2002 CFOD Mid-Season Review **************************************************************************** Mantle Division: 1. San Francisco Shriners (52-27). Pre-season pick: #2 in division Things are just turning up roses for the Shriners this year. They have a 6 game lead in the Mantle division and the best record in baseball. Their pitching staff's ERA is the 2nd best in the league. Reliever Chad Bradford (1.35 ERA in 33 1/3 innings, 17 saves) and starter Brian Lawrence (8-3, 3.04 ERA) were all-stars this year. Cory Lidle is 9-3. The worst full-time starter ERA is 3.77, from Vicente Padilla. Last season's trade of a 1st rounder for Cliff Floyd is paying off big time, as the slugger is hitting .329 with a .528 slugging percentage and 49 RBI's in 61 games. Centerfielder Mike Cameron has 23 stolen bases and 59 runs scored. Curiously, the one player who is slumping is longtime star slugger Sammy Sosa, who is hitting .231. Still, he has 19 homers, 48 runs scored and 48 RBI's. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Sammy Sosa is due for improvement, so this team can only get better. This is their year. 2. Angry Candy (46-33), 6 games behind. Pre-season pick: #1 in division. The Angry Candy offense is in high gear, led by an all-star outfield. Chipper Jones (.333 avg, 65 runs scored), Bobby Abreu (.521 slugging, 59 runs scored, 49 RBI), and all-star MVP centerfielder Torii Hunter (19 homers, 65 RBI) lead a lineup that is the largest run producer in the MK conference. 1B Todd Helton's having an off-year by his standards (.271 average, 49 RBI's) but it's still pretty good. Tomokazu Ohka is having a fine year on the mound, benefiting from the run support (8-1, 2.98 ERA, 16 starts). Reliever duties have been split by Byung-Hyun Kim and John Smoltz, and both have responded with sub 2.0 ERA's and a combined 9-4 record with 14 saves. If there's anything holding back the Candy it's the pitching of the latter half of the rotation. Omar Daal, Darryl Kile and Kevin Brown have ERA's over 6 and a combined record of 8-17. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Angry Candy could use another quality starter or two, but with the run production they have now they are looking at least at a wildcard spot. 3. Mechan Syndicate (41-37), 10 1/2 back. Pre-season pick: 3rd in division. The team of Barry. After last year's spanking he gave the league, teams are still wary of giving him a lot of decent pitches to hit. His 22 homers are tops in the MK division, and his other numbers (.323 average, .492 on base average, 62 runs scored) are not too shabby either. Joining him on the all-star team was OF Shawn Green, who is hitting .325 with a .561 slugging average and 55 RBI's. 3B Eric Chavez has 14 homers and 47 RBI's. The Syndicate actually had a few pitchers make the all-star game this year. Starter Rick Helling is 10-5 with a 3.27 ERA, and workhorse reliever Tim Wakefield has a 2.03 ERA and 102 innings of work. Closer Eric Gagne is one of the better pure closers in the game, sporting a 3.03 ERA and 14 saves. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Syndicate are thick in the race for a league wildcard position. As with most teams, they could use a few more starters to replace Shawn 5.54 ERA Estes or Jamey 6.97 ERA Wright. Maybe a shortstop to replace Tony Womack, who by statistical evaluation is the worst full-time starter in the league (.191 average, .214 slugging, 11 runs scored, 12 RBI's in 173 at bats). 4. Bakersfield RamJets (41-38), 11 games back. Pre-season pick: #6 in division. A lot of great performances on this team. All-star Edgardo Alfonzo has a .380 on base average, .495 slugging average, 47 runs scored and 44 RBI. All-star SS Miguel Tejada has 14 homers and 46 RBI. All-star catcher Ivan Rodriguez is slugging .482 with 50 RBI's. 1B Derrek Lee has 18 homers, 52 runs scored and 50 RBI. Centerfielder Alex Sanchez has been killer at the top of the order, stealing 42 bases, hitting .320 with a .379 on base average and 47 runs scored. OF Ryan Klesko is slugging .531 with 48 runs scored. Their pitching is a little above average this year. Ace Josh Fogg is 8-2 with a 3.97 ERA. Joe Kennedy has the best ERA among RamJets starters at 2.85, but only has a 5-4 record to show for it. Closer Eddie Guardado has struggled, saving 9 games but posting a 5.82 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Like the Syndicate, they are in the playoff wildcard hunt. A good starter and good closer would do