April 2017 has been filled with many surprises. This is where the five best and five worst teams are standing as May approaches.
Worst:
5. New York Mets
Mets fans are lucky it’s only the second month of the season. Injuries and team management have definitely plagued the Mets. Cespedes and Syndergaard were guys they depended on to carry the team. Syndergaard has been masterful, Cespedes: nothing short of solid. But last week was a painful one for fans to watch as Collins mishandled the Syndergaard arm situation and Cespedes’ leg issue. Cespedes was placed on the DL as of 4/28, and Thor is likely headed in that direction as well.
Terry Collins continues to ruin the Mets’ chances and should be replaced ASAP.
4. San Diego Padres
The Padres just don’t have the talent at the major league level just yet to produce a winning season. They scored big last year at the deadline, and clearly, their plans are looking toward the future not right now.
3. San Francisco Giants
Injuries, injuries, injuries. What must aggravate Giants fans is that this horrid April was preventable and was out of the team’s hands. I mean, really. Madison Bumgarner suffered an AC sprain, in his shoulder, after a dirt-biking incident. The injury didn’t even happen in a game. Brandon Crawford was placed on the DL on 4/29 with a groin strain. Unquestionably their best player, and arguably their second best player, both down which have put SF at the bottom.
2. Kansas City Royals
There’s really not much to say about Kansas City. Their 2014 and 2015 talent has disappeared. Yes, Eric Hosmer is still there, but losing Johnny Cueto, Wade Davis and Ben Zobrist proved detrimental for their future. Not to mention they traded basically their whole farm system for Cueto and Zobrist, just for them to sign elsewhere after winning their second championship. The Royals are sitting with seven wins in 23 games right now, last in the AL Central, and that’s probably where they’ll sit for the majority of 2017.
1. Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays made a serious case for their third title in 2016 when they lost four games to 1 in the ALCS. Encarnacion struck them heard this offseason, as none of their 2016 luck carried over to 2017 as April was disastrous for them. Like many teams injures seriously hurt them. Losses include Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, J.A. Happ, and now, Aaron Sanchez. Sanchez left Sunday’s game after one inning against the Rays. Outside of injuries, their pitchers haven’t been giving them innings which over works their bullpen, and leads to seasons like Roberto Osuna’s. These reasons all make the Blue Jays the worst of the worst right now.
Best:
5. Colorado Rockies
Are the Rockies really legit? I don’t see any reason to why they are not. Nolan Arenado gives Manny Machado some competition as the best third baseman in the MLB. Charlie Blackmon and Mark Reynolds have all provided consistency in the mile-high state through one month. Getting Ian Desmond back off the DL will help both in the field, and at the plate, as he was an all star in 2016. The Rockies finally may have a shot at winning their first title. Everything is looking up for them.
4. Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a team that always seem to be underestimated before the season. Yet, they always perform at the highest level. With Manny Machado manning third, nobody should be wondering why the Orioles come out on top. Adam Jones is a phenomenal athlete, he won’t light up the stat sheet offensively, but will definitely do some damage. Defense is where he shines, as most of us probably saw that WBC home run robbing catch. Pitching is easily their downfall, but hitting makes up for it, which is why the sit second in the AL East.
3. Houston Astros
This is the Astros time. A surprising down 2016, has now lead to a phenomenal 2017. Jose Altuve is at the top of his game as is George Springer, and Carlos Correa is climbing to be the premier shortstop in all of baseball. Yulieski Gurriel, straight out of Cuba, is hitting .329 providing consistency at the plate. Dallas Keuchel is also returning to his former Cy-Young self-posting a 1.21 ERA in 5 outings. Other than Keuchel, the Astros weakest link seems to be pitching. That hasn’t been too much of an issue yet as their hitters have picked up for their shallow depth at pitching.
2. New York Yankees
This was definitely a tough decision The Yankees are stiff competition right now. Washington’s pitchers have been unbeatably better. This isn’t saying that their Gunners haven’t stepped up though. The Yankees picked up their slack after a 1-4 start. Pineda is finally showing his highest potential. Sabathia looks to have reformed himself as a strategic pitcher as opposed to a velocity, strikeout pitcher. Severino has bounced back and is giving the Yanks’ ace stuff on the bump. Their lineup lead by Aaron Judge and Starlin Castro, Jacoby Ellsbury, Chase Headley, and even Austin Romine are all giving them results. It’s a great time to be a Yankee.
Find out more about the Yankees’ season right here: https://myweeklysports.com/yankees-2017-already-a-success/
1. Washington Nationals
The Nationals have started off hot, and they don’t look to be slowing down. Bryce Harper is recovering from a down 2016, and everybody is contributing something. Gio Gonzalez pitching to a tune of a 1.62 ERA, third in the NL. Anthony Rendon going 6-6 on Sunday with three homeruns and ten RBI’s in their routing of the Mets, 23-5. Strasburg, Scherzer, and even Roark are also guys that have brought the Nationals success, topping the charts at number 1.