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Think of it as an orgasm for the eyes.

The All Star break is officially upon us signaling the end of baseball's first half. It's a time to reflect on past success or build upon past failures.

This is a time to step back, take a deep breath, and clearly analyze where our teams have been, and where they are going.

So, on the day of the Home Run Derby, the Washington Nationals reflected on their first half of the 2009 baseball season, and decided it was time to make a change.

That change was the firing of manager Manny Acta.

The first half of the 2009 season has come to an end, which has included several stories.  We have seen the Rangers flourish and Cubs stumble, Albert Pujols putting himself into talks of a Triple Crown, Joe Mauer hittting near .400, Manny Ramirez' shocking 50-game suspension, and one of the most improbable no-hitters thrown by Jonathon Sanchez, who wasn't even suppose to pitch on that historic night. 

Once upon a time, baseball’s All-Star Game was the gem of July. The best players from the National and American Leagues faced-off with bragging rights on the line.

Believe it or not, those rights mattered.

Now, the game’s luster is gone. Interleague play shows the best matchups. Albert Pujols vs. Zack Greinke. Yawn. It’s already happened this season. It probably will next.

Looking at the A's rotation so far, it's clear that Dallas Braden is every bit the good #2 guy I thought he could be. Josh Outman looked very good before blowing out his elbow, and Vince Mazzaro should be a good starter for years to come.

As for Trevor Cahill...well, his terrible peripherals indicate he's in the need of some Triple-A time.

The other starter in the Oakland rotation is 21-year-old rookie Brett Anderson.

Anderson posted ERAs above 5.00 in April, May, and June, leading many to categorize him as the weakest link in a young rotation.

Not so fast.

It's a shame they closed down Six Flags at Astroworld a few years ago. You know the amusement park right across the Astrodome from Southeast Loop 610.

All the rollercoaster rides at Astroworld (such as Grease Lightning, Texas Cyclone, and abrupt drop-offs like the Skyscreamer) might be good practice for being a Houston Astros fan.

The All-Star game arrives tomorrow, and tonight is the Home Run Derby. It’s a much-maligned three or four days without regular season games.

I’ve written an article about how exciting the All-Star break can be, and there are some points this year that I’d like to add.

One of the worst interviews the state of Minnesota has ever seen is also one of their most valuable assets.

Priceless to his organization, Joe Mauer has a tough decision looming just around the corner.

Should he stay in Minnesota with a contract that will doubtless be smaller than anything offered by the Yankees or Red Sox, or should he move on to greener pastures?

Yesterday: infielders

Again, these grades are based on a combination of my own personal expectations and each player's WAR.

For a full archive of my articles, check out my page at Examiner.com.