2004 CFOD Mid-Season Review Mantle Division 1st - San Francisco Shriners - 55-29 - A great pitching staff has vaulted the Shriners to the top of the division this year. Randy Johnson (15-1, 2.23 ERA) and Johan Santana (10-6, 3.1 ERA) lead a strong rotation. Closer Francisco Rodriguez has 20 saves with a 2.91 ERA. The veteran lead offense is putting up some runs as well. 2B Ray Durham (58 runs scored, 53 RBI) and Luis Gonzalez (.362 on base average, 59 runs scored) have been the table setters, and Moises Alou (14 home runs, 59 RBI) and CF Mike Cameron (18 home runs, 58 RBI) have been driving them in. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Very few holes on this team. A few utility players here, a few relivers there and this team could overtake the Sluggers for the best record in the league. 2nd - Mechan Syndicate - 48-37, 7.5 games behind - A very high powered offense this year, scoring the most runs in the league. Barry Bonds (.323 average, 28 home runs, 83 runs scored, 65 RBI), youngster Miguel Cabrera (25 home runs, 69 runs scored, 80 RBI) and 1B Adam Dunn (.693 slugging, 35 home runs, 79 runs scored, 94 RBI). 2B D'Angelo Jimenez, SS Jack Wilson and 3B Eric Chavez all have scored over 50 runs. That's the good news. The bad news is that the pitching ERA of 5.14 is near the bottom of the league. Closer Jason Frasor has 20 saves but a 4.29 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Hitting is tremendous, but they need to import some better pitchers, stat! 3rd - Angry Candy - 47-41, 10 games behind - On the surface, the Angry Candy should be doing a lot better than they are doing right now. THey have 3 players with at least 20 home runs (Todd Helton, Chipper Jones, and Jason Bay), and Bobby Abreu has 18. Their .484 slugging percentage is 2nd best in the league. Kevin Brown and Josh Beckett is a combined 18-8, and Bronson Arroyo is 7-3 with a 3.25 ERA. So what could the culprit be? Closer Akinori Otsuka is doing a terrible job, saving only 13 games with a 5.4 ERA. That could be why they are only 2-9 in extra inning games. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: If they fix thir closer situation, they could jump up in the standings. 4th - Bakersfield RamJets - 41-46, 15.5 games behind - Derek Lee is having a great season at the plate (27 home runs, 57 runs scored, 68 RBI), as is SS Miguel Tejada (50 runs scored, 40 RBI). Danny Kolb is having a great year at the closer spot (20 saves and a 2.51 ERA). Despite their better than average 4.32 team ERA, starter Jason Johnson drags the team down with a 6.29 ERA and a 5-10 record. Despite 27 homers from Lee and 20 from Pedro Feliz, the team suffers from an overall power outtage, slugging only .429. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Replace Johnson in the rotation and add a slugger or two, and the RamJets could poke above .500 5th - Arlington Arthropods - 40-45, 15.5 games behind - They have plenty of good players, but a few bad apples is spoiling the bunch. Manny Ramirez (.336 average, 20 home runs, 65 runs, 69 RBI) and Aramis Ramirez (.500 slugging, 14 homrs, 61 RBI) lead the offense, but Sammy Sosa (.327 slugging average) is really dragging them down. Jason Schmidt is 9-4 with a 2.43 ERA, but closer John Smoltz is 1-7 with only 10 saves and a 4.97 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: They have some talent, but Sammy & Smoltz's time may be at an end. 6th - Springfield 'Topes - 37-48, 18.5 games behind - Melvin Mora is having a great year at third (.348 average, .565 slugging, 61 runs scored), but the rest of the team is having a forgettable year. Curiously, once they get past the 7th inning with a lead they are money: They are the only team with a perfect 28-0 record. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Maybe next year. Koufax Division: 1st - Somerville Sluggers - 57-30 - Leader of the Koufax division and owner of the best record in the league. Their 3.70 team ERA is best in the lead, lead by rookie Zach Greinke (2.83 ERA, 11-2 record). Tom "Flash" Gordon has 18 saves and a 1.63 ERA. Jose Silva is 9-2 with 4 complete games. The excellence continues on offense, where 3D Adrian Beltre (.351 average, 32 homers, 68 runs, 108 RBI) is having an MVP year. Carlos Guillen has 15 home runs and 60+ runs/RBI. Even .311 slugging Willie Harris has scored 49 runs. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: This could be their year. They are firing on all cylinders. 2nd - Cincinnati Rock - 49-38, 8 games behind - Mark Loretta isn't your typical franchise player, but the infielder is just that for Cincinnati this year. He's hitting .348, with 13 home runs, 63 runs scored and 68 RBI. Outfielder Carl Crawford has scored 76 runs with 10 triples and 36 stolen bases. Jake Westbrook and Justin Speier are a combined 19-10, and closer Antonio Alfonseca leads the league in saves with 25. Still, 23 starts of 7+ ERA by Jason Jennings and Bartolo Colon have helped the Rock's team ERA balloon to 5.10. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: They will need some pitching help to stay in the playoff hunt. 3rd - Boston Brewins - 48-38, 8.5 games behind - Albert Pujols is lighting up the league (34 home runs, 76 runs scored, 74 RBI). Alfonso Soriano has 59 home runs, and Vernon Wells, Javy Lopez and Shannon Stewart have each scored over 50 runs. Ted Lilly is 10-2 with a 2.79 ERA. Roger Clemens and Brandon Webb have ERA's in the 4's, and are a combined 17-17. Julian Tavarez has a hold of the closer spot, saving 18 games with a 2.79 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The Brewins could use another starter and a shortstop with some punch, but they are in the thick of the playoff battle. 4th - Hillsborough Regulators - 39-48, 18 games behind - Hillsborough has some players who are putting in decent performances. Garrett Anderson, Aaron Rowand and Frank Thomas are on pace for 30 home runs, and Thomas and David Newhan are on pace for 100 RBI's. The pitching staff ERA is a little below average, and starter Randy Wolf leads the team in both wins (7) and losses (8). 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: It looks like a finish in the 2nd half of the division this year for the Regulators. 5th - Missouri Mudfish - 36-50, 20.5 games behind - After the pre-season firesale, a losing record was not unexpected. Still, there are some bright spots. Carlos Lee has 18 home runs, 56 runs scored and 55 RBI. Rocco Baldelli had 52 RBI's and a .467 slugging percentage before being traded. Their 4.38 ERA is actually better than average, although no one pitcher really stands out. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: It's a rebuilding year. 6th - Oregon Wet Sox - 29-58, 28 games behind leader - Oregon has a strangehold on the #1 draft pick for next year. 1B Paul Konerko (23 home runs, 61 RBI) and Juan Pierre (54 runs scored, .395 on base average, 38 stolen bases) are having good years, but the rest of the lineup is lackluster. Billy Wagner has a 2.77 ERA and 10 saves, but there are not many save opportunities this year when your team ERA is 5.34. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Time for Oregon to figure out who they are going to take with their #1 draft pick. Ruth Division: 1st - California Coneheads - 54-32 - The names may be changing, but the story remains the same. The new blood of JD Drew (19 home runs, .464 OBA, 78 runs, 66 RBI) and catcher Victor Martinez (70 RBI) power a strong offense. 3B Scott Rolen has 61 runs scored and 67 RBI, while Milton Bradley and Erubiel Durazo have scored over 50 runs so far. Ace Ben Sheets is 12-3 with 4 complete games, while Tim Hudson is 8-4 with a 3.2 ERA. Wilson Alvarez has been super efficient, going 7-0 in just 10 starts. The lone downer may be Rickey Bottalico, who has saved 14 games but has a 4.19 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: It should be smooth sailing into the post-season for the Coneheads 2nd - Topeak MooseDogs - 46-39, 7.5 games behind - Last year's playoff appearance was no fluke. Travis Hafner has hit 15 home runs so far with 50 runs scored and 53 RBI. Johnny Damon and Jason Kendall have batting averages north of .320, on base averages north of .400, and each has scored 50+ times. Aubrey Huff and Vinny Castilla are on 30 homer, 100 RBI paces. The team ERA of 4.06 is above average. None of the starters really stand out, but closer Ryan Madson has 19 saves with a 3.19 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: A pennant may be out of the question, but the MooseDogs are in the drivers seat for the conference wildcard. 3rd - Carolina Lightning 45-52, 9.5 games behind - The team this year is revolving around Jim Edmonds. The slugger is simply hitting .329, with a .422 on base average, .709 slugging average, 27 home runs, 69 runs scored and 72 RBI. 1B Phil Nevin and OF Pat Burrell have 15 home runs at the break. 3B Mike Lowell has 49 runs scored and a .347 on base average. Brian Lawrence is 9-4 with a 4.30 ERA. Closer Joe Nathan has 22 saves, but a relatively high 4.20 ERA. The team ERA of 4.54 is about average. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Should the playoffs be held today, Carolina would be on the outside looking in, but an extra slugger or pitcher could be the difference between playing and watching the playoffs. 4th - Paxtang Pitbulls - 42-44, 12 games behind - Normally this team would be mentioned higher, but the loss of Brian Giles and the lack of hitting of Carlos Delgado (.215 batting average) is hurting their normally productive Pitbulls offense. Alex Rodriguez (19 home runs, 63 runs/RBI) switched to third this year. Import CF Bernie Williams is having a really good year, hitting 19 home runs with 61 runs scored. Jake Peavy is 9-2, but the rest of the starters have losing records, and the team ERA is 4.94. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Paxtang will need to upgrade their hitters and get the starters to improve for them to peek over .500 this year. 5th - San Diego Termites - 40-49, 15.5 games behind - Jeff Kent and Lyle Overbay are the big bats in the lineup, each having driven in 71 runs. The team's .352 on base average is above league average, but their .398 slugging average is 3rd worst in the league. Despite closer Armando Benitez's efforts (13 saves, 1.65 ERA), the team ERA is 4.99. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Looks like a year where they will finish in the lower half of the division. 6th - Miami Mango - 36-49, 17.5 games behind - The move to Coors field has produced some lively games for Miami. Their .283 batting average is 2nd best in the league. Rafael Palmeiro (19 home runs, 70 RBI) and Jeromy Burnitz (20 home runs, 69 RBI) are having banner years. Catcher Paul Lo Duca is hitting .323 with 60 runs scored, while Brian Giles has a .444 on base average, .566 slugging average, and 64 runs scored. As good as their hitters are, Coors field has been bad for their pitchers. Their 5.83 team ERA is worst in the league (although Tom Glavine is having a decent season, going 9-3 with a 4.48 ERA). 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: They may not finish with a winning record, but they'll still be entertaining. Young Division: 1st - Brookfield Brouhaha - 44-41 - They've given up more runs than they've scored, but in the weak Young division, they are on top. Geoff Jenkins, Jayson Werth, Richard Hidalgo and Reggie Sanders have barely cracked the 10 home run mark. Randy Winn has 43 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Rodrigo Lopez is just 6-8, but has a 3.44 ERA in 16 starts. Closer Juan Rincon has been getting it done, saving 19 games with a 1.93 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: As with most of the Brouhaha teams, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Will they be able to hold onto the division lead in the 2nd half? 2nd - Arizona Thunder - 45-42, 0 games behind - The Thunder have certainly been getting it done on offense. 1B Jim Thome and CF Carlos Beltran both have over 70 runs and RBI. OF Gary Sheffield has 18 home runs, 63 runs scored and 58 RBI. SS Jimmy Rollins is hitting .289 with 48 runs scored and 52 RBI. Starter Brad Radke is 10-3 with a 3.30 ERA, and closers Jason Isringhausen and Trevor Hoffman have combined for 22 saves. But, starters Ismael Valdez, AJ Burnett and Jeff Suppan (since traded) have been atrocious, sending the team ERA north of 5.0. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: The all-star break has seen the Thunder acquire John Thomson, Lance Berkman and Eric Gagne. Will the talent upgrade help them overtake the Brouhaha for the division lead? 3rd - Seattle Moshers - 42-43, 2 games behind - David Ortiz is having his best year yet, hitting .331 with 32 home runs, 69 runs scored and 86 RBI. sS Michael Young and CF Mark Kotsay each have on base averages of .360+ and 65+ runs scored. 3B Corey Koskie has hit 15 home runs with 55 RBI. None of the starters are having very good years, but closer Keith Foulke has saved 21 games with a 3.28 ERA. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: They could use another quality starter, but being only 2 games behind they have a chance at the pennant. 4th - Park City Climbers - 41-44, 3 games behind - When you think superstars, Brad Wilkerson isn't necessarily a name that pops up. Yet the 1B is slugging .557 with 22 home runs, 64 runs scored and 58 RBI. OF Carlos Guillen has a .365 on base average and 58 runs scored. OF Dave Roberts has 26 stolen bases. Dustin Hermanson is 7-3 with a 3.59 ERA, and Carlos Zambrano is 8-4, but too many bad pitchers at the lower end of the roster has ballooned the team ERA to 5.02. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: In any other division they'd be also-rans by this point, but in the weak Young division they still have a chance for the pennant. 5th - San Francisco Piazza's - 36-50, 8.5 games behind - San Francisco's Japanese experience is paying off on offense. Ichiro Suzuki leads the league in batting average (.372), and both Ichiro and Hideki Matsui have scored 58 runs. Jeff Bagwell is having a productive swan song year (.376 on base average, .516 slugging, 13 home runs). The team ERA of 4.67 is league average, although the player with the most wins is closer Luis Aquino (7-5, 8 saves, 5.23 ERA). Yet, despite all this, the Piazza's have not been able to find a way to win. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Looks like a finish in the lower half of the division for the Piazza's. 6th - Oregon City Pioneers - 36-50, 8.5 games behind - The team's intentions were made apparant at the all-star break when Lance Berkman (25 home runs, 63 runs, 67 RBI) and Eric Gagne (14 saves, 2.06 ERA) were dealt. Vladimir Guerrero (18 home runs, 57 runs/RBI) and Hank Blaylock (17 home runs, 53 RBI) are having good years, but the team's 5.10 ERA is holding them back. 2ND HALF OUTLOOK: Will more players be dealt before the trading deadline?