The All Star Break is a thing of the past. Now it's time to focus on baseball's second half.

Josh Hamilton was marvelous. I was one of the 55,000 fans chanting HA-MIL-TON in Yankee Stadium on Monday night, as the Rangers slugger had us all gasping in disbelief with his 28 home runs in a single round. The next night featured a surprisingly compelling and dramatic All-Star game, a marathon affair that lasted well into Wednesday morning. New York put on a tremendous show, but now it is time for baseball's second half, and what a second half it will be. The pennant races are heating up faster than a Tim Lincecum fastball, and here are five storylines that have me intrigued.

1. Here Come the Mets: The New York Mets won their tenth straight last night in thrilling fashion, coming to life in the ninth to score four runs en route to a 10-8 victory at Cincinnati. They are now in a first-place deadlock with the Philadelphia Phillies. As recently as a couple of weeks ago, many people were writing the Mets off. They seemed to be in a state of disarray. Their firing of Willie Randolph was viewed as classless. However, new manager Jerry Manuel has inspired this team. The big bats of David Wright, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Delgado are finally coming to life, not to mention the superb play of Fernando Tatis. But lets not forget last season, when the Mets experienced one of the most colossal September collapses in baseball history. The Phillies are still a major threat, picking up Joe Blanton yesterday to bolster their pitching staff. And the Florida Marlins are still alive and kicking. With all this being said, I still think there will be postseason baseball at Shea Stadium. The Mets will win the NL East.

2. Are the Rays for Real?: Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. Anyone who read my column last week knows that I am a believer in the Tampa Bay Rays. I stand by my prediction that the Rays will win the AL Wild Card. But I'd be lying if I said I did not have any doubts. Joe Maddon's squad went into the Midsummer Classic on a seven game slide, and for the first time in a long time the Rays are no longer atop the American League East. Don't sweat too much, Tampa, because you are still sitting pretty with a 2.5 game lead in the Wild Card over the pesky Twins. Minnesota will challenge the Rays down to the final week, but Tampa will play October ball for the first time in their existence.

3. Josh Hamilton and Chipper Jones. Can they keep it up?: Hamilton-yes. Chipper-no. I can't think of a better sports story than that of Josh Hamilton, rising from a desperate addict to one of the game's premier talents. Hamilton has 95 RBI's already, and I look for that production to continue. Chipper Jones' quest for .400 is less likely to be successful. The Braves third baseman is having one of the best years of his accomplished career, but finishing the season with a .400 average is nearly impossible, especially with the likes of Johan Santana, Cole Hamels, and Joe Blanton on rival teams in the NL East.

4. The NL Worst: As a diehard San Francisco Giants fan, I'm thrilled that my team can be fifteen games under .500 and still be only seven games back of the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks. When I look at the National League West from an impartial perspective, however, I realize that this isn't exactly the most dazzling division. There is a real chance that this division will be won by a sub-.500 club. If this is to occur, the NL West will go down in history, for all the wrong reasons. But some team has to step up to the plate, right? Anybody but the Dodgers. Now back to my hard-hitting and unbiased journalism.

5. No Playoffs in the Bronx?: You can't really call them the Bronx Bombers, as their offense has been something less than explosive. Their pitching has been less than awesome also, and their is real concern in New York that the Yankees will miss the postseason. Being in New York City earlier this week and listening to some local talk radio, it is evident that their is major panic, and rightfully so. It is hard to envision October without the Yankees, but it's also tricky to see how the Yankees will make the playoffs. After all, they are in third place behind the Red Sox and Rays. It is not easy to surpass two teams in the standings. Don't write off the Pinstripes just yet, but I expect them to be out of the postseason.