MLB 2006: The Major League Baseball 2006 Early Season Surprises
1. The Colorado Rockies- The MLB’s Colorado Rockies, behind overwhelming bats and adequate pitching, have gone out to a 6-3 start this season. While the enthusiasm of many teams at this point of the season is maybe unfounded, the Rockies’ franchise needs something to cheer. If they can keep their bats in the lineup for most of the season, watch out for the Rockies in the MLB’s weakened NL West this 2006 MLB season.
2. The Atlanta Braves’ pitching problems- With the loss of Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone tin the offseason o the Baltimore Orioles, there is concern amongst the Atlanta faithful that a pitching staff stacked with veterans and young relievers won’t live up to the task this MLB season. The MLB’s Atlanta Braves will need to become a team that relies on its offense and fielding to keep it ahead of the competition this season, as John Smoltz and the starting rotation struggle and Chris Reitsma tries to fit into the closer’s role this season.
3. Milwaukee Brewers and Detroit Tigers- The two MLB Central Division teams (Milwaukee in the NL Central, Detroit in the AL Central) have started out at 6-4 with exciting victories and close losses to solid teams this season. The Brewers have done it without Ben Sheets, who is coming back this week, and the Tigers are performing above their talent level. The Brewers definitely have the upper hand of the two teams on continuing their performance, though both teams have to contend with strong divisional rivals in the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago White Sox, and the Cleveland Indians.
4. Curt Schilling- Schilling, the Boston Red Sox ace, has jumped out to a 3-0 start to help the Sox gain first place in Major League Baseball’s AL East. The MLB’s great playoff story in the 2004 season, Schilling struggled last season with injury and if the Red Sox can get even half of this early effort the rest of the season they may edge out the Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays.
5. New York Mets- The New York Mets’ great early start this season is probably not so much surprising because of the talent level but because of how they have underachieved over the last couple of seasons. The Mets are 8-1 in the first couple weeks of this Major League Baseball season, their best start since the 1985 season. New York will be alive this summer with two competitive teams and two great divisional races.
Least Surprising in the MLB Season
1. Barry Bonds- Barry Bonds has been underwhelming in the first couple of weeks in the MLB season, given the fact that the San Francisco Giants do not have a strong lineup and that controversy and attention has swirled around Bonds over the last couple of seasons.
2. Ken Griffey Jr.- Griffey rebounded last year from several MLB seasons of injuries and under performance but is once again injured. Griffey has had a great career to this point (passing Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run list recently) but is beleaguered by a reputation as an oft-injured underachiever.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates- The Pirates may have gotten a new manager in Jim Tracy this season and a strong young pitching staff, but their recent history of failed seasons makes their early bottom feeding start not shocking at all. Tracy will have the Pirates scrapping for every hit and out this season, but talent still beats out effort in the major leagues.
4. David Wells- Wells have gone on the injured list for the second time this season and the Red Sox seem to consider Wells’ chronic injuries to be a given. The Fenway faithful should consider whatever effort Wells gives this season to be a bonus and count on Curt Schilling to provide veteran leadership.
5. Kansas City- To no one’s surprise, the Royals have fallen to a 2-7 record in the early 2006 MLB regular season. Royals fans should focus on remembering the good times in past seasons and look towards the Herman Edwards era in Kansas City Chiefs football this upcoming football season.
