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.