As we make our way into the Senior Circuit, we come across a group of Double-A teams that have banded together to form a division. They really aren’t that bad, but there isn’t a single team in the NL West that holds a mark above .500. The Diamondbacks and Dodgers are atop this scrap heap, both with marks of 48-50; which, if they played in the NL East they would be 5 games back, and 10 games back in the NL Central. The Rockies’ return to stiffville has been much documented, but they fortuitously find themselves at a very manageable 6 games off the lead. The Giants, who are in full out rebuilding mode, are not out of the chase as they stand at 8 games back. The Padres are pulling up the rear at 11.5 games out, and only the desire not to finish in the basement keeps this team from cancelling the remainder of the season.

Arizona burst out of the gate back in April, but have since come back to earth as their youthful offense has sputtered, a bit. Left-fielder, Eric Byrnes, has been injured for much of the season, and will likely miss the remainder of it with hamstring issues. Chris Young is hitting his usual .230, and the power is still there, but he hasn’t been running with the frequency that made him a 30/30 man, last season. The young guns, Stephen Drew, Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Mark Reynolds, Emilio Estevez, and Kiefer Sutherland, have all posted respectable numbers. Upton (43, 11, 31, .242) and Reynolds (62, 19, 60, .249) both raked for the first month, but immediately remedied that problem by stinking it up in May, only to regain their ability to hit major league pitching in June. Reynolds, as you can see, has put up solid power numbers, but has also struck out an astounding 115 times, already. Look for him to eclipse 200 Ks, and the Diamondbacks to find a way to harness that wind energy to save money on the electric bill. Conor Jackson (55, 9, 48, .307) has turned into a solid hitter, reminiscent of a young Johnny Olerud.

The name of the game in Arizona is pitching, as they have talked two of the game’s best pitchers into wearing their uniform for the year. Brandon Webb has been as solid as they come for the past 4-5 seasons, and is again performing at a high level with a line that includes a 3.11 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 116/36 K/BB ratio, and a 13-4 record. Danny Haren, like Webb, throws a filthy sinkerball, and some might argue he’s pitched better than Webb, thus far. He is currently sporting a 2.58 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP of questionable legality, a 199/24 K/BB ratio, but a pedestrian and unlucky 9-5 record. Micah Owings, as with the rest of the team, played over his head for the first month of the season, but now owns an ERA above 5.00. Randy Johnson has been dominant at points this year, but his inability to stay healthy has, and will continue, to prevent any return to his Cy Young form. Doug Davis has made a courageous and inspirational return from thyroid cancer, and I applaud Arizona for conducting itself like a high class organization in holding his roster spot as he recovered. The guy that lost out on that roster spot is Max Scherzer, who is currently in Triple-A. Remember that name because once he learns to harness his 99 mph heater and develops a legitimate 2nd pitch to compliment it, it’s going to be a comedy show every 5th day in Arizona. Brandon Lyon emerged as the closer after the offseason departure of the always volatile, Jose Valverde. He’s converted 20 of 25 save chances, and while his 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP are nothing short of mediocre, his 28/8 K/BB ratio remains solid.

On paper, the big market Dodgers are stacked, and it’s easy to understand why they would be the preseason favorites to win the division. Once again we are reminded why they play the games, because L.A. has not lived up to such a billing. Injuries have absolutely ravaged their roster, as Andruw Jones, Juan Pierre, Rafael Furcal, Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Brad Penny, Hiroki Kuroda, and Takashi Saito have all spent time on the DL. Furcal was hitting .366 before injuring his back, and is likely to miss the remainder of the season. Closer, Takashi Saito, will likely befall the same fate as an elbow injury has kept him out of action. Juan Pierre was looking like the player of old, and had already swiped 35 bases, but a sprained knee ligament will keep him out until roughly mid-August. On a positive note, I think the Dodgers fortunes improved a bit with the injuries to Penny and Jones (not that I want to see anyone get hurt). Penny, who is usually an ace quality pitcher, posted horrendous numbers that include a 5.88 ERA, an unspeakable 1.60 WHIP, and a K/BB ratio of 47/36. Jones, who signed a 2 year $36.2 million contract and has apparently pawned his ability to hit a baseball in exchange for his monster 2006 season, has long been under the Mendoza line (.164 Avg). He has recorded 171 official at-bats, but has ended 61 of those with a K, and has a mere 2 home runs and 11 RBI to show for his efforts.

