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Ankiel: Reformed character

A few years ago, Rick Ankiel was nearly driven out of baseball due to his pitching. If anything, he reflected Charlie Sheen's "Wild Thing" character in the hit movie Major League for one reason: he was wild.

But Ankiel transformed himself, miring himself in the minors as a hitter. And boy, could he hit. And in his first full season back in the majors, Ankiel's been one of the best stories of the 2008 baseball season so far, hitting a freakish 19 home runs - one ahead of Cardinals God Albert Pujols, as well as batting a rather tasty .266.

TEAM OF THE FIRST HALF

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have had an astonishing start to the season. At the time of writing, the Rays were leading the highly-competitive American League East by two games, and have the best record in all of baseball.

It's been helped by the little things - clutch hitting, good defence, and great pitching (third best in baseball). They also have speed on the bases, with 100 stolen bases to their name already.

The big boys of the division - Boston and New York - had better be afraid.

THE "COULD IT HAPPEN THIS YEAR?" AWARD

Chicago Cubs

For years the Cubs have promised much and delivered absolutely nothing. But this year, things look a little different. Both sides of the Cubs coin has been brilliant so far this year, shown by a 'run difference' (baseball's equivalent of goal difference) of 109 - 15 ahead of the next best team.

And with key pitcher Carlos Zambrano making his return soon, things can only get better.

THE "COULD IT GET ANY WORSE?" AWARD

The New York Yankees and Mets

Before the season started, there was a school of thought going round that the Yankees and Mets could be replaying their 2000 Subway World Series again eight years later.

Both sides have suffered from injuries and dreadful hitting. The Mets are only 1½ games back in their division - albeit in third place - and the term 'third-placed' Yankees isn't sitting well with their counterparts in the American League either.

If both teams don't buck their ideas up, the last games at both Yankee and Shea Stadium could be the ones in September - not October.

THE "NOW I'M CLEAN I'VE SHOWN I CAN PLAY BALL" AWARD

Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers)

After well-documented troubles with drugs and alcohol during his short career, Hamilton has had an explosive first half to the 2008 season.

Batting .308 with 19 home runs and 87 runs batted in, Hamilton - almost by himself - has taken the Rangers back to respectability. If only the Rangers could get some pitching...

THE "BROKEN RECORD" AWARD

Francisco Rodriguez (Los Angeles Angels)

'K-Rod', as he's known in Los Angeles, has been a sensation for the Angels this season. And now, he's got a record in his sights - the all-time record for single saves.

It's not even the All-Star break, and Rodriguez already has 35 saves to his name. Last year he had 40 in total. If he gets to 58 - and it looks as though he will because the Angels don't have the offensive credentials to blow teams away like they used to - he will have broken Bobby Thigpen's all-time record.