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	Tuesday, July 18
	Midseason report: Atlanta Braves By Sherry Skalko ESPN.com
	The Atlanta Braves find themselves with company at the top of the NL East as we hit the All-Star break. But it's hard to decide what's been the biggest distraction this season: the New York Mets, the injuries to the pitching staff or the circus that follows John Rocker. With that in mind, it's time to take a look at the good, the bad and everything in between from the first half of the 2000 season. First-half MVP: Greg Maddux. An argument could be made for either Tom Glavine or Maddux. Both have had to shoulder more responsibility with the loss of John Smoltz and the struggles of Kevin Millwood. But, based on numbers, Maddux is the guy. He leads the team and is tied for third in the NL in wins (10) and has 13 more strikeouts than Glavine (108 to 95) in only 2/3 more of an inning (132.2 to 132). Maddux, who gets less run support than Glavine (4.55 to 4.92 runs per start), also has given up only 27 walks to Glavine's team-high 45. Biggest disappointment: John Rocker. Granted, the high-octane reliever has saved 12 games out of 13 opportunities, but imagine what his stats would be and where the team would be if he had just kept his mouth shut? Last year he had 17 saves before the All-Star break and 21 after for 38. He'll be lucky if he reaches that total this year. Remember, the Braves were expecting big things from him this year, so no improvement is a step in the wrong direction. Biggest surprise: Andres Galarraga. After missing last season with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his back, no one figured Galarraga would contribute this much this soon. He picked up where he left off average wise -- at .294 he's a hair above his career average of .290. His 62 RBI are second on the team to Chipper Jones (68) and Galarraga ranks third on the team in home runs (20) behind Andruw Jones (23) and Chipper Jones (22). Second-half goals: There is no way to measure what kind of an effect the controversy that surrounds Rocker has had on the team. It would be ignorant to think it didn't bother anyone at all. With the series at Shea Stadium out of the way, the Braves should be able to concentrate on the task at hand -- staying ahead of the Mets. If Millwood can get his act together and have a second half like he did last season (7-3, 2.13 ERA), it will take some of the pressure off Maddux and Glavine and the Braves should secure their sixth straight division title. Grade: -- Compared to everyone else, they'd be a four, but the Braves set the bar high and one can't help but wonder if they could have been even better without the Rocker distractions. (Scale: 1 to 4 baseballs; 1 = worst, 4 = best) We told you what we thought of the Braves' first-half performance, now you've told us. Here is what you had to say about what the Braves have to do in the second half.		ALSO SEE Midseason Feedback: Braves MLB midseason reports ESPN.com's All-Star Game coverage Kurkjian: Stories of the first half Ten second-half questions for the AL Ten second-half questions for the NL