Philly has definitely been the surprise team of the first half, rocketing out of last place for a healthy 9.5 game lead over their North Division competition. I didn't think the off season moves were enough to kick start the team, but Bobby Brownlie's success seems to be contagious, with Penny, Webb and Cotts (!!) all having comeback seasons. The bullpen (outside of long relief) has been solid as well. The offense lacks a true superstar, but everyone has pulled their weight, including rookie C Matthew Spring (14 HR). Jay Bruce has been outstanding in CF, and the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera has paid off in spades. 

Biggest Surprise:

A lot of candidates here, but I'll go with Neal Cotts. He's 9-5 and his ERA is over 1.5 runs below his career mark. Without his success, the team is forced to play a guy like Meche or Affeldt.  

Biggest Disappointment:

Despite leading the team in saves, rookie Mark Romanczuck is getting boxed around quite a bit, giving up an OpAvg of .319 and a WHIP of 1.77. Not good stats for your closer.

Man on the Spot Update:

Brandon Webb has been outstanding. The All Star is not only a front running Comeback Player candidate, but a legit Cy Young threat as well. 9-1, 2.08 ERA, just 7 HR allowed and a K/BB rate over 9:1. 

First Half MVP:

See above. Webb has been the man so far. His return to form has revitalized this pitching staff.

Second Half Preview:

Philly has to avoid a let down in the second half while they weather the injury of Will Hunting. Though the team has no obvious holes, it's worth keeping an eye on the trade market to see where improvements can be made. Considering the other teams in the division, I think it would be a major choke job if Philly didn't make the playoffs. If the pitching staff enters October healthy and rested, this team could be big trouble.

Is there a new pitching coach in Philly?  Suddenly, the Fever are the best staff in SLB.  That and some good hitting from non-Sophomore-slumping Cooper Osteen, Blalock and Bruce means the Fever are alone at the top.  We’ve seen teams with some history of struggles get off to a hot start and cool off, but so far, Philly seems to be stretching the lead, not losing it.

Biggest Surprise:

That the team is in first place.  Duh.  For a player, it’s probably Neil Cotts.  He’s had off and on success, but his 9 wins are definitely more than we’d have expected.

Biggest Disappointment:

Miguel Cabrera is leading the team in HR but his .263 Avg. is 50 pts below his career average.  On the bright side, he’s almost a lock to bring that up by the end of the year.

Man on the Spot Update:

Wily Mo Pena is still disappointing, but it’s not hurting the Fever so far.

First Half MVP:

Brandon Webb.  9-1 is just icing down the league and with a 2.10 ERA.  He’s “on” this year.

Second Half Preview:

Expectations weren't terribly high for the Dawgs in 2013, and so far, the team has been predictably mediocre. Despite another off season marked by high roster turnover, the team hasn't really gelled, leaving them under .500 and nearly 10 games out of first. Many of those player acquisitions have been quite good, including Jason Jennings (8-3), K-Rod (2.41 ERA) and Peavy (7-6). GM Mike McAvoy has been busy on the trade market (as usual), landing some key players in All Stars Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Beltran, as well as surprise rookie Sterling Ritter. The team doesn't hit very well, and there are some holes in the staff. Rookie Calvin Y'Barra is 4-4, but has a 5.11 ERA and has given up 23 dingers in just 100 IP.  

Biggest Surprise:

Sterling Ritter was an unheralded rookie who came over from San Juan in the Aubrey Huff deal. He's quietly hit .306, 8, 26 in his first year.  

Biggest Disappointment:

Alex Gordon. He had a decent month of May, but overall, McAvoy was hoping for much more than .250, 7, 35, especially after he hit .283 last fall. He just hasn't become the #3 hitter the team envisioned. 

Man on the Spot Update:

I pegged second year pitcher Daniel Pursel here, and he hasn't done much to complain about. 6-7, 3.97 with a 10:1 K/BB ratio is pretty great for a young pitcher in this league. 

First Half MVP:

Jason Jennings has been the one pitcher to win consistently despite low run support. He's 5 over .500 on a team that's 4 under; clearly the ace of the staff. If he's at or below .500, the Dawgs may be in last place.

Second Half Preview:

So, what direction is the team heading? The trading has been confusing, as early deals sent away vets for prospects, but recent moves have vets being added. There isn't much time left to decide if the team is a contender, so McAvoy needs to be on the ball here. Cleveland is just 5.5 out of the wildcard, but have a lot of teams to pass for a spot. 

