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We rank 'em. You react. That's how the Daily List rolls.6/30/2008 02:14:00 PM Baseball's Biggest Surprises of the First Half
By Lang Whitaker, SI.com
The Rays have had a lot to celebrate this season.Al Messerschmidt
Most baseball teams finally played their 81st games over the weekend, meaning the MLB season is officially halfway over. And despite all the time and attention many of us put into researching baseball all winter, preparing for our fantasy teams, there's always some teams or players who catch us off guard. Here's my top five first-half surprises in MLB.
1. The Tampa Bay Rays: They survived a name change, an SI cover curse (perhaps because it was animated?) and still, 81 games into their season, they sit there in first place, ahead of both the Red Sox and Yanks.
2. Justin Duchscherer Becomes Lights Out: He's been an All-Star (as a reliever), but while everyone expected Joba Chamberlain to be the best reliever-turned-starter, Duchscherer leads the majors with a 1.91 ERA in 13 starts.
3. The Chicago Cubs: Not only are they 16 games over .500, despite losing Zambrano and Soriano to injury, but oft-injured Kerry Wood has been terrific, posting a 4-1 record with 20 saves.
4. Shawn Chacon and Manny Ramirez Attack!: Within the span of a few days in Houston, both Ramirez and Chacon got a little too touchy-feely with their respective team's officials. Manny got a slap on the wrist, Chacon got his walking papers.
5. Chipper Jones flirting with .400: We always knew Chipper could hit and that he was prone to bizarre injuries (remember when he sprained both thumbs on the same play last season?). But batting .400? Even I, a Braves fan, never saw that coming.
What was the biggest surprise in baseball's first half? Let us know below...
Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.composted by SI.com | View comments |
Comments:
Josh HamiltonWhat about Josh Hamilton, we knew he would be a good player, but this good after his troubled past. No one could have predicted he would be an All-Star player so soon
Carlos Quentin, Arizona gave up on him and took whatever they could got for him, and look how that turned out, he went from a guy who according to the GM who traded for him as someone who wasn't expected to make the roster, to possibly being an All-StarThe Orioles - winning record?Twins and Oakland. Everyone expected them to be rebuilding. The Rays is less of a surprise given all the high draft picks they got, everyone kind of expect them pay off soon.What about the Chicago White Sox? the Cubs were supposed to be this good, right? And since Zambrano and Soriano have gone down, they have been scuffling. And Chacon and Manny? Really? If Manny wasn't involved, you wouldn't have even mentioned it. East coast bias. Meanwhile you overlook Josh Hamilton, who had never played more than 90 games in a season, and you forget about the White Sox, a team predicted to finish fourth in its division, leading at the halfwat mark.CardinalsHow about the Orioles? Over .500 this late in the season???How about the Orioles? Over .500 this late in the season???actually, the Rays are three years ahead of shcedule (according to an SI article)...
i'd have to say Josh Hamilton (altho i said that last year, he's a monster this year....go Ballpark at Arlington effect)The AL Central - nearly flipped on its head from the expected standings, with the Chisox quietly having a great season on the south side, the Twinkies showing up when nobody thought they would, and the Tribe and Tigers struggling to find their way. Thank gosh the Royals are keeping the sanity...Edinson Volquez...Edinson Volquez...You seem to forget that the Chicago White Sox were close to the bottom of the A.L. Central last year. Now they lead the division. There's my surprise for this first half. Didn't think that they would be that good.
Second would be the White Sox and Cubs having two of the four best records in baseball. Who would have predicted that?I think what the Cardinals have done is much more impressive that what the Cubs have done considering they are only 2 1/2 back of the Cubs. The Cubs were expected to be where they are but no one saw the Cardinals being where they are right now, especially having lost Pujols for 3 weeks.the mets and tigers aren't exactly waltzing to the world series. volquez got really good, really fast, a lot faster than anyone expected. MILTON BRADLEY is leading the american league in batting average. but clearly the biggest surprise is the rays.Ummm... Cardinals? I don't see how they could be out of the top 5, since several SI writers predicted them below Giant/Nationals-level...Wow . . . there is a team who is only 2.5 GB those Cubbies, who everyone loves and praises, who all the "experts" thought would have the worst record in the national league. They said Pujols is injured, that starting rotation is full of nobodies, new GM. Now, they are 12 games over 500, while having their two best players out for a couple of weeks, and still not getting the praise that they deserve? UnbelievableWhat about the Royals only 7 games under .500 and possibly still in contention in the AL Central.How about the Cardinals being 2 1/2 games out halfway through the season with a third of their salary cap on the DL?The Rockies falling flat on their faces :-(How can you put the Cubs on the list and not the Cardinals. The Cardinals have had far more injuries and were expected to be terrible. The cubs being in first place hardly qualifies as a surprise. What a jokeJosh Hamilton? Story of the year!
