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Half Full or Half Empty?

From: Scott Allen | July 2, 2010 | Comments(0) | Print | Share |

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MLB is approaching its halfway point.  Teams are starting to look at their season as either half full or half empty. Let's take a look at some of the surprises and disappointments from the first half of this 2010 season.

Surprise: Wow. Where did Cincinnati come from?  Mike Leake has been a pleasant surprise and a much needed lift for the Reds' pitching in this 2010 season. Votto has been at the top of his game at the plate this season.  Time will only tell if the Reds have what it takes to go the distance into the playoffs.

Disappointment: The Seattle Mariners were slotted to be a contender for the AL West this season, and ever were featured in a March issue of ESPN Magazine. However, nothing seems to be going right for the Mariners this season.  Griffey retires, Lee is the talk of trade rumors already, and with 14.5 games out from the Rangers, their season is all but over.

Surprise: The Atlanta Braves are at the top of the NL East in Bobby Cox's last season as Manager.  With recent struggles in past seasons, the Braves have come together to put a strong first half of the 2010 season together with solid pitching from Wagner, Lowe and Hudson and great batting from Glaus, Prado and Blanco. We could be seeing the Braves come this October if this team continues to pitch and bat as they are now.

Surprise:  Boston started off like a little league team playing in the big leagues.  No spunk and awful pitching.  Something set in though, with the Red Sox a 0.5 game out of AL East, topping the Rays who sprinted out of the gates.  Again, the AL East is going to be a 3-way race to win the division.

Disappointment:  ...once again for the Orioles, Indians and Pirates.  Orioles management is a mess and nothing seems to be going right for the a team with the worst record in baseball right now.  The Indians hired Acta who was released from the Nationals, did they really think this was an upgrade to help their ball club?  And the Pirates started off semi-strong, but fluttered out as the games progressed.  Analysts say 2013-2014 is when the Pirates should be really good because of in-house talent, but will the Pirates have any fans in 2013 to route this potential winning team?

Surprise: Washington Nationals seem to have put together a formula to begin competing in their division as well as the league. Even before Strasburg took the mound, the Nationals we contending and winning games with solid pitching (where they have struggled in the past).  Capps has been a great closer and a surprise in Ivan Rodriguez as a veteran catcher has helped the Nationals to a .432 winning percentage, doubling last year's percentage.  While they are 12 games out of the division leading Braves, the Nationals just drafted star Ben Harper and things are beginning to look on the up-and-up for the Nationals.