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With nary a dramatic pennant race in sight, baseball fans have to find some way to kill time until the postseason. Buster Olney mused about Prince Fielder landing with the Red Sox in Monday's blog, but after some time to think about it, he came up with another potential fit for Fielder before his chat with SportsNation.

Liam (Pleasanton, California)

Do you think Cain straight up would be enough for Fielder?

Buster Olney

Liam: To repeat, this all pure speculation, and based on nothing other than seeing how parts might fit. My guess is that the Giants would have to kick in a little something extra into a Fielder/Cain deal. What makes the Cain/Fielder think intriguing is that Cain has an unbelievably affordable contract for 2010 and a great and affordable option for 2011 -- over the next two years, he is signed to earn a total of $10 million. Fielder, alone, will make $10 million next year, and could make $15-18 million in arbitration in 2011. The Giants would get the slugger they need for their lineup, a perfect guy for their franchise, and the Brewers would get an elite pitcher with a great contract; Cain and Gallardo could be the backbone of a strong rotation. And the Brewers could try Gamel at first base. Again, to repeat: ALL SPECULATION.

Rich (NYC)

Wait- why would the Giants have to kick in something extra if Cain is so much more affordable?

Buster Olney

Rich: I ran this by a couple of talent evaluators today about all this, and they agreed with my thought that Fielder might have a touch more value as a player than Cain. Again, we're not talking about a huge difference, where the Brewers would demand Buster Posey or something like that. Full transcript

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd avoided weekend upsets and maintained their places in the rankings, so they'll be back for more "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPNEWS at 4 p.m. and ESPN2 at midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

If drinking your own urine was beneficial, would you do it?
Boxer Juan Manuel Marquez drinks his own urine ahead of matches. The WBO's 122-pound champ says it's a good source of vitamins.

Do on-field brawls help or hurt lesser-know leagues?
A fight between the Brampton Excelsiors and the New Westminster Salmonbellies resulted in 173 penalty minutes and five ejections.

Are MLBers too concerned with respect?
Torii Hunter said the Angels would have thrown at Prince Fielder, who untucked his shirt as he as he trotted the bases after a game-winning HR on Sunday.

Did the Redskins gain an advantage over the Giants?
Washington signed former New York backup QB Andre Woodson to its practice squad on Sunday, just a week before the two teams meet.

Will the Bengals win at least 12 games this season?
The experts on ESPN.com tab Cincinnati at third in the division and say anything better completely depends on a healthy Carson Palmer.

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Vote: How do you see the baseball landscape?

There is, of course, baseball being played outside the Bronx this weekend. For instance, the Pawtucket Red Sox square off against the Norfolk Tides, and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees -- fresh off taking three of four from Pawtucket -- face the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. And people say there are no good nicknames anymore.

Sorry, we got a little caught up in the Sox-Yankees quagmire for a second. What we meant is that there are plenty of perfectly compelling MLB series taking place this weekend without the participation of either Terry Francona or Joe Girardi. Not surprisingly, exactly which of those series matters most depends on where you live, but the Rangers and Angels hold a slight edge on the rest of the field nationwide.

Almost a month ago, SportsNation tabbed the Rangers as the second-best bet to overtake a division leader, behind only those inescapable Yankees. And just this week, the team from Texas ranked No. 7 overall in SportsNation's MLB Power Rankings. But at 4.5 games behind the Angels in the AL West, a bad weekend in Anaheim would be costly.

• Tigers still lead Central but SportsNation picking White Sox to win in the end.
• 67 percent say a healthy Jake Peavy would give White Sox pitching edge on Tigers.
• Another shoe to drop? Half of SportsNation expects a major August waiver deal.
• Beyond the Nation: Detroit Free Press' Michael Rosenberg on the AL Central race.
• Groups: Texas Rangers | Tiger Den | THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS GROUP

“

No one else I'd rather have start off the series than old Feldy. Going to be a lot of frustration coming from the Angels' bats tonight as about half of them will end up in two pieces on the field.

” -- ohcomeon21

“

I'm not one to predict wins and such, but I have an eerily good feeling about this series for the Angels. Though it could just be my homer-ness talking.

” -- slyintine

“

The Twins and White Sox didn't help their cause yesterday, while we ripped off a win. Hopefully we can keep this roll going against Minny this weekend, the top of the pitching order rolls over again tomorrow too. Nice!

