MLB Teams Who Started Well but Will Eventually Fall Off

With the longest season in professional sports, baseball is definitely a marathon and not a sprint. Every season, several teams seem destined for the postseason after a hot start early in the year.

However, a fast start does not always equal a successful season. Take the 2011 Cleveland Indians as an example. They started the season with a remarkable 30-15 record, but failed to make the playoffs.

Here is a look at five teams that have started the 2012 campaign with a winning record but will eventually fall off and miss the postseason.

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are off to a solid 5-4 start in the American League East. They are currently tied for first with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Their talented, young starting rotation has performed above expectations, and their offense has generated enough runs to get the team some early-season wins.

However, Orioles fans should not get their hopes up too high for their team this season. They simply do not have the talent to compete with the rosters and payrolls of the other teams in the AL East.

While they have made things exciting for their fans thus far, the Orioles will eventually fall off and miss the playoffs.

New York Mets

The New York Mets are off to a great 7-3 start in the National League East. Only the Washington Nationals currently have a better record in that division than the Mets.

However, the National League East is filled with five teams that are all capable of winning the division. The Mets just don't have the offense needed to keep up with the likes of Philadelphia, Atlanta and Miami.

Thus far this season, the Mets pitching has been the factor that has won them seven games. However, once the Mets start playing more games within their division, their fast start will only be a distant memory.

Seattle Mariners

As it sits right now, the Seattle Mariners own a 6-5 record and are second in the four-team American League West. The Mariners started the MLB season early with two games played in Japan against the Oakland Athletics.

Although they are second in the division, it must be noted that five of the team's six wins have come against the Oakland Athletics, who are expected to be one of the worst teams in the American League.

While the Mariners do have several young players that are likely to be solid MLB players in the future, fans should not expect their team to contend in 2012. The talent levels of the Mariners' divisional foes are just too great for the mediocre Seattle roster to overcome.

Despite their decent start, the Mariners will once again finish behind Texas and Los Angeles in the American League West.

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox currently find themselves with a 5-3 record and in second place in the American League Central. A combination of solid pitching and offense have contributed to their quick start.

They also took two of three from the Detroit Tigers, who are the favorite to win the division. However, the White Sox will not be able to continue their winning ways.

Much like the Indians of last season, the White Sox will find it difficult to contend as the season progresses. The losses they endured this past offseason of several key players will come back to hurt the team, as their young players will start to falter.

In a division with several talented teams, the White Sox will soon find themselves further back in the standings and miss the postseason.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks started the 2012 season off with a bang by sweeping the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series. They are currently 6-3 and in second place in the National League West.

However, despite winning the division a year ago, the Diamondbacks will find it difficult to keep up in the division this year. The Dodgers are finally out from beneath the cloud of their impending sale and are playing like a team that could go far in the postseason. They have the type of offense that can carry them throughout an entire season.

The Diamondbacks also have a very potent offense, but their pitching will end up being their downfall. They also have to contend with the Giants' outstanding starting pitching, which is capable of shutting down the Arizona lineup.

Arizona fans should enjoy their fast start because the later parts of the season might not be as fun as last season was for the team.