BLS Roundtable: Which team’s surprising hot start is for real?
Sample size can be a dangerous thing. After two weeks, some surprising clubs have gotten off to hot starts, and have found themselves near the top of their respective divisions. While winning a ton of games in April doesn’t guarantee success, it’s certainly helpful.
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It’s usually unwise to dramatically alter our opinions after just two weeks of play, but that’s exactly what we’re doing here. If you had to pick one surprising team you think is for real, which team would you pick?
NEW YORK METS
While the first two weeks have brought forth concerns about their health, the key takeaway about the New York Mets is such: They know how to win ballgames. The Mets, 11-3, have the best record in the NL, and are winners of nine straight. Their strength has been pitching — with Matt Harvey returning in ace form and Bartolo Colton impressing as an elder statesman. Their ERA is good, their strikeouts are nice and they’ve given up the second fewest walks in MLB. Pitching wins, all year long, so that’s the best reason for optimism about the Mets. They’ll probably need another bat, and they can’t sustain too many more injuries, but these Mets have every opportunity to make a run. Especially with the Marlins underwhelming and the Nats only playing so-so. (Mike Oz)
COLORADO ROCKIES
For the past four seasons, the Rockies have been two players away from being relevant. Those two players have been on the roster the entire time, but not on the field nearly enough. Of course, I’m talking Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. As long as they’re healthy, Colorado will be a difficult team to contend with. The starting pitcher is what it’s always been, inconsistent and unattractive. But with emerging stars like Nolan Arenado and Corey Dickerson joining the big two, in addition to a highly underrated bullpen, they could easily continue rolling out West. (Mark Townsend)
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HOUSTON ASTROS
Sure they’re just 8-6, but these are the Houston Astros we’re talking about. Losers of 92 games last season, 111 the season before that, 107 in 2012, and 106 in 2011, a plus-.500 record even at this early juncture is sign of progress in Houston and actually has them in first place in the AL West. They’re not scoring many runs – the Astros are third to last in the AL in runs scored at 41 – but their pitching staff is giving them a chance to win. Led by unheralded starters Dallas Keuchel (2-0, 0.90 ERA) and Collin McHugh (3-0, 2.41 ERA), Houston is already proving they’re not going to get pushed around like they have been in the past. (Israel Fehr)
ATLANTA BRAVES
After the Braves spent the offseason trading Jason Heyward and Justin Upton and Evan Gattis and Melvin Upton and Craig Kimbrel, it seemed like they were going into rebuilding mode. Instead, at 8-5, they trail only the New York Mets (?) in the suddenly formidable NL East. Why can they keep it going? Pitching, mostly. The Braves acquired Shelby Miller in the Heyward trade with the Cardinals and at 24 he’s already in his third full season and has the pedigree to be a star. Miller along with Julio Teheran, an All Star in 2014, and budding star Alex Wood form a young, very good top three in the rotation. If they can continue to get offense from new outfielders Nick Markakis and Jonny Gomes, and from holdovers like slugger Freddie Freeman, the Braves will be able to keep up with anybody in the East. (Ian Denomme)
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
After a strange offseason, many expected the Athletics to be decent, but still finish behind both the Mariners and Angels in the West. Thus far, the A’s have been passable, at 7-8. That’s not a tremendous start, but there’s still a lot to like here. The Athletics are currently getting by without Jarrod Parker or A.J. Griffin. Parker appears to be about a month away, so any wins the team can bank before getting those players back is significant. On top of that, it’s starting to look like Stephen Vogt’s performance last season wasn’t a fluke. The A’s have been willing to embrace platoons in recent years, and early returns on Ike Davis are proving that this strategy can work. This team is run by smart people, both in the front office and on the field. We were foolish to doubt them coming into the year. (Chris Cwik)
Which team do you believe in? Be sure to let us know on Twitter, Facebook or in the comments.
