Baseball Mid-Year Report

The major league baseball season is at the halfway mark. Its time for teams to start deciding if they are going to make a run for a playoff spot or whether its time to trade away assets as they keep building. Here's a look at what I think are the best and worst of the first half

BEST TEAM: Statistically speaking, the Pittsburgh Pirates might have the best record in baseball, but I think the best team going into July are the Texas Rangers. They lost Josh Hamilton and Michael Young and they haven't suffered one bit. They haven't assured themselves of a playoff position, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are American League champions at the end of the day thanks to a solid lineup 1 thru 9 and a pitching staff that again has no star, but a bunch of guys just getting it done.

MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM: They have Albert Pujols, they have Mike Trout, they have Josh Hamilton and they have a record that is four games below 500. This team should be running away with the American League West. They may have a tough time getting into the playoffs.

MOST SURPRISING TEAM: This really shouldn't come as a surprise since I called it at the start of the season, but the Cleveland Indians are in position for a playoff spot thanks to manager Terry Francona. If the Blue Jays had gotten this guy to manage them, I think Toronto would be well ahead in the AL East right now. Francona gets the best out of his team and it shows. The Indians and Detroit are fighting for an American League Central spot and while the Tigers have a better team on paper, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Indians win the division.

AL CY YOUNG LEADER: When you have a record of 12-0, its hard not to look at Max Scherzer of the Tigers. Scherzer and Justin Verlander might be the best one-two in the game right now. I can't see Scherzer not losing a game before the year is over, but he has to be the front-runner for the award right now.

NL CY YOUNG LEADER: The odds-on favourite right now has to be Matt Harvey of the New York Mets. He is one of the next generation of arms and he has been the best pitcher in the National League this year compiling a win-loss record of 7-1 with a lot of no decisions. He has an ERA of 2.00 which is impressive in this offensive age of baseball and he is striking out more than a batter per inning pitched. He might be the best pitcher in the game right now.

AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP: Its hard not to ignore the first half of the season that Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis has had with 32 homers, but I have to go with Tigers 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera. He may be the best overall player in the game right now and his numbers are once again going to be monstrous.

NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP: This race won't be decided until someone takes charge in the National League, but right now I would take Giants catcher Buster Posey. He won the award last year and he is having a season like last year. As I said. there is really no one out there that has taken charge and there are a lot of guys you could consider for the award from Posey to Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez to Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen.

CRYSTAL BALL: 

AL DIVISION WINNERS:  Baltimore, Detroit, Texas
AL WILD CARD: Boston, Cleveland
AL CHAMP: Detroit

NL DIVISION WINNERS: Atlanta, Pittsburgh, San Francisco
NL WILDCARD: Cincinnati, Washington
NL CHAMP: Cincinnati

WORLD SERIES WINNER: Detroit