
AROUND THE LEAGUE NEWS
With the All-Star just 2 days away, there is lots to talk about around the Major Leagues. The World Team beat the USA squad 7-5 to kickoff the All-Star festivities. and Miggy Cabrera out hit former teammate Prince Fielder and Cincinnati's Joey Votto to win the Home Run Derby.
Despite hitting 6 HR's in his past 10 games with a stretch of hitting in 5 straight games, and having 29 Homeruns on the season Corey Hart failed to make it past the 2nd Round.
Before we get to this year's All-Star rosters, let's take a look at some of the Top Stories around the League.

The Phillies have to be one of the best stories in the NL as they are currently (51-44) and 2 games back of the Braves in the NL East and the Dodgers and Cardinals in the NL WC.
When the season started most assumed the Phillies would battle with the Marlins for last place in the East and most trade experts had SP's C. Lee, C. Hamels, and AJ Burnett along with CP J Papelbon as potential trade bait as Philly looks to go young. Instead Lee has pitched his way to being named the NL starter for the All-Star game going 10-4 with a 2.31 ERA in the 1st half. Burnett at 37 is having the best year in his career going 11-5 with a 3.21 ERA well J. Papelbon has 27 saves and a 1.07 ERA.
At the Plate Ryan Howard has found the fountain of youth as he is hitting .302 with 19 HR's and 52 RBI, and Dominic Brown is having a All-Star type year with a .294 BA hitting 18 HR's with 51 RBI's

4 of the 5 teams in the NL west have 50 wins or more at the break with the San Diego Padres (54-41) still holding onto first place by 1 game over the Dodgers (54-43) despite losing their past 5 games and 7 of their past 10 well the Rockies are 3.5 GB at (51-45) and the Giants are 4.5 GB at (50-46).
With 4 teams still in the playoff hunt, that leaves Arizona (35-61) as one of the top sellers as they are battling the Chicago Cubs for the worst record in baseball.
The Diamondbacks already dealt 3 players to the Angels (SP B. McCarthy, RP J. Thatcher and OF A. Campana) but most experts feel like within the next 2 weeks 2B A. Hill (12 HR's) IF/OF M. Prado (.288 BA) RP's JJ Putz (2.28 ERA in 47 IP) and D. Hernandez (2.48 ERA in 32 IP) will also be dealt.

The Toronto Blue Jays currently have the best record in baseball at (61-35) and with a 9.5 GB lead on Boston in the AL East appear to have things pretty wrapped up.
1B E. Encarnacion has been on fire hitting .306 BA with 30 HR's and 76 RBI's but in won't be headed to Minnesota for the All-Star game (more on him later), however 3 Blue Jays will be headed to the Classic. SS Jose Reyes (.282 12 HR 44 RB 23 SB's), SP R.A. Dickey (11-2 2.57 ERA) and CP C. Janssen (31 saves 2.34 ER).

When Seattle gave Robinson Cano 10 yrs and 240 million, most experts felt like the move would maybe get the M's to the 80-85 win mark. Well Cano before getting hurt had been solid hitting 18 HR's with 44 RBI's, the play of 3 other not as talk about free agents having career years have been a huge reason for the M's success this season.
1B/OF/DH Corey Hart is headed to the All-Star game as he is hitting .306 with 29 HR's and 86 RBI's and he will be joined by CP Fernando Rodney who has 29 saves and a 2.12 ERA in 29 IP.
They will join King Felix Hernandez who was named to AL starter after going 10-3 with a 2.42 ERA in the 1st Half.
However the 3rd big surprise won't be joining them. At 35 yrs old Chris Young is having his best 1st half of his career logging a team leading 11 wins (11-4) well posting a 3.21 ERA. Could he reach 20 wins?
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