1986 CDBL MID-SEASON PLAYOFF RACE REVIEW IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY: Aaron Division Pennant - Arkham Investigators Paige Division Pennant - Springfield Isotopes Gehrig Division Pennant - Albuquerque Maul Tiant Division Pennant - San Diego Rude Dawgs AP Conference Wildcard - Manhatten Beach Mashers GT Conference Wildcard - Boston Bulldogs League Wildcard #1 - Encinitas Surfers League Wildcard #2 - Concord Minutemen Other teams in contention - Elk Grove Trout (0.5 games out) - Avila Dragons (1 game out) - Orange Whoop (3.5 games out) - Madison Muckrakers (3.5 games out) - Tualatin Pioneers (4 games out) - Dewey Beach Lush (4.5 games out) - Boulder County Trustafarians (4.5 games out) - Savannah Shoeless Joe's (5 games out) ************************************ Aaron Division Race - The Investigators 56-25) are enjoying a resurgence, owning a 11 1/2 game lead for the Aaron division pennant. Their 479 runs scored is best in the majors. Ken Griffey Jr. is hitting .286 with a .557 slugging average, 21 home runs, 71 runs scored and 71 RBI. Reggie Sanders has 17 home runs and 45 RBI, while Jon Nunnally is hitting .341 with 16 home runs, 46 runs scored and 54 RBI. Francisco Cordova is 10-4 with a 2.94 ERA, while Kevin Appier is 10-6 with a 3.70 ERA. Arthur Rhodes is one of the best closes in the league, with a 4-1 record, a 1.36 ERA, and 16 saves. Manhatten Beach (45-37) is riding the bat of Mark McGwire. McGwire's MVP year has him hitting .316 with 42 home runs, 69 runs scored and 110 RBI in just 82 games. Jeff Blauser has a .376 on base average and 68 runs scored. Jeromy Burnitz has hit 18 home runs with a .567 slugging average, 45 runs scored and 45 RBI. The pitching has benefitted from the run support. Justin Thompson is 8-3 with a 3.97 ERA, and Jimmy Key is 9-3 with a 4.58 ERA. Closer Jim Corsi has 12 saves and a 3.27 ERA. The Elk Grove Trout (44-37) are on the cusp of the playoffs. Garret Anderson is hitting .386 with 50 runs scored, while Travis Fryman is slugging .494 with 46 runs scored and 48 RBI. Pedro Astacio is 8-3 with a 2.87 ERA, and despite a 4.56 ERA, closer Randy Myers has 17 saves. Better luck next year: Shoeless Joe's, Trout, Investigators Savannah Shoeless Joe's (41-43) will need a strong 2nd half to make the playoffs. Bobby Higginson is hitting .327 with 19 home runs, 64 runs scored and 62 RBI, while Damion Easley has 66 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Starter Garrett Stephenson is 9-5 with a 3.30 ERA. Better luck next year: Point Lomas Friars, California Kamados ************************************ Paige Division Race - The Springfield Isotopes (53-27) are in a very familiar position: 1st place, and leading the division by 12 1/2 games. Bernie Williams is hitting .368 with 57 runs scored and 64 RBI. Mark Grace has a .407 on base average and 59 runs scored. Mainstay slugger Barry Bonds is once again having a great year, with a .412 on base average, 17 home runs, 62 runs scored and 70 RBI. Tom Gordon is 9-3 with a 3.12 ERA, Curt Schilling is 9-5 with a 3.36 ERA, and John Thomson is 8-3 with a 3.64 ERA. In fact, the team's 3.38 ERA is best in the majors. Closer Butch Henry has 5 wins, 15 saves and 3.04 ERA. The Muckrakers (41-40) are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Manny Ramirez is hitting .317 with 14 home runs, 49 runs scored and 45 RBI. Dave Hollins has 11 home runs and 47 RBI. Roger Bailey is having a stellar year, going 11-3 with a 2.89 ERA. The Tualatin Thunder (39-39) have star power but still need to find a way to make it work together. Mike Piazza has 24 home runs, 52 runs scored and 67 RBI, while Jeff Bagwell is hitting .296 with 15 home runs, 57 runs scored and 52 RBI. Dewey Beach (40-41) has some all-star worthy performances and could be poised for a 2nd half comeback. Frank Thomas