Baseball! Celebrating Our Great American Past Time

With apologies to readers who are outside the Southern California area, this week's article will be a bit of an advertisement for a great exhibit I recently experienced first hand.  The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is currently presenting an exhibit titled "Baseball! Celebrating Our Great American Past Time".  The local NBC 4 station has been showing the NBC 4 Promo for Baseball Exhibit for weeks.  I had seen commercials on the local news for months leading up to my visit so it was just a matter of convincing the rest of the family that it was something we all needed to see.  The Reagan Library was the perfect place to host this exhibit since Reagan himself was such a big baseball fan.

My first instinct was to skip all the Reagan stuff and shuffle right through to the Baseball exhibit but I'm glad I took my time and went through the whole museum.  Immediately upon entering the Reagan family history section there were pictures of Reagan's father as a member of the local baseball team, as well as a young Ronald on the local team.

Reagan has a strong connection to the sport.  From 1933 through 1936 Reagan was the play by play announcer for the Chicago Cubs.  This stint included the Cubs 1935 appearance in the World Series where they lost to Hank Greenberg and the Detroit Tigers.  There is even an interactive option where visitors can recreate Reagan's call of Chuck Klein's game winning Home Run in the third inning of  Game 5 of that series.

As interesting as the Reagan section was, as a baseball fan I was obviously most interested in the baseball section.

When first entering the Baseball exhibit there is a section specifically related to Reagan and baseball.  It includes movie posters of "The Winning Team" where Reagan portrayed Grover Cleveland Alexander.  The display for this movie also included Alexanders actual glove as well as a ball used by Alexander.  The introductory section also included the authographed baseballs presented to the President by the World Series winners during his presidency.  These included: 1981 Dodgers, 1982 Cardinals, 1983 Orioles, 1984 Tigers, 1985 Royals, 1986 Mets, 1987 Twins and 1988 Dodgers.

As visitors move through the first section of the exhibit they find themselves in the presense of some amazaing memorabilia.  These include movie posters for the early silent movies, one of which starred Turkey Mike Donlin.  Donlin became successful enough in Hollywood that he was able to use that success in his contract negotiations with John McGraw and for a time was able to walk away from the game.  This section also includes vintage pop corn and hot dog vendor carts.

Moving through this first room you will encounter a room containing some truly amazing pieces:  

A quilt made by a fan featuring her favorite players.  Some of the players included Ted Kluszewski of the Reds, Gus Triandos of the Orioles, Bill Bruton of the Braves and (my favorite) "Puddin Head" Jones of the Phillies.

Home Run Crowns worn by Babe Ruth, Frank Robinson and Mickey Mantle.

Cigarette ads featuring the stars of the day including the Waner Brothers (Paul and Lloyd known as "Big Poison" and "Little Poison"), Yankees Second Baseman Tony Lazzeri, Athletics Pitcher Lefty Grove, MVP's Mickey Cochrane of the Athletics and Jim Bottomley of the Cardinals, Tigers batting star Harry Heilmann (seldom talked of today Heilmann had one of the greatest stretches of batting.  Over 7 seasons Heilmann's batting averages were .394, .356, .403, .346, .393, .367 and .398).  At the time the negative effects of cigarettes were not known.  You can see the selling points of the Lucky Strike.  Ads like these were very popular in the entertainment industry.  Stars such as Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, John Wayne and Rock Hudson promoted cigarettes.

These examples of Catcher's equipment are from the early days of the game.  The idea of using protective equipment for the Catcher was ridiculed at first.  In the early days of the game the Catcher stood much farther back until the batter had two strikes or there were runners on base. As the game developed Pitchers started throwing faster (and started throwing breaking pitches), Catchers needed more protection.  Roger Bresnahan of the New York Giants is considered to have revolutionized the Catcher's equipment when he added shin pads.  

This advertisement for Peach Gloves featured the stars of the day.  Based on the stars featured it probably would have been around 1910.  Featured in the ad are Johnny Kilng (Cubs), Frank Chance (Cubs), Jake Stahl (Red Sox), Chief Meyers (Giants), Christy Mathewson (Giants), Ed Walsh (White Sox), Ty Cobb (Tigers), Hal Chase (Highlanders), Chief Bender (A's), Honus Wagner (Pirates), Jimmy Archer (Cubs), Frank "Home Run" Baker (A's), George Gibson (Pirates), John McGraw (Giants) Connie Mack (A's), Nap Lajoie (Naps), Tris Speaker (Red Sox) and Walter Johnson (Senators).

