1994 CDBL MID-SEASON REVIEW Aaron Division - The Arkham Investigators (60-24) are well in front and appear poised to capture the Aaron division pennant. Ken Griffey Jr is hitting .359 with 81 runs, 105 RBI, 39 home runs and is a leading candidate for MVP. Robin Ventura has 20 home runs and 67 RBI, while Tony Phillips has a .392 on base average with 70 runs scored. Bret Saberhagen is 12-2 and Kevin Appier is 10-2, and 20 wins is not out of the reach of either ace. Closer Mel Rojas has 13 saves and a 2.63 ERA. Manhatten Beach (47-36) is in good position for the AP conference wildcard. Catcher Sandy Alomar Jr is hitting .369 with 17 home runs and 71 RBI, while Paul O'Neill has 66 runs scored and is hitting .343. Starters Danny Jackson and Marvin Freeman have each won 9 games with strong run support. The Elk Grove Trout (43-41) and Savannah Shoeless Joe's are also competing for wildcard spots. Tony Gwynn is hitting .414 for the Trout with 65 runs scored, while Rafael Palmeiro is hitting .349 with a .553 slugging average, 69 runs scored and 57 RBI for the Joe's. Ben McDonald is 7-5 with a 2.72 ERA for the Trout, and Trout closer Rob Nen has 15 saves and a 3.09 ERA. Joe's closer Roger Mason has 15 saves with a 1.60 ERA. The Point Lomas Friars (36-49) and California Kamados (14-70) are likely out of playoff contention this year. Friars shortstop Shawon Dunston is hitting .325 with 51 runs scored, while Kamado centerfielder Mike Devereaux has 51 RBI and 10 triples. Paige Division - The Springfield Isotopes (50-36) are in the familiar territory of 1st place in the Paige division. Bernie Williams is hitting .326 with 70 runs scored. Barry Bonds is slugging .606 with 22 home runs, 80 runs scored and 88 RBI. Mark Whiten has 15 home runs and 83 RBI. Starters Kevin Tapani and Scott Kamieniecki are 8-4 with ERA's hovering around 3. Closer duties have been a team affair, with no reliever having more than 9. The Tualatin Thunder (44-41) and Dewey Beach Lush (42-41) are competing for the pennant as well as the wildcard spots. Jeff Bagwell of the Thunder is vying for MVP honors, hitting .375 with 35 home runs, 89 runs scored and 86 RBI at the break. Catcher Mike Piazza of the Thunder is slugging .519 with 55 RBI. Dewey Beach 1B Frank Thomas is hitting .361 with 23 home runs, 63 runs scored and 75 RBI, while 2B Craig Biggio has 51 stolen bases, a .352 average and 77 runs scored. Thunder starter Jeff Van Landingham is 8-2, and Thunder closer Bill Risley has 14 saves and a 3.35 ERA. Lush starter Chris Bosio is 7-5, while reliever Rusty Meacham is 8-3 with 3 saves. The Largo Longshots (39-44) are a bit of a longshot to make the playoffs, but it is still possible with a strong second half. Outfielder Moises Alou is hitting .288 with 17 home runs, 51 runs scored and 56 RBI. Starter Kent Mercker is 8-4 with a 3.38 ERA, while closer John Wetteland has saved 19 games despite posting a 4.13 ERA. The White Rock Mighty Pugs (37-47) and Brainerd Blue Ox (31-50) are likely out of the playoffs this year. Julio Franco has 10 home runs, 57 runs scored and 59 RBI for the Pugs, while Blue Ox's Fred McGriff is hitting .308 with 23 home runs and 70 RBI. Blue Ox's Ken Hill is 9-6 with a 4.06 ERA, while Pugs closer John Franco has 14 saves. Gehrig Division - The Encinitas Surfers (51-31) have a narrow lead in the Gehrig division. Their starters are among the best in the big leagues. Greg Maddux is 13-2 with a 2.08 ERA at the break, while Mike Mussina is 12-5 with a 3.45 ERA. Closer Chuck McElroy has a 2.92 ERA. Slugger Andres Galarraga has 23 home runs, 50 runs scored and 67 RBI, while catcher Mickey Tettleton is slugging .577 with 15 home runs, 50 runs scored and 50 RBI. The Albuquerque Maul (50-32) are just 1 game behind the Surfers for the division lead. Albert Belle is slugging .648 with 26 home runs, 71 runs scored and 78 RBI, while Lance Johnson has 33 stolen bases and 57 runs scored. Fellow outfielder Raul Mondesi has 54 RBI. John Smoltz is 8-2 with a 3.26 ERA for the Maul, and closer Ken Ryan has saved 15 games and won 5 games while sporting a 1.55 ERA. For the rest of the division, the playoff chances at this point is pretty slim. Kirby Puckett has been a bright spot for the Concord Minutemen (38-44), hitting 19 home runs with 51 runs scored and 69 RBI. Outfielder Dante Bichette has 16 home runs, 44 runs scored and 57 RBI for the Topeka Stingers (34-48), while Pedro Martinez has been ace-ing it up for the Hong Kong Cavaliers (34-48), going 7-3 with a 1.86 ERA. For the Boulder County Trustafarians, Ken Caminiti has hit .299 with 11 home runs, 50 runs scored and 58 RBI. Tiant Division - The top of the division is packed with contenders for the pennant and wildcards. The San Diego Stars (50-32) stand atop the division despite having a vacant GM spot. Bobby Bonilla is hitting .334 with 19 home runs, 57 runs scored and 78 RBI. Steve Finley is hitting .325 wtih 51 runs scored, and Paul Molitor is hitting .304 with 58 runs and 58 RBI. Aaron Sele is 9-2 with a 3.01 ERA, while Dennis Martinez is 11-4. Closer Eric Plunk has saved 18 games with a 2.98 ERA. The 2nd year Avila Dragons are not far behind, with a 49-33 record. Will Clark is hitting .350 with a .515 slugging average, 50 RBI and 70 rusn scored. Chili Davis is hitting .328 with 24 home runs, 65 runs scored and 74 RBI, while 3B Wade Boggs is hitting .333 with a .398 on base average and 59 runs scored. Andy Ashby is 9-6 with a 3.28 ERA, while Roger Clemens is 8-4. Closer Jose DeLeon has saved 16 games with a 2.84 ERA. The Dedham Destroyers are 49-35, just 2 games off the pace. Ryan Klesko has hit 17 home runs with 47 runs scored and 42 RBI in just 215 at bats. SS John Valentin is hitting .320 with 47 runs scored. Starter Doug Drabek is 10-2 with a 2.41 ERA, and Rickey Bones is 7-6 with a 3.14 ERA. Closer Todd Jones has saved 18 games. Last but not least in the list of Tiant division contenders is the Boston Bulldogs, who are 48-35. Jeff Conine is hitting .307 with 16 home runs, 50 runs scored and 66 RBI, while Hal Morris is hitting .327 with 58 runs scored. Ray Lankford is slugging .548 with 15 home runs, 53 runs scored and 53 RBI. Starter Randy Johnson is 11-4 with a 3.42 ERA and 149 strukeouts, while Jeff Fassero has won 9 games. Closer Doug Jones has saved 16 games with 1.72 ERA. The Orange Whoop are above .500 (43-39), but at 7 games out face stiff competition for a post-season slot. They have a dynamic pitching duo in David Cone and Tom Glavine, who have combined to go 19-7 with ERA's below 2.5 Rod Beck has saved 17 games, but with an ERA of 5.77 has probably let a few games get by him. Kenny Lofton is hitting .307 with 25 stolen bases and 51 runs scored, while Jay Buhner is slugging .537 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI. Playoff hopes for the Birmingham Cloverleafs (37-45) are fading by this point. Matt Williams has been a monster, hitting 37 home runs with 66 runs scored and 81 RBI, while 1B Bob Hamelin is slugging .598 with 19 home runs and 56 RBI. Andy Benes is 6-3 with a 4.23 ERA as a starter. Closer Goose Gossage has saved 10 games with a 2.83 ERA.