2004 CDBL MID-SEASON PLAYOFF RACE REVIEW If the playoffs were held today: AP Conference Bracket: (1) Springfield Isotopes (Paige Division Pennant) vs. (4) San Diego Chickens (#2 League Wildcard) (2) Manhatten Beach Mashers (Aaron Division Pennant) vs. (3) Dallas SuperSquad (AP Conf Wildcard) GT Conference Bracket: (1) Avila Dragons (Tiant Division Pennant) vs. (4) Boston Bulldogs (#1 League Wildcard) (2) Anchorage Gold Diggers (Gehrig Division Pennant) vs. (3) Milwaukee Pilots (GT Conference Wildcard) Other teams in the playoff hunt: Tualatin Thunder (1/2 game behind) Hong Kong Cavaliers (1 game behind) Concord Minutemen (1 game behind) Carlsbad Surfers (1 1/2 games behind) ************************************************ AARON DIVISION: The Mashers and SuperSquad are duke-ing it out for the Aaron division pennant. Manhatten Beach Mashers (50-35, Aaron Division Leader) - David Ortiz is emerging as an elite hitter, hitting .320 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI at the break. JD Drew is hitting .281 with 59 runs scored and 63 RBI, while Todd Greene is hitting .346 with 14 home runs. Marcus Giles is hitting .344 with 33 runs scored in 125 at bats. Odalis Perez is 9-5 at the break, although all of their starters have ERA's above 4.0. Juan Rincon is excelling at the closer role, saving 14 games with a 1.77 ERA. Dallas SuperSquad (46-36, 2 1/2 games behind) - Scott Rolen has had a great 1st half, hitting .313 with 22 home runs, 58 runs scored and 59 RBI. Moises Alou is hitting .287 with 50 runs scored and 53 RBI, while Adam Dunn has smacked 19 home runs with 59 runs scored and 57 RBI. Derek Jeter has added 16 stolen bases and 55 runs scored. Bronson Arroyo is 5-4 with a 3.54 ERA, and Adam Eaton is 8-5 with a 4.14 ERA. Luis Vizcaino has struggled in the closer role, going 3-6 with a 6.83 ERA along with 13 saves. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Montreal Voltigeurs, Elk Grove Trout, Arkham Investigators, Point Lomas Friars ************************************************ PAIGE DIVISION: The Isotopes hold a commanding lead, but the Chickens and Thunder will duel for a wildcard spot. Springfield Isotopes (58-26, Paige Division Leader) - The Isotopes are clicking on all cylinders. Ivan Rodrigeuz is hitting .351 with 93 RBI, Barry Bonds is hitting .349 with 28 home runs, 93 runs scored and 93 RBI, Mark Kotsay is hitting .347 with 82 runs scored, and Travis Hafner is hitting .332 with 68 runs scored. Miguel Tejada is hitting .307 with 79 RBI, and Gary Sheffield his hitting .300 with 78 runs scored. Curt Schilling is 12-4 with a 3.50 ERA, and John Thomson is 10-3 with a 4.21 ERA. BJ Ryan and Dan Miceli have combined to save 15 games with ERA's below 3.18. San Diego Chickens (46-36, 11 games behind) - The Chickens are making a wildcard run this year. Adrian Beltre is hitting .368 with 18 home runs, 62 runs scored and 55 RBI. Vladimir Guerrero is hitting .334 with 16 home runs, 56 runs scored and 58 RBI, while Sean Casey is hitting .319 with 52 runs scored. Jermaine Dye has 20 home runs and 68 RBI, while Bernie Williams has scored 64 runs. John Lackey leads the team in wins with a 7-5 record, and closer Jason Isringhausen has been stellar, saving 19 games, winning another 4 and posting a 1.79 ERA. Tualatin Thunder (45-36, 11 1/2 games behind) - Currently on the outside of the playoff race, Tualatin is still very much in it. Jim Thome has been a rock, hitting .304 with 37 home runs, 80 runs scored and 83 RBI. Miguel Cabrera is hitting .331 with 18 home runs, 69 runs scored and 61 RBI, while Jose Guillen is hitting .310 with 18 home runs, 52 runs scored and 63 RBI. Rocco Baldelli is hitting .280 with 18 stolen bases and 67 runs scored. Al Leiter is 8-1 with a 3.11 ERA since being acquired via trade. Closer Mariano Rivera has saved 8 games, won another 6 and has a 2.73 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Seattle Decaf, DBL Fishbiscuits, Madison Muckrakers ************************************************ GEHRIG DIVISION: Anchorage holds the league, but th4e Cavaliers, Minutemen and Surfers are all within striking range. Anchorage