The Boston Red Sox

Once again, the Boston Red Sox find themselves heading toward the playoffs with the potential for more post-season glory.  The season started off rough, the team plagued with illness and injury, and after a long rough spell the team has made its way back to the top of the American League East once more, narrowly beating out Tampa Bay before the All-Star break.  What's more, they've done well without one of the pillars of the team, leading fans to hope a return to full strength will result in another dominant Boston second half.

At the end of May, the Boston faithful were horrified to hear that the legendary "Big Papi" David Ortiz would be sidelined with a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.  Any injury can spell trouble for a power player, but a wrist injury for a hitter can be devastating.  However, Papi made it clear to fans that he would be back and back strong - in his first rehab game for Pawtucket on July 17th, he responded to the crowd's cheers by belting a home run into the visitors' bullpen.  Ortiz is scheduled to play a week's worth of rehab games in the minors - his first visit to the Boston farm system - before returning to the Red Sox.

The team's success has largely been in part to some excellent pitching this year.  Josh Beckett has been on his game most of the season, but the story of the year has been Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has racked up an impressive nine wins in twelve starts.  The rotation has had to take up the slack caused by the departure of veteran Curt Shilling for shoulder surgery, who may have thrown the last pitch of his career.  Despite the loss, the team has soldiered on and finds itself in a good position heading into the second half.