Everybody can take a breather during the All-Star Break. Players get some deserved time off, and fans receive a few days away from their team's marathon season. Over the course of 81-plus games, though, things seem to shake themselves out. We get frontrunners for all the big time awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie and Manager of the Year, and World Series champion).
As we celebrate the all-star festivities, it's time to recognize some of those top talents with our break's Best. And why not start at the top of the mountain?
Best Team: Chicago White Sox
This team doesn't have the best record in baseball. Heck, they're not even leading their own division. But low and behold, the defending World Series champs are more loaded than they were last year. And it shows.
The squad only trails Toronto in team batting average (.288), while topping the majors in home runs (133), RBIs (499), and runs scored (520). Surprisingly, their pitching (their strength) is mediocre 11th in ERA (4.44). Fortunately, tall and wide Bobby Jenks has helped from the back end, helping the Sox to a league second in saves (29).
Best Manager: Jim Leyland
Who said a National League burnout can't teach an American League seal new tricks? The skipper somehow squeezed the young talent on a team many thought were a couple of years away and found lemonade. His pitchers lead the professional ranks in ERA (3.46), shutouts (11), and saves (32).
Yeah, we all knew he could coach. He went to the NLCS twice in Pittsburgh before holding the ship steady for the world champion Florida Marlins of 1997. But after an unflattering stint in Denver, ending with a parting of the ways seven years ago, many eyebrows were raised when he re-entered the main dugout seat at 60. After leading a 90-loss team the last two years to 59 wins at the break, no one's questioning the decision.
Best Player: Albert Pujols
Hey, Hey, Hey! All I can say is that the dude is P-H-A-T. The Cardinal All-Star bats .316 (superb). He's smashed 29 home runs and driven in 76 runs (outstanding). The first baseman has committed only three errors all season (a .996 fielding percentage). Simply put, the man is in the discussion for a triple crown and a Gold Glove. There's nobody else that comes close to his wholeness.
Best Surprise Team: Detroit Tigers
I tried to find another team that was a nice shock to the system for the first half-plus. Squads in Cincinnati, Colorado, Arizona, and Milwaukee all faded in the last weeks, so that puts us back at baseball's obvious choice.
People knew that D-town was seriously building when they swiped up Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez a couple of offseasons ago. Come on, though. Did you think Kenny Rogers was the missing piece to calm down that young pitching staff? Me neither, but The Gambler is providing us with another stellar "over-the-hill" season.
Best Surprise Player: Alfonso Soriano
There are a lot of stories that fit into this category. I might have saluted Twins catcher Joe Mauer for his emergence into the spotlight of AL hitting. Or I very well could have chosen his teammate, Francisco Liriano. With a 10-1 record and scantily-clad 1.83 ERA, he's been the pitching phenom of '06. Then again, who would have thought the broomstick we affectionately call Bronson Arroyo (9-6, 3.12 ERA, 130.0 IP) could be anybody's ace pitcher?
In the end, I went with the National slugger. Sure, the offense hasn't gone anywhere (.272, 27 HR, 20 2B, 20 SB). The thing is, he's been a serviceable left fielder, especially after his episode of whining back in spring training. You know, maybe I should give this award to Frank Robison and the Nats management. After all, they are the inspiration.
Best Chances of Worst Record: Kansas City Royals
What would any awards show be without taking a look at the wrong side of the seams. This has turned into a two-horse race between the Royals and Pirates, although the Cubs are starting to edge their nose in. KC and Pittsburgh are pretty neck and neck to this point.
These teams are very tight in the major categories, including:
Kansas City Pittsburgh Home Record 19-23 20-24 Road Record 12-33 10-36 vs. own division 12-22 13-21 Overall Record 31-56 30-60
Plainly put, both teams stink. However, the Royals will win this dead heat simply by playing in a division with the White Sox, Tigers, and Twins. It will be too much to handle.
Best Chances of Winning it All: Chicago White Sox
Detroit has a better record and ERA. Boston is more offensively potent from top to bottom. The Yankees are all-powerful and a year hungrier. Even the Mets and Cardinals have enough talent to challenge from the opposing league. But, as much as it pains me to say this, the champs are better. They will be dangerous come September and, more likely, October. In my mind, put 60% of the house money on a defense, but keep that other 40% open for the field.
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