My apologies for the poor photography.  Above are some examples of early versions of bats and gloves.  The idea of using a glove, much like using the Catcher's gear, was ridiculed at first.  For many years at the beginning of the game players were allowed to catch the ball on one bounce for an out.  Those who did not catch the ball on the fly became ridiculed for "unmanly play" and the rule was changed to enforce the fly rule.  Gloves originally were developed almost as skin color, with no padding, almost so that there was no hint the fielder was wearing one.  As the game developed the use of the glove became more common and padding was added.

This early ad for the Louisville Slugger model bat included some of the games early stars, including Hank Gowdy (Braves), Edd Roush (Reds), Tris Speaker (Indians), Frank Frisch (Cardinals), George Sisler (Browns), Eddie Collins (White Sox), Ty Cobb (Tigers), Babe Ruth (Yankees), Ken Williams (Browns), Harry Heilmann (Tigers) Jake Daubert (Reds) and George Kelly (Giants)

I had previously mentioned the odd shape of Heinie Groh's "bottle bat".  One of my favorite pieces of the exhibit was seeing the bat up close.  This was one of Groh's game used bats.

This field sweater was an example of the ones used by the 1926 St.Louis Cardinals.  When Grover Cleveland Alexander wandered in from the bull pen to face Tony Lazzeri in Game 7 of that famous series this is an example of the sweater he would be wearing.

This game worn Chicago Cubs sweater was from 1910.  This sweater is an example of what Tinker, Evers and Chance would be wearing as they took on the Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series that year.

This early pin set came with the purchase of Coral Tobacco.  The set included Joe Tinker (Cubs), Rube Oldring (A's), Tris Speaker (Red Sox) and Deacon Phillippe (Pirates star of the 1903 World Series).  It also included Zack Wheat of the Brooklyn club, referred to not as the Dodgers or Robins but still known at the time as the Superbas.

This Baseball quilt would have been from about 1914.  The squares include Nemo Leibold (Indians and later one of the "clean sox" of the infamous 1919 White Sox team), Max Carey (Pirates), Walter Johnson (Senators), Harry Covoleski (Tigers) and Chick Gandil (Senators and later master mind of the Black Sox).

This card set was part of  a "table top" game, what we would call a board game. It is an early version of APBA.  At the top of the Sam Crawford card you can see it says "a base hit".  This was pre-Ty Cobb days so Crawford was the absolute star of the Tigers.  

This series of cards were included in Cracker Jacks.  This series was likely from 1913 as it included Johnnny Evers on the Cubs, Shoeless Joe Jackson as a member of the Indians and Eddie Cicotte as a member of the White Sox.  The card featuring the man in the suit is Connie Mack.  He was famous for wearing a suit while managing, not the traditional baseball uniform.

This larger card featured the infamous Fred Merkle.

Living in the Los Angeles area there was a definite emphasis placed on the Dodgers in the exhibit, which I have greatly enjoyed.  One entire section was dedicated to the Dodgers' Brooklyn years.

This was the uniform worn by Johnny Podres in the 1955 World Series.  The award to the right is Podres' World Series MVP.

This satin uniform was worn by Leo Durocher during the 1944 season.

One of my favorite figures in the Brooklyn Dodgers history, this uniform was worn by Pete Reiser.

This Brooklyn road uniform was worn by Whit Wyatt.  Wyatt was a four time All Star (all representing Brooklyn) during his 16 year career.  Wyatt pitched in the 1941 World Series for the Bums and went 1-1.

This road jersey was worn by manager Charlie Dressen in 1952.  The Dodgers would win the National League Pennant that year.

This jersey was worn by Pee Wee Reese during the 1958 season.  It was Pee Wee's last season in the league and the Dodgers' first in Los Angeles.  The uniform would have been worn while the Dodgers were playing at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

This Dodgers jacket belonged to big Gil Hodges, the hard hitting First Baseman of the Bums.  He later managed the 1969 Mets to the World Series title.

This was Carl Erskine's jersey.  Erskine had Hall of Fame potential but severe elbow problems caused him to miss significant playing time.  Along with Don Newcombe, Erskine was the ace of the staff.

