| Adam's AL | Adam's NL | All-Stars Position | Eric's AL | Eric's NL |
| Justin Verlander | Cliff Lee | SP | Justin Verlander | Roy Halladay |
| Alex Avila | Brian McCann | C | Alex Avila | Brian McCann |
| Adrian Gonzalez | Prince Fielder | 1B | Adrian Gonzalez | Prince Fielder |
| Robinson Cano | Rickie Weeks | 2B | Dustin Pedroia | Rickie Weeks |
| Alex Rodriguez | Ty Wiggington | 3B | Alex Rodriguez | Aramis Ramirez |
| Elvis Andrus | Jose Reyes | SS | Asdrubal Cabrera | Jose Reyes |
| Carlos Quentin | Ryan Braun | OF | Jose Bautista | Ryan Braun |
| Curtis Granderson | Matt Kemp | OF | Jacoby Ellsbury | Andrew McCutchen |
| Jose Bautista | Lance Berkman | OF | Curtis Granderson | Matt Kemp |
| David Ortiz | --- | DH | David Ortiz | --- |
| Mariano Rivera | Joel Hanrahan | CL | Mariano Rivera | Joel Hanrahan |
What’s been the biggest surprise of baseball’s first half?
Adam: After 18 straight losing seasons, the Pirates are above water at the midway point of the season. Usually seeing the Pirates at the bottom of the standings is as reliable as the sun coming up each morning. Maybe since we are approaching 2012, the Pirates' success is a sign of the apocalypse.
Eric: I knew the Phillies were going to be good, but I’m surprised by how completely unbeatable they seem. Just wait until their bullpen gets healthy again, and wait until the weather starts heating up and the baseballs really fly out of Citizens Bank Park. Philly's going to be dynamite.
What’s been the biggest disappointment?
A: The drama with the Dodgers is an unwanted distraction. The Dodgers are an important team in baseball, and I always hate storylines that have absolutely nothing to do with what is happening on the field. I don’t want to hear about Frank McCourt and all of his personal troubles; that's his issue and not my business. I just want to see the Dodgers run properly because they are a historic team, and I think baseball is better when they are competing.
E: My Cubs having the 3rd-worst record in baseball right now is pretty depressing. Coming in I certainly didn’t expect them to set the world on fire, but I also didn’t expect them to be sixteen games below the .500 mark.
What player has most improved his stock?
A: Jose Reyes is having an unbelievable year. Mets owner Fred Wilpon said a few weeks ago that Reyes wouldn’t get Carl Crawford money in the free agent market. He was right; Reyes will get more. Short stop is such a vital position, and Reyes is a hitting machine right now, not to mention good for a Web Gem or two per game. Reyes is hitting .354, with a .400 on base percentage, 30 stolen bases, and 124 hits, and we haven’t reached the All-Star break yet.
E: Jose Bautista had a completely lackluster career up until a year ago when he jacked 54 home runs. With his success so far this year, Bautista proved that his 2010 was no statistical aberration. Leading the majors in homers again and also first in both on-base percentage and slugging, Bautista rightfully earns MVP consideration so far through 2011.
What’s your World Series prediction?
A: Still the same, Phillies over BoSox
E: Phillies over anybody
Who’s your First Half MVP? Cy Young?
A: AL MVP – Adrian Gonzalez: He’s the anchor to the best lineup in the majors, is hitting for average and power, and also provides a slick glove in the field. While hitting .350 with 16 dingers and 74 RBI, he’s as good as it gets at first base, and these days, that’s saying something.
AL Cy Young – Justin Verlander: I make this pick because Verlander’s stuff is simply so electric. I call him the most feared pitcher in baseball.
NL MVP – Prince Fielder: Leading a good but not great Brewers team, Fielder is having the best season of his career. Batting .296 with 21 homers (2nd in NL), 69 RBI (1st), and a .416 on base percentage (2nd) Fielder always produces great at bats for one of the National League's top teams.
NL Cy Young – Cliff Lee: Because he’s simply ridiculous and just pitched something like 35 straight scoreless innings, I give the nod to Lee. He always goes deep into games, he’s clutch, and with a 2.92 ERA, 9-6 record, and just a .234 batting average against, Lee’s numbers are absolutely tremendous.
E: AL MVP – Adrian Gonzalez: Getting out of Petco Park, he’s lived up to his billing. Leading the AL in batting average, RBI, hits, and total bases, Gonzalez is exactly the run generator Boston was looking for when they brought him in from San Diego.
AL Cy Young – Justin Verlander: Verlander leads AL in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, WHIP, and is second in WAR among pitchers by one tenth of a point.
NL MVP – Jose Reyes: His batting average is thirty points higher than the man in second place. He leads the NL in my favorite category, runs scored, also in hits, singles, doubles, triples, total bases, and is second in stolen bases. Though the Mets are just a .500 club, Reyes makes them much better than we thought they were going to be.
NL Cy Young – Roy Halladay: It was a coin flip between him and Cliff Lee, but Doc Halladay gets the edge due to his higher win total, strikeout total, more complete games, innings pitched, and lower ERA and WHIP.
--from @AdamHocking and @jeuneski
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