Biggest surprise of 2007 season?

[richpick]

Just asking for your opinion of the biggest surprise of 2007. I will thrrow the name Ryan Braun thirdbaseman of the Brewers. Where did this guy come from and he is putting up some big numbers.

[earlywynnfan]

Fausto Carmona: the Indians totally try to mess him up last year, he starts this year in the minors, and then comes on to near-Cy Young Award numbers!!

Ken

[allstarsplus]

Just asking for your opinion of the biggest surprise of 2007. I will thrrow the name Ryan Braun thirdbaseman of the Brewers. Where did this guy come from and he is putting up some big numbers.

I agree. It is an amazing story. His numbers for HRs and RBIs are amazing for a Rookie 30 HRs and 99 RBIs in 99 games with .324 BA. If Ryan played a full season then he may have challenged McGwire's 49 HR Rookie record. Pence had a good start but Braun has to be a lock for ROY.

The other big surprise would have been Rick Ankiel if he kept up his numbers prior to the HGH announcement.

Dmitri Young from the Nationals has had a monster year as the Comeback player.

If the Yanks go to the Playoffs, then ARod has to get the MVP or it goes to Ordonez if the Tigers get the Wild Card.

Joba Chamberlain to me came out of nowhere and will be one to watch.

Hanley Ramirez is the real deal and probably will be a 35/35 guy and may get to 40/40.

The Brewers as a Team will be a gigantic shocker if they win the Division and the Nationals won't lose over 100 games as everyone predicted.

Manny Acta was a great surprise as a 1st year manager and should be Top 3 in Manager of the Year.

Andrew

[Neely8]

Brandon Phillips has been one of the biggest surprises for me along with Michigan losing to Appalaichian State.

[Vintagedeputy]

I'd have to agree on Dmitri Young from the Nationals. The guy has been a hit machine all year.

[toddhead]

How about the Cubs being in 1st place in September? More suprising to me is the lack of power they have shown this year, but still managing to win big games in big ways.

[godwulf]

Despite having lived in Arizona since '93, last year was my first trip out to watch the Fall League games, played in October and November. I was really only interested in getting some Diamondbacks prospects to sign for me, but the Brewers fans in attendance were all nuts to see and meet a particular dark-haired young man, whom I later learned was named Ryan Braun. All the players were friendly and open with the fans, but Braun struck me as being especially respectful to them, and a genuinely nice guy.

My biggest (and happiest) surprise? When we heard that the DBacks had acquired a young Triple-A outfielder named Chris Young, as part of a trade before the season began, a lot of folks, myself included, were not expecting much from the young man. Now our starting centerfielder, CY has been a real catalyst for the team, and is very close to becoming the first Rookie 30-30 man in Major League history.

[allstarsplus]

How about the Cubs being in 1st place in September? More suprising to me is the lack of power they have shown this year, but still managing to win big games in big ways.

When you go on a spending spree like the Cubs did in the off-season and given all the Cardinals injuries, the Cubs should have run away with it.

Arizona and Milwaukee are the 2 surpise teams of 2007.

On the other side of Chicago, the White Sox had a horrific year as they are in the toilet with KC Royals. Rounding out the Top 10 of spending teams, the Orioles spend their money un-wisely which really is not much of Positive surprise.

2007 http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifTeam Total payroll:

New York Yankees (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=9) $ 189,639,045
Boston Red Sox (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=3) $ 143,026,214
New York Mets (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=25) $ 115,231,663
Los Angeles Angels (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=1) $ 109,251,333
Chicago White Sox (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=4) $ 108,671,833
Los Angeles Dodgers (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=22) $ 108,454,524
Seattle Mariners (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=11) $ 106,460,833
Chicago Cubs (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=17) $ 99,670,332
Detroit Tigers (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=6) $ 95,180,369
Baltimore Orioles (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=2) $ 93,554,808
St. Louis Cardinals (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=30) $ 90,286,823
San Francisco Giants (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=29) $ 90,219,056
Philadelphia Phillies (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=26) $ 89,428,213
Houston Astros (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=21) $ 87,759,000
Atlanta Braves (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=16) $ 87,290,833
Toronto Blue Jays (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=14) $ 81,942,800
Oakland Athletics (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=10) $ 79,366,940
Minnesota Twins (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=8) $ 71,439,500
Milwaukee Brewers (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=23) $ 70,986,500
Cincinnati Reds (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=18) $ 68,904,980
Texas Rangers (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=13) $ 68,318,675
Kansas City Royals (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=7) $ 67,116,500
Cleveland Indians (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=5) $ 61,673,267
San Diego Padres (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=28) $ 58,110,567
Colorado Rockies (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=19) $ 54,424,000
Arizona Diamondbacks (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=15) $ 52,067,546
Pittsburgh Pirates (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=27) $ 38,537,833
Washington Nationals (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=24) $ 37,347,500
Florida Marlins (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=20) $ 30,507,000
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/teamdetail.aspx?year=2007&team=12) $ 24,123,500 http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gifhttp://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/clear.gif

[dcrules01]

Has not happened yet but The Yankees on May 29 were 14.5 games out.Now Sept 18 2.5 games out.If they come back to win the division that is impressive.They were left for dead in May...