1. Minnesota Twins (26-18)
- Biggest Surprise
Less than a month before Opening Day, Joe Nathan was exeriencing some discomfort in his pitching elbow. The X-rays confirmed the Twins' worst fear; Nathan was going to need Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2010 campaign. The Twins were left with very few legitimate options and settled on Jon Rauch. Rauch had been picked up in a trade at the deadline from Arizona in '09. He finished last season in Minnesota racking up 17 appearances with a 5-1 record and a 1.72 ERA as a setup man. He had only saved 26 career games over the first 7 years of his Major League career, but has filled in quite nicely converting 10 out of 12 oppotunities while maintaining a low 2.65 ERA.
- Biggest Disappointment
Jason Kubel's emergence last season helped Minnesota steal the AL Central crown and make into the playoffs. This season is a completely different story. In '09 Kubel set career highs in almost every offensive category imaginable. This season he's rewriting the history books in a totally opposite manner. Kubel is struggling with his batting stroke while dropping his average to .214 and only has 3 HRs to accompany his 22 RBI.
2. Detroit Tigers (25-19)
- Biggest Surprise
Barely a month after capturing their 27th World Series, the New York Yankees traded for Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers in a 3 team deal that also involved the Arizona Diamondbacks. Amongst other players, the Tigers received 23 year old prospect Austin Jackson from the Yankees. While we talked yesterday about how Granderson has been hurt most of the season, Jackson has done something else for most of the season, lead the AL in hits. Jackson is currently hitting at a .337 mark and was the AL Rookie of the Month in April.
- Biggest Disappointment
Last season Rick Porcello had quite the impressive rookie season. Porcello went 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA for the Tigers, and in 2010 he was looking to improve upon those numbers. While it's not impossible, he isn't making things easy for himself. Porcello is 4-4 with a 5.58 ERA after the first quarter of 2010. And he's not the only young Tiger starter not living up to expectations. Also brought over in the 3 team swap involving Granderson and Jackson was Arizona pitcher Max Scherzer. Scherzer is off to a horrible start at 1-4 with a 7.29 ERA.
3. Chicago White Sox (19-25)
- Biggest Surprise
23 year old John Danks is quickly becoming the ace of the White Sox staff that includes Mark Buehrle and Jake Peavy. Don't believe me? Let's compare last year's stats. Danks went 13-11 with a starting rotation low 3.77 ERA. Buehrle went 13-10 with a 3.84 ERA. Peavy was 3-0 in 3 starts with a 1.35 ERA. So far this season Danks is 4-3 with a 2.37 ERA while Buehrle is 3-5 with a 4.55 ERA and Peavy is 3-3 with a 5.74 ERA. The numbers speak for themselves.
- Biggest Disappointment
Basically the entire offense falls here. The White Sox rank last in the AL in hits and doubles. They also rank next to last in batting average, on-base percentage, and triples. There are two exceptions to the disastrous lineup. Alex Rios is having a year of resurgence. After signing a long term deal in Toronto, and bombing, only to be put on waivers and snatched up by the South Siders, Rios is finally producing the kid of year Toronto was hoping for. Rios is hitting .309 with 9 HRs and 14 SBs. Paul Konerko is also tied for the MLB lead in HRs with 14.
4. Kansas City Royals (18-27)
- Biggest Surprise
Billy Butler was given the keys to the Kansas City offense last season as he was placed in the 3 hole and given the 1B job. Butler responded by hitting .301 with 21 HRs and 93 RBI. In 201o Butler is looking to surpass those stats. Through today Butler is hitting a magnificent .341. His power numbers may be down a bit at 4 HRs and 23 RBI, but as long as he keeps hitting like he is, those will come along as well. But they may not need to as Jose Guillen has 11 HRs and 31 RBI already in the young season.
- Biggest Disappointment
The Royals brought in Rick Ankiel to play CF for them in the offseason. It hasn't exactly worked out too well. Ankiel has already spent some time on the DL and is only hitting .210. Because of his struggles, Ankiel has lost his starting spot in CF to journeyman Scott Podsednik. Also, last year's Cy Young winner, Zack Greinke, is only 1-5 after starting last year with 24 scoreless innings. However, Greinke has an ERA of 3.57 so it is hard to place the blame for his poor record on him
5. Cleveland Indians (16-26)
- Biggest Surprise
Fausto Carmona's entire career has been a rocky roller coaster. In '06, his first season in the big leagues, Carmona went 1-10 with a 5.42 while appearing mostly from the bullpen with an occasional spot start. The very next season Carmona finished 2nd in the Cy Young voting to teammate CC Sabathia when he finished the year with a 19-8 record and 3.06 ERA. Then in '08 his ERA shot back up to 5.44 and his win-loss record fell to 8-7. '09 was much of the same as Carmona went 5-12 with a 6.32 ERA. This year? Well Carmona is back to pitching well for the Indians. Carmona is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA.
- Biggest Disappointment
Oh Grady Sizemore. Where have you gone? Before last season many people thought Sizemore was on the verge of superstardom. Things didn't exactly go as planned. In '09 Sizemore was hampered by lingering injuries which limited him to hitting .248 with a significant decrease in his power numbers. With a month left in the season and Cleveland mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Sizemore elected to have surgery on a nagging left elbow, as well as a hernia injury. The Indians hoped Sizemore would be fully healthy and ready to tear up 2010. He's been healthy and playing, but he's not producing. Currently Sizemore is hitting .211 with 0 HRs and 13 RBI. Yikes.
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