With the All-Star break fast approaching, it's hard to believe the 2007 season is already almost halfway over. Further, who would have predicted that the Milwaukee Brewers would be on top of the NL Central by seven games.

We all knew Prince Fielder was good, but we didn't think he'd be leading the NL in home runs and RBIs. As well, who would have predicted that Francisco Cordero would lead the majors in saves.

So are the Brewers for real? As a Cubs fan, I'd like to think the answer is "no," but the truth is, the Brewers are playing their best baseball in years. Their offense is red hot; J.J. Hardy is right behind Fielder in NL home runs. The starting rotation has been solid, getting the job done when they need to. That being said, the Brewers are not infallible. They were just recently able to crawl out a slump that saw them lose six games in a row and loosen their strangle hold they had on the rest of the Central Division.

So what other teams can give the Brewers a run in the second half of the season. Really, with the exception of the Pirates, just about any of them. The Cubs spent millions in the off-season to recreate their team, and their offense looks devastating on paper. So far they haven't lived up to expectations, but if the offense starts to click and the bullpen keeps the runs down, the Cubs can make a real push for the division.

As well, the Cardinals, Astros, and Reds should not be counted out. Only two games separates the second-place Cubs from the fifth-place Astros. I would never bet against Pujlos, Griffey Jr. and Dunn, or Carlos Lee.

Pitching will likely be the key. The team whose staff stays healthiest and bullpen stays strongest will emerge in the second half. The Brewers control their own destiny at this point, but soon the Central will be pitching around Fielder and Hardy, and the Brew-crew will need to find other ways to win.

Learn more about this author, Sean Curtis.
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