All things considered, the Dodgers have not played poorly. James Loney (47, 8, 51, .296) continues to develop into a premiere hitter, and I would expect him to compete for a batting title or two down the road. Russell Martin (50, 10, 47, .295) is probably the most athletic catcher in the league. When injuries created a gaping hold at 3b, the Dodgers didn’t call a player up from their farm system, they put Martin there. He also ranks 3rd on the team in steals, as he has swiped 10 bags in 14 chances. Young studs, Andre Ethier (50, 11, 43, .280) and Matt Kemp (50, 10, 53, .285), continue to blossom as injuries have given them the chance to play everyday.

The pitching in L.A. has been hampered by injury and sub-par performance. Derek Lowe has been his usual inconsistent self (3.97 ERA, 7-8 record), and future ace, Chad Billingsley (3.32 ERA, 9-9 record, but a whopping 133 Ks), has experienced his own ups and downs. Chan Ho Park has somehow weaseled his way back into a rotation spot, which had led me to write the F.C.C. asking for a parental lock to be placed on all of his performances, as its best to think of the welfare of the kids in matters such as these. Uber-prospect, Clayton Kershaw, was called up and pitched well, initially; however, his lack of control led the Dodgers to pull the plug on that project. With Saito injured, the usually dominant Jonathan Broxton has taken over the closing duties. Broxton was lit up early in the year, but he still features a 49/16 K/BB ratio, and I expect him to excel in the role.

Colorado has experienced a fall from grace this year, but that shouldn’t be a huge surprise to anyone if we keep in mind that underneath the fancy garb Cinderella was still a pauper. The middle infield has been decimated, with starting shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki, and backup infielder, Clint Barmes, both missing significant time with injuries. Despite missing time, Tulowitzki is still the proud owner of a .166 batting average, so I’m not sure how detrimental to the offense his absence could have been. The void created around the 2nd base bag has given rise to a promising young player, however; Jeff Baker (37, 7, 33, .280), who has taken full advantage of his well deserved chance to play on an everyday basis. Rockies mainstay, Todd Helton, has seen his already diminished power efface even further, and has been sidelined recently with an ailing back. On the positive side, last season’s M.V.P. runner-up, Matt Holliday (55, 16, 55, .332), and third baseman, Garrett Atkins (57, 14, 59, .305), continue to take advantage of Colorado’s accommodating air.

The pitching, as is required by Colorado law, has stunk. Jeff Francis (5.67 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 67/40 K/BB, 3-7 record), last season’s ace, has not looked like the same pitcher that won 17 games in 07’. Franklin Morales (6.39 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 17/9 K/BB, 1-2 record) and Ubaldo Jimenez (4.20 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 98/63 K/BB, 5-9 record), two of last season’s pleasant surprises, have not met with the same success. Jimenez has turned things around in recent weeks, and I expect him to have a solid 2nd half; but, Morales is mired in Triple-A and likely won’t factor into the Rockies’ plans in 08’. Last season’s stud closer, Manny Corpas (5.03 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 32/17 K/BB, 4 saves), chucked and ducked his way out the closer’s gig, only to regain his dominant form over the last 6 weeks. Former closer, Brian Fuentes (3.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 41/11 K/BB, 16 saves), took over the job and has pitched so well that the Rockies can’t stop talking about shipping him out of town.

Life without Barry Bonds has made San Francisco a bit quieter these days, then again, that could the rampant losing, as well. The white flag was hoisted at Pac-Bell during the offseason, effectively making the 08’ season a running open tryout for 09’. The Giants’ offense does not feature a single player with a double digit home run total (J. Bowker and A. Rowand are tied with 9). Big offseason acquisition, Aaron Rowand (42, 9, 51, .289), has played well considering he has no protection in the lineup, nobody on base to drive in, and plays in a much tougher venue to hit for power in. It’s easy to say he hasn’t justified his 5-year $60 million contract, but I don’t think I’m alone when I say I saw it coming (and he probably did, too). Randy Winn (49, 5, 39, .280), also, has met with mediocrity for many of the same reasons. The rest of the offense will likely be charged with the heinous crime of impersonating a ballplayer, and shall remain nameless in an effort to protect the accused and their families.

