It’s the midway point of the Major League Baseball season.  It was exciting first half that will end with what should be an exciting All-Star Weekend (especially if one Yasiel Puig is allowed to play).  While the results so far appears as previously predicted, there have been some absolute shockers.

So without further ado, here is how my and baseball expert Lauren Woode (follow her on Twitter @LaurenIsLive) picks are looking at the halfway point…

American League

American League East

Analysis:  Talk about sucking a big one in predicting this thing.  I never thought that last year’s cellar-dwelling Red Sox would be the best team in the AL at the All-Star break.  That happens when you have the best offense in the AL – scoring the most runs, having the best on-base percentage and the second highest batting average.  What a difference a year sans Bobby Valentine makes.  Meanwhile Lauren was pretty much spot on, which is why she is the baseball expert and not me.

American League Central

Analysis:  The only surprise here is the Indians are in contention in this division.  Given new manager Terry Francona’s acumen, we should have known better.  Man, the Twins have fallen mighty hard since signing Joe Mauer to that phat extension a few years back…

American League West

Analysis:  Man, the Angels have not done Lauren and I any favors.  Who knew that free-agent acquisition Josh Hamilton would fall on his face so far this season?  Props to the Rangers for still balling despite losing Hamilton to the Angels.  The A’s, along with the Rays, are the best dollar-for-dollar franchise in MLB.  While the Mariners are predictably bad, my heart goes out to Astros fans.  First MLB screwed you over by changing leagues (instead of Arizona), now your team sucks to high heaven.

National League

National League East

Analysis:  Nothing new to report here.  This division has shaped into what we both expected – except the Nationals are looking up at the Braves.  I expect the Braves the break this division open after the All-Star break.  The Nationals withstood a rash of injuries, but they may be too far behind in the wildcard chase to make some noise.  The Marlins are predictably a minor league club that should be contracted and the word “Mets” still stands for “My Entire Team Sucks”.

National League Central

Analysis:  We both did not see the Pirates coming.  That is good news for their fans and for MLB.  While the Cardinals – a.k.a. “Team Cockroach” – has made me look really bad, the Brewers actually made me look worse.  This division (and the AL East) is one of the strongest in baseball.  Both wildcards should easily come from this division.

National League West

Analysis:  Not many people saw the Diamondbacks coming, but I think they’ll come back to earth in the second half of the season.  What’s really impressive was the Dodgers’ ability to weather the storm with injuries, and battle back to second place in the division.  Meanwhile, San Fran did Lauren and I no favors at all, though I think they’ll make a second half push.  Make no mistake, this division is perhaps the most wide-open in MLB.

Categories: baseball, MLB

Tags: baseball, Major Leage Baseball, manager terry francona, MLB, New York Yankees, Opinion, Sports, toronto blue jays