With the All Star break near, its time to take a look back at the best of this young Major League season so far

SCOTT JACOBS
First in a week long series as we approach All Star weekend at Yankee Stadium

5. Josh Hamilton
The best comeback story of the year. Hamilton has had a whirlwind career, starting as a super prospect drafted number one by Tampa Bay in 1999, all the way to never getting to the bigs, and watching drug addiction nearly ruin his life. But the powerful outfielder put his life back together, and got back on track. And now, after a brief stint with the Reds in which he got to the majors, proved his worth, and then was dealt to Texas, Hamilton has become one of the best hitters in the game. At least for this season. Chicago’s rule 5 pickup (yes, you heard that right: the Cubs picked him and then dealt him to the Reds for cash) has resurrected himself into a triple crown contender, torturing opposing pitchers to the tune of .312 with 19 home runs and 80 RBI’s. Hamilton is living proof that some people do indeed take advantage of second chances.

4. Sunshine State Surprises
The Rays and Marlins have the two lowest payrolls in baseball respectively, so not only is it stunning to see them have winning records, it’s shocking to see them in contention. Tampa’s fans are starting to notice, as they packed the house that Tropicana sponsors last night in a thriller against the second place Red Sox. That’s right: not only is Tampa winning, they’re 18 games above .500, and own the best record in the Bigs. This from a team that has no winning seasons in franchise history to their name. In fact, Tampa Bay is so serious about their new found success and image, that anyone who calls them (Devil) Rays from 2008 into the future will be fined a dollar.

And then there’s the Marlins. With zero expectations thrust upon them, an incredibly inconsistent bullpen, mediocre starting pitching, and a defense that leads the bigs in errors, how in the world can the penny pinching fish be in the race? The long ball, and lots of it. Florida leads the league in dingers with a potent lineup of wild swingers. They even locked up Hanley Ramirez to an extension earlier in the year, giving hope to Marlin fans that the best may be yet to come. The Marlins aren’t winning conventionally, and everyone is waiting for them to fail, but until they do, the ratings nightmare (that would probably end the world as we know it) known as a Marlins-Rays Fall Classic remains a slim, albeit potential World Series match up.

3. The steroids issue is no longer a distraction
Barry Bonds is willing to play for the minimum, for any team, yet no one wants him. It’s a refreshing reboot that baseball has taken on this year, along with a tougher drug policy, that is clearing up doubts, and bringing in fans. Home runs may be down, but attendance is way up, and new exciting up and comers, like Florida’s Ramirez, Tampa’s BJ Upton, and Chicago’s Carlos Quentin are reinvigorating the old game with youthful exuberance.

2. Big spending doesn’t buy what it used to
The early 2000’s threatened to send baseball spiraling out of control, with ludicrous spending sprees, and threats of taking baseball out of the Twin cities. The same teams were winning every year, and baseball fans in smaller markets began to feel doom and gloom for their team’s chances. But now? Well, having a small payroll is the hip thing to do. The Rays (2nd lowest opening day) have the best record in baseball. The Marlins (lowest payroll) have a winning record, Oakland (third lowest) is surprising everybody. Minnesota’s playing great ball without Johan Santana (You do mess with the Johan, says Minnesota’s success!) and Arizona’s 8th lowest payroll has them atop the atrocious NL West.

Division leaders as of the start of July with Opening Day payrolls:

AL East: Rays (29th)
AL Central: White Sox (5th)
AL West: Angels (6th)
NL East: Phillies (13th)
NL Central: Cubs (7th)
NL West: Diamondbacks (23rd)

Notice something? Teams with the three highest payrolls, both New York teams and Detroit, aren’t able to buy what they once could. But still, it would be foolish to say baseball is cleansed of its issues. The fact that the Marlins are able to field a payroll which is twice as low as Tampa’s is a joke, and needs to be looked at in the off season.

And number one…

1. Hope springs eternal (in most places that is)
Fifteen teams are either leading their division or within 5 games of the leader. And let’s be real: during the course of a grueling Major League season five games can be erased in a couple weeks span. And as of the end of June, more teams took winning records into July then losing ones. That my friends is a win-win situation for everyone… unless you’re the Nationals, or Pirates, or Mariners…

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