Q&A with Cal Ripken

This summer is a little less hectic for Cal Ripken. The Hall of Famer -- he was inducted last August with Tony Gwynn -- will be part of TBS' coverage on July 6th's (2 p.m. ET) MLB All-Star Game Selection Show. SI.com checked in with the TBS analyst this week to get his take on the first half of the season, his first-half MVPs, Josh Hamilton and Chase Utley.

SI: This is a much different summer for you, right?

Ripken: Yeah, I don't have that Hall of Fame thing hanging over me. (laughs). But I have a ton of things going on. There's the amateur side and the professional side of our organization. The professional side is owning minor league teams and development and the amaetur side is building kids' complexes and creating tournament and academy programming. Last year, I think I was worrying and thinking about the Hall of Fame more than I should of because it was such a big thing and it was a lot to take care of. It was a nice celebration. This year I don't have that and it seems like things have clicked back to normal. It doesn't make it any less busy, but it does take some of the anxiety and unknown away.

SI: Who are the best American and National League teams at the moment?

Ripken: The Cubs in the National League. They have a balanced team. And I still like the Red Sox. They've limped a little with injuries to Big Papi and Dice-K, but they have played consistent baseball. Tampa has to be in that argument as well.

SI: How often have you seen the Rays, and would you still call them a surprise?

Ripken: From a team standpoint, you can call them a surprise. You might have been able to project that they were a coming team, but I don't think you could say they would be up on the Red Sox at this stage. They are a young and talented group of guys who have played a real, good team-style of play.

I saw them when they played the Orioles; I compare them a little to our 1989 team. In 1988, we were the world's worst team. We were 0-21 and went through rebuilding with a lot of young and talented guys. The next year, we came together in a developmental first half and we were playing for the pennant at the end. I still don't know, down the stretch, if they have enough experience in the big series or whether they can call on experience to get through a tough series. But I do know it will be interesting to watch.

SI: Will the Yankees make the postseason?

Ripken: I say they do. The Rays will have a lot to say about that and they will be a strong team down the stretch, but I think we know the Yankees can handle the pressure. They are a talented team.