If the first half did anything, it restored faith in the adage that in any given year, anyone can beat the Yankees. Despite their $208 million payroll, the Yanks were swept in a three-game series at Kansas City and lost three of four at home to Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, baseball’s Cinderella was Chicago’s stepchild. It’s Ozzie Guillen’s lovable small ball, and nasty pitching staff, that has made the Chicago White Sox baseball’s best team.
AL East
BIGGEST SURPRISE – Brian Roberts, Orioles
Through his first three years of big-league service time, the Orioles’ second baseman – who stands 5-feet-9 with spikes – never had hit more than five homers. He belted eight in April and entering Friday had 15 homers and an AL-leading .354 batting average. Roberts and double-play partner Miguel Tejada will start for the AL all-star team Tuesday. They were the biggest reasons the Orioles were the surprise East leaders through most of the first half.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT – New York Yankees
Despite a $208 million payroll that more than doubled 28 other teams, the Yanks were 39-39 entering play July 2. They then won their next six, spurring belief that these veterans understand this is a 162-game season and there’s no reason to panic until mid-August. But make no mistake, these aren’t the Yanks of old primarily because their rotation ranks 24th in the majors with a 4.75 ERA.
BEST HITTER – David Ortiz, Red Sox
If this were based on fantasy-league criteria, the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez would be the division’s best. But even Yankees fans struggle with how, and when, A-Rod puts up his numbers. Ortiz not only has big overall stats, he may be baseball’s most dangerous hitter in the clutch. When the game is close and in the late innings, Ortiz is leads the AL with 16 RBIs and is batting .368. None of A-Rod’s 23 homers have come in those designated “clutch” situations.
BEST PITCHER – Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
Until a line drive broke his leg Friday, the Arvada West grad was having a more efficient first half than in his Cy Young season of 2003. He will miss a month but still leads the AL with 141 2/3 innings, five complete games, two shutouts and a 2.41 ERA. Although his Blue Jays are playing better than expected, the shame is Halladay’s talents never have been showcased on the October stage.
TRADE FRONT
The baseball world expects Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to not only acquire a front-line starting pitcher (Roger Clemens, Tom Glavine, Jason Schmidt?) and a setup reliever or two, but a bona fide center fielder (Mike Cameron?) to replace the aging Bernie Williams. The Red Sox need late-inning relief help (Billy Wagner, Eddie Guardado, Shigetoshi Hasegawa, Danny Kolb?) now that Matt Mantei and closer Keith Foulke are out because of leg injuries. The storied rivals want to upgrade at second base, but while the Yanks are eyeing Bret Boone, the Red Sox would rather have Orlando Hudson. Toronto desperately wants a front-line catcher. The Orioles won’t be acquiring Todd Helton, but they better get at minimum a No. 2-type starting pitcher if they’re serious about contending.
WHAT TO WATCH IN THE SECOND HALF
A rise by the Yanks, fade by the Orioles and Curt Schilling’s return to the Red Sox. The question is, will the Yanks rise far enough to make the playoffs as the AL wild card? It’s possible, but only if they acquire the right starting pitcher from the trade market, and the Twins from the AL Central don’t do something about their infield. The Orioles don’t have enough pitching to keep up. Schilling has pitched so poorly while trying to rehab from ankle surgery, the Red Sox will break him in after the all-star break as a late-inning reliever.
AL Central
BIGGEST SURPRISE – Chicago White Sox
The offseason power void created by the departures of Magglio Ordoñez and Carlos Lee and the injury to Frank
Thomas was supposed to cripple the offense, and there were too many pitching questions to believe this team could end the Twins’ divisional stronghold. But leadoff-hitting newcomer Scott Podsednik transformed the offense and nearly every pitcher – from ace Mark Buehrle to No. 5 starter Jon Garland to closer Dustin Hermanson to middle man Cliff Politte – is having a career year. And they’re still fourth in the majors in homers.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT – Indians offense
No, it’s not the Twins. Through 82 games, they were actually playing better this season (46-36) than in 2004 (45-37), when they won their third consecutive division title. Minnesota’s expectations have simply been warped by the White Sox’s extraordinary start. Cleveland is loaded with talented young hitters, but all of them slumped early. The Indians ranked 14th in the 14-team AL in runs scored and hitting through April. Led by Travis Hafner, the Indians got back in wild-card contention in early June, but they still need Aaron Boone (.210), Casey Blake (.223) and Victor Martinez (.239) to start swinging in the second half.
BEST HITTER – Travis Hafner, Indians
Let there be no doubt this is a pitcher’s division. The least known among the top divisional hitters, Hafner leads all AL Central batters with a .314 average and 57 RBIs, and his 17 homers are third to the White Sox’s Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko, both of whom have 19. Among all big-league hitters in each of the three Triple Crown categories, Hafner’s average ranks 16th, he’s 17th in home runs and 19th in RBIs.