wonders for their chances, as well as another outfielder to replace Michael Tucker, who has struggled (.205 average, .282 slugging in 195 at bats) 5. Arlington Arthropods (35-43), 16 1/2 back. Pre-season Pick: #5 in division. They were picked to finish in the lower half of the division, and so far they are living up to the billing. Manny Ramirez has a .903 OPS and 46 RBI's, while Gary Sheffield has 13 homers, a .490 slugging average and 48 RBI's. Brian Daubach has a .370 on base average, .461 slugging average and 45 runs scored. Jose Cruz Jr is slugging .538, but with only 221 at bats only has 35 runs and 35 RBI's to show for it. Likewise, Tony Batista is on pace to hit 30 homers but only has 30 RBI's so far this season. Their 4.66 team ERA is near bottom in the league. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Arlington appears to be out of playoff contention. Better luck next year. 6. Springfield 'Topes (33-46), 19 games back. Pre-season pick: #4 in division. It's been a rough season for the 'Topes. Their 3.60 team ERA is actually above average, but the lack of run support has hurt their cause. Cy Young runner-up Mark Buerhle is having a pretty good year, with a 2.3 ERA in 16 starts. But it's translated into a 4-7 record. Steve Trachsel has a 3.99 ERA with 16 starts, but is 5-7. CF Bernie Williams is having a decent season, hitting .294 with 46 RBI's. 1B Raul Ibanez looks like a valid replacement for Tino Martinez at 1st, slugging .460 with 12 homers and 41 runs scored. Quinton McCracken has a .366 on base average, .442 slugging average and 33 runs scored in 251 at bats. 2B Jose Vidro has traditionally been very good for Springfield, but with an on base average of .315 and a slugging average of .362, he seems to be sitting this season out. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Springfield has had a lot of success over the past several years, but 2002 does not seem to be their year. Several players on the team could find themselves elsewhere on pennant contenders. **************************************************************************** Koufax Division: 1. Cincinnati Rock (49-30). Pre-season pick: #1. The Rock have arguably been the top team in the MK conference for the past 4 years, and this year is no exception. After an early-round exit last year, the Rock retooled their roster and kept on chugging. Starters Curt Schilling (9-2, 2.04 ERA), Roy Oswalt (10-3, 3.18 ERA) and Bartolo Colon (12-5, 3.66 ERA) were all-star starters, and have helped the Rock to the best ERA in the league. Closer Felix Rodriguez has a 2.45 ERA and 17 saves. OF Randall Simon has only 229 at bats, but is hitting .349 with a .585 slugging average, 15 homers and 50 RBI. All-star 2B Junior Spivey has 56 runs scored, and all-star catcher Jorge Posada is slugging .464 with 47 runs scored and 39 RBI's. Scrappy shortstop David Eckstein is hitting .291. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Rock's pitching gets even better by recent acquisition closer Trevor Hoffman from the Regulators. They might need another big bat in the middle of the lineup to repeat their championship glory of a few years back. 2. Boston Brewins (42-37), 7 games back. Pre-season pick: #2 in division. The Brewins are on track for their first winning season since bottoming out in 2000. The Brewins packed the all-star team this year, putting 1B Brad Fullmer (.601 slugging, 53 runs scored), OF Garrett Anderson (.552 slugging, 17 homers, 49 runs scored, 47 RBI), 2B Alfonzo Soriano (.511 slugging, 15 homers, 57 RBI's, 22 stolen bases), and 3B Albert Pujols (.451 slugging, 53 RBI's). CF Vernon Wells may make it next year (.303 average, .476 slugging average in 294 at bats) and OF Shannon Stewart has always been dependable (.308 average, .431 slugging, 57 runs scored). Closer Jorge Julio has been a stud, with a 1.82 ERA, 18 saves and an all-star appearance. Rocket Roger Clemens is 7-4 with a 3.87 ERA, but the pitching staff has a mediocre 4.30 ERA. Mark Redman is 9-5. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: They could use Randy Wolf to play at his full potential, but is struggling with a 5.13 ERA and a 7-7 record. Still, the Brewins are in the thick of the league wildcard race and should finish with their first winning record in 9 years. 