After the usual shake up, Mike McAvoy ended up throwing together a pretty ramshackle pitching staff.  Jason Jennings is having a pretty good year, but the rest of the staff is between mediocre and bad.  The team also lacks any real offensive stars.  Every year is sort of rebuilding year in Cleveland, but this one might be a real season to just rethink the direction.

Biggest Surprise:

Sterling Ritter, an unheralded rookie 1B is leading the starters in batting average with .306.  Wasn’t on my radar screen.

Biggest Disappointment:

Jeff Weaver.   Back to sucking.

Man on the Spot Update:

Pursel has been an average or above average starter, under 4.00 ERA, can’t ask for much more.

First Half MVP:

Probably Jason Jennings.  His 8-3 record shows he can win just about anywhere, not just on teams with big time run support.

Second Half Preview:

Fool me twice....Bedford screws me again. I picked the Crunch to win the division, and so they wallow in 3rd place. I may have to join Tom in never picking them to win ever again. The team just can't hit, wasting what has been an above average pitching staff. Talk about lack of run support. Kelvim Escobar is on suicide watch with his 4-9, 2.30 mark, while Dontrelle Willis feels his pain at 5-7, 3.26. Jason Ray has been great as a rookie closer, but the rest of the pen sucks. The offense has been lame, with 13 HR and 42 RBI leading the team. Another dead ball era in Brooklyn? Eric Chavez has been real bad, and David Ortiz, who is finally hitting .300 for once, has just 23 RBI.

Biggest Surprise:

Tough call, as no one has been great. Yadel Marti has battled through the run support drought and posted a 7-6 first half record in his rookie year.  

Biggest Disappointment:

Eric Chavez is a first ballot Hall of Famer who can usually be counted on to provide the team with run production, but this year he has floundered to a .249, 9, 29 line. Ugly. 

Man on the Spot Update:

I said that Troy Glaus needed to put up All Star numbers for this team, but his career seems over, as he's hitting just .245 with 13 HR. 

First Half MVP:

Despite being 5 under, Kelvim Escobar has pitched like a rock star. 2.30 ERA, 14 quality starts, 0.95 WHIP...awesome. This guy could get some serious return on the open market.

Second Half Preview:

The team looks good on paper, so I'm not sure what can be done to fix it here in the second half. Unless GM Richard Gin wants to blow the thing up, it's not worth making cosmetic changes here and there. Stay the course? 

Bedford has just been hanging around this year.  An infield full of big names isn’t getting it done and superb pitching from Dontrelle Willis and Kelvim Escobar is going to waste.  Rookie Yadel Marti has been a bright spot and somehow Brett Myers got to the All-Star game.  But, yeah, it’s pretty much another ho-hum year in Bed-Stuy.

Biggest Surprise:

Brett Myers going to the All-Star game.  Yeah, it’s kind of a back handed compliment, though, since he’s only going because nobody else on the Crunch really deserves to go.

Biggest Disappointment:

Lots to pick from here.  I guess you have to go with Eric Chavez, though.  What happened to him?  This was one of the top 3 3B easy until this year.  The Crunch had come to consider .300 and 80 extra base hits from him to be money in the bank.

Man on the Spot Update:

Glaus has .733 OPS, very disappointing.  Yeah, you can blame him quite a bit for the lackluster offense.

First Half MVP:

It oughta be Kelvim Escobar, but how do you give it to a guy who is 4-9?  How about Aquilino Lopez leading the team in wins out of the bullpen?  Oh, yeah, 5.70 ERA.  Beats me.

Second Half Preview:

How the mighty have fallen. 2012's World Series Champs find themselves in last place, and no one is quite sure why. The team is more or less the same as last year, but the offense has dried up. Perhaps Sean Burroughs and C.C. Sabathia, two players let go this off season, were really the heart of this ball club. Sabathia was let go for financial reasons, so Burroughs was dealt for McCormick who, to this point, has not panned out. Paul Phillips was seemingly a flash in the pan last year, and both Delmon Young and Prince Fielder (All Star???) have been complete busts. Josh Beckett was traded to Scotland, then to Baltimore, and now back to Halifax. I have no idea what is going on here. 

Biggest Surprise:

Looky here. Adam Wainwright is useful after all. The much maligned hurler is 7-7, 3.77 and lead the staff in ERA until the recent reacquisition of Beckett. He also leads the team in quality starts. 

Biggest Disappointment:

So many choices. T.J. Mackey with just 18 RBI? Fielder's .201average? Paul Phillips' failure to follow up on 2012? Too many to list. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Adam Wainwright has been much, much better than expected. Good for him.

