The American League has been full of surprises too.
AL West: Oakland Athletics- 17-11, T-1st place
Picked by many (myself included) to be the whipping boys of the American League, Oakland has played their hearts out so far. The basic numbers actually indicate that they have been horrible offensively, but Moneyball be praised, high on base percentages have led this team to a 2nd place tie in the American League for runs scored. But this team's real strength has been their pitching rotation, which still doesn't include the talented but often injured Rich Harden. With injuries to key players on the Angels and Mariners, the addition of Frank Thomas, and the returns of Justin Duchscherer, it's not unreasonable to think that the Athletics are legitimate contenders.
AL Central: Detroit Tigers- 12-15, T-Last Place
They've turned a corner from their 0-8 start, and 12-15 is a pretty good record for a last place team. But this team was expected to be a juggernaut. The offense is back on track, with Curtis Granderson making up for lost time, but the starting pitching, which was expected to be a major strength, has been horrendous. And after last year's signs of decline from some of the arms on that team, that rotation may very well be awful all year. Combine that with their thin and injured bullpen, and they have a legitimate cause for concern. I still think they'll win the division, but it's no sure thing anymore.
AL East: Baltimore Orioles- 15-11, T-1st Place
Ah, the Audacity of Hope: Orioles 2008. For a team that was expected to make a run at the 1962 Mets, they've turned some heads. But they've been playing above their level. About 5 levels above their level. It's not going to last, especially in the AL East. They're definitely cashing in on the players they received for Miguel Tejada. But their offense lacks a slugger, and their rotation lacks an ace. And they've got a lefty specialist closing games. It's worked so far, but in a 162 game season, you can only fly from the seat of your pants for so long. They'll be forgotten by the All-Star break.