1/4 of the season is over - 40 game evaluation

OK, this is the ceremonial "quarter pole" of the season. This is the point where Sparky Anderson would say was the first time in the season to really take stock of your team and see where it ranks and what it can do that year. 40 games into 2009, things look good.

Some team stats:

Tigers are 24-16, solidly in first place with a 4 game lead in the AL Central.
15-5 at home! Outstanding!
Runs scored - 218
Runs allowed - 179.
Run differential of +39. Only Toronto has a better differential in the American League.
Team ERA is 3.96. This is 3rd in the AL.
Starters ERA is 3.85 - good for 2nd in the AL behind only the Angels.
The Tigers as a team have 18 errors. Only the Twins have fewer in the AL. Of course, this is misleading and somewhat useless statistic because there have been dozens of misplays by Tigers players that were not scored as errors. However, if you assume this is similar with other teams, then the stat is at least something to compare the Tigers against the competition.

Some individual stats:

Brandon Inge is 3rd in the AL in HR with 12. He is up there with big sluggers like Morneau, Bay, Teixeira and our old friend Carlos Pena.
Miguel Cabrera is hitting .371. Good for 4th in the AL.
Edwin Jackson's ERA is 2.55. Also good for 4th in the AL. (Note: Royals Zack Greinke has an unworldly ERA of 0.82. Can you say "starter in the all star game"?)

Grades for first quarter of the year:

Starting pitching: A-. Mostly oustanding, with a few clunkers thrown in.
Bullpen: B-. Good, but most of the losses (not all) were on their watch.
Offense: A. Consistently good.
Defense: C. A lot to improve on.
Results: A. Cannot argue with first place!