First Half MVP:

The back end of the bullpen. The team has trouble scoring runs (in fact, they are dead last in that category) so you need guys to shut it down in those close games. Hansen, Gatsby and Benitez have been among the best late inning trios in baseball.

Second Half Preview:

If GM Lars Cain can figure out why the offense is dead, then by all means fix it, but it's tough going when the same guys who won you the trophy last year suddenly can't play. Reacquiring Beckett leads you to believe that Cain isn't throwing in the towel, so it will be interesting to see what other moves are made before the deadline. If Davie, Fielder or Young can get hot, maybe the team has an outside shot at the wildcard. A lot of strange things would need to happen, but we've seen our share of strange things the past 9 seasons.

Picked ‘em for first and there they are in last.  Nice frickin’ job Sailors.  It’s not really big injuries so much as usually reliable hitters like Barfield and Fielder having dismal years plus the loss of ace CC Sabathia that has sent Lars’s team back to the cellar.  They made the move they needed to in adding Beckett, but they have a pretty big hole to dig out of.

Biggest Surprise:

Craig Hansen.  Don’t know what got into this dude, but he’s unhittable this year.  Has a .143 OAvg.  Sick.

Biggest Disappointment:

Prince Fielder.  .201?  What the hell, man?

Man on the Spot Update:

Marquis put up good numbers before injury hit and then he was traded.  Could have used him, though.

First Half MVP:

Probably Graham Koonce.  The .240 BA isn’t pretty but he does have 19 HR.  He can jack ‘em.

Second Half Preview:

It's been another dominating performance from the Flyers, a team that after years of finishing last, now can't seem to do any wrong. Carlos Zambrano went down the first week of May but the team hasn't missed a beat. Lemming is having another MVP caliber year (though Dave Peppers may give him a run for his money) and the pitching staff is awesome. An SLB record 10 players made the All Star team. What's the matter Jim, can't get a good SS? The inclusion of Pena (.246) over Lind (.355) at first base is odd. I thought the Flyers had a chance at having four pitchers in double figure wins by now, but Pavano and Prior have only 9 and 8 respectively (poor dears). Jed Lowrie looks to be the team's, what 27th Rookie of the Year? The team has lost just 3 series all year, 2 to San Juan. 

Biggest Surprise:

Tough call between Jones and Lind, but I'll go with Lind. Just the other day I get a lineup update for the team and see Lind batting cleanup. My first reaction is "Lind? Over Lemming, Paris, D2J, whoever? Lind?" Then I see that the kid is hitting .355 and OPS'ing 1.026 and I understood.  

Biggest Disappointment:

There isn't a bad player here really (okay, Mike Beck, but what did you expect?) so I'll say I'm most disappointed that Gabriel Hernandez isn't getting a shot at the #5 spot instead of Mark Rogers. Hernandez was unbelievably good in both AAA and Rookie League...Rogers has been mediocre at best in the majors. 

Man on the Spot Update:

I put Troy Paris on the hot seat this year, mostly because Jeff Clement seemed like the right guy this year, but Paris has come through, making the All Star team while driving in 53 runs, good for 2nd best on the team. Jim can now say "I told you so."

First Half MVP:

In the easiest choice of all time, I go with Darren Lemming, who is a god among boys in this league. Seriously, 95 RBI at the break? For some perspective, the guy is 26 years old, in his 4th season, and already has 166 HR and 134 SB in his career. Lemming will hold every offensive record there is by the time he retires.

Second Half Preview:

More of the same, right? Lemming looks to break Barry Bonds' HR and RBI records (and probably a half dozen others) while Bailey and Mahara roll towards 20 wins. Outside of Big Z, the team is healthy, and the division could easily be wrapped up by early September. Maybe this year Jim will rest the starters and set up his post season rotation....

You couldn’t ask for anything more, really.  Damn near the whole team is headed to the All-Star game and they have a comfortable lead.  They are 2^nd in both team offense and team pitching so that means this is really the only team that can do both so well.  And they’ve done it with Carlos Zambrano out for most of the year.  Scary.

Biggest Surprise:

Not much really surprised me here, but Jacque Jones hitting 20 HR by the break pretty much tells you that this team can do no wrong.

Biggest Disappointment:

Troy Paris is sort of scuffling along.  No big deal, though, since that might mean that Jeffrey Clement finally gets the call up.

Man on the Spot Update:

Lowerie’s been awesome, hitting .320.  Of course.  Can do no wrong.

