2016 CFOD Playoff Race Mid-Season Review IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY - Mantle Division - Mechan Syndicate (45-41) Koufax Division - Pig's Eye Pirates (53-32) Ruth Division - Paxtang Pitbulls (56-29) Young Division - Brookfield Brouhaha (46-38) MK Conference Wildcard - Lakeview Zeros (53-35) RY Conference Wildcard - San Diego Termites (50-38) #1 League Wildcard - Cincinnati Rock (50-38) #2 League Wildcard - Miami Mangos (47-38) IN THE WILDCARD PLAYOFF HUNT: Tualatin Pioneers - (45-40) - 2 games behind Seattle Moshers - (45-40) - 2 games behind Park City Climbers - (45-41) - 2 1/2 games behind Minneapolis Malice - (44-42) - 3 1/2 games behind California Coneheads - (44-42) - 3 1/2 games behind Springfield 'Topes - (43-42) - 4 games behind San Francisco Organization - (43-42) - 4 games behind Somerville Sluggers - (44-44) - 4 1/2 games behind Walcott Walruses - (44-44) - 4 1/2 games behind Arlington Arthropods - (43-45) - 5 games behind Rocklin Thunder - (40-44) - 6 games behind *************************************** Mantle Division - 1st - Mechan Syndicate (45-41) - Mookie Betts is playing at an all-league level, hitting .314 with 25 home runs, 19 stolen bases, 66 runs scored and 69 RBI. Adam Eaton is hitting .296 with 59 runs scored, and Brandon Belt has a .420 on base average and 51 runs scored. Jonathan Villar has 35 stolen bases and 59 runs scored, while Marcus Semien is getting plenty of RBI opportunities, driving in 54 at the break. Zach Greinke is 7-3 with a 3.24 ERA and Drew Pomeranz is 6-4 with a 4.22 ERA, but the rest of the rotation has struggled. Zach Britton has saved 7 games with a 2.38 ERA. 2nd - Springfield 'Topes (43-42) - 1 1/2 games behind - Dustin Pedroia is having another fine year, hitting .335 with 55 runs scored. Ichiro is defying father time, hitting .305 with 56 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. Mitch Moreland has driven in 47 despite a .234 batting average and a .419 slugging average. Another big bat in the middle would help them catch up to the Syndicate. Marco Estrada and John Lackey keep the team competitive with ERA's in the mid 3's, but the real stars are the relievers. Will Harris is 5-0 with 8 saves and a 2.38 ERA, while Chris Devenski has won 4 games and saved 18 more with a 1.88 ERA. 3rd - San Francisco Organization (43-42) - 1 1/2 games behind - The offense has struggled to score runs, scoring a below average 4.2 runs a game. Asdrubal Cabrera is the main hitter of note, slugging .440 with 50 runs scored. The Organization remains in contention due to their pitching. Collin McHugh is 7-4 with a 3.12 ERA, Corey Kluber is 6-6 with a 2.67 ERA, and Junior Guerra is 5-3 with a 3.29 ERA. Felix Rodriguez and Fernando Abad have combined to save 25 games with ERA's below 3. The team's 3.13 ERA is best in the majors. 4th - Arlington Arthropods (43-45) - 3 games behind - The Arthropods have a strong offense, best in the conference. Mike Trout is hitting .312 with 66 runs scored, 45 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Gary Sanchez hit 19 home runs with 52 runs scored before burning out at the break. Miguel Sano is slugging .624 with 22 home runs, 44 runs scored and 45 RBI. Elvis Andrus has 20 stolen bases and 62 runs scored. Matt Kemp has 16 home runs and 66 RBI. Where they struggle is on pitching. Adam Wainwright is 9-4 at the break, but with a 4.95 ERA. Tanner Roar is 7-6 with a 4.16 ERA. Closing duties have been spread out, with no pitcher having more than 5. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR - Angry Candy, Georgia Fightin' Oglethorpes *************************************** Koufax Division - 1st - Pig's Eye Pirates (53-32) - The Pirates are once again firing on all cylinders. Jose Altuve is hitting .343 with 63 runs scored, 43 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Anthony Rizzo is slugging .477 with 62 RBI, and Christian Yelich is hitting .297 with 48 runs scored. Jacob deGrom is 12-3 with a 3.01 ERA, Jerad Eickhoff is 8-5 with a 3.28 ERA, and Jake Odorizzi his 8-2 with a 3.50 ERA. Their team ERA of 3.17 is 2nd best in the majors, although closer Shawn Kelley has relatively struggled, going 1-5 with 12 saves and 3.51 ERA. 2nd - Lakeview Zeros (53-35) - 1 1/2 games behind - The Zeros are very competitive this year, thanks to table-setter Trea Turner. Turner is hitting .370 with 70 runs scored and 45 stolen bases, but he won't be able to last the whole season. Martin Prado is hitting .341