The Reading Rifle's jersey.  Carl Furillo played Right Field for the Dodgers during the glory days of Brooklyn baseball.

This 1935 Dodgers uniform belonged to Nick Tremark.  The Outfielder would only play for the Dodgers in parts of 3 seasons.  In 1935 he would see time in only 10 games.

This jersey from 1937 belonged to Van Lingle Mungo, pitching star of the Dodgers in the days before Brooklyn was a National League contender every year.  Mungo, along with Al Lopez, was the drawing card for Brooklyn fans in those days.

This 1939 jersey belonged to Cookie Lavagetto.  Cookie was a fan favorite of the local team.  One fan in particular brought balloons with Cookie's name on them everyday.  By the middle of the game the balloons would be floating around the stadium.  That same fan was famous for bellowing out "COOOOOKIE"

This jersey belonged to Preacher Roe.  Roe pitched for Brooklyn from 1948-1954 and was one of the team's top Pitchers.  Roe pitched in several big games for the bums, including the 1952 World Series.

These examples of the 1913 Home and Road uniforms are unidentified but would have been worn by the stars of that year such as Zack Wheat, Otto Miller, Jake Daubert, Nap Rucker and Casey Stengel.

This 1915 World Series program would have been sold before the Boston Red Sox took on the Philadelphia Phillies.  The Red Sox won 4 games to 1.  The only game won by the Phillies was pitched by Grover Cleveland Alexander, later portrayed by Ronald Reagan in "The Winning Team"

The exhibit also included game worn jerseys from some of the greatest of all time including Ruth, Williams, Aaron and Mays.

These two photos were part of a collection.  These two were particularly interesting as the showed Leo Durocher in his Yankees uniform and Fred Merkle in his Brooklyn uniform, likely from about 1915.  Note the horrendous uniform on Merkle.

The Babe Ruth collection was one of the big selling points of the exhibit.  This included his bat, traveling case, glove and fur coat.

The uniform that DiMaggio wore during his 56 game hitting streak and the ball that was hit to break the record at 45.  The season was 1941.  The black band on the shirt would have been in honor of Lou Gehrig who passed away on June 2.

The Dodgers were well represented in the exhibit.  Note the # 19 patch on the sleeve of Steve Garvey's.  That means this would be a post season jersey from 1978.  Dodger legend Jim Gilliam passed away on October 8, 1978, the day after the Dodgers defeated the Phillies to advance to the World Series.  The 19 patch represented Gilliam's number with the Dodgers.

Also well represented was the Yankees 1940's and 1950's dynasties:

Yogi Berra's 1962  uniform.

Whitey Ford's 1960 Uniform

Phil Rizzuto's 1952 Uniform

Mickey Mantle (1954), Don Larsen (1958) and Moose Skowron (1959)

Hank Bauer (1951)

Gil McDougald (1958)

Tommy Henrich (Also known as "Old Reliable")

Eddie Lopat (1951)

Frankie Crosetti (1951).  The Crow was a coach by this time in his career but spend more years than anyone (player and coach combined) in a Yankee uniform.

Johnny Mize (1951).  Although the Big Cat was known mostly for his time with the Cardinals and Giants he played a big role in the Yankees success.

This program was from opening day at Yankee Stadium.  The first game ever played there was in 1923  The Yankees would go on to win their third straight American League pennant and their first World Series.

Roy Campanella's 1957 jersey, 1955 MVP award and field jacket.

Drysdale (53) and Koufax (32) were always closely linked so of course both would be represented together here.

  

One of the most under rated and unfairly players in history, Don Newcombe.  A Rookie of the Year Winner, four time All Star, Cy Young Award winner and  MVP.  Newcombe missed more than 2 years to serve in the Korean-American War.

Mickey Mantle's 1957 MVP award.

 

Hideo Nomo was a fan favorite for the Dodgers for many years.  He made his debut in 1995

Another of my favorite sections was the one containing Jackie Robinson's uniform and 1949 player of the year award.  It also had the headlines from the Phillies' series in Jackie's rookie year.  This was the series where Ben Chapman famously led his players in verbal attacks on Jackie.

