We’ve had a great 1st half of baseball this year! The Sports Script asked Maria and me 10 questions regarding what took place during the 1st half of the year and predictions for the rest of the season.

1. Who is the biggest surprise team?

The Pittsburgh Pirates – They have had one impressive 1^st half of the season. Their pitching has been unbelievable; they have the #1 ERA in all of baseball right now. What’s even more surprising is the fact they are winning so many games in spite of how badly they’re hitting this year.

2. Who is the biggest disappointment?

At the beginning of June this would’ve easily been the Dodgers, but now it has to be the Nationals. They are only 1 game above .500 and just haven’t been playing the best baseball. They just aren’t hitting at all and they’re ranked in the bottom half of every major hitting category.

3. Who is the MVP?

Miguel Cabrera – Chris Davis gets an honorable mention in this but nobody is playing as well as Miggy. He is hitting .365 with 30 HRs & 95 RBIs. He could be on his way to winning his 2^nd Triple Crown and MVP in a row.

4. Who is the CY Young?

I would say there are 4 or 5 names that could be tossed into conversation, but I am going with Patrick Corbin. He is 11-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 109 SO, and a 1.00 WHIP. He has only given up more than 3 runs twice in 19 starts, and has held teams to 2 runs or less in 15 of those. While others can still stake their claim, give me Corbin right now.

Max Scherzer – This guy is 13-1 with a 3.19 ERA, 152 SO & a 0.98 WHIP. There really is no other choice here to be made.

5. Who is the Least Valuable Player?

The Upton Brothers –

After starting the season hot, Justin has hit a cold streak, while his brother B.J., has just been terrible all season long. They have struck out a combined 202 times. The Braves have invested a lot of money in the pair and they haven’t produced the way they should’ve.

6. Which team needs to make a move at the deadline?

The Tigers –

They need a closer and they need one right now. If they do not trade for a dominant closer, this team will not go to the World Series this year.

7. Which team is most likely to bounce back in the 2nd half?

The Nationals –

They aren’t playing anywhere near what they are capable of. I think they are poised for a good 2^nd half where they will overtake the Braves and win the NL East.

8a. Will Miguel Cabrera win the Triple Crown for a 2nd year in a row?

I believe he will. I think Chris Davis is going to hit a wall in the 2^nd half (Like Jose Bautista did in 2010). This will give Cabrera the opportunity to overtake him in the HR race.

8b.Who will finish with the most HRs in the NL?

This is a race to keep an eye on. Gonzalez, Brown, Alvarez, and Goldschmidt are all within 4 HRs of each other. Beltran and Bruce aren’t far off either. If he is healthy, Cargo will end the season with 42 HRs, which will lead the NL.

9. Which 5 teams are making the playoffs?

NL –

East: Nationals

Central: Cardinals,

West: Diamondbacks,

Wild Cards: Dodgers & Braves.

AL –

East: Rays

Central: Tigers

West: A’s

Wild Cards: Yankees & Angels.

10. Who is representing the NL & AL in the World Series?

I originally picked the Braves to not only represent the NL in the World Series but to win it as well. Well, time for me to take my comment back. The Braves have too many questions surrounding them, the D’Backs aren’t there yet, the Dodgers aren’t unless they trade for Lee, and the Nationals aren’t ready for it yet. So, with the experience and talent, the Cardinals will be in the World Series for the 4^th time since 2010.

At the beginning of the season I had the Tigers representing the AL. I will stand by that pick now as well. The Rays I think have the right amount of pitching to make it, but not sure they have the hitting together. The A’s always seem to get there but can never make that final push. Yankees aren’t good enough, and the Angels could go, but aren’t deep enough in the rotation to make it. So that leaves me with the Tigers, and I think that is by default as well. They have been really solid with their Starting Pitchers, but their bullpen has been atrocious this year. As I said, they will fix this issue and trade for one at the deadline, to take home the Crown in the AL.