All-Star Break: Team and Divisional Breakdowns. Part 1/3, Eastern Divisions

AL East

Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox enter the break leading the best division in baseball. They've done so, primarily, with unbelievable pitching, and Jason Bay. Big Papi coming on strong has been helpful, but they were a solid club before he remembered how to hit. They are a team with very few holes, and the current favorites to represent the AL in the World Series.

Recommendation: Get healthy. Matsuzaka and Lowell are big parts of the team, and the Red Sox as a whole are a better team when those two are on the field. Luckily, pitching depth is not a problem, and Youkilis can fill in over at 3rd periodically.

1st Half MVP: Jacoby Ellsbury
As good as reigning AL MVP Pedroia has been, and as well as Beckett has pitched over the last month plus, Ellsbury has been one of the peskiest players in the MLB. If he keeps up his first half numbers, he'll be a .300+ hitter with 90 runs scored and 75 stolen bases. Any time a player is on base that often with that much speed, it makes every batter behind him a better hitter.

New York Yankees
The Yankees have been good against everyone in baseball, except for the Red Sox (something like 1-47 on the season.) A-Rod is healthy, and currently top-10 in home runs, despite missing the first couple of months for surgery rehab. The world has finally discovered how terrible a pitcher Wang is, but that's okay. CC and Burnett are pitching well. What they need to worry about is Pettite's growing ERA.

Recommendation: You need more pitching. Halladay won't happen, he'll cost too much in terms of prospects the Yankees most likely don't have. Maybe another upper-tier guy such as Cliff Lee makes sense, but he's going to cost a bundle as well.

1st Half MVP: Derek Jeter
Love him or hate him, the dude can play ball. He's 17 out of 20 in stolen bases this year, has a .320 BA, and nearly a .400 OBP. Couple that with his solid defense and team leadership, and the Yankees would be a much lesser team without him.


Tampa Bay Rays
This team, once again, is flying way too far under the radar. They've got one of the best line-ups in baseball, and their pitching is beginning to come around. Maddon is pulling on the right strings lately, as the Rays won 4 of their last 6 entering the break.

Recommendation: With three relievers on the DL, it makes sense for the Rays to look for a guy with a closer mentality. One would think a guy like Joakim Soria makes sense, but he'll be costly. I believe you may find them take a flier on recently-released BJ Ryan as a low-risk, high-reward player.

1st Half MVP: Carl Crawford
Pena leads the AL in home runs, Shields has been a solid pitcher for them, but Carl Crawford sets the table. He will bat over .300 with 80 stolen bases for the season.

Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays really started out with some promise this year, but have been fading lately. Scott Rolen has been great, Doc Holliday has been amazing as usual, and they've had a few surprises that have helped them along the way. However, this team is nearing the end of their season as a contender, and it's time to look towards the future.

Recommendation: Trade Halladay. It's going to hurt, but his value is at its absolute highest right now. With a guy like Halladay, you should be able to completely re-tool your farm system. If you have trouble finding a trade partner (and remember he does have a full no-trade clause) then perhaps you could put a bad contract in with him.

1st Half MVP: Roy Halladay
No big surprise here. Arguably the best pitcher in baseball gets the nod. The only question remains, how long will he be a Jay?

Baltimore Orioles
Okay, let's just say it. The O's screwed, and they will be for a while. Not because of bad managing, bad personnel, or even bad players. They are screwed because they are in the same division with the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep in mind, the Rays came from nowhere and went to the World Series last year. It can be done.

Recommendation: Follow the Rays' lead. Draft can't-miss guys, and hope they don't miss, and be careful with whom you pay a lot of money to. Eventually, the O's will be back in business.

1st Half MVP: Luke Scott
Brian Roberts is good. Nick Markakis may be even better. But Luke Scott has been the best player on the O's over the 1st half of the season. He leads the team in HRs and OBP, and he's batting over .300 on the season. Like it or not, he's the ideal trade chip for a team that needs to rebuild.

