Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Brian Dozier is having a better week than you are. Star Tribune (Carr) p. 1

Hartman: Sano is still learning but off to great start. Star Tribune (Hartman) p. 2

Twins setting high goals heading into post All-Star schedule. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3

First true glove can mean the world to a player. Star Tribune (Souhan) p. 4

Twins' secret to first-half success: 'We focus on the game we're playing.' Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 5

Twins' three areas of concern: setup relievers, catcher, shortstop. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6

Twinsights: Ricky Nolasco undergoes ankle surgery. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7

Twins hope to build on strong start in 2nd half. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 7

Twins face red-hot Gray after stellar 1st half. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 9

Wetmore: Grading Twins infielders at the All-Star break. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 9

Mackey: A somewhat crazy, yet realistic trade idea for the Twins. 1500espn.com (Mackey) p. 12

Second-half lookahead: As top prospects trickle in, Twins remain in contention. Associated Press p. 13

2015 MLB first half awards. Fox Sports p. 14

Brian Dozier is having a better week than you are

Chris Carr | Star Tribune | July 15, 2015

You can’t stop talking about the horrific metro-area traffic, and your Twitter feed is full of photos of the Pluto fly-by, but c’mon: nothing deserves more buzz than Brian Dozier’s last 10 days. The Twins’ All-Star second baseman crushed an eighth-inning home run in last night’s Midsummer Classic (that you can watch here) to put an exclamation point on a wild week and a half. The hashtag (#votedozier) that took over the Twin Cities, four dingers, two walk-offs … here’s the full recap:

July 5

Houston’s Jose Altuve is announced as the AL’s starting second baseman. Dozier finishes out of the top five in voting.

July 6

Two second basemen not named Dozier are announced as AL reserves: Jason Kipnis and Brock Holt, the only reps for the Indians and Red Sox. Dozier is added to the Final Vote fan-voting contest. Dozier’s response to missing the roster and needing a popular vote victory? He jacked a 10th-inning walk-off homer at Target Field to beat Baltimore. Not a bad way to start an All-Star campaign.

July 9

A roster spot opens up after Alex Gordon gets hurt, but AL manager Ned Yost chooses another outfielder to replace him, the Yankees’ Brett Gardner.

July 10

Royals 3B Mike Moustakas fills the AL’s last roster spot by winning the Final Vote. Dozier, despite the everywhere-you-look hashtag #votedozier, finishes second. Dozier’s response this time will be remembered as one of MLB’s best finishes. Down 6-1 to the Tigers, the Twins rally in the

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ninth and trail by one with two on when Dozier steps to the plate. One big swing later and Dozier has his 19th homer and the Twins’ end an incredible 8-6 comeback victory. It was Dozier’s third homer of the week, and the Twins won each of those games. The timing of his hot streak couldn’t have been better …

July 11

Dozier’s day finally comes when he is named to the AL team as an injury replacement for Toronto’s Jose Bautista. Here's what it was like when the news was announced at Target Field.

July 14

The last guy to make the roster comes through: Dozier hits his fourth home run in eight days, and he won’t ever forget this one. The AL already had the All-Star Game in the bag (surely the Tigers were thinking the same thing on Friday night, right?), when Dozier came up in the eighth inning against Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon. Dozier fell behind in the count, but then he pounded a knee-high 1-2 pitch toward center field. The ball sailed and cleared the fence for a solo home run. Moments later, his buddy Glen Perkins closed out the AL’s victory in the 86th All-Star Game.

10-day recap

Four home runs, omnipresent All-Star Game promotion hash tag, enormous fan support, six Twins victories, dramatic All-Star Game roster promotion, All-Star Game appearance, All-Star Game bomb to center field. Top that, Pluto.

Hartman: Sano is still learning but off to great start

Sid Hartman | Star Tribune | July 16, 2015

When Miguel Sano signed with the Twins in September 2009 and received a $3.15 million signing bonus, it was the second-highest total for a player from the Dominican Republic in league history. So the expectations always have been high for Sano, but it is amazing that he has been able to come from Class AA Chattanooga and have the success he has had with the Twins so far this season.

Sano missed all of last season after having Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. He struggled in his first 23 games with the Lookouts this season, going 13-for-80 (.163 average) with three doubles and five home runs.

But in his next 43 games, Sano hit .329 with a .412 on-base percentage with 10 home runs, 36 RBI and 41 runs scored. He was called up by the Twins on July 2.

It’s a small sample size, but in 11 games with the Twins, Sano is hitting .378 with a .489 on-base percentage and a .649 slugging percentage. He has four doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and four runs scored in 45 plate appearances.

Manager Paul Molitor said that while the Twins have often had high expectations for Sano, he has been pleasantly surprised by his performance.

“I was hoping he would give us a little bit of a lift, I really didn’t know [what to expect],” Molitor said. “I hadn’t seen him since spring training, but the surprise is just the maturity in which he has gone about his business and his professionalism and his at-bats. I know he’s a talented kid and his bat is far beyond his years as far as what he can do and power. He is taking his walks, getting his hits, and he’s going to be a big part of our lineup going into the second half.”

After Sano hit a two-run homer in the Twins’ 7-1 victory against Detroit on Sunday heading into the All-Star break, the 22-year-old said he doesn’t view himself as being a complete hitter yet.

“I’m working hard every day,” he said. “I try to, all the time when I get to an at-bat, I try to hit the ball better and wait for my moment.”

Most everyone in the organization acknowledges that it was good for Sano to be coached by Doug Mientkiewicz and have Chad Allen as his hitting coach.

“I missed a couple of games at Chattanooga, but I tried to, you know, work on my approach and work hard and things like that,” Sano said. “I want to hit the ball to right field, to the middle, more towards right.”

Even after the great start to his Twins career, Sano said everything about his baseball career has changed quickly since coming to the big leagues.

“The pitchers throw better here, everything is different, the pitcher, the ball, the sun here, everything,” he said. “I try to hit the ball hard and then you get homers and RBI. I’m working a lot with the coaches and everything here and I’m trying to get better every day.”

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Dozier on Molitor

All-Star second baseman Brian Dozier was asked if the change to Molitor as manager has been important to the Twins.

