With the calendar quickly moving through August and onto September, it is now time to look at who needs to step up in order for their teams to make the playoffs. With so many teams still in the hunt for October, here are the top ten players who will decide the fate of all of them. 10. Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies Even after going into major-seller mode at the deadline, the Phillies still stand only 3.5 games back of the wild card. This is in large part to the hit streak of Chase Utley, but the major reason is Howard, who is the unquestioned leader of this team and is on a tear that few can compete with. In just 13 games this month, Howard has hit for a .382 average to go along with six home runs and 19 RBI. Just from these past few weeks, Howard looks poised to take the Phillies on his back and carry them to the post-season, much like David Ortiz has done in previous years. With an already talent-laden team, Howard could lead not only the Phillies to the playoffs, but also contend for the MVP. 9. Ken Griffey Jr., CF, Cincinnati Reds All season long, people both in Cincinnati and around baseball have constantly asked the question, Do the Reds have enough pitching to stay in the race? Well, after mid-season moves and the development of pitchers already on the roster, it is a hitter, but most importantly a fielder that will decide their fate. His bat has dropped off over the past few seasons, but he still is a force in the middle of the line-up on name along. He provides some pedigree to a line-up that really isn?t as good as people make it out to be. However, his biggest contribution could be in the field, where even though he has lost a step, he is still one of the better defensive centerfielder in the game, which will help the pitching staff along. He isn?t the player he was five years ago, but his experience and respect in the clubhouse will keep this team on the right track all the way to October. 8. Jake Peavy, SP, San Diego Padres What ever happened to Jake Peavy? He went from top-line starter to a 6-11 record and an ERA above 4.50. Peavy has struggled this entire season and hasn?t even come close to the ace everyone envisioned for this season. This has led to problems for San Diego because they don?t have much behind him in the rotation and it has limited the streaks the Padres have gotten on. So, if Peavy can regain his form, the Padres have the ability to get on a run that could lead to either the wild card or division because of their close proximity to both races. However, if he can?t, there isn?t enough to pick up the slack, resulting in an early winter for San Diego. 7. Frank Thomas, DH, Oakland A?s The Big Hurt is laying the hurt in Oakland after an injury plagued season in Chicago, but he will have to continue this if the A?s want to get back to the playoffs. Thomas provides the A?s their first true home-run threat since Jason Giambi left and also fills the void of a veteran presence on a team of mostly young players. Thomas, with 25 home runs and 69 RBI to go along with a slugging percentage of over .500, is just what the A?s needed to add this off-season, and with no signs of slowing down, it looks like the A?s might just run-a-away with the division on the big bat of Frank Thomas. 6. Greg Maddux, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers This is pretty big praise for a guy who many thought would be a third or fourth starter in Los Angeles, but he has been nothing less than brilliant. Maddux has looked like the Bulldog of old in his three starts and could easily make the NL West a laughingstock if he continues his great pitching because the Dodgers are by far the most talented team in the division. Also, a strong Maddux could vault the Dodgers as the best contender to the Mets for the National League, which is pretty good for a team that just lost 13 of 14. 5. David Wells, SP, Boston Red Sox Boomer has been injured most of this season, but he could hold the key for the Red Sox. With injuries all around the starting rotation, Wells now has to step up in the third spot to provide depth to this rotation as the Red Sox try to make up games over these last six weeks. Wells is a veteran who has pitched in and won big games, and with the offense already in Boston, another quality starter could be all that Boston needs to squeak in the playoffs through the wild card or division. Cross your fingers Red Sox Nation. 4. Jason Isringhausen CL St. Louis Cardinals Isringhausen?s stock has fallen over the past few years, but he still is an above average closer with 29 saves and an ERA of just over 3. Still, he will have to be better if the Cardinals want to hang onto the NL Central and even the Wild Card. The Cardinals have been in a tailspin over their last 17 games, going 4-13, including 0-7 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals aren?t as good talent wise as some thought before this season, so they will be in tight games the rest of the year because they aren?t good enough to just beat up on teams. This is where the closer comes in because in a tight race, you have to win as many close games as you can, so a rock solid Isringhausen could be the little extra St. Louis needs to reach some of their pre-season goals. 3. Johan Santana SP Minnesota Twins Santana is one of the few pitchers in baseball who can carry a staff by himself and almost make his fellow starters pitch better. That?s why the Twins are still in the Wild Card race, even without injured Francisco Liriano. Santana and the Twins play 21 games down the stretch against Boston, New York, Detroit, Chicago or Oakland, which is why Minnesota could hold the key for many of the American League races. Santana hasn?t lost in over a month and with Santana having the possibility to pitch in every one of the above series, it could be Minnesota who decides it all in the American League. 2. Randy Johnson, SP, New York Yankees Johnson was tabbed with lofty expectations when he came to the Big Apple, but he has felled to live up to them thus far. With his combination of fastball-slider and the intimidation factor on the mound, Johnson could still be one of the best pitchers in baseball when he is right. The Yankees have the offense to win it all, but pitching depth is a concern, especially in the playoffs. The reason for the early exits in past years have been spotty starting pitching, so if Johnson can team with the always consistent Mike Mussina, the Yankees could quietly become the favorite in the American League. 1. Chicago White Sox Rotation You?re only supposed to have one person for each slot, but the lack of production from this group has been a group effort. Jon Garland, Javier Vazquez, Freddy Garcia, Mark Buehrle, and Jose Contreras have the talent to be the best rotation in baseball, but they just haven?t been able to string quality starts together. If they can turn it around, which they have shown signs of doing lately, then the White Sox automatically become the odds on favorite because of the combination of offense, pitching, and the managing of Ozzie Guillen will take the White Sox back to the World Series in 2006.