BEST PITCHER – Mark Buehrle, White Sox
Not an easy choice in a division that also boasts his rotation mate Jon Garland (13-4, 3.38) and Twins ace Johan Santana (143 strikeouts, 26 walks, 7-5, 3.98 ERA). But Buehrle gets the nod not only because he’s 10-2 with a superior 2.58 ERA and 129 innings, but also because he has been the most consistent winner the past five seasons.
TRADE FRONT
The iffy health of Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez has the White Sox looking for a front-end starting pitcher. Jason Schmidt and A.J. Burnett have been mentioned although neither may be available. The Tigers are expected to make Rondell White, Jason Johnson and Dmitri Young available. The Twins badly need to upgrade at third base (Joe Randa?) and second base (Bret Boone?). The Indians want an affordable right-handed cleanup hitter (Austin Kearns?). The Royals may be the Central’s only seller in the trade market, and this could be the time they move oft-injured first baseman Mike Sweeney, although there’s more interest in oft-injured pitcher Jeremy Affeldt.
WHAT TO WATCH IN THE SECOND HALF
The long-awaited White Sox slump. These guys are not as good as their record. It’s especially difficult believing Garland – whose average record the past three years was 12-12 – and relievers Hermanson and Politte can keep it up. Then again, even if the White Sox finish, say, 35-44, they’re so far out in front they would still win the division/wild card with 92 wins. A more intriguing race is between the Twins and Indians. Entering the weekend, the Twins were one game ahead of the Indians for the AL wild card with the Orioles, Yankees, Rangers, Blue Jays and A’s in contention.
AL West
BIGGEST SURPRISE – Rebound of A’s
Entering Memorial Day, they were 15 games below .500. Their offense ranked last in the AL in hitting (.243), homers (28) and runs (3.94 per game). And their top pitchers (Rich Harden, Octavio Dotel, Kiko Calero) and two of their best hitters (Bobby Crosby, Erubiel Durazo) were disabled. Since then, the A’s have gone 25-12, thanks to improved hitting and remarkable starting pitching led by Harden’s return.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT – Mariners offense
Most blame is directed at newcomers Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson because they were signed to a combined $114 million over the winter. A bigger problem, though, was returning veterans Bret Boone and Ichiro Suzuki. Beltre started slow but he’s now at .269-9-44 and steadily rising toward his career averages. No more should have been expected from Sexson (.253-17-59) in such a spacious ballpark. But Boone (.231, 7 HR, 7 errors) was so bad, the Mariners are days from trading him, and Ichiro’s .311 average is 25 points off his career average.
BEST HITTER – Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
No sense overlooking the obvious. The defending MVP is the league’s best all-around hitter in that he not only hits for a high average (.341, second in AL) and power (15 homers despite missing 17 games to injury), but he’s also all but impossible to pitch around because of his ability to barrel pitches that aren’t strikes. The Rangers’ Mark Teixeira (22 homers) may win his first of multiple Home Run Derbies this year, but it’s easier pitching to him than the Man from Vlad.
BEST PITCHER – Bartolo Colon, Angels
Not only does he lead the division with an 11-5 record and 3.42 ERA, but historically he’s a much better pitcher in the second half (30-13, 3.44 ERA in previous three years) than in the first half (23-20, 4.29 the past four years, including 2005). The next best pitcher is Oakland’s Rich Harden, who was stopped by a stomach muscle strain earlier this season but has a 2.53 ERA through 11 starts.
TRADE FRONT
Angels GM Bill Stoneman never has been a big trading deadline participant, and he already has said he doesn’t have pressing needs. No doubt, the Angels have enough to win the West. But to win it all, they will need to upgrade their mediocre DH platoon of Jeff DaVanon and Juan Rivera. The Rangers would love to trade Richard Hidalgo, and as long as they don’t expect anything in return, they should find a team desperate for punch. The dead-last Mariners will put veteran starting pitchers Jamie Moyer and Aaron Sele on the block in hopes they can add some much-needed young talent to their farm system. A’s GM Billy Beane said he will be a buyer and seller during the deadline. The Cubs and Yankees want him to make Mark Kotsay available, but the A’s are trying to negotiate a two-year extension for the center fielder and add a starting pitcher.
WHAT TO WATCH IN THE SECOND HALF
The young A’s and aging Angels. Are the A’s on a hot streak or in a complete turnaround? The Angels should be able to coast to their third playoff appearance in four seasons, but this is an old team with a history of torn muscles and brittle bones.