“Well you know, obviously since I’ve been here the past three years, [former manager Ron Gardenhire] has done a heck of a job,” Dozier said. “He’s one of the guys I respect very, very much in this game and I owe a lot to him as far as giving me the chance to be a big leaguer and that kind of stuff.

“As far as different managing types or whatever, they’re very similar. One thing I love about Mollie is he’s a very, very aggressive manager. He loves preaching that to us as far as attacking the zone as pitchers, taking the extra base [as baserunners], going up there [to bat] with a plan and ready to attack and that kind of stuff. He’s very aggressive and I feel like that corresponds to how I play the game. That’s one of the reasons I like him.”

Twins setting high goals heading into post All-Star schedule

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | July 16, 2015

Now that the Twins have your attention — thanks to a surprising first half of the season — they can turn their attention to a task that three months ago would have seemed improbable: running down the first-place Royals.

“It’s like they can’t lose right now,” said Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, who himself can’t do anything wrong lately. “Looking at the their schedule after the break they have a lot of games — 31 in 31 days — that is going to take a toll on them. So that’s an opportunity right off the bat to try to catch them.”

Whoa.

A team that entered the season trying to prove it wouldn’t lose 90 games for a fifth consecutive season is now taking aim at the defending American League champions?

That’s what happens when a team wins six of seven before the All-Star break against teams considered to be playoff-worthy in Baltimore and Detroit. And that run came after the Twins split four tough games against the Royals in Kansas City. The Twins exit the break 4½ games behind the Royals in the AL Central while leading the wild-card standings by a game over Houston.

And Dozier is right. Kansas City comes out of the break with 31 games in 31 days, thanks to makeup games against the White Sox and Cardinals.

“It’s going to be a tough second half,” Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain said. “Minnesota has been playing outstanding baseball, and every time we play them I know it’s going to be tough.”

The Twins and Royals appear to be in position to break away from the rest of the division. The Tigers are nine games back, and the White Sox and Indians are 11 games out. But anything can happen, and every team is still in the wild-card race.

Keep an eye on …

Everyone seems to be nervous about Cleveland getting on a roll because its starting rotation of Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer and Cody Anderson. The offense, however, has sputtered. Look at Kluber, the defending Cy Young Award winner who has a 3.38 ERA but is 4-10.

That’s why second baseman Jason Kipnis wants his team to try a little small ball when the second half begins to jump-start the offense.

“We probably have guys who aren’t having the years they want to have and they might be pressing and pushing,” Kipnis said, “and that’s what we need to focus on, just playing for one run each inning.”

The Tigers, White Sox and Indians should start the second half with a sense of urgency, which could be an advantage.

“I think everybody on this team knows that we’re not a .500 ballclub, and we haven’t played our best baseball,” Tigers lefthander David Price said. “We need to be on to start the second half the way that we’re capable of playing. We all know that. Everybody’s going to have to do their part to make that happen.”

With the White Sox and Indians tied for last but just four games under .500, the argument can be made that the AL Central is one of the toughest divisions in baseball, top to bottom. And each team has gotten to this point while having to make adjustments on the fly.

The Twins began the season with Oswaldo Arica in left, Kennys Vargas the designated hitter, a platoon in center and Ervin Santana serving a PED suspension.

The Royals will miss All-Star Alex Gordon another month due to a groin strain and have needed Joe Blanton to make starts.

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The Indians have replaced the starting left side of their infield, taken at-bats away from Michael Bourn and are waiting for Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana to start hitting.

And the Tigers have lost their closer in Joe Nathan (elbow) for the season, cut reliever Joba Chamberlain, sent down reliever Tom Gorzelanny and have watched Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Justin Verlander spend time on the disabled list. Cabrera joins the Royals’ Gordon as invaluable players who can’t help their teams right now.

The team — or teams — that rolls with the punches the best in this division will likely reach the postseason. And an impact trade could be a difference-maker.

The Twins have proved their resiliency by shaking off a poor month of June. Shortstop Danny Santana and outfielder Aaron Hicks have shown signs of life at the plate lately. And prospect Miguel Sano has brought a presence to the DH spot.

Now nine games over .500, the Twins feel they are a factor. And not just in the wild-card race.

“It’s going to be fun,” Twins closer Glen Perkins said. “It’s been a long while — four bad years — but we like where we are at. We are going to keep pushing. We had some good momentum going into the break and hopefully we’ll have some coming out.”

First true glove can mean the world to a player

Jim Souhan | Star Tribune | July 16, 2015

Behold the baseball glove: Talisman and totem, tactile symbol and wearable nostalgia, proof of the human race’s occasional bursts of genius.

There is nothing in the world like a baseball glove, nothing so dear and perpetually near. Take it from the 12-year-old me.

As a child, I read and saved every article on sports I could find, watched every game we could pull in with the antennae on our small, boxy television, and played every sport and sports board game available.

My bedroom walls were rumors hidden behind sports posters and pennants. Ticket stubs, baseball cards and sports books obscured the floor, along with footballs, basketballs real and Nerf, and baseballs.

It sounds silly to say that all of those things were my life, but that’s the way it felt to a painfully skinny, socially awkward, sickly kid whose family moved every few years. All those primary colors and faded memories made the bedroom more museum than refuge.

Even then, if you had forced me to choose between a room filled with memorabilia, books, collectibles and other equipment, and my baseball glove, I would have taken the glove.

My first glove that didn’t feel like melted plastic was a Rawlings Brooks Robinson infielder’s model. I had to have Brooks’ name on it. Living in southern Pennsylvania and then outside Baltimore, Robinson became the ideal idol for millions of us. He was a spectacular fielder, a clutch hitter, a winner, and a nice man willing to sign unlimited autographs.

If you lived near Baltimore and didn’t have Brooks Robinson’s autograph, you had turned him down.

Later in life, Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson would tell me that the two nicest Hall of Famers he ever met were Harmon Killebrew and old Brooksie, two guys who looked like dads, acted like favorite uncles and played like gods.

I had done my homework. I took my new Rawlings, applied a thin layer of Neat’s Foot Oil, placed a baseball in the palm and wrapped it in a belt, to create the ideal shape for capturing ground balls. Over time the leather molded to my hand like a second skin, and I learned how to extract the ball faster than John Wayne could draw his six-shooter.

Hours of banking baseballs off the front stairs and the nearby tennis backstops taught me how to think of the glove as an extension of myself.

