The best month of pro sports in 2011 starts today. The NFL will start-up its new season after a brutal, 5-month lockout that put some players temporarily out of a job, and fans in a panic. NCAA football starts up too, and the association is on a mission to ruin all the nation’s powerhouse programs for recruiting violations. Throw in the LSU bar fight, two suspended players, and the NCAA’s interest in possible infractions at Oregon, and Week 1 becomes extremely enticing by default (those 2 teams play this Saturday).

But, then there’s the MLB pennant race. MLB rosters expand to 40 from the current 25-man mark to accommodate much needed rest for ailing veterans to contenders, and new-look talent to teams out of contention. Most call-ups that see significant playing-time will be doing it for bad teams to showcase their abilities for potential roster spots in 2012. Here’s a look at the teams actually in contention:

Already is a stiff reminder that 6-of-the-8 playoff spots are virtually secured. Boston (83-53) has a .5 GM lead over New York (82-53) in the AL East, as they battled this week. Both teams are destined for October baseball, but the division crown, and home field advantage are at stake. In the AL Central, the Indians (68-66) have tried to make a run at Detroit (75-62), who maintain a 5.5 GM edge, and the Rangers (78-60) and Angels (73-63) are 4 GMs apart. These 4 teams will compete for their respective division titles to earn a shot at the Yankees and Red Sox for the pennant.

The NL East rivals the AL East in that two teams from each division will contend for a championship in the playoffs. The Phillies (87-46) have the best record in baseball, and have a 7.5 GM lead over the Braves (80-55), who will be the NL Wild Card. Philadelphia is in the midst of a 33 game stretch in 31 days, but it won’t faze them. The Brewers (81-57) have locked up the NL Central with a 50-19 record at Miller Park, helping them to an 7.5 GM advantage over the Cardinals (73-64). St. Louis would have a shot if they played in the NL West, but so would a lot of other teams. Nobody talks about Tampa’s solid season, despite their record (74-62), they are 8.5 GMs back of New York for the AL Wild Card.

The defending champion-Giants (72-65) have lost 21-of-31 to fall 6 GMs behind the red-hot Diamondbacks (78-59). Arizona has won 9-in-a-row to take control of the West, and the Giants are dead last in baseball in runs scored at 460. San Francisco will host the D’Backs for a 3-game series this weekend that will definitely determine their chances of a repeat in 2011.

Then there’s all those bad teams. The upside to these dead-beat teams destined for the off-season is a preview of the future. This month will feature expanded rosters in baseball. Fans will have the chance to see new, star-studded talent, and teams out of their respective races will have a vision of the future.

5 of baseball’s top-performing prospects in 2011:

Taylor Green (IF) will look to provide some power to the first-place Brewers down the stretch.

1. Taylor Green (IF) - Milwaukee Brewers

Green was called-up from AAA-to-Milwaukee on 8/27/11. The 24-year old slugger had a .336 AVG., 22 HRs., and 88 RBIs at Nashville. The versatile infielder can play first, second, and third base, but sees most of his action at third. Green has yet to see the field in Milwaukee, but he is eligible to earn a spot on the 25-man, playoff roster. Milwaukee (81-55) has an 8.5 GM lead over the Cardinals in the NL Central. Green is about to see his first action in the big leagues, and during a pennant race.

2. Julio Teheran (RHP) – Atlanta Braves

Teheran is a 20-year old pitching phenom out of Colombia. He was ranked #5 among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects at the start of the 2011 season and has earned a spot on the Braves stellar staff. The right-handed Colombian sported a 15-2 record at AAA-Gwinnett this season, with a 2.22 ERA in 141.2 IP, and accumulating 121 Ks. Teheran has started twice for the Braves, suffering one loss while surrendering 5 earned runs in 8.2 IP. The two teams he faced? The Phillies and D’Backs, two of the NL’s best offenses.

3.  Bryan LaHair (1B) – Chicago Cubs

LaHair was selected in the 39th round of the 2002 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners. The tall, left-handed first baseman stands in at 6’5” and 240 lbs. He’s 28-years old and hasn’t seen the pros since 2008 when he hit .250 in 150 plate appearances for the Mariners. However, LaHair is having a monstrous season in 2011. So far, he’s amounted 38 home runs and 109 RBIs, while also striking-out 110 times in 520 plate appearances. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is near 2:1 (110 Ks-to-60 BBs), which could explain the Cubs decision to not try LaHair out at first-base in 2011, at least so far.

4. Anthony Rizzo (1B) – San Diego Padres

Anthony Rizzo could be the Padres solution to the subtraction of Adrian Gonzalez in their lineup. The 22-year old, left-handed, power threat was ranked #75 among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects before the 2011 season started. Rizzo was drafted by Boston in the 6th round of the 2007 draft, and was one of the several prospects traded from Bean-town to S.D. in exchange for Gonzalez. Jesus Guzman (1B) has hit .318 in 179 at bats with 5 home runs and 35 RBIs for the Padres in 2011, solid numbers. But, take Rizzo’s .338 AVG., 26 HRs, and 101 RBIs into account. Then, consider his 1.083 OPS, which is a virtual equivalent to an A+ in academia. Rizzo has seen limited action in 2011, and has a .143 AVG. in 98 ABs.

5. David Cooper (1B) – Toronto Blue Jays

David Cooper is a 24-year old first baseman, and first-round pick out of the 2008 amateur draft (17th overall). The left-handed, Cooper has the best AVG. at the triple-A level in 2011 at .371 in 518 plate appearances. He has also gone deep 9 times, while driving in 95 RBIs, and amounting a .440 OBP. His OPS is .986, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio is 2:3 (40 Ks-to-61 BBs). Those numbers are seemingly straight out of a video game, but his transition to the show has been rough. Cooper had his contract purchased on 4/29/11, but has hit .121 in 33 at bats in limited opportunity.

This is just a small sample size of the new names around baseball. This is just a small component of September. The NFL, NCAA-football, MLB roster expansion, and pennant race baseball are all about to be thrown in our faces.

It’s sports nirvana.