The 2009 baseball season is headed towards the All-Star break. Although there are a ton of teams in the playoff race, here are the teams that are ahead of the pack.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers held on with Manny Ramirez out of the lineup. Now that he’s returned from his suspension, the Dodgers will be difficult to stop.
2. Boston Red Sox
Although they’ve cooled off as late, the Red Sox are the one team no one in the American League wants to see in the playoffs. With their pitching improving, they’ll be a tough out in the postseason.
3. New York Yankees
All …read more

1. Boston Red Sox
Even though the Boston Red Sox came out recently and said they won’t be signing Mark Teixeira, don’t count on that being the truth. It was, in fact, an obvious negotiating tactic. Boston is still offering a truck load of money and Teixeira knows he could become a star in Beantown.
2. Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are desperate to turn around their dying franchise. Mark Teixeira is a hometown kid who grew up as an Orioles fan. Even if Baltimore has to overpay him, it’d be worth it to the organization in terms of making their fans excited …read more

5) Mike Mussina, New York Yankees
Although he doesn’t have a legitimate chance to win the award, Mike Mussina has pitched well enough in 2008 to be an American League Cy Young favorite. While many Yankee fans were ready to bury him coming into the season, Mussina responded with a vintage season. He currently has an ERA of 3.57 to go with a record of 18-9.
4) Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays
Another year, another Roy Halladay great season. Perhaps the most underrated pitcher in the entire major leagues, Halladay currently has a 2.81 ERA and a 19-11 record. It took the Blue …read more

Hank Blalock of the Texas Rangers is going to move to first base after he gets off the DL. Blalock, who has nearly 700 career games at third base, will make the switch over to first base in a move aimed at helping the Rangers become a better team.
The Rangers began the season with Ben Broussard at first base but he was waived after an unproductive start to the season. Since Blalock has been on the DL, Ramon Vazquez has hit well for Texas. Vazquez is hitting .333 with two homers and seven RBIs.
Blalock was having a …read more

Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are young but amazingly talented. With great pitching, bashers at the plate and a solid manager, the Diamondbacks are for real. If Randy Johnson can return to 80% of his former self, he’d make Arizona the heavy favorite to represent the National League in the World Series.
Boston Red Sox
The reigning champs haven’t shown too many weaknesses so far this season. David Ortiz got off to a slow start but he’s playing well again. The pitching can only get better and the bats can only get hotter. You have to think the New …read more