I took it anywhere there might be a baseball — the playground, my friends’ houses, Orioles games, walks through the woods. Brooksie, the glove, represented all that was good and desirable in my little-boy world.

I grew up, belatedly. Brooksie suddenly seemed small like a miniature version of its old self. When I started playing more outfield than infield, I needed a bigger glove. My father took me to the sporting goods store and the only outfield glove that fit right bore the name of Reggie Jackson, who was serving a one-year exile in Baltimore.

Even after the Neat’s Foot Oil and the belt and the ball, Reggie didn’t feel the same as Brooksie. It was a quality tool that performed its designed task, but there was no poetry in it, no perceived connection. I kept Brooksie and wore it when I could, even though the palm had worn so thin that a hard throw would bruise my hand.

The gloves had one thing in common. They were the way my father expressed affection at a time when few fathers, especially workaholic

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veterans, were willing to verbalize their feelings.

I passed both gloves on to my kids, who used them but only in the way you might use a potholder to remove a hot dish from the oven.

Now I’m 52. I haven’t played catch in years. I don’t seek or keep memorabilia. I am highly unsentimental. I dislike most forms of nostalgia. And I miss Brooksie — how that glove felt, and smelled, and what it meant.

Twins’ secret to first-half success: ‘We focus on the game we’re playing’

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 16, 2015

The upstart Minnesota Twins come out of the all-star break Friday in Oakland with the knowledge they can play with pretty much anybody in the American League.

It isn't just the fact they are 19-19 against teams that have played .500 ball or better.

It isn't just that, even while they are on pace to finish with a modest 89 wins, they own the second-best record in a league where all 15 teams have between 41 and 52 wins.

It's also the way the Twins (49-40) didn't let a 1-6 nightmare start define them or a 2-9 stretch in mid-June bury them, even as they try to move past a painful stretch of four straight seasons with 92 losses or more.

Short-term adversity has remained just that for a team that has yet to lose more than five straight games and that went 40 games, from mid-April to early June, without losing more than two games in a row.

"So far, they've been incredible that way," first-year Twins manager Paul Molitor said recently. "I think one of our assets is we haven't had a lot of days when I've felt there's been much carryover from the previous day's results. Once in a while individually, once in a while our whole team, but for the most part that hasn't happened. I think that's been a really good sign for us."

Since the first week, the Twins have gone 5-2 in games immediately following a loss of six runs or more. They are 9-2 in games following a one-run loss.

"We focus on the day that we're in and focus on the game that we're playing," said Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson, who reached the break 8-6 with a 2.85 earned-run average. "That has a lot to do with our leadership, and I think that's really going to help us as we move forward."

The Twins reached the break with their best record in seven years (53-42 in 2008). Over the past four years, they entered the second half a combined 40 games under .500.

A starting rotation that has piled up 45 quality starts, more than half of them since June 1, has kept the Twins in the vast majority of games. In the absence of Ervin Santana (80-game steroid suspension) and Ricky Nolasco (ankle injury), the Twins have enjoyed breakthrough showings from Mike Pelfrey and Tommy Milone.

An all-star closer in Glen Perkins, who has converted a club-record 28 straight save opportunities without a single failure, has made most late leads hold up, although the setup crew has been shaky of late.

The offense suffered through a miserable stretch in June, when hits with runners in scoring position came at a premium. But the promotion of 22-year-old slugger Miguel Sano on July 2 re-energized the lineup.

And with an increased emphasis on infield shifts and athleticism in the outfield, the Twins are converting better than 70 percent of balls in play into outs. That places them 18th in the majors in defensive efficiency, just behind the shift-happy Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Baseball Prospectus.

The Twins finished last and second-to-last in that category in the final two seasons before Molitor's hiring.

"I think defensively we've played probably as well as we could have hoped around the diamond," Molitor said. "Our infield has been solid. The defense has gotten better in the outfield."

Their season run differential remains a modest plus-23, eighth in the AL, but the Twins have given the front office enough positive indicators to at least investigate possible upgrades before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Then again, Molitor, who abhors the word "surprise" when asked to assess his team's first-half performance, doesn't want his clubhouse waiting around for veteran reinforcements to arrive.

A crowded AL playoff picture could come down to which teams do the best job of keeping their eyes on the prize.

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"Sometimes when you have teams that are fairly similar, there's going to be some separators," Molitor said. "It's not always going to be just ability and performance. It's going to be guys that can handle the mental challenge of enduring. You've got to find ways to be mentally strong."

After going 48-34 since that horrid opening week, the Twins seem to qualify.

"When you're talking about parity and who comes out of a group, you're talking about who's going to separate themselves and what are going to be the reasons they do," Molitor said. "It might be teams that make trades, but it also just might be the mentally strong team."

BRIEFLY

Twins right-hander Ricky Nolasco underwent surgery on his right ankle as planned on Monday in Charlotte, N.C.

Dr. Robert Anderson, co-chair of the NFL's foot and ankle committee, performed the operation, which will keep Nolasco out for an unspecified time period.

Nolasco, signed to a four-year, $49 million deal before the 2014 season, has gone 11-13 with a 5.40 earned-run average in 34 starts since joining the Twins. He last pitched on May 31, leaving the mound in the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

-- The Twins released 39-year-old reliever Scott Atchison off their Double-A Chattanooga club. Atchison, signed 10 days earlier, had posted a 1.80 ERA in four outings (five innings) after the Cleveland Indians released him in June. ... Right-hander Tim Stauffer, released in June by the Twins, has signed with the independent Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters of the Atlantic League. The Twins guaranteed Stauffer $2.2 million on a one-year deal as a free-agent signing in December, but he posted a 6.60 ERA in 13 outings while hampered by a side issue and decreased velocity. ... Chattanooga first baseman Mike Gonzales, a ninth-round pick of the Twins in 2008, also was released. Gonzales, 27, was hitting .223 in 67 games for the Lookouts.

Twins’ three areas of concern: setup relievers, catcher, shortstop

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 15, 2015

TWINS THREE AREAS OF CONCERN

SETUP RELIEVERS

Problem: A Twins bullpen that ranks 18th in the majors with a 3.71 earned-run average would see that figure spike to 4.12 (25th overall) if three-time all-star closer Glen Perkins were removed from the equation. Take out Perkins' 36 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings, and the Twins' remaining relievers have a nine-inning strikeout rate of just 5.70.

