Adam Dunn has gone on a power trip during the month of July.

Let’s take a look at the latest action after the 2008 Mid-Summer Classic.  I’ll profile the NL Central and teams that are trying take it to the next level for the second half of the season.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs salvaged the series against the Houston Astros with a 9-0 victory on Sunday.  Ryan Dempster (11-4) was on the mound.  He threw eight shutout innings and posted his first road win of the season in nine tries.   Mike Fontenot also homered on Sunday and drove in three RBI’s to lead the offensive production.  He’s seen more playing time in July with 36 at-bats.  Fontenot is hitting .361, 4 home runs and nine RBI.  Our friend Kerry Wood may see the DL soon with blister problems on his right index finger. He hasn’t pitched since July 11^th, so it will be a retroactive move and he will be eligible to return soon. Look for Carlos Marmol to get the save chances in his place, with Bob Howry also a possibility. Alfonso Soriano is going on a brief rehab assignment and should return to the lineup soon, possibly as early as the coming weekend.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Redbirds have come out of the gates after the break with a sweep over the San Diego Padres.  They are two games behind the first place Cubs and have a one game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.  Aaron Miles was the hero on Sunday with a walk-off grand slam.  Miles had never hit a walk-off homer in his career and was euphoric crossing the plate and helping his team keep pace in the pennant race, which will heat up starting now.  The Cardinals host a four-game series against the Brew Crew this week. They have an impressive 42-24 record against the Brewers at home since the 2000 season. Rick Ankiel, always the streaky hitter, is running red-hot during the month of July. He’s hit seven home runs and driven in 18 over his last 17 games, with an average of .348 this month.

Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee has been busy in the trade market once again.  They picked up veteran second baseman Ray Durham from the San Francisco Giants over the weekend.  This move will add depth to the infield and allow manager Ned Yost to platoon Durham with Rickie Weeks.  Yost touted Durham as adding depth, while GM Doug Melvin was mostly interested in the left-handed half of Durham's game. Durham's splits are nearly identical: He owns a career .279 average with a .354 on-base percentage as a left-handed hitter against right-handed pitchers, and a .277 average with a .344 on-base mark as a right-handed batter against left-handed pitchers.  Overall, the 36-year-old is hitting .293 this season with a .385 on-base percentage -- figures that now lead the Brewers. Losing the starting third baseman’s job to Russell Branyan must have lit a fire under Bill Hall’s butt, because he is hitting like a machine of late. Over his last 12 games, Hall has three home runs, 12 RBI, and is batting a robust .381, raising his season’s average to .237, the highest it has been since April 29^th.

Cincinnati Reds

When your team is 11 games back of the division leader it’s safe to say you have some work to do.  I don’t see the team getting better and they really haven’t made any mid-year moves to improve their lot.  The Reds ended up splitting a series with the white-hot New York Mets after the break.  Adam Dunn has homered 10 times in his past 18 games, with seven of his past eight hits going yard. Edwin Encarnacion is hitting .337 over his last 29 games with seven home runs and 13 RBIs. Joey Votto is in a terrible slump of late. He’s had just one home run in his last 90 at bats, and his batting average has dropped 20 points over his last 25 games.

Houston Astros

Houston was able to make up ground over the weekend by almost completing a sweep of the Chicago Cubs.  The big bats have struggled in the line-up.  Miguel Tejada went from batting .355 through June and early July, down to a .275 average, but he’s looking to rebound and carry the club again.  His defense hasn’t suffered as he continues to flash that gold glove and keeping his team competitive.  Kaz Matsui returned from the 15 day DL.  He had a triple on Friday against the Mets.  The coach would like to use him at the top of the order to utilize his speed and potential on base percentage. After tearing the cover off the ball for the first three months of the season, Lance Berkman has finally hit the wall. In the month of July he’s batting just .192 and he has yet to hit a home run in 16 July games.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Then we have last and least.  What superlatives can you use to describe this team?  All I can think of are expletives.  They are currently in the midst of a five game losing streak and cellar dwelling as usual.  Also, it looks like the fire sale is on in Pittsburgh.  The Pirates are looking to move both Jason Bay and Xavier Nady. Both were mentioned as trade possibilities to the New York Yankees who are looking for some depth and a replacement for Hideki Matsui.  If they can move these outfielders for pitching prospects that would be best.  They are sorely lacking pitching depth throughout their organization, so making a deal for pitching seems like a no-brainer. There are also whispers that Jack Wilson will be dealt, with the Dodgers being the most likely destination. They need a replacement for Rafael Furcal.