Marlins rotation

Florida challenged for a playoff spot under Joe Girardi late into the 2006 season because of a strong, young rotation. Now that rotation is back. Scott Olsen had the NL's worst ERA (5.81) among qualifiers last year and has recovered to go 6-8 with a 4.11 ERA. Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez might have been pushed too hard under Girardi and were out most of last year and this year with arm injuries. But now Johnson (3-0, 3.38) is acting like an ace and Sanchez (2-2, 3.52) is pretty darn good.

Cubs center field

The most productive center field in the NL belongs to the Cubs because of two players who were not even part of the organization when spring training began. Chicago picked both Reed Johnson and Jim Edmonds off the scrapheap, and the two have created a dynamic righty-lefty platoon. Johnson had spent his entire career with the Jays, who released him to keep Shannon Stewart on the roster. The Jays have hungered for offense all season and recently released Stewart. Johnson is just the kind of righty-hitting outfielder who would have helped the Mets or Yankees. Instead, the Cubs picked him up the week before the season and have been rewarded with a .313 batting average, including .362 vs. lefties.

Edmonds was released by the Padres on May 9, a month shy of his 38th birthday and with a .178 average. He looked done. But a week later, the Cubs picked him up. For Chicago, Edmonds was hitting .262 with a .377 on-base percentage and a .581 slugging percentage, having amassed 15 homers in 191 at-bats. Fourteen of those homers have come off righties, against whom he has a .620 slugging percentage.

Cardinals center field

Edmonds was the Cardinals' primary center fielder from 2000-07. He was not re-signed following last season and yet, after the Cubs, St. Louis has the most productive center field numbers in the NL. That is because of Rick Ankiel. And as one scout said, "Not enough is made of what an incredible story it is that a pitcher who failed has become an All-Star-level center fielder." Ankiel, whose wildness forced him to abandon the mound, has 24 homers.

Padres revivals

There was one piece of good news when the Padres released Edmonds: They called up Jody Gerut to replace him in center. Gerut had not played professionally for the past two seasons due to severe knee problems. But in just 90 games, he has resuscitated his career by hitting .303 with 13 homers.

Another player San Diego promoted in May was Mike Adams. Want to talk about bad fortune: He needed microfracture surgery on his left knee in September 2006, then again in spring training of 2007, and just when he thought it was good to go, his right knee went and he needed microfracture surgery in July 2007. But now he has recovered to be the most effective piece (2.03 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings) in San Diego's 'pen.

The non-retiring types

Keith Foulke and Kent Mercker came out of retirement, but could not stay healthy. But Gabe Kapler has gone from managing the Red Sox's Single-A affiliate Greenville last year to being a valuable reserve player for the wild-card-leading Brewers this season, hitting .299.

Shane Loux pitched for the Tigers in 2002-03, and then bounced around the minors before being released last spring training by the Mariners. He retired, pitched in a beer league, coached some high school and while throwing with a prospect in Gilbert, Ariz., he impressed a friend of an Angels scout. Word was passed. And, you got it, Loux is now part of the Angels' bullpen.

The Zero King

Brad Ziegler was drafted by the Phillies in 2003, threw six innings in the Rookie League, was released in 2004, pitched in an independent league, signed with the A's organization, twice fractured his skull, was taught to throw side-arm in 2007, was called to The Show for the first time on May 30, 2008 at age 28 and - oh, yeah - set the major league record of most consecutive scoreless innings to begin a career at 39.