1992 CDBL MIDSEASON REVIEW "Your mileage may vary!" Aaron Division - ************************************************************************************************** 1st place - Manhatten Beach Mashers (66-21) - They lead the league in wins. They lead the league in runs scored. They lead the league in ERA. Not much is going wrong for the Mashers this year. 1B Mark McGwire is slugging .548 with 24 home runs and 86 RBI. Rob Deer has bashed 27 home runs with a .623 slugging average and 67 RBI. 3B Dave Hollins has a .368 on base average and 71 runs scored, while Rickey Henderson is hitting .313 with 57 runs scored and 62 RBI. Tom Candiotti is 13-3 with a 2.71 ERA and while Danny Jackson sports a fairly high 3.67 ERA, it hasn't affected his 12-3 win record. Dennis Martinez and Cal Eldred are a combined 18-3. Closer Mike Fetters has 18 saves and a 1.23 ERA. OUTLOOK: Manhatten is running at peak performance. On to the playoffs! 2nd place - Arkham Investigators (54-29, 10 games behind) - The 2nd best pitching staff in the league has put Arkham in the driver seat for the AP conference wildcard, but their "just average" hitters have put them 10 games behind the Mashers. Ace Kevin Appier was 12-3 at the all-star break with a 2.58 ERA, and Jose Rijo is 8-5 with a 2.30 ERA. Storm Davis's 4.06 ERA is a bit high, but his save total is still pretty impressive (19). Youngster Ken Griffey Jr is having a great year, slugging .450 with 46 runs scored and 62 RBI. But tablesetter Tony Phillips has just a .322 on base average and only 48 runs scored, and 3B Robin Ventura is hitting .237 with 27 runs driven in. OUTLOOK: Likely to make the playoffs, but the lack of hitting could lead to an early exit. 3rd place - Elk Grove Trout (48-36, 16.5 games behind) - When you compete against the Mashers and Investigators, it is hard to dominate the league. But Elk Grove is currently sitting on the league wildcard. Terry Pendleton is slugging .453 with 42 runs scored and 49 RBI, while 1B Will Clark is hitting .297 with a .474 slugging percentage and 49 runs scored. The 2.86 team ERA is 3rd best in the league (and 3rd in the division). Sid Fernandez is 8-3 with a 2.28 ERA, and Mike Maddux has 14 saves with a 2.41 ERA. OUTLOOK: May need a hitter or two to make sure they make the playoffs, but the league wildcard spot is theirs to lose. 4th place - Point Lomas Friars (41-40, 22 games behind) - Too much firepower in the division has pushed Point Lomas to the lower part of the division. But Ryne Sandberg has been having a stellar year. The second baseman is hitting .316 with .519 slugging average, 16 home runs, 59 runs scored and 47 RBI. Tim Raines is his usual self, sporting a .376 on base averag, 45 runs scored and 26 stolen bases. Zane Smith has been a bright spot on the pitching staff, going 9-4 with a 2.77 ERA. OUTLOOK: Needs some more horses if they want to catch Elk Grove for the league wildcard spot. 5th place - Hurdle Mills Hurdlers (35-49, 29.5 games behind) - They were not expected to contend and well, they aren't. Mike Deveraux was an all-star, hitting .269 with 44 runs scored and 48 RBI. OUTLOOK: With Rafael Palmeiro and young phenom Tim Salmon (plus a good pick next year), things can only get better for the Hurdlers. Paige Division - ************************************************************************************************** 1st place - Springfield Isotopes (57-27) - Barry Bonds is clicking, and so are the Isotopes. Bonds has 18 home runs, 59 runs scored and 60 RBI, all with an on base average over .400 and a slugging average over .500. Rookie SS Pat Listach has 26 stolen bases, a .333 batting average and 59 runs scored. OF Greg Vaughn is slugging .462 with 54 runs driven in. Ace Melido Perez is 11-3 with a 2.57 ERA, and Curt Schilling is 9-5 with a 2.67 ERA. Closer Dennis Eckersley has 17 saves and a 2.06 ERA, while middle reliever Mark Guthrie is a win machine all on his own, sporting an 8-0 record in 33 appearances with a 1.91 ERA. OUTLOOK: Springfield looks like they will cruise to the pennant, and could be setting themselves up for a showdown with the Mashers in the playoffs. 