1999 CDBL MID-SEASON PLAYOFF PREVIEW If the season ended today, playoff brackets would be: AP Conference: (1) California Kamados (Aaron division) vs. (4) Point Lomas Friars (#2 league WC) (2) Springfield Isotopes (Paige division) vs. (3) Manhatten Beach Mashers (AP Conf WC) GT Conference: (1) Austin Longhorns (Tiant Division) vs. (2) Dedham Destroyers (GT Conf WC) (2) Encinitas Surfers (Gehrig division) vs. (3) Alphaville Cautions (#1 league WC) Teams on playoff edge - games behind Point Lomas Avila Dragons - 2 games behind Anchorage Gold Diggers - 4 1/2 games behind Boston Bulldogs - 5 games behind Chicago Black Sox - 5 games behind Madison Muckrakers - 5 1/2 games behind Tualatin Thunder - 6 games behind Albuquerque Maul - 6 1/2 games behind Hong Kong Cavaliers - 6 1/2 games behind -------------------------------------- AARON DIVISION RACE: The California Kamados (59-20) are on top of the division and the league. Derek Jeter is hitting .333 with 71 runs scored and 59 RBI, while Brian Daubach is hitting .335 with 16 home runs, 51 runs scored and 60 RBI. Sean Casey is hitting .332 with 56 RBI, and Ray Lankford, Randy Velarde and Scott Rolen have each scored 50 or more runs. Omar Daal is 11-5 with a 3.68 ERA, while Jamie Moyer is 8-2 as a starter. Closer Derek Lowe has saved 27 games with a 2.42 ERA. The Manhatten Beach Mashers (56-26) have the 2nd best record in the majors. Mark McGwire has hit 37 home runs with 85 runs scored and 88 RBI. Jeromy Burnitz has hit 21 home runs with 70 runs scored and 68 RBI. Mike Sweeney has 52 runs scored and 66 RBI. Darren Oliver is 13-3 with a 3.26 ERA, and Juan Guzman and Gil Heredia have each won 11 games. Closer Billy Wagner is 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA and 25 saves. Point Lomas (46-34) is currently sitting on the last league playoff spot. Dave Nilsson is hitting .330 with 16 home runs, and Jason Giambi has 19 home runs and 62 RBI. Greg Vaughn has been a big RBI guy as well, driving in 66. On the pitching side, Kevin Millwood is 1-0 in 3 starts since being acquired from Seattle, and big things are expected in the 2nd half. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Arkham Investigators, Elk Grove Trout, Portland Commanders -------------------------------------- PAIGE DIVISION RACE: At 50-30, the Springfield Isotopes are well out in front, ahead by 9 games. Bernie Williams is hitting .383 with 88 runs scored, and Tony Clark has 26 home runs, a .323 average and 89 RBI. Barry Bonds is his usual self, slugging .741 with 27 home runs and 67 RBI. Joe Mays is 7-2 with a 4.08 ERA and Brian Moehler 9-2 with a 4.37 ERA. Closer Doug Jones has saved 18 games despite an ERA of 4.56. The Chicago Black Sox are 9 games out of 1st place, and 5 games behind Point Lomas for the last wildcard spot. Vladimir Guerrero has been strong at the plate, smacking 28 home runs with a .368 average and 83 RBI. Steve Trachsel is 9-4. At 41-40, the Madison Muckrakers are a good winning streak away from being back in playoff contention. Manny Ramirez is the big guy in Madison, hitting 24 home runs with a .342 average, 63 runs scored and 62 RBI. Pedro Astacio is 10-3 with a 3.32 ERA, and John Wetteland has saved 20 games with a 2.68 ERA. At .500 (39-39), the Tualatin Thunder are also a good winning streak away from being in the playoff hunt. Jeff Bagwell has 26 home runs on the year, and Mike Piazza has 24 dingers. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: DBL Fishbiscuits, Seattle Decaf -------------------------------------- GEHRIG DIVISION RACE: The Encinitas Surfers (46-33) are in familiar territory, sitting on top of the Gehrig division. Ellis Burks has hit 28 home runs with 64 RBI, while Steve Finley has hit 22 home runs with 48 runs scored and 55 RBI. Matt Stairs has contributed 64 RBI. Mike Mussina is 8-2 with a 4.27 ERA, while Kevin Brown is 8-4 with a 3.71 ERA. Fellow ace Greg Maddux is 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA. Closer Billy Koch has saved 20 games with a 4.26 ERA. At 41-38, the Anchorage Gold diggers are within striking distance of a playoff spot. Chuck Knoblauch is hitting .327 with 61 runs scored, and Paul O'Neill is hitting .332 with 48 RBI, and Joe Randa is hitting .342 with 46 runs scored. Brad Radke and Esteban Loaiza have each won 8 games, and Trevor Hoffman has saved 10 games with a 1.47 ERA. The Albuquerque Maul (39-40) are trying to stay in the mix. Albert Belle has 16 home runs and 70 RBI, and Kevin Young has 15 home runs and 67 RBI. Also trying to stay in the mix is the Hong Kong Cavaliers at 39-40. Carlos Delgado has 21 home runs and 52 RBI, and Pedro Martinez is 10-2 with a 2.06 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Topeka Stingers, Concord Minutemen -------------------------------------- TIANT DIVISION RACE: The Austin Longhorns (50-31) are current on top of the strongest division of the conference. Juan Gonzalez has 20 home runs, 58 runs scored and 83 RBI, while Jeff Cirillo is hitting .316 with 73 runs scored. David Cone is 11-4 with a 4.34 ERA, while Tom Glavine is 9-5 with a 4.26 ERA. Sterling Hitchcock and Bret Tomko have each won 8 games. Closer Mike Timlin has saved 23 games with a 2.43 ERA. 2 1/2 games behind Austin sits the Dedham Destroyers (46-32). Brian Giles has 31 home runs and 80 RBI, while Fernando Tatis has hit 24 home runs with 71 RBI. David Justice has scored 60 runs, while Todd Helton has hit .332 with 55 RBI. Jose Lima is 10-5 with a 4.29 ERA, and closer Scott Williamson has saved 21 games with a 2.84 ERA. Also 2 1/2 games behind Austin are the Alphaville Cautions (47-33). Phil Nevin has hit 17 home runs with 57 RBI, and JT Snow is hitting .305 with 43 runs scored. Mike Thurman is 8-4 with a 3.04 ERA, and Wilson Alvarez has won 7 games as a starter. Closer Danny Graves has saved 17 games with a 2.71 ERA. Sitting 5 1/2 games back of Austin is the Avila Dragons (43-35). Alex Rodriguez has smacked 26 home runs with 66 runs scored and 71 RBI, while Brady Anderson has hit .320 with 20 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Keith Foulke has saved 16 games with a 1.44 ERA. At 40-38, the Boston Bulldogs are still in the playoff hunt. Edgardo Alfonzo is hitting .339 with 60 runs scored, and starter Randy Johnson is 10-6 with a 3.66 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: San Diego Rude Dawgs