3. Oregon Wet Sox (35-43), 13 1/2 games behind. Pre-season pick: #5 in division. The Wet Sox have seen world series glory in the past, but won't see it in 2002. Nomar Garciaparra has recovered nicely from injury and made the all-star break, with a .436 slugging average, 45 runs scored and 40 RBI. CF Andruw Jones has 18 homers and 57 RBI, while mainstay 1B Jeff Bagwell has 14 homers, 47 runs scored and 42 RBI. 2B Adam Kennedy is hitting .307 with 50 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Closer Ugueth Urbina has a 2.31 ERA and 13 saves. Other than that, their 4.46 team ERA places them near the bottom of the league. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: They'll finish out of the money, but have several guys they could trade to reposition themselves for 2003. 4. LA Zippys (35-43), 13 1/2 behind. Pre-season pick: #3 in division. It's been a bit of a trying season for LA. Their offense has stalled a bit, despite the performance of all-star 1B John Olerud (.518 slugging, 42 runs scored, 40 RBI's). SS Derek Jeter has been merely "OK", with a .285 average, and .382 slugging average. Carlos Lee has 11 homers and 38 runs scored. Odalis Perez has done well in the rotation, going 8-3 with a 3.61 ERA. Ace Barry Zito has a 3.80 ERA and a 5-7 record. Closer Tim Spooneybarger has been great in the closer role, with a 1.68 ERA and 14 saves. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Better luck next year! 5. Hillsborough Regulators (33-46), 16 games behind. Pre-season pick: #4 The abandon ship klaxon has been sounded. Gone is closer Trevor Hoffman. Gone is setup man Danny Graves. Gone is 1st round pick Mark Bellhorn. And gone is the heart of the team for the past several years, Jason Giambi. They hope that in future years acquisition Frank Thomas and rookie Marlon Byrd will come through for them. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: If you're gonna go, go big. The Regulators are positioning themselves for a full-out rebuilding effort, and are gunning for the #1 overall pick. 6. Somerville Sluggers (33-46), 16 games behind. Pre-season pick: #6 Well, their pitching is a little lackluster, and their hitting is a little anemic. When both sides are below average, the record typically follows. Bret Tomko has managed a 8-5 record despite a 4.86 ERA, and closer JC Romero has a 2.51 ERA and 11 saves. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Their rebuilding effort will have to continue, but they have the bright future of Austin Kearns and another high draft pick to look forward to. ***************************************************************************** Ruth Division: 1. California Coneheads (47-32). Pre-season pick: #2 in division Last year's champs are leading their division again. The off-season deal of Randy Johnson for Larry Walker has paid big-time, as Walker was an all-star this year, hitting .322 with 12 homers, 54 runs scored and 55 RBI. Mike Piazza just barely missed the all-star team this year, but is still slugging .484 with 42 RBI's. Scott Rolen is slugging .443 with 45 runs scored. California recently bolstered their offense by acquiring 2B Mark Bellhorn and franchise 1B slugger Jason Giambi from the Regulators. Tim Hudson (2.00 ERA, 9-1) and Matt Clement (2.86 ERA, 11-4) made the all star team this year and are among the top starters in the league. Freddy Garcia is a notch below this year (3.69 ERA, 6-5) but is still above average. Closer Scot Shields saved 11 games with a 2.83 ERA and made the all-star team before burning out. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The additions of Bellhorn and Giambi can only help the Coneheads win another pennant. 2. Carolina Lightning (41-37), 5 1/2 games behind. Pre-season pick: #3 Raw power is the name of the game in Carolina. Jim Edmonds has 15 homers at the break, along with 57 runs scored. Pat Burrell has 19 homers and 67 RBI (3rd best in the league). Mo Vaughn has 15 taters. Their 396 runs scored ties them for 4th best in the league. 3B Mike Lowell has only 9 homers, but has a .286 average and .480 slugging average (he's more of a doubles guy). Starter AJ Burnett made the all-star team, with a 2.45 ERA and an 8-3 record (and somehow getting 2 saves in the process). Andy Ashby has a 6-5 record and a 4.18 ERA. But all is not roses in Carolina. A few longtime vets are struggling. 2B Craig Biggio is hitting .214 with a .258 on base average. Tom Glavine is 2-9 with a 5.48 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Their offense is in high gear, but they made need to quietly brush Biggio and Glavine aside if they're to go deep into the playoffs. 