The Baseball exhibit is open until September 14, 2014

TRIVIA QUESTION:

To go with the Presidential theme today, we have a presidential baseball question.  One former president once owned stock in the Cincinnati Reds.  He is said to have been the inspiration for the 7th inning stretch.  He was such a big fan of the game that he was seriously considered for the first Commissioner's post following the Black Sox scandal in 1919. Who was it?

Answer to Last Week's Question:

Congratulations to TJD for correctly answering last week's question.

Similar to the previous week's question, this question was what American League teams have the longest World Series droughts:

Red Sox (2013, 0 years)

Yankees (2009, 5 years)

White Sox (2005, 8 years)

Angels (2002, 11 years)

Rays (No Titles Since 1998, 15 years)

Blue Jays (1993, 20 years)

Twins (1991, 22 years)

Athletics (1989, 24 years) 

Royals (1985,28 years)

Tigers (1984, 29 years)

Orioles (1983, 30 years)

Mariners (No titles since 1977, 36 years)

Astros (No titles since 1962, 51 years

Rangers/Senators (No titles since 1961, 52 years)

Indians (1948,  65 Years)

The Home Stretch: 2014 American League

With just under two months left in the season we can clearly separate teams that are legitimate contenders from the teams that are playing out the string. We can also start to see that some players we expected to be difference makers are having an average, below average or just horrible season. Here is a review of where we stand so far this year in the American League as well as a mid season report card on how my original predictions have helped prepare you for the season and how I have led you astray:

American League East:
Heading into this season it appeared that any team had a chance to win this division and that this was the closest division in baseball.  My final predictions from top to bottom were Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays.  Here is where my predictions stand:

Red Sox:
The Red Sox were my first half pick to repeat as AL Champions.  That clearly is not going to happen.  David Ortiz got off to a slow start but has been strong since.  Injuries have greatly hurt this team. A.J. Pierzynski reportedly made himself a club house nuisance to the point that the team released him at the All Star Break and the pitching, which was so strong last year, has been poor this season.  At the All Star Break they were 9.5 behind division leading Baltimore and 8 behind the second All Star spot. Since then they have traded Lester, Lackey, Gomes and Drew. This season is a failure but their trades have set them up well for the future.
First Half Grade: F

Rays:
My original preview had the Rays second behind Boston but this year has not gone nearly the way they had planned.  Rumors of a big David Price trade began swirling  at the start of the season and as the Rays dropped in the standings the likelihood of Price moving became stronger.  A strong winning streak coming out of the All Star Break nearly changed Price's availability but the Rays finally pulled the trigger and sent Price to Detroit.  The lack of power by the offense has hurt.  While James Loney had a strong year in 2013, his power numbers are down this year.  Wil Meyers, last year's rookie of the year, has struggled with injuries.  The Rays may finish in last place for the first time since the start of their magical post season run back in 2008.
First Half Grade: D

Yankees:
This has been a tough year for the Yankees.  The team spent big on the free agent market to bring in Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury and Tanaka.  Beltran and McCann have struggled.  Tanaka was impressive but an injury has now put him on the shelf.  The team has no one hitting over .300.  Sabathia is on the DL and likely done for the year and Kuroda has been average. Still, the Yankees are within striking distance.  With Jeter on his farewell tour don't underestimate the emotional infusion that could add to the team,
First Half Grade: B+

Orioles:
The Orioles entered the season with a question of who would close. What would their rotation look like? Would Manny Machado be able to play?  Was Nelson Cruz a waste of money?  So far they have seen Machado excel, although he did get into some troubles with the A's.  Cruz has been the batting star of the team and despite the loss of Matt Weiters and a less than spectacular rotation, this team is winning.  They were in first place by 4 games at the All Star Break.  With the loss of Wieters, a surprising loss of power from J.J. Hardy and a poor rotation don't expect this team to push too deep into the playoffs but they will likely be in the post season.
First Half Grade:  A

Blue Jays:
The Blue Jays are still in this thing. At the All Star Break they were only 4 games behind division leading Baltimore and hanging around in the Wild Card race.  A team that many felt would have a bigger fall off after last year's disaster has done the opposite and could make a push for the playoffs.  The rebirth of Mark Buehrle has been a great story.
First Half Grade: A

American League Central
In the preseason preview I told you that the division would look this way at the end of the season:  Tigers, Royals, Indians, Twins, White Sox.  I also told you that the Royals could put a serious scare into the Tigers if Verlander struggled returning from off season surgery. Here is where my predictions stand:

