So we have reached the midseason point of this beautiful game with dwindling attendance figures called Major League Baseball. So far this season we have seen a few pleasant surprises (Milwaukee Brewers, Magglio Ordonez) and to go with it some obvious dissappointments (New York Yankees, Andruw Jones). It appears we will have a new World Series Champion come October or November with the St. Louis Cardinals still sucking ass in the worst division in baseball not named the American League East. But hell...at least we will always have the memories of my beloved Orioles and their ultimate dipshit owner named Peter Angelos still screwing up what was once a proud and storied franchise. Anyways, here are some rewards, gifts, congratulations, FU's, and heartfelt love for some of the best and worst in the game we love to scratch ourselves-Baseball.

ALL STAR PICKS
C-Victor Martinez and Russell Martin. Martinez is top 10 in the AL in batting average, home runs, rbi's, OPS, and slugging percentage and was an easy choice despite the good seasons from Pudge Rodriguez and Jorge Posado. Martin is a second year player who has been magnificient all season for the Dodgers and nobody comes close to his production in the NL.
1B-Justin Morneau and Prince Fielder are the obvious picks here. Morneau is following up his MVP season with another great season and who would have thought Canadians could hit anything other than Mooses and hockey pucks? Fielder is on track to become the youngest player at 23 to hit 50 home runs and has been a huge sparkplug for the Brewers.
2B-Brian Roberts and Chase Utley. Roberts is leading the American League in stolen bases and is one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. Utley is by far and away the best secondbaseman in the game. Sort of like Jeter at short except better and more talented, Utley might as well be penciled in as the starter just like we thought Carlos Baerga was going to be in the early 90's.
SS-Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes. Yes, I hate New York but I'm not stupid like the people that choose to live there. Jeter is the captain of the most underachieving team in baseball but it isn't his fault. He gets on base and scores and plays good defense. Reyes is a pimp and just doesn't know it. He lead the Majors in stolen bases and would be my first pick to start a baseball team as of right now.
3B-Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera. Both guys are douches in their own way but both have so much talent inside them they even exceed a Jessica Alba tampon. I really don't care for either because I think they are both pussies but it is always comforting to know that A-Rod will opt out of his contract and get the hell out of New York and Cabrera will be bigger than a Ving Rhames booger in a couple of seasons.
LF-Carl Crawford and Carlos Lee. First off, fuck Barry Bonds and anybody who actually voted for the cheating asshole. I could understand voting for him IF he actually deserved it but he doesn't and anybody who voted for him deserves to be either A)deported or B)castrated. Voting for Bonds is like voting for Hitler. Anyways, Carlos Lee is having an excellent season and is not a cancer in the clubhouse. He leads the league in RBI's and should be starting. Carl Crawford plays on some team called the Devil Rays, not sure where they are located but I heard he was an excellent player. Ask this guy what he thinks about Crawford:


CF-Ichiro Suzuki and Aaron Rowand. I don't feel I need to explain why Ichiro is the pick because if you need to know then you have obviously never watched the guy play. Rowand needs some explaination. I couldn't pick Carlos Beltran because he is having an average season and I couldn't pick Andruw Jones because he blows more cock than Anderson Cooper on assignment. Anyways, Rowand is having an All-Star season and will literally break his nose to catch a ball. He seems to always be hustling (ahem..clearing my throat in front of the Andruw Jones and Carlos Beltran's of the world) no matter if he thinks he can make the play or not. That is an All-Star in my book.
RF-Magglio Ordonez and Ken Griffey Jr. It was really hard for me to pick Ordonez over Vlad because I know Guerrero is the better player but I can't ignore the numbers Mags has put up in the first half. Griffey Jr. was a cinch. How could you not enjoy his triumphant return to Seattle?

Starting pitchers-Dan Haren and Jake Peavy. Haren has been the ace of the A's staff and is almost in every top 5 stat category for pitchers. Same goes with Peavy on the Padres.

MVPS-Right now my pick in the American League is Magglio Ordonez but I believe Vladimir Guerrero will win it at the end of the season because of the law of averages. In the National League the pick is Prince Fielder. If he continues to play at his current level throughout the season and gets the Brewers into the playoffs he will be an unanimous pick for MVP.

CY YOUNGS-Dan Haren had a bumpy last start but will continue to pitch well and get the A's back into playoff contention while just holding off Johan Santana. Jake Peavy will edge out teammate Chris Young.

ROOKIE OF THE YEARS-In an extremely close race in the NL I'm taking CF Hunter Pence over SS Troy Tulowitzki. In the AL I'm going with P Jeremy Guthrie of the Orioles over Reggie Willits of the Angels and Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox.

DIVISION WINNERS PREDICTIONS-Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels. New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres.

WILD CARD PREDICTIONS-Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks.

WORLD SERIES PREDICTION-San Diego Padres over the Detroit Tigers in 6 games.

You can email me your thoughts on anything sports or pop related. matt@sportscrack.com