3. Paxtang Pitbulls (40-39), 7 games behind. Pre-season pick: #1 The Paxtang offense continues to be one of the best in the league. Their 132 homers lead the league. Alex Rodriguez (27 homers, 59 runs scored, 58 RBI's) was an all-star again this season. Brian Giles (26 homers, 60 runs scored, 59 RBI's) was as well. Carlos Delgado has a .463 on base average, .658 slugging average, 19 homers and 54 runs scored. Ellis Burks is slugging .507 with 16 homers and 46 RBI's. Starter Mark Mulder has an 8-5 record, while Javier Vazquez is 9-5. Closer Armando Benitez has 17 saves. But all at higher ERA's than typical. Their 4.33 team ERA is below league average. Paxtang did trade for ace Derek Lowe, who is 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 3 starts. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Killer offense, but they need their pitching to step up if they want to move ahead. 4. Topeka MooseDogs (40-40), 7 1/2 games behind. Pre-season pick: #6 The MooseDogs have remained surprisingly competitive in 2002. Aubrey Huff has had a breakout season, hitting .324 with 15 homers, 45 runs scored and 49 RBI's. Catcher Jason Kendall made the all-star team, with a .311 batting average and 52 RBI's. Infielder Luis Rivas has a .495 slugging average and 40 runs scored. Outfielder Johnny Damon has a .274 average, 45 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Starter Kenny Rogers made the all-star team, with an 8-5 record and 2.33 ERA. Closer Jason Isringhausen is having a prototypical closer season, with 18 saves, a .536 OPS against hitters, a 3.12 ERA, and an all-star team selection. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: If the MooseDogs are thinking about the playoffs, they could use another starter (Piniero and Lohse are 7-11 with an ERA north of 5.50). They could also use Richie Sexson (.417 slugging) and Cristian Guzman (.235 average) to play up to their potential. 5. Miami Mangos (32-48), 15 1/2 games back. Pre-season pick: #5 It looks to be a year of struggling for Miami. Ray Durham has been a bright spot, with a .370 on base average, .445 slugging average, 16 stolen bases and 51 runs scored. Closer Mike Williams made the all-star team this year, with a miniscule 1.93 ERA and 15 saves. Starter Derek Lowe was 5-7 with a 2.98 ERA before being traded to Paxtang. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Wait until next year. 6. San Diego Termites (30-49), 17 games behind. Pre-season pick: #4 The vet experiment doesn't seem to be working in 2002, despite the efforts of Jeff Kent and Steve Finley. Kent and Finley made the all-star team this year, with Kent hitting .305, with a .569 slugging average, 20 homers, 58 runs scored and 55 RBI's. Steve Finley is slugging .505 with 19 homers, 52 runs scored and 54 RBI. Troy O'Leary has a .390 on base average with 35 runs scored. Rodrigo Lopez is 7-4 with a 3.52 ERA. Randy Johnson is having a un-Johnson-like year, with a 3-5 record and 3.79 ERA. Rob Nen has 8 saves, but a 1-7 record and 3.68 ERA. Their 4.94 team ERA is worst in the RY conference. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: With the worst record in the league, San Diego is now positioning themselves to nab the #1 overall pick. **************************************************************************** Young Division 1. Seattle Moshers (49-30). Pre-season pick: #1 Things are going well for Seattle. Despite having only 1 all-star (closer Keith Foulke, 22 saves, 2.95 ERA) this year, the team is playing well. Greg Maddux is as good as ever, with a 2.08 ERA and a 8-3 record. Jarrod Washburn is 7-4 with a 3.41 ERA. Tim Salmon is hitting .335 with 45 runs scored and 55 RBI. Magglio Ordonez has 20 homers, 60 runs scored and 47 RBI. Edgar Renteria has 17 stolen bases and 50 runs scored. Mark Kotsay has a .394 on base average, .488 slugging average and 48 runs scored. 1B David Ortiz is hitting .370 in a platoon situation. Overall the offense has the league's highest batting average (.282) and are 3rd in the league in runs scored. The only ones really underperforming right now are 3B Corey Koskie (.225 average) and starter Ismael Valdes (5.79 ERA). 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: This looks to be the year Seattle returns to the playoffs for the first time in 7 years, and their first pennant in 8 years. 