A Look at the All-Star Break

The All-Star Break is only one week away, which means the league has already divided the good from the bad teams. Playoff races are starting to begin, rivalrys have been formed, and major prospects have made their mark on KJNL sqauds.

By: Matt Sanders

All-Star Break Top 5:
1. Chicago White Sox-The boys in black were projected to finish in the middle of the AL West, not lead it. The line-up isn't flashy, but Mike Jacobs and Pat Burrell lead a potent scoring squad while Zack Grenkie leads a no-name but effective pitching staff.
2. Housten Astros-A powerful offense led by Josh Hamilton has dominated the NL all but once, againt the cellar dwelling Braves. A weak rotation is padded by a stellar bullpen, which should lead it to the NLCS.
3. Seattle Mariners-The Mariners are really good, but they were supposed to be great. An All-Star line-up has been crippled by injuries and slumps, but one can only think that they will explode eventually. The bullpen has been devestated by season ending surgieries and ineffectivness, and must improve for Seattle to clinch the AL West.
4. St. Louis-The offense isn't flashy, but it's done a great job scroing runs for the best rotation in the league. The first four starters in St. Louis could be in the top two on any team, givign the offense plenty of room for only moderate production.
5. Colorado Rockies-Nobody talks about them, but they are tied for the second best team i nthe NL after Housten. They have lots of injury problems however, which could lead to their exit from the playoff race if another NL team steps it up.

NL MVP: Josh Hamiltion-When Housten signed Hamilton, it most likley wasn't becuase he was expecting 179 RBI. Thats wht he is on pace for, which would set the bar high for the league record in later seasons. Can Hamilton keep it up and lead Houston to a title?

AL MVP: Chase Utley-Seattle had a good idea what they were getting in Utley, but his current numbers are off the charts. Can Utley lead Seattle to a AL West title?

NL Cy Young: Edison Volquez: Like Hamilton, this kid came out of nowere. He now leads the NL in ERA.

AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee: Getting it over some very good pitchers in the AL. Lee, another guy who didn't have the bar set very high, has done great so far.

Okay, annoucing the first KJNL All-Star team
Annoucing from a loud, outragous, microphone:
AL
At Catcher, from the Twins...Geovany Soto!
At first...playing for the Bosten Red Sox...Adrian Gonzolez!
At second...for the Seattle Mariners...Chaaaase Utley!
At third...for the Toronto Blue Jays...Ryan Braun!(Braun is 3B eligible)
At short...for Chicago...Carlos Guillen!
In the outfield... for the White Sox...Pat Burrell!...Carlos Quinten!.....and from the Mariners...Carlos Lee!!
Now the pitchers...
From the Cleveland Indians, Brandon Webb!!...and Tim Lincecum!!!...from Minnesota...Cliff Lee!!!...and Ryan Dempster!!...and Carlos Zambrano!
The closer....out of Kansas City....Francisco Rodriguez!
And the manager....The White Sox GM!!!

Now..the NL...
At Catcher...from Housten...Brain McCann
At first...from Colorado...Lance Berkman!!!
At Second...wearing a big C on his chest..no not Cincy....Dan Uggla!!
At thirdbase...wearing a big C on his chest....no not Chciago...Chipppper Jones!
At shortstop...from Houston....Miguel Tejada!!!
For the outfeilders...from Colorado...Manny Ramirez!!...from the Astros...Josh Hamilton!!!....and from the Reds...Ryan Ludwick!
The pitchers....From Cincy...Edison Volquez!.....from LA...Javier Vazquez!!...from the Reds...Roy Halladay!!....from Colorado...Disuke Matsuzaka!!...and...the vet...from Arizona...Mike Mussina!!
The closer...from the Rockies...Jon Papelbon!
If you have any complaints, post them on the board..but who really cares.