First Half Standings.

Earlier this year I made some predictions about what teams would be a maker and breaker to win the 2010 World Series and so far some on my predictions were right and some were wrong and some teams even became surprise teams.


The American League East Best 3 Teams.
1. New York Yankees - First Place (56-32)
2. Tampa Bay Rays - 2 Games Back (54-34)
3. Boston Red Sox - 5 Games Back (51-37)


Now in the American League I did pick the New York Yankees to win their division and to make it back to the World Series, well so far so good. In the start of the year the defending World Champions got off to a slow start and were 2nd place in their division by the Tampa Bay Rays but not anymore as the Yanks have the best record in baseball (56-32) as the Yanks look like they’re in good shape. As for the Tampa Bay Rays at point they were leading the division in the AL East but hit a few bumps along the road but they are right where their suppose to be with their record begging (54-34) only 2 back from the Yankees. The Rays still can turn things around and take over in the AL East but like I said before this year the Rays are going to be your American League Wild Card winner. For the Boston Red Sox who came in this year came into play with the best pitching staff in the American League having Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and John Lackey well they hit a big big speed bum as 9 of their superstar players are on the DL and it has been a tough year for the Red Sox losing starting pitcher Clay Buchholz, left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, left fielder and DH Jeremy Hermida, third baseman Mike Lowell, catcher Victor Martinez, second baseman the 2008 AL MVP winner Dustin Pedroia, set-up man in the bull pen Manny Delcarmen, and their number one starting pitcher Josh Beckett. The Red Sox hit a huge hole but still somehow find their way of only begging 5 games back with a record of (51-37) but I still think with all their injuries this season might be over, but hey you never know what can happen.



American League Central 3 Best Teams.
1. Chicago White Sox - First Place (49-38)
2. Detroit Tigers - .5 Game back (48-38)
3. Minnesota Twins - 3.5 Games Back (46-42)


Well the American League Central is probably on the tightest divisions in baseball and no one really saw the Chicago White Sox begging the team leading this division but somehow the White Sox are top with a record of (49-38) but I think when everything is said and done they won't be there in the end. As for the Detroit Tigers well they have always been a team to look out for and are a team that is always there in the end only a half game back behind the White Sox with their record begging (48-38) and with red hot Miguel Carbrera carrying this team anything can happen. For the Minnesota Twins this was the team I picked to win the division and I still think they will in the end. They are only 3.5 half games back of the White Sox and in the second half I think they will take the division but it won't come easy as the White Sox and Tigers won't go down without a fight. The Twins first half record is (46-42).


American League West Best 2 Teams.
1. Texas Rangers - First Place (50-38)
2. Los Angeles Angels 4.5 Games Back (47-44)


Well in the start of this year I said watch out for the Texas Rangers as they might be a surprise team and they have been more than a surprise team as they are leading their division for the first time since 1999 and from a little bit help from Elvis Andrus, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, Tommy Hunter, and C.J. Wilson. As this team has been one of the best teams and have proved it having a record of (50-38). Also the Rangers traded in the division and picked up Mariners ace Cliff Lee in a 6 man deal. Lee who got rocked in his Texas Rangers debut I think will only help this team get better and win the division by a long shot. The Los Angeles Angels who has been the King of the AL West has fell off broad trailing the Rangers by 4.5 games seems like they may not hold that crown anymore. With losing some key players in the offseason they are lucky they still have a shot at winning the division with their record begging (47-44). Now I said the 2 best team in the west but I just wanna throw the Seattle Mariners in this because before the year I said they would take the division in the West but seems this one of the biggest bust yet. They came in the year having 2 of the top best pitchers with Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee begging their 2 go to go guys and adding Jack Wilson and Chone Figgins who is probably having one of his worst seasons of his career and haven't lived up to the hype. The Mariners are 15 games back of the division and it looks like their season is over begging (35-53).


National League East Best 3 Teams.
1. Atlanta Braves - First Place (52-36)
2. New York Mets - 4 Games Back (48-40
3. Philadelphia Phillies - 4.5 Games Back (47-40)


