Now that we are in the All-Star break, there is a moment to reflect upon how great baseball is. Consider, as you should, the AL East alone. There are moments like the Blue Jay's game on Friday night where Dr. Roy earned Jeter's nomination as the best starter in baseball - despite being on the Toronto Blue Jays, a team generally without ambition. You have Tampa Bay and their Rays of Beelzabub whose star rose madly in the middle of the first half only to have it collapse in recent weeks, especially over the weekend where a weak Cleveland team swept them.

Then you have the Mets. They get rid of their manager and go from a team that was flirting with .500 to one that has set an amazing record - nine straight victories. How does it happen? Well, a couple of series against weaker teams help as does a change of attitude in the clubhouse. But so much of it is intangible - maybe a string of better weather, maybe the digestive systems humming along more regularly. Who knows. But when it does hum it is a wonderful thing. I can't recall so much interest in the stretch leading up to the All-Star game, the point at which many start paying attention.