The pitching has been a different story for the Giants, and I didn’t even blush after typing that. Tim Lincecum (2.79 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 143/51 K/BB, 11-3 record) chucks the bean. Period. His K/BB ratio is simply dominant, and the fact that he’s put together an 11-3 record with a morgue full of stiffs providing run support for him, is nothing short of amazing. Matt Cain (4.08 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 126/58 K/BB, 5-8 record) and Jonathan Sanchez (4.10 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 123/55 K/BB, 8-5 record) have both had their off days, but have helped establish a reputation for power pitching in San Francisco. Barry Zito (5.62 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 62/60 K/BB, 4-12 record) has been steadily making a case for being one of the worst free agent signings in sports history (7-year, $126 million). This guy won the 02’ AL Cy Young, and his patented 12-6 curveball led to Zito being annually ranked on the Wildlife Channel’s ’10 Deadliest Animals’ segment. How the mighty have fallen. In the bullpen, closer Brian Wilson, has been able to convert 25 of 27 save chances despite an ERA right under 5.00. See, miracles do happen.

Oh, Tony Gwynn, where hath thou gone? The Padres offense, for the most part, is not a thing to be feared by opposing pitchers. I know the fact that they play in an ocean sized ball park doesn’t help much, but only Arizona and the lowly Nationals have a lower team average (.249). Despite that fact, Adrian Gonzalez (57, 22, 74, .279) continues to develop into a premiere slugger. Just imagine if he played in Texas or Philly; he’d have 35 jacks by now. Stud prospect, Chase Headley (10, 6, 14, .269), was finally called up and has provided a spark in the lineup. Khalil Greene (28, 9, 33, .214), despite his horrendous numbers, remains one of the slickest fielding shortstops out, as well as a personal favorite of mine.

The Padre pitching has seen better days, as inconsistency has marred what was thought to be a solid staff. Jake Peavy (2.66 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 100/27 K/BB, 7-6 record) spent some time on the DL with an elbow strain, and remains one of the top 2 or 3 pitchers in the game. #2, Chris Young (4.50 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 51/33 K/BB, 4-4 record), has been sidelined with a fractured skull since taking an Albert Pujols missle off the grill. He luckily sustained no serious injury, and he remains on schedule to return in August. The Professor, Greg Maddux (4.21 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 63/25 K/BB, 3-8 record), continues to defy Father Time and educate us all on the art of pitching every 5th day. Hall of Fame bound, Trevor Hoffman (4.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 35/6 K/BB, 18 saves), has successfully converted 18 or 21 save attempts, and as you can see, also sports a phenomenal 35/6 K/BB ratio.

I might as well draw names out of a hat, or throw darts at a board to pick this division. It might very well come down to which team is able to make a deal before the deadline, but going on each team’s current roster, Arizona is my winner. Their offense is young and inconsistent, but their pitching is top notch, and I would expect that to carry them to the finish line. L.A. has a pretty strong lineup, and a few key guys returning from injury, but I think the injury bug has been much too busy for the Dodgers to outlast Arizona (without a deal, that is). The Rockies are truly not as bad as they’ve played, and with a few guys coming back from injury they should be expected to make a run. Ultimately, the pitching is simply not strong enough, and I don’t see guys like Francis suddenly returning to form. The Giants and Padres don’t have a shot. The Giants have got to be surprised to be as close as they are, and the Padres, despite a potentially strong pitching staff, are simply too far back at this point. I expect to see the final standings look like this: Arizona, L.A., Colorado, San Diego, San Francisco.

This group looks somewhat how they were projected to with Los Angeles in the lead, followed by the recession proof Athletics, and the always pitching-less Rangers, and that $100 million piece of history in Seattle pulling up the caboose.