As a whole, the Twins' bullpen ranks last at 6.12 strikeouts per nine innings, more than a full strikeout per game behind the Detroit Tigers, who are 29th with a K/9 of 7.25. A whopping 21 clubs have bullpens that strike out batters at a rate of eight or better per nine innings.

Perkins aside, the Twins have used 12 relievers for a total of 234 appearances. Right-hander Blaine Boyer reached the all-star break tied for the American League lead with 42 outings.

Possible solutions: Converted starter Trevor May has looked solid through his first three relief outings. More likely, the Twins will look to acquire a veteran setup man, possibly one with closer experience, before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Early reports have linked them to right-handers Joaquin Benoit (San Diego Padres) and Steve Cishek (Miami Marlins), but there will be no shortage of bridge relievers made available in trade.

CATCHER

Problem: Since making his first all-star team and signing a two-year, $12 million extension in July 2014, Kurt Suzuki has struggled at the plate.

Over his past 418 plate appearances, dating to Aug. 1 2014, the durable veteran has slumped to a .240 batting average and .294 on-base percentage. He has grounded into 13 double plays while producing 38 extra-base hits (24 doubles, four home runs) in that span.

While Suzuki receives high marks for his game calling and staff preparation, he had thrown out just six of 39 attempted base stealers this season (15.4 percent). Charged with just two passed balls, Suzuki has seen 21 wild pitches uncorked on his watch in 2015.

Possible solutions: The Twins made contract offers to both A.J. Pierzynski and Dioner Navarro before turning to Suzuki in December 2013. They could seek to acquire either veteran as a loose platoon partner for Suzuki, even though he hits lefties no better than he hits righties. Or they could give more playing time to journeyman backup Eric Fryer, recently promoted from Triple-A Rochester.

SHORTSTOP

Problem: Switch-hitting speedster Danny Santana has struggled in the return to his natural position, although he closed the first half with a

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flourish.

The Twins have used four different players at this key position, including bat-first prospect Jorge Polanco for one game, holdover starter Eduardo Escobar (17 starts) and fellow utility man Eduardo Nunez (13 games). That group has combined to make 16 errors and ranks 29th in the majors with minus nine defensive runs saved, according to Baseball Info Solutions.

At the plate, Twins shortstops have combined for a .288 on-base percentage that ranks 11th in the AL and just 0.5 Wins Above Replacement, as measured by Fangraphs.com. That's 10th in the league.

Possible solutions: Giving Polanco a full shot at the position seems unlikely in light of his 23 errors at three levels, including the majors, but his bat may be potent enough to offset that shortcoming. Milwaukee's Jean Segura and Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki might be available in trade, but Segura has been just as erratic, and Tulowitzki, 30, is signed through 2020 at close to $20 million per season.

Twinsights: Ricky Nolasco undergoes ankle surgery

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 15, 2015

Twins right-hander Ricky Nolasco underwent surgery on his right ankle as planned on Monday in Charlotte, N.C.

Dr. Robert Anderson, co-chair of the NFL’s foot and ankle committee, performed the operation, which will keep Nolasco out for an unspecified time period.

Nolasco, signed to a four-year, $49 million deal before the 2014 season, has gone 11-13 with a 5.40 earned run average in 34 starts since joining the Twins. He last pitched on May 31, leaving the mound in the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Briefly

–The Twins released 39-year-old reliever Scott Atchison off their Double-A Chattanooga club.

Atchison, signed 10 days earlier, had posted a 1.80 ERA in four outings (five innings) after the Cleveland Indians released him in June.

–Right-hander Tim Stauffer, released in June by the Twins, has signed with the independent Sugar Land (Texas) Skeeters of the Atlantic League. The Twins guaranteed Stauffer $2.2 million on a one-year deal as a free-agent signing in December, but he posted a 6.60 ERA in 13 outings while hampered by a side issue and decreased velocity.

–Chattanooga first baseman Mike Gonzales, a ninth-round pick of the Twins in 2008, also was released. Gonzales, 27, was hitting just .223 in 67 for the Lookouts.

Twins hope to build on strong start in 2nd half

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | July 15, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins are perhaps the biggest surprise in baseball, as they entered the All-Star break with the second-best record (49-40) in the American League after winning six of seven against the Orioles and Tigers to finish the first half.

Minnesota is looking for its first postseason appearance since 2010, and manager Paul Molitor said he wants his players to get greedy in the second half and aim to build on their strong start.

"We always caution ourselves that the work has just begun in terms of some things we'd like to accomplish over the long season collectively," Molitor said, "but I think the cohesiveness of the club has been a big plus for us, and we've responded to all the challenges and adversities we've had to face."

FIVE KEY DEVELOPMENTS

1. Rotation shows marked improvement Twins starters combined to finish last in the Majors in ERA each of the past two seasons, but they have been much better this year, posting a 3.86 ERA that ranks 11th in the Majors. It's been the main reason why Minnesota is in contention this year.

2. Dozier having MVP-like season Molitor said he believes second baseman Brian Dozier should be in the conversation for the American League MVP Award, and it's hard to argue with his statement. Dozier leads the Twins with 19 homers and 50 RBIs, while also leading the AL with 48 extra-base hits and sitting

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second in runs with 67.

3. Twins begin youth movement Top prospect Byron Buxton was called up from Double-A Chattanooga in mid-June, and while he struggled, hitting .189 in 11 games before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left thumb sprain, fellow top prospect Miguel Sano came up in early July and has been a force in the middle of the lineup, hitting .378 with six extra-base hits and eight walks in 11 games.

4. Hunter delivers on and off the field Torii Hunter has provided everything the Twins could've hoped for after signing a one-year deal in the offseason, as he's undoubtedly been Minnesota's clubhouse leader and has also been solid offensively, as his 14 homers before the All-Star break are the most for him since 2010.

5. Perkins automatic The bullpen saw its share of ups and downs, but closer Glen Perkins was lights out in the first half, going 28-for-28 in save opportunities en route to being named an All-Star for the third straight year.

FIVE STORYLINES TO WATCH

1. Can the Twins keep it up? Considering Minnesota wasn't expected to contend this season after coming off four straight seasons with at least 92 losses, it's only natural to wonder if its winning ways are sustainable. The Twins have their flaws, but if their rotation keeps it up, they'll have a chance to compete for their first playoff berth since 2010.