First Half MVP:

Darren Lemming.  Do you have to ask?  Well, OK, maybe Lowrie, since he’s really stepping up.  Or Bailey on the pitching side.  Pick anybody in the lineup, really.

Second Half Preview:

After losing 8 of their first 10 games, the Sabers have been red hot, going 50-28 and firmly establishing themselves as a playoff contender. Savannah wins on pitching, timely hitting, and defense, scoring 417 runs (4th highest in the league) on just 89 HR (5th lowest) and commit very few errors. Sean Burroughs just wins everywhere he plays, leading his team in triples, runs, homers and RBI, while Jay Gibbons is producing runs without the longball. Fantastic pitching in the starting rotation, with the Roy's and Humber doing the damage. Carlos Hernandez has stepped it up this year, making the loss of McCormick not much of a loss at all (especially since he netted the team Burroughs) and Gagne made yet another ASG as an elite closer. The rest of the bullpen needs work, but the team seems to be winning in spite of their inflated ERA's. 

Biggest Surprise:

Despite his losing record, Randy Wolf has finally decided to pitch this year. The guy is always on a team somewhere, but his ERA is over 1.50 runs below his career mark of 4.78. Throw Steve Colyer in there too, doing well in middle relief. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Todd Linden hasn't played full time, but his numbers are less than in year's past. I think GM Richard Vohs was expecting more than 19 RBI from his LF at the break. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Gibbons isn't going to set any records for run production, but he has matched Burroughs in RBI and has been a rock in this lineup. 

First Half MVP:

Roy Oswalt has been all world. 9-1, 1.76 ERA puts him among the front runners for Cy Young. Not bad for a guy supposedly past his prime.

Second Half Preview:

The Sabers are on pace to finish with the second best record in baseball, but since they're in the same division as the Flyers, that will mean a wildcard instead of a first round bye. If Vohs can address his middle relief issues and maybe get one more bat in the lineup, this team could make it back to the World Series for a second straight year. 

Pretty much what we expected.  They’d be in first place in any division that the Flyers weren’t in, so they are well on track for a Wild Card spot.  This team is all about pitching and so far Roy Oswalt is putting on a helluva show.  Humber isn’t as dominating as last year, but he’s still impressive and even Randy Wolf is pitching like an ace.  Too bad they have about the same number of team HR as Dave Peppers has himself.

Biggest Surprise:

I think Dante Inferno going 5-0 and leading the team in appearances.  He’s been pretty questionable in most people’s minds as a reliable reliever.  This year he is.

Biggest Disappointment:

The lack of power.  Burroughs is leading the team in HR and is on pace to hit about 25. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Hawpe hasn’t stepped it up.  .276 with 8 HR.  Not what you want from a corner IF.

First Half MVP:

Roy Oswalt.  He’s been all-world this year.

Second Half Preview:

On the one hand, I was right about San Juan outplaying Baltimore. On the other, I believe I used the words "just manage to avoid last place" in my preseason write ups. But hey, this is an expansion team, so who could have predicted that they would be playoff contenders right away? The pitching has been very good, with the back end of the rotation and middle relief playing better than expected, and the offense has overcome the lack of power to keep the team in close games. The team is dead last in homers, but second in stolen bases, coming in 12th in the league in runs scored (though just 2 runs out of 10th). To this point, the aggressive approach to building the team has paid off, with Sabathia and Haren playing outstanding ball, and trades for Huff and Nady boosting the lineup enough to contend. It's been exciting.

Biggest Surprise:

Andrew Brown has a 2.70 ERA despite the hot weather on Puerto Rico. Seth McClung, a total scrap heap pickup, has been decent as well. It helps when the marginal players that an expansion team is forced to fill the roster with come through and play. 

Biggest Disappointment:

I think if you ask GM Bill Gluvna, he'd say rookie OF Cameron Johnson, who showed speed but had 0 HR and just 9 RBI before being demoted to Caracas.

Man on the Spot Update:

Hafner was clearly the man to drive in runs in this lineup, and I stated that a repeat of his 68 RBI line in 2012 wouldn't cut it. He's on pace for around 80 RBI this year, so he's stepping it up.

First Half MVP:

I'll go with the two-headed monster of Street and Papelbon. Both have 4 wins and nearly identical ERA's (around 1.71) in relief, making comeback wins against San Juan a near impossibility. Enjoy it while it lasts, Bill, as I predict these guys are going to get huge pay increases this off season.