The Angels have posted a 57-39 record (.600), which has only been good enough to secure a 6 game lead in the division. It is a lead, nevertheless, and has been achieved in the face of early season injuries to Howie Kendrick, Chone Figgins, and John Lackey. The big boppers in the lineup have produced respectable numbers, but I would go as far as to say this team has lacked an offensive superstar, thus far. A more slender, and undoubtedly purer, Garret Anderson has managed to stay healthy; I guess that’s a plus. Judging from his offensive output, Gary Matthews Jr. could rightly be called a ‘mistake’ by the Anaheim brass, if not for the fact that he is an absolute defensive monster. I swear this guy must go into right field with a fishing net and a catapult, because nothing falls in and nobody has the grapes to run on him. They might as well ship Gold Glove awards to this guy in groups of 5 to save everyone the time and effort of voting for him. Torii Hunter has put up numbers in line with those he produced in Minnesota, however, much of his impact can’t be quantified. He is a renowned leader and clubhouse personality, as well as improved protection for Vlad Guerrero in the lineup. Speaking of which, Vlad ‘I’m Bad’ continues to hit balls he shouldn’t to places other men can’t. I’m convinced the only way to pitch around the guy is to have the pitcher turn around on the rubber and chuck it into center field; and even that isn’t a given.

The real studs of Anaheim are the pitchers. 19-game winner, Kelvim Escobar, hasn’t, and won’t, throw a pitch in 2008. That matters not, as Ervin Santana has either returned to his 2006 form or they hired someone else to impersonate him, as he has posted a 3.34 ERA, 122/34 K/BB ratio, and an 11-3 record. Joe Saunders, Jon Garland, Jared Weaver have all posted solid numbers, as well. If we consider John Lackey’s strong return from early season shoulder troubles, L.A.’s staff is only likely to get stronger in the second half. Frankie Rodriguez has already converted 38 saves in 41 chances, thus sparking up talk of challenging Bobby Thigpen’s major league mark of 57 saves set in 1990. He is an elite closer, that much is beyond question, but some of his peripheral numbers suggest he’s not been quite as dominant as one might think (41/26 K/BB ratio; 2.36 ERA; 1.26 WHIP).

With each passing season, the legend of Billy Beane grows. He has become something like the MacGuyver of baseball GMs, because you can give him a match, a piece of string, one lens from a pair of sunglasses, and an old newspaper, and somehow he’ll turn it into a competitive baseball team. On paper, admittedly, this team stinks; but they are currently 7 games over .500 and sit a manageable 6 games back of the Angels for the division lead. The offense in Oakland is cause for offense, and there isn’t much worth noting. Jack Cust has hit 18 dingers on his way to a .229 average and 114 Ks; but, on a positive note, I’m sure the Oakland fans appreciate the breeze. Bobby Crosby’s healthy; rioting has understandably taken place in downtown Oakland. The Big Hurt, perhaps the best player to be included in Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball for SNES, traded in his Blue Jay uniform for the green and gold (well, more like had his Blue Jay uniform taken away).

The pitching has been the engine, as usual, behind the team’s first half success. Dana Eveland, who was acquired from Arizona in the offseason, pitched exceptionally well early on, but has come back to earth, somewhat. The oft-injured, Rich Harden, was shipped to the Cubbies, where he has promptly begun studding it up. Joe Blanton was recently traded to Philadelphia for 3 minor leaguers, and we should expect to see his near-5 ERA rise above 6.00 with the move to that band box. That leaves Justin Duchscherer, who has posted solid numbers (1.82 ERA, 10-5 record), to ace a staff full of stiffs that would likely be just as effective throwing with their offhand.

The Texas Rangers can flat out hit the baseball. Per usual, however, their pitching is something straight out of BYOB night at the local slow pitch softball league. Ian Kinsler is having an MVP caliber season, as he’s posted a line of 84, 14, 58, .337, 23 (R, HR, RBI, AVG, SB). Milton Bradley, who is either the son of a gaming tycoon or criminally uncreative parents, continues to post solid numbers despite nagging leg injuries (55, 19, 57, .316). Rookie sensation, David Murphy, also has provided solid offensive production (52, 13, 60, .276). As far as the pitching goes, I don’t want to mention any names in order to protect the people and families involved, but the lowest ERA of any pitcher who has started at least 1 game for the Rangers is 3.52. The highest is 9.00; you do the math.