Well the Atlanta Braves are no surprise that they are the best team in the National League (52-36), but I didn't think they would have been this good. I picked them to be the team to win the NL Wild Card but they have taken their game to a whole different level and to think at one point they lost 9 games in row and now they are the kings of the NL East is saying something. I still think they fall off a little bit in the second half and will win the NL Wild Card, I just think in the end their pitching won't hold up when it comes to crunch time. As for the New York Mets I have no idea how they are even in the thick of things begging on 4 games back of the division it’s a surprise that their even this good, well there really not this good (48-40). I mean their best pitcher on their team isn't Johan Sanatana its Mike Pelfrey who has came out of nowhere and has helped this along with David Wright. Other than that they have nothing and I think they will fall and won't be a problem come September. As for the 3 time Division Champion, the 2 time National League Champion, and the 2008 World Series Champion the Philadelphia Phillies well they are no longer the kings of the NL East as they started off as one of the best team in the NL having the best pitcher in baseball Roy Halladay but then boom just like that they hit a cold spot and fell down to third place in the division (47-40). They lost their leader Jimmy Rollins for the most of the first half of the season, they lost left hander J.A. Happ who is on the DL but is expected back in the end of July. They lost Ryan Madson who just returned from the DL and right when Jimmy Rollins came back they lost 2 of their key player’s third baseman Placido Polanco and second baseman Chase Utley. Now Polanco is expected back after the all-star break but as for Utley well he may not be back intill the beginning or middle of September. They also have bull pen guys Antonio Batardo and Chad Durbin on the DL as well. When I think the dark clouds clear I still think this team will win their division for the 4th straight year and they will make it back to the World Series but it won't be easy because nothing comes easy in this game.


National League Central Best 2 Teams.
Cincinnati Reds - First Place (49-41)
St. Louis Cardinals - 1 Game Back (47-41)

Well in everyones mind no one really saw the Reds begging on top in the National League Central as they are one of the surprise teams in the NL. Everyone thought this would have been a one sided favorite in the St. Louis Cardinals as they have owned their division for the past 2 years and have been to the World Series twice in 6 years. But the Reds have a lot younger ball club as do the Cardinals but right now the Reds are the team to beat (49-41). The Reds have help from Scott Rolen, a possible 2010 MVP Award Winner in Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix, and Drew Stubbs. Their only problem is if their pitching can hold it together for the whole season? Thats something will just have to find out in the second half. The St. Louis Cardinals end the first half of the season 1 game back of the division (47-41) and their pitching has done everything to help them win like Adam Wainwright the second best pitcher in the NL, Chris Carpenter, and Jaime Garcia. It’s been the Cardinals line-up that has been so so this year. If they they want to win their division this year they’re going to have to have everyone start picking it up. I think the Cardinals will win their division but it might come down to 1 game to decide who will take the NL Central crown.


National League West 4 Best Teams.
1. San Diego Padres - First Place (51-37)
2. Colorado Rockies - 2 Games Back(49-39)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers - 2 Games Back (49-39)
4. San Francisco Giants - 4 Games Back(47-41)


Now coming into this year everyone knew the NL West would be a mass but no saw the Padres leading this division as their another surprise team in the NL. This team had put together some pretty good pitching and hitting (51-37) and one of the reasons why they are the second best team in the NL. The team is really led by their pitching with Matt Latos and Jon Garland. Their line-up is very strong with 3 times Gold Glover Adrian Gonzales. But I think in the end the Padres won't have enough pitching to win the division but then again every team in this division doesn't really have strong pitching, so there for anything can happen. Now over to the Rockies who were my pick to win the NL West division who are playing really good baseball (49-39) and only 2 games out of first with one of the best pitchers in the game Ubaldo Jimenez this team looks really. Also having a very strong bull pen is one of the keys of winning a division. Also they have one of the best hitting catchers in the game with Miguel Olivo who for some reason did not make the all-star team but he is the number one catchers in the NL. Then the Rockies have one the best young outfielders in Carlos Gonzalez who last year got on base every at bat in the postseason in the NLDS. So I still think the Rockies win this division and if they can pick up another pitcher they will be good to go. The Los Angeles Dodgers this year I don't know how they are keeping up in the division (49-39) and only 2 games back of San Diego, but I guess when you have a good hitting team it doesn't really always matter about pitching. In the outfield they have Andre Ethier who is a great hitter and is batting over .300 and just an outstanding star. Then in the infield their led by first baseman James Loney who is also batting over .300. But really the best pitcher they have on this team in Clay Kershaw and that's about it for the Dodgers pitching. But somehow they are keeping up in the division. I still think they won’t last long and fall in the second half. Now over to the San Francisco Giants who had one the best pitching staff in baseball with 2 back to back CY Young Award Winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, and Jonathan Sanchez. But Giants line-up has once again failed them to be a team to win the division (47-41), but still only 4 games back of San Diego. The Giants line-up is led by Aubrey Huff and rookie star Buster Posey that is it. Pablo Sandoval hasn't really done anything this year and their pitching has been off and on, sometimes it will look good and sometimes it will look really bad. In the end I think the Giants will end up right where they are right now unless their hitting can get it together.