Second Half Preview:

Gluvna came in with a reputation for wheeling and dealing, but has been pretty quiet on the trade market thus far. Clearly the team is in a position to make the playoffs, so I expect to see some deals at the deadline, especially for offense. The question will be how much of his team's future he's willing to mortgage for a shot at the championship right out of the gate. Some improvements are likely to come internally, as inside sources say that 2013 draftees Floyd Larkin and Adam Abraham are likely to get called up after the break. 

We’re supposed to be shocked that an expansion team still has playoff hopes alive, but I, for one, am not really.  You knew Bill Gluvna was going to put a competitive team on the field ASAP and once the pitching on this team started filling in, it was clear they’d be able to stay with the big dogs.  Sabathia has done as promised but the real heroes have been Andrew Brown and the rookie bullpen aces.

Biggest Surprise:

That they are still in the Wild Card race.  Player would be either Street or Papelbon.  Both are the real deal.

Biggest Disappointment:

Rocco Baldelli isn’t making my comeback prediction look so hot.

Man on the Spot Update:

Baldelli didn’t get any better by getting more AB.  Funny how that works. 

First Half MVP:

Travis Hafner.  They needed somebody to step up and provide some power and he’s doing the job.

Second Half Preview:

This just in: The Panthers Suck at Baseball. Seriously, who's surprised? Baltimore has the worst record in the league (yes, worse than expansion Taipei) thanks mostly to a league worst team ERA. We warned that the margin for error was slim in this new 4 team division alignment, and with San Juan surprising the league, Baltimore is pretty much locked for last place. The off season has proven to be disastrous, as the losses of Wolf and Pavano vs. the addition of Sowers and Switzer has been a total fiasco. Sowers leads the league in losses while Switzer somehow can't crack the rotation despite a good ERA. Guerrero, McPherson and Wright have been pretty good, and rookie John Mayberry has been decent if not spectacular, but the team is still in the lower third in runs scored. Montgomery needs to be shitcanned, and rookie El Ron Ubardo was clearly rushed to the majors. 

Biggest Surprise:

I guess Mitchell Atkins is for real. 0.73 ERA? Wow. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Where to start? Clearly no one would have predicted Sowers would go bad this year, as he entered the season with a winning career record. Goat of the Year?

Man on the Spot Update:

Ubardo hasn't been good. He gives up a lot of hits, and though he doesn't walk many people, he also doesn't strike out enough batters to dominate. To be fair, it's tough to pin the Panther's woes on this guy. It's been a total team effort.

First Half MVP:

Oh, let's say McPherson, though his numbers should pale in comparison to last year's .322, 138 RBI outburst. 

Second Half Preview:

It's time to strive for some dignity in the second half. GM Jose Gutierrez has tried to piece together some trades, but his patience level seems very low. He got Josh Beckett for nearly nothing, but traded him away less than 3 weeks later. There are some starting pitchers with good ERA's on the roster (Switzer, Ankiel, the recently acquired Marquis) but manager Tony Perez needs to get them out of the pen. Will the front office try trading off free agents like McPherson and Castro? At 20 under .500, it's pretty certain that Baltimore will post it's 6th losing season in a row...a streak that would likely get a real GM fired. Panther fans won't be so lucky...

It’s just not getting any better for the Panther fans.  GM Jose Gutierrez keeps making moves, but nothing seems to add up to a clear direction of where this team is going.  Add Beckett, trade him away.  Compete now, rebuild?  The careers of Vladimir Guerrero and Jeremy Sowers seem to have stalled out.  John Mayberry and El Ron Ubardo haven’t made impressive debuts, Kyle Lohse’s good year is going to waste—team is just a mess.

Biggest Surprise:

I guess it’s Mitchell Atkins.  As the closer for the Panthers, you don’t get a lot of work, but he was written off by most as a third rate minor leaguer and he’s put up a 0.73 ERA as a closer.  The ghost of Doug Jones.

Biggest Disappointment:

Plenty of candidates here, but Sowers has to be your winner.  He’s supposed to be a guy you can build a rotation around.  Not so much when you’re 3-13.

Man on the Spot Update:

I’m not even sure what happened to Sadler.  He’s not on a major league roster, so, that’s generally not a sign he’s come through is it?

First Half MVP:

I guess it’s Dallas McPherson, though he’s playing worse than he usually can be expected to.  It’s been that kind of year.