The story that touches everyone’s heart, and every journalist’s paper, is Josh Hamilton and his triumphant comeback from substance abuse woes. He currently sports an unreal line of 60, 21, 95, .310, which places him in legitimate contention for the AL Triple Crown. Now, he isn’t going to win it, but he has certainly succeeded in putting the ‘hero’ back in heroin. Alright, alright, that was a cheap shot, but in all seriousness, I am rooting for this guy with every fiber of my being. His, is a story of ability, of waste, of despair, of hope, of epiphany, of perseverance, and finally of overcoming. He is a walking testament to the human will, and all the strength that lay, therein. With that said, I feel I should point out that this guy wasn’t some errant addict that made a wrong turn off the beltway and wound up at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, only to discover soon after that he could rake. He was the first pick, overall, in the 99’ MLB draft, and stands at an intimidating 6’4, 225 lbs. He has long possessed the physical abilities necessary to play a professional sport, and now personal strife and trepidation have furnished him with the self-discipline to go along with it. End of story. And that, ladies and gentlemen, was my sincerest attempt to save Mr. Hamilton from the agony of having a Lifetime original movie made about him. You’re welcome, Josh.

The Seattle Mariners are a combined 37-58 (21 games under .500), and they are 20 games off the division lead, and counting. Only the abysmal Washington Nationals have a worse record. Both teams stink, but there is one crucial difference between the two. Washington’s payroll is a meager $43.3 million, which is small potatoes compared to the $114.4 million worth of checks the Mariners plan to write to their players this year. They are in hot pursuit of the right to scrawl their names on an as yet untouched page in the history books for being the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games. It should come as no surprise that manager, John McLaren, and GM, Bill Bavasi, have both been canned for the team’s expensively poor showing. I feel for McLaren, because a manager is only able to cook with the ingredients that the brass put in the fridge for him. Bavasi, on the other hand, upon taking the helm of the Seattle ship at the end of the 03’ season, promptly began poking holes in the hull. His tenure began with 2 big splashes, one named Richie Sexson, and the other, Adrian Beltre. Sexson had 2 pretty solid years before forgetting how to hit a baseball, entirely; which, resulted in his release just last week. Beltre can flash the leather, but they didn’t sign him to a 5 year, $64 million contract because they had visions of the next Brooks Robinson wearing Mariner teal. His offensive numbers haven’t been horrid, but they haven’t come close to matching the 104, 48, 121, .334 (R, HR, RBI, AVG) line he put up in 04’. The subsequent signings of Jarrod Washburn ($37 mil.), Jeff Weaver ($8.35 mil.), Brad Wilkerson ($3 mil. and cut a month later), and my personal favorite, Carlos Silva ($48 mil; current record of 4-11), have combined to prove that you don’t have to be able to play baseball to get someone to pay you lots of money to do it.

Continuing along, the Erik Bedard trade has not panned out, one bit. In between battling shoulder problems, he has posted a 3.67 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 72/37 K/BB ratio, on his way to a 6-4 mark. Not exactly the ace-like statistics the Mariners thought they were trading for; however, he is tied for team lead for wins……… Ichiro is a baseball God, and Seattle would probably win more games and draw more fans if they converted the stadium into a cathedral dedicated to him, and held Ichiro bobble-head night, every night. Raul Ibanez continues to be the best #3 hitter who should be a #7 hitter in the league. ‘King’ Felix has undoubtedly been the most hyped pitcher of the decade (and probably any other one), but his brilliance has come in flashes as we have yet to see any sustained dominance from him. J.J. Putz, voted most likely to legally change his name to ‘Stud’, has struggled with elbow problems for nearly the entire first half. The Mariners sorely need him to get healthy, so he can stop watching them lose from the 3rd base dugout, and start watching them lose out in the bullpen. Putz’ arm troubles have given rise to a lone bright spot in the Seattle skyline: Brandon Morrow. When Putz went down, Morrow took over, and up until a week ago he was the owner of a 0.69 ERA. Upon which time, he promptly gave up 3 hits, all homeruns, and 4 runs over his next inning and a third, but that’s beside the point. He still has a 0.88 WHIP and a 42/11 K/BB ratio. The two of them in the pen could turn games into 7 inning contests; however, they are still left with the problem of getting through those first 7 innings with a lead.

For my predictions, I will give the division to the Anaheim Angels, outright. They are the only team with the pitching to win. Oakland, despite their record, have been sellers at the break, and depleted their roster for any type of late season push. Texas will continue to hit well, but their pitching is bad enough that they’d need several Triple Crown candidates in their lineup to make up the difference. Seattle has dug itself a very deep hole, and even if their pitching were to become fully healthy, they still don’t possess the offense necessary to make a sustained run. In the end, I see it looking something like LA, followed by Texas, Seattle, and Oakland.