Tigers: 
Justin Verlander has not been the dominant pitcher of the past, short stop has been an issue all year and Miguel Cabrera has hinted that he is not 100%.  Still, with all the problems  the Tigers are starting to pull away.  The team could have some issues as the season progresses, but this team was again aggressive at the trade deadline to fill their holes.  The addition of Price and Soria will help improve the team.  Look for them to be fighting deep into October.
First Half  Grade:  B+

Royals: 
The Royals are fighting for their first playoff apearance since 1985.  They avoided the poor start of last year and even held first place well into the season.  They fell off just after the All Star Break while the Tigers have gotten hot.  The Royals did not make any trade deadline moves but they are definitely right there.  They will need better offensive production from Moustakis and Butler to make the post season.  The lack of power in the offense has been startling and, if they do not make the post season the lack of power could be the reason.
First Half Grade: B-

Indians: 
Cleveland won last year with good pitching from Masterson, Kazmir and Jimenez.  Kazmir and Jimenez left and Masterson (4-6) struggled.  The only Cleveland Starter with a winning record is Corey Kluber (12-6, 2.55).  Carlos Santana has good power numbers and has driven in 37 runs but his average his just above .200.The offense is being driven by Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley, who is having a career year.  This the team is only 4 out of the Wild Card but it is not likely that they will stay in the fight, especially after trading Masterson and Asdrubal Cabrera.
First Half Grade: C

White Sox: 
This is a team in transition but a team with tremendous young talent.  As Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko enter the twilight of their career, the young stars Adam Eaton, Jose Abreu and Dayan Viciedo are set to step in.  The highlight of the White Sox season to this point has been Jose Abreu.  He is the obvious choice for Rookie of the Year.  Alexei Ramirez and Connor Gillespie have had great seasons to this point.  Chris Sale is having another stellar year.  The problem is the rest of the pitching staff.  This is not a contending team but the future seems very bright.
First Half Grade: F

Twins:
Phil Hughes has shown in the first half that he is a much better pitcher than his record in 2013 but it has not been enough to put this team in contention.  While Hughes (10-5) is having a decent season, the rest of the pitching staff is a mess.  Add to this a weak offense and you have the makings of a last place team.  Joe Mauer's offense is well below his normal pace (.271, 2 HR, 28RBI) and the only player having a great season is Brian Dozier.  Unfortunately his offense is not enough to carry this team.
First Half Grade:  F

American League West
This division has had some major surprises and some major disappointments.  While the Mariners are surprising everyone by hanging around in the Wild Card race, the Rangers have stunned everyone with their drop off  :

Angels:  
The Angels have suffered injuries to Josh Hamilton, Colin Cowgill and C.J. Wilson.  Jeff Weaver left a July start with back stiffness and has not looked as sharp since.  The Angels dumped their closer, Ernesto Frieri.  This all sounds like it would be a recipe for a disastrous season.  Instead, the Angels are the second best team in the AL and in a solid Wild Card position.  The Angels have a chance to achieve their ultimate goal this year.  To do that they will need to have Wilson and Weaver healthy and Richards to continue his strong season.  They will also need more production from David Freese.  The biggest thing they need to do is to find a way to win against Oakland.  They are only 3-6 against their direct competition.
First Half Grade: A

Athletics:
The A's, just like last year, are the story of the American League.  Somehow they seem to always find a way to win.  Their planned ace was injured before the season started, their veteran pitcher (Bartolo Colon) from the last few years left during the off season and so did their closer.  Still, this team has the best record in baseball.  Scott Kazmir (11-3, 2.38) is having an amazing season and the offense is clicking along like a machine.  Only time will tell if the A's can advance in the playoffs this season.  They greatly improved themselves by adding Lester at the deadline but did they give up too much in Cespedes to get him?
First Half Grade: A (just like last year they are just finding a way to win)

Rangers:
It would be hard to think that things could get worse for Texas.  They lost Derek Holland before the season started.  Yu Darvish has struggled with injury.  Fielder, Profar and Mitch Moreland have been hurt.  It is an almost nameless lineup being sent out each day.  The Rangers have plummeted and are likely too far out of the race to make any noise.
First Half Grade:  F

