$\"Braves$ <\/a>

Braves enjoying big lead.<\/p><\/div>\n

Braves’ big lead in the East<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0It\u2019s a bit of surprise that the Braves are walking away with the Division \u2013 an 11-game lead as we go into the dog days (of August).\u00a0 But it\u2019s not because the Braves are surprisingly good, it\u2019s because the rest of the division, including the division favorites \u2013 the Washington Nationals \u2013 are surprisingly bad.\u00a0 In fact, the second place Nationals end August four games under .500. Overall, the Braves stand 18 games over .500, while the rest of the division is 34 games under.<\/p>\n

Nationals’ offense. \u00a0<\/strong><\/span>For the preseason favorite Nationals, the culprit is a disappointing offense, which has outscored only Miami in the NL \u2013 the Nats were fifth in the NL in runs in 2012.\u00a0 Lack of run support has also meant that Stephen Strasburg stands at a disappointing 5-9 in his much anticipated \u201cno-shutdown\u201d season, despite a 3.04 ERA.\u00a0 (Strasburg was 15-6, 3.16 in 2012.)<\/p>\n

Chris Johnson.<\/strong><\/span> As far as the division-leading Braves (NL\u2019s third best in NL in runs, leading in HRs) go, the biggest surprise may be 28-year-old third baseman Chris Johnson, a .289 career hitter, leading the NL in average at .342 (six homers, 37 RBI).<\/p>\n

B.J. Upton<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0The Braves also have one of the division\u2019s major disappointments in B.J. Upton (of the five-year, $75.2 million contract), who stands at .177-8-20, with seven steals, after 2012\u2019s .246 – 28 HR – 79 RBI – 31 steal season with Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

