San Francisco
As a closer who enters the game to the music of Notorious B.I.G., Arizona’s Jose Valverde knows a little something about huge. Asked about the National League West race, he predicted a large cluster at the finish, even if he did laugh when asked about the Rockies’ chances.
“The Dodgers and Padres have good pitching. Arizona has a lot of talented young players,” said the Diamondbacks all-star. “Colorado, mmm, they are good, too. It seems like everyone has a shot.”
He could have easily been talking about the entire National League, where the teams spent the first half jockeying for position rather than deciding anything. Nine of the 16 clubs are at least .500, and even the Central Division has drama with the resuscitation of the Chicago Cubs.
Ten weeks remain in this race, with milestones upcoming (Barry Bonds is five home runs shy of breaking Hank Aaron’s hallowed home run record) and some teams going nowhere (don’t worry, Cincinnati fans: Bengals training camp opens soon).
A peek back and a look ahead:
WEST
BIGGEST SURPRISE
San Francisco Giants
This season has been a three-month grimace, with occasional fake smiles for Barry Bonds’ at-bats. Nobody thought that the Giants were going to win the West, but they’ve been alarmingly bad. It’s as if every player on their roster got old at once – a huge problem given how Barry Zito has shrunk from the spotlight.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Rockies’ June 22-July 1 roadie
After the most electric home series since they made the 1995 playoffs, the Rockies followed wrecking the Yankees by deploying air bags in Toronto, Chicago and Houston on a 1-9 trip. What mattered wasn’t that they lost but how they lost, blowing late leads four times. There were errors, mental mistakes and sloppy pitches. If the Rockies can ultimately recover and make the playoffs, that trip will be remembered for thickening their skin, not ruining their season.
BEST HITTER
Matt Holliday, Rockies
It has long been a theory that Holliday could hit .270 and blast 50 home runs. But that’s not him. He wants to be a complete player, not a one-trick pony. If he turns a few series into his own personal Home Run Derby, Holliday has an outside shot at a Triple Crown, something no player has done since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
BEST PITCHER
Jake Peavy, Padres
Without a World Baseball Classic to hurt his shoulder and prevent him from throwing between starts, Peavy is starring in a new series: “When Good Pitchers Go Nasty.” His slider breaks like a car avoiding a squirrel on the interstate. Peavy gets the slight nod over Brad Penny, though both present compelling cases. Peavy should win the National League Cy Young if he improves on his 5-3 first-half home mark by pitching at cozy Petco Park.
TRADE FRONT
Most executives at the All-Star Game said they believe the Dodgers will add a big-time bat. They have long panted over Texas’ Mark Teixeira and have interest in outfielder Jermaine Dye of the White Sox. The Diamondbacks will need another starter if Randy Johnson’s back doesn’t heal. And the Rockies are trolling for rotation help and another bullpen arm, the latter the most likely addition with Octavio Dotel on their list. Remember, the Dodgers secured their playoff berth with the addition of Greg Maddux last July.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Philadelphia Phillies
For a team that has been covering weaknesses all season, it was fitting that the Phillies helped cover Coors Field with a tarp Sunday. The shock is that this team is even in the race after losing starting pitchers Jon Lieber and Freddy Garcia, setup man Brett Myers and closer Tom Gordon to injuries. Charlie Manuel is managing for his job and is going out on his terms. He is showing the guts to bench underachieving outfielder Pat Burrell for lengthy stretches.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
New York Mets
A forgiving division has kept the glare off this first-place team. The Mets went 15-22 leading up to the all-star break. They are counting heavily on the return of pitcher Pedro Martinez next month, a dangerous proposition given his surgery and age.
BEST HITTER
Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins
Cabrera’s presence is hard to miss beyond his svelte, 250-poundish frame. The 24-year-old star may eventually eat himself into a DH role, but he can rake. He is hitting .357 with runners on base.
BEST PITCHER
John Maine, Mets
He ranks in the top 10 in wins (10), ERA (2.71) and average against (.214). If not for Maine, left, the Mets would be a mess. Talk to hitters, and they are convinced he’s not a fluke.
TRADE FRONT
The Phillies are eyeing bullpen help, and Manuel has volunteered to take Brian Fuentes off the Rockies’ hands. If Tom Glavine doesn’t get hot, the Mets may have to pull off a deal for a second-tier starting pitcher such as Matt Morris, Jon Garland or Javier Vazquez, the same names available to the Rockies if they get really aggressive.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Will Martinez provide a jolt for the Mets or a false sense of hope?
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Milwaukee Brewers
As shortstop J.J. Hardy said Tuesday, “We can make any park look small.” This team has power and youth, with the Brewers’ infield a collection of 20-something stars. How Milwaukee deals with expectations will determine whether this is its most magical season since 1982.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Houston Astros
The Reds have been worse and the Cardinals have been perplexing, but Houston deserves better than this. The loss of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte and the vanishing acts of Morgan Ensberg and Jason Lane have hit harder than anticipated. The first-half slide has left the real possibility that Jason Jennings could be traded this month.
BEST HITTER
unter Pence, Astros
Unorthodox is an apt description for Pence. He runs funny, swings crazy and just might be the game’s most exciting player since Jose Reyes came onto the scene. Pence leads the NL with a .342 average. He will need a strong finish to avoid living in the shadow of Chicago’s Alfonso Soriano and St. Louis’ Albert Pujols.
BEST PITCHER
Ben Sheets, Brewers
He is no longer pitching like an ace in title only. Sheets is making a bid for the Cy Young in Milwaukee. He’s 6-1 at hitter-friendly Miller Park.
TRADE FRONT
The Cardinals’ pitching staff has been ineffective and injured. If Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder return in August, it would be a bigger boost than any deal their rivals could make. The Cubs maxed out their credit card over the winter, but could still get a complementary part by trading outfielder Jacque Jones. Cincinnati bears watching. Will GM Wayne Krivsky conduct a fire sale – or is that even his call anymore?
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Can Jeff Suppan, a sinking ship of late, be a rudder for a Milwaukee team that will face enormous pressure in September?