” -- KaneBowman

If the American public had the kind of faith in the auto industry's brands that SportsNation has in the St. Louis Cardinals, well, maybe Hyundai wouldn't be reporting record profits. Come hell, high water or Miguel Tejada, voters refuse to doubt the power of Pujols.

A little more than a week ago, the Cardinals were 49-42, held a 2½-game lead on their closest competition in the NL Central and were the pick of 60 percent of SportsNation to win the division. Fast-forward to the present, and they've gone just 2-4 in the interim, including a sweep at the hands of Tejada and the Astros, and watched three teams close to within two games of the lead. And now 65 percent of voters are picking them to win. If they get swept again, this thing might be unanimous.

Looking at each of the four top contenders, SportsNation blogger pacersfanatic33 admits he's among those who underestimated the Cardinals' pitching entering the season and suggests acquiring shortstop Julio Lugo from the Red Sox isn't necessarily a minor trade.

If only the Pirates were so lucky. The Bucs actually won Wednesday -- in dramatic fashion, no less -- but the bigger news of the day came when the team traded yet another regular player, Adam LaRoche, for seemingly marginal return. Next up? Probably Jack Wilson and even Freddy Sanchez. It's not exactly a crushing condemnation, but SportsNation isn't buying that the team has a plan. The verdict is that the franchise is bad for baseball.

• Will the Cardinals lose the lead for even a day? Vote on the NL Central.
• Thursday's chat: Steve Phillips at 3:30 p.m. ET
• Groups: St. Louis Cardinals Nation. | Redbirds Nest | Houston Astros Baseball

“

Wow...what a game [between the Cardinals and Astros], and what a division. This is going to be really fun down the stretch.

” -- TyHoward24

“

Wow, the Astros are only a game back in the NL Central... Oh, what a division!

” -- pride4jc1222

“

[Ryan] Franklin has had an outstanding year. This one game doesn't change that. I blame our offense for this sweep.

” -- Cards Fan90

We're poised on the precipice of the second half, caught between the cold reality of the first half of the season and the limitless potential of the second half. We're ... bored. Seriously, the Triple-A All-Star Game is all we get today? Couldn't the Nationals and Pirates play at least? It's not like their rosters are exactly swamped with All-Star Game obligations.

A practice round from the British Open? A midweek NASCAR race? Give us something.

It's the slowest day in sports, but that does give us the chance to look back and look ahead. We've been surveying SportsNation for the best each team had to offer before the break. Some of these votes are closer than the Minnesota Senate race, but the leaders as of Wednesday morning are as follows:

National League Team MVP
Dodgers: Andre Ethier
Phillies: Raul Ibanez
Giants: Tim Lincecum
Cardinals: Yadier Molina (non-Pujols)
Rockies: Brad Hawpe
Brewers: Prince Fielder
Marlins: Hanley Ramirez
Astros: Miguel Tejada
Cubs: Derrek Lee
Braves: Brian McCann
Reds: Brandon Phillips
Mets: David Wright
Pirates: Freddy Sanchez
Diamondbacks: Dan Haren
Padres: Adrian Gonzalez
Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman

• Who will lead the NL in home runs, batting average, wins, steals and RBIs?
• 83 percent: Dodgers will win the NL West.
• 61 percent: Cardinals will win the NL Central.
• 71 percent: Phillies will win the NL East.
• Midseason reviews: NL West | NL Central | NL East | NL Cy Young

SportsNation is clear on two things when it comes to tonight's All-Star Game in St. Louis. First, the American League is going to win. And second, a good chunk of the 'Nation isn't happy about it.

Just like political elections (only with much younger combatants, except in the cases of Jamie Moyer and Tim Wakefield), the All-Star Game brings out the regional divisisions in all of us. From sea to shining sea, there are distinct bands of support for the American League and National League. And just like the elections, there are some familiar swing states.

Florida: With both the Marlins and Rays, the state is up for grabs. But barring a recount, the AL holds a 53-47 edge, perhaps thanks to AL East retirees.

California: The A's and Angels never stood a chance against the longstanding order of the Dodgers, Giants and Padres (sound familiar in the Golden State?). The National League holds a commanding 65-35 lead for the hearts and minds of Californians.

