A oto artykuł:
Odd names at top of standings might just stick around
April 30, 2001
SportsLine.com wire reports
It's early to start planning for that Cubs-Twins World Series, but some of baseball's surprising starts this season might mean something.
April success has translated very well to October baseball recently. Fifteen of the past 18 teams that held a share of first place entering May went on to make the playoffs.
That's good news for AL East co-leaders Boston and Toronto, as well as the other division leaders: Minnesota, Seattle, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and the Chicago Cubs.
But they aren't buying into the history yet.
"A good start means nothing without a good finish," said Corey Koskie, one of the keys to the Twins' surprising start.
It's been a wild opening month in the majors. Three last-place teams from 2000 -- the Twins, Phillies and Cubs -- are in first place, while none of last year's NL division winners -- Atlanta, St. Louis and San Francisco -- are playing above .500.
"We started the season very well and we're in first place right now, so we don't have any complaints," Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu said. "We just have to keep pushing."
It's even worse for the NL champion Mets, as well as Oakland and the White Sox -- the two teams with the best records in the AL last season. All three of those teams enter May in last place.
"I know everything's going to change," Jose Valentin of the White Sox said. "I think we've got a better team than last year. We've just got to put it together."
They better start soon.
The White Sox were nine games behind Minnesota before the Twins' game Monday night against the Yankees. Oakland ended the month 12 games behind the surprising Mariners.
No team since Detroit in 1987 has finished April more than five games out of first place and ended up in the postseason.
"As far as we're concerned, we're not enjoying it," A's manager Art Howe said. "I know we have a long way to go. If we don't start winning it could be even longer."
If the season ended today, the playoffs would be filled with misfits.
The Twins had the worst record in the AL last year and haven't finished with a winning record since 1992. The Mariners set an April record with 20 wins despite losing Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson in less than three years.
"We just don't feel like we're going to lose," said Mike Cameron, who replaced Griffey in center field before last season. "The way we've been playing, it seems like we can't lose a game. We've had some luck, but luck comes from being good and we've been good."
The Blue Jays haven't been to the postseason since 1993 and traded 20-game winner David Wells to the White Sox for Mike Sirotka, who won't pitch this year because of a shoulder injury. The Red Sox, behind a patchwork pitching staff, are thriving despite missing Nomar Garciaparra.
The National League might be even stranger.
The Cubs and Phillies were tied with the worst records in baseball last year. The Reds, who are leading the wild-card race, haven't gotten a single hit from Griffey. Then there's the dysfunctional Dodgers, who endured Gary Sheffield's spring holdout and general manager Kevin Malone's forced resignation.
"It's only a distraction when you're off the field," closer Jeff Shaw said of Malone's resignation. "The only things these 25 guys in this room and the coaching staff are concerning ourselves with is what we do when we take the field. Then all that 'distraction' stuff goes out the window."
Maybe all of these surprises are fitting considering that it's the 10-year anniversary of the worst-to-first World Series, when Atlanta beat Minnesota in seven games.
Could there be another worst-to-first story for the Twins?
"Shhh. Don't even talk about that," closer LaTroy Hawkins said. "Cleveland gets hot, Chicago gets hot. It's way too early."
Or is it?
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Poprzedni temat
Lista tematów
