At RealGM, we use the Field Impact Counter (FIC) to objectively measure how effectively teams are performing. We combine the position players and pitchers' FIC scores to measure which teams have played the best so far in 2008. In this edition we look at just the previous 20 games to gauge who is hot and cold in the MLB. Click here for more information about the Field Impact Counter and the Reina Value. *Through Monday?s games Team: FIC Per Game Total (FIC Position Players/FIC Pitchers) 1. Chicago Cubs: 19.6 (9.0, 10.6) Carlos Zambrano has a 5.15 ERA since the break, making the acquisition of Rich Harden and his 1.80 ERA since joining the Cubs all the more crucial to staving off the Brewers. 2. Boston Red Sox: 19.3 (9.1, 10.2) Is Kevin Youkilis a legitimate MVP candidate? I think there are far superior candidates but MVPs play their best baseball down the stretch in pennant races and he is hitting .392/.456/.765 during the month of August. 3. Chicago White Sox: 18.5 (8.5, 10.1) Javier Vazquez is the only White Sox starter with an ERA under 4.00 since the break. 4. New York Mets: 18.2 (8.3, 9.9) Johan Santana has a 2.50 ERA since the break, but a very ordinary 6.08 K/9 rate. 5. New York Yankees: 17.8 (8.1, 9.7) Jose Veras has been a pivotal part of the Yankees? bullpen, posting a 2.72 ERA. 6. Tampa Bay Rays: 17.6 (6.6, 10.9) Matt Garza has recovered from his disastrous April and has lowered his ERA to 3.63. 7. Philadelphia Phillies: 17.4 (7.6, 9.7) Ryan Howard is hitting just .226/.308/.396 since the break. 8. St. Louis Cardinals: 17.3 (8.0, 9.3) Journeyman Ryan Ludwick has 31 homers and a .993 OPS. 9. Los Angels Angels: 17.2 (6.7, 10.5) The Angels are clearly lower than they deserve, but there are five other teams that have superior run differentials in 2008. 10. Minnesota Twins: 17.2 (7.6, 9.6) Francisco Liriano has a 1.45 ERA since returning to the Twins to join Kevin Slowey and Nick Blackburn in a formidable rotation. 11. Baltimore Orioles: 17.0 (8.5, 8.5) Melvin Mora has a 1.215 OPS since the break. 12. Texas Rangers: 17.0 (8.9, 8.1) Jarrod Saltalamacchia is batting .316/.435/.395 since the All-Star break. 13. Milwaukee Brewers: 16.9 (6.6, 10.2) Salomon Torres has added stability to the back end of the Brewers bullpen. 14. Toronto Blue Jays: 16.6 (6.3, 10.2) Vernon Wells and Alex Rios each have an OPS under .800. 15. Detroit Tigers: 16.4 (8.0, 8.4) The Tigers have a .776 OPS against righties and .818 against lefties. 16. Houston Astros: 15.8 (6.7, 9.2) After a slow start, Roy Oswalt has a 3.27 ERA and 8.73 K/9 rate since the break. 17. Colorado Rockies: 15.4 (7.0, 8.4) The Rockies have four regulars who have an OPS over 1.000 since the break including Seth Smith. 18. Atlanta Braves: 15.3 (6.6, 8.7) Atlanta has only recorded three slaves since the break. 19. Los Angeles Dodgers: 15.2 (5.2, 10.1) Chad Billingsley has a 9.31 K/9 rate this season. 20. Arizona Diamondbacks: 15.0 (5.2, 9.8) Adam Dunn is slugging just .381 and is waiting to his his first homer in the D-Back shade of red, but the club is 4-2 since his arrival. 21. Cleveland Indians: 14.7 (6.2, 8.6) Grady Sizemore is batting just .243 since the break. 22. Pittsburgh Pirates: 14.7 (6.5, 8.2) Jeff Karstens has a 2.25 ERA but just a 3.54 K/9 rate. 23. Cincinnati Reds: 14.1 (5.4, 8.8) Johnny Cueto, Josh Fogg, Homer Bailey and Aaron Harang each have ERAs over 5.00 since the break and Edinson Volquez?s ERA is at 4.24. 24. Florida Marlins: 13.8 (4.7, 9.1) Dan Uggla had a .673 OPS in July and even lower .606 in August. 25. Seattle Mariners: 13.6 (5.7, 7.9) Ichiro?s .747 OPS is currently the lowest of his eight-year MLB career. 26. Kansas City Royals: 13.0 (4.2, 8.9) Joakim Soria has a 1.48 ERA, 9.55 K/9 rate and 33 saves. 27. San Francisco Giants: 12.8 (3.6, 9.2) Jonathan Sanchez has crashed and burned after a promising start to the season, posting a 7.13 ERA since the break. 28. Oakland Athletics: 12.1 (2.9, 9.2) Jack Cust has 22 homers for the season and a .990 OPS in August. 29. San Diego Padres: 11.5 (2.8, 8.7) Adrian Gonzalez has a .972 OPS on the road and .745 at Petco Park. 30. Washington Nationals: 10.6 (2.7, 7.9) Odalis Perez has a 2.84 ERA in August.