2nd place - Dewey Beach Lush (41-37, 12.5 games behind) - They've got some stars, but it hasn't translated into resounding success yet. Starters Dave Fleming and Kevin Gross are a combined 20-4, and closer Xavier Hernandez has 15 saves and a 2.05 ERA. 3B Gary Sheffield has been a monster, hitting .296 with 19 home runs, 52 runs scored and 71 RBI. 1B Frank Thomas has a .370 on base average and 53 runs scored. OF Candy Maldonado is slugging .521 with 49 runs scored. But catcher Matt Nokes is hitting only .195 with 20 RBI, and Rick Sutcliffe sports a 8-7 record but a sky-high 5.09 ERA. OUTLOOK: Filling the gaps for Nokes and Sutcliffe could be key to getting the Lush into the playoffs this year. 3rd place - DC Riots (44-40, 12.5 games behind) - A power outage in DC is threatening their playoff hopes. Despite the power of Fred McGriff (.393 on base average, 13 homers, 49 RBI) and catcher Chris Hoiles (.498 slugging average, 15 home runs, 47 runs scored), the team as a whole are slugging only .367. Ken Hill has been exceptional on the mound, going 9-4 with a 2.51 ERA. Larry Andersen has been performing closer duties, saving 14 games with a 1.09 ERA before burning out at the mid-season break. OUTLOOK: The team needs to hit the weight room a bit more if they want to make it into the playoffs. 4th place - Long Beach Experience (30-50, 24.5 games behind) - The pitching has not been effective, with the staff posting a below average 4.19 ERA. Their team slugging average of .332 is 2nd to bottom in the legaue. OUTLOOK: Things are pretty bleak in Long Beach at the moment. They'll have to wait until next year to try to make it to playoff contention. 5th place - Tualatin Thunder (29-50, 25 games behind) - Their 3.03 team ERA is much better than average, but their complete lack of hitting has killed the Thunder's season. Steve Avery has a 2.26 ERA, but only sports an 8-7 record. Roberto Hernandez has a 1.27 ERA and 11 saves. Their .230 batting average, .283 on base average, and .312 slugging average are all near the bottom of the league. OUTLOOK: With their high draft picks next year, look to the Thunder to grab a slugger or two next year. 6th place - White Rock Mighty Pugs (28-54, 27.5 games behind). They escaped the challenging Aaron division in hopes of competing, but it didn't help this year. CF Brett Butler has a .394 on base average and 52 runs scored, while Eddie Murray has driven in 56 runs. Kent Bottenfield saved 10 games before burning out. A 3.94 team ERA and a 10-19 1-run record hasn't helped. OUTLOOK: The Mighty Pugs have been collecting valuable 1st round picks in the past several years, and this year won't be different. Gehrig Division - ************************************************************************************************** 1st place - Morningside Urban Rats (45-36) - Their .556 winning percentage is lowest among division leaders, but a lead is a lead. Bip Roberts has been key to the offense, hitting .371 with a .426 on base average, 52 runs scored and 44 RBI. 1B Tino Martinez is hitting .324 with a .523 slugging average, 10 home runs and 40 runs driven in. Derek Lilliquist has been a top closer, saving 16 games with a tiny 1.29 ERA. Mike Mussina is 8-7 with a 3.00 ERA. OUTLOOK: They're in the lead, but they may need more talent to maintain their pennant leading status. 2nd place - Boulder City Trustafarians (44-37, 1 game behind) - The chief competitor to the Urban Rats this year. Barry Larkin and Chuck Knoblauch are a double play combo who are each on a 100 run scoring pace. 3B Ken Caminiti is hitting .299 with 10 home runs, 50 runs scored and 45 RBI. John Kruk has a .421 on base average with 42 runs scored and 40 RBI. Closer Jeff Montgomery has saved 10 games, with a 1.69 ERA. Juan Guzman is 8-4 with a 2.39 ERA, while Omar Olivares is 9-4 with a 3.55 ERA. OUTLOOK: They've been able to keep pace with the Urban Rats so far this season. The winner of the division may be the one who can add the most talent during trading season. 