Give Javy Lopez credit for having a sense of perspective.

"The last couple of years I wasn't the player I used to be," Lopez said. "There was something wrong with me and I was trying to figure out what it was. How can I be the same player?''

Among all the storylines in the National League season, Lopez's return to form may have gotten lost in the shuffle. At least outside of Atlanta, that is.

	Gary Sheffield will be the first big free-agent signing for the Yankees this offseason.

Braves manager Bobby Cox and fans of his team know what a staggering about-face the 32-year-old catcher has made. The Braves' stunning start has partly been the product of contributions from a player many had written off.

After watching his batting average slide three years in a row, from .317 in 1999 to .233 in 2002, Lopez went to work and found the source of his problems. He has been locked in at the plate since the first week of the season, leaving him with no reason to constantly tinker with his stance and his approach.

"Everything is mental,'' Lopez recently told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Once you are calm and relaxed and thinking positive -- that's the key. I used to change every little thing at the plate. Now I don't change anything, no matter how many times I strike out."

With Mike Piazza being sidelined and Ivan Rodriguez continuing to show the wear and tear that prompted the Texas Rangers to let him leave as a free agent, Lopez has emerged as the top catcher in the NL. He's hitting ..306 with 21 homers.

Lopez's play gives general manager John Schuerholz an intriguing option. If he is inclined to act boldly, he can put Lopez on the trade market. Not only would Lopez likely bring a large return in young players, but a trade would free up $7 million to use elsewhere, most likely on pitching.

Lopez is eligible for free agency after this season. The Braves are confident they have a replacement in place in switch hitter Johnny Estrada, who they acquired in the much-maligned deal for Kevin Millwood last offseason.

Even Estrada expressed surprise that he could be dealt even up for a 20-game winner. But the 26-year-old is hitting .337 with five homers and 37 RBI for Triple-A Richmond.

If Lopez is going to be traded, it might happen sooner rather than later. He completes his 10th year of service time during the All-Star break, giving him veto power of any deal as a 10-and-5 man (10 seasons in the majors, five with the same team).

"I was just told that happens sometime in July,'' Lopez said. "They haven't told me anything. I have no idea what they're going to do. I'm just enjoying the moment. Whatever comes next, comes.''

That bears watching. For the moment, all we can say is that Lopez is a notable inclusion on our list of deserving All-Star starters in the NL.

The others:

First base -- Todd Helton, Rockies: Yes, he's partly a creation of Coors Field. He's hitting .399 with one homer every 15.3 at-bats at home compared to .269 with one homer ever 59 at-bats on the road. But with Jim Thome going through an adjustment period and Jeff Bagwell's production down, we'll take Helton on our team.

Also worth consideration: Richie Sexson.

Second base -- Jeff Kent, Astros: So much for any thoughts that Kent would suffer from separation anxiety after leaving Barry Bonds in San Francisco. He's been pretty much what Houston hoped he would be. It's looking like he'll finish with 20-something homers, not the 30-plus he's had every other year since 1998. But he's on track for his seventh consecutive 100-RBI season.

Also worth consideration: Jose Vidro and Marcus Giles.

	Alex Gonzalez has broke out in a big way this year for the Marlins.

Shortstop -- Alex Gonzalez, Marlins: This guy finally gets it. Blessed with tremendous talent, he often floated in his early seasons in the big leagues. But he's become much more committed to training and alert during games in the two seasons he's worked with Marlins coaches Perry Hill and Ozzie Guillen. He seems hungry, perhaps because a separated left shoulder limited him to only 42 games last season, and is leading the way in a strong year for NL shortstops. His OPS is better than Luis Gonzalez.

Also worth consideration: Edgar Renteria and Rafael Furcal.

Third base -- Scott Rolen, Cardinals: There's no tougher choice in either league than Rolen vs. Mike Lowell. We'll take Rolen only because he's a more patient hitter. He reaches base more often on walks, pushing his on-base percentage to .399.

Lowell, however, has more home runs and a higher slugging percentage. You couldn't go wrong either way. Rolen is killing Lowell in the fan vote. It will be interesting to see how the player vote goes.

Also worth consideration: Lowell.

Left field -- Albert Pujols, Cardinals: Talk about terrific hitters. Pujols is about as good as they get, Barry Bonds included. He's got an outside chance to challenge two of baseball's Holy Grail quests this season -- .400 and the Triple Crown. He's among the leaders in just about every offensive category except stolen bases and strikeouts. He's been the key to St. Louis reaching the playoffs the last two seasons and just might take the Cardinals there again.

Also worth consideration: Bonds.

Center field -- Corey Patterson, Cubs: In a league with Bonds, Pujols, Sammy Sosa and Gary Sheffield, there's no chance of Patterson cracking the starting lineup. But he might be there if Cubs manager Dusty Baker got the chance to pick a true lineup among the All-Star outfielders. After being challenged by former manager Don Baylor, who compared him to 1980s bust Oddibe McDowell, Patterson is thriving under Baker. His strike-zone judgment remains in need of improvement, but he's getting results with his aggressive style of hitting. He's also a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder and dangerous base stealer.

Also worth consideration: Preston Wilson, Jim Edmonds and Andruw Jones.

Right field -- Gary Sheffield, Braves: It's hard to imagine the Braves would allow both Sheffield and Lopez to leave after All-Star seasons, but that's a possibility. Sheffield is on the MVP short list in his walk season. How good is he going? So good he figures he doesn't even need agent Scott Boras to sell him. That's confidence. Or craziness.

Also worth consideration: Austin Kearns.

Starting pitcher -- Kevin Brown, Dodgers: He's back and as ornery as ever. Elbow and back surgeries left Brown looking like damaged goods, hardly a good situation for the team that owes him $15 million a year through 2005. But instead of being a burden, the 38-year-old Brown is leading a pitching staff that has put Los Angeles into serious playoff contention. He's allowed more than two earned runs in only two of 15 starts (including none in the last 11) and is using his natural sinker to hold hitters to a .209 batting average.

Also worth consideration: Woody Williams, Kevin Millwood.

Phil Rogers is the national baseball writer for the Chicago Tribune, which has a Web site at www.chicagosports.com.