is hitting .375 with 18 home runs, 71 runs scored and 84 RBI. Larry Walker is hitting .335 with 18 home runs, 79 runs scored and 61 RBI, while Craig Biggio is hitting .318 with 83 runs scored and 29 stolen bases. Better luck next year: Seattle Decaf, Chicago Outlaws ************************************ Gehrig Division Race - After winning the 1996 CDBL championship, the Albuquerque Maul (51-28) carried their momentum into '97, currently sitting in 1st place. Albert Belle is slugging .548 with 16 home runs, 54 runs scored and 51 RBI. Delino DeShields has a .368 on base average, 55 runs scored and 46 stolen bases. Raul Mondesi is hitting 2.98 with 19 stolen bases and 63 RBI. The Maul's 3.52 ERA is best in the conference. Shawn Estes is 10-2 with a .272 ERA, while Jose Rosado is 9-2 with a 4.32 ERA. Scott Bailes and Greg McMichael have combined to save 16 games. The Encinitas Surfers (44-35) are sitting on a league wildcard spot. Andres Galarraga is hitting .306 with 45 runs scored, while Tony Fernandez is hitting .313 with 40 RBI. Greg Maddux is having a stellar year, going 10-4 with a 2.09 ERA. Fellow aces Mike Mussina is 9-6 with a 3.15 ERA and Kevin Brown is 9-3 with a 3.74 ERA. Closer Mike Timlin has saved 17 games despite a 5.52 ERA. The Concord Minutemen (44-36) are sitting on the other league wildcard spot. Chipper Jones is hitting .306 with 49 runs scored, and Fred McGriff has a .540 slugging average, 15 home runs and 51 RBI. Starter Shane Reynolds is 9-6 with a 3.95 ERA, and closer John Franco has 10 saves and 3.00 ERA> Boulder County (39-40) presently have an outside shot at the playoffs. Kenny Lofton is hitting .342 with 55 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Chuck Knoblauch is hitting .301 with 25 stolen bases and 47 RBI, while Ken Caminiti is slugging .504 with 15 home runs, 49 runs scored and 41 RBI. Starter Brad Radke has been dominant, going 11-1 with a 2.19 ERA. Better luck next year: Hong Kong Cavaliers, Topeka Stingers ************************************ Tiant Division Race - The San Diego Rude Dawgs (51-28) started strong out of the gate and have not looked back. Import Tino Martinez is hitting .290 with 15 home runs, 41 runs scored and 40 RBI. Nomar Garciaparra's rookie debut has been strong, hitting .285 with 51 runs scored and 44 RBI. Steve Finley has smacked 15 home runs with 51 runs scored and 53 RBI. Andy Benes is 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA, and John Burkett is 11-2 with a 3.08 ERA. Import closer Mariano Rivera has been killer, saving 16 games with a 0.79 ERA. The old closer, Eric Gunderson, has 10 saves of his own and would be a leading closer on many other teams. Sitting in the conference wildcard is the Boston Bulldogs (45-33). Ray Lankford is slugging .582 with 20 home runs, 51 runs scored and 64 RBI. Edgar Martinez has a .410 on base average, 48 runs scored and 47 RBI. Randy Johnson is having a strong year, going 10-1 with a 2.52 ERA. Chan Ho Park is not far behind, going 10-4 with a 3.59 ERA. Matt Morris is 8-5 with a 3.70 ERA. Mark Wohlers is holding down closer duties, sporting 18 saves at the break. The Avila Dragons (42-36) are in the playoff hunt. Chili Davis has smacked 22 home runs with 55 runs scored and 70 RBI. Brady Anderson is hitting .307 with 62 runs scored, while Alex Rodriguez is hitting .284 with 43 runs scored and 49 RBI. Roger Clemens is 9-3 with a 2.90 ERA, while closer Doug Jones has 11 saves and 3.52 ERA. The Whoop (41-40) are a hot streak away from getting back into the playoff hunt. Juan Gonzalez is slugging .513 with 23 home runs, 48 runs scored and 64 RBI. Jay Buhner has 23 home runs, 51 runs scored and 42 RBI. David Cone is 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA, and closer Jose Mesa has 11 saves. Better luck next year: Alphaville Cautions, Dedham Destroyers