2. Can Santana bolster the rotation? One of the more impressive things about the Twins is the fact that the rotation did so well without Ervin Santana, who was suspended 80 games for the use of a performance-enhancing drug. Santana was signed to a four-year, $55 million deal before the season, so Minnesota is counting on him to have a big second half.

3. Could the Twins be buyers at the Trade Deadline? The Twins have been sellers in recent years, but they could look to improve their roster at the Trade Deadline. Adding an arm to the bullpen is the most obvious need, but Minnesota could also look to add a bat. But the club will be careful not to sacrifice its future for a short-term rental.

4. Is the offense ready for a second-half surge? The Twins turned it on offensively in the second half last year, finishing third in runs scored after the All-Star break, and a similar outbreak would be huge for Minnesota, which ranks ninth in runs scored in the first half with 383.

5. Will Mauer return to his old form? Joe Mauer has been impressive with runners in scoring position and has 42 RBIs in 88 games, but he's hitting .271/.336/.387, which is a dropoff from his career .316/.397/.455 slash line. He picked it up heading into the break, and if he can have a strong second half, it could help jump-start the offense.

FIRST-HALF AWARDS

MVP: Dozier. He leads the Twins with 19 homers and 50 RBIs, while also leading the AL in extra-base hits with 48. Cy Young: Kyle Gibson. He has taken a major step forward this year, and he has posted a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts, which is the fourth-lowest ERA by a Twins starter entering the break since 1992. Rookie: Trevor May. He has posted a 4.16 ERA in 84 1/3 innings, and he was solid as a starting pitcher, but he moved to relief with the return of Santana. Top reliever: Perkins. He has been one of the best closers in baseball this season, and he is a perfect 28-for-28 in save opportunities.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN SECOND HALF

Mauer: While he has fared well with runners in scoring position, his overall numbers are down for a second straight season, but his bat has started to heat up. Sano: He has been a big addition to the offense as a designated hitter, and if he can keep it up, it'll be a major boost for the Twins in the middle of their lineup. Santana: He has posted a 6.00 ERA in two starts since serving an 80-game suspension for the use of a performance-enhancing drug, and he will be counted on to have a big second half.

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Twins face red-hot Gray after stellar 1st half

Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | July 12, 2015

The Twins and Athletics saw each other three times in May. After a four-day break in action for the All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile, they'll pick up play with a three-game set in Oakland.

"I think no matter if you're going into the break hot or cold, it's a good thing," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It's been five months since we've had a break, so it's been a haul."

And his team is going in hot. After losing the opener of a four-game set against the Tigers, the Twins' offense came alive, putting up seven or more runs in three straight wins to cap off the first half. They enter the second half with the second-best record (49-40) in the American League behind only Kansas City (52-34).

The Athletics, meanwhile, open the second half under .500 and in last place at the break for the first time since 2009. They won their last game before the break, 2-0, behind a two-hit shutout from ace Sonny Gray. Gray, who chose not to pitch in the All-Star Game because he pitched Sunday, instead gets the first start after the break.

Three things to know about this game

• Ervin Santana takes the ball for the Twins in his third start of the season after missing 80 games for a PED suspension. Santana, who was with the Angels for eight seasons, has pitched in 28 games -- 26 starts -- against the A's. He's 14-6 against them with a 2.12 ERA in 178 1/3 innings. He has a 2.12 ERA in 13 games at the Coliseum.

• The Athletics will start the second half of the season with a four-man rotation of Gray, Scott Kazmir, Jesse Chavez and Kendall Graveman. They have an off-day July 20 after the Twins come to town.

• Twins closer Glen Perkins, an All-Star, finished the first half of the season 28-for-28 in save opportunities and leads the American League in saves. He should have a chance to shatter his career high in saves -- 36 in 2013 -- in the second half.

Wetmore: Grading Twins infielders at the All-Star break

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | July 15, 2015

For this report card, I'm going to grade only the primary player at the position. The sample size is really small if we were to get into grading Eduardo Nunez, for example, who has started twice at third base, twice in left field, 11 times at designated hitter and 13 times at shortstop. That's not enough time to properly judge a fielder and I always consider a hitter relative to his peers at the same position. -- The grades: Catcher: Kurt Suzuki (68 starts) has made more than three-quarters of the starts behind the plate. Grade: D+ Suzuki is one of the best contact hitters on the Twins. He's also been one of the worst offensive catchers in the Majors with at least 200 plate appearances this season. Suzuki had the best season of his career in his first season with the Twins and his inexpensive one-year signing looked like a stroke of genius from the Twins front office. Then in the middle of his first All-Star campaign the Twins inked him to a two-year extension. It's my contention that no Twins hitter has suffered more this season from well-hit balls getting caught for outs than has Suzuki. And his batting average on balls put into play backs that up; Suzuki has the lowest BABIP on the team besides Chris Herrmann. That's despite the fact that Suzuki leads Twins regulars in making good contact. FanGraphs tracks whether a ball his hit softly, or hit hard, or somewhere in between. Miguel Sano leads the Twins when you combine the two hardest hit categories, "hard" and "medium." Remove Sano, because he's only been in the big leagues two weeks, and Suzuki would be leading

