With the season quickly approaching the mid point of the 2006 season, it’s time to see which teams are at the head of the class in major league baseball.

In New York, the Mets have stolen the front, back, and middle pages of the tabloids from the vaunted Yankees. The Amazins’ can rake with the best. This season’s NL MVP is coming from New York. Pick Carlos Beltran, David Wright, or Jose Reyes, you can’t go wrong. For me, Wright has been the most consistent even though Reyes may be the most exciting player in the game today.

Even with the boring and offensive Ozzie Guillen running amok, the White Sox still are the top team in the American League. The Sox throw the best pitchers at the opposition day after day. Jim Thome is the AL MVP, you can give him the trophy today.

Click below for more!Jim Leyland has a lock on the AL manager of the year award. If Detroit could snare starting pitcher John Smoltz (he’ll recover from his groin strain) from Atlanta and lefthanded hitting DH Aubrey Huff from Tampa Bay they are in the race for keeps. One more reliable reliever is needed since Joel Zumaya, Fernando Rodney, and Todd Jones won’t hold up without help down the stretch.

Toronto got a major shot in the arm with the return of pitcher AJ Burnett. With Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly pitching well the Blue Jays are a threat in any series. The Jays can crush the ball as well as any of their counterparts in the AL East. Expect a trade for an infielder and a veteran relief pitcher because the GM knows the Jays have a shot to win the division.

You can never overlook the Cards as long as they have Albert Pujols in their lineup. It’s time for Tony La Russa to put youngsters Anthony Reyes and Adam Wainwright in the starting rotation. Lefty Mark Mulder is on the DL, while the rest of the rotation is getting rocked nightly. Dontrelle Willis is high on the Cards wish list.

The Red Sox are still looking for more pitchers. Nationals righty Livan Hernandez is a good bet to land in Boston.

The Yanks are still a formidable club even with all the injuries. If A Rod can ignore the boos he hears nightly in NY, this team should be in the race to the end. Trouble is Detroit is playing like the Tigers of ’84. The Yankees will have to win the East to play in October.

Yankees are coveting outfielders Alfonso Soriano, Reggie Sanders, and Jose Guillen, as well as Marlins set up man Joe Borowski as mid season additions.

The A’s are playing excellent baseball, but at some point the offense needs to become more explosive. It’s time to cut ties with Milton Bradley and see if Milwaukee leftfielder/DH Carlos Lee is available. It would behoove Oakland to get another DH to spell Frank Thomas once he returns from the DL. Pittsburgh’s Craig Wilson would be a nice addition for the offense.

The Dodgers can play. Add a couple of starting pitchers and they will continue to be the team to beat in the NL West.

Cincinnati hits with the best teams in baseball. If the Reds can add some starting pitching they will stick with the Redbirds through the summer. Starters who might help in Cincy include Jeff Weaver, Oliver Perez and Rodrigo Lopez.

Minnesota is clicking with Francisco Liriano and Johan Santana on the hill. With hitters Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel coming alive, the Twins are thinking wild card.

Texas will stay in the hunt especially if they can find two more starting pitchers for their rotation.

Don’t overlook Houston in the NL Wild Card race. The Rocket is helpful, but the Astros could use another bat.

The Mets are a lock, everyone else is in for quite a ride this summer.