The Major League Baseball season is almost three weeks old, and it seems like only yesterday I wrote my predictions. The season, thus far at least, has gone little according to my plans. The Yankees are in last, the Nationals are in first. Barry Bonds is not playing baseball, but it is because of his knee, not steroids. Brian Roberts is leading the AL in batting average and is second in home runs, while Toronto Blue Jays no-name starting pitcher Gustavo Chacin is leading the AL with 3 wins, and is looking like an extremely early Cy Young candidate, with a 1.42 ERA. Dmitri Young of the Detroit Tigers blasted three home runs in their opener. But which of these surprises are the most...surprising? Hopefully these questions will be answered.

American League
Most surprising and disappointing teams: The Baltimore Orioles and the Yankees.

The Orioles are off and running with an 8-4 record and are fresh off a three game sweep of the Yankees. As mentioned before, Brian Roberts is in the league leaders in almost all offensive categories and Miguel Tejada is being...himself, with 18 RBIs already.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are the biggest bust thus far this season. Owner George Steinbrenner has outwardly expressed his disgust with the team and their underperformance. The Yankees are 4-8 and their biggest acquisition, Randy Johnson, is 1-0 in three starts with an ERA of 4.74. I am positive, however, that this team will pull it together.

Most surprising and disappointing players: Brian Roberts and Barry Zito.

As mentioned twice already the relatively unheard of second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles is already making a run for the most improved player of the year. He has already surpassed last season’s home run total and is currently batting .460. Let’s just hope these stats are legitimate.

With the loss of their other two aces, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson, Oakland fans were looking for Barry Zito to step up and have another Cy Young caliber season like he did when he won the award two years ago. Instead, Zito is currently 0-3 with a 7.27 ERA. Zito needs to find his past self if the A’s want to be in playoff contention.

National League
Most surprising and disappointing teams: The Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres

The Nationals are currently leading the NL east, which includes the Braves, Mets and Marlins. They have an 8-4 record and have won 5 straight, not yet losing at their new home in Washington. Could this be the team that redeems (too late however) the first place Expos snub during the strike shortened season? Anything can happen.

Meanwhile the San Diego Padres started off the season well at 5-3 but have lost four straight. Many predicted, especially with the Giants’ loss of Barry Bonds, that the Padres would be fighting for the NL west title. Although it is far, far too early to write them off, the Padres aren’t showing that they have what it takes to compete with the Dodgers.

Most surprising and disappointing players: Edgardo Alfonso and Larry Walker.

Alfonso is currently leading the Majors with a .488 batting average for the San Francisco Giants. He is indeed trying to fill the huge void left in the absence of Barry Bonds. Alfonso also had two long balls and has driven in nine runs. He was an all-star two years ago; let’s see if he can regain that status.

Larry Walker has had a great career, and many thought it was over last season...that was until he joined the Cardinals and started hitting the ball like a young man again. The seemingly revitalized Walker, however, has been less than stellar so far this year as he is batting an anemic .206 with only one home run. People expected big things from him this year, with all the cushioning in his lineup, and having his health back. There is still time for that, but something drastic has to happen.