American League: Who Are the Contenders and Pretenders?
By Phil Akre
The first week of baseball is in the books! As usual, some of the top teams have struggled, while the bad teams have made it to the top of the standings.
Take a breath. If you’re like me, you might be going too fast after the first full week of Major League Baseball. Before you take to the television or the stadium to catch the next game, let’s take a moment to look back at the results from baseball’s first week.
Of course, there is a lot to digest. But, perhaps the most interesting part of the season thus far resides in the standings. As it happens every year, there have been some surprises.
While it is certainly still early in the year, there are some key takeaways that can be observed. Some stars haven’t lived up to expectations and the “bad” teams are doing well!
It is common for certain teams to go on hot streaks early on in the season and later tumble in the standings. So far in 2017, this trend is once again present. However, we can’t be fooled into thinking that a few of these teams are legitimate title contenders.
And, as always, teams that are typically geared for October have disappointed. These teams, though, will most likely rebound to the tune of postseason success.
A 103-loss team is currently in first place, and a 94-loss team is in second place. With that said, let’s break down the contenders and pretenders in the American League.