2. Arizona Thunder (42-37), 7 games behind. Pre-season pick: #6 In the battle of pennant winning offense vs. cellar-dwelling pitching, the offense is winning at the moment. The Thunder offense has been spectacular, the top run producer in the league. The Thunder put no less than 5 hitters on the all-star team. 3B Troy Glaus has 21 homers, 57 runs scored and 71 RBI. 2B Bret Boone has 18 homers, and 54 RBI. 1B Mike Sweeney is hitting .368 with 14 homers, 61 runs scored and 58 RBI. OF Luis Gonzalez is hitting .320 with 16 homers, 64 runs scored and 59 RBI. Catcher Ben Davis is slugging .542 with 11 homers and 47 RBI. All made the all-star team. CF Carlos Beltran didn't, but has a .351 on base average, 64 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Juan Pierre has 34 stolen bases. All this with a team ERA of 4.92, 3rd worst in the league. Closer Billy Wagner has 14 saves with a 3.44 ERA. Jeff Suppan is 8-5 with a 4.53 ERA. Brad Radke is 8-4 with a *5.98* ERA. Kirk Saarloos is one of the worst starters in the league with a 7.61 ERA in 15 starts, yet has managed a 4-7 record. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Thunder could be playoff bound, but could see significant gains in the standings if they get a few more quality pitchers. 3. Park City Climbers - (41-38), 8 games behind. Pre-season pick: #2 After a 0-9 start facing the Rock, Coneheads and Thunder, the Climbers have regained their footing to remain in contention. All-star 1B Jim Thome is having an MVP year, bashing 29 homers with 67 runs scored and 72 RBI at the break. Jermaine Dye is hitting .316 with 18 homers and 54 RBI, while SS Chris Woodward is hitting .305, with a .590 slugging average and 14 home runs (and an all-star nod). Pedro Martinez continues his dominant ways, starting in the all-star game with a 10-1 record and 1.27 ERA. Mariano Rivera was a near all-star, saving 14 games with a 1.72 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Climbers are much better than their record indicates, due to their fluke start. Adding another hitter or two would help their playoff cause. 4. San Francisco Piazza's (40-40), 9 1/2 games back. Pre-season pick: #3 The Piazza's are at .500, which means they're not too good, and not too bad. Ichiro Suzuki continues to shine, with a .294 average, 22 stolen bases and 52 runs scored. Rookie Eric Hinske is slugging .485 with 42 runs scored and 39 RBI's. Fred McGriff is hitting .295 with a .473 slugging average and 39 RBI's. Kerry Wood narrowly missed an all-star placement, with a 9-3 record and a 2.56 ERA in 16 starts. Krik Rueter is 8-4 with a 3.40 ERA. Closer Joey Eischen has 12 saves and a 2.65 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Piazza's could very well be on the verge of contention with a big trade. They could use a Jim Thome-esque big bat in the middle to drive in runs. 5. Brookfield Brouhaha (37-42), 12 games behind. Pre-season pick: #5 The Brouhaha are a little under .500, but are still putting up a fight. 3B Robin Ventura made the all-star team, with a .441 on base average, .578 slugging average, 19 homers and 49 RBI's. Outfielder Randy Winn is hitting .297 with 54 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. SS Rich Aurilia and C Paul Lo Duca are not as good as their all-CFOD 2001 selves, but are still putting up decent seasons (Aurilia, .272 average, .445 slugging, Lo Duca .448 slugging and .309 average). Francisco Cordero is having an amazing season at closer, saving 17 games with a 1.13 ERA. Starter Miguel Batista is 7-5 with a 4.23 ERA. But their 3 other starters, Russ Ortiz, Rick Reed and Glendon Rusch are a combined 12-23 with ERA's north of 5. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Brouhaha might continue to struggle of the trio of Reed, Ortiz and Rusch continue to struggle as well. But there's still quite a few quality performers on the team. 6. Sacramento Fish (33-46), 16 games behind. Pre-season pick: #4 There are few duos in the league scarier than Vladimir Guerrero and Lance Berkman. Both were all-stars this year. Guerrero is hitting .343 with 21 homers, 23 stolen bases, 59 runs scored and 53 RBI. Lance Berkman is hitting .340 with a .688 slugging percentage, 28 homers, 56 runs scored and 66 RBI. 1B Scott Spiezo is slightly below their level, hitting .326 with a .506 slugging average, 41 runs scored and 40 RBI's. What's killing the Fish this year is pitching. Their 4.66 team ERA is near the bottom of the league. Jason Phillips was 0-7 with a 9.36 ERA before mercifully burning out for the year. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Berkman and Guerrero aside, it'll be a long year for the Fish.