Gold Diggers (50-32, Gehrig Division Leader) - The Gold Diggers have been quietly leading the division all year. Melvin Mora leads the way, hitting .343 with 19 home runs, 68 runs scored and 62 RBI. Lew Ford is hitting .332 with 58 runs scored, and Mike Cameron is hitting .281 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI. Brad Wilkerson has 17 home runs, 65 runs scored and 59 RBI at the break. David Wells is 9-4 at the break, and closer Brendan Donnelly has 11 saves and a 3.44 ERA. Hong Kong Cavaliers (45-37, 5 games behind) - A lot of big bats keep Hong Kong in contention. Casey Blake has 18 home runs and 55 RBI. Carlos Delgado has 17 home runs and 62 runs scored. Carlos Beltran has 12 stolen bases, 21 home runs and 61 RBI. D'Angelo Jimenez has 14 stolen bases, a .300 batting average and 50 runs scored. Carlos Lee has 47 runs scored and 52 RBI. They also acquired Brian Giles near the break, who is hitting .385 in 6 games. Pedro Martinez is 10-5 with a 4.57 ERA. Closer Brad Lidge has saved 14 games with a 1.64 ERA, and Joe Nathan 9 with a 0.84 ERA. Concord Minutemen (46-38, 5 games behind) - Mark Teixeira and Jeromy Burnitz have brought the power, smashing 22 home runs each. Lance Berkman is hitting .302 with 57 runs scored, and Troy Glaus is hitting .287 with 16 home runs and 46 RBI. Mark Bellhorn adds a .386 on base average and 46 runs scored. Ryan Klesko has a .372 on base average with 50 runs scored. Johan Santana is 8-3 with a 3.46 ERA, although the rest of the starters have ERA's starting in the mid 4's. Closer Armando Benitez has saved 17 games with a 2.68 ERA. Carlsbad Surfers (45-38, 5 1/2 games behind) - Offense has been a bit light for Carlsbad this year. Hank Blalock has been their primary force, hitting .288 with 15 home runs, 49 runs scored and 64 RBI. Raul Ibanez is hitting .281 with 46 runs scored and 45 RBI. Where the Surfers have been winning is with pitching. Brad Radke, Jake Westbrook, Jeff Weaver and Greg Maddux have combined to win 23 games with ERA's between 3.5-4.11. Closer Trevor Hoffman has saved 20 games, but with a 4.31 ERA has also sported a poor 1-7 record. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Topeka Stingers, Albuquerque Maul ************************************************ TIANT DIVISION: The Dragons are running away with it, but the Bulldogs and Pilots look to be post-season contenders. Avila Dragons (56-26, Tiant Division Leader) - The Dragons posted the best record in the conference at the break. Doug Mirabelli hit .367 with 18 home runs and 47 RBI before burning out. Jim Edmonds is hitting .303 with 25 home runs, 77 runs scored and 65 RBI. Alex Rodriguez is hitting .288 with 22 home runs and 80- runs scored. Corey Koskie is hitting .307 with 18 home runs and 53 RBI, while Johnny Damon is hitting .303 with 66 runs scored. Mike Sweeney adds 16 home runs and 51 RBI. Roger Clemens has a 12-3 record at the break, and Rich Harden is 8-2 with a 4.21 ERA. Ray King has gotten most of the save opportunities and has 13 saves, although his 5.65 ERA has not been stellar. Milwaukee Pilots (49-36, 8 1/2 games behind) - Last year's champs, the Pilots look to have the chance defend their crown. Ichiro Suzuki is hitting .354 with 20 stolen bases and 71 runs scored. Mark Loretta is hitting .325 with 48 runs scored and 46 RBI. Jorge Posada is hitting .285 with 45 runs scored and 51 RBI. Vernon Wells has 53 RBI. Doug Davis is 11-2 with a 3.09 ERA, and Kelvim Escobar is 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA. Closer Eric Gagne has been lights-out, saving 23 games with a tiny 1.62 ERA. Boston Bulldogs (47-35, 9 games behind) - Bobby Abreu has been the most notable Boston hitter, sporting a .383 on base average and 66 runs scored. Ray Durham is hitting .271 with 43 RBI. The Bulldogs remain in contention due to their pitching. Oliver Perez is 11-2 with a 3.58 ERA, Carlos Zambrano is 11-4 with a 3.77 ERA, and Randy Johnson is 9-4 with a 3.50 ERA. Closer Keith Foulke has saved 20 games with a 2.40 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Alphaville Cautions, Bangor Blue Lobsters, Dedham Destroyers