With the baseball season at its unofficial halfway point, CNN/SI's experts give their takes on the good, the bad and the ugly of the first half.

Also: Tom Verducci | Mark Bechtel | Ozzie Smith

Overrated: Jose Cruz Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

Created breathtaking expectations for himself by hitting 26 homers in 1997, but hit .214 with three homers in 159 at-bats in '98 and was recently shipped to the minors.

Underrated: Paul O'Neill, New York Yankees

Obscured in a lineup full of marquee names, he has been the best overall player on the best team in baseball this season.

Annoying: J.D. Drew, St. Louis Cardinals

The poster boy for greed in baseball, Drew refused to sign with the Phillies last season, then on July 3 finally inked a $7 million contract with his new club—even though he has never played a major league game.

Breakthrough: Bartolo Colon, Cleveland Indians

After a rough season in '97, Colon is 8-4 with 2.51 ERA and is currently the best pitcher in the American League.

Biggest Surprise: Baltimore Orioles

The team with baseball's highest payroll is 22 1/2 games out of first place and will begin dumping salaries any day now.

Keep An Eye On: Adrian Beltre, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers' five-tool prospect just arrived in the big leagues last week as the best player nobody has ever heard of ... for now.

Uplifting: Orlando Hernandez, New York Yankees

He risked his life escaping Cuba on a raft and is 2-1 with 2.04 ERA since joining his younger brother, Livan, in the major leagues.

Good Trend: Wild Card

With only one divisional race currently closer than a five-game spread, the wild card is continuing to create playoff excitement where none existed before.

Bad Trend: Florida Marlins

Appalling evidence that a World Series can be bought. No truly small market team has won a title since Minnesota in '91.

MVP: Craig Biggio, Houston Astros

While Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr., are grabbing the headlines, Biggio is the most irreplaceable piece of any division leader.

World Series: New York Yankees over San Diego Padres

The Yankees will complete a remarkable season with the title, while the Padres' postseason run will earn them the votes for a new stadium.

Also: Tom Verducci | Mark Bechtel | Ozzie Smith

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