Who's on First? The Surprises of the First Month of Baseball

Thousands of writers, pundits, and idiots on the street put forth their predictions for the Major League Baseball season before each season starts. 

Some are right, most are wrong.  Nobody, however, can fully predict everything that will happen.  Here are the top five surprises from the first month of the 2008 Major League Baseball season, a few predictions for what to look out for in May, and the first month awards.

5. Detroit Tigers

Detroit's extremely slow start surprised many in the baseball world.  When Dontrelle Willis went down thanks to a hyper-extended knee, many thought their season was over.  However the high-powered Tigers offense seems to have come to life and by the end of May they should be back on top.  They're only three games out now!

4. Ryan Howard

I'm not many sure how many people would consider this a surprise, but the 2006 MVP is looking like a fish out of the water at the plate.  He has struck out 40% of the time he's been up, is batting a miserable .176, and has been held to just four home runs and nine RBI through the first month of the season.  Even though Howard is slowly sinking, the Phillies still have more home runs than any team in baseball—by five.

3. Florida Marlins

Before the season began everyone thought it was going to be a two or three team race in the NL East.  Neither of those two or three teams were named the Florida Marlins.  The Marlins have shocked many, starting 13-9.  They've shown that they are a team to be reckoned with, even though they're payroll is about 1/30 of the Yankees.  The Marlins also have the 2nd most home runs in the Majors. 

2. Arizona Diamondbacks

Although expected to do somewhat decently this season, the Diamondbacks are surprising those experts and pundits, starting the year a remarkable 16-6, leading the reigning NL Champion Rockies by six games in the NL West.  They seem to be clicking on all cylinders, fourth in the NL in batting average and first in the Majors in ERA. 

1. C.C. Sabathia

Last year's AL Cy Young Winner has been everything but that for the Tribe this year.  With a 1-3 record and a 10.13 ERA, he has given up 22 earned runs in only 18.2 innings of work, including nine runs to Oakland and Detroit each.  The Tribe need to hope that Sabathia's last start, 11 K's, zero ER in six innings of work, is an indication of what will happen for the rest of the year.  If not, the Tribe is in some serious trouble. 

2008 April Awards:

AL Cy Young- Cliff Lee
NL Cy Young- Tim Lincecum

AL MVP- Manny Ramirez
NL MVP- Chase Utley

AL Rookie- Jacoby Ellsbury (best I could do)
NL Rookie- Johnny Cueto