Mid Season Report: AL

I know we are a little over 81 games for the season but we need a mid season report to see who are the contenders and the pretenders. I will do a HOT-a player who is on fire and doesnt appear to stop, NOT-someone who needs to improve to save their season, BUYER/SELLER: Self explanatory. FINISH-where they end up during the year,

AL EAST
1. Boston Red Sox: HOT: Starting Pitching-Not many teams can say that they have three 8+ winners on their staff. That is something the Sox will need the rest of the season including the postseason. NOT: Nick Green or any other shortstop- They get nothing out of the SS position right now with Green batting average only .257, hitting four homers, and 15 RBIs that is not getting it done. BUYER: No doubt about it, if they get Roy Halladay my head may explode and they have also wanted JJ Hardy. FINISH: First in the AL East, World Series Champion.

2. New York Yankees: HOT: Robinson Cano- There are slew of Yankee hitters I could choose from because well they hit at new Coors Field so their numbers are quite inflated to say the least. Cano has had a great year at second base hitting over .300 and 10+ homers almost reviving his career. NOT: Middle relief- The one thing the Yankees are missing right now is a 7th and 8th inning guy to set up Mariano Rivera. None of those guys seem to have the 'grapefruits' to handle October. BUYER: Without question they are, I dont think they can get Halladay but they should look for an 8th inning guy, maybe Tony Pena out of Arizona. FINISH: Second in the AL East, lose in the ALCS to the Sox in 5

3. Tampa Bay Rays: HOT: Ben Zobrist- He is a guy who has played seven different positions this year for the Rays and has been the most important part of their team so far. Some are discussing that he is the MVP of the AL so far right now. NOT: Run Support- Their top three pitchers have six losses with sub 4 ERAs, something wrong there. It could be Pat Burrell/Carlos Pena .240 and lower BA. BUYER: They could use relief help or a bat, Felipe Lopez wouldnt be a bad opition. FINISH: Third in the AL East, just short of the Wild Card.

4. Toronto Blue Jays: HOT: Aaron Hill- Talk about a guy who really came out of nowhere. He seemed to be a flash in a pan in 2007 and now he is coming on strong with 20 homers already this season. NOT: Travis Snider- He was supposed to be one of the superstars of the Jays and hasnt amount to nothing. I wouldnt be surprised if they decided to send him down at some time this second half. SELLER: They are looking to deal Roy Halladay and Scott Rolen, maybe Aaron Hill as well who knows. FINISH: Fifth in the AL East.

5. Baltimore Orioles: HOT: Adam Jones- He is a helluva player and a great young talent that seems to keep getting better. Jones will be a complete stud for the O's and should be their franchise player. NOT: Starting Pitching- Good lord they have four pitchers with 5 plus ERAs that is not going to get it done whatsoever for the O's for years to come. SELLER: They will not sell any of their great young players but they might deal George Sherrill to get some pitching. FINISH: Fourth in the AL East.

AL CENTRAL
1. Detroit Tigers: HOT: Edwin Jackson- He was a world-renowned prospect at the beginning of his career and then tailed off until last year season with the Rays which we all thought was lighting in the bottle. Jackson proved that theory wrong so far. NOT: Dontrelle Willis- The D-Train has officially parked in the station for awhile. I see no reason for the resurrection of Willis. NEITHER: They could use a bat but they have a ton of mammoth contracts therefore they really dont have room to take on money. FINISH: First in the AL Central, loses to the Red Sox in four.

2. Chicago White Sox: HOT: Paul Konerko- He has a had a pretty solid season so far after struggling mightly last year. Konerko been great for the Sox so far. NOT: Josh Fields- I have no idea why he is still in the lineup when you have Gordan Beckham ready to play. Fields has only hit a mere .225. BUYER/SELLER: If they do well in the next 10 days, they will be buyers maybe go after Rolen then if they suck, they might try to deal Jermaine Dye. FINISH: Third in the AL Central, fades away in the second half.

3. Minnesota Twins: HOT: Joe Mauer-He has been a guy who never had power and now is belting fifteen homers with an unreal .377 batting average. Mauer is right up there for MVP so far this season. NOT: Twins Management- I could say others but look they gave away Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett for Delmon Young, yikes. Think how good the Twins would be. NEITHER: They are never really a team that makes deals at the end of July so I see them making no moves. FINISH: Second in the AL Central but it will be close with the Tigers.

4. Kansas City Royals: HOT: Zach Grienke- Who else? He might have five losses but he only has a 2.13 ERA right now. Grienke could easily be the AL CY Young award winner right now. Also its a great story that he was able to overcome all the problems he had. NOT: Mike Jacobs- They brought him from Florida and he has done complete squat for the Royals so far as a DH. He has made a little dent in Kansas City. SELLER: They wont deal any of guys like Mark Teahan, Billy Bulter, or Grienke although if someone wants Jose Guillen/Jacobs, they will do it. FINISH: Fourth in the AL Central

5. Cleveland Indians: HOT: Victor Martinez- Coming off a injury-riddle 08, he had an All-Star worthy first half of the season. He does a great job at both catcher and first base. NOT: Relief pitching- Its sooo bad, they blow every lead the Indians seem to get. If I was Cleveland I would ask Jose Mesa to come back. SELLER: No doubt about it and it would be interesting to see if they move Martinez which I doubt. FINISH: Dead last in the AL.

AL WEST
1. Los Angeles Angles: HOT: Juan Rivera- Remember when the media was criticizing the Angels for passing on Mark Teixeira for Rivera? He has put together a pretty awesome year so far with .310 15 homers. Its not Tex by any means but Rivera done a formidable job. NOT: Vladimir Guerrero- Is his career done? The back seems like it bothers him so much and he hasnt be able to shake it. Very sad for me. BUYER: I dont know if they have enough to get Halladay but they might go after some 3-4 pitching like Doug Davis. FINISH: First in the AL West, loses to Yanks in five

2. Texas Rangers: HOT: Nelson Cruz- Dont remind me he was a Brewer prospect but Cruz has had an incredible year so far for Texas. The Rangers have a bright future with him and Josh Hamilton as their 3-4. NOT: Chris Davis- A cant miss prospect who was suppose to be Cruz this year has only proven to hit home runs. Hopefully he can figure it out. BUYER: They need pitching too and they have a ton in their minors to give up so who knows. FINISH: Second in the AL West falling away from the Angels.

3. Seattle Mariners: HOT: Russell Branyan- The Muscle has been awesome for Seattle and its too bad he didnt stay with the Brewers this season. Anyways its great to see him have easily the comeback year of the AL. NOT: Wladimir Baletien- Talk about just an awful player, he hasnt done anything out in left for Seattle this season. I hope they have a young gun in the minors to fill his role. BUYER/SELLER: Alot like the White Sox, if they succeed in the next 10 they might look at some players and if they suck once again, they will deal guys like Washburn/Branyan. FINISH: Third in the AL West.

4. Oakland: HOT: Andrew Bailey- He has been awesome in the closer role at his young age and it seems to me that Bailey will be a dominant closer from years to come. NOT: Matt Holiday- Talk about an epic fail. Everyone doubt that he go from Coors to Oakland without any problems and he laughed it off. That didnt happen for Holiday whatsoever as he has gone thirty-two games w/o homering. SELLER: I mean when are they not sellers? Haha look for them to try to deal Holiday for sure. FINISH: Fourth in the AL West.

-Charlie.