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the team. Almost 9 out of 10 of the balls Suzuki hits are at least medium contact (87 percent). Joe Mauer is right on Suzuki's heels when combining those categories (86.8 percent). Twins pitchers often speak highly of Suzuki as a game caller. I believe that matters. He's been one of the worst at throwing out runners this season, having nabbed just 11 of 55 runners who attempted to steal. That matters, too. The Twins could do better than Suzuki at catcher, but upgrades at the position likely are costly. It's also likely that barring an injury Suzuki will be better with the bat after the break than he's been before it. -- First base: Joe Mauer (74 starts) has been in the lineup more than 95 percent of the time when you include his starts at DH. Grade: C- For first baseman around the Majors, the expectation is offense. For the most part, Joe Mauer hasn't lived up to that expectation this season. He has 42 RBIs at the break in large part because his teammates have gotten on base in front of him and he's been remarkably efficient with runners in scoring position. With the bases empty this season, Mauer has batted .232/.264/.340, which is a really weak batting line. But put runners in scoring position in front of him, and Mauer becomes an incredible force, hitting .380/.500/.493 before the All-Star break. The name of the game is avoiding outs and Mauer is a coin-flip proposition in the most important situations. It went relatively unnoticed because we all were so busy fawning over Miguel Sano and Brian Dozier (the author pleads guilty to all charges), but Mauer got hot heading into the break. In the final 25 games before the break, Mauer hit .319/.382/.495 with four home runs and four doubles with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks in 102 plate appearances. Still, we can't ignore his first 63 games: .253/.318/.346 with two home runs in 264 plate appearances. That's worse than the batting line of all the hitters in the Majors combined, and it's especially bad considering he plays a position that demands high offensive output. Mauer's trending in the right direction lately, but the totality of his numbers before the All-Star break leave plenty to be desired from the team's highest paid player fielding a position where offensive production is more or less mandatory. -- Second base: Brian Dozier (88 starts) has had just one day off this season. Grade: A Manager Paul Molitor said that Dozier has been the team's MVP to this point of the season. It's nearly impossible to disagree with that assessment. He's fine in the field, he runs the bases well and he's got power that's nearly unheard of for a second baseman. He leads the position in home runs by a wide margin, with 19 long balls at the break. The only two other second basemen with at least 10 home runs are Stephen Drew (12) and Danny Espinosa (10). Dozier also leads second basemen in runs (67), RBIs (50) and slugging percentage (.513). He'd have more RBIs if more teammates were on base in front of him, but 12 of his homers have been of the solo variety. I've written a lot about Dozier the past few weeks, so I won't spend too much time here defending a grade that likely won't be called into question. Dozier's a really good baseball player under contract for the next three season after this one for a team-friendly four-year total of $20 million. He made his first All-Star game this year and my guess is it won't be his last. -- Third base: Trevor Plouffe (81 starts) has established himself as a top-10 third baseman. I'd even listen to arguments that contend he's a fringetop-5 guy at the position, although admittedly I'm not seeing other third baseman in the field nearly often enough to make a fair comparison. Grade: B+ Plouffe has been solid this season with the bat and he's made big improvements in the field since he was a rookie. Plouffe constantly works

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pregame on a fielding routine with third base coach Gene Glynn that seems to be working for him. He's trustworthy with the glove and he's chipping in on offense, too. Plouffe is still under team control for two more seasons and he should be a good value to the team for that whole time. With Miguel Sano surfacing at the highest level with the Twins, Plouffe's presence has had the Twins working out Sano at first base and giving him pregame looks in the outfield to create more flexibility. Interpretation: third base belongs to Plouffe. The Red Sox signed Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $95 million this offseason when the former Giants third baseman hit free agency. I said earlier this year that Plouffe is a better overall third baseman and that's looking like a classic understatement at this point. In fact, Plouffe has been a much better third baseman than Sandoval this season. The Plouffe-Sano dynamic over the next three years will be very interesting. One thing appears fairly certain at this point: if the Twins intend to keep Plouffe around beyond his team-controlled years, it'll be expensive. He's earned that. -- Shortstop: Danny Santana (58 starts) spent time in Rochester in the middle of a year that's been a big struggle for him overall. Grade: F Especially considering his tremendous rookie year in 2014, his numbers this season must be concerning to the Twins. If it wasn't for Jose Abreu last season, Santana would have been a nice American League Rookie of the Year candidate. What a difference a year makes. Santana has been one of the worst everyday players in the Majors this season, according to FanGraphs' version of Wins Above Replacement. He had a nice weekend heading into the All-Star break but his overall batting line of .225/.245/.313 doesn't belong in a Major League lineup. Perhaps more concerning is his approach, evidenced by his highly imbalanced strikeout-to-walk ratio. His walk rate (1.7 percent) is the lowest of any shortstop with at least 200 plate appearances. His strikeout rate (24.7 percent) is the second worst among that group. In 239 plate appearances this season, Santana has reached base just 57 times, and that includes five bunt hits, a weapon he should continue to use as long as he stays in the lineup. He's also made 13 errors at shortstop and while that's not the perfect metric for evaluating fielders it speaks to the point that Santana has been shaky in the field. I've been surprised the Twins have stuck with Santana as long as they have in a season in which they're trying to make a push for the playoffs. This is purely speculation and goes against what the Twins have shown so far, but I would think he'll either have to pick up it after the break or be out of a job. -- Designated hitter: Kennys Vargas (29 starts) got demoted once to Triple-A Rochester and once all the way to Double-A Chattanooga, where the big slugger currently resides. Grade: F Vargas followed a similar arc as Santana: impressive debut followed by a disappointment sophomore campaign and a concerning approach at the plate. Vargas strikes out a lot and chases a lot of pitches outside the strike zone. Vargas' batting line (.245/.277/.365) is the worst among any DH with at least 150 plate appearances by a fairly wide margin. And he doesn't provide any defensive value, so when his bat wasn't producing, the Twins sent him to the minors - twice now this season. The Twins probably were hoping Vargas would carry over his strong two-month debut and hold down the DH position at least until Sano was ready to crack the Major League lineup. Instead, Vargas' struggles have meant that Mauer and Hunter each have 11 starts at DH, and Eduardo Nunez, Eduardo Escobar and even Danny Santana have combined for 18 starts. This grade doesn't mean Vargas is cooked and has no future. It's just hard to offer a passing grade when a player can't hold onto his job. Now it seems the position is less of a concern with Sano's emergence; he might be in the lineup for good. --

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With how much production the Twins have punted in the first half from the DH spot, shortstop and, at least initially, first base, it's no wonder they rank near the bottom of the league in several important offensive categories, such as weighted on-base average and weighted runs created-plus. Still, the team collectively has scored the eighth most runs in all of baseball. And there are signs that suggest Minnesota could reasonably expect a better overall offensive output after the break. Thanks to the assistance of Baseball Reference's wonderfully helpful lineup tools, we can say the Twins' most common lineup included these six players plus an outfield of Oswaldo Arcia, Jordan Schafer and Torii Hunter. With Schafer released and Arcia tearing up the minor leagues, it's safe to say that won't be the most common lineup by the end of the season. If I had to guess right now, I'd say the most common lineup by year's end would be the defensive lineup the Twins have trotted out three times this year, according to Baseball Reference: Suzuki, Mauer, Dozier, Plouffe, Santana, Eddie Rosario (left field), Aaron Hicks (center field) and Hunter (right field). The hardest part about pegging that down is the shortstop.

