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The Oakland A’s enter the All-Star break coming off a nightmare first half, one in which nothing has gone as planned. And despite their win-loss record, that’s actually a good thing.

Billy Beane built these A’s with offense in mind, loading up on veteran sluggers who were supposed to take pressure off the team’s young pitchers. However, while Oakland’s hitters have failed to show up so far, their pubescent pitching corps has arrived en masse.

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I hate myself.

They just don't make showers hot enough to clean me of my new fragrance, "Hate" by J.P. Ricciardi.

And I've tried. I think I've lost a few layers of skin trying.

What I'm talking about is the negativity that surrounds these Toronto Blue Jays, honorable defenders of fourth place in the AL East. I've found myself criticizing every facet of their play (most of the time deservedly so) but I haven't found happiness doing it.

Long-suffering Orioles fans will look to the second half of this baseball season for answers to two key questions: 1. Is a winning season on the horizon? and 2. Can the Birds contend in the division within two to three years?

Unfortunately, the team's record after the All-Star break won't provide any real answers to those questions.

Want evidence? Of course you do.

Entering the year, it seemed that Giants fans were looking for Matt Cain to take a big step forward and join Tim Lincecum as a second ace in the San Francisco rotation.

With a 10-2 record and 2.38 ERA, Cain looks to have blown his 8-14, 3.76 ERA 2008 season out of the water.

But he hasn't.

Now, I have nothing against Matt Cain; I think he may improve somewhere down the line. I'm just telling you what the numbers are telling me.

You know what the best season of Matt Cain's career has been thus far?

2007.

When he went 7-16.

I'm not kidding.

In a town, where the arch resides, one of the world’s greatest artifacts that overlooks the city and where the Mississippi River streams along St. Louis. In the town, there’s also baseball’s unquestionable hitter who hails before the enthusiastic Red Birds fans, where average fans contains of Pujols’ Craziness.

At age 28, Curtis Granderson is a first time All-Star. I definitely do not think this will be his last trip to the mid-summer classic.

Granderson got selected for his first All-Star game by putting up the type of productive numbers he is bound to increase upon in his career. He is already five home runs away from his season best total of 23, set in 2007. He has his 18 dingers this season in only 86 games played.

Granderson's RBI totals should increase over the next couple seasons, as well. Being moved to the middle of the batting order from leadoff should facilitate that.