5 Lessons Learned from the 1st Week of MLB Spring Training

With spring training underway, players are getting used to being back with their teammates after a long offseason. This month of baseball is good preparation for the upcoming season. Offseason moves helped put teams like the Dodgers, Angels and Blue Jays in possible World Series contention. Getting it done with the players in your lineup is another story.

Spring training is be a good time for fans to see if their teams have the talent to bring success to their squad down the road. Also, spring training brings major story lines to the surface that could be focused on by the fans this year. Here are five lessons learned from the first week of MLB spring training.

Brandon Belt off to a Good Start

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt has been one of the stars of the first week. In his first eight games, he has a .480 batting average, six runs batted in and three home runs. It's important that Belt continues to provide superb hitting into the upcoming season. If he can, then the Giants could repeat as champions. 

On the field, Belt has done a good job of being a solid first baseman for the team. Being consistent over the next month will give this youngster confidence heading into the season. Belt is a player to watch out for in the upcoming season because of his improvements from last year. 

Nick Maronde Not Pitching Up to His Potential

Coming out of college, Nick Maronde was one of the top pitchers of the draft. Maronde started to stand out as one of the top Angels prospects after just one year in their farm system. Maronde got the call-up to the majors in early September while he was playing for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. Through 12 games with the Angels, Maronde had a 1.50 ERA with seven strikeouts and allowed one run.

Maronde was supposed to start off spring training showing off his strong arm, but has disappointed so far. Maronde has a 17.18 ERA and allowed seven runs in 3.2 innings. He is certainly a young talent that is having troubles adjusting back into the swing of things. He might not be ready to be a starting pitcher for the Angels this year like people thought he might be. 

Carl Crawford's Injury Still Affecting Play

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping Carl Crawford can be a quality player this season. After going through Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery last August, it might take time to get back to full health—not only recovering from his left elbow problems, but also making sure he can get used to playing full time after a long absence. Crawford will probably not be playing much in spring training, which will hurt his ability to be ready for Opening Day. 

According to a recent ESPN article, he has been cleared to begin throwing and hitting after nerve irritation in his left elbow. The Dodgers are going to need Crawford to play up to his full potential this season if they are going to win the title. Hopefully, Crawford continues to get better and look like the player he used to be.

Brett Gardner Looking Excellent in First Week

Who is the best hitter through the first week of spring training? Not Buster Posey or Andrew McCutchen, but Brett Gardner. The New York Yankees outfielder leads the league with a .579 batting average and three runs batted in through seven games. Gardner could certainly be on the path for a breakout season if he continues to hit at this rate.

The Yankees will really need Gardner to bring his bat this season in what looks to be one of the best divisions in baseball. Certainly Gardner has the talent to be a quality player for the Yankees, but will his spring training success translate into the upcoming season? If he can, then the Yankees will compete with the other talented squads in the AL East.  

Roy Halladay Showing Major Improvements

After last year's dismal Philadelphia Phillies season, many of their fans were disappointed that they missed the playoffs. They have made the postseason five of the last six seasons. One of the reasons for their third-place finish was that their star pitchers really underperformed.

Halladay was one of those pitchers who struggled at times last season. He finished off the season with 11 wins and a 4.49 ERA. From the 2008-2011 seasons, Halladay averaged over 19 wins per year with an ERA of about 2.60. So far into spring training, Halladay has shown sparks of a quality pitcher that could be helpful for the Phillies. Halladay is in his mid-30s, and the Phillies will need impressive numbers from him if they are going to have any shot at winning the division.