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• AL TEAM SURPRISE: Frankly, at this point there are not too many surprises in the AL. The top of the lot would probably have to be the Texas Rangers, who thanks in part to a very weak NL schedule, have managed to maintain a solid grip on first place out there. A team 3.90 ERA is almost unheard of for the Rangers, but mark my words, it’s going to heat up in the AL West — in more ways than just the weather in Texas.
• AL TEAM DISAPPOINTMENT: Hands down, this honor goes to the Seattle Mariners. Cliff Lee and Chone Figgins have both picked it up recently, but they are quite a long way back, with no end in sight, despite a solid enough 3.88 ERA for the staff. That said, a .658 team OPS isn’t helping much, is it? An AL-low 52 home runs. No wonder they went out of their way to bring Russell Branyan back.
• NL TEAM SURPRISE: Atlanta deserves consideration, especially in view of their wretched start, but we all knew they have the pitching to sustain themselves. So too, we knew the Cincinnati Reds had some offensive talent lurking around there (.791 team OPS), even though we might have expected Dusty Baker to ignore it. No, my vote goes the the San Diego Padres. Mat Latos and company in that rotation has been excellent. (12 shutouts, are you kidding me?) A staff ERA of 3.05 is superb, even in that ball park. Adrian Gonzalez has led a steady supporting cast. They simply continue to win.
• NL TEAM DISAPPOINTMENT: I originally thought it was the Milwaukee Brewers, with their wretched pitching (4.80 ERA), but that weakness was obvious from the outset. Meanwhile, Hart, Braun, Fielder, Weeks and company have kept that team in the hunt despite some erratic streaks (they are second in the NL in team OPS at .771). The Chicago Cubs, however, are out of it — also in more ways than one. Sorry, but there is very little good to write home about to the parents from overnight camp concerning the denizens of Wrigley this year.

FIELD PLAYERS and PITCHERS VERSIONS still to come….

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