MLB's Second Half Storylines

After last nights National League blowout of the American League in the All Star Game (8-0, Go Senior Circuit!), it is time to look ahead at the second half of the season.  What are the major storylines as we approach fall baseball?  Let's start with the victors, the National League, and then head over to the land of the DH.

NL

- Can the upstart teams currently on top of their divisions stay in the race until the end?  I have some personal feeligns about this, since my Nats are currently the best team in the NL.  Along with my Nationals, the Pirates and the oft-injured Dodgers are still holding on to their division leads.  Could these three team stay on top all the way to October?

- When will the selling begin?  San Diego, Chicago, Houston, Colorado and even Philadelphia could become sellers very fast.  Could Cole Hamels be on the move?  Could the Brewers send Zack Grienke elsewhere?  How will the selling change the races for the playoffs?

- The last weekend.  I hope the Nationals have clinched the NL East and don't have to worry about the Wild Card at the end of the season, but I still want to see who is in the running.  The Mets, Braves, Giants, Reds, and Cardinals are all in the race now.  Who can claw their way back in?

- Will the Nats really shut down Strasburg?  I can't believe they will.  I mean.. come on!

- The NL Cy Young race should be a lot of fun.  Will RA Dickey continue his dominance?  Can Matt Cain turn perfection into a Cy Young?  Will the Nats' duo of Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg keep putting up insane numbers?  Will Clayton Kershaw carry to Dodgers to October?

- Can anyone beat Andrew McCutchen for MVP?


AL

- Can anyone stop the Yankees or Rangers?  It is their world, and the rest of the AL seem to just be living in it.  They are also the rumored favorites for Cole Hamels.

- Is there anything Mike Trout can't do?  We will get to see one half of the new phenom dynamic duo (along with Bryce Harper), and see if he can not only keep up his solid Rookie of the Year campaign, but his MVP chances also.

- Can Justin Verlander concentrate on baseball while dating Kate Upton?

- Can Baltimore remain in a tightening Wild Card race?  Baseball in the DMV is alive and well, and if the O's are able to add an arm like Grienke to boost their pitching staff they could stay in the hunt for their first winning season and playoff birth since Bill Clinton was president.

- Can the Red Soxs turn it around, or will they continue being baseball's punchline this year?

- Will the addition of Kevin Youkilis make the White Sox the favorite heading into the playoffs?


These are just some of the stories we'll watch as the season moves on.