The 6-foot-7, 290-pound rental has gone unbeaten since joining the National League and has helped the Brewers stick around while the Cubs and Alfonso Soriano were celebrating a post-All-Star Game revival.

Vegetarian Prince Fielder and left fielder Ryan Braun lead a deadly lineup that should, at least, hold on for wild-card acclaim if right-hander Ben Sheets starts to pick it up.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The franchise that registered one playoff win in the last 20 years has added Manny Ramirez as the crazy straw that stirs the drink. With Manny being money, his new playmates have been bestowed the gifts of confidence and fastballs.

One grumpy recipient has been Jeff Kent, who — since Manny's arrival — is reminding us of how clutch and nutty he can be.

But do the Dodgers have enough gusto to forge another playoff win (should they overtake the Arizona Diamondbacks in baseball's coyote ugly division)?

Well, veteran Derek Lowe is a big-game pitcher, young right-hander Chad Billingsley is getting there and 20-year-old lefty Clayton Kershaw has been nasty of late. Their only match-up problems have been created by manager Joe Torre signaling to a bullpen that hasn't had Takashi Saito in the closer's seat.

Ramirez makes the Dodgers fun and a bit dangerous, but the bullpen makes them shaky and the fielders perform like a bunch of scrubs wearing gloves made by Everlast.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

A peculiar thing occurred while the Angels were busy establishing themselves as the AL's best team.

Management acquired a big contract (and bat) near the trading deadline. Now, a decent lineup headlined by Vlad Guerrero rolls in as a severely threatening lineup with Mark Teixeira in the middle.

The Halos are pretty good at everything (including managerial chutzpah), which has inspired World Series predictions from observers who fancy themselves savvy at baseball.

This franchise has been sort of in and out of playoff interest the last few seasons, but should be given credit for preventing Barry Bonds from claiming a World Series ring. By the way, it's been reported that the ball Bonds hit off of Percival in the 2002 World Series has just landed just outside Melbourne.

Chicago White Sox

If the home run hittin' Sox reach October, I offer two names and two additional words for your postseason pleasure:

Nick Swisher ... Ozzie Guillen ... open mikes.

New York Mets

If the Mets hold off Philly, expect every hot-seated manager to be dumped about five minutes before last call at your local bar.

Philadelphia Phillies

A World Series run by the Phils would be just the thing to remove any training camp pressure from Elton Brand.