\u00a0NL Central<\/h2>\n
Pirates’ best record in MLB.<\/strong> <\/span>\u00a0I guess it shouldn\u2019t be a surprise anymore that the Pirates \u2013 who last had a winning season in 1992 \u2013 continue to play very good baseball.\u00a0 Pittsburgh really surprised with the recent surge past the Cardinals.\u00a0\u00a0 At 65-42 (.607), Pittsburgh closed July with the best record in MLB.<\/p>\n
BBRT will watch the Pirates closely.\u00a0 On August 8 of last season, the Bucs were 16 games over .500 (63-47) \u2013 and finished the year 79-83.\u00a0 In 2011, the Pirates were 53-47 on July 25, and finished at 72-90.\u00a0 BBRT expects the Pirates to top .500 (and make the playoffs) this year, but it ain\u2019t over \u2018til it\u2019s over in Pittsburgh.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Francisco Liriano<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0The Pirates are doing it with pitching and the biggest surprise there is Francisco Liriano, whom the Twins and White Sox gave up on.\u00a0 Liriano is leading the Pirates with 11 wins (four losses), boasts a 2.16 ERA and has rung up 100 strikeouts in 95 2\/3 innings \u2013 despite not making his first start until May 11.\u00a0 This is the same (well, not really) Liriano whose ERA has been north of 5.00 in three of the past four seasons (34-45 record since 2009).<\/p>\n
Ed Mujica, Jean Segura, Carlos Gomez Ryan Braun<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0A few other surprises in the Division:\u00a0 The Cardinals\u2019 29-year-old unexpected closer Ed Mujica (with 2 saves in his previous seven seasons) has 30 saves and a 2.01 ERA; the hitting of the Brewers\u2019 23-year-old shortstop Jean Segura (.317-12-41) and outfielder Carlos Gomez (.301-17-52, despite a seven-season career average of .255); and Ryan Braun\u2019s suspension (Nah, we all saw that coming).<\/p>\n
NL West<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
$\"Puig$ <\/a>
Puig boosting Dodgers.<\/p><\/div>\n
Dodgers’ resurgence<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0The surprise in the NL West is that the Dodgers are no longer one of MLB major disappointments – thanks in great part to the call up of 22-year-old outfielder Yasiel Puig (.364-10-23, with 36 runs in 50 games); the return of veteran shortstop Hanley Ramirez (.374-11-35, with 36 runs in 51 games) and the resurgence of Zack Greinke (3-1, 2.61 in July). \u00a0\u00a0LA, by playing .760 ball in July (19-6), not only climbed back into the race, but went from last place at the end of June to first place at the end of July.<\/p>\n
Disappointing reigning World Series winners<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0The West\u2019s major disappointment is the last-place Giants (2012 World Series winners in a sweep over the Tigers).\u00a0 Pitching, supposedly a San Francisco strength, has been disappointing \u2013 12^{th<\/sup> in the NL in ERA, despite standing second in strikeouts.Matt Cain has, perhaps, fallen the shortest of expectations, standing at 6-6, 4.79 \u2013 after 2012\u2019s 16-5, 2.79. \u00a0His 2013 ERA is more than a full fun higher than his career (nine season) mark of 3.39.\u00a0 Two-time Cy Young Award winner Ted Lincecum\u2019s 5-11, 4.61 is an improvement over last season (10-15. 5.18), but nowhere near his previous form.<\/p>\n}
Michael Cuddyer’s bat.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Michael Cuddyer continues to be another West Division surprise.\u00a0 The Rockies\u2019 outfielder \u2013 a lifetime .275 hitter \u2013 posted a .329-17-62 line through July (hitting.356 at home and .304 on the road).<\/p>\n
Paul Goldschmidt’s 86 RBI and Pat Corbin’s 12 wins.<\/strong><\/span> Another pleasant West Division surprise is the Diamondbacks\u2019 first baseman Paul Goldschmidt leading the NL with 86 RBI, to go with 24 homers and a .303 average.\u00a0 In his third MLB season, the 25-year-old Goldschmidt continued to trend upward.\u00a0 Arizona lefthander Pat Corbin, in just his second MLB season, is also a surprise at 12-2, 2.24.<\/p>\n
AL East<\/h2>\n
Boston leading the East.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Boston finishing July in first place in the AL East is a bit of a surprise; most analysts predicted a third place finish behind Toronto and Tampa Bay.\u00a0 Boston leads the division in runs scored and is second in the AL to Detroit in that category.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
$\"Bib$ <\/a>
Bib Papi. Big smile. Big bat.<\/p><\/div>\n
Koji Uehara abnd David Ortiz.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0A couple of \u201cveterans\u201d are the Red \u00a0Sox\u2019 two biggest surprise.\u00a0 Since taking over at closer (from Andrew Bailey) in late June, thirty-eight-year-old right-hander Koji Uehara has appeared in 18 games (eight saves, two blown saves, two wins), throwing 19 1\/3 innings, logging 28 strikeouts against just one walk, and allowing just one earned run.\u00a0 Just a year younger than Uehara, DH David Ortiz\u2019 was boasting a .324-20-68 line as of July 31.<\/p>\n
Yankees over .500, bullpen bearing the load.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0The fact that the Yankees \u2013 despite age, injuries and controversy (read A-Rod) are still over .500 (56-51) \u2013 is a surprise.\u00a0 The bullpen has helped keep the Yankees in the hunt (their offense ranks 12^{th<\/sup> in the AL runs scored and 14^{th<\/sup> in average and HRs \u2013 and only Hiroki Kuroda has an ERA under 4.00 among starting pitchers). The pen, led by the ageless Mariano Rivera (34 saves, 1.60 ERA) and set up man Dave Robertson (4-1, 1.83) has also gotten strong performances from Preston Clairborne, Boone Logan and Shawn Kelley.<\/p>\n}}
The Blue Jays and R.A. Dickey.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Toronto, the preseason division favorite, is the biggest disappointment, facing a 14-game deficit in the AL East race.\u00a0 The starting pitching is the biggest disappointment for Jays\u2019 fans.\u00a0 Last year\u2019s NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey (20-6, 2.73 for the Mets), a key off-season addition, stands at 8-11, 4.66.<\/p>\n
Chris Davis.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0No longer a total surprise, but still a bit surprising is\u00a0Orioles\u2019 first baseman Chris Davis \u2013 closing out July with a .304 average, an MLB-leading 38 homers and an MLB-leading (tied with Miguel Cabrera) 99 RBI.\u00a0 Davis is probably all that stands between Cabrera and a Triple Crown repeat.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Wil Myers.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Twenty-two-year-old Tampa Bay call up Wil Myers is also a surprise, not for how well he is doing (.331-7-27 in his first 36 games), but rather for how soon he was called up.<\/p>\n
AL Central<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Scherzer leading Tigers to top.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Detroit is on top, followed by Cleveland. No surprise there \u2013 or anywhere else in the Central standings.\u00a0 What may be a bit of surprise is that Detroit\u2019s power pitching (fourth-best AL ERA and a league-leading 932 strikeouts in 957 2\/3 innings pitched) is not being led by preseason Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander (11-8, 3.88, 138 strikeouts in 143 2\/3 innings).\u00a0 Max Scherzer, with two less starts than Verlander (21 vs. 23), has thrown an identical 143 2\/3 innings, but surpasses Verlander in wins (leading MLB at 15-1), ERA (3.01) and strikeouts (164).<\/p>\n
Torii Hunter.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Not to be outdone by the Red Sox in terms of contribution from veterans, 38-year-old Torii Hunter continues to wield a hot bat. \u00a0Hunter, has been a reliable source of offense (and defense), but did not reach .300 for the first 15 years of his MLB career, went .313-16-92 for the Angels in 2012) and stands at .316-11-53 for Detroit this year.<\/p>\n
AL West<\/h2>\n
Oakland at top, Angels 14 out.<\/strong> <\/span>Oakland at the top, and the free-spending Angels 14 games out and ten games under .500 constitutes a mild surprise and a major disappointment, respectively.<\/p>\n
Hamilton and Pujols.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0The Angels clearly expected more from Josh Hamilton (.226-16-50) after his .285-43-128 for Texas in 2012.\u00a0 Same for Albert Pujols, who stands at .258-17-64.<\/p>\n
A’s infield bats.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Oakland, on the other hand is getting surprisingly positive results from its infielders: third baseman Josh Donaldson (.297-16-43); shortstop Jed Lowrie (.293-8-43) and second baseman Eric Sogard (.273-2-19).<\/p>\n
Bartolo Colon strong at 40<\/strong><\/span>. On the mound, the most notable surprise is the A\u2019s 40-year-old Bartolo Colon (14-3, 2.50).<\/p>\n
Iwakuma and Ibanez in Seattle.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0Seattle\u2019s had a couple of surprises this far.\u00a0 Right hander Hisashi Iwakuma is 10-4, with a solid 2.76 ERA; while 41-year-old Raul Ibanez finished July at .252-24-57, within striking distance of the record of 29 home runs in a season for a player after reaching age forty.<\/p>\n
So, there are some BBRT observations on the season through July.\u00a0 Looks like a fun run to October, with plenty more surprises \u2013 and certainly a few disappointments \u2013 in store.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another month in and it\u2019s time for BBRT to again review some 2013 MLB surprises and disappointments.\u00a0 A couple of these are, of course, repetitive \u2013 as some surprises (the Pirates) appear poised to stay the course and a few disappointments (the Blue Jays) \u00a0continue to flounder.\u00a0 BBRT won\u2019t touch on all the surprises, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n