Leelanau Sports Guy at sportspig.com

The Major League Baseball All-Star Break is actually a little past the midway point of the season, but I thought I would give my two cents on some surprises and disappointments on this 2007 season. Most of the are obviously Tigers related, hey it’s my blog!

Top 5 Surprises

5. Curtis Granderson’s 15 Triples – The number doesn’t surprise me except that he has hit most of them on the road and not in spacious Comerica Park. Granderson is really coming into his own as a potential All-Star.

4. Dmitri Young – I still have some love for Young from his Tiger days and to see him hit almost .340 and help the Nationals is great. I thought he might be done, but he’s proving he can still hit for average and power.

3. Justin Verlander – It’s not a surprise to many, but it is for me. I thought he might have a “sophomore slump” after winning last year’s rookie of the year award. Was I ever wrong. He’s thrown a no-hitter, might get the start in the All-Star Game and has been the Tigers best pitcher this year. He’s a great pitcher who is on pace to win 20 games in only his second season.

2. Milwaukee Brewers – The N.L. Central might be the worst division in baseball, but the way the Brewers jumped out of the gate to take control impressed me. They have some great young players led by Prince Fielder and a solid pitching staff, so I think they could be this year’s Tigers. The Brewers have slowed as of late, but still should hold on for the division crown.

1. Magglio Ordonez – This was an easy one. I knew having Gary Sheffield batting in front of him would give him some good pitches to hit, but I didn’t expect a .370 batting average and among the league leaders in just about every offensive power category.

Top 5 Disappointments

5. No Tiger Games In Person – I’ve also only been to one Traverse City Beach Bums game so far as well. I have to get my act together.

4. Roger Clemens – I’ve never been a Roger Clemens fan, I admire his career and he seems to have a great work ethic, but to keep coming back for what amounts to a little over half a season, making a ridiculous amount of money drives me insane. Just call it a career and you can ride off to Cooperstown quicker! He’s 2-3 and just lowered his ERA to below 5 with 8 solid innings against the Twins, but enough is enough.

3. Andruw Jones – To think that Jones is batting .199 and making Brandon Inge look like a batting champ is beyond me. Usually guys blow up in contract years but Jones has done the exact opposite. I still think he can have a strong second half, but to think that the career .263 hitter can’t get to .200 is baffling.

2. Tigers Bullpen – One of the teams strengths last season has become their biggest weakness this year. Todd Jones has been inconsistent, although as of late he is coming on stronger. Joel Zumaya’s injury and Fernando Rodney’s inconsistency (and now injury) have put some young pitchers into roles they weren’t used to. I don’t know if a major trade is out there, but I think the Tigers need to try to bring in a veteran just in case both guys don’t come back healthy and regain their magic of 2006.

1. New York Yankees – That payroll along makes me sick, but to think they are under .500 paying that amount of money is insane. Take away A-Rod and they might be 10 or 15 games under .500.