It has been nearly two months since the 2006 Major League Baseball season started and boy, have we seen a lot in a very short period of time. Sure, some things have gone as many predicted: the battle for the top spot in the American League East figures to be between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox (again), the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Kansas City Royals are already on the far bottom of the cellar looking up, Minnesota Twins starter Johan Santana leads the league in strikeouts and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is ripping the cover off of almost every baseball that comes his way.

However, there have been some things that have happened this season that very few predicted. Let's take a look back at what has happened so far this season and check out the top six surprises this season in Major League Baseball.

Number 6 - Houston Astros closer Brad Lidge. Much like the home run Pujols hit in Game 5 of the 2005 National League Championship Series off Lidge that still hasn't landed yet, Lidge's 2006 ERA is still yet to fall down to where it is expected to go. Although the Astros went on to win the NLCS and move onto the World Series where they fell to the Chicago White Sox in four games, two of those four losses were tagged on Lidge and his postseason struggles have continued into 2006.

After today's 5-1 loss by the Houston Astros at the hands of the Washington Nationals, Lidge's ERA now stands at an embarassing 6.53 to go along with a record of 0-2.

Number 5 - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. After posting a record of 95-67 last season and advancing to last season's American League Championship Series, the 19-28 mark the Halos have recorded so far has surprised a good deal of baseball fans. With stars like outfielder Vladimir Guererro, super-utilityman Chone Figgins and last season's American League Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon on the Angels roster, the slow start certainly is an oddity.

Number 4 - The Florida Marlins. Although their record is 14-31 and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon, the Marlins have had plenty of bright spots this season after the organization's massive offseason firesale that saw the departures of almost all of the team's starts and key pieces except for starter Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has been hot all season long as the Domincan native has put up a batting average of .335 to go with 2 long balls, 18 RBI, 42 runs and 16 stolen bases. If Cabrera, who has 8 homers, 39 RBI and 35 runs to go with an average of .335, does not represent the Marlins in the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh this season, Ramirez most likely will get the nod.

But Ramirez is not the only new, young Marlin to put up impressive numbers. Catcher/outfielder Josh Willingham, second baseman Dan Uggla, pitcher Ricky Nolasco, pitcher Sergio Mitre and pitcher Josh Johnson have all started the season making a name for themselves on a team desperate for some players to fill the roles left void by the numerous departures during the offseason.

Something else for the Marlins to celebrate about - they finished their first sweep of the season today as they brandished the brooms against the Chicago Cubs to sweep the Northsiders for the first time since 2000.

Number 3 - New York Yankees starter Randy Johnson. After posting a record of 17-8 with an ERA of 3.79 last season, the Big Unit has seen his ERA balloon to a nearly unbelievable point of 5.62 considering Johnson's career ERA is 3.15. Johnson's record isn't anything to drool over, either, as the former Arizona Diamondbacks ace is now 5-4.

Johnson's past five starts have been extremely concerning. In an April 29 start against the Toronto Blue Jays, Johnson pitched 5 innings, giving up six runs while walking four batters. He picked up the win as a result of 1 17-run outing by the New York offense but saw his ERA climb to 4.71 as a result. The Unit followed it up with a start against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays May 4 where he went 6.2 innings and gave up five runs.

What was even more concerning was how it took Johnson 92 pitches to get through 3.2 innings in a loss against Boston where he gave up seven runs, two earned to the Red Sox. He followed up that start with another loss, this time to the Oakland Athletics. Johnson looked better in that start, allowing four runs over six innings but his ERA continued to climb, this time to 5.17.

His last start prior to tonight's meeting with the Boston Red Sox was an interleague start against the New York Mets in the opener of the crosstown series. Johnson got a no-decision in that start because of late-game heroics by Mets third baseman David Wright but he pitched only five innings and gave up six runs.

Unless Johnson fixes his problems, he is on pace for one of the worst seasons in his career. The next three starts he makes will be very important to Yankee fans and fantasy baseball owners who are probably wearing some very wet pants right now regarding one of their high draft picks.

Number 2 - The Chicago Cubs. Say what you will about Billy Goats and Bartmans but this season's Cub team has to be labelled as a surprise. Going into the season, Cub fans knew that it would be around May or early June when aces Mark Prior and Kerry Wood would return from the disabled list but few forsaw the meltdown the Northsiders have faced so far this season.

The Cubs were 9-5 on the season and looking to become an early contender prior to an April 19 contest with the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles before All-Star first baseman and 2005 Shoulda-Been MVP Derrek Lee was injured and has been out since. Since Lee's injury, the Cubs have posted a record of 9-23 and were recently swept by the Florida Marlins (who, mind you, have a payroll of around $15 million compared to Chicago's $100+ million payroll).

To add insult to injury, the Cubs have been unable to fire manager Dusty Baker and his incapable staff that have been unable to right the ship and properly develop the organization's prospects, allowing them to fizzle and head to other teams where they play well. Examples: Texas Rangers starter John Koronka (4-2 record in 9 starts), Baltimore Orioles outfielder Corey Patterson (.306 batting average, 5 homers, 18 RBI and 15 steals in 111 at-bats) and Florida Marlins starter Sergio Mitre (1-4 record with an ERA of 4.89 that is a bit misleading - if you throw out a poor start against the Cardinals on May 5, Mitre's ERA was 3.82).

Further, Baker and his staff have allowed the Cubs offense to become a laughingstock of the league. Prior to the Cubs's 9-3 loss to the Marlins today, the Cubs were 20th or worse in OPS (on-base plus slugging) at every position in the lineup. Also, the staff has been unable to fix the hitting woes of leadoff man Juan Pierre, who is currently 30th in the majors in on-base percentage from the leadoff spot.

One could go on and on about the woes regarding this season's Cubs but something needs to be done in Chicago if this team is going to right the ship. The 2003 Marlins and 2004 Astros fired their respective managers in midseason and went on to make the playoffs as the Wild Card. The window of opportunity is rapidly closing on the 2006 Cubs to do the same because Lee is expected back in two to three weeks as is Prior (Wood is already back and has looked good on the mound despite his numbers). If they keep Baker, it will only further the belief that the Chicago Tribune, who owns the team, cares more about the fans in the seats and the money in their wallets than actually fielding a winning club.

Number 1 - St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. Baseball fans knew that Pujols was a top player in the league way prior to this season. In most fantasy baseball drafts, Pujols was the first overall pick. After all, Pujols could be counted on for at least 40 home runs, 120 runs, 120 RBI and a batting average of at least .320.

What few expected was the season that Pujols has put up so far. In only 45 games, the Dominican native has put up nearly half of those numbers (.323 batting average, 23 home runs, 57 RBI and 48 runs) and is on pace for a season that very few players have ever achieved. Prior to today's 10-4 Cardinal victory over the San Francisco Giants, Pujols was on pace for 82 home runs, 171 runs and 203 RBI. Wow.

Most likely, Pujols will slow down a step but will still put up the type of season that many will remember for years barring an injury. Many last season spoke about the possibility of the Cubs' Lee making a run at the first Triple Crown in the National League since 1937 when St. Louis' Joe Medwick's .374 batting average, 31 homers and 154 RBI gave him the title. Pujols is currently first in the league in home runs and RBI and is ninth in batting average. Many forget that Pujols finished last season second in batting average, third in home runs and tied for second in RBI.

In Conclusion - Will these surprises continue as the season progresses? In all honestly, it would be rather foolish to say either way. The Cubs could fire Baker tomorrow and play .750 ball from there on and Johnson could pitch 15 quality starts in a row and pick up the 2006 AL Cy Young award. Anything can and should happen. We as fans just have to sit back and enjoy.