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The Major League Baseball season is about two weeks old now, meaning we have just about reached the point where TV broadcasts begin exclusively using current statistics as opposed to last year’s numbers.
Most players have accumulated numbers in the first 10 games or so that fans would consider normal, and don’t stand out at all. But then there are the guys who are having eye-popping starts to the season, the kind of stretches that if projected out over the course of the season, would shatter every record in the book.
Guys like Yoenis Cespedes, Khris Davis and George Springer have already mashed six home runs in their respective teams’ first 12 games. If carried all the way through, that’s 81 homers in a season. While all three are certainly capable hitters, that is not likely. Four other players have already clocked five bombs.
On the mound, Johnny Cueto and Ervin Santana have notched three wins already. Santana has been especially impressive, as he has allowed just five hits and one run in 22 innings for the Twins so far. On top of that, that lone run was on a solo homer.
Greg Holland already has six saves for the Rockies, as he has allowed just two hits in his six innings.
On the other side of the coin, not everyone is off to a great start. Jose Quintana of the White Sox has lost all three of his starts, as he has posted a 6.75 ERA so far. Adam Morgan of the Phillies has made two appearances in long relief for the Phillies, and in six innings, has surrendered six home runs.
Byron Buxton is not off to his best start either, as he is hitting for just a .100 average (4-for-40) with a whopping 21 strikeouts, tied for the league lead with Jonathan Villar.
As far as overall teams go, raise your hand if you expected the Rockies and Reds to be division leaders after two weeks.
As John Smoltz said on the Braves’ telecast on Friday night, results after the first three weeks of the season prove to be the most reliable. Anything before that is too small of a sample size. So when this conversation comes up again next week, it may be a sign of the long season to come.