Thriple Crown????

Elite sluggers racing toward Triple Crown

It's been 43 years since a hitter claimed the Triple Crown -- will 2010 be the year to end the drought? With the 81st All-Star Game in the books and the second half under way, four sluggers remain in contention to lead their respective league in batting average, home runs and RBIs. It's no surprise that each plays on a team making a serious playoff push. Amid a monster offensive campaign, first baseman Miguel Cabrera is perhaps the strongest candidate, driving in runs in bunches and batting well above his .313 career mark as the Tigers battle the Twins and White Sox for AL Central supremacy. Left fielder Josh Hamilton's unbelievable June -- during which he compiled a .454 average, nine homers and 31 RBIs -- propelled the Rangers to a sizable lead in the AL West, and little has changed since. Albert Pujols is once again posting MVP-caliber numbers in St. Louis, but he may not even be the best first baseman in his division this year; the Reds' Joey Votto has emerged as an elite player, hitting for both average and power as Cincinnati and the Pujols' Cardinals slug it out down the stretch. UC157Larry