Mariners:
Robinson Cano is hitting .334 but no other player is hitting .300.  Justin Smoak is hitting just over .200, in fact 5 members of the starting lineup are hitting under .250.  Hisashi Iwakuma and Taiwan Walker started the season with injuries.  The A's and Angels are the top two teams in the league.  Despite all these issues, the Seattle Mariners are in the playoff hunt.  It has been a nice story but the lack of offense will likely mean a fall out of contention in the next few weeks.
First Half Grade: A

Astros:
The Astros have reason to be excited.  They have a strong minor league system and have climbed their way ahead of Texas, out of the basement.  Their pitching still has a long way to go before they are competitive but the team is improving. The story of the year is Jose Altuve.  He is leading the league in hits and could challenge for the batting title.
First Half Grade: C

Updated postseason picks:
AL East:  Orioles
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Angels
Wild Cards: Athletics, Royals

Wild Card Round:  Athletics over Royals
ALDS: Tigers over Athletics
ALDS: Angels over Royals
ALCS:  Tigers over Angels

World Series: Dodgers over Tigers

TRIVIA QUESTION:

This week's question is similar to last week's.  The Red Sox and White Sox recently ended long World Series droughts.  What three teams in the American League have the longest World Series droughts?

Answer to Last Week's Question:

The Giants won the World Series most recently in 2012, they had ended a long drought (since  1954) a few years earlier in 2010.  The Cardinals won it all in 2011 and had ended a drought (since 1982) in 2006.  In 2008 the Phillies ended a drought that had lasted since 1980.  So what teams have waited the longest since their last World Series wins?  The Nationals (since 1969), Brewers (since 1969), Padres (since 1969) and Rockies (1992) have never won the World Series.  

That puts the Nationals/Expos, Brewers/Seattle Pilots and San Diego Padres at 44 years each and the Rockies are at 21 years. The rest of the teams in the league have won at least one World Series in their history.  Here is the longest droughts for the NL Teams:

Giants (Last title 2012: 1 year)

Cardinals (Last Title 2011:2 years)

Phillies (Last Title 2008: 5 years)

Marlins (Last Title 2003: 10 Years)

Diamondbacks (Last title 2001: 12 years)

Braves (Last Title 1995: 18 years)

Rockies (since 1992 No titles: 21 years)

Reds (Last Title 1990: 23 years)

Dodgers (Last Title 1988: 25 years)

Mets (Last Title 1986: 27 years)

Pirates (Last Title 1979: 34 years)

Nationals/Expos (since 1969 No titles: 44 years)

Brewers/Pilots (since 1969 No titles: 44 years)

Padres (since 1969 No titles: 44 years)

Cubs (Last Title 1908: 105 years)

The Home Stretch 2014: National League

With just under two months left in the season we can start to separate teams that are legitimate contenders from the teams that are playing out the string.  We can also start to see that some players we expected to be difference makers are having an average, below average or just horrible season.  Here is a review of where we stand so far this year in the National  League as well as a mid season report card on how my original predictions have helped prepare you for the season and how I have led you astray:

National League East:
This division is a bit of an enigma.  The Braves and Nationals have struggled to separate themselves from the rest of the teams.  The bottom three have each been streaky and have each shown signs of threatening the leaders but falling the other way quickly..

Nationals:
The pitching has been average.  The hitting has been average.  We may be starting to see the end of the Ryan Zimmerman era.  Things sound like they are not going great for the Nats.  Instead they are right within striking distance.  The Nats are fighting for the top spot and are doing it with dramatic wins.  The team is being led offensively by Anthony Rendon, Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth. Strasburg (7-9, 3.55) is having an average year, not a great year.  Doug Fister(10-2, 2.65)
 is leading the staff. Adding Asdrubal Cabrera at the trading deadline could be a big help heading through the final months. If the Nationals can get Bryce Harper and Steven Strasburg to perform at their expected levels the Nationals can be a dangerous team.
First Half Grade: C

Braves:
Coming into this year I had serious concerns about the Braves starting rotation, and I still do.  Julio Teheran is having a good year, as are Santana and Harang.  The problem is the drop off after those three and the question of pitching depth is a serious concern.  Craig Kimbrel is having another great season.  The offense is being powered by Justin Upton, Evan Gaddis and Freddie Freeman.  The Braves need B.J. Upton to start hitting and will need to pick up another starter or two somewhere if they want to have a serious chance.  Their lack of aggressiveness at the active trade deadline was disappointing.
First Half Grade:  B-