Ohio: What should be a battlegrouind between the Reds in the south and the Indians in the north is surprisingly one-sided, 62-38, in favor the American League.

Wisconsin: It hasn't taken Wisconsin long to adapt to life in the National League. In fact, at 82 percent support, it's the NL's biggest stronghold in the country.

Next week in chat: James Carville and Mary Matalin on the wild-card races! (not really).

• Have you switched league alleigances in your life? Vote on All-Star Game issues.
• Voters don't think the All-Star Game should decide home-field advantage.
• 'Nation agrees with Roy Halladay over Zack Greinke for American League.
• Chat: Ask Joe Morgan about the National League's golden years at 1 p.m. ET.

“

Thanks Bud Selig for making baseball to make no sense whatsover compared to other sports. If you win 105 games in the regular season , then your team should be rewarded for having home field advantage in the World Series. What a Joke!!!! You did a good job in dividing up the leagues and having a wild card, but you can change this crap.

” -- bondsbay

“

I'm glad that Maddon decided against Greinke, considering Greinke has about as good of a chance at mattering in the postseason as I do. Halladay is going to win Home Field for the American League, then get traded to the Phils . . .clutch

” -- nslynch713

Fix some instant coffee and toss a Toaster Strudel in the pop-up toaster (don't worry if you cut yourself slicing open the packet; there's penicillin for that). Feel ecologically guilty for spraying aerosol deodorizer to cover the smell when you burn the breakfast and remember to get some change to feed the parking meter.

Just another morning of things you wouldn't have been able to do the last time the Cubs and the guy to the right, Mordecai Brown, won a World Series in 1908.

As suggested earlier, SportsNation was pretty optimistic about the Cubs back in early April. In addition to a top-five ranking after the first week of play, voters said they had the National League's best starting rotation, headlined by Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ted Lilly.

By the end of May, the bandwagon was moving like rush-hour traffic on Michigan Ave., but at least 47 percent still thought the Cubs were playoff material. A month later, with Milton Bradley melting down again, things hadn't improved.

• Doom and gloom aside, some optimism for Cubs and Brewers.
• SportsNation's advice to Pirates fans: Abandon all hope.
• Who is the Cardinals' second-most valuable player? Vote on the NL Central.
• More midseason reviews: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL West | NL East
• Groups: Cincinnati Reds Fans | ASTROS FOREVER | Chicago Cubs haters

“

i am getting really sick of this management, it's time to be bold. we always save all that money up for when it's time to make a push, and that time is now. with bruce out, we need an outfielder. and i want matt holliday. we need that bat in the order. we also need scott rolen, and we need to dump some salary to make room. i like hanigan over ramon, and hairston over a-gon, so i suggest we trade them. we could also dump a big salary like arroyo because bailey is beginning to dominate.

” -- cincy115

“

Only problem I have about Cubs fans, is them saying the season is over if they lose 2 games in a row and then when they win all of a sudden they are the best again. But that's just passion.

” -- cards fan90

“

lets hope this brings in some momentum and the bees make a second half run like they always do. seems like the pitching is coming around. just need the bats to be more consistent.

” -- yodawar0505

“

Gallardo has fought bouts of wildness this year. Overall his numbers are still pretty good and he's still a very good pitcher. Keep in mind he's only in his second full year in the Majors. He kinda has the weight of the world on his shoulders with expectations this year after losing Sheets and Sabbathia. Not to mention he plays for a team who never scores him any runs for him so he's probably trying to be too perfect because he has such little room for error with the lineup hitting behind him.

” -- brewerfan54

“

I would walk pujols everytime unless we were up by 2 with no one on base cause there lineup is not good at all. Every now and then ludwick will have a good game. Its a real credit to larussa the position there in considering there lineup.

” -- Jaronj86

• Rank all 30 teams at midseason.

As the saying goes, the more things change, the more the Cubs struggle to find .500. At least, that's how we learned it. And by "we," we mean anyone born since 1909.

With the baseball season pausing for its official midpoint at the All-Star Game and its less official one in the firing of the Nationals manager, consider how SportsNation sized up the field after the first week of the season.

1. Florida Marlins
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Toronto Blue Jays

At least the Nationals were properly slotted at No. 30. Congrats on getting that gig, Jim Riggleman. Now the Cubs, Marlins and Braves are fighting for wild-card relevancy, hoping a division leader stumbles, and the Blue Jays are listening to offers for Roy Halladay.

