The second half of the baseball season is off and running and lots of cities and teams have reason to be optimistic.

I'm thrilled for the folks in Pittsburgh. It's a great city with devoted fans who have been waiting for ages for something to cheer. Now, after years of futility, the club is in the hunt. I have no idea if they'll make the playoffs. I do know that the team is moving in the right direction. Good young players and the right manager have formed a combination that keeps the team in games. I'm still very bullish about Jeff Karstens, just as I was when the Pirates picked him up. He and Kevin Correia have provided solid work out of the rotation. And where would the team be without Joel Hanrahan out of the pen. It's one thing to score runs, but it's quite another to stop the other team from scoring. I do think the Pirates can hang around. The division is exciting, fun to watch and now even more competitive. The Pirates success makes Houston's failure look even more pronounced.

I had a chance to talk at length with Dodgers writers and I sat in on the sessions with manager Don Mattingly last weekend. It was evident that RF Andre Ethier was totally demoralized during the entire Diamondbacks series. Mattingly confirmed that Ethier is "very frustrated." The entire club looked like they were playing in slow motion. Much has to do with the financial earthquake that keeps hitting the team. Once things settle a bit, another tremor shakes the very foundation. It's a sad situation. Bankruptcy is robbing the club of moving forward. They could be stuck in neutral until way after December's winter meetings.

Hiroki Kuroda is a free agent. He wants to stay on the west coast. He wants to be a Dodger. Can they afford to sign him after the season? Probably not.

I certainly wasn't impressed with many Dodgers, but believe me, Clayton Kershaw is one outstanding pitcher. He is now a pitcher. When I first saw him in the minor leagues he was more a thrower trying to find his way. The mechanics are now smooth. He can throw several 95 and 96 fastballs and then, bam! In comes an 84 MPH slider that buckles the knees. Unfair.

Matt Kemp still turns it on and off. At times he's electric. At times he looks like a toy that is running on low batteries. I'm just sayin.

If you don't know about Jay Guerra yet, you will. As a closer, he has outstanding command of his fastball. I like him a great deal and I think he has a future at the end of ball games for someone. I trust him much more than I trust Jonathan Broxton. I also like the huge righty, Kenley Jansen. I'll like him more when he throws more strikes. Too wild for my tastes now, but coming.

David Huff pitched a gem for the Indians today in the first game of a twin bill vs. the Twins. I believe Huff is the first lefty starter for the Tribe all year. That's not good. Huff may be available in your league, but be careful. I've seen the movie before. He can be awesome, fall in love with his change-up and get drilled because he's trying to be cute. Let's see him do it again. And then again.

Big Papi sits out for 3 games starting today vs. Baltimore. It will hurt my AL only team where he's my very productive DH. Kevin Gregg also sits out for 3, reduced from 4.

The Rays have to get Evan Longoria going or they have no chance. If his foot acts up again, it could be misery for him and Tampa.

Did I ever share my admiration and respect for Jim Thome with you? Well, I absolutely admire and respect the heck out of Jim Thome. I know the day is coming when we won't be seeing him play. If you live near a park where Thome is playing, give yourself a treat and watch batting practice. He's not too shabby in the games, either.

I'm not sure the Braves have enough pitching if they trade Derek Lowe to Detroit or anywhere else. Yes, they have some great arms in the system, but Lowe is a solid starter that eats innings. Who would Detroit give up to get him? I'm just askin.'

My Managers Of The Year to date are Manny Acta and Clint Hurdle.
My Comeback Players Of The Year to date are Alex Gordon and Lance Berkman/ Ryan Vogelsong/Matt Kemp (tied)
My MVP's are Curtis Granderson/Adrian Gonzalez (tied) and Prince Fielder/Lance Berkman (tied)
My Cy Young winners are Justin Verlander/Jared Weaver (tied) and Roy Halladay
My Rookies of The Year are Michael Pineda and Eric Hosmer

Of course there are guys I left out. Joey Votto, C.C., Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, etc. etc. etc. But those guys and the guys that are tied all have half a season to pull away. Plenty of time left.

The White Sox are going to really heat up in the second half. I can just feel it. All those guys like Dunn, Rios, Beckham, and on and on can't all tank the entire year, can they? I don't think so.

The Tigers need another bat and two more arms.

The Indians need three starting pitchers, and 3 bats.

The Twins? The Royals. Not this year.

Who pitches for the Yankees if the recent struggles of Bartolo Colon and Fred Garcia continue? Do they go to the minor leagues and promote Manny Bianuelos, etc? How about.....I can't believe my fingers will hit these keys but, how about Mark Prior?
Yikes! They have to make a trade, don't they? Shouldn't they be the team going after Derek Lowe? Brett Myers? At least one of the Mariners starters? Give up Jesus Montero for a pitcher, please! To a team in the American League. Please.

How's this for bad luck. Rays C Jose Lobaton gets to start one game and he gets hurt.

Speaking of Jose, Joey Bats should come back tomorrow, Tuesday July 19th. I hope so. I just traded for him. I need you Jose Bautista. Your team needs you.

By the way, there is concern in Cleveland that this latest knee injury to Grady Sizemore may keep him out for the rest of the season. That's how serious it is.

Hope you'll give my analysis of the Futures Game pitchers a read this week on RotoWire. It's my pros[ect article for the week. You can also catch me on MLB.com this coming Wednesday where I'll discuss underrated pitchers. As always, your comments are more than welcome.

follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and on MLB.com in their contributors/opinion section.

Yes, you're the best readers in the world and I appreciate you. Have a great week.