Looking at the standings at the midway point of the season, only the New York Yankees seem to be where they are supposed to be. The rest of the league has been filled with teams that have come out of nowhere and others that have been monumental disappointments. Let’s take a glance at the six division leaders at the break and how they’ve gotten there.

New York Yankees:
The Pinstripes have been the most balanced team just about all season long. Only the Red Sox have scored more runs this season than the Yanks and New York’s run differential is number one. Robinson Cano carried the Yankees lineup in the early going when the big bats were struggling and now A-rod and Mark Teixeira have turned it around. C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte have also been very good all season long, with Sabathia really settling into a zone. You also can’t forget about Brett Gardner, who seems to be the perfect all-around player that reminds me of the Yankees teams that had guys like Scott Brosius. He may not sell many MLB tickets but role players can turn into legends in the Bronx if they help the Bombers beat the Red Sox and win championships.

Chicago White Sox:
Thanks to a breakout season from Alex Rios and a comeback year from Paul Konerko, the White Sox have been much stronger offensively than anticipated. Even though their starting staff hasn’t been that strong, the White Sox bullpen has been Levitra very good and the offense has been consistent throughout the season. They will have to get better starting pitching to hold off the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins, but the White Sox continue to be one of the most surprising teams in the league.

Texas Rangers:
Most were picking the Seattle Mariners or the Los Angeles Angels to win the A.L. West when the season began. The only exception was team president Nolan Ryan, who predicted that the Rangers would win 90 games and the division. At the time, it seemed like a tall order but the Rangers have responded gloriously. Josh Hamilton could very well be the A.L. MVP and Vlad Guerrero has been one of the best run producers in the entire league. Even though they lost four straight to head into the all-star break, the Rangers are still 4.5 games up on the Angels and just picked up stud starter Cliff Lee from the Mariners. The Rangers should run away with the division and are suddenly one of the most exciting teams in baseball.

Atlanta Braves:
The best players for the Braves this season have been the most surprising. Tim Hudson isn’t just having a nice comeback year; he’s been one of the best and most consistent starters in the National League. Rookie outfielder Jason Heyward has stepped into the spotlight with poise and was voted to the all-star team while third baseman Troy Glaus is healthy and mashing. Add in very good role players like Martin Prado and Omar Infante and the Braves seem to have a team good enough to shock the Philadelphia Phillies and take down the National League East.

Cincinnati Reds:
Led by Joey Votto and Jonny Gomes, the Reds have played very well just about all season long, which has been enough to give them a one-game lead at the all-star break over the St. Louis Cardinals. All-star second baseman Brandon Phillips has also been a catalyst for a team that lacks a lot of big names on its roster. Mike Leake and Johnny Cueto have been very solid in their starting rotation and reliever Arthur Rhodes has been a standout in the late innings. Even though it will be very tough to hold off the more talented Cardinals, Cincinnati has a team that might be good for quite a while.

San Diego Padres:
It’s hard to continue to doubt the San Diego Padres this deep into the season. Though they have a roster filled with little-known players, they have the best run differential in the National League and the second best record. The one big name they do have, Adrian Gonzalez, has been nothing short of spectacular. 22-year-old Matt Latos has been one of the most underappreciated starting pitchers in the league this season and the lineup is filled with selfless players like David Eckstein. Though the season started with whispers that the Padres would have to ship Gonzalez before the deadline, they are two games up on the Dodgers at the break and show no signs of slowing down. Even if the Dodgers do finally take over the division, the Padres should be right there for a shot at a Wild Card.

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