Heading in to the last few weeks before the all star break lets take a quick look around the league.
NL EAST:
Appears to be breaking down to a three team race. Florida's Josh Johnson is having an almost Greg Maddux-esque season currently and with being backed up by Leesman and Jurrjens the Marlins look extremely tough to beat. The Mets have stuck around longer than a lot of people thought they would being lead by both a patchwork lineup and pitching staff. Dan Haren is having a great season so far and Matt Purke is helping solidify the rotation. The post season signing of Axeford has helped sure up the backend of the pen. Dexter Fowler has helped the offence with a .397 OBA. Meanwhile Atlanta is being led by the arm of Cliff Lee, while Justin Jacot is putting up some amazing power numbers and appears to be one of the top ROY canidates.
NL CENTRAL:
This division appears to be open to just about everyone. Currently the Cubs lead and after the acquisition of Matt Cain appear to be serious in staying in contention this year. Kerry Wood seems to be playing like someone younger and is having a tremendous season so far with just 1 blown save this season. The offence chugs along and with the emergence of Marcell Ozuna could become quite dynamic. The Brewers are led by Kyle Gibson and Yovani Gallardo with Justin Morneau helping to fuel the offence. Just a little further back are the Houston Astros. They've went through some rough times this early season losing their GM through a scandalous affair but here they sit just a mere 3 Games out. Johann Santana is carrying the starters while Hector Salvador paces the offence.
NL WEST:
Two team race, San Fransisco and Arizona. Currently the Giants look like the cream of the National league contenders but with the trade deadline still 2 months out anything can happen. The Freak Tim Jimmy is driving the starting staff while the addition of Pujols has turned this into a smooth moving offence. Meanwhile Arizona is speared on by the arms of Ian Kennedy and JP Howell. The Diamondbacks offence is led by the smooth swing of Pablo Sandoval(.330 avg) and the sweet pop of Stephen Drews bat(13 HR's).
AL EAST:
Yankees, plan and simple. Deon Carter is one of the best pitchers period. Brett Gardner at the top of the lineup sets the table superbly. 46 stolen bases so far and hitting .302 is the catalyst for the Yanks offence. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the Red Sox but with a 10 game deficit already they're is going to have to be moves made. Travis Wood and Roy Halladay anchor a solid starting staff with Daniel Bard closing the late innings out. Meanwhile their offence is propelled by the trio of Dustin Pedroia(.369 avg), Will Middlebrooks (15 HR, 60 RBI), and Jacoby Ellsbury (32SB, 54 RS).
AL CENTRAL:
The central sees the Whitesox out front of everyone else with Detroit and Minnesota battling it out for 2nd place. The Sox bring staff aces Chris Sale and Zach Stewart with Nathan shutting the door. The offence is giving legs behind the bats of Miguel Cabrera and Jim Thome. Thome is closing in on a milestone of 700 HR's and would join the likes of Ruth, Bonds, Aaron, and Rodriquez as the only other men to reach that plateau. Detroit has the sure hitting Ryan Braun leading the charge with CJ Wilson and JA Happ leading the fight from the hill.
AL WEST:
The Angels have a forseeable stranglehold on the west and it will take some great moves to unseat them from atop the heap. What can you really say about the Angels. Loaded just about everywhere. From King Felix(7-3, 76K's) to Carlos Gonzalez(.357 avg, 30 HR's, 85 RBI's) If the injury bug can stay away its pretty much a sure thing that the Angels will add another Western divison crown to their trophy cases.
Its shaping up to be a great race down the stretch across the landscape of the league. Some teams with the right moves and a little luck could easily push themselves right back in to the thick of things.
-Peter Gammonns.:)
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