Phillies:
The Phillies are in the same position they were in last year at this time.  They need to decide what their future will be.  The team has been the most streaky team in baseball but it is not in a positive way.  The team fell to the bottom of the National League then ran off a winning streak to cut the NL East lead to 5 games.  Since then they have slowly dropped back to the bottom of the league.  The positive thing of the year so far was Jimmy Rollins  passing Mike Schmidt on the Phillies' all time hit list.  The signs are all there that it is time for this team to rebuild and there was serious interest in Rollins, Hamels, Utley, Lee, Byrd and Papelbon at the trade deadline. So why was no one moved?  The rumor is that Ruben Amaro thinks the Phils are still in it and that he has over valued the pieces he has. The bottom line is this team needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up and the trade deadline was a good place to begin.  The minor league system is empty and the Phillies missed a golden opportunity to rebuild.  It could lead to a long term disaster.
First Half Grade:  F

Mets:
The Mets have some good young talent. It is just a matter of keeping that talent healthy and waiting for it to develop.  In the meantime Curtis Granderson and David Wright are the team leaders. New York should have a very bright future and although they entered the All Star Break only 6.5 out of the Wild Card this year is not  a playoff year. The Mets are on the right track for the future.  They need to keep this course and look down the road a bit
First Half Grade: C

Marlins:
The Marlins came into the season as a joke but they have quietly started to rebuild their reputation.  Losing Jose Fernandez for an extended period is more than disappointing but there is bright hope for the future.  Nathon Eovaldi, acquired from the Dodgers for Hanley Ramirez, will be a nice compliment to Fernandez.  Giancarlo Stanton is the best  player they have but they need to start putting better pieces around them.  This is not a contending team but they are an improving team.
First Half Grade: C+

National League Central
This is going to be a great division to watch over the next two months.  Get out your popcorn because this will be a daily show of entertainment.  There are four teams in contention.  Each one is moving in different directions.

Reds:
I picked Cincinnati to win everything last year.  Injuries made that pick look foolish.   This year Johnny Cueto has been nothing short of spectacular and even with the loss of Mat Latos the Reds starting rotation of Homer Bailey, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon have kept the Reds in the race.
The team's two main relievers Broxton and Chapman have been strong but the rest of the bullpen is disappointing. This is a very exciting team offensively as well.  Billy Hamilton is an improvement over Shin Soo Choo and Hamilton should be in the talks for the Rookie of the Year.  The dark cloud on the horizon is injuries.  Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto are both dealing with injuries and are missing time.  If they were healthy they would still be my pick but with the injuries that is becoming less likely.
First Half Grade: B-

Pirates:
I honestly expected a big drop off from Pittsburgh this season.  I was wrong.  McCutcheon has again been great.  Their pitching staff has been a bit of a hodge podge but it has worked.  Starling Marte has fallen off a bit but the Bucs are excited for what Gregory Polanco can bring to the team.  This team is right in the middle of the fight and seem to be getting hot at the right time.  In a four team race the team that is the healthiest will likely be the team that comes out on top.
First Half Grade: B

Cardinals:
The Cardinals always seem to surprise me.  Every year I look at their lineup and think this is not a playoff lineup but every year I am wrong.  The offense has been disappointing.  The pitching has suffered injuries.  Yet somehow they are right in the middle of this division race.  What remains to be seen is how they react to losing their Catcher and team leader Yadier Molina for a few months.  In a crowded race for the division the loss of Molina could be the difference in a playoff year and an early winter.  They traded for Justin Masterson, although that seems to be looking forward to next year as he has some health issues this year.  They also added John Lackey at the trade deadline and signed A.J. Pierzynski.  In getting Lackey they gave up Allen Craig, one of the keys to their recent success.  Heading into the next two months I don't know if they have enough to make a run for the playoffs.
First Half Grade:  B

