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The Dark Side rises

	AP

I'm finding it rather difficult to type while standing in line for Episode III, so bear with me. Also, it's starting to get a little warm in this Stormtrooper getup. (I would have gone Darth Vader, but who wears a black cape before Labor Day?) Speaking of the Evil Empire, isn't it appropriate that the Yankees are riding a 10-game winning streak just as Revenge of the Sith is about to premiere? New York's resurgence shows how quickly a struggling ballclub can turn things around. Don't forget that the Astros were below .500 last season as late as Aug. 22 before making it to Game 7 of the NLCS. And it was on May 22, 2003, when the world champion Marlins began fighting back from a 19-29 record. Here are five sub-.500 teams that could become this year's comeback kids:

1. Giants, 18-20, 5.0 games back: How are they even close to .500? They've got the greatest hitter of all time and one of the league's best pitchers standing by to help out.

2. Astros, 15-23, 9.0 GB: Only the Pirates have scored fewer runs, but the Astros don't have to be the '27 Yankees to win with this pitching staff. And even if they don't make a run, at least we can enjoy watching Craig Biggio pursue the all-time HBP record.

3. Indians, 17-21, 10 GB: The leaky bullpen from last season has been fixed. Now they just have to figure out how to score -- they rank 13th in the AL in runs. Victor Martinez (.583 OPS) and Aaron Boone (.499 OPS) are severely underperforming, and they can expect improvement out of Jake Westbrook (6.53).

4. Athletics, 15-24, 7.0 GB: Pope Benedict XVI has cut down on the practice of granting sainthood, but if Billy Beane guides this team to the playoffs, papal recognition might be in order.

5. Devil Rays, 14-26, 12.0 GB: Uh, no. Just checking to see if you are paying attention.

I gotta run. Triumph the Comic Dog just showed up and I'm hoping he makes fun of me.
-- Jacob Luft (12:45 p.m.)

Once the Pacers remove the Pistons from the NBA playoffs, Detroit will focus its attention on its new-improved Tigers. Last night's win at L.A. proves this young team is maturing and ready to make a move in the standings. Their staff ranks second in the AL while their lineup ranks fifth. As the White Sox cool off, the Tigers will start reeling off more wins (thanks to Troy Percival), and they will be a major player in the Central as early as the All-Star break.
-- Dvorak, Indiana, Pa. (3:40 p.m.)

Houston can win with its pitching staff, and win they will. People forget this is a team that didn't have Lance Berkman until recently and dealt with 60 percent of the roster having the flu and/ or pneumonia for two and a half weeks. Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Brandon Backe -- I say that's the best top 4 in baseball. Ezequiel Astacio matches up well with almost all No. 5 guys as well -- very few of them throw the ball 100 mph. And nobody, but nobody, comes close to Pazuzu (AKA Brad Lidge to the layperson). Look for Houston to beat Florida in the NLCS, and then humiliate whomever meets them from the AL.
-- Billy, Austin, Texas (3:42 p.m.)

What about the Cubs? They are just six games back. You claim the Giants (who have the exact same record at this point) will rebound when they recover form their rash of injuries. Imagine what a Cubs team with Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano atop their rotation could do. Plus, Joe Borowski will bolster the bullpen and GM Jim Hendry is determined to add to the team. This club could be reminiscent of the 2003 Marlins, a team that hovers around .500 in the first half, catches fire in the second half, takes the wild card and rides starting pitching all the way to the World Series. You can probably tell by my never-ending faith that I am a diehard Cubbie.
-- Nick Welna, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (3:46 p.m.)

Somebody needs to give Billy from Austin, Texas, a reality check. The Astros are done. You can have the best five pitchers in the league but you still have to score at least one run too win. Roger Clemens knows all about this.
-- Jeremy, St. Louis (3:46 p.m.)

Nick, please stop dreaming and realize that the Cubs will never be at full strength. All the Cubs fans keep whining, "But if everyone was healthy ..." Guess what? They're not healthy, and never are. Get over it! You'll be happier once you realize the Cubs will never return to "greatness." Trust me. I'm a Brewers fan, and I've learned how to accept failure.
-- Jon, Rock Island, Ill. (4:36 p.m.)

How is Cleveland supposed to win with a manager who can't figure out when to use his working bullpen? Today, for example, he lets Jake Westbrook (who was amazing today) go into the ninth with a 1-0 lead after about 90 pitches. Westbrook gets the first guy out, then promptly allows two base hits bringing up Darin Erstad, who had a career .400 average against Westbrook. At this point, any reasonable manager would say he's had enough and go to his closer, right? Instead, Westbrook pitches to Erstad, who promptly singles in the tying run and ends poor Jake's day, something Eric Wedge should have done three batters earlier. But then, instead of bringing in the closer, Wedge brings in Arthur Rhodes, who promptly allows the go ahead run to score.
-- Chris, Columbus, Ohio (4:51 p.m.)

Forget the Astros. Forget the Cubs (God knows I have tried since '68). Forget the Yankees. The big question is: What is Padmé wearing?
-- Rick, Chattanooga, Tenn. (5:13 p.m.)

You need to re-analyze some of your picks and remember that they cannot be based upon single-team performance but an entire divison as well. For instance, the Indians would make a compelling argument if they did not reside in the same division as the Twins and White Sox, both of whom have better records, stats, etc. Further, the Astros have the same problem with the Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, et al in their division and would be unlikely to unseat any of these teams, regardless of their current records. The Giants have no timetable for Bonds' return -- and no one knows what he will be like when he returns. Those arguments aside, I like the Devil Rays -- especially given that they are in the same division as the Yanks, BoSox, and Orioles ...
-- Justin Mallgrave, Pittsburgh (5:16 p.m.)