The Good: In the toughest division in baseball, the Mariners have made things look easy. Ichiro Suzuki (.352, 46 multi-hit games) continues to amaze. Bret Boone (.313, 24 HRs, 76 RBIs and a .963 combined on-base/slugging percentage) is a legitimate threat every time he walks to the plate. Edgar Martinez (.304) is the best DH in the business. Jamie Moyer (12-5, 3.02) is a 40-year-old All-Star, Gil Meche (10-5, 3.61) is good enough to be an ace on a lot of teams, the pen is loaded … and, oh yeah, they play defense, too (No. 1 in the AL).
The Bad: Freddy Garcia (4.41 ERAA) has struggled. Jeff Cirillo (.218) has proven it really was Coors Field that made him good. He'll be benched for Willie Bloomquist a lot. Randy Winn (.268) is not an All-Star in this group. Closer Kazuhiro Sasaki is hurt. They still have eight games left with Oakland (they're just 6-5 vs. the A's).
What's Next: There isn't a more balanced team in baseball than the Mariners. They may not be the biggest boppers around, but they can score in a lot of different ways, and their pitching is deep and effective. Add that defense and the Mariners are legitimate World Series threats. If, that is, they can get out of the division.
The Good: Still the best starters in the biz, though it's awfully close. The reason is the Big Three: Tim Hudson (7-3, 2.71), Mark Mulder (12-6, 3.03) and Barry Zito (8-6. 3.28). Keith Foulke has 24 saves and opponents are hitting .204 off him. And though the A's started terribly at the plate, reigning AL MVP Miguel Tejada still is productive (15 HRs, 56 RBIs), as is third baseman Eric Chavez (17 HRs, 50 RBIs). Eric Byrnes (.299, 11 HRs, 42 RBIs) has emerged as a power in center.
The Bad: Jermaine Dye's separated shoulder would be worrisome if not for Byrnes out there. The back end of the rotation, with Ted Lilly and John Halama, doesn't strike fear. The bench is a question. But this is a solid team.
What's Next: The A's, in the last couple of years, have been good after the break. They have a big helping of AL East teams to play in the second half, which is bad when you're talking about New York, Boston and maybe Toronto, but not too bad otherwise. If Seattle slips, Oakland can move into first in a flash. The question is: Then what?
The Good: Home Run Derby champ Garret Anderson (.316, 22 homers, 78 RBIs) is carrying this team offensively, with a little help from Troy Glaus (15 HRs, 49 RBIs), Tim Salmon (14, 47) and catcher Bengie Molina (.285, 49 RBIs). What's keeping them in games, though, is the bullpen, the best in the AL with a 2.49 ERA. Other than that, the Angels look pretty mortal.
The Bad: A knee injury has knocked DH Brad Fullmer out for the season. Shortstop David Eckstein, the guy who made last year's World Series champs go, isn't going anywhere this time around (.237, .315 on-base) and is banged up. Not one of their starters (John Lackey, Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz, Kevin Appier, Aaron Sele) has been all that impressive.
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What's Next: They are 9-3 in July and on a five-game winning streak, but face it: The Angels are in trouble. The AL West seems out of reach and the competition for the wild card -- the route they took to get to the playoffs last season -- is a lot stiffer this time around. As it looks now, the Angels will be lucky to keep their heads much above .500.
The Good: Third baseman Hank Blalock, a bust in his rookie season, made it to the All-Star Game this season (.323, 14 homers, 48 RBIs before the break) and became a hero with his game-winning home run. Alex Rodriguez is not putting up MVP numbers (.285, 22, 60), but they're still pretty good. Rafael Palmeiro hit his 500th career homer and looks on pace for another 40-homer, 100-RBI season. Rookie Mark Teixeira is getting plenty of playing time and has responded with 14 homers and 53 RBIs. Michael Young (.321) is one of the more underappreciated second basemen in the league.
The Bad: Everyone knows they can hit. It's the pitching, stupid. The Rangers have one starter with an ERA under 6.00, and they just traded their closer, Ugueth Urbina, to the Marlins. Chan Ho Park (just seven starts) has been an expensive disaster and he's now hurt. Thirteen different pitchers have started for the Rangers this year. As hard as manager Buck Showalter looks, there's no pitching to be found.
What's Next: More of the same. The Rangers went 7-20 in June. The losing even seems to be affecting A-Rod. Still, the Rangers have dumped Carl Everett and Urbina and Ruben Sierra. They tried to deal Juan Gonzalez -- they still are -- and they're trying to get rid of Palmeiro. Who knows what this team could look like next season?
Note: All stats through Sunday. All photos AP, except Barry Zito (Otto Gruele Jr./Getty Images), Troy Glaus (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) and Alex Rodriguez (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images).
