Standings -- July 12, 2010

1. Red Sox (23-11), .676, 0.0 GB
2. Cardinals (23-14), .622, 1.5 GB
3. Rockies (20-16), .555, 4.0 GB
4. Yankees (20-18), .526, 5.0 GB
5. Giants (20-19), .513, 5.5 GB
6. Mets (19-20), .487, 6.5 GB
7. Reds (16-19), .457, 7.5 GB
8. Athletics (16-21), .433, 8.5 GB
9. Pirates (16-22), .421, 9.0 GB
10. Cubs (12-24), .333, 12.0 GB

36-game records (for ping pong ball purposes)

1. Red Sox -- 1 ping pong ball*
2. Cardinals 22-14 -- 2 ping pong balls
3. Yankees 20-16 -- 3.5 ping pong balls
4. Rockies 20-16 -- 3.5 ping pong balls
5. Giants 19-17 -- 5 ping pong balls
6. Brewers -- 6 ping pong balls**
7. Mets 17-19 -- 7 or 7.5 ping pong balls
8. Reds -- 7.5 or 8.5 ping pong balls***
9. Athletics 16-20 -- 8.5 or 9 ping pong balls
10. Pirates 15-21 -- 10 ping pong balls
11. Cubs 12-24 -- 11 ping pong balls

* - Red Sox will necessarily have best 36-game record regardless of outcome of remaining first-half games

** - Brewers automatically get 6 ping pong balls as expansion team

*** -- depending on outcome of Reds' final first-half game, Reds will tie with either Mets or Athletics

Next action: Friday, July 15, is Commissioner Dog Night!.