The baseball season is two months old and there are many intriguing stories. What are some of the best? Let’s find out:

1.Josh Hamilton continues to rise from former failed No.1 overall substance abuse addict to the AL’s best player. In his first year with the Rangers since coming over from the Reds in the Edinson Volquez trade, the ex-Tampa 1999 first overall draft pick has built on a solid rookie season by stinging junior circuit pitchers with great numbers across the board ranking second in batting average (.326), tied for first in home runs (14) and first by a bunch in RBI’s (61) entering Sunday. With a couple of more hits including a solo shot in a 13-8 home loss to Oakland, he continues to rip it up. With nobody tearing it up like the NL, can Hamilton win the triple crown? Crazy thought but one which might be in reach if he continues his surge.

2.Chipper Jones is hitting over .400 on the first day of June. Sure. The switch hitting third baseman probably will cool down but his remarkable start has been awesome. The 36 year-old career Brave shows no signs of slowing down entering today with a gaudy .413 average, 12 dingers, 35 RBI’s and 40 runs scored. He’s just two homers shy of 400 for what’s been a brilliant 14-year career which is Cooperstown bound. Chipper’s always been one of the most consistent performers who could hit for average, power and drive in runs. A perennial winner.

3.Amazing how Tampa Bay is now just called the Rays and are suddenly boast the AL’s best record. They have a budding star in center fielder B.J. Upton along with former 2006 first round pick Evan Longoria manning the hot corner. The lineup is plenty potent including the likes of Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford but hitting was never the issue when it came to all the losing down in Tampa. They always lacked enough pitching to compete seriously. However, by swapping outfielder Delmon Young for Matt Garza combined with the continued emergence of ace Scott Kazmir and reliable No.2 James Shields, the Rays finally have a staff which can pitch deep into games. Even ex-Dodger farmhand Edwin Jackson has chipped in. Troy Percival’s addition to the pen closing games has been a blessing allowing J.P. Howell, Al Reyes and Dan Wheeler to setup. Suddenly, Tampa is no longer a laughingstock. So, can they stay near the top? Who knows? They’re a young up and coming ballclub. We won’t really know the answer until August.

4.With another win today, the Cubs now own the majors best record at 36-21. Must really be a century later. Lou Piniella’s balanced lineup which features stars Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee can supply plenty of offense. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez continues to rake and even veteran center field pickup Jim Edmonds is contributing. Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome has been a solid addition and veteran middle infielders Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot find their way on base. Rookie backstop Geovany Soto continues to slug giving the Cubbies a lethal middle order. The staff is anchored by Carlos Zambrano with former closer Ryan Dempster surprising as a seven-game winner who’s K-ing almost a batter an inning. Carlos Marmol is arguably baseball’s most dominant setup man throwing gas to pave the way for converted closer Kerry Wood. So far, so good. Maybe the century long wait could really be over come October.

5.Can anyone get out Chase Utley? The Phillies’ second baseman slugged his MLB-leading 20th dinger in a 7-5 win over the Marlins to lift the defending NL East champs back into first. Last year, he was our pick for NL MVP. Had he not missed time, Utley very well could’ve won the award over shortstop teammate Jimmy Rollins. Perhaps this is the year he takes it.