Padres/49-38/1 (1) - 1st in the NL in ERA, OPSA, WHIP and QS; 3rd in BAA. Good thing, as the Pad's rank dead last in BA and OBP, in are in the bottom 3 in SLG and OPS. It helps when this guy (-->) is your second best starter -- (8-3, 2.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .197 BAA).
Dodgers/49-40/2 (2) - Giving San Diego a run for best staff (2nd in ERA, OPSA and QS; 3rd in WHIP). Dodgers have been getting on base (3rd in NL at .340) but continue to struggle at hitting for power (11th in SLG, 10th in OPS). We'll see if LA parts with some young talent in an effort to solidify the offense.
Braves/47-42/3 (6) - Smoltz's health will be a large factor in the Braves ability to compete for the NL East crown in the second half. The most encouraging aspect of Atlanta's first half is they were able to stay with the Mets despite less-than-head-spinning showings from A. Jones, McCann and Francoeur. Looking forward to '08, Atlanta has to be excited that Salty seems to be holding his own at first. Maybe there's room on the same roster for the two catching prospects after all.
Brewers/49-39/4 (3) - The Cubs surged and the Brewers held them off. Braun has been raking, and Fielder is the first half NL MVP. Sheets has stayed healthy and Gallardo handled his call up to Milwaukee with poise. While I was originally anxious in seeing Gallardo shifted to the pen, he might be a welcome addition to what is right now the teams biggest weakness.
Mets/48-38/5 (4) - I keep saying I don't believe the staff is good enough to beat the best in the NL over the course of a seven game series, and Maine and Perez continue to make a compelling argument to the contrary. A sweep at the hands of the up-and-comer Rockies and a split with the Astros was not exactly an inspired end the to the first half. Still, the Mets are in first -- isn't that ultimately what matters?
Rockies/44-44/6 (9) - I promise to go one week without
bringing up the rookie shortstop that is blossoming into one of the most entertaining players to watch in all of baseball. Instead, let's give some love to the guy nipping at Prince's heels in the MVP race (.341/.964, 15 HR, 69 RBI, 56 R).
Holliday has established himself as the cornerstone in one of the
NLs most potent offenses (1st in BA and
OBP; 3rd in OPS and Runs; 5
th in
SLG). A lack of pitching depth means the
Rox will struggle to stay with LA and San Diego in the second half, but they certainly have the bats required to meet those teams head-on.
Diamondbacks/47-43/7 (5) - The Snakes have come back down to earth. As expected this young squad has been up and down -- most recently down having dropped 8 of the last 10. How loaded is the farm system/youth at the major league level? The D-backs likely will not be interested in discussing a new contract with the soon-to-be free agent Eric Byrnes (who was the 1st half team leader in BA, HR, RBI, R, SB and OPS).
Phillies/44-44/8 (7) - The Phils have raked their way into striking distance of the wild card (top 5 in BA, RS, OBP, SLG and OPS). Unfortunately, the staff is nowhere near playoff calibre. Hamels continues to flash staff ace stuff (10-4, 3.72/1.21, 124 K/ 118.2 IP), but there simply isn't enough there this year. To make matters worse, there isn't much in the farm system exciting potential trade partners.
Cubs/44-43/9 (8) - The Cubs are the current trendy pick for NL Central champs -- I'll stick with my preseason Brew Crew. Still, it would be disingenuous to ignore the fact that Chicago is currently one of, if not the, hottest teams in the NL having won 12 of their last 16. Despite a lineup consisting of A-Ram, Lee and Soriano, the Cubs have struggled to score runs (1oth in NL in RS). The staff has carried the load, however, and ended the first half ranked in the top 5 in ERA, BAA, OPSA, WHIP and QS.
Marlins/42-47/10 (10) - Hanley Ramirez has been a pleasure to watch through the first three months -- .331/.388/.538, 14 HR, 35 RBI, 70 R, 27 SB). If the Fish are willing to part with Willis -- preferably for some young hitting -- they could be poised for a series of playoff runs that could last for several years starting '09. Already stocked with some solid young arms in Miami, Chris Volstad (pictured right) will arrive in a couple of years with the rest of his highly touted High-A Hammerhead staff.
