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South Side superiority
ChiSox on top going into break; first-half team MVPs
Posted: Monday July 10, 2006 1:08PM; Updated: Monday July 10, 2006 2:34PM
MLB Power Rankings Rank LW Team 1 1 
With more All-Stars than the whole AL West, the defending World Series champs remain at the top of the PRs. Granted, sometimes it takes them 19 painful innings to stay there. But at the traditional midpoint of what's looking like a 105-win season, that's where we're going to put them.
First-half MVP: Jermaine Dye.2 2 
By this time, if you're still thinking that the Tigers are some kind of fluke ... well, you're wrong. The pitching that has dominated the first half is mostly young and fresh, and what isn't (Kenny Rogers, Todd Jones) is well preserved. The Tigers allow more than a run a game less than the ChiSox. They're too legit to dis.
First-half MVP: Joel Zumaya.3 3 
Look! David Ortiz (31 homers) just smacked another walk-off dinger. Look! Manny Ramirez is begging out (or, if you prefer, simply wimping out) of another All-Star Game. Look! Curt Schilling just took a liner off his elbow! Look! Another Josh Beckett gopher ball. Never dull, the Sox remain a must-watch team.
First-half MVP: Ortiz.4 4 
Beat up, creaky and generally unreliable, the Yanks are lacking a killer instinct that top teams must have. (They haven't swept a series since early May.) Still, their pitching has been good enough, and the lineup -- even minus Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui -- can rake. Plus, they'll do something in July.
First-half MVP: Mike Mussina.5 5 
He's blazing fast, he's getting better with the bat every day, he's got more range than a pair of Jeters -- and he's going into first base headfirst? Jose Reyes, what's up with that? The Mets have feasted on the NL East, building up a 12-game lead at the break. That's a good thing, considering Pedro's health.
First-half MVP: Carlos Beltran.6 6 
How not to be taken seriously: Lose three of four to Kansas City before the break. The Jays can rip the ball with the best of them -- their .840 team OPS is the best in baseball -- but until they get more consistent pitching (and defense), they'll still be behind Nos. 3 and 4 in the PRs and in the AL East.
First-half MVP: B.J. Ryan.7 8 
If Jeff Weaver is the answer to your pitching blues ... well, baby, you've got a bad case of the blues. Chris Carpenter is still a good bet on most nights, but anyone else is iffy. Even Izzy. Good news for Redbird Nation: Scott Rolen (a .976 OPS) is still not 100 percent. If he gets there, the Cards can coast.
First-half MVP: Albert Pujols.8 10 
Five straight wins put the Padres a season-high eight games over .500 and give them a two-game lead in the NL West. Plus, they climb two spots in the PRs. OK, so they can't hit their way out of a dog food bag and ace Jake Peavy has pitched ... well, like dog food. It's the West. Whaddya want?
First-half MVP: Trevor Hoffman.9 7 
That 21-2 streak was impressive, but the surging Twins now have lost four of their last five. And, in that division, especially given the start the Twins had, that's just not good enough. Not even close. One more thing: The omission of Francisco Liriano (10-1, 1.83 ERA) is the biggest All-Star travesty since Milwaukee.
First-half MVP: Joe Mauer.10 14 
Eric Gagne evidently predicted a home run by L.A.'s Olmedo Saenz the other day. Unfortunately, the Dodgers still lost. And Gagne, from what we understand, was still a little high from the anesthesia, seeing as he was just coming out of season-ending back surgery and all. That's the Dodgers this year.
First-half MVP: Nomar Garciaparra.
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