With baseball season now fully in swing, it’s time to consider who will be left standing in October. Even through the first week of play, a number of major off-season moves are starting to show their benefits on the field. Let’s see how this year is looking to shape up.

Last year’s World Series Champion, the Boston Red Sox, are clearly a favorite to repeat this year. Manny, Big Pappy and “Dice-K” are all back and looking to put more distance between themselves and the Bambino curse. They have started the year off slowly but with a 162-game season, a lot can happen.

The Detroit Tigers, a team that made a lot of noise during the off-season, are expected to be contenders in the American League as well. Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis are a few of the stars on this team. They have only won one game this year so far, but with the talent on their roster they should eventually hit their stride and pull away from the rest of the pack.

There is a team in New York that plays in a tough division, is building a new stadium and landed one of the biggest free agents of the year. No, I’m not talking about the Yankees. I am referring to the New York Mets. Johan Santana is one of the best pitchers in baseball and he will be leaving National League batters stunned in their stanch after approaching the plate. A deep lineup ensures the Mets will be a favorite in the National League.

Also in the NL East are the Philadelphia Phillies. Because they are in the same division as the Mets, they will likely win the Wildcard and make a serious run for the fall classic.

Within a very lengthy season, baseball can do almost anything. But the best teams always come out on top and this year will be no different. It’s difficult to put a lot of stock in the early parts of a season because so much change happens during the off-season. When all the kinks are worked out and teams start to get comfortable, then the best will take their place. Look for these teams to be alive and well come playoff time.