Braves Biased? He wasnt even batting .400 when you posted and is now on the DL.Orioles Magic! Everyone predicted they would lose 100 games and they are a game over .500 at the halfway point. Not that I'm surprised that you overlooked the team as everyone else does.what a joke how about those cards
first you rip them hard and when they do well still no credit
buhahaOrioles.During preseason, I believe a writer for SI.com declared the Cardinals one of the "five worst teams in baseball."
Now they have the second best record in the NL. How about some love?Why are the Cubs seen as a suprise?It seems like everyone had them picked to win their division, they made the playoffs last year, and the NL is weak, especially the central. What is so suprising about the Cubs being in first? The other Chicago team, the White Sox, now there is a suprise. Most people had them finishing 3rd or worse and here they are leading the AL Central.The Detroit Tigers just hit .500 last weekend for the 1st time this season! They were supposed to have wrapped up the Central by now, but still find themselves 5 behind Chicago and 2.5 behind Minnesota.Cito Gaston returns to manage the Jays. That was a big surprise.how about the cardinals?????No Edinson Volquez?hamilton and quentinHow about Dontrelle Willis? Who would of thought he'd be stuck down in Class A.How about some west coast loving? The two biggest surprises by far are Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders. Santana was on the block and doubtful for being an Angel or even in the rotation and went into spring training battling for the #5spot in the rotation. But due to the injuries to Lackey and Escobar they became Aces! Napoli has been a pleasant surprise to leading all catchers in Homeruns. Not to mention Erik Aybar showing that he is the best young shortstop in baseball! Not to mention the fact that the Angels are battling it out for the best record in baseball despite not having the best pitcher in baseball (and should have been Cy Young award winner last season) for six weeks, John Lackey and the co-ace Kelvim Escobar who is still out! With a horrible offense!wat about how bad the tigers and indians are doing...well i guess the tigers are getting better. How bout how bad the rockies and dimand backs are doing.And that no one has signed barry (roids)bondsYou ever hear of a guy named Jonathan Sanchez? Or Tim Lincecum?
Give me a better young lefty other than Cole Hamels. Give me a better 24 year old than Lincecum you would rather have?This list is the best that you can do for surprises? Way to put some thought into it...you really earned that paycheck.
How about this instead:
1. Cardinals - picked in bottom 5 of NL, only 2.5 back of Chicago, and unlike those Cubs, can actually win on the road.
2. Mariners - worst record in baseball?
3. Cardinals starting pitching. With who?
4. Duchscherer - sub 2 ERA at the break from the former reliever? In the AL? Wow.
5. JD Drew - has kept the BoSox in it sans Big Papi.
Now for the least surprising things in the first half...
1. Cubs - wasn't this their chosen year?
2. Royals - perennial cellar dwellers.
3. Ozzie Guillen - makes great highlights with his ranting and raving.
4. Mets - no way they could bounce back from that free fall with no hangover.
5. Cardinal's starting pitching - Dave Duncan has made a career of resurrecting arms.The collapse of the Cleveland Indians. Almost in the WS last year. Last in their division this year as of date.I know the Rangers (my beloved Rangers) are year in and year out awful. What you're seeing right now with them is the future. Give the kids some time and two years from now they'll be where Tampa is.
But yeah, Hamilton. Good God that guy is a freak of nature.
Give us (or at least a player or two..Milton, Josh, hell..even Ian) some credit, man.What about Cliff Lee, he has been the most consistent starter in the A.L. this year. He had an ERA of over 6 last year and was demoted to Triple A. He could start the All-Star Game this year, sounds like a big suprise to me1. Hamilton
2. The White Sox, Rays, Cards, and Twins all in contention and the Tigers, Indians, and Mets struggling.what about the Cardinals?That on July 1st, I can wear my Orioles t-shirts without hanging my head. I know .500 may not sound like much, but we're talking seriously diminished expectations here.yeah there might be a braves bias, but the man said "flirting with .400" which doesnt mean chipper is there. plus, he's not on the DL, he played today. anyone batting around .400 this far into the season is pretty amazing.Cliff Lee. 11-1, 2.34 ERA, over 90Ks and 3 no decisions where he has given up 1 run or less in the last monthKapler & BranyanThe rays, with the cards right behind them. We knew that the mets were a collapse in the making(my team), The yankees were rebuilding as they play, the cubs were supposed to win. What about the collapse of the Indians, Padres, and Seattle?
