Angels/51-31/1(3) - Halos taking 2 of 3 from the Orioles is barely news-worthy. The "barely", however, is the fact that this brought them to a franchise best 51-31 after 82. Well balanced team is ranked in the top 5 in the AL in BA, Runs, OBP, OPS, SB, ERA, BAA, OPSA, SV, WHIP and QS. Great to see Kotchman producing, and Kendrick getting back to full strength.
Indians/49-32/2(4) - PnR's pick for the AL Pennant looking strong as we head into the last week of the first half. 5th in BA, 2nd in Runs, 3rd in OBP, 2nd in SLG, 2nd in OPS -- all without the usual Pronk. Cleveland has to start thinking about moving V-Mart to 1st full time. It's getting harder and harder to risk an injury (.323/.384/.583, 14 HR).
Tigers/47-33/3(2) - Herculean effort from Bonderman and a well-timed HR from Thames prevent Twins and Baker (3 H in 8 IP) from securing the sweep. Manny over Sheff for All-Star honors doesn't sit well; nor does Polanco starting over Roberts. Anyone disagree? Detroit gets huge challenge heading into the break with six at home against the Tribe and the Bo-Sox.
Red Sox/49-31/4(1) - Getting swept by the M's and losing two of three to the Rangers is simply unacceptable. Fortunately for Boston, the rest of the AL East has been equally inept, as of late. Sox get a chance to rebound with four against the Rays before a three game trip to Detroit to end the first half.
Twins/42-38/5(7) - Thames's homerun is the difference between a five- and three-game deficit to Detroit. If the Twins want to keep this a three team race through September, they are going to have to figure out a way to drive in some runs (8th in Runs, 12th in OPS). Having Mauer healthy will be a huge step in the right direction. Santana back to Cy-form after a slow start (2.76, 9.47K/IP) -- Johan has allowed three or fewer runs in eleven of his last twelve starts.
Athletics/42-39/6(6) - I almost forgot what a hitting catcher 
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...
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...Mariners/45-33/7(9) - Come on, this can't continue for long can it (bottom third in AL in ERA, BAA, OPS, WHIP and QS)? I'm thinking Hargrove has the right idea by bailing while the team is twelve over .500. I'll second that notion; anyone else want off this ill-conceived bandwagon?
Blue Jays/39-42/8(11) - Mired in a four game losing streak, the Jays have missed a good opportunity to gain some ground on the Sox. While neither has been awful, you have to wonder if this is what JP had in mind when he signed Wells and Thomas to their respective contracts this offseason.
Yankees/37-41/9(5) - Yankees have one shot left to make a run at the playoffs. That chance comes with 28 games against Tampa, Toronto, Baltimore, Kansas City and Chicago to start the second half. Looking at the offense (top 5 in AL in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS and Runs) it's tough to figure how this team is four under .500 -- then you look at the pitching (bottom 5 in AL in ERA, OPSA, WHIP and QS).
Orioles/35-45/10(9) - Starting pitching has been a bright spot (2nd in AL in BAA and 3rd in AL in OPSA), including staff ace Bedard (3.36/1.18 and AL leading 125 K's) and rookie Guthrie (1.74 ERA in 11 GS). Unfortunately, there's not much to look forward to in '07 -- only the Royals have scored fewer runs and hit fewer homeruns in the AL. McPhail and the rest of the front office will be praying that some pop emerges from the farm system between Rowell, Reimold and Wieters (provided he signs).
Devil Rays/33-47/11(12) - Rays have dropped seven in a row and thirteen of seventeen. If Baldelli could only stay healthy, Tampa could have shipped him this May for some pitching. Even with the dearth of young hitters, the Rays will need at least one more arm to add to Shields/Kazmir/Price/Niemann if they want to compete by 2010.
White Sox/35-43/12(8) - Who'd-a-thunk a line-up full of aging stars, OBP dumpsters and a strategy of bunting and stealing would eventually lead to disaster? Certainly not the south-side proponents of Ozzie-ball. "What can I do? All this worked back in 2005," exclaimed a befuddled Guillen.
Royals/34-48/13(13) - Bottom third in BA, Runs, OBP, SLG, OPS, ERA, BAA, OPSA, WHIP and QS. Not much to work with, here. Pre-season RoY hopefully Alex Gordon seems to have found his stroke, going .327/.383/.500 in June. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Wright-esque second half, with 12-15 HR/SB.
Rangers/34-47/14(14) - Usual struggles from the staff (13th or lower in ERA, BAA, OPSA, WHIP and QS) and a surprising first half from the Mariners have left the Rangers as the only AL West team with nothing to look forward to for the rest of the season. Given his contract, it was going to be tough to move Teixeira even before his injury. It's going to be tough watching him walk at the end of '08 and getting nothing but a pick to show for it.
AL MVP: Magglio Ordonez, Tigers (.369/.444/.617, 13 HR, 68 RBI, 34 2B)
AL Cy Young: Dan Haren, Athletics (10-2, 2.20 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, .202 BAA, 98 K/31 BB/123 IP)
AL RoY: Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles (4-1, 1.74 ERA, 0.79 WHIP in 11 GS; 2 runs or fewer in 10 of 11 GS)
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