Pirates/40-48/11 (11) - Bucs continue to show signs of promise, posting an impressive 5-2 record last week against Milwaukee (3-1) and Chicago (2-1). The young arms have been hit and miss but encouraging. At some point, however, the Pirates will have to sign some young bats. Even if McCutchen turns it around this year and is ready to contribute in '08, it will take much more to fix this offense (currently ranked 12th in BA and 14th in RS, OBP, SLG and OPS).
Cardinals/40-45/12 (12) - Tying run on third; winning run on second; Pujols available to pinch hit. What would you do? Please fax your answers to 312-XXX-X5X3, Attn: Mr. Tony La Russa.
Astros/39-50/13 (13) - Now that Biggio has his milestone, can we please let Chris Burke play at second?
Giants/38-48/14 (14) - Five more to go for Barry. If the Giants make a run at the big catch this off-season, San Fran fans may be treated to the breaking of the greatest record in baseball twice in ten years.
Reds/36-52/15 (16) - My guess is less than two weeks until
you see Joey
Votto (pictured right) doing this in
Cincy. Any guesses when Bailey will get things straightened out? I can't believe this wasn't foreseen by the
Cincy front office. Usually, if a kid is having difficulty with command over his
offspeed stuff at AAA, he won't have it figured out by the time he steps off the plane and into the majors.
Nationals/36-52/16 (15) - Hopefully they get something for Cordero. I also hear the new stadium is looking good.
NL MVP - Prince Fielder, Brewers (.289/.376/.620, 29 HR, 70 RBI, 22 2B)
NL Cy Young - Jake Peavy, Padres (9-3, 2.19 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .213 BAA, 125 K/34 BB/ 119 IP)
NL RoY - Hunter Pence, Astros (.342/.367/.589, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 7 SB)
bringing up the rookie shortstop that is blossoming into one of the most entertaining players to watch in all of baseball. Instead, let's give some love to the guy nipping at Prince's heels in the MVP race (.341/.964, 15 HR, 69 RBI, 56 R). Holliday has established himself as the cornerstone in one of the NLs most potent offenses (1st in BA and OBP; 3rd in OPS and Runs; 5th in SLG). A lack of pitching depth means the Rox will struggle to stay with LA and San Diego in the second half, but they certainly have the bats required to meet those teams head-on.
you see Joey Votto (pictured right) doing this in Cincy. Any guesses when Bailey will get things straightened out? I can't believe this wasn't foreseen by the Cincy front office. Usually, if a kid is having difficulty with command over his offspeed stuff at AAA, he won't have it figured out by the time he steps off the plane and into the majors.
a 3 game sweep of the BoSox. Tough not to peg Detroit as the team to beat in the AL, especially with the gradual emergence of Andrew Miller (3.31/1.30) who put up a 7 inning one run performance against Boston last Friday (6 K, 3 H, 4 BB). Offense is also 1st in the AL in SLG, OPS, BA and runs, and 3rd in OBP.
back of the current Wild Card Indians. Minnesota has been a good second half team over the last couple of seasons, and they will have to replicate that effort in 2007 if they want to continue play in October. Good to see Garza up and throwing well (at least through his first start). The Twins have stated he'll get at least one more -- if that goes well I expect him to stick, as his stuff is better than any other prospect they have.
limps into the break after a disappointing first half. Guthrie, Bedard, Roberts and Markakis give the team a decent core, but they are two or three bats and another starter away from making any noise. Tejada's injury means no big trade in July -- although I'm not sure this year's Tejada would bring back anything worth the removal of his bat from the lineup. Next up for O's fans is the signing of Wieters in August...at least I hope so.
looks like in an Oakland uniform (Suzuki, pictured right). A's are primed for their annual second-half sprint towards the playoffs. This year, however, it doesn't look like the LAAoA are going to be quite so willing to fold. Given the current state of the staff (1st in ERA, BAA, OPS, WHIP and QS), imagine what Oakland could do if Harden could stay healthy for even 15 starts...
