Abreu AP

The Good ... This is a team that doesn't do anything particularly well, but guys like Bobby Abreu (.280, 17, 62) and Omar Daal (9-2, 4.79) do enough that the Phillies, under the whip of skipper Larry Bowa, have held onto first for most of the season. Young Nelson Figueroa (1-0, 1.59) could be for real.

The Bad ... No regular hits over .300, which portends some nasty slumps. And the pitching hardly looks like the type that can win a lot of 2-1 games (the starters have a 4.88 ERA). Doug Glanville is among the worst leadoff men in the game (a .296 on-base percentage).

The Rest ... Scott Rolen (.276, 8, 49) has started to show some life after his run-in with Bowa. But will the rest of this team break or bloom under Bowa's constant pressuring? The Phils don't figure to be big trade players this month. So what you see is what you get.  

Burkett AP

The Good ... John Burkett (2.39 ERA) has found new life and Greg Maddux (9-5, 2.38) is his same old self. But this team still belongs to Chipper Jones (.314, 23, 61). With some help from Brian Jordan (.273) and Andruw Jones (.280, 18 homers) and continued improvement from leadoff man Rafael Furcal (.278), they should be there again in September.

The Bad ... Tom Glavine (6-5, 4.85) has been only so-so, and the Braves need injured starters Kevin Millwood -- and maybe John Smoltz -- to come back strong. The first base platoon of Rico Brogna and Wes Helms (a combined eight HRs and 40 RBIs) has been a disappointment. And Javy Lopez (.246, 9, 33) is off to a slow start.

The Rest ... The Braves don't want to spend much more money, but talk of getting a big-hitting first baseman, or at least a big bat at third, has been all the rage. (Chipper Jones would move to left, making B.J. Surhoff expendable.) In this division, any little move could pay off.  

Floyd AP

The Good ... Cliff Floyd (.337, 21, 69), snubbed for the All-Star Game, will have to be content carrying the team. A bushel of good, young starting pitchers scare the doodly out of the other NL East teams. They include A.J. Burnett (5-5, 2.89), Brad Penny (7-2, 3.47) and Ryan Dempster (9-8, 4.58).

The Bad ... The Phillies own them. The Marlins are 2-11 against Philadelphia with a 5.45 ERA, and Philly is hitting .301 off them. Preston Wilson (.268, 9, 40) is in a month-long slump in which he's seen his average drop from a high of .349.

The Rest ... The Marlins have shown life after canning manager John Boles and replacing him with Tony Perez. The Marlins aren't likely to go after a big trade, but they have enough as it is to challenge for the division -- if the young staff doesn't spook, Floyd keeps hitting and Wilson snaps out of it.  

Reed AP

The Good ... Well, they made the World Series last season. Oh. We're talking this year. Rick Reed is 7-4 with a 3.10 ERA. Mike Piazza has 20 homers at the break. Tsuyoshi Shinjo (.281) has shown he belongs. Bobby Valentine hasn't been in a fight with anyone. Well, if you don't count Darryl Hamilton.

The Bad ... Nothing has gone right. Injuries (especially to Jay Payton) have hurt. But the biggest problem has been the team's pathetic hitting. Blame Rey Ordonez (.217), Edgardo Alfonzo (.248), Piazza (.269) and Robin Ventura (.262). The team is hitting .245 with runners in scoring position.

The Rest ... There has been clubhouse intrigue (Timo Perez plays the bad guy) and rumors galore around the Mets. At 12 games back, they know it's time to look to next season. So look for a lot of movement this month (Todd Zeile, Glendon Rusch) as the Mets reload for next season.  

Guerrero AP

The Good ... Vladimir Guerrero (.318, 19, 61) is always entertaining to watch. Jose Vidro (.306, 9, 30) is an All-Star type second baseman. And Tony Armas Jr. (7-7, 3.71) has the makings of a guy you can build a staff around. If, of course, you have a place to do it.

The Bad ... The Expos, Contraction Option No. 1 for Bud Selig, do not have many hitters besides Guerrero and Vidro. And outside of Armas, Graeme Lloyd (5-1, 2.63), Ugueth Urbina (0-1, 4.08, 10 saves) and maybe Troy Mattes (2-0, 1.89), not much pitching. It's a start. It's not enough.

The Rest ... This franchise is overshadowed by the problems off the field. Heralded skipper Felipe Alou has given way to Jeff Torborg. Owner Jeffrey Loria says he won't give up the team ... but moving it is another matter. At 13 1/2 games back, it is another lost season for Montreal.