MorganHillTimes.com | MLB: At halfway mark, baseball is full of surprises

MLB: At halfway mark, baseball is full of surprises

Jun 29, 2009

Martin Renzhofer, McClatchy Newspapers

As beginnings go, the start of the 2009 Major League Baseball season could have used a do over.

The stunning news in early April of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart's tragic death in a car accident connected with much of baseball like a sucker punch to the stomach.

"It makes baseball seem very trivial," said Adenhart's Salt Lake Bees manager, Bobby Mitchell.

The steroid revelations surrounding Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez didn't help much, either.

Yet, as always, the game continues. As baseball season rolls into its second half, there is the promise of what could be a wild ride to the playoffs. As of Saturday, six American League teams were within four games of the Wild Card, while 11 NL teams were in Wild Card contention.

This includes the Colorado Rockies, who roared through June and went from possible sellers in the baseball market to potential buyers.

Albert Pujols looks like a cinch to win another National League Most Valuable Player award, and for a while, it appeared in the American League that Kansas City pitcher Zack Greinke might be the second coming of Bob Gibson's 1.12 earned-run average in 1968. At 1.90, the Royals hurler remains spectacular.

Here are the highs and lows, so far, for 2009:

Surprising teams

The San Francisco Giants have the second-best record in the National League, thanks to a starting staff that includes reigning Cy Young

winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Randy Johnson. The staff leads all of baseball in shutouts, which, for a while, has offset a mediocre offense. Runner up: Colorado.

The Texas Rangers have a fingernail hold on first place in the AL West. Starter Kevin Millwood leads an average pitching staff. Considering the Rangers' offense, starting with Ian Kinzler and Michael Young, average pitching is all they need. Runner up: Toronto.

Disappointing teams

Cleveland is 13 games under .500 and shows absolutely no signs of getting better. Grady Sizemore has been a bust in 2009, while 2008 Cy Young winner Cliff Lee has received little support. Manager Eric Wedge may not last until the end of July. Runner up: Oakland.

Following a run to the playoffs in 2007, Arizona was once thought to have some of the best young players in baseball. The Diamondbacks are 18 games out of first place in the NL West and only 21-year-old Justin Upton is close to fulfilling expectations. Runner up: Chicago Cubs.

Surprising players

Although Raul Ibanez is on the disabled list, has any free agent signing made a bigger impact to their new team? The Philadelphia outfielder celebrated leaving cavernous Safeco Field in Seattle for hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park by bashing 15 homers and hitting .349. Runner up: Brad Hawpe, Colorado.

Prior to 2009, Tampa Bay shortstop Jason Bartlett had 16 career homers with a .285 batting average. This season, he has smacked seven long balls while batting .363. The Rays have also appeared to have righted themselves. Runner up: Marco Scutaro, Toronto.

Disappointing players

He's been hurt, but the Angels' Vlad Guerrero has hit just two home runs and driven in 13 runs. He'll need to regain his form should L.A. want to make a run at a championship. Runner up: Dustin Pedroia, Boston.

Manny Ramirez robbed his team of at least 50 games this season and who knows how many more as he attempts to regain his batting form. Runner up: Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia.

Comeback players

It isn't a coincidence that the rebirth of Colorado has coincided with the return of a healthy Todd Helton. The Rockies' first baseman, limited to 83 games in 2008, is back to his hitting ways. The veteran, who eclipsed the 2,000-hit mark this season, is batting .317 with 51 runs batted in. Runner up: Juan Pierre, Los Angeles Dodgers.

Third baseman Brandon Inge has played a huge role during Detroit's run in the AL Central. Not only is his average nearly 70 points higher than in 2008, he has also driven in 49 runs and is playing a stellar third base. Runner up: Justin Verlander, Detroit.

Preseason predictions

American League

East: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore.

Central: Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota, Kansas City, Chicago.

West: Los Angeles, Oakland, Texas, Seattle.

National League

East: Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York, Florida, Washington.

Central: Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Houston, Pittsburgh.

West: Los Angeles, Arizona, San Francisco, Colorado, San Diego.