Mackey: A somewhat crazy, yet realistic trade idea for the Twins

Phil Mackey | 1500espn.com | July 15, 2015

I have a somewhat crazy, but not-incredibly-insane-if-you-think-about-it trade idea for the Minnesota Twins, but first we need to set the scene for the next two weeks leading up to the July 31 deadline.

The Twins have three fairly large holes on the team right now: Catcher, set-up man and shortstop.

The Twins also have a boatload of young talent to trade, should they choose to do so.

If I'm general manager Terry Ryan, there's almost no chance I trade a key prospect - and multiple years' service time of a key prospect - for an eighth-inning rent-a-reliever. We saw how that worked out in the Capps-for-Ramos trade five years ago. If the Twins can land bullpen help without giving up a key prospect, so be it. Or maybe Trevor May fills that role.

If I'm Ryan, I likely would deal a key prospect or two if the Milwaukee Brewers wanted to put catcher Jonathan Lucroy on the market - he's 29, signed for two more years on a team-friendly deal, and is one of the best overall catchers in baseball - but there's no chance I'd include Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, J.O. Berrios or Kohl Stewart in the deal. Unfortunately for the Twins, the Brewers would probably ask for at least one of those prospects, maybe more.

What about shortstop? Danny Santana, with the exception of a strong weekend against Detroit before the All-Star break, has dropped off the planet. And neither Eduardo Escobar nor Eduardo Nunez seem suited for every-day action, especially with Nunez's defensive deficiencies.

Here's a radical-but-maybe-not-if-you-think-about-it idea:

It seems like a forgone conclusion the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to trade shortstop Jimmy Rollins sometime in the coming weeks - or, at the very least, it seems likely they'll try. Rollins, 36, is having the worst season of his career, batting just .213/.266/.338 with eight home runs and seven stolen bases.

Not only is Rollins struggling, but his future replacement - 21-year-old top prospect Corey Seager - is hitting .308/.356/.520 with 42 extra-base hits in 83 games between Double- and Triple-A. He's pounding on the door to be called up.

The Phillies are paying $1 million of Rollins' $11 million salary this season - the final year of Rollins' contract -- but if a team is willing to pick up the tab on the prorated $5 million portion remaining, it would seem landing the veteran shortstop via trade wouldn't require giving up a key prospect.

Remember, the Twins made a similar move in the second half of the 2009 season, trading for Orlando Cabrera, who helped plug a shortstop hole that was created by the dull performances of Nick Punto and Brendan Harris. Cabrera, who was 34 at the time, helped spark the Twins to an AL Central Division comeback and a Game 163 win over the Tigers.

Is it possible Rollins is simply cooked at age 36? Well, he has been pretty atrocious offensively, and his defense - according to range metrics, Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating - isn't quite what it used to be. But he still rates as a league-average (and perhaps even better than that) fielder at short, and he combined to hit .248/.321/.370 with an average of 12 home runs and 25 stolen bases between 2013 and 2014. Rollins was still a decent offensive player the last two years, and his .230 batting average on balls in play this season suggests luck hasn't been on his side (his BABIP the last three years was around .272, and his line drive rate hasn't budged).

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It's a total spit-ball scenario, but Rollins could be in line to bounce back in the second half, the Dodgers are very likely to trade him, it probably won't cost an aggressive amount to get him, and nobody has authoritatively claimed the Twins' shortstop job yet this season.

Hmmm...

Second-half lookahead: As top prospects trickle in, Twins remain in contention

Associated Press | July 15, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- After stumbling through the last four seasons, the Minnesota Twins have summoned several of their best minor leaguers this summer, some straight from Double-A.

These prized prospects have provided further reinforcement of the assumption the franchise is headed for brighter days. The funny thing about this rebuilding phase? The Twins have become contenders again.

Like, now.

"We've gotten to a point now where it's like, 'OK, this is something that we can do not only for a month or two months, but for a season,'" manager Paul Molitor said. "Let's make it fun. I haven't tried to look too far out, as far as talking to these guys about the playoffs and those kinds of things, but I hear them. I feel them. They're believing."

The Twins, at 49-40, have the second-best record in the American League.

In mid-July.

"We're getting better, and part of that is the influx of young talent we've been able to insert into our lineup from time to time," Molitor said.

Molitor has helped instill a sense of self-assurance in a team comprised largely of players influenced by his past teaching as a roving minor league instructor in the organization. His Hall of Fame status, attention to detail and fresh perspective have commanded him built-in respect in the clubhouse despite a mere 89 games as manager.

He's not the only rookie who's made an impact on this team, either.

Miguel Sano has immediately become an imposing presence in the middle of the lineup, though the sample size is a mere 11 games. Eddie Rosario has quietly become a reliable everyday player. Byron Buxton was overmatched at the plate during the 11 games he played before hurting his thumb, but his speed brought instant energy and an elite caliber center fielder.

Two other members of the 25-and-under club, Aaron Hicks and Trevor May, have contributed. Kyle Gibson, the rotation's youngest, has been the best starting pitcher.

"We've taken that word 'regression' and thrown it out the window," said Gibson, who has a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts.

Gibson even looked up the meaning of the word regression recently. One version: the progressive decline of a manifestation of disease.

"I kind of like that definition a whole lot better," Gibson said.

The state of the Twins from 2011-14 was indeed rather sickly, with a combined record better than only the Houston Astros. They carried little promise into this year.

Signing right fielder Torii Hunter for leadership, durability and home runs was an upgrade. Some of the still-under-30 players like Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe figured to make progress. The major free agent addition, though, was unavailable for the first 80 games, the consequence of Ervin Santana's performance-enhancing drug suspension. There were big holes in the bullpen and center field and a lack of clarity at shortstop. At best, this figured to be a bridge season, with a gradual return to competitiveness.

Confidence and chemistry can go a long way, though.

"I don't think it's beyond our expectations. We thought this was the team we could be," Plouffe said.

At 31-16, the Twins have the AL's best home record.

"Just the energy in the stands and everything is completely different this year," Dozier said.