Second Half Preview:

So far I've got the first place part of my prediction right, but unless the team goes 48-22 in the second half, I think my 90 win guess will look a bit silly. Still, first is first for the Knights, who just can't seem to win consistently. Injuries have been a big story in the first half, with extended DL stints by star players like Broadway, Upton, Reyes, and now Matsuzaka. The infielders are coming back after the break, and Broadway should be back in a few weeks. Another story has been Johan Santana. The guy can't buy a win, and his ERA has blown up this year. Joe Mays has pitched much better than a year ago, but now isn't getting the run support that netted him 19 wins. The offense is in very good shape, especially with Reyes and Upton back. 

Biggest Surprise:

Oliver Perez is 5-2, 3.60. He's been a big boost for the team, taking over Broadway's spot in the rotation and keeping the team in most games he pitches. Can't imagine Broadway would have pitched much better. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Santana for the win. 3-9 is bad, but it isn't about run support this year. His 4.42 ERA is nearly a full run worse than his career mark, meaning something's just not right this year. Hiding an injury?

Man on the Spot Update:

Critics warned that Volstad, who is still just 19, was rushed to the majors. His minor league stats weren't impressive, but here he is, 8-3 with a 3.08 ERA. Can't complain. 

First Half MVP:

Morales has been his normally dominant self, but I'm going with Nick Johnson here. His SLG is better than Morales, and he murders right-handed pitching. A deserving All Star.

Second Half Preview:

Yes, the team is 4 under .500, and yes, the division is tight, but London has to be in it to win it. You can't count on Matsuzaka returning, so the team ought to be in the market for a rental pitcher to get them through the second half and into the post season. The bullpen needs to be addressed as well. If the offense stays healthy, there really aren't any holes to fill. Will GM Sean O'Hallaran send some of his new draftees in a key deal or two?

They are in first place—we got that right—but it’s only because everybody else in the Euro blows.  Kendry Morales has had a down year, for him, and Jose Reyes has been hurt. Those guys carried the team last year.  Johan Santana has had a complete meltdown.  Matsuzaka is in a bit of a Sophomore slump going 5-7 so far.  Thankfully Rios and Volstad have stepped up to bail them out a bit.   

Biggest Surprise:

I’d probably say Chris Volstad.  He had a lot of hype, but that doesn’t always translate well into major league success.  He’s living up to it.

Biggest Disappointment:

It’s been a rough year for Johan Santana.  He’s 3-9, which isn’t all his fault, but with a 4.42 ERA, he’s not blameless either.

Man on the Spot Update:

Mays dropped his ERA by a run and a half and is now a sub .500 pitcher.  Talk about a tale of two seasons.  He’s been solid, though.

First Half MVP:

I’d say Nick Johnson.  .329 with 15 HR from him is probably a big part of why this team is in first.

Second Half Preview:

Reports out of Scotland are disturbing. Season ticket holders are suing the team. Fans are rioting. A kilt factory has been burned to the ground. Rebel fans have a right to be angry. GM Carmelo Guarneri has waved the white flag on the 2013 season. Apparently someone told him the team was 8 under .500 and left out the "but just 1 game out of first" part, as the veterans are being traded away. The front office is paranoid about money, and with all the focus on setting up for the auction, have looked past the fact that the team is right there in a very winnable division. Just a few names that have departed Edinburgh this season: Peavy, Nathan, Verlander, Cabrera, Choi, Beckett, Beltran, Rollins. Ouch. Ironically, the team keeps winning (sort of) instead of folding up. The players that remain seem to have some self respect after all. 

Biggest Surprise:

Christopher Lambert is 7-5 and proving that he wasn't a fluke after all. Romero and Weaver have been decent as well. Maybe a move to the damp and cold environs of Stirling Stadium was what the doctor ordered here. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Ryan Howard. He didn't hit in Kyoto, he ain't hitting here.  

Man on the Spot Update:

Weaver hasn't fared well in the win-loss department, but he's been decent for a back end starter. The move to the smaller stadium has inflated his numbers a bit from last season; his road ERA is 3.90, compared to 5.68 at home. 

First Half MVP:

All Star Shane Mungitt doesn't care how big the stadium is, he's going to dominate. Look for him to vie for the Rolaids award this year.

Second Half Preview:

What's the plan, Stan? I would think that flip-flopping on the apparent rebuilding effort would cause more consternation among the fan base, but it's tough to give up when you're just a game back. It would be for me at least. There isn't much left to trade anyhow. I guess if you're going to try to free up as much cash as possible for the auction, guys like Harden and Howard may become available. I really can't predict what will happen down the stretch. If the team makes the playoffs (and mine doesn't)  I'll probably throw up.