Well, this division has turned out very differently than the ‘experts’ envisioned it. The Chicago White Sox are atop the fray with a 54-40 mark due to an offensive explosion that took place in May, and hasn’t really stopped. Carlos Quentin, who was acquired from Arizona during the offseason, has been bludgeoning the baseball to the tune of 22 hrs, 70 rbis, and a .277 average. Even Jermaine Dye is the owner of a batting average above .300, and as a fantasy baseball owner who learned the hard way that consistency is not his hallmark, I curse his name often. The twin towers, Thome and Konerko, have only been halfway effective because Konerko can’t stay healthy, and can’t hit for beans when he is. Alexei Ramirez, the ‘Cuban Missle’, has an awesome nickname and can play, to boot. The pitching has been hot and cold for the Sox, and the best of it has come from their 4th and 5th starters, John Danks and Gavin Floyd; which, obviously isn’t a good sign for them. The bullpen has been pretty solid, with Octavio Dotel returning to respectable form and Scott Linebrink posting solid numbers; meanwhile, Jenksy has been near dominant in converting 18 of 21 save chances.

The engine that makes the Southside Circus go, however, is skipper and all around bad ass, Ozzie Guillen. As far as I’m concerned, this guy could probably still strap it on, and his ‘slip up and get one in the ear hole’ approach to the game is something I think is sorely missing from baseball, these days. The man plays by no rules, in fact, I’m not really sure if he realizes there are rules to begin with. I mean, what other manager can throw the entire organization under the bus, including the GM, and somehow turn it into a resounding positive? I’d be willing to bet if the White Sox win the World Series we’ll begin to hearing rumblings of a bill floating around Congress by various Illinois politicians seeking to evict Lincoln from the $5, and replace him with Senor Guillen.

If resiliency had a name, it would be Billy Beane; but, if resiliency had a residency, it would likely be in Minneapolis. The preceding offseason saw two of the Twin Cities’ favorite sons, Johan Santana and Torii Hunter, purchase one way tickets out of town. Despite that fact, the Twins find themselves 11 games over .500 and a mere 1.5 games out of first place. How did the mid-market Twins manage to avoid running up the white flag 5 innings into the first game of the year, you ask? Well, residential studs Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer did not leave town, and terrorize opposing pitching, accordingly. Alexi Casilla and Jason Kubel have performed well and bolstered what was originally thought to be a deflated lineup. Delmon Young apparently threw away his power stroke along with the bat he flung at that umpire (only 3 hrs, but 10 sbs), but I truly don’t expect that trend to become a habit. Carlos Gomez, the prize acquisition from the Santana trade with the Mets, played exceedingly well during the first 2 months of the season, but, as young players are inclined to do, has struggled as of late. I’m personally rooting for him to reach the coveted 40/200 mark (40 SBs, 200 Ks), but I’m skeptical about his chances to swipe 40. The pitching has been mediocre, at best. When Livan Hernandez, the renowned innings-eater, headlines your staff, you better be able to hit. The bullpen has been a mixed bag with a vagrant bum impersonating the former strikeout machine, Pat Neshek, and Joe Nathan’s studliness resulting in the rest of the division agreeing to forgo 9th innings against the Twins, altogether. The Twins’ faithful have cause for hope, however, as electricity himself, Francisco Liriano, has been making substantial strides in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, and will likely be called up to the big league club early in the second half.

