The Washington Nationals, who never have enjoyed a winning season, possess the best record in the National League.
The Pittsburgh Pirates. who haven't had a winning season since 1992, are 10 games over .500 and in first place in the National League Central Division.
The Chicago White Sox, after firing popular manager Ozzie Guillen and letting go long-time pitching ace Mark Buehrle, also are 10 games over .500 and in first place in the American League Central Division.
The Philadelphia Phillies, who were expected to run away with the National League East and were the league favorite to qualify for the World Series, are buried in last place, a whopping 13.5 games behind the Nationals.
The Boston Red Sox, who were supposed to challenge their arch-rival, the New York Yankees, for AL East supremacy, also are cellar dwellers and trail the Bronx Bombers by a widening gap.
What's going on?
Nothing that doesn't go on every year in every professional and college sports league.
The season simply is playing itself out.
Some teams that were expected to contend for the championship have been vastly disappointing.
Some teams who were supposed to be also-rans have overachieved and have their long-suffering fans downright giddy over what is taking place.
In other words, the preseason predictions didn't hold up for very long.
In the words of that famous member of the United States Marine Corps, PFC Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.''
Yes, every season has its surprises. Good surprises. Bad surprises. All are reminders that we don't play these games on paper, but rather on the field of battle, where anything can and often does happen.
Some seasons go as advertised.
The ridiculously talented Miami Heat rolled to the National Basketball Association title. But let's not forget that virtually the same cast of characters couldn't achieve that goal the previous year.
Just because you spend a lot of money doesn't ensure success. On the other hand, teams that are frugal with their funds aren't doomed to failure.
Just because one team is favored to win and another is picked to finish last doesn't mean that either is going to happen.
Sports fans have a tendency to play the expectations game.
If their team is picked to win the title and finishes a close second, they are disappointed.
But let their team be tabbed for a last place finish and come in as the runner-up and they are thrilled with the result.
Yes, sports writers, broadcasters and fans are going to make preseason predictions. But that's all they are -a forecast, some more thought-out than others, some more charged with emotion than fact.
The best way to approach any season? Let it play itself out.
Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com