Cubs:
This time last year I felt the Cubs were moving in the right direction as far as building for the future.  Right now I am not sure what direction they are moving.  Anthony Rizzo is having a tremendous season and Starlin Castro has started to fulfill his potential but Darwin Barney appears to be struggling and was shipped off to the Dodgers.  The pitching is a mess and the team traded their ace, Jeff Samardzija to build for the future that he was supposed to be a part of.  Cubs fans can only hope that in a few years they will look back at this year's trade deadline as the year they built a winner.
First Half Grade: F

Brewers:
Where the hell did these guys come from?  Honestly I was tempted to pick this team as a playoff team in the preseason but the pitching staff scared me off a bit.  I know one regular reader who was smart enough to see this team coming.  The Brewers have been in first place for most of the season and have had the best record in baseball for a good part of the year as well.  Their offense is very nicely balanced and their defense up the middle is strong.  Jonathan Lucroy is having an amazing year and hopefully will get some votes for MVP.  The issue is the pitching.  Will it hold up?  If they could have gotten a starting pitcher at the trade deadline I would have felt more comfortable with their chances to win.
First Half Grade:  A

National League West
Is anyone else as excited as I am?  Does anyone else see what's on the horizon?  We are on the verge of a Giants-Dodgers show down.  This is the stuff of legends.  This is a century old  rivalry that has rocked two coasts.  This is an epic battle that is getting ready to explode in the second half:

Giants:
The Giants got off to a fast start then collapsed faster than any team in history and have now started to come out of their funk.  Tim Lincecum has started to show signs of success (his no-hitter was one of the highlights of the first half) and the team added Jake Peavey for the stretch run.  Matt Cain will need to save his season if the Giants are going to make the playoffs.
First Half Grade:  B-

Dodgers:
The Dodgers have a very weird dynamic.  Coming into the season Dee Gordon was the weak link and was not even going to start. It seemed like the Dodgers had given up on him.  Now he is an All Star and the spark plug of the team.  Entering the season Matt Kemp was "Mr. Dodger".  Now he is causing issues for the management by demanding that he play in center.  The resurgence of Josh Beckett was great to watch but he is now injured and his comeback might be slowed significantly.  This team is still the most talented team in the NL and I expect them to end up on top.
First Half Grade: B-

Padres:
Last year I thought the Padres had an outside chance of surprising the competition and sneaking into the race.  That didn't happen.  One year later this team is a mess.  There are injuries all over the place.  There is great potential not being fulfilled and there is turmoil in the front office.  It is really unclear what direction they are moving.
First Half Grade:  F

Diamondbacks:
For a team with such high expectations coming into this season the first half was a big punch in the gut. Paul Goldschmidt has followed up his near MVP season of 2013 with another spectacular year.  The rest of the team has not followed his lead.  The pitching has been bad.  The offense has been bad and the results have been bad.  The Diamondbacks thought they would be fighting for a playoff spot.  Instead they are fighting to avoid the basement.
First Half Grade:  F

Rockies:
You can come up with a million puns to explain Colorado's season.  Rock bottom.  Avalance. Rock Slide.  Add your own.  The bottom line is this team is bad.  The amazing part of this year is that there is a lot of talent here.  Charlie Blackmon is having an amazing year. Justin Morneau is healthy and hitting well.  Troy Tulowitzski is still the most popular player in Denver.  The level of badness as a group is stunning.  The leadership does not seem to know what direction they want to go and whether they are rebuilding or praying for a miracle.
First Half Grade: F

Post Season Predictions updated for Second Half:
NL East: Nationals
NL Central: Pirates
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Cards:  Brewers, Giants

Updated Playoff Predictions:
Wild Card: Giants over Brewers
NLDS: Dodgers over Pirates
NLDS: Giants over Nationals
NLCS: Dodgers over Giants

TRIVIA QUESTION:

Over the last few years several teams have broken World Series droughts. In 2010 the Giants won their first World Series since 1954 in New York.  In 2008 the Phillies won their first World Series since 1980 and in 2006 the Cardinals ended a drought that had lasted since 1982.

What are the three longest current droughts in the National League.

Answer to Last Week's Question:

Who are the top 10 managers of all time?
1. Connie Mack (3731 wins,
2. John McGraw (2763)
3.Tony LaRussa (2728)
4.Bobby Cox (2504)
5.Joe Torre (2326)
6. Sparky Anderson (2194)
7. Bucky Harris (2158)
8.Joe McCarthy (2125)
9Walter Alston (2040)
10.Leo Durocher (2008)