• A Mariners fan, blogger Dawgman0387 gets a little excited about the team's winning record at the break and starts throwing out terms like "World Series run." But hey, with a top three like Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn, maybe he's on to something.
• Things aren't quite as rosy for the Reds. SportsNation blogger xubugg pleads for more "patients" at the plate. We're guessing that's supposed to be "patience," but when it comes to Dusty Baker's lineup experiments, you never know.
• We're all a little worse off having an All-Star Game without "Kung Fu Panda," but a Giants blogger upset that the so-nicknamed Pablo Sandoval won't be in St. Louis takes out his frutrations on the frauds that he feels are the Philadelphia Phillies.

“

Love the Mariners, Wakamatsu, Fedex, Ichiro, Branyan, Griffey Jr., Aardsma, Branyan, "Gutierez", and everyone who has helped turn this year's team into an entertaining winning club.

” -- J.Bertelli

“

[Jim Tracy] took the Rockies from double-digit games under .500 to Wild Card contenders. Not to mention the fact that the Rockies have the best record in baseball over the span that Tracy has been manager. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, expected the Rockies to be in the position they are now. Thus, Tracy definitely deserves to be National League Manager Of The Year, so far, and it's not really that close.

” -- JTRMS45

• Rank the NL Cy Young contenders, now featuring genuine Rockies!

We salute NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for summiting Mount Rainier, although running a league that includes the Bengals does give him at least a little experience with things that tend to erupt and leave a swath of destruction in their wake. But as the MLB All-Star Game approaches, Goodell's trip takes second place to the high-altitude exploits of Rockies pitcher Jason Marquis.

Passing the still-frozen bodies of Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle (proverbially speaking, of course) on his way to the summit, Marquis is a legitimate Cy Young contender with 11 wins. We get that the humidor makes Coors Field slightly less ominous than the setting for the next "Saw" for pitchers these days, but there's still not exactly a line forming to go face batters a mile above sea level.

• Continuing the self-proclaimed third annual "Half-way Awards," blogger whitstatman hands out hardware in the NL, where a familiar (baby) face loses out to a teammate in the Cy Young race and the Mets ... stink.
• SN midseason awards: Rank AL MVP contenders | Rank AL Cy Young contenders
• Groups: ROCKIES ROCK!! | The Arizona Diamondbacks | National league

“

Vazquez is, and has been, an over-rated bum his whole career. Can't win with run support, can't win without it. There's a reason why his career numbers hover around .500, and its nothing to do with the rest of any team he's been on.

” -- JeffSigmaChi

“

Start Tim Lincecum for the NL. The man is a serious freak of nature and an amazing picture. Just ask the last 3 teams he has pitched against.

” -- jaws2355

• Rank every team in MLB and, while you're at it, the Washington Nationals.

The Brewers have been solidly ensconced in the top 10 of SportsNation's Power Rankings for seven of the last eight weeks, but just imagine how the team would be doing if Ryan Braun were in charge.

Fed up with three losses in four games at Wrigley, Braun panned the team's pitching and called on general manager Doug Melvin to make changes. Although this wasn't addressed, we hear he's also not pleased with the bratwurst's recent performances in the sausage races at Miller Park.

• Fan groups: Milwaukee Brewers | Chicago Cubs haters | St. Louis Cardinals Nation.

“

I listened to his interview when they were playing the Mets. He sounded really intelligent surprisingly. It's interesting that he backtracked with his "I know Melvin is trying to make the team better" comment. What is this all about then? I think a 2 year old realizes that the Brewers need pitching. There is no CC or Sheets anchoring your rotation. Luckily, Gallardo is a top pitcher in the game and there a few veterans behind him in Looper/Suppan. He can't be callling them out - they are who they are and Gallardo has been awesome. This must be directed at Manny Parra

” -- migarvin21

“

Braun should have been saying this before the season. Honestly, I'm surprised the brewers have even come this far with that pitching staff. It's like one decent ace and four number 5 pitchers. When Jeff Suppan is your opening day starter, you got problems. They got a stroke of luck with Hoffman, but this team needs alot more pitching because its gonna catch up to them. I hope there's another CC out there, but i really doubt it.

” -- pimea.mark