Will the Northside and the Southside come alive?

The All-Star Break. No, not that 4-day set depriving us of action on the diamond. No, that 4-day set allowing us to take inventory on whether or not it's time to start looking to football season.

After the All-Star Break and a weekend series' worth of baseball, let's have a look at how each division is shaping up and who the big players are in each division...

Fighting out of the Windy City...

It's a rare occasion when Chicago's two baseball fan-bases can get excited about what lies ahead in August & September.

Fighting out of the blue corner, the Cubs look like a new team coming out for the dog days of summer. Did Rammy's coming off the DL mean that much? When did this turn of events happen? The team went from Ryan Dempster's broken toe and a "Oh, no, not again," to a four game winning streak out of the break? Everything about the Cubs organization is straight from Bizarro World.

Think about it like this: the Cubs next series are against the mightily struggling Phillies, the Dusty Baker led Reds, the Astros, and the hot/cold Marlins while the Cards take to the road against the Astros, one game against the Nationals, and the cream of the 1st half's crop Dodgers.

2 weeks ago this team was utterly depressing and just about out of it as the Taste of Chicago was taking over Grant Park. Now? This is the National League's most exciting prospect. A lot could happen here.

So typical Chicago... Cardinals win the Division. Cubs miss the Wild Card, but barely.

On the South Side, things are looking up--Jose Contreras' loss of control Sunday aside.

Alexei Ramirez, Konerko, Dye, Thome, Podsednik, and AJ are firing on all cylinders. And how bout them young guns? Gordon Beckham shows he's an everday player while Josh Fields' potential withers away on the bench; and Chris Getz is letting his bat catch up to his always impressive defense. The Sox are set on offense. The front office won't work to acquire anybody either: Carlos Quentin is coming back and he's going to show he's not just a one season fluke.

On the mound, Buerhle has been spot on all season (minus the misstep in Minnesota going into the All-Star Break), John Danks and Gavin Floyd have returned to form from last season's breakouts after a rough first month and a half. Clayton Richard is a growing concern, though. He's looked terrible for two solid months. After a self-reassignment to Triple-A, Jose Contreras is back. When he's on point, he's untouchable.

The only glaring concern that I can see lies in the bullpen. There's not one arm I'm comfortable with on that back end. Bobby Jenks almost gave away 2 games in the last month. Saturday's game to Batlimore (a 4-1 lead became a 4-3 win) and another to Minnesota (the only game the Sox won in that series). Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel aren't scaring anybody either. Matt Thornton's solid against left-handed hitting, but he's very hittable from the right side of the plate.

All that considered, though, it doesn't matter whether it's the bullpen or the starting rotation because Kenny Williams is already working. Do not be surprised if the White Sox are one of the teams that are offering final bids to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. Will Halladay end up a Good Guy? Probably not, but Kenny Williams is going to fight tooth and nail to be involved in that conversation.

The Sox are overtaking the Tigers before the month's over, winning the division, and headed to the playoffs. Mark it down.

The Powerhouse Division

The AL East.

Who's in: Boston (currently in first ahead of the Yankees by 1 game entering Monday), New York, and Tampa (4.5 games off the lead)

All signs point to Boston on this one. The starting pitching is endless. In fact, they have too much with Brad Penny dusting off his jersey once in a while. Big Papi's not back, but it's amazing what some eye drops can do for a portly Dominican. The rest of the lineup, excluding Varitek, is dirty. Theo Epstein seems to have an answer within the organization for everything. Julio Lugo, you suck? No, problem... enter Jed Lowrie and Nick Green.

The Yankees have too many questions in their bullpen and on the lower third of its lineup. Nick Swisher is hitting a miniscule .236, but, in fairness, does have an OBP around .370. Johnny Damon looks decrepit anytime he plays. A-Rod's gonna fade--again. And does anybody know how Mark Teixeira is going to hold up in August and September with the New York media begging him to throw somebody--ANYBODY--under the bus? I think he cracks. Tino Martinez he's not. (Sidebar: At Yankee Stadium on Sunday, I saw people wearing "Teixecutioner" t-shirts. Really? Too soon. I can't respect a play on a man's name to dub him a cold blooded killer when that man takes a bored billionaire's Twitter personally. Contribute in a win against Boston and post all the 75 character messages you like. Until then, you're just another Yankee free agent signing that hasn't contributed to one of those 26 championships. Live in the Now!)

So there's all that, and then there's the sidebar mentioned winless streak this season against Boston. If this keeps up, two or three most series against Boston and the Bronx Bombers quickly become Brown Bombers.

The Tampa Bay Rays are a different beast altogether. The team's youth has worked against it this year whereas last year it was its biggest asset. Not to worry though, the Rays will put it together and make it close in the weening weeks of September. And there's a team nobody's talking about in the running for the Roy Halladay Sweepstakes. Quick: name another team in the American League with more tradeable assets up and down the organization other than the Rays? You... in the back... Who just said the Royals. Leave the room and good day, sir. I Said Good Day, Sir!

Boston wins the division, Yanks miss the playoffs (GASP!), and so do the Rays.

The Sleeper Division

The AL West.

Mainly, it's The Sleeper Division because two-thirds of the country is sleeping by the time these games are played. But, honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the AL West shifted the playoff balance and had 2 teams in the post-season this year.

