2005 CDBL Playoff Race Mid-Season Review IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY - Aaron Division - Point Lomas Friars (54-29) Paige Division - Madison Muckrakers (55-30) Gehrig Division - Hong Kong Cavaliers (50-32) Tiant Division - Avila Dragons (55-27) MK Conference Wildcard - Seattle Decaf (52-33) RY Conference Wildcard - Albuquerque Maul (50-33) #1 League Wildcard - Manhatten Beach Mashers (52-33) #2 League Wildcard - Tualatin Thunder (48-33) IN THE WILDCARD PLAYOFF HUNT: DBL Fishbiscuits (50-35) - 0 games behind Topeka Stingers (45-38) - 4 games behind Dallas SuperSquad (44-38) - 4 1/2 games behind Alphaville Cautions (44-39) - 5 games behind Arkham Investigators (44-40) - 5 1/2 games behind Concord Minutemen (42-42) - 7 1/2 games behind *************************************** Aaron Division - 1st - Point Lomas Friars (54-29) (3 all-stars) - Pre-season favorites, the Friars have not disappointed, posting the conference's best record. Jason Giambi has slugged 34 home runs with 57 runs scored and 77 RBI, while Gary Sheffield is hitting .298 with 14 home runs and 44 RBI. Kenny Lofton has turned back father time, posting a .364 on base average, 44 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Andy Pettitte is 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA and started the all-star game. Kevin Millwood is 10-2 with a 3.29 ERA, and Scott Eyre has saved 22 games wtih a 2.54 ERA. 2nd - Manhatten Beach Mashers (52-33) (3 all-stars) - Just behind the Friars are the Mashers, who are playoff bound and looking to improve their post-season position. Morgan Ensberg is hitting .297 with 20 home runs, 60 runs scored and 64 RBI, while David Ortiz has 30 home runs, 66 runs scored and 62 RBI. Marcus Giles is hitting .303 with 46 runs scored. Rafael Furcal has added 57 runs scored and 27 stolen bases. Jose Contreras is 10-3 with a 3.42 ERA, CC Sabathia is a 10 game winner and closer Chad Cordero has saved 22 games with 2.43 ERA. 3rd - Dallas SuperSquad (44-38) (1 all-star) - The SuperSquad are on the outside looking in, but a hot streak could put them back in contention. All-star Derek Jeter is hitting .285 with 13 home runs and 61 runs scored, and Ken Griffey Jr. has 14 home runs and 46 RBI. Closer Derrick Turnbow has saved 16 games with a 1.55 ERA. 4th - Arkham Investigators (44-40) (1 all-star) - See Dallas' outlook, only more so. All-star Derrek Lee is having a fine season, hitting 35 home runs with 71 runs scored and 76 RBI. Huston Street has saved 23 games with a 2.68 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Montreal Voltigeurs, Elk Grove Trout *************************************** Paige Division - 1st - Madison Muckrakers (55-30) (5 all-stars) - Madison's rebuilding effort has paid off, as they're sitting in 1st place in the Paige division. Richie Sexson is hitting .345 with 29 home runs, 62 runs scored and 91 RBI. David Wright is hitting .334 with 24 home runs, 77 runs scored and 73 RBI. Andruw Jones is hitting .321 with 34 home runs, 65 runs scored and 86 RBI. Infielder Felipe Lopez has 16 home runs and 51 runs scored. Rookie #1 pick Felix Hernandez went 9-2 with a 3.96 ERA before burning out. Jon Lieber has 11 wins but a 4.53 ERA. So far relief has been closer by committee, with no pitcher having more than 7 saves. 2nd - Seattle Decaf (52-33) (7 all-stars) - Right on the tail of the Muckrakers are the Decaf, who had the most all-stars in the conference this year. Jonny Gomes has hit 28 home runs with 81 RBI, but won't be able to stretch that for the whole season. Up and comer Joe Mauer made the all-star team, hitting .333 with 54 runs scored. Infielder Mark Ellis has hit .309 with 61 runs scored. Carlos Silva is 9-2 with a 2.58 ERA, and Joe Blanton is 11-5 with a 3.22 ERA. Closer Billy Wagner has saved 22 games with a miniscule 1.07 ERA. 3rd - Tualatin Thunder (48-33) (1 all-star) - Built to contend, the Thunder are currently sitting on a league wildcard spot. Eric Chavez is hitting .270 with 20 home runs, 54 runs scored and 55 RBI. Victor Martinez has 11 home runs and 53 Runs scored, while