And the Finger shall be pointed at...
NL East
1. NY Mets - Carlos Delgado - The Mets are in first place for a lot of reasons. A major key to their success has been the seemless transition Carlos has made to playing in New York. Coming up with clutch hits consistantly while taking the pressure off of Carlos Beltran, Delgado has positioned the Mets to finally take away the the East title from the Braves.
2. Philadelphia Phillies - Aaron Rowand - Aaron has brought much needed toughness and intensity to the Phillies. Unfortunately for them they have been mediocre in the past two weeks since his injury.
3. Atlanta Braves - Chipper Jones - Chipper lands on the DL in early April the Braves struggle mightily. Chipper comes off the DL and the Braves are now chugging towards the Mets in the East. Never count out the stupid Brave Chop.
4. Washington Nationals - Chad Cordero - Last year through May Cordero had 13 saves, and that was before he blew up in June when he had 15, this year he only has 6. If Cordero isn't getting saves chance the Nats aren't winning.
5. Florida Marlins - Dontrelle Willis - One year after he should have won the Cy Young, the D-Train is 1-5 with a 5.12 ERA. Does the D-Train only function on odd years? So far it appears so.
NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals - Albert Pujols -You thought I was going to go with So Taguchi didn't you. Don't lie this one was a shocking selection.
2. Cincinatti Reds - Bronson Arroyo - Cornroyo traded in the off-season to the Reds for Wily Mo has been a shocker since his first start. On that day Arroyo got the win and clubbed a Home Run. He hasn't let up since and the Reds have somehow creeped their way into a potential playoff run.
3. Houston Astros - Lance Berkman - Lance has thrown the offense on his back and is on his way to a career season, now if only they could get a 40+ year old pitcher to come out of retirement. Then they'd certainly make a run at the wild card.
4. Milwaukee Brewers - Derrick Turnbow - He is one weird looking dude. But he's got 14 saves and has been slamming the door shut all season for the Brew Crew. Sitting a respectable one game over .500 they need their rotation to start pitching well and especially need Sheets to return from another trip to the DL.
5. Chicago Cubs - Mark Prior - So non-existant this year I even forgot to write about them.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates - Oliver Perez - A lot of people had high hopes he would return to his 2004 form, well that hasn't happened and the Pirates are the laughing stock of one of baseballs best divisions.
NL West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks - Brandon Webb - The boy is 7-0 for the first place Diamondbacks. If you are shocked that the Dbacks are where they are in the standings look no further than Webb. He's been the best pitcher in that division and perhaps the best in baseball.
2. L.A. Dodgers - J.D. Drew - J.D. is very quitely having a good season for the Dodgers who similarly are up there in the standings without making the noise. Check the standings today and ask yourself if you knew the Dodgers were 7 games over .500, I certainly didn't know. J.D. and the Dodgers are flying under the radar.
3. Colorodo Rockies - Brad Hawpe - Brad Hawpe like the Rockies is having a good season but the real question is does he or the Rockies have any staying power for this season or does their path to glory lie a few years in the future.
4. San Diego Padres - Chan Ho Park - Chan Ho has had some stellar starts and some starts where he's been rocked. He's been the model of inconsistancy and so have the Padres who have run of several long winning and losing streaks.
5. San Francisco Giants - Felipe Alou - Felipe is old and so is the Giants roster. I'm surprised they didn't sign Julio Franco in the offseason to bring in some much needed youth.
NL East
1. NY Mets - Carlos Delgado - The Mets are in first place for a lot of reasons. A major key to their success has been the seemless transition Carlos has made to playing in New York. Coming up with clutch hits consistantly while taking the pressure off of Carlos Beltran, Delgado has positioned the Mets to finally take away the the East title from the Braves.
2. Philadelphia Phillies - Aaron Rowand - Aaron has brought much needed toughness and intensity to the Phillies. Unfortunately for them they have been mediocre in the past two weeks since his injury.
3. Atlanta Braves - Chipper Jones - Chipper lands on the DL in early April the Braves struggle mightily. Chipper comes off the DL and the Braves are now chugging towards the Mets in the East. Never count out the stupid Brave Chop.
4. Washington Nationals - Chad Cordero - Last year through May Cordero had 13 saves, and that was before he blew up in June when he had 15, this year he only has 6. If Cordero isn't getting saves chance the Nats aren't winning.
5. Florida Marlins - Dontrelle Willis - One year after he should have won the Cy Young, the D-Train is 1-5 with a 5.12 ERA. Does the D-Train only function on odd years? So far it appears so.
NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals - Albert Pujols -You thought I was going to go with So Taguchi didn't you. Don't lie this one was a shocking selection.
2. Cincinatti Reds - Bronson Arroyo - Cornroyo traded in the off-season to the Reds for Wily Mo has been a shocker since his first start. On that day Arroyo got the win and clubbed a Home Run. He hasn't let up since and the Reds have somehow creeped their way into a potential playoff run.
3. Houston Astros - Lance Berkman - Lance has thrown the offense on his back and is on his way to a career season, now if only they could get a 40+ year old pitcher to come out of retirement. Then they'd certainly make a run at the wild card.
4. Milwaukee Brewers - Derrick Turnbow - He is one weird looking dude. But he's got 14 saves and has been slamming the door shut all season for the Brew Crew. Sitting a respectable one game over .500 they need their rotation to start pitching well and especially need Sheets to return from another trip to the DL.
5. Chicago Cubs - Mark Prior - So non-existant this year I even forgot to write about them.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates - Oliver Perez - A lot of people had high hopes he would return to his 2004 form, well that hasn't happened and the Pirates are the laughing stock of one of baseballs best divisions.
NL West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks - Brandon Webb - The boy is 7-0 for the first place Diamondbacks. If you are shocked that the Dbacks are where they are in the standings look no further than Webb. He's been the best pitcher in that division and perhaps the best in baseball.
2. L.A. Dodgers - J.D. Drew - J.D. is very quitely having a good season for the Dodgers who similarly are up there in the standings without making the noise. Check the standings today and ask yourself if you knew the Dodgers were 7 games over .500, I certainly didn't know. J.D. and the Dodgers are flying under the radar.
3. Colorodo Rockies - Brad Hawpe - Brad Hawpe like the Rockies is having a good season but the real question is does he or the Rockies have any staying power for this season or does their path to glory lie a few years in the future.
4. San Diego Padres - Chan Ho Park - Chan Ho has had some stellar starts and some starts where he's been rocked. He's been the model of inconsistancy and so have the Padres who have run of several long winning and losing streaks.
5. San Francisco Giants - Felipe Alou - Felipe is old and so is the Giants roster. I'm surprised they didn't sign Julio Franco in the offseason to bring in some much needed youth.
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