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies
The reigning World Ph'ing Champions have a lot to smile about right now. Not only do they lead their division, but the struggling Mets may be the least of their worries. They have 5 players going to the All-Star game (Howard, Utley, Victorino, Werth and Ibanez), and they don't look to be slowing down. Imagine how good they would be if Jimmy Rollins was the same guy that won the MVP in 2007.

Recommendation: You still need some help, and that help should be coming from North of the Border. Bring in Doc. It's going to cost you long-term, but it should make you NL Favorites for the next two years.

1st Half MVP: Raul Ibanez
Despite his recent injury, this guy is has been for real all season. He leads the team in BA (.314) and HR (22). Luckily for the Phils, they have they can afford to have those numbers slide a little bit in the 2nd half of the season.

Florida Marlins
Every year, the Marlins are the team that should finish 3rd in the NL-East (behind the Phillies and Mets), and every year, they find a way to make things interesting. They are currently 4 games out in the East, but will have to play good ball in the 2nd half to make the Playoffs, as the Wild Card winner currently looks to come out of the West.

Recommendation: There are a number of ways the Marlins could help their team for the 2nd half, but the one that stands out the most would be corner outfield production. If you think you're one piece away from being serious contenders in the playoffs, you might want to give Luke Scott a look.

1st Half MVP: Josh Johnson
A 7-2 record with a 2.82 ERA is enough to claim that Johnson is one of the best pitchers no one knows about. He'll need to keep it up for the Marlins to stay in contention, however.

Atlanta Braves
The Braves find themselves where they would expect to be at this point of the season, comfortably in 3rd place. They do have MAJOR holes, however. They have no speed (Francoeur was the leader on the team w/ 5 stolen bases), and their leading hitter, Brian McCann, has a sub .300 batting average. They will be buyers, however, in hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Recommendation: You need to find some more offense. Personally, I don't think a Fancoeur-for-Church move was the best you could have made. You do have several options, however, but perhaps should start with looking at a player like Matt Holliday, who should come cheaper than he would have a year ago.

1st Half MVP: Jair Jurrjens
Okay, his record is a mediocre 7-7...but he is 2nd on the team in Innings Pitched (114) and had a team-high ERA of 2.91. He fronts a solid rotation which includes Javier Vasquez and Derek Lowe.

New York Mets
Okay, let's cut right to it. The Mets have played pretty terribly. But it's not completely their fault. Three of their big 4 (Beltran, Reyes, Delgado) have suffered injuries that resulted in several missed games. However, injuries happen to all teams, and they need to suck it up. The Mets aren't done yet, and 6.5 games out isn't impossible to overcome with 3 months of baseball left. They start off the 2nd half with a 4-game series at Atlanta...which sounds like a good place to start.

Recommendation: Get healthy. Once you get your starters back, you'll be in decent shape. You could use another starter, but don't break the bank for one. If any team out of the NL-West is to nab the Wild card spot, I can see this team being the one.

1st Half MVP: David Wright
Not only has he been the only constant in the line-up, he's proven to be a team leader. He leads the team in Runs, RBIs, and stolen bases, and has a .323 BA. His HRs are down this year, but his BA and OBP (.410) make up for it.

Washington Nationals
America's Team? Hope not. These guys are in a similar boat to that of the Orioles. You have some young talent, but not nearly enough of it to compete for your division. Nick Johnson seems to be a good player that the fans aren't crazy about, and a trade may be the best thing to happen for both parties.

Recommendation: Trade your assets (Johnson, possibly Dunn) and re-tool for the next few years. Hold on to young talent such as Nyjer Morgan and hope to be contenders in 2011.

1st Half MVP: Adam Dunn
No major surprise here. Arguably the best signing of the offseason, Dunn leads the team in HR, RBI, Walks, and (not surprisingly) Ks. He's a force to reckon with, however, and teams will always fear him.