Best 2008 Second-Half Storylines

1. Can the goat be kept away?

It's the 100-year anniversary of their last championship, and it would be a transcendent story nationally if the Chicago Cubs somehow won their first World Series since 1908. The Tribune Company is selling the team and is in a monstrous amount of debt, but the team showed its serious about contending by trading for (oft-injured) Rich Harden just before the break. Because they were swept out of the playoffs so early last season, people forget that this team has some pennant-race seasoning already. They're on pace to go back to the playoffs, where anything can happen, of course. But the billy goat could arise in any form between now and then.

2. K-Rod and the Saves Record

The Angels' Francisco Rodriguez isn't just on pace to beat the saves record held by Bobby Thigpen (57 saves in 1990). He's on pace to obliterate it. With his 42nd save on July 23, "K-Rod" is on pace for an incredible 67 saves. To beat this record, a pitcher needs to be at the top of his game on a team that's winning a lot, and he's on top in both fronts.

3. The new Boss - same as the old Boss?

It's a new Steinbrenner making the moves, so it will be interesting to see how patient the New York Yankees' front office will be if the Tampa Bay Rays can keep up their pace in the second half. Will New York trade a prospect for somebody who can help them get to the playoffs, or will they wait to get healthy in 2009? (See below for another interesting scenario...)

4. Brewers surge with CC

Another small-market wonder, along with the Tampa Bay Rays, are the Milwaukee Brewers. They didn't come out of nowhere the way Tampa Bay did, but they're trade for CC Sabathia showed they're serious about this finally being THE year in Milwaukee. A sweep of the Cardinals just after the All-Star break puts the Brewers in the driver's seat for at least the wild card in the National League.

5. Trade season has already started - who's next?

The deadline is two weeks away, and we've already seen three solid starters - CC Sabathia (Brewers), Rich Harden (Cubs) and Joe Blanton (Phillies) - change leagues and bolster three National League contenders. Who's still on the market? How about Brian Fuentes of the Rockies, Jason Bay and Xavier Nady of the Pirates, A.J. Burnett of the Blue Jays and Casey Blake of the Indians? Now we wait to hear from the other contenders.

6. Can somebody step up in NL West?

This was baseball's strongest and most even division in 2007. But after a fast start by the Diamondbacks, no team was over .500 at the break. Arizona has the best roster, but the Dodgers have the most money and some prospects that other teams covet, if they want to make a big splash. The Rockies aren't out of it yet, either, and they came out of nowhere last season.

7. White Sox or Tigers (or Twins?) in AL Central

The White Sox were one of the best stories of the first half, and hold the AL Central lead. But everybody expected the Tigers to contend, and they're starting to get healthy. If Dontrelle Willis can find himself in the minors, that lineup chould be enough to lift Detroit in the second half. The Twins overachieved in the first half, but probably don't have enough pitching. And the White Sox are a veteran team, and as long as Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye keep hitting the way they did in the first half, they'll be tough to beat.

8. Where's Barry?

Barry Bonds still apparently wants to play, but the phone hasn't been ringing. But I bet it will in the next couple of weeks. It would have been a bad PR move for any team to grab Bonds before the season. But now, when it would just be a couple of months, and teams have immediate needs? All can be forgiven. And if Bonds signs and produces (perhaps in New York), he could land in the World Series. And that would be quite a story.