I might say this team’s record is shock, given they are in a second and we both expected them to be in dead last.  But then again, the W/L is about on track for what we thought, we just didn’t count on everybody in the Euro playing .450 ball.  And, 1 game out of first, they are also 1.5 out of last.  I looked over the stats to point to something that stands out as to why this team is hanging in there, but I can’t find it.  Offense is always depressed by the Scottish weather, so you have to say, relatively, the youngsters are over performing.  Maybe that’s it.

Biggest Surprise:

Christopher Lambert.  He’s tied for the team lead in wins with 7 and has a respectable 4.22 ERA.  We’d sort of figured he was about 100 innings from being given up on.

Biggest Disappointment:

Among many options I’ll take Ryan Howard if just because the hopes were so high.  You can’t really say you expected more out of Runelvys, can you?

Man on the Spot Update:

Lambert and Romero are both pretty much your prototype 4/5 starters.  Nothing fabulous, but ERAs around 4.25.  Lambert is winning more with better run support.

First Half MVP:

Probably Rich Harden.  He’s leading in wins and taking on the top guys in the league.

Second Half Preview:

Like the rest of the Euro, Paris can't put together a winning streak. The pitching has been decent enough, but the offense is not up to the standards we're used to from year's past. Berkman has been good, Morneau has been better (big All Star snub there), but it's a big drop off from there. Orlando Cabrera has done nothing since being claimed off waivers. Rookie Landon Powell has shown some flair behind the dish, but again, no one will confuse him for Mike Piazza. Losing perennial ace Jerome Williams in the second week of the season took the wind out of this team's sails, and it has done little to recover. He isn't expected to pitch at all this season, and Derek Thompson has fallen on hard times. Still, the team ERA is about what you would expect from the Pimps, so its' time for the hitters to step it up. 

Biggest Surprise:

Jon Ellis leads the team in wins (8) and has a 3.92 ERA. Nice pick me up for the team after Williams' season ending surgery. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Orlando Cabrera is arguably a first ballot Hall of Fame SS, but he has been terrible for Ireland, and now Paris.  

Man on the Spot Update:

Hal Kelly has not been great, falling into a platoon situation with Landon Powell. How long before he's relegated to the bench altogether?

First Half MVP:

I have to go with Ellis here. With Williams hurt (and Thompson sucking) the rotation could have been down to just 3 reliable starters, but Ellis has matured in a big way and kept the team in ballgames.

Second Half Preview:

The Pimps have been quiet on the trade front this year. Will GM Michael Taylor make a run at some bats to get back into this thing? The team is just 2.5 games back of London, so it seems worth a shot here. The team is the most expensive in the league, but some big salaries are coming off the books. If the next few weeks make it clear that the team won't contend, putting guys like Kim or Hudson on the market seems a wise move. If Paris were in any other division, I'd say it was time to call the season and look to the future, but in the Euro, anything is possible. The story continues...

The Pimps have to be the happiest team in the league to have had the miserable start they’ve had but yet still find themselves a series sweep from first place.  It really has been unwatchable in stretches for this team, but they’ve also had some hot streaks to drag themselves out of the league’s basement.  The team, which has usually been free of major injuries has been hit hard this year, especially with Jerome Williams, the teams only reliable starter, out for the season.  Morneau and Berkman are still terrors, but this team’s offense is just a shell of its former self.  Clearly, GM Michael Taylor has some work to do.

Biggest Surprise:

Jon Ellis is probably the team’s best pitcher so far, with the most wins and a sub 4.00 ERA.  A surprise, yes.  A good sign.  No.

Biggest Disappointment:

It’s either Jerome Williams injury or Orlando Caberera’s offensive production.

Man on the Spot Update:

OK, this was a good call.  Hal Kelly has come back to earth with a .236 average.  The magic is gone, kids.  It moved to Georgia.

First Half MVP:

It’s probably Morneau again.  He’s really become the man here.

Second Half Preview:

Ireland heads into the break just 2.5 games back, but with 2 more games than Paris left, giving them a slight advantage down the stretch. It hasn't been a good team, neither hitting nor pitching terribly effectively. Okay, Wood and Burnett have pitched well, and Dan Wheeler deserves props in an exhausted bullpen, but overall, the team has given up nearly 100 more runs than it has scored. Why just 4 relievers in the pen? The extra players on the bench aren't helping any, and some of these guys are in danger of throwing 80-90 innings by year's end. Strange. It has been a new lineup almost every day, but nothing is working out. Dunn, Kearns and Sweeney have been good (when healthy) but outside of that, you're looking at a lot of easy outs. 

