Which team is the biggest surprse?

[NinjaDefuse]

Just curious, what team do you think has been the biggest surprise so far?

[Kobalt]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

Angles failure?

[PhilliesFan13]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

The Orioles.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

I voted Nationals before I read all of the choices. The Angels failure is definitely the biggest surprise for me. Last night's game was the first of theirs that I had a chance to see, but it was not good.

[slickdtc]

Angles failure?

Speaking of failures...

[SPTO]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

Angels for me, I mean even if Pujols under performs you'd think the rest of the lineup and the starting rotation would be a bit better but it has been quite bad across the board.

I think the O's will drop back to earth at some point. Call me a skeptic, but I think this season for them is going to be very similar to Tony Pena's first season as Royals manager where they'll have a slightly over .500 record but they won't be close to a wild card.

The Red Sox failures were a 50/50 thing though I never thought they'd perform THIS badly.

The Nats have been talked about all spring so while the hot start is surprising the overall season won't be much of one to me.

[sydrogerdavid]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

I voted for the O's. I completely didn't expect the O's to win like this.

As for the Angels, I wasn't expecting them to lose like this, but I'm also not surprised by their losing.

[NinjaDefuse]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

My bad for spelling Angels* wrong, lol.

For me I think that the Mets is the surprise I am most HAPPY with, being a Mets fan and all. :wink:

But most impressed by; that I'd have to give to the Nats'.

Their pitching is quite talented and the amount of YOUNG talent they have is actually scary for a NLE rival of the big NYM.

[JBH3]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

I voted O's as it appears most who've voted on the poll have too...I thought this team would be 10 games below .500 right now. They may still finish that way, but its damn exciting to see them playing inspired baseball. Go O's!

[wwharton]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

It's the O's hands down! And no, that's not bc I'm an O's fan, lol.

Seriously though, the Nats shouldn't be a surprise. Their pitching staff was expected to be lights out and their offense is actually underperforming. They could end up getting even better and it still wouldn't be a shock.

The Angels (and big Al) raise an eyebrow, but it'd be a bigger deal if we were in July and they were still performing like this. Now it's just a slow start.

The same can be said for the O's in reverse, but the difference is even if they fall of the face of the Earth today, come end of the season they still would've exceeded expectations. They're not just competing, they're tied for 1st in the AL and only a game back from the best record in the majors... almost 40 games in. There's no way it lasts but they're "holding their breath underwater" longer than anyone thought they could.

[Sportsforever]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

It's the O's hands down! And no, that's not bc I'm an O's fan, lol.

Seriously though, the Nats shouldn't be a surprise. Their pitching staff was expected to be lights out and their offense is actually underperforming. They could end up getting even better and it still wouldn't be a shock.

The Angels (and big Al) raise an eyebrow, but it'd be a bigger deal if we were in July and they were still performing like this. Now it's just a slow start.

The same can be said for the O's in reverse, but the difference is even if they fall of the face of the Earth today, come end of the season they still would've exceeded expectations. They're not just competing, they're tied for 1st in the AL and only a game back from the best record in the majors... almost 40 games in. There's no way it lasts but they're "holding their breath underwater" longer than anyone thought they could.

I believe it was 2005 when they started like this and held on until around the AS break...and then came crashing back down. This feels different though...in '05 it seemed more like smoke and mirrors while this looks like legitimate improvement.

[wwharton]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

I believe it was 2005 when they started like this and held on until around the AS break...and then came crashing back down. This feels different though...in '05 it seemed more like smoke and mirrors while this looks like legitimate improvement.

I've wanted to check but don't really know an easy way, but I don't think they were at this level for this long in 2005. They were still in the race for the division around the AS break but the record wasn't this good, and I believe it had started falling before the AS break... they were just still in the race.

This does seem different anyway. They have more depth in the pitching staff. Back then they had Bedard and that was about it. Now, I don't think they have anyone as good as Bedard was but EVERYBODY is better than everyone else on that staff, and the bullpen is legit this year. Overall, I think the offense is legit this year too. I just don't see the pitching holding up.

[Marino]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

I voted Dodgers because I did not expect them to start off this hot. Not with that lineup and that rotation. Been a pleasant surprise.

[Sportsforever]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

I've wanted to check but don't really know an easy way, but I don't think they were at this level for this long in 2005. They were still in the race for the division around the AS break but the record wasn't this good, and I believe it had started falling before the AS break... they were just still in the race.

This does seem different anyway. They have more depth in the pitching staff. Back then they had Bedard and that was about it. Now, I don't think they have anyone as good as Bedard was but EVERYBODY is better than everyone else on that staff, and the bullpen is legit this year. Overall, I think the offense is legit this year too. I just don't see the pitching holding up.

I went and checked retrosheet.org (great site along with baseball reference!):

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/06212005.htm

On the morning of June 21st the O's were in 1st place and 42-28. They then proceeded to lose 12 of 14 and fall out of first for good.

[wwharton]

Re: Which team is the biggest surprse?

I went and checked retrosheet.org (great site along with baseball reference!):

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/06212005.htm

On the morning of June 21st the O's were in 1st place and 42-28. They then proceeded to lose 12 of 14 and fall out of first for good.

Nice, thanks! Great site too.