Well, now that the All Star game and break is over, it's time to look forward to who's headed to the playoffs and beyond.

For me, I am an Angels and Dodgers fan (more so an Angels fan), and am happy/shocked to see both teams in the lead, especially the Dodgers nearly running away.

And poor Manny -- he's got a broken finger today. Looks like Juan Pierre may get more playing time. Dodgers responded with a blow-out of the Reds today after Manny got hurt early in the game.

Boston and the Yankees are playing well, so it might be one of these teams in the finals.

Well, most teams are still in contention, so it's too close to call. 

Yanks and BoSox are in, I think the White Sox will make it, and the Rangers.  The Angels and M's are not tht far off.  

as much as i hate both teams i think it's going to be the dodgers and yankees

 Don't count the Cubbies out yet!

 It's August, and just 2 months away from the playoffs.

Angels currently have the best AL record, and next week, if perchance they win the 3-game series  against the Rangers, they'll separate from their rivals

Dodgers currently have best NL record, but I am suspect of their pitching rotation, which I do not think will hold up against Phillies in the playoffs.

I'll be rooting for the Yankees to win and Red Sox not to make the playoffs. We (that is, the Angels) can beat the Yanks, but can't beat the Red Sox. Go figure, eh?

The Rays still have a shot, but it'll be tough when the Yankees and Boston are still there.

Cubs and Cards are still in a tight race.

Hope to see Pujols in the playoffs.

O trust me, MLB will do everything they can to get Pujols and Holliday into the playoffs to jack up TV ratings lol. 

Rays are perhaps done, but they're playing good baseball, killing Zach Grienke and Co. yesterday.  

Cubs are in 1st place haha.  

 if it were up to Selig and the powers-that-be in MLB, we'd be seeing either

Cards/Cubs vs. Red Sox

Cards/Cubs vs.Yankees

 I know one scenario that would guarantee this could happen:

put Bernanke/Geithner/Obama in charge of MLB

after all, the above-mentioned gang has done one heck of a job levitating the stock market

and now are on course to destroy the middle class via tax hikes, the likes of which we've never seen before

The Phillies will also be tough with the pickup of Lee.

The Angels, Dodgers and Giants are also tough teams that could make a splash in the playoffs.

The  Giants do have one hell of a rotation, but their offense?  Please.  \

Angels, no offense to everybody, are lalways "for real" every year but seem like they always fall to the BoSox.  

Dodgers are rly stacked, just like they were last yr, but i think this yr they're even better and the Cubs not as good as last yr (Harden struggling, Soto...... 'nuff said).  

 Mwooster- I agree with your comments regarding my Angels inability to beat the Red Sox.

So, I am hoping the Sox don't make the playoffs this year.

Angels have a ballclub that's built for regular season - they regularly beat up on the average and above-average pitchers.

but, put in a #1 and #2 starter (like Josh Beckett, Roy Halladay) and Angels are lucky to get a few hits. Let's not even talk about runs.

it's easier to get a walk and a homer (something the Red Sox easily do).

it's a lot harder to get a walk and 3-4 hits in one inning to score runs (something the Angels easily do in the regular season)

 Two teams that should not be ignored is New York Yankees and the LA Dodgers.  I'll take the Yankees.

 benhilo - lol, I'll take the Yankees, too (despite the fact that I am a Dodgers fan).

right now, Billingsley (our ace is out due to slight injury), and the Dodgers will have a several pitchers ready to pitch tomorrow (wed, aug 12th) vs Lincecum and the Giants

our next best pitcher is a 21-y/o pitcher with tremendous talent, but very raw.

After that, we got no one.

I am shocked Dodgers still have the NL's best record.

The Yanks are in, and the BoSox and the Rays are fighting hard for the wild card spot. 

Tigers, White Sox, and the Twins are going down the wire for the division title.  

Angels and the Rangers are still tight.  The M's are OUT.  

 in an incredible twist, it's looking like the Rangers won't go away, and now are ahead of the Red Sox slightly for the wild card!!

and my Angels keep rolling, getting to 25 games over 0.500

while my Dodgers are reeling, with a losing record after the All-Star break

If the Angels can find a way to beat Boston in the playoffs, then they're legit WS contender.  With things are right now, the Angels don't have to worry about tht as the Red Sox might not even make the playoffs.  Their starting rotation is really thin behind Beckett and Lester.  Clay has not stepped up yet. 

 Dodgers are reeling now, as the new Manny Ramirez (steroid-free, but not by choice) is struggling mightily