Opinion

Having reached the postseason each of the past two seasons only to fall in the divisional playoff round, the Pittsburgh Pirates were considered one of the early favorites to represent the National League in the World Series.

A 19-22 record was not the start fans envisioned after splashy offseason signings and front-office proclamations that the Boston Red Sox would return to contention in 2015. Yet here we are. It proves once again that a record-setting payroll (in this case one that exceeds $170 million) doesn't guarantee success. 

Since 2009, when he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated at the ripe age of 16, Bryce Harper has faced a flurry of doubters and unrealistic expectations.

Believe it or not, the Major League Baseball season has reached the quarter mark. It has been an exciting year thus far, with tons of surprising teams and performances. 

Concocting trades is fun, but it isn't easy, even from the outside looking in. There are any number of challenging factors that need to be weighed—from talent and finances to timing and need—in order to come up with a swap, especially one that actually makes some sense for both sides.

1. A Manager Is Just Another Chew Toy for Pit Bull Loria

Everyone knows managers are hired to be fired. But in Miami, they're not just fired; they're sliced, diced, pureed, pulsed, chopped, whipped, crushed, frappe'd and blended too.

So here comes new Marlins manager Dan Jennings, one of the game's most respected talent evaluators, in Miami's craziest move yet.

Officially, the New York Yankees will be in the capital over the next two days for a two-game series against the Washington Nationals.

For the first time in several years, the Seattle Mariners are in win-now mode at the major league level rather than looking more toward the future.

The graduation of many top prospects, particularly on the pitching side, has left Seattle's farm system a little thinner than it has been previously. While the Mariners in no way have a bad farm system and haven't been trading away too many prospects, most of the exciting young players are in the majors.

In some respects, the one-quarter mark of the 2015 MLB campaign is an arbitrary signpost. In another way, we've reached an important milestone.

There's still enough baseball left for anything to happen. Hot streaks will turn cold, injuries will hit, slumps will end, teams will rise and fall and maybe even rise again.

But we've also watched enough action to draw some conclusions and make a few semi-definitive statements. Like, say, naming the biggest winners and losers of the season's first lap.

Baseball offseasons are made for hope and optimism.

Those five months between the end of the World Series and Opening Day help dissolve any ugly memories and bad tastes that exist from the previous season. And when that fall and winter are filled with a team making blockbuster moves to improve for the following season, the hype and expectations soar.