Posted July 28, 200321 yr A second-half splurge By Peter GammonsSpecial to ESPN.com July 18 When the All-Star break arrived, there were five realities that seemed evident: /i/mlb/profiles/players/5400.jpg Rivera /i/mlb/profiles/players/5406.jpg Jeter The Yankees were within a game of the best record in the American League, and Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera had all played so little that not one took his rightful place in Chicago. The Braves are going to be in the playoffs, barring a plague or pestilence. Kansas City being seven games in front in the AL Central may have been a greater shock than the Twins being 7 games out of first place. The NL Central winner will take the division with 88 victories. What the Diamondbacks, manager Bob Brenly and their developmental system did in the first half of the season to put Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson in position to take Arizona back to the postseason is one of the feel-good stories of the season. This is a season in which the Royals -- the first place Royals -- say Desi Relaford is their MVP and the Dodgers are within hailing distance of the playoffs with an offense that has outscored only the Tigers. While the Mets are cashing out, the Marlins believe they are cashing in, and Albert Pujols is implanted on the public consciousness as baseball's next American Idol. The Giants are second to the Yankees in home attendance. And while White Sox and Reds fans question the future of their respective managers (Jerry Manuel and Bob Boone), it is eminently clear that whoever made the decisions for the Cubs to hire Dusty Baker, the Giants to hire Felipe Alou, the Mariners to hire Bob Melvin, the Royals to hire Tony Pena (the first half manager of the year), the Indians to hire Eric Wedge and the Rockies to hire Clint Hurdle knew exactly what he was doing, as there is a new generation of terrific, significant managers. All of which leads into the second half, and these things to watch: 10 storylines As they get Williams, Jeter, Rivera, Armando Benitez and Nick Johnson meshed back into the lineup, are the Yankees a 105-win team? /i/mlb/profiles/players/3979.jpg Brown Can Kevin Brown remain healthy? If not, the Dodgers are not going to make it to October. Can Pedro Martinez avoid another three-week breakdown? Without Pedro, the Red Sox are going to struggle to win the wild card. Can the Twins start playing like the Twins? Remember, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano have never pitched 120 innings in the big leagues, so as they approach the 175-200 innings level, will they sail in unchartered waters? Will Preston Wilson continue to take the ball to right-center (thank you, Coors Field) and not try to pull everything (the curse of Pro Player) and be the entire season's most improved player? If the pitching doesn't straighten out, is there a blowup coming in Cincinnati? Is there another one of those second-half runs coming from the A's? Will Pat Burrell please come home? Will Houston's bullpen hold up in the dog days? 10 pleas for significant second-half impacts Mike Hampton and Greg Maddux Shawn Green /i/mlb/profiles/players/6375.jpg Burrell Pat Burrell Edgardo Alfonzo Wade Miller Sammy Sosa Brad Radke, J.C. Romero and Kyle Lohse Derek Lowe Paul Konerko Ryan Dempster and Chris Reitsma. Attention Reds: Do you know how good Reitsma is? Players with the threat of injuries who could determine playoff positions Kevin Brown Mike Sweeney Kirk Rueter Kazuhiro Sasaki Matt Morris Jeff Kent Troy Glaus Jermaine Dye Manny Ramirez 10 players to watch blossom in the second half Johan Santana, LHP, Twins Miguel Cabrera, OF-3B, Marlins /i/mlb/profiles/players/6817.jpg Berroa Angel Berroa, SS, Royals. In praise of hitting coach Jeff Pentland. Adam Dunn, OF, Reds. My, God, he's got it. Luis Matos, OF, Orioles Brett Myers, RHP, Phillies Oliver Perez, LHP, Padres Jerome Williams, RHP, Giants Scot Shields, RHP, Angels Rafael Soriano, RHP, Mariners Five players to watch coming out of the minors after the break Rich Harden, RHP, A's Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies Jimmy Gobble, LHP, Royals Chin-Hui Tsao, RHP, and Garrett Atkins, 3B, Rockies Khalil Greene, SS, Padres Respones to the question: "Who have you seen in the minor leagues who has 'star' written all over him?" Position players Pitchers Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians Rich Harden, RHP, A's Joe Mauer, C, Twins Ervin Santana, RHP, Angels Josh Barfield, 2B, Padres Gavin Floyd, RHP, Phillies Aaron Hill, SS, Blue Jays Zach Greinke, RHP, Royals Jeremy Reed, OF, White Sox Cliff Lee, LHP, Indians Bobby Crosby, SS, A's Jeremy Guthrie, RHP, Indians Jeff Mathis, C, Angels Greg Miller, LHP, Dodgers Guillermo Quiroz, C, Blue Jays Chin-Hui Tsao, RHP, Rockies Andy Marte, 3B, Braves Edwin Jackson, RHP, Dodgers
July 28, 200321 yr Author My bad again... I could've sworn it said July 28 up top... Damn my fidgety contacts!