MLB - Month 1

The first of my monthly MLB check-ins...not a lot of other baseball discussion on this site, so I figured I'd try to stay on top of it at the beginning of each month with a check-in.

AL EAST

TB - great start, will be in a 2 horse race for the division crown with NYY, but loser should end up with the WC either way.

NYY - Nice .680 start, they can just put it on cruise control until we hit September.

TOR - 5 back, kind of s surprise so far, but I really don't think it can last. This club will fade sooner rather than later.

BOS - 6.5 back. Trainwreck. Already 6.5 back, I bet by next month I will be discussing the massive trade that they have made/will make because their 2010 plan of pitching, speed, and defense is not working out too well. Mainly because their pitching has been horrible and they are allowing 5.5 rpg! They are terrible against RHP and have been bad (1-5) in extra innings. I don't see this team getting any better no matter what they do. Rebuilding year - but they'll be back in 2011.

BAL - we thought they would suck...and they do. They've cemented their 5th place finish in the East once again.

AL CENTRAL

TWINS - this team is very good. They should not have any problem reaching the playoffs and even having a chance to make a run through some of the heavy hitters they would match up against...(TB/NYY loser). Twins have the only good pitching & defense combo in the division.

DET - 1.5 back: Playing better than expected, but I really don't think it will last the whole year. They play well at home, but I am not overaly impressed with the lineup. They might hang around, but I don't like their WC chances or their division chances.

SOX - 6 back: Everyone was in love with this pitching staff going into the season, well...what do you think of their pitching now?!? Peavy has been average, Buerhle has been horrible, and the rest of their staff is average. Jenks is not a dominant closer any more and the lineup has less punch than any SOX lineup the last 5 years! The are averaging 4.28 rpg and can't win on the road = not going anywhere in 2010.

CLE - 6.5 back: they'll be in quite a battle with KC for the 4 spot in the division. They've only scored 86 runs (3.44 rpg), tough to win when you have a starter making a QS and you still lose most of the time! Very young and not worth any more space this month.

KC - 7 back: same story, different year. They are scoring some runs, which has been a problem in the past, but I don't think they have any kind of run in them.

AL WEST

TEXAS - they've won 4 straight to take a 1.5 game lead in the division. The pitching is doing okay, and the offense is strong. This division will be wide open until the end.

OAK - 1.5 back: My least favorite team in the division, I think they depend on too many young guys for too many things to be considered a serious threat in this division or WC race.

LAA - 2.5 back: Worst pitching in the AL right now. Ouch. Offense is near the bottom as well. I think they've lost too much the last few years to be a contender this season. The division has enough parody, and they have the best manager, so I think they could hang until the end.

SEA - 2.5 back: People were in love with this club as well in the pre-season, and granted they have been without Lee most of the month...but this is not a very good team. Major late game struggles have stung them many times, and the lineup lacks much punch outside of the top 3-4 guys. Worst offense in the AL makes their nice pitching staff look bad because they can't win every game 2-1. Unless Lee and Felix win every time out this team won't make any noise this year.

PICKS - NYY, MIN, TEX, TB

NL EAST

PHIL - the favorite coming into the season ends the first month on top. They've played well, struggled unexpectedly at times, but should be well on their way to a division title. Halladay is ridiculous.

NYM - 1/2 game back: Playing very well at home this season, and pitching extremely well right now. They score enough to be a contender, but I'm not totally sure I trust their staff down the stretch. And these are the Mets, they will likely find a way to become a non-factor by September.

FLA - 1 back: this is another young club that's fun to watch. But I'm just waiting for the stretch where they lose 15 of 20 and knock themselves out of the race. Not a threat for the post-season at this point in my opinion.

WAS - 1 back: the Nats? Really? Nope. Next.

ATL - 3 back: the Braves have the talent to be a contender in this league. I think their pitching might be 2nd to only PHIL in the division and I like their lineup as well. Look for this team to make a run and be in the 2 spot by the time the stretch run starts.

NL CENTRAL

CARDS - your 2010 NL Central champs. Congrats! Great pitching, a nice lineup, and maybe the best hitter of all-time. I like their chances.

CUBS - 5 back: all of these teams are playing for the WC already. The Cubbies actually might have the best chance at it from this division. The bats have come alive lately, and the pitching hasn't been terrible...yet. It's early, but I think we'll all be tuning into WGN in September for some meaningful games this season.

CIN - 5 back: Pitching has been too suspect for me to like these guys chances. Lots of potential but very little in the form of results. Not hitting extremely well either, and they have a ton of injury risk guys that haven't got hurt yet. They'll fade quickly.

MIL - 7.5 back: 7.5 back in 1 month! Not so hot for a team with post-season aspirations. Their bullpen is scary, and I don't like their starters that much more. Lineup is packed with power, but they're still being outscored. Brewers...dead!

PIT - 7.5 back: This team is 10-15 and giving up 7 rpg! How have they won 10 games? Well, they are 5-1 in 1 run battles...that won't last. They are probably heading for the cellar unless the pitching improves. But they're not in the basement right now because...

HOU - 9.5 back: The honeymoon is over for HOU. They got off to a terrible start, then rebounded slightly, now have lost 7 in a row and counting. Bad, bad team with no offense (2.92 rpg) and very average pitching. Start planning for football season if you live in Houston.

NL WEST

SD - 1 game lead: surprise! this team always has a roster of no-namers, but they are playing pretty well this season. 3rd best pitching in NL at this point, partly because they play in the largest park in the history of the world, but partly because they have some talent. The bats are improving from years past, but I still don't think they have enough firepower to make this last.

SF - 1 back: Pitching, Pitching, Pitching, and the Kung Fu Panda. That's all they got, but it's working. Their staff is ridiculous. They've given up 70 runs (2.9 rpg). If the staff stays healthy and they start winning some of the close ones (1-5 in 1 run games) they will walk away with this division. Did I mention that I love their pitching?

COL - 3 back: this is the club that I am picking to actually win the division. i don't think the GIANTS ridiculous pitching can stay at this level, so I am taking the Rockies to win the West right now. Pitching has been good, hitting is very good as well. This team will just continue to get better.

ARI - 4 back: Lots of pop in this lineup (5.88 rpg), but not a lot of pitching (6 rpg). A great bet for a few overs here and there, but I don't think I'd pick them for much else. Not a post-season threat in my mind.

LAD - 4.5 back: the lowly, last place Dodgers. Their own fans are already done with this team. But I'm not willing to count them out yet. The pitching has been really bad, but I think that will change. Torre is a great manager, and he'll get these good arms turned around and they will be in the 3 team race by the dog days of summer.

PICKS: PHIL, STL, COL, SF

Okay. That's enough baseball for this month.