20% of the season gone, time to reassess

Allright, I am not prone to overreact based upon a small sample size, but because of injuries and a major suspension, I am going to do some new divisional and final record standings, with summarized reasons. I will do this again in June, July, August, and September. Today I will do the AL, tomorrow the senior circuit.

AL West:
1. Rangers 85-77. I know they don't have the pitching, but they do have the hitting, and suprisingly, the defense. Also, nobody knows how healthy the Angels pitching will be if/when it comes back.
2. Angels 84-78. I admit this is me being a bit hopeful, and it is subject to change in another month, but the Angels pen is a mess. The three best bullpen guys they have (Fuentes, Shields, and Arredondo) all have ERA's above 5.
3. Oakland 79-83. Injuries have throttled Oakland very early. Mark Ellis is out for awhile, Nomar is too (shocking), and they simply cannot hit thus far.
4. Seattle 75-87. I thought they would be worse than this, and I may still be right. They are going to be in last, they cannot hit. Their saving graces are twofold: they play great D, and they play in a garbage division. Still, I think Bedard is dealt by August.


AL Central.
1. Detroit 86-76. This one hurts the most, as I am no fan of the Tigers at all. In fact, I really thought Cleveland would have a big bounceback year, but I was wrong (as of now). Detroit has the best hitter in the league in Miguel Cabrera, and their defense has really gotten good by moving Inge back to third and acquring Adam Everett to play shost. Verlander's resurrection also helps.
2. Minnesota 82-80. Their pitching simply is not going to be as good as it was last year, it seems. Their young guys also have yet to make the leaps I expected of them (Casilla is in AAA, Young still swings at everything).
3. KC 81-81. They have gotten a ton out of the best pitcher in the AL (Zack Greinke) but the upside of their offense is nil, and with the back end of their rotation consisting of Sidney Ponson and Kyle Davies, they won't win this year.
4. Cleveland 77-85. Everything has gone wrong so far. Hafner has been good, but hurt. Cliff Lee has been great, but the team can't score when he pitches. The pen has been beyond bad, having one of the worst months I have ever seen in my life. They have blown small leads, big leads, come from behind to blow leads, come from ahead to blow them. The pen is awful. Just awful.
5. Chicago Whitesox 74-88. One thing I know, the WhiteSox are also garbage. They are old, they cant do anything but hit homers, they can't play D, and can't run. They have two good pitchers in Buerhle and Danks, but everyone else in the rotation may be out of it by July. Colon is awful. Contreas is awful, and Floyd is doubly awful.


AL East.
1. Boston 94-68 . Toughest division in baseball, by a mile. I had no idea it would be a 4 team race, but it will be. Toronto is here to stay. Boston is still great, and Ortiz has done nothing, and Smoltz is still out. I can only imagine they will get better.
2. Tampa 90-72. I am probably alone in believing this team still has enough to do it again, but I do. They still play great d, they still steal bases and get on base, they still have good pitchers. The problem is the pen, but I think it gets better. Or at least I hope so.
3. Yankees 89-73. Mariano Rivera is getting older, still good, not great. Joba Chamberlain is good, but can't get past the sixth. The team is old, and has no speed and no healthy catcher. I am sure they will start hitting, but I don't think they have the chemistry or bullpen to win this division, or make the playoffs.
4. Blue Jays 85-77. I had no idea this team would hit like this, and I know it will cool off, but it has yet to. Their starters have been incredible, they are loaded with pitching. Just imagine what happens if they get Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum back. Wow!
5. Orioles 73-89. They can hit, no doubt about it. But they have no pen and no starters, at all. They are going to be very good, very soon. not this year though. They simply have no pitching or pen. But they do have chemistry, and they do have offense, a ton of it!