MLB at mid season: your thoughts?

[Auggie]

Surprises (to me, at least):

Detroit's Max Scherzer, 12-0 -- I knew he was capable, but not like this. The first 12-0 start since Roger Clemens in 1986.

Cleveland -- Despite Detroit's potent line-up, Cleveland is just two games out. Hats off to Terry Francono for managing a team with more ups and downs than a yo-yo. I thought they'd be out of it by now.

Clay Buchholz, Red Sox -- 9-0, 1.71 ERA. I didn't expect the Red Sox to be in first place either.

Bartolo Colon, Oakland -- Age 40, and he's 11-2. He can't possibly be juicing, can he?

Dodgers & Giants -- I never expected they'd be fighting for last place in the N.L. West, though one team seems to have discovered it's mojo while the other has lost theirs. Two big surprises here.

Angels -- You'd think they had figured this out after last season, though they have been playing better. Should Texas and A's slip the A.L. West could be as fun as the N.L. Central.

Pirates -- I'm happy to see someone else leading the N. L. West other than the Cardinals.

Chris Davis

Yasiel Puig

My first half MVPs: Miguel Cabrera, A.L.; Molina or Votto in the N.L.

[madinmaryland]

1. Pirates --> Best record in MLB. nt

[Inkfreak]

2. The Red Sox are a bit of a surprise

Yanks will have a tough go at it at the end. But they are doing better than I thought considering the injuries. I miss Granderson.

[SHRED]

3. No surprise with Dodgers

I knew they didn't have any clubhouse chemistry.

Padres yes...I am happily surprised at the tenacity of this club.

[chelsea0011]

4. Red Sox have leading GM of the Year and leading Manager of the Year

And they play hard unlike the last 2 years

[KamaAina]

5. Thoughts? Mostly dark and murderous

First of all, you're supposed to let the non-Bay Area posters accuse our players of juicing. Secondly, whether he is or not, it isn't helping. Gee Dubya Boosh's team has caught and passed them. As for the World Chumps, I think the Asheville Tourists (A-South Atlantic League) are about to catch and pass them.

And why root for the Pyrites? Can't you just let mad take care of that? Yeah, yeah, great story, yada yada yada -- but their manager is a sick-making Tebow-style fundie.

[Auggie]

8. I'm a sucker for rust belt cities

[El Supremo]

6. I guess I should be happy for the Rockies.

But I still have big doubts. After their worst season Jim Tracy walked away from $1.4 million and they hire a manager who has never even coached in professional baseball. Their pitching is always poor. Maybe Drew Pomeranz will be the new 2010 Ubaldo.

The Rangers did themselves a huge favor in letting Hamilton go. If they don't make the post-season, I'll be surprised. But the playoff series make a mockery of the 162 game regular season.

[TZ]

7. My team

Is disappointingly mediocre. I see no evidence of them improving- world series or bust, yeah...

[Lugnut]

11. I'm with you.

Injuries have taken a huge toll. The patchwork quilt of a team has had some bright spots but right now they're heading down the standings and getting clobbered everywhere. Bummer.

[opiate69]

9. My team (Mariners)..

Is sadly making me regret ever having defended Jack Zdurencik. Aside from King Felix and (surprisingly) Iwakuma, there's just no reason to bother following them right now, nor in the forseeable future.

[bluedigger]

10. Red Sox, Pirates having huge years.

Overlooked Player of the first half - Jose Iglesias of the Red Sox. Write him in for the AS game at third base.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Puig: 44 hits in 25 games. Breaks Sax's LA Dodger record for hits by rookie in month of June.

He's 4 for 4 today.

He makes rookie mistakes aplenty though.

[Bluzmann57]

13. Well, the Cubs are garbage

As are the White Sox, the Cardinals will lead the division and the entire NL by season's end because the Pirates will fall apart, as usual.
The Giants are just too good to not win that mediocre division, The Braves are a good team that often gets overlooked, watch out for them.
I heard that there is some other league, the American League or something like that.
But seriously, Cabrera is far and away the best hitter in MLB right now. Detroit is loaded and should breeze in the second half.

[Jamaal510]

14. Bartolo is 40 years old?

And I just heard of the guy a couple years ago.

[Auggie]

15. He made his debut in 1997 with Cleveland ...

they traded him to the Expos in 2002. He's also played for the Angels, Red Sox, and Yankees. Decent career numbers ... now clouded by steroids use.