Major League Baseball 2009 season begins with a bang
By Trey Warren, May, 2009
Sports Editor
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Trey Warren
Sports Editor
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The 2009 Major League Baseball season has started with a bang. Many teams have surprised some fans while others have not disappointed. Just a few weeks into the season, are some teams dreaming or are they living a reality?
Let’s start in the National League, where the Eastern Division has one of our biggest surprises. The Florida Marlins have started the season very hot, including a run of seven straight. Is this how the rest of the season will play out for the Marlins? This is exactly how they began their season in 2003; the year they won their second World Championship.
The defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies are off to a semi-slow start, beginning the season 5-6. The Washington Nationals took eight games to capture their first victory, which took place in their home opener.
In the Central Division, the Chicago Cubs, who are favored to win the division, have won each of its series to start the season. Alfonso Soriano is off to a hot start, passing Brady Anderson for third most leadoff homeruns with 49. First baseman Derrek Lee, however, is off to a slow start, hitting just .238 and striking out nine times.
Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick have a combined 29 runs batted in for the St. Louis Cardinals, who are currently tied with the Cubs. The rest of the division follows close, but will soon trail off when both Cub and Cardinal lineups provide the offence they are capable of.
Then we head to the Western Division where the Dodgers have won eight straight. Pitcher Chad Billingsly has won all three of his starts, and outfielder Andre Either leads the National League in RBIs.
The San Diego Padres, who finished last in the division last year, currently are in second place. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez is off to the best start of his career, hitting five homeruns and knocking in 11 RBIs. Pitcher Cla Meredith is off to a 3-0 start, and new closer Heath Bell has 7 saves to lead the entire league.
The Arizona Diamondback’s ace, Brandon Webb, was roughed up in his first start, and then put on the disabled list for 15 days due to tightness in his shoulder. Defending Cy Young award winner and Giant’s pitcher, Tim Lincecum, was shelled in his first start and lasted just three innings. He is still without a win in three appearances.
Moving to the American League, the West has flip-flopped from the end of last year. The Seattle Mariners are first in the division after finishing 39 games back from the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have moved from top of the West to the bottom of the division.
Off season pickup, Bobby Abreu, is making an impact offensively for the Halos but isn’t producing runs due to the lack of baserunners while he is at the plate. The Texas Rangers started the season by roughing up defending AL Cy Young award winner, Cliff Lee. All-Star second baseman, Ian Kinsler, is picking up where he left off before getting injured after the All-Star break last year. He has already hit through the cycle and has four homeruns and seven doubles.
Now to the Central, where all teams are even to this point. Surprisingly, the Royals are over .500 through the first 10 games. The Tiger’s first baseman, Miguel Cabrera, leads the entire major league with a .489 batting average.
Defending Cy Young award winner, Cliff Lee, has already lost two decisions in the early season, as many as he had lost all of last year. Some teams will remain a reality, but this Royals’ good start will soon diminish. However, keep an eye out for Zack Grienke, who has started 3-0 to start the year, and hasn’t allowed a run.
On to the East, where the Toronto Blue Jays have started hot with pitcher Roy Halladay starting out the year 3-0. The Yankees, after being introduced at their brand new stadium, lose the inaugural game 10-2. Two days later, the Yankees pitching staff would give up a record 14 runs in one inning and would lose 22-4.
The defending East Champs, the Tampa Bay Rays, are currently in last place. After a hot start, the Orioles are beginning to fall off the radar. Boston has currently won five in a row, and defending Most Valuable Player, Dustin Pedroia, started a bit slow, but has picked it up and is hitting near .300.
Look at it this way, as reported earlier, the last time the Marlins started out this hot, they won the World Series. Will it be the case this year? It’s obviously too early to tell, but one can always wonder.
The new talents the Yankees have are off to a slow start, but it won’t last, Yankee fans. Consider the fact that CC Sabathia started out last season 1-6 and finished 8-1, helping the Brewers clinch the Wild Card.
Also, look for the Dodgers to stay hot since Manny Ramirez has only produced seven RBIs, six fewer then he brought in during his first 13 games with the club last year. The 2009 baseball season will be a fun one to watch. |
