Whew, this team is horrible. But they should be intriguing for trade deadline purposes, especially with Frankie Montas potentially available.

(Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Can’t wait to see the market that develops for Juan Soto.

It’s hard to watch this team, although they ended the first half with some intriguing late-inning wins. Another squad who should be selling off anything that isn’t nailed down.

There are positive signs here for the future. Ian Happ is an All-Star. Patrick Wisdom is hitting homers. Nico Hoerner is batting .307.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A 36-56 record isn’t good. But what did you expect? Bobby Witt Jr. is living up to the hype, and maybe they sell high at the deadline with a few players to continue the rebuild.

My goodness, Oneil Cruz!

97.8 MPH 😱

Oneil Cruz has a CANNON! It's the fastest throw recorded by an INF in the Statcast era. pic.twitter.com/NdIukHQxNW

— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2022

But also: There are some other young kids who look like the kind of core you want going forward.

Did you know that not a single player on this team has hit double-digit home runs?

THIS TEAM HAS SHOHEI OHTANI AND MIKE TROUT COME OOOOOON.

But at least the team’s underachievement has led to this fantastic evergreen tweet:

every time I see an Angels highlight it's like "Mike Trout hit three homes runs and raised his average to .528 while Shohei Ohtani did something that hasn't been done since 'Tungsten Arm' O'Doyle of the 1921 Akron Groomsmen, as the Tigers defeated the Angels 8-3"

— ℳatt (@matttomic) May 18, 2021

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: They hit lots of home runs but their pitching is iffy.

(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Nominating this team with its underrated lineup and All-Star Martin Perez as a surprise ace as a possible Wild Card contender if they get hot in the second half. For now, they’re here.

Kind of a fun bunch that feels, on paper, like it should have a better record — four starters have sub-4.00 ERAs, Christian Walker has hit 22 dingers with a .204 average, and so on.

But it feels more like they’ll sell at the deadline and that’s the right move.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. might be my favorite exciting young player and Sandy Alcantara might win a Cy Young. The future is SO BRIGHT. The present is … not as bright.

Sandy Alcántara, Disgusting 93mph Changeup. 🤮

9th K thru 6. pic.twitter.com/9Dz8LnI8ft

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 16, 2022

It’s all kind of coming together in Baltimore … FINALLY. And they haven’t even called up Grayson Rodriguez or Gunnar Henderson yet.

A .500 record for a team that should be better. Sigh. Here’s a clip of another bizarre intentional walk.

Tony La Russa and the White Sox intentionally walk Jose Ramirez on an 0-1 count after fouling off the first pitch. pic.twitter.com/elXdIKvsaI

— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) July 12, 2022

They’re two games above .500 .. and they’re two back of the Central leading Twins. That division stinks!

Beyond Joc Pederson and Wilmer Flores,  the bats haven’t been great. But they’re above .500 thanks to Logan Webb and Carlos Rodon, plus a strong bullpen. A team I think could surge in the second half.

(Mark Taylor/The Canadian Press via AP)

What gives here? I know they just fired manager Charlie Montoyo, but it’s all there for this team to be even better in the second half. Let’s see it happen.

Another team with mostly right pieces in place who fired its manager. But they’re a little all over the place at the moment.

They’re just doing that Cardinals thing where they’re going to keep surprising us, but we shouldn’t be surprised at all. Look out in the postseason, assuming they make it … although the All-Star break couldn’t have come fast enough for them.

How much are we buying the win streak? Julio Rodriguez is the real deal superstar we thought he’d be. Ty France is finally breaking out. Robbie Ray has rebounded from a slow start. Logan Gilbert appears to be for real. Yet … I’m cautious, as you can see.

Another day, another dub 😎 pic.twitter.com/LJDSnivPSw

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 17, 2022

I guess this ranking is an indication that I’m a smidge worried about the rotation. OK, more than a smidge.

Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

A delightful mishmash of talent that’s making it work and then some. Byron Buxton finally living up to the hype is the best.

Can we take a second and applaud how this franchise keeps contending, somehow? I’m continually in awe.

Hey, they’re leading the NL Central!

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Uh, when is Fernando Tatis Jr. coming back?

Uh, when is Jacob deGrom coming back?

Seriously, though: Maybe they should be higher but the next team on this list is right there.

The defending champs look the part and then some.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

It’s business as usual with an All-Star packed lineup and a rotation that’s been unreal despite Walker Buehler getting hurt.

Really hard to find a flaw with this team right now.

4 HR & 10 RBI between Aaron Judge and Matt Carpenter tonight 👏

The Yankees sluggers spoke with @Ken_Rosenthal after New York's blowout victory: pic.twitter.com/55RC7cOlX3

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 17, 2022

As long as the bullpen keeps this up and the lineup doesn’t have a power outage in the postseason, things are looking really good in the Bronx.