Biggest Surprise:

Marlon Byrd is hitting .307/.371/.500. Why can't he stay in the lineups? 

Biggest Disappointment:

Mark Kotsay is floundering in the .240's with just 2 HR. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Dunn has been the best producer, but on this team, that's not saying much. No way he was going to live up to his spring numbers, but his .800+ OPS has only netted 36 RBI to date.

First Half MVP:

Kerry Wood has done very well this year, and would easily have a winning record with more run support.

Second Half Preview:

Like the other Euro division teams, Ireland is right in the playoff hunt. But this is the one team I just don't see doing much in the second half. I'm sure GM Tony Blake would like to avoid another cap hit, and if he's looking ahead to the off season, might want to consider trading away the big salaries of guys like Burnett and Vazquez. Might we see some Boog Johnson or Earl Hickey come September? Those guys have as much of a chance to turn around this offense as anyone. 

Only one starter, Vazquez, has a winning record and his ERA is 5.66.  So how is this team still in it?  It ain’t hitting.  With the exception of Mike Sweeney (no, really) and maybe Adam Dunn, the offense is typical Northern European scuff-ballers.  They’re hanging around, though, and with some reliable arms on the staff, they could easily take this thing.

Biggest Surprise:

Mike Sweeney.  Tell me you hadn’t written that guy off and check out those stats.  No, really, go look.

Biggest Disappointment:

Jason Lane below the Mendoza line.  Back.  To.  Sucking.

Man on the Spot Update:

Dunn is leading the team in HR, which, for the record is 14.  So, he’s not a complete goat, but he’s not carrying the team, either.  He’s not likely to get his 120 RBI.

First Half MVP:

It’d be Wood or Burnett if they could get some run support.

Second Half Preview:

Let's just ask this up front: Owner of the Year? Seriously. Taking a page out of Jim Masters' book, GM Ben Royer saw his opportunity to move out of the cellar this year and got aggressive with his roster, adding quality veterans to his up and coming core of youth. The results have been positive, as a first place spot at the break would indicate. It's a blueprint that seems to work: build internally through the draft for 2 or 3 years, take your lumps while the rookies develop, then sign some big names when the youngsters are ready to shine. This division isn't sewn up by a long shot, however, as Osaka is just 1/2 a game back, and with the surprising Senadores in the South, first place is the only guarantee of a post season invite. 

Biggest Surprise:

Justin Verlander has been good in his career, but was barely above .500 in the pitching friendly climes of Scotland a year ago. No one saw a 8-1, 1.60 first half coming. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Cap Jackson. May be the biggest disappointment of all time, hyperbole be damned. This kid was hyped for 2 or 3 seasons before the 2012 draft, but to this point, has barely hit his weight. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Though not quite back to his 2011 Cy Young form, Joe Nathan has done everything Royer had hoped for. A nice guy to have at #2. 

First Half MVP:

We've mentioned Verlander, so I'll go with Thurman Murman. How he sat at home while Montana played the ASG is beyond me.  .297 with 82 RBI makes him far and away the best offensive catcher in the league. 

Second Half Preview:

The team is healthy and ready to go for the stretch run. How much longer will we see Jackson making easy outs in the #2 spot in the order? When he gets on base he's dynamite, but his OBP is a dismal .268. Royer has made magic on the trade market, and would do well to upgrade from the horror that is Andrew Allen (1-6) and Cliff Lee (6.33) in the bullpen. Winning head to head matchups with Osaka and Kyoto will be what wins this for the Kwaan.

This team would get my vote for the biggest surprise of 2013.  Amazing what a change of scenery can do, eh?  Not only has the Kwaan surprised, but they’ve done it without any real contribution from Cap Jackson, the expected savior. The plan of getting the speedsters on for Thurman Murman to drive in is working quite swimmingly and you could argue that Verlander and Joe Nathan are the best 1-2 starters in the league for the first half.

Biggest Surprise:

I’ll pick Verlander for my MVP, so how about Crawford?  He’s back at the top of his game and do ya think that might have something to do with hearing too much about “Mr. Hype,” Cap Jackson?  Ol’ Carl still has some game left.

Biggest Disappointment:

That would be Mr. Hype.  Future MVP my ass.

Man on the Spot Update:

Cap Jackson, so far, is a total bust.  Team is still in 1^st, though, so probably another bad pick for me.

First Half MVP:

Verlander.  First Half Cy Young, too, probably.

Second Half Preview: