Rankings/List

On this date in 1982, Pete Rose passed Hank Aaron to move into second place on the all-time hits list.

Baseball, like no other sport, is a game of statistic with literally hundreds of categories that we keep track of.

The following list will take a look at the 10 most impressive second bests in baseball history. Many of these players once held the most revered records in the sport, while some came just short of the top spot. So here are the 10 best.

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As of Monday, the New York Yankees have moved ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East, while the Boston Red Sox (who a month ago were 8 1/2 games back) now currently sit in a virtual tie with Tampa, and are one game back of the Yankees. 

Since it's ladies first, I will start with the Yankees.

It is always fun to speculate who will make the once-again expanded All-Star Game roster. Since each team has to have at least one All-Star, here are the 30 who are deserving.

This list includes many young stars of the game who should be showcased to the whole nation, as well as some veterans that you might not expect to see at an All-Star Game.

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It's the start of the summer solstice, so it's getting hot. OK...not that kind of "hot", but...well, I admit it — the pic is just a gratuitous photo to get your attention.

But it is June 21, and the Chicago Cubs sit seven games behind the division leading Cardinals, in third place at 31-38. It's no longer early, and it's no longer too soon to panic.

Now before we get caught up in unrealistic proposals here, let me start by saying that Alfonso Soriano is going nowhere.

For those of you who are already looking towards next year, let’s continue our way around the diamond as we look at 2011 rankings (keep in mind that by year’s end these could significantly change):

Team Power Rankings:
NOTE: Team W-L records and player statistics accurate as of Sunday June 20, at 11:00 AM CT.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Team with the largest jump in the rankings.
BUST OF THE WEEK: Team with the furthest drop in the rankings.

1. New York Yankees (42-26) Last Week: 1st
Offense Rank: 2nd
Pitching Rank: 9th
Last Ten Games: 6-4

2. Tampa Bay Rays (42-26) Last Week: 2nd
Offense Rank: 3rd
Pitching Rank: 5th
Last Ten Games: 4-6

It's already June 18th, and the Major League trading deadline is just over six weeks away.

Some teams like the Mariners and Nationals are clear sellers willing to move potentially helpful veteran players for prospects. Others, like the Dodgers, Angels, and Red Sox, sit on the edge of playoff contention, needing another piece or two to try and compete for a championship.

Who might be on the block? And who would be interested? Let's take a look.

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Riding a seven-game winning streak on the road, the Texas Rangers have improved their record to 40-28, which is good for fourth best in all of baseball.

Baseball is a funny game, the line that separates the all time greats, and the unknowns is far more thin than in any other sport.

In a game where the best in world fail seven out of ten times, you need a little luck on your side. For some, that luck never comes.

For my first article in a long time, I thought I'd usher myself back into the writing world with my insight on the All-Star Game ballot.

There are a few easy picks, a few close calls, and a few players that are constantly glossed over en route to pick the superstar of that position. In addition to showing you my AL and NL ballots,

Because the game is played in Angel Stadium, I'll just add another NL offensive player to play DH, even though there isn't an NL DH player to vote for on the ballot. Each stat line is current through June 19.