Baseball 2007: Top 10 Surprising Teams This Season

This compiles mainly of 5 teams have done surprisingly well this season and 5 teams that have actually not made expectations set for them. As this season progresses the true question will be which teams really did well in the end and which teams failed to live up to expectations. Without further or do, it's time to bring up the 5 biggest disappointments this season.

5. Chicago White Sox

2 years ago this team was in the World Series. Last year, they missed the playoffs but this year they have really been horrific. It does seem that this team is slowly on the decline. The pitching and hitting hasn't been there for this all season long but in order to save them this season and get out of this list, they have to pretty much win out the rest of the season. This team is in 4th place out of all 5 teams in the AL Central.

4. Houston Astros

How this team got on the list has to do with the same reason as the White Sox in some degree. They are currently standing in 5th place out of the 6 team NL Central Division. How this team collapsed has to do with poor management decisions and not getting the job done with needed to the most. When a team plays like that, it sure seems that they're just not caring and don't want to go far. If this team somehow survives from really horrific, then perhaps they will get out of the list.

3. New York Yankees

This team got on the list due to the fact they have a poor record and have gone into the All Star Break 1 game below .500. It's the same New York Yankees that have made the playoffs season after season winning the AL East title every year since 1998. It's not the fact they are not winning the division on how they got #3, it's the simple fact they are below .500. If they weren't, then maybe this wouldn't make the list. They ended the 1st half on a positive note but they're gonna need to do more than that if they expect to make the playoffs given the gap in the AL East Race and the Wild Card race as well.

2. San Francisco Giants

Despite Bonds chase for the record, this team has to be considered a disappointment. This has not been their year to do much for contention this season. How in the world did the Giants not become the team that could contend is a mystery to some but to others it's due to lack of commitment. It's not about Barry Bonds who is trying to get the record and the reason for their demise because I'm sure he wants a World Series as bad as anyone. He has never gotten a ring in his career and from the looks of it unless he's a coach for any team he won't get one at all.

1. St. Louis Cardinals

This is the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. They won it last season by beating the Tigers for their 1st title since 1982. This season however has been to be blunt disappointing. It makes no sense and there is no excuse for a team to play this poor coming over a World Series title. It just baffles the mind. Injuries might have hurt this team but still they should do better than that. It looks like unless they find a way to really turn around, they won't go to the playoffs not even as a Wild Card.

That just rounds up the 1st half of the 5 biggest disappointments for the season. Now it's time to cover the rest leading to the All Star Break. This list may surprise you but this is from analyzing what's happened during the 1st half of the 2007 MLB season.

5. Cleveland Indians

The Indians were not very good last season despite having a strong second half finishing only 6 games below .500. 2007 has been kind to them as they have been a challenge to the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central crown. They would be going for there 7th division and 1st since 2001. The Indians have a solid pitching rotation and have been rather strong at home. The only weakness this team has however is called the road. It just seems that they don't do so good outside of Cleveland. If this team plays good with a solid pitching and solid hitting, no telling where this team could go.

4. Seattle Mariners

Quite a turn around for this team this season as they have been challenging the Angels for the AL West title and are only trailing by 2.5 games. What a difference in this team. They are in 2nd place in a 4-team division with a solid record and went out the 1st half really strong by winning in their 3 games. How they turned it around was due to adjustments and a belief that this team can go far.

3. Atlanta Braves

A semi-surprise considering how this team used to dominate the NL East up until last season. They finished below .500 and currently 2nd place behind the New York Mets. For the longest time, this was a team that you didn't bet against to win that division but the times have changed. There is no Greg Maddux nor is there Tom Glavine leading the way for this team in the pitching department. Maddux is pitching for the Padres while Glavine is pitching for the Mets. This team however has to do better at home in order to really look like a team that can go far and challenge most likely for the Wild Card.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

This team has actually been a mediocre team for a while and this season however has seen a ray of light. The team is in 1st place leading the NL Central and if it continues to stay that way, this team will win its 1st NL Central Division crown in franchise history. It's said that because they were an AL team before moving to that division after the 1997 season. With playing good baseball around and having that important chemistry, this team is definitely going to go far if they keep the team together and not destroy it just like that.

1. Chicago Cubs

I know I said World Series hopes were out of the picture but it turns out I underestimated this team. They are in 2nd place and not below .500. That is surprising because that seems to be what happens to them and they were dead last in the NL Central. That is quite a jump for them. There is no Sammy Sosa on this board and there is no Dusty Baker as the coach. So far, the season has not been too disappointing. They are 4 games out of the Wild Card and 4.5 games out of the division so they're in position to challenge for either one. All that is left is time and will have to see what happens with them

That is it. Those teams however in my own personal opinion are probably the 10 most surprising teams this season. What will happen in the future, only time will tell? Those teams could all end up going in complete different directions by the time the season is over.