Preview/Prediction

It's that time again. After sifting through the dust, that has been the first half of the 2009 Major League Baseball season, we look at who are the leading candidates for baseballs awards.

Although the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in the league, do they have any candidates worthy of an award?

Albert Pujols has put up a mezmerizing season. Does he deserve the N.L. MVP?

Has this been a strong rookie class?

Let's take a look.

As the 2009, Non-waiver trade deadline quickly approaches many teams scurry around to find that extra player or two that can put their team over the edge and on pace to play in October.

That July 31st deadline has brought in Kyle Farnsworth and Sean Casey over the past few season for the Detroit Tigers.

This season, the Tigers look to add a solid bat to the middle or bottom third of an already pretty stacked lineup.

Those of you that follow the Sox closely may have heard the reference to the "three-year board" before. General Manager Kenny Williams has mentioned in the past that he has a board that he uses as a reference with all of the players in the organization and which ones he expects to be a part of the roster over the next three seasons.

I will now create my own three-year Board with my own guesses concerning the following:

-Which Sox players will still be around for the 2012 season

-Which Sox prospects we can reasonably expect to contribute to the team

If you've read my first two articles, "The Stolen Base: A Lost Art. Will we ever see a 100 Steal Man Again?" and "Gimmie Five!

The Rays won five of six last week, returned to full strength with Kazmir, Bartlett, Burrell, Bradford, and Shouse getting off of the DL. They look to continue their hot streaks when they head north to face Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays.

With a series win over the Toronto Blue Jays, Brad Lidge back and Raul Ibanez on his way back, it is time for the Phillies to take hold of the National League East.

Phils fans held their collective breath when closer Brad Lidge entered Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays holding a slim 5-4 lead.

Raul Chavez dropped a bunt and Lidge's field and throw were late. John McDonald pinch ran for Chavez, and after Brad Lidge ran a 3-2 count on Marco Scutaro, he walked him to put runners on first and second with no outs.

Oh-oh.

Halfway through the 2009 season one can fairly say it has not played out the way most fans expected.

Manny Ramirez received a 50-game suspension for use of a banned substance, with steroid use believed to be involved, and the Dodgers remain in first place not only in the NL West, not only in the National League, but in all of baseball (as of June 28).

In addition to this, one of the Dodgers' best starters, Hiroki Kurdoda has missed significant time and has only pitched 36.2 innings.

So the Rockies, who have historically gone into a June Swoon and been completely out of the pennant race by now, have staged a surge that, had it occurred in August, would've been equal in improbability to The Great Hot Streak of 2007.

They've pulled themselves from the cellar to 37-35 and third in the National League West. 

This has been done with great pitching and superior defense, which were the strengths of the 2007 team (and their strong moral fiber, of course).

But can it be sustained?

It can be, if we keep succeeding in these areas:

Despite sitting in 4th place in the American League East with a 37-35 record, the Tampa Bay Rays' season is not over just yet.

They have scored the most runs in the AL, and have an expected Win-Loss record of 42-30. Their expected W-L (based on runs scored and runs against) would put them in second place in their division, with the second best record in the AL.

This team is still stacked, and still improving. They are about as close as you can be to a complete offensive club. They hit, they run, and they hit for power.

Could a team needing to get out of the basement be any more obvious than the Washington Nationals? At 21-49 (as of June 25), the Nats look to be leading the races to the top pick in the 2010 entry draft. 

Maybe that isn't such a bad thing, considering the fortunes of Stephen Strasburg being taken first overall by the struggling franchise this summer. Agent Scott Boras is aiming for a six-year, $50 million contract for his prized possession. With the way Jim Bowden ruined this franchise with players like Paul Lo Duca and Dmitri Young, Strasburg is a steal.