Miguel Cabrera is hitting .304 with 14 home runs and 54 runs scored. Jose Guillen adds to the mix, hitting 12 home runs with 55 runs scored. Chris Carpenter is 9-4 with a 2.83 ERA, and Mariano Rivera has saved 10 games with a 1.57 ERA. 4th - DBL Fishbiscuits (50-35) (2 all-stars) - Coming up for air after a rebuild, DBL is neck and neck with Tualatin for the last league wild spot. Albert Pujols is having a fine year, hitting .317 with 26 home runs, 72 runs scored and 69 RBI. Miguel Tejada is hitting .305 with 14 home runs, 53 runs scored and 61 RBI, and Matt Holliday has 17 home runs and 64 RBI. Jeff Suppan is 9-3 with a 3.47 ERA, and closer Hector Carrasco has saved 14 games with a 1.96 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: San Diego Chickens, Springfield Isotopes *************************************** Gehrig Division - 1st - Hong Kong Cavaliers (50-32) (1 all-star) - A strong start and some mid-season acquisitions have Hong Kong in the driver's seat for the Gehrig division pennant. Brian Giles has a .403 on base average and 60 runs scored, and Julio Lugo has a .305 batting average and 51 runs scored. Carlos Delgado has 12 home runs and 47 RBI. Pedro Martinez is 8-2 with a 2.95 ERA, and Dontrelle Willis is 8-5 with a 3.38 ERA. All-star closer Joe Nathan has saved 17 games with a 2.14 ERA. Acquisition Brad Radke is 1-0 in 3 starts with a 3.43 ERA. 2nd - Albuquerque Maul (50-33) (4 all-stars) - Albuquerque is hot on the trail for the Gehrig division pennant. Michael Young is hitting .335 with 12 home runs, 57 runs scored and 71 RBI. Pat Burrell has 16 home runs, 48 runs scored and 66 RBI, while Todd Helton has 14 home runs and 45 RBI. Brandon Webb is 8-4 with a 3.52 ERA, Roy Oswalt and 9-5 with a 3.79 ERA and Kris Benson is 8-4 with a 4.14 ERA. Closer Al Reyes has saved 18 games with a 1.55 ERA. 3rd - Topeka Stingers (45-38) (3 all-stars) - The Stingers are a hot streak away from a wildcard spot. Ryan Howard is hitting .328 with 16 home runs and 40 RBI, and Carlos Guillen is hitting .370 with 47 runs scored. Jeff Kent is hitting .289 with 49 runs scored and 54 RBI. The well-hitting Stingers are hitting a league best .302. Javier Vazquez has been an ace, going 13-4 with a 3.31 ERA, and closer Todd Jones has saved 14 games and won another 4 with a 1.89 ERA. But the rest of the pitching has been iffy, posting a below average 4.64 team ERA. 4th - Concord Minutemen (42-42) (1 all-star) - It will take a miracle to make the playoffs, but fortunately for the Minutemen their hopes are only mostly dead. Mark Teixeira has slugged 17 home runs with 58 RBI, and Lance Berkman is hitting .290 with 47 runs scored. Closer Juan Padilla made the all-star team with 16 saves and a 0.80 ERA, but is done for the year. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Carlsbad Surfers, Anchorage Gold Diggers *************************************** Tiant Division - 1st - Avila Dragons (55-27) (8 all-stars) - Avila is crushing it this year, posting the league's best record at the break. Mike Sweeney is hitting .339 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI, while Rondell White is hitting .339 with 63 runs scored and 62 RBI. Johnny Damon is hitting .327 with 64 runs scored, and Alex Rodriguez has 27 home runs, 82 runs scored and 79 RBI. Jim Edmonds contributes, hitting 19 home runs with 75 runs scored and 61 RBI. Roger Clemens is 12-2 with a 2.43 ERA and an all-star start, and Rich Harden is 11-2 with a 3.48 ERA. Chris Spurling has saved 20 games. 2nd - Alphaville Cautions (44-39) (1 all-star) - The hopes of a Tiant division pennant is but a faint memory. Still, Alphaville is in the hunt in the wildcard race. Tony Clark has 22 home runs and 45 RBI, but won't be able to keep up his 1st half pace. Randy Winn has a .348 on base average and 46 runs scored. All-star Shawn Chacon is 7-2 with a 2.45 ERA at the break. Roberto Hernandez and Jason Vargas have combined to save 22 games but with an ERA north of 4. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Boston Bulldogs, Dedham Destroyers, Georgia Pines, Milwaukee Pilots