The second half of the 2008 season is underway, and there's plenty of intrigue. A look ahead:
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.
