1. Boston - John Papelbon - Papelbon is the reason the Red Sox are currently residing in first place. Coming into the season the bullpen was laden with question marks and Papelbon has put those to side and then some. The rook has given up one run this whole season and is leading the AL in saves.
2. Yankees - Kevin Reese - Who? Exactly. The Yankees have been so decimated thus far by injuries that Kevin Reese got some playing time and the Yankees have given us a Terrence Long sighting.
3. Blue Jays - Alex Rios - The Blue Jays are in the running in the AL East this season because of their beastly team hitting average. Rios is having a breakout season and is leading the American League in batting average.
4. Orioles - Rodrigo Lopez - The Orioles starting pitchers have struggled immensely and Rodrigo Lopez is the perfect example having not won since his opening day start. Is Leo Mazzone's magic wand broken or does its engine need time to warm up in the colder Baltimore.
5. Tampa Bay - Seth McClung - Pick anyone in their rotation other than my boy Kazmir. None of these pitchers are really any good so they're not underperforming. They just have zero pitching past Kazmir.
AL Central
1. Detroit - Justin Verlander - A young prospect has burst onto the scenes for the Tigers and has pitched incredibly well, even outdueling Johan Santana in a matchup last week. Detroit's pitching staff has been well better than expected and has resulted in their shocking best record in baseball thus far.
2. White Sox - Ken Williams - The GM did not settle for keeping the same squad from last years champions. Instead he went out and got Jim Thome, monster numbers so far, and Javier Vazquez who has pitched extraordinary for someone slotted as the fifth starter. The White Sox are a force to be dealt with.
3. Cleveland - Jhonny Peralta - Everyones sleeper central team has struggled out of the gate this season. Similarly Jhonny, with the mismatched h, has been in a season long slump, and the manager Wedge insists on continueing to bat him 3rd in front of their biggest weapon Hafner. If Jhonny doesn't start moving up his numbers the Indians aren't moving up the standings any time soon.
4. Minnesota - Kyle Lohse - The Twins struggled out of the gate because their starters were getting rocked. Whether it be Lohse or Silva or even Santana who wasn't up to his standards the Twins have struggled. Now they are going to rely on three rookies Baker, Liriano and personally favorite Boof Bonser to get them back in the hunt.
5. Kansas City - Dougy Minkowitz - Doug has spent most of the season batting third, need I say more on why the Royals are the worst team in baseball.
AL West
1. Texas Rangers - Vicente Padilla - Padilla is 4-3 with mediocre statistics but a winning record. That's pretty much what the Rangers are a decent team who just happens to find themselves one game over .500 and somehow in first in the division.
2. Oakland A's - Rich Harden - Rich was supposed to be the dominant anchor to this rotation and many "experts" chose him as the Cy Young winner of the season. But once again he has struggled with injuries and the A's have not been as dominant as hoped with their staff and lie in the .500 range.
3. Seattle Mariners - Adrian Beltre - Flip a coin between the overpaid Sexson and Beltre. Both have been terrible and so have the M's. Beltre wins out because just like the M's it is not that surprising that he isn't good.
4. Anaheim Angels - Garrett Anderson - The Angels can't score runs, and have been terrible in the month of May a time where Garrett has missed a lot of action and when he has been in there he is hitting below .200.
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