The Baltimore Orioles began the week with the best record in the majors, with Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals close behind. Albert Pujols was slumping, Bobby Valentine was getting booed and Derek Jeter was hitting nearly .400.
Signs of the season, or mere mirages? A quick look at the big questions so far in baseball:
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_ CAN THE ORIOLES STAY ATOP THE AL EAST? Cleveland teased fans last spring, Pittsburgh stuck around until summer. Sure looks like a charmed year in Charm City, too, coming off DH Chris Davis’ improbable stint on the mound. Buck Showalter has the Birds believing, bolstered by a shutdown bullpen. The O’s haven’t had a winning season since future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken and Roberto Alomar led them to a division title in 1997 _ let’s watch the next two weeks when Texas, Tampa Bay and the Yankees visit Camden Yards. The call: The Orioles fall back a couple spots before the All-Star break.
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_ HOW MANY HOME RUNS WILL ALBERT PUJOLS HIT? After ending the longest power drought of his career, the three-time NL MVP was still hitting in the .190s. He’s in a new, better league, facing many pitchers he’s never seen, playing in a park that’s not ultra-homer friendly. His $240 million contract draws a lot of attention, but these are the numbers worth noticing _ 47 homers in 2009, down to 42 in 2010, down to 37 last year with St. Louis. The call: Pujols drops again, and finishes with 33.
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_ WILL WASHINGTON WIN THE NL EAST? All eyes are on Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals right now. They’re fresh, fun and full of rising talent. Plus, they’re winning minus injured closer Drew Storen. Manager Davey Johnson provides a steady hand, and the Nats will do OK while Jayson Werth’s broken wrist heals. The last time a baseball team from the nation’s capital reached the postseason was 1933, when FDR was in office. It might be time for President Barack Obama to begin warming up his left arm. The call: The Nats just miss the playoffs.
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_ WHAT WILL DEREK JETER HIT? In recent years, the Captain has become perhaps the most polarizing player in the majors. Really, try to find a single fan who stays anywhere near neutral when talking about the Yankees star. At this point last year, Jeter seemed washed up at the plate and in the field. Since homering for his 3,000th hit right before the All-Star break, he’s completely rejuvenated. Manager Joe Girardi is being diligent in giving the 37-year-old shortstop proper rest, and the results appear to be showing. The call: Jeter hits a robust .321.
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_ CAN BOBBY VALENTINE SURVIVE THE SEASON? This sure isn’t what Bobby V had in mind when he returned to the big leagues. Battered bullpen, banged-up roster, mini-feud with popular Kevin Youkilis and angry crowds at Fenway Park. Many fans in Boston wondered how much worse it could get after last year’s collapse. Well, last place isn’t looking so great. That said, he won’t be the first manager to get chopped in 2012 _ that’s much more likely to be Kansas City’s Ned Yost. The call: Red Sox management will preach patience, Boston starts playing better and Valentine makes it through the year.
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_ HOW MANY MORE NO HITTERS WILL THERE BE? Jered Weaver, OK, maybe some could’ve foreseen that. But Philip Humber’s perfect game, no way. Predicting no-hitters is a tricky business. A lot of people claim they’re more possible nowadays, with hitters in the post-Steroids Era. Maybe a pair of gems in less than two weeks means more are on the way. Even so, all it takes is a checked-swing blooper to wreck a bid. The call: One more this year, pitched by Matt Cain.
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_ WHAT’S IN THE FUTURE FOR MARIANO RIVERA? The greatest closer of all-time is holding out hope that he’ll pitch again this year. Such comebacks from torn ACLs have occurred, although not with 42-year-old ballplayers. If the Yankees reach the playoffs, look for daily stories on how Rivera is close to rejoining them. Mo’ likely, a return in 2013. The call: “Enter Sandman” blasts away at Yankee Stadium next season as Rivera, with almost a full year to rest his arm, loses very little off his cutter.
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_ WHO WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES? Tampa Bay looks sharp with all its pitching, St. Louis has done well as the defending champion and Miami is starting to play well under Ozzie Guillen. And how magical it would be if Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Dodgers captured the crown? The call: There can be just one champion, and that team is Texas. With Yu Darvish on his way to winning 20 games and Josh Hamilton leading a beastly lineup, the Rangers will shake off the disappointment of losing two straight World Series and hammer whichever NL team dares to get in their way.
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