Surprises abound during season's first 3 weeks

If the results of the 2009 seaon's first three weeks tell us anything(and I know it's still REALLY early to draw any conclusions), it might be that the gap between the traditional "haves and the have nots" is finally narrowing. For instance, the Pirates three-game sweep of the front-running Marlins is early evidence that after 16 straight losing seasons, Pittsburgh might finally be close to putting a respectable product on the field. That 2 of their 3 wins came via the shutout(of what had been the major's most torrid team) offers a glimpse of better days. Keeping in mind that this is a franchise that has spent the last decade-plus jettisoning it best talent for budgetary reasons, it's certainly premature to draw any long-term conclusions. But when you can finally combine adequate pitching with a lineup that features Nate McLouth, Freddy Sanchez, Ryan Doumit and Jack Wilson's defense, better days are definitely ahead.

Speaking of teams that have finally come back from baseball's version of the witness protection program, the K.C. Royals are really nice suprise. In a division where the other 4 clubs have more big name talent(Chicago and Detroit), more titles(Minnesota) and an ability to at least dabble in the free agent market(Cleveland) the Royals have had to do it the old fashioned way; with better drafting and the occasional theft(via trade) of another franchises' undervalued young prospects. As such, Royals GM Dayton Moore deserves a lot of credit for the way he's put this roster together on a shoe-string budget. With a newly remodeled stadium to show off, Kansas City might finally have something to cheer about to remind itself(and everyone else) that this was once one of the premier franchises in the American League. At the very least, you could argue that the A.L. Central might easily be the toughest division to handicap in all the majors.

While their first World Series title in 28 years hasn't kept the Phillies from getting off to another of their typical mediocre starts, their lack of dependable starting pitching will be their undoing in '09. Even if Cole Hammels is healthy and isn't undermined by his big jump in innngs pitched last season, Jamie Moyer is already 46; Joe Blanton is at best a .500 pitcher who rarely goes more than six innings and Brett Myers is a proven head case. Their best hope is that the Mets(despite addressing their late innning problems) remain the dysfunctional mess they've been for the past two seasons; that Atlanta hasn't gotten a LOT better, and that the Marlins' boatload of young talent is still too green for the stretch run. That's asking a lot!

Under the heading of "truly wretched franchises going in the wrong direction", the less said about Washington the better except that this franchise will still be paying for former G.M. Jim Bowden's bad choices a decade from now. For proof, just look at the mess he left behind with the Reds. They're only now getting out from under Bowden's inability to evalute and draft amateur talent. Bowden was the team's G.M. from October, 1992 thru August, 2003. More than 10 years at the helm in Cincinnati and all the Reds had to show for it was 3 sluggers: outfielders Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn(now both gone) and first baseman Joey Votto, who was Bowden's 2nd round pick in 2002. However, not a single arm on the 2008 big league roster was Bowden's. Arroyo, Harang, Cueto and Volquez were all obtained in trades after Bowden left. Can't miss pitching prospects(and # 1 picks) Ty Howington and Chris Gruler(along with several positon players like shortstop David Espinosa) were complete busts for Bowden and, ultimately, the Reds. Not much to show for a tenure of that length.

Finally, when looking at the competitive balance in the two leagues, can anybody out there argue that winning day in and day out in the American League is a much tougher task? Now that perennial doormats like Kansas City, Baltimore and Seattle semed to have righted themselves, where are the easy series in the A.L.? Compare any schedule in the junior circuit to getting to face Washington, Colorado, San Francisco, San Diego or Houston on regular basis. There are just so many more mediocre teams in the National League. Want proof? At 2008 seasons' end, 7 of the 16 N.L. teams had more than 85 losses. In the A.L. it was 5 of 14. My prediction: this year those numbers should favor the A.L. even more. Let the games begin!