As the first month of the season is on it's way to passing - especially if you include the Japan series - we're getting to a stage where we can look at records and see things, patterns, if not truths. The bad teams look bad, the good teams look good, and there's a lot of teams in the middle, struggling to find themselves.

The Yankees at 8-11 is probably the biggest story, but the Yanks will likely be the biggest story at any record. I half expect George to come storming in, make a trade for Barry Bonds and put him at leadoff. (Yeah, just imagine Barry with a short porch ...) The Yanks will put things together, but this early season malaise speaks to a couple things.

First, does Torre miss Zimmer? Why is this team of all-stars not coming together? Does the slow start make it more likely that they'll go get a second basemen? Do they see a need for another pitcher - beyond the soon to return Jon Lieer - as I think they do?

Scott McCauley pointed out to me the other day that the Dodgers hot start could be huge. There's no team in the NL West that has the firepower to catch up if some team runs away at the start. Given their assumed payroll power and DePo's assumed genius, the Dodgers could very well go wire to wire despite not being a great team. The Milton Bradley trade is certainly looking good so far.

Chicago's been hitting, while Toronto hasn't. Prior and Pettitte have been out. Podsednik is still possessed by the alien that possessed him last year. Baltimore isn't very good, nor is Cincinnati, but my lord, hasn't it been a good April?

Let's play interactive blog here - whats been your biggest surprise? Give me one negative and one positive one in comments.