MLB first half: Looking back, looking ahead

With the all-star break over and home field advantage going to the National League (more precisely Atlanta in this writer’s hopeful opinion) for the World Series, the second half of the major league baseball season is upon us. With a little more than two months of games still to be played and a high number of teams still in contention, the race for October should be incredibly fun to watch.

The first half of the major league baseball had storylines galore, but perhaps none better than what the Pittsburgh Pirates are doing in the National League Central. As it stands, the Pirates are 49-44 and half a game back of the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. That may not seem to be an outstanding record, but you have to take into account that the Pirates haven’t made the playoffs or even finished with a winning record since the 1992 season.

Combine that with the fact that the Pirates lost 105 games last season and there is something special happening in Pittsburgh. It will be tough for the Pirates to make the playoffs, but with a blossoming star in outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who made his first All-Star Game appearance last week, along with a loaded farm system, the future is bright even if the Pirates don’t reach the postseason in 2011.

A similar story is happening in the American League Central with the Cleveland Indians. After finishing last season with 93 losses, Cleveland is tied for first place with the Detroit Tigers at 49-44. The Indians have battled through injuries to Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner, but have also gotten breakout years from players like pitcher Josh Tomlin.

In addition to those two teams fighting for a playoff spot, there are multiple division races that will be fun to follow to September.

The American League East looks to be another Yankees-Red Sox battle, but the Tampa Bay Rays are only seven games back and have young talent available to call up in the second half of the season to make a run at the top two teams in the division.

After winning the American League pennant last season, the Texas Rangers have followed up with another solid season, as they battle with the Los Angeles Angels of Anahiem for the lead in the AL West. The Rangers have plenty of offense and money in its coffers to go out and improve their pitching before the trade deadline.

In the National League, most eyes are locked on the battle between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves in the East. Both teams have battled injuries and poor offensive performances in the first half, but have the best and third-best records in baseball, respectively. The Phillies are led by their dominant trio of pitchers in Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, who have been as good as advertised in 2011.

Atlanta doesn’t have the big names in their rotation like the Phillies do, but their rotation has been just as good this season. Jair Jurrjens is enjoying a breakout season with 12 wins so far, while Tommy Hanson is turning into a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. These two teams will likely battle through the final series in September with the loser of the division most likely landing the wild card spot, as was the case last season.

In the Central, the division-leading Brewers feature a nice trio of pitchers of their own in Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum and Yovani Gallardo. With Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks powering the offense, they will battle the Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds until the end. St. Louis has dealt with injuries all over, and yet is still tied for the division lead.

With plenty of playoff races and records being chased by the likes of the Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista, Major League baseball has plenty to keep you entertained in the second half of the season.