Angels win the division, Rangers win the Wild Card.

Mark my words, Rangers in the playoffs. AND MORE JOSH HAMILTON STORIES! (Here's hoping for the Rays to really have a strong second half.)

Quadruple-A

The National League. Is there a less interesting half of a league in sports? Jeez this half of the big leagues is mediocre.

Wanna know what ends up happening here? Dodgers get to the World Series and lose 2 games in the process of the post-season. That's it.

Phillies win the NL East, but big deal. The Braves' biggest pitching weapon is "Small Game" Javy Lopez and the Mets have officially mailed it in. (Paging David Wright: You're still hitting above .325, your team is the most frustrating in baseball, and your new stadium has taken away 7 home runs according to the New York Post's approximations. Might be time to find a home that's not so... crackpot.)

Giants win the Wild Card, but that team is Divisional Round and done.

So hold off on all your NFL talk, Chicago. Neither Chi team will end up winning the World Series, or even a playoff series for that matter, but we've got plenty to watch from our summer boys come fall. Keep your Cubs and Sox hats firmly positioned on your heads and keep your Jay Cutler jerseys in the wrapping for a few weeks more.

Is BG7 motor city bound?

Cubs Win Streak is Over...Derek Lee's is Not
Despite a decent outing from Ryan Dempster the Cubs four game winning streak ended at the hands of the Atlanta Braves 2-0. Derek Lee did extending his hit streak to a career high 19 games. Its nice to have you back DLee. White Sox were idle on Monday.

US Soccer Miracle Win in Confederations Cup
While I was out duffing golf balls this Sunday for Father's Day with my Dad and two brothers the United States Men's National Team somehow advanced to the semifinals of FIFA's Confederations Cup in South Africa. Of course the USMNT plays great the one game I don't watch. The US advanced by dominating the champions of Africa 3-0 and benefiting from Brazil defeating Italy by the same score. The US face Spain (FIFA #1 team in the world) on Wednesday on ESPN 2:25 EST. Check out my report on the game at theloveofsports.com. Anything is possible!!

The College World Series Has Arrived
I watched a college baseball game for the first time in awhile and was actually entertained. LSU won the first game of this year's series defeating powerhouse Texas 7-6 in 11 innings. The Tigers will try to finish of the Longhorns Tuesday night 7 P.M. EST on ESPNThe fans in Omaha where the CWS is held every year was packed. Good for you College Baseball.

Ben Gordon to Pistons?
There has been talk of the Chicago Bulls shooting guard going to Detroit for big money recently. After a killer series against Boston in the playoffs the Bulls have to decide if they want to keep the former UConn Huskie. John Paxson better make some serious moves if Gordon goes to "The D". DWade in a Bulls uniform? In my dreams.

Greatest mustache of my life.

Reciever Dante Stallworth is suspended indefinitely by NFL Commish Roger Goodell

The Cleveland Brown wide out received a controversial sentence for killing a pedestrian while driving under the influence of alcohol. 30 days in jail. A person dies and he gets 30 days. Michael Vick was in jail for like two years and his crimes weren't even people related. Did Stallworth bring back Johnny Cochrane from the dead for his guilty plea. Jaysus.

So now begins the "How is Goodell Going to Straighten Out This Bad Apple" debate on ESPN that will last forever. Way too many people think it's Goodell's job to turn these troubled players lives around. Say I'm a professional football player and I get into legal trouble. Do you think me walking into a room with some guy I've never met before is going make me see the light and turn me into a boy scout?

The first day of the US Open was rained out.

You know its a slow news day when precipitation is the top story.

How about Phil's hair? Sorry, that's all I got. Wake me up when John Daley makes a comeback.

On a more personal note the Heffernan men will venture out to golf course this Father's Day for a day of lost balls, divits, curse words, broken tees, ketchup stains, slices, and swass. A lot of swass. Seriously, I have a problem.

Confederations Cup: US Gets Owned By Brazil. Italy is Upset by Egypt.

Being the soccer nerd I've become I found a way to watch the U.S. get walloped by Kaka and company. Depressing to say the least. The team looked lost.

But a lighter side the Pharohs took down the defending World Champions Italy in a huge 1-0 victory. Now all the U.S. needs to do is beat them by at least 3 goals and hope the Italians get spanked by Brazil.

After that horrific of a performance I hope U.S. coach Bob Bradley shakes up the starting lineup quite a bit. C'mon boys give me some hope!

I hit my eight year old brother Brendan in the lip playing catch with a hard ball

While I've been in Columbus I've been working with the little guy with his baseball skills everyday and I think I've made him worse. Momma Hef says only rubber balls from now on. Probably a good idea. Kid was ok. Little blood, front lip the size of Angelina's. Credit to my buddy after he took it right in the kisser he came back out and started playing catch again. It reminded me of the Adam Sandler CD bit where he's in right field praying to God the batter doesn't hit it to him. Big game for the little guy on Saturday. Let's hope there's no tears.

Cubs Win!! DLee goes deep

Derek Lee is on a 14 game hit streak! His eight inning 2-run home run helped the Cubs beat the Southsiders 5-4. Kevin Gregg picked up the win actually. Jaysus.