From Ryan Braun to brainy Tony La Russa, from Delmon Young to elderly Randy Johnson, from Sweet Lou Piniella to perpetually cranky Barry Bonds, here's a roster of the 30 players or key decision-makers who matter most to their respective teams in baseball's second half ...
AL East
 | The Red Sox's World Series hopes may hinge on a healthy Curt Schilling . Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images |
Red Sox: Curt Schilling, starting pitcher
He's ailing, he's old, he came to camp in borderline shape and he appears to have one or two too many interests, as anyone can attest who's recently blogged with Gehrig38 or whatever baseball's biggest blowhard calls himself these days. Still, when fit and healthy, no one can claim that Schilling doesn't shine in the spotlight. In those situations, he's bloody good.
Blue Jays: J.P. Ricciardi, GM
He always seems to find his way into the news, whether it's for fudging on B.J. Ryan's elbow injury, speaking honestly about the disappointments related to the oft-injured A.J. Burnett, disagreeing with Shea Hillenbrand, defending John Gibbons, firing scouts or spending money. Ricciardi appears to have determined that the Jays are going to go for it despite all their injuries, and maybe that's a fair way to reward the healthy players who kept them around .500. It's a long shot, sure, but he's that kind of gambler.
Yankees: Joe Torre, manager
He's led them back from the abyss before, and not so long ago, either, in 2005. B.T. (before Torre), there was 1978 and '95, two miracle comebacks. They have the talent to do it again. But it's not going to be easy this time. The bullpen looks spent, and the outfield isn't producing as expected.
Orioles: Daniel Cabrera, starting pitcher
With Erik Bedard and Jeremy Guthrie already dealing, if Leo Mazzone can work his alleged magic and get the big fella's talent out of him, the Orioles could make themselves feel better about their future despite their decade-long streak of losing seasons, the quick rejection by Joe Girardi and other assorted problems.
Devil Rays: Delmon Young, outfielder
He leads all rookies with 48 RBIs but he's being outplayed by Dmitri, his older, fatter brother. So far, Delmon's superstardom is just in his own mind. Time to start playing like the press clippings.
AL Central
Tigers: Justin Verlander, starting pitcher
The no-hit kid ran out of gas late last year, but if he can show a little more staying power and even approximate his first-half output (10-3, 3.14 ERA), Detroit looks like the World Series favorite (as predicted here before the start of the year ... and elsewhere), no matter what it gets out of an injury-ravaged bullpen.
Indians: Joe Borowski, closer
Not too many folks thought he'd get it done in the American league, and when Alex Rodriguez took him deep for a ninth-inning game-winning grand slam on April 19 and his ERA stood at 13.50, it didn't look good. But he has produced, notching 25 saves despite an unsightly 5.35 ERA.
Twins: Johan Santana, starting pitcher
Minnesota authored a fabulous comeback last year, and when this man leads your rotation, you can't rule anything out. Since 2003 he's 40-4 after the All-Star break. That's right, 40-4.
White Sox: Ken Williams, GM
He's got Mark Buehrle signed under market at $56 million over four years, and that was the right thing to do. But if Williams didn't like what the Sox were being offered in trade for a No. 2 pitcher with an expiring contract, good luck getting something worthwhile for a struggling Jermaine Dye, a slumping Jose Contreras or an underwhelming Tadahito Iguchi (who has always struck me as one of those guys you'd have to see play every day to appreciate, anyway).
Royals: Alex Gordon, third baseman
It would be nice to see the chronically hurt Mike Sweeney heal in time to finally be dealt. But what really matters for the Royals is their future, and Gordon showed signs in June of being the hitter that folks thought he'd be, batting .327. But he's still no Ryan Braun.
AL West
Angels: Bill Stoneman, GM
Everyone's been waiting for that big hitter to protect Vladimir Guerrero in the lineup, but the guess here is that the wait will go on. The aptly-named Stoneman must feel that all of his prospects will turn into stars because he never makes a move. Yet it's hard to kill him since the Stone Man's team is still in first place.
Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki, outfielder
Now that he has an All-Star MVP to go with his WBC trophy (not to mention his reported $100 million contract extension), let's see if he can hit .400 and lead the forgotten Mariners into the playoffs. I wouldn't put it past him.
A's: Rich Harden, starting pitcher
One of baseball's most dominating pitchers ... when healthy. He's got everything it takes, except luck. But if he can stay off the disabled list, don't rule out the A's annual second-half turnaround.
Rangers: Jon Daniels, GM
He's been given a one-year extension, but there's considerable pressure to get what he can for Eric Gagne, Kenny Lofton, Akinori Otsuka and Sammy Sosa, and possibly even Mark Teixeira, at a time when everyone is valuing their top prospects like gold. Daniels is as hard-working and diligent as they come, but a few of the trades that looked great on paper have backfired (i.e. Chris Young and Alfonso Soriano). He needs to pull off a winning deal.
