Five reasons the Reds are in the thick of the race at All-Star Break:

        1. The trade for Juan Encarnacion: Encarnacion gave the Reds insurance if a Ken Griffey Jr. was injured. Had Dmitri Young been one of the starting outfielders when Griffey was injured, the Reds would have had to bring up a minor leaguer to play center. With Encarnacion in the mix, he simply shifted to center and didn't miss a beat. The Reds 31-24, entering the weekend, with Encarnacion in center.

        2. Signing Jimmy Haynes: Nine wins in the first half and he's making $500,000. That's one of baseball's best bargains.

        3. Starting pitching in general: The Reds starters have stayed around .500 with ERA around 4.00. With the whole rotation making around $3.5 million, depending on who the fifth starter is at the moment, that's very respectable.

        4. The young guns: Adam Dunn's good sophomore year and Austin Kearns' good rookie year have been key to the offense because Aaron Boone and Barry Larkin struggled and Griffey hasn't played much.

        5. Getting Gabe White back: White has the Reds most consistent reliever. The difference between him and Dennys Reyes is worth at least a couple of games in the standing.

        Five things that have to happen for the Reds to stay in the thick of the race after the All-Star Break:

        1. Joey Hamilton and Chris Reitsma have to find it: Neither has won a game since May. Both have had their share of good starts. But they need to get wins for the Reds to be successful

        2. Sully must be Sully: Scott Sullivan is the key to the bullpen. If he returns to form as the No. 1 setup man everything else falls in place. Good news Reds fans: Sullivan has looked like he's found it in recent outings.

        3. The offense has to pick up: The offense has clicked lately, but the Reds are 11th in the NL in runs scored. They need to be the top five to have a chance at the postseason.

        4. Griffey has to get well: A big part of the reason the offense hasn't been better is Griffey's only been healthy for a handful of games. Getting, 20 homers and 60 RBI from him the second half would be huge.

        5. Must play better against Cards and Astros: The Reds 7-11 against the Astros (2-4) and the Cards (5-7) the first half. Reverse that in the second half and the Reds could rule the NL Central.

Reds 6, Brewers 4 Reds box, runs Reds Q&A The pride of Newberry DAUGHERTY: A strike for 'rights' is wrong Choosing stars no highlight for Brenly Cloudy forecast for Bud Bowl A fast but tenuous start Midseason report Cinergy Moment No. 20 - July 1, 1973 Down on the farm Graves 'Lucky' Griffey's return may come in 2 weeks Reds chatter Relief tempers envy of Yankees' Weaver trade Memories of an American original No funeral services for Kid Bats 3, Clippers 1 John Fay's power rankings AL roundup NL roundup Notes from Saturday's games

Caught between a rock and a hard place
Five Questions with Brad Friedel
Met's anyone's tournament
Nalbandian's Centre Court debut will be final vs. Hewitt
Serena shows no mercy in victory over Venus
Da Matta fights off Tracy challenge to win pole
Green gets ride with Gary Keller Racing
Jarrett maneuver causes 14-car wreck
Montoya takes pole for British GP
Rookie Scheckter takes pole for Ameristar 200
Waltrip a winner - and happy this time
Allenby pulls away
Sorenstam takes two-stroke lead into the final round
E Dubai wins Suburban Handicap
Mr. John wins $400,000 Cornhusker
Armstrong takes prologue to open Tour de France
Mighty Ducks acquire Sykora
Police say Iverson being investigated
Coming up this week
GROESCHEN: Prep Insider

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