Players, I would say...Milton Bradley, Ryan Church, Johan Santana, and Barry Zito.How about except for 4 or 5 teams all the other teams are still a winning streak away from being a real contender in the half way mark. And not even a single division is a lock for any team...cliff leeRangers - after that horrible start.Josh Hamilton is the biggest surprise player.
The Orioles playing over .500 would have been the biggest long shot bet back in March.pretty sure many thought the cy young would come from the Indians rotation but NO ONE thought it would be CLIFF LEE. Lock it up.
#2- Pirates are not winning. JUSTTTTTTTT KIDDINGHow about the Texas Rangers actually playing really good ball and being over .500Edinson Volquez? Or did you see it coming?What about the Mets and Johan Santana falling flat?CLEARLY it is the St. Louis Cardinals that would seem to be the bigger surprise (along with the Rays)...however, Redbird fans aren't shocked by their great 1st half - given Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan's proven wizardry.Hands Down.......
It's Josh HamiltonHow about the NL Central in general. A poster above said the central was weak, yet the top three records in the NL all are in the central. The Cubbies, Cardinals and Brewers.
By the looks of things, the Wild Card will come down to either the Cardinals or Brewers, or Cubbies if they choke..
The Central is the dominant division in the NL...How bad the Mariners areGavin Floyd. The Baltimore boy-wonder, drafted fourth overall in 2001, was sent to the minors last year. Couldn't get a curveball over from the stretch. Now he's 9-4 for the ChiSox and has flirted with two no-hitters.Edinson Volquez- Cmon a rookie who is dominating in wins, ERA and KsReally? No love for the Orioles. Pretty weak since everyone picked them to finish dead last in baseball.The Rockies. Same team from last year (minus Kaz Matsui). From NL Pennant to worst record in baseball. How?The Cubs performance with injuries is less of a surprise than the Cardinals being hot on their tail despite their injuries. Everyone predicted the Cards would second division at best.Seems like the conscensus among the fans includes Josh Hamilton and the Cardinals.
You need to remember that these are the same writers that picked the Cards to finish dead last and the Cubs to walk away with the division. Of course, they are the same writers that in 2006, gave the Cards zero chance of beating the Mets and less of a chance to beat the Tigers. We all know how right they were then.
The easiest job in the world - Sports Writer. You can make up all kinds a crap and then move on to the next bogus story.ever hear of the Florida Marlins?I more agree with the response from the peanut gallery than the guy who wrote this article.
I'm just bummed that my Pirates are mediocre and it doesn't surprise anyone...The Cubs with one of the largest payrolls in baseball can't be a surprise and Zambrano only is missing a couple of starts. Take a look at the Cardinals on the DL and they are only 2 1/2 games back. I go with Josh Hamilton as the big surprise.What about the Pirates? The starting pitching is a joke, the bullpen is overused and beat up, and the offense is third best in the majors. To be only four games under 500 and 7 1/2 games out of a wildcard spot has to rank up there.Can't fault the choice of Hamilton, but for West Coast fans Joe Saunders was fighting for a job on the Angles' roster in the spring and now he is an All-Star.
And of course the rise of the Rays (may have some to do with getting rid of "Devil" & having a former Angel as your manager) & the shipwreck known as the Mariners are also picks here.
AND is it any surprise that the fans are not clamoring for Barry Bonds' return? I didn't think so.Can't fault the choice of Hamilton, but for West Coast fans Joe Saunders was fighting for a job on the Angles' roster in the spring and now he is an All-Star.
And of course the rise of the Rays (may have some to do with getting rid of "Devil" & having a former Angel as your manager) & the shipwreck known as the Mariners are also picks here.
AND is it any surprise that the fans are not clamoring for Barry Bonds' return? I didn't think so.I don't know how you guys can even suggest that anything is a bigger surprise than the Tampa Bay Rays. They have been the laughing stock of Major League Baseball since their existence, and now they are leading it? Rediculous! Let's hear it for the underdogs. I wish them the best.Forget Josh Hamilton!
Although his story is great, he's not even the most surprising guy on his team!
IAN KINSLER leads the AL in almost every hitting category, including avg., on-base percentage, runs scored, extra base hits, and stolen bases.
Josh Hamilton is having a terrific season, but Ian Kinsler is making a quality (albeit quiet) case for MVP.Barry Zitto - Lack there of...The Astros NOT being on pace to lose 100 games with that pitiful starting 5...
Now that is surprising...Recent Posts
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