ESPN's page 2 runs down the contenders and pretenders.

Prediction: Houston, despite the fact that its five games back this morning, despite the fact that its ballpark has too much Anita Bryant in its name and the Astros' uniforms look like too much jammies from Gymboree, and because of the fact that the pressure in Chicago will keep ratcheting up as the summer wears on, will take it. The Cubs will win the wild card.

Hmmm surviving without Prior, Wood, and Sosa for extended periods of time is pressure. Sure it would be nice to win it all this year, but we are young enough to make an extended run for many years. Pressure is what Houston is under now. With an aging team built to win now, not later. I think it will be a tad reversed.

And in the same article, what happens when the "real" Yankees show up?

The Yanks have had kids from the local American Legion league taking turns in the rotation, they've survived Derek wandering the desert like Lawrence of Arabia, they've gotten by without the real Jason Giambi, and in fact the entire offense has yet to wake up (only Jorge Posada has an OPS above .900). Still, they're 19 games over .500 and 4.5 up on the Red Sox right now. Good god, what happens if they start to click? Boston better hope Manny never slows down and Pedro holds up, because holding off Oakland for the wild card is looking like its only hope.

Thats the power of superstar players and when you put them together. Even when they are slumping or down they are still better than 99% of the players in baseball. And if they all start clicking? Only the power of Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, and Matt Clement can even attempt to contain that much destruction.

No offense to Hudson, Zito, Mulder, or Schilling and Pedro.