The Twins are 11th out of 15 in the league in on-base-plus-slugging percentage, the truest measure of a team's offense. They're eighth in steals, with a propensity for running into outs on the base paths. They're sixth in fielding percentage. They're eighth in ERA. None of these numbers scream "postseason bound," if assessed in a vacuum.

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They're clearly among the leaders in resiliency, though. Don't forget that the Twins started 1-6 while being outscored 45-16.

"We could've folded there and allowed the first seven games to affect the next 14, and we just didn't," Gibson said.

The Twins are 4 1/2 games behind the division-leading Kansas City Royals, but they're four games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays, the closest to the second wild card spot.

Acquiring an experienced, accomplished reliever or two might be necessary. All-Stars Dozier and closer Glen Perkins will have to keep up their production. Sano must avoid the big slump. But this team isn't daunted.

"We know that we can play with just about anybody," Gibson said, "and we proved that over the last three months."

2015 MLB first half awards

Fox Sports | July 16, 2015

The 2015 season has reached the halfway point, but before we look ahead to the second half, trade deadline and playoff races, let's take one final look back at the first half.

The first half was full of great plays and exceptional performances, so let's reward those performances with some (virtual) hardware.

FOX Sports polled its MLB crew for some first-half awards and their picks, as well as their choices for runner-up (listed second) are as follows:

AL MVP: Mike Trout

Mike Trout's career continues to defy logic. The 23-year-old superstar has already been to four All-Star games and won practically every major award there is. Hitting .312 with 26 homers at the All-Star break, Trout is the unanimous first half AL MVP.

Robert Pace: Trout, Josh Donaldson

Danny Farris: Trout, Donaldson

Adrian Garro: Trout, Donaldson

Brian Bencomo: Trout, Donaldson

Lindsey Foltin: Trout, Miguel Cabrera

AL Cy Young: Dallas Keuchel

Dallas Keuchel, who started for the American League in the All-Star Game, is off to a tremendous start. The Astros have been a bit of a surprise to the entire baseball world and Keuchel is a big reason why. The left-hander is 11-4 with a 2.23 ERA and a pair of shutouts.

Pace: Chris Sale, Keuchel

Farris: Sale, Chris Archer

Garro: Keuchel, Sonny Gray

Bencomo: Keuchel, Sale

Foltin: Gray, Keuchel

AL Rookie of the Year: Carlos Correa

Carlos Correa is just 20 years old and hasn't been in the Majors for very long, but he's most certainly proved that he belongs. The young Astros shortstop is hitting .276 with seven homers and 19 RBI in just 32 games.

Pace: Devon Travis, Billy Burns

Farris: Correa, Travis

Garro: Correa, Burns

Bencomo: Correa, Burns

Foltin: Correa, Travis

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AL Reliever of the Year: Glen Perkins

Glen Perkins is having a tremendous year. The Twins closer has a 1.21 ERA and has already notched 28 saves (his career high is 36). Perkins, 32, has spent his entire 10-year career with the Twins and has been an All-Star each of the past three seasons.

Pace: Perkins, Dellin Betances

Farris: Perkins, Wade Davis

Garro: Betances, Davis

Bencomo: Perkins, Davis

Foltin: Perkins, Huston Street

AL Manager of the Year: A.J. Hinch

The Astros have been a great surprise so far this season and A.J. Hinch has played a big role in Houston's resurgence. In his first year at the helm, Hinch has led the Astros to a 49-42 mark at the break, and they are are a half-game back in the AL West. The Astros have a lot of young talent that will be exciting to watch not only in the second half, but in the upcoming years.

Pace: Ned Yost, Paul Molitor

Farris: Hinch, Joe Girardi

Garro: Hinch, Molitor

Bencomo: Hinch, Molitor

Foltin: Hinch, Kevin Cash

NL MVP: Bryce Harper

The 2015 season is shaping up to be Bryce Harper's breakout year. The Nationals' 22-year-old superstar has loads of talent, but injuries have hampered him in the past. So far this year he's hitting .339 and has already posted career-highs in homers (26) and RBI (61).

Pace: Paul Goldschmidt, Harper

Farris: Harper, Goldschmidt

Garro: Harper, Goldschmidt

Bencomo: Goldschmidt, Harper

Foltin: Harper, Goldschmidt

NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer

Throw a no-hitter and you get rewarded. The Nationals ace threw a no-hitter against the Pirates on June 20 in what was the highlight of a brilliant first half. Scherzer is 10-7 with a 2.11 ERA and has thrown seven or more innings in 14 of his 18 starts.

Pace: Scherzer, Zack Greinke

Farris: Scherzer, Gerrit Cole

Garro: Scherzer, Greinke

Bencomo: Greinke, Scherzer

Foltin: Scherzer, Greinke

NL Rookie of the Year: Joc Pederson

Everyone knows about Joc Pederson after his monstrous performance in the Home Run Derby, but those in Los Angeles knew about him long before that. The highly touted Dodgers outfielder fell into a bit of a slump before the break, but his 20 homers and 40 RBI can't be ignored.

Pace: Kris Bryant, Chris Heston

Farris: Pederson, Bryant

Garro: Pederson, Bryant

Bencomo: Pederson, Bryant

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Foltin: Pederson, Bryant

NL Reliever of the Year: Jeurys Familia

Jeurys Familia may not have won the NL Final Vote or earned a spot on the All-Star team, but his breakout first half was not forgotten among those at FOX Sports. After posting career bests in saves (5) and ERA (2.21) in 2014, Familia has shattered those numbers in just the first half of 2015. The Mets reliver has a 1.25 ERA and 27 saves at the break.

Pace: Familia, Aroldis Chapman

Farris: Mark Melancon, Familia

Garro: Familia, Chapman

Bencomo: Trevor Rosenthal, Familia

Foltin: Melancon, Familia

NL Manager of the Year: Mike Matheny

Once again Mike Matheny has done a masterful job of managing the Cardinals. St. Louis is without power-hitting first baseman Matt Adams and ace of the pitching staff Adam Wainwright; however, that hasn't slowed down Matheny's bunch, who lead the NL Central with a 56-33 record.

Pace: Mike Matheny, Joe Maddon

Farris: Maddon, Chip Hale

Garro: Maddon, Clint Hurdle

Bencomo: Matheny, Hale

Foltin: Matheny, Maddon