3rd place - Topeka Stingers (36-48, 10.5 games behind) - Despite the stellar play of CF Andy Van Slyke (.294 average, 52 runs scored) and Ron Gant (.425 slugging average, 53 runs scored, 33 steals), the "auto outs" of Chris Sabo, Gary Disarcina and Willie Randolph have stalled the offense. Each of these "hacking masses" are hitting .200 with a .300 on base average and .300 slugging average. The pitching has been somewhat disappointing as well, with the staff posting a below average 4.10 ERA. OUTLOOK: Better luck next year. 4th place - San Francisco Samurai (30-46, 12.5 games behind) - While they wait for youngster Pedro Martinez to develop, it's another year of pain for the Samurai. Despite the presense of vets like Doc Gooden (3.04 ERA, 4-7 record) and Frank Viola (4.12 ERA, 4-8 record), the team ERA is 3.81. Tom Henke has saved 9 games with a 1.41. Other than 1B Wally Joyner (.464 slugging average, 49 RBI), little power is seen on the team. Their team slugging average is just .336. OUTLOOK: Better luck next year. 5th place - Albuquerque Maul (33-53, 14.5 games behind) - A lack of pitching put the Maul out of the running this year. Their 4.09 ERA is 5th worst in the league. Donovan Osbourne is the lone standout, going 7-5 with a 3.41 ERA. The lineup features 4 10+ home players, but their on base average is 3rd worst in the league, and they lead the league in strikeouts. So lots of all-or- nothing games. Albert Belle is slugging .407 with 13 homes and 54 RBI. OUTLOOK: Better luck next year. 6th place - Concord Minutemen (28-55, 18 games behind) - Their 5.31 team ERA is worst in the league .. by far. Jose Canseco has 14 home runs and 50 RBI, while 2B Carlos Baerga is hitting .318 with 52 runs scored. That's about it. OUTLOOK: Better luck next year. Tiant Division - ************************************************************************************************** 1st place - Dedham Destroyers (50-33) - Things are clicking for the Destroyers. David Justice is having a monster year (.511 slugging average, 18 home runs, 58 runs scored, 75 RBI), and 2b Lou Whitaker is as well (.329 average, .520 slugging, 60 runs scored, 51 RBI). Duane Ward has been highly effective at closing out games, saving 16 of them so far with a 1.90 ERA. Doug Drabek has been an ace, going 9-2 with a 2.96 ERA. Scott Erickson is 7-4. OUTLOOK: Some decent hitting and solid pitching make Dedham a likely candidate for the post-season. 2nd place - Orange Whoop (48-36, 2.5 games behind) - They've given up as many runs as they've scored, but are still in the driver seat for the GT conference wildcard. Their 21-10 record in 1 run games is a testament to that. Surprisingly, their closer Rick Aguilera has not been all that effective (11 saves but a 4.50 ERA). Tim Belcher has, going 11-2 with a 2.28 ERA. As has Todd Stottlemyre, going 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA. Juan Gonzalez has been a big bat in the middle, bashing 23 home runs with 49 runs scored. Outfielder Dave Winfield is slugging .536 with 14 home runs and 44 RBI, while 3B Gregg Jefferies has 22 steals and 50 runs scored. Speedster Kenny Lofton has stolen 46 bases and scored 48 runs. OUTLOOK: The Whoop look like they have enough horses this year to make it to the post-season. 3rd place - Boston Bulldogs (44-38, 5.5 games behind) - Currently on the outside looking in, Boston is still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Edgar Martinez and Ray Lankford are all-stars, each hitting over .300, slugging over .500, with 40+ runs scored and 50+ RBI. Paul Molitor is hitting .292 with 55 runs scored. Starter Mike Morgan is 11-5 with a tiny 1.80 ERA, and Dwayne Henry has a 2.02 ERA and has saved 17 games. Starters Randy JOhnson and Bob Tewksbury have won 8 games each. OUTLOOK: Still very much in the hunt, the Bulldogs may need to trade for additional talent to move up in the standings. 4th place - First Coast Riders (38-45, 12 games behind) - "Rocket" Roger Clemens has been having an all-star season (10-4 record, 1.74 ERA), but the rest of the staff has been struggling (3.94 ERA without Clemens). Chili Davis has been having a good year, hitting .297 with 41 runs scored. Cecil Fielder is hitting only .204, but has 11 home runs and 45 RBI. OUTLOOK: Roger has been great, but the rest of the team has caused the Riders to fall out of contention. 5th place - San Diego Stars (38-46, 12.5 games behind) - Despite the play of Steve Finley (.330 verag, 52 run scored), Roberto Kelly (46 RBI) and Cal Ripken (21 doubles, 48 RBI), the traditionally high flying offense hasn't been setting the league on fire. Bruce Hurst has been great (9-5, 2.91 ERA), but Mitch Williams has completely lost his mind this season (1-7 record, 14 saves, but 4 blown saves and a sky high 7.68 ERA). OUTLOOK: Williams' single-handed ability to take the Stars out of games plus a merely OK offense has caused trouble for the Stars this year.