The Detroit Tigers, who were unanimously penciled in to win 100 games and already had ‘AL Central Division Champs’ t-shirts in storage, stand at an even .500 and 7 games back of the first place White Sox. This team was reputed to have assembled a lineup potent enough to rival the Murderers Row of lore, but the fireworks have only come in spurts, thus far. Big offseason acquisition, Miguel Cabrera, has not played poorly, but hasn’t met the probably unreasonable expectations placed on him since being traded over from the Marlins. I fully expect him to wind up with a 100, 35, 100, .300 line (R, HR, RBI, AVG.), but I’m sure the crime rate in Detroit will rise when the fans come to the realization that he won’t be competing for the Triple Crown this season. Injuries have also been a factor, as Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez, and Jeremy Bonderman have spent substantial time on the DL. The real culprit, however, has been the sub-par pitching turned in by the starters and bullpen, alike. Justin Verlander, the slender fireballer hailing from my own alma mater, Old Dominion University, has not been quite the same pitcher this season. Dontrelle Willis has been so bad that the only way management could protect him from the hail of beer cans being launched at him in between innings was to send him down to the minors. Kenny Rogers, The Gambler, sports an atrocious 44/45 K/BB ratio, and the Tigers would probably be better off running the original Gambler (who will turn 70 on August 21st) out there rather than camera smooshing Kenny. Fireballer, Zoel Zumaya has finally returned, and management has added a ‘protection policy’ to his contract that requires the pitcher to completely cover himself in bubble wrap before he leaves the clubhouse each night to prevent him from getting hurt off the field, again. Fellow flamethrower, Fernando Rodney, also returned from injury, and has been rumored to be on the trading block. That should tell you how well he’s done this year. Todd Jones owns an ERA close to 5.00 and a 13/14 K/BB ratio, yet has somehow managed to convert 18 of 20 save chances. I suppose it doesn’t matter how hard or far they hit it, as long as it’s at someone, right?

The Kansas City Royals, that major league level farm club for the rest of the league, has played admirably considering the usual lack of substance to work with. Jose Guillen has performed well despite having to play through a few nagging injuries. David DeJesus is a burgeoning star, which means he’ll be packing his bags and relocating as soon as his agent is able to arrange it. Joey Gathright, who has compiled a mere 15 BBs over a span of 235 ABs, continues to wear out the grass between the dish and the dugout as he challenges Alfonso Soriano for the coveted ‘Wasted Speed’ trophy. The Royals pitching staff is better than their numbers indicate. Zack Greinke has long been considered a promising arm, and currently sports a 104/36 K/BB ratio. Gil Meche and Brian Bannister are cerebral hurlers in the grand tradition of The Professor, Greg Maddux, but, in truth are 3rd or 4th starters putting on their best 2-starter imitation. On a positive note, closer Joakim Soria has been ruthless on the bump, as he’s converted 25 of 27 chances and features a 46/9 K/BB ratio. See DeJesus, David for how that’s likely to turn out.

The rains in Cleveland come a little more often and stay a little longer, these days. The Indians’ record stands at 41-53 and a distant 13 games off the division lead. The white flag has already been run up the pole, as staff ace and reigning Cy Young Award winner, C.C. Sabathia, has since been shipped off to Milwaukee for a package of youths. As I type this I can’t help but recall a scene from Major League II, where the Asian groundskeepers exclaimed, “We suck again!.” Yes, you certainly do. Injuries have been the rule, not the exception, for the Indians this season. Stud receiver and 3-hole slugger, Vic “The Stick” Martinez, could hit nary a home run before being placed on the DL in mid-June with a right elbow injury. Number 2 gunner, Fausto Carmona, has been out since late May with a hip strain. Travis Hafner has been out of action since late May with a shoulder strain, but when healthy, he experienced a continuation of the slump that eclipsed much of his 2007 campaign. Let us not overlook the awful play that is fast becoming a Cleveland mainstay, and the players that call themselves pitchers are most at fault, here. Paul Byrd is horrendous, and shouldn’t be allowed to throw peanuts to children in the stands, let alone pitch a baseball from the mound. The Indian bullpen has to have a combined ERA somewhere around 7.00, but, then again, anybody who consciously chooses Joe Borowski to pitch the ninth either has little sense to being with, or no other options.

The fall from grace hasn’t been without its bright spots, however, Cliff Lee has been one of the best pitchers in the game, posting 2.31 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 106/20 K/BB ratio, on his way to a 12-2 record and starting honors for the American League All-Star team. Grady Sizemore, likewise, has continued to turn his talent into big time stats, as he is on pace to become only the 5th player in history to put up a 40/40 season. Jhonny Peralta, Casey Blake, and Ben Francisco have all played well enough to be disappointed at the dismal fortunes of their once successful franchise.

As for my predictions, I think the Twins will fade as the dog days of August wear on and their pitching deficiencies become amplified. The Tigers have played very well the last 5 weeks, and I expect them to make a serious run at the White Sox, but I don’t see them overcoming their pitching woes. Chicago has a deep bench, solid bullpen, and an experienced starting rotation, which will ultimately result in them laying claim to the title ‘division champs’. For the record, I expect the Royals to finish in the basement, and the Indians ton give the Twins a run for 3rd place in the standings. Now call up your bookie and bet the house on the exact opposite that you’ve just read.

It is that time of year, again, when the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, and exactly 1 player from the other 26 teams combine to fill out the American and National League rosters in order to play the always over-hyped and rarely satisfying, Mid-Summer’s Classic.  While many fans will undoubtedly spend their time enjoying the festivities, I, on the other hand, will take this short reprieve to kick those that are down, be skeptical of those that are not, and extend predictions for the second half of the year that will wind up being even worse than those I made at the start of it.  What follows is my random, oh so random, review and analysis of the first half of the 2008 Major League Baseball season.

The American League East enters the midway point with Boston leading the pack by half a game.  Aside from the obvious (strong pitching and a stacked lineup), the Sox have had some windfalls that probably make Yankee fans vomit.  David Ortiz goes down, J.D. Drew steps up; Matsuzaka goes down, Justin Masterson steps up; Kevin Youkilis is having a career year, and Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia are proving to be just as talented as the Sox’ brass anticipated.   They’ve even gotten mileage out of the once dominant but irreparably worn down, Bartolo Colon.  Once fully healthy, I can only imagine this team getting stronger and running away with the division, and there are few thoughts that produce the urge to leap from a bridge in me more than that one.  Manny Ramirez became the 24th player to reach 500 homeruns; once again proving that it doesn’t take class to hit a baseball.  David Ortiz lived in a world of mediocrity before being sidelined with a wrist injury in late May; yet, managed to make the all-star team.  More proof that the fans should never be given the power to substantially influence the games they watch.

Tampa Bay enters the second half 14 games over .500 and a meager half game behind the champion Red Sox.  They actually led the division for a time, until their current 7 game skid landed them in 2nd place.  They’ve gotten great starting pitching from a staff whose members don’t exceed 26 years of age.  Evan Longoria, who is fulfilling his stud pedigree ahead of schedule, leads a young and highly athletic roster.  With that said, this team will continue their slide down the standings of the American League East.  They fall into the ‘buyers’ category as we approach the deadline, so a trade is possible, but I would bet the house that the inexperience and fatigue will become glaring come mid-August.

The Yankees squeezed out another sub-par first half, and suicide rates have risen in New York, accordingly.  In their defense, they have had some injuries to contend with.  A-Rod and Posada spent time on the DL, and Matsui is still on it.  On a positive note, Mariano Rivera continues to prove that he’s the best closer in the game (and maybe ever), and Robinson Cano equally continues to prove that his 2006 season (.342 avg) was a fluke.  Jason Giambi’s man-stache, however, is probably the greatest thing to happen in New York since the Empire State Building was constructed.  Stache-mania has swept through the House That Ruth Built, and resulted in the resurgence of not only the Giambino’s career, but of the legitimacy of mustachioed men, everywhere.

Toronto stinks.  The only player on their roster that is hitting .300 is a backup outfielder named, Joe Inglett (.301).  Three-fifths of the starting rotation sports an ERA above 4.00.  Aside from Roy Halladay, whom I’m convinced could throw a complete game every time out, the Blue Jays have been a bust.  The unreal return of closer B.J. Ryan (18 saves in 20 chances) is the only sports news not concerning the Maples Leafs or Raptors that should find its way out of Toronto, these days.  My advice: padlock the field, cancel the season, and get a head start on rebuilding for next year.

The Orioles, after launching out of the gate via their talented youth and cortisone propelled stiffs, have returned to their rightful seats located at the bottom of the division (though Toronto will undoubtedly contend for that honor).  Several pleasant surprises contributed to their early surge, a major one being the power hitting of players the likes of Aubrey Huff (18 hrs) and the newly acquired Luke Scott (14 hrs).  George Sherrill, despite a 4.08 ERA, has converted 28 of 34 save opportunities, and proven that the size of your hat really does matter, along the way.  Jeremy Guthrie could be a stud, Nick Markakis is a stud (meaning they’ll both be leaving town soon), and Daniel Cabrera could legitimately walk 200 batters in a given season.  In the preseason, I predicted the Orioles to be the cellar-dwellers of the AL East, and I am overjoyed (as my predictions are usually wrong, and I am not a fan of owner, Peter Angelos) to announce that I was right.