Preview/Prediction

Although the Cincinnati Reds ended the first half of the 2010 season with a four game skid, they are still sitting atop of the N.L. Central eight games above .500. They also lead their division rival, St. Louis, by one game. 

2002 was the last time the Reds were in playoff contention at the half-way mark and Cincinnati fans everywhere are eager to see if their beloved team will actually make a post season appearance.

The All-Star break has historically been known as a nice three-day break where the media and fans can settle down and get a good look at where each team stands as they head into the unofficial second half of the season.

I've done just that, and am glad to share my predictions for what teams will be sporting Division Champion (and Wild Card Champion) t-shirts at the end of the season.

Rumours are swirling about Blue Jays shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

Joe Strauss reported in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch over the weekend that Toronto had scouts in St. Louis and that the Cardinals may be interested in acquiring the 33 year old veteran for the stretch run.

Gonzalez is having a big year at the plate power wise, with 17 homers and 50 RBIs at the All-Star break. Gonzalez's on base percentage is a brutal .296, but his power in the middle infield would be a welcome addition to the Cardinals' lineup.

The Twins closed out the unofficial first half of the season salvaging the third game against Detroit with a 46-42 record.

Good enough for third place in the AL Central.

One definition for 'frustration' is when expectations exceed reality.  For Twins' fans the first half of 2010 has been a lesson in dealing with frustration.

Even before the first pitch was thrown in 2010 the expectations were high.

Just one day after Los Angeles Dodgers' shortstop Rafael Furcal was named as a replacement on the National League All-Star team, lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo was informed of his addition to the squad on Sunday.

Kuo and Furcal will join fellow teammates Jonathan Broxton and Andre Ethier in the Midsummer Classic in Anaheim, which takes place on Tuesday.

Kuo, who was added as a late replacement for Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward, makes his first appearance as an All-Star after four arm surgeries nearly took him out of baseball completely.

NEW YORK: No, the headline is not an exaggeration; the Mets are "in desperate need of a win." With yesterday's 4-0 loss to the Braves, the Mets now find themselves five games back in the NL East.

And with the Phillies victory and recent extra-inning magic, they only trail the Mets by one-half game. Meaning if the Mets were to lose today, and the Phillies win, the Mets would enter the All-Star break six games behind, in third place.

Even if they are in second place, six games behind is not ideal when fashioning yourself as a contender.

The New York Yankees so far are having an excellent season, but they are still fighting for first place in a really tough AL East division.

The Yankees want to get to the playoffs, and to get there they need to pursue bottom of the rotation help during this trade deadline, and from what it looks like, the Yankees have interest in the Marlins' Ricky Nolasco.

On Friday night during Nolasco's start in Arizona, there were numerous scouts from many teams; one of those scouts belonged to the New York Yankees.

NEW YORK — There are just two games left in the first half of the baseball season. For the Mets, the first half was as much a roller coaster ride as they've had in their history.

One of the worst starts ever, to a possible managerial firing, to being in or around first place with an amazing surge, the Mets have been through everything in 2010.

The Florida Marlins currently are a team that are indecisive regarding their status as sellers or buyers. 

Meaning that possibly many teams could end up having interest in a pitcher like Nolasco, even possibly the Mets.

The Mets were considered front runners for a possible Cliff Lee trade, but unfortunately that fell through when the Mariners tried to sweeten their deal by asking the Mets to include Ike Davis in the possible trade. 

I don't know if you've heard...but Joey Votto is apparently the hottest thing to hit Cincinnati since the Big Red Machine. He's 26, coming into his prime, a recently-named All-Star, and he is the leader of the Red's playoff-bound (hopefully) 2010 squad.

So, now the question becomes...what does Cincinnati do with Yonder Alonso?