1986 CDBL MID-SEASON PLAYOFF RACE REVIEW IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY: Aaron Division Pennant - Manhatten Beach Mashers Paige Division Pennant - Dewey Beach Lush Gehrig Division Pennant - Hong Kong Cavaliers Tiant Division Pennant - Orange Whoop AP Conference Wildcard - Point Lomas Friars GT Concerence Wildcard - Albuquerque Maul League Wildcard #1 - Topeka Stingers League Wildcard #2 - Springfield Isotopes Other teams in contention - Avila Dragons (0.5 games out) - California Kamados (1.5 games out) - Encinitas Surfers (2 games out) - Boulder County Trustafarians (3.5 games out) - Seattle Decaf (4.5 games out) - Concord Minutemen (5.5 games out) - Boston Bulldogs (5.5 games out) ************************************ Aaron Division Race - The Mashers are solidly in control, enjoying a 7 1/2 game lead over the Friars and has the league's best record. Mark McGwire is having a monster year, hitting 40 home runs with 72 runs scored and 99 RBI at the break. Eric Young has 80 runs scored and 53 stolen bases. Juan Guzman is 11-2 with a 2.62 ERA, and Ricky Bottalico has 18 saves. The Friars are getting a strong season out of Kevin Seitzer, who has hit 14 home runs and 50+ runs and RBI, while Benito Santiago is a strong force on the Kamados, hitting 17 home runs with 50 runs and 51 RBI. Better luck next year: Shoeless Joe's, Trout, Investigators ************************************ Paige Division Race - Dewey Beach is leading the division at the break, thanks to the league's strongest offence. Jim Thome, Gary Sheffield, Frank Thomas, Craig Biggio and Sammy Sosa should all finish with 30+ home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 runs driven in. The pitching is certainly enjoying the run support, sporting a hefty 5.28 team ERA. The Springfield Isotopes are not far behind, just 3 games back. Bary Bonds has hit 19 home runs with 74 runs scored and 73 RBI, while Bernie Williams and Mark Whiten are on 30 homer, 100 run, 100 RBI paces. Curt Schilling is 9-4 with a 3.39 ERA, while Darren Holmes has a 1.70 ERA and 16 saves. The Decaf need to turn it around if they want to make the playoffs, but they are getting good performances from Ken Hill (11-5, 3.15 ERA) and Mariano Rivera (22 saves, 2.32 ERA). Better luck next year: Thunder, Outlaws, Muckrakers ************************************ Gehrig Division - Is this the year the Hong Kong Cavaliers finally put it together? They have the conference's best record at 52-32. Ellis Burks is hitting .326 with 16 home runs, 55 runs scored and 69 RBI, while Brady Anderson has 21 home runs, 57 runs scored and 57 RBI. Todd Hundley has cranked out 16 home runs at the break. Pedro Martinez is 11-2 with a 2.86 ERA, while Danny Darwin is 9-6 with a 2.72 ERA. Closer TJ Mathews has 15 saves with a 1.22 ERA. The Maul are presently sitting on a wild card spot. Albert Belle has 34 home runs with 70 runs scored and 87 RBI, while Raul Mondesi has 17 home runs, 56 runs scored and 55 RBI. John Smoltz is 10-6 with a 3.41 ERA, while closer Greg McMichael has 22 saves and a 1.63 ERA. The Stingers are not too far behind and are sitting on one of the league wildcard spots. Dante Bichette has 16 home runs with 48 runs scored and 47 RBI. Andy Pettitte is 11-6, while Robb Nen has 14 saves. Encinitas is on the outside looking in, but could rise in the 2nd half. Andres Galarraga has 20 home runs with 57 RBI, and Greg Maddux is 10-5 with a 3.37 ERA. Boulder County is looking for a playoff spot, and have gotten 23 home runs, 67 runs scored and 63 RBI out of Barry Larkin. Chipper Jones has 15 home runs and 61 RBI for the 4 games under .500 Minutemen. ************************************ Tiant Division - The Whoop are enjoying a strong year thanks to a robust offense. Juan Gonzales and Jay Buhner could each crack 50 home runs, while Kenny Lofton and Jeff Cirillo could score 120 runs. Tom Glavine is having an ace year, going 11-6 with a 3.52 ERA. After an early season slump, the Dragons have been on a roll, and are now just 2 1/2 games behind the leader. Jim Edmonds, Alex Rodriguez, Eric Davis, and Chili Davis are all on a 30 home run pace. Roger Clemens is 9-6 with a 3.29 ERA, while Pedro Borbon has 12 saves with a 2.38 ERA. Boston was once threatening for the Tiant division lead, but a 13 game losing streak took the wind out of their sail and are now 4 games under .500. Still, Jeff Conine is hitting .323 with 26 home runs, 75 runs scored and 67 RBI, and Jeff Fassero is 11-5 with a 3.29 ERA. Better luck next year: Rude Dawgs, Cloverleafs, Destroyers