The unofficial start of summer and the first hurdle in baseball.
Memorial Day weekend. A time for barbecues, family get-togethers, and watching America's pastime. They call it the "unofficial start of summer." It's also looked at as the first point in the baseball season where the contenders start to pull away from the pretenders. Of course, this is not an exact science. But fans can start to see how their teams are shaping up by perusing the standings at the end of May.
Teams will not mail it in until closer to the July 31st trading deadline, especially with the wildcard possibilities. But some marginal deals will start being made, which will setup the potential blockbusters later on.
Starting with the National League, the East is somewhat predictable, with the improved Mets, Braves, and Phillies going at it from the first pitch. New York is clinging to a small lead, although they have had serious injury concerns and ineffectiveness out of the back end of their starting rotation. Atlanta is always a threat, regardless of roster turnover every offseason. Philly has played good ball and should be there most of the way. The bottom dwellers, Washington and Florida, are in for long seasons.
The NL Central has the class of the league, the St. Louis Cardinals, in their customary position on top. After that, a few surprises are present. Cincinnati and Milwaukee have played very solid baseball without many expectations. Houston is in the mix and may get a big push if Roger Clemens decides to come back. The Cubs and the Pirates have underachieved, but at least Chicago has their annual injuries as an excuse.
Out west, all five clubs are within four games of each other and over .500. That race is shaping up nicely with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers playing better than expected.
Over in the Junior Circuit, the East is about where we expected it to be. The Yankees and Red Sox are fighting it out for the top spot with an improved Blue Jays squad keeping themselves close. The Orioles and Devil Rays are holding up the "second division," but keep your eyes on Scott Kazmir, who is answering any questions the Mets may have had about him and then some.
The AL Central has the surprising Tigers on top, with old dog Jim Leyland making the naysayers eat their words. The defending world champion White Sox are still one of the better teams in baseball and should be there when it's all said and done. The Indians have been a bit of a disappointment, and the Twins are basically a mediocre team. The Royals are going to give the 1962 Mets a run for their money for the 120-loss mark.
The AL West has been somewhat of a letdown. The Angels are in the basement, while the Rangers are leading in the early going. The A's and Mariners look to be what they have been so far — under .500 and trading deadline sellers.
The next mark to judge teams will be the All-Star Break in July. Much can change between now and then, and that is why this game is so great. A bold prediction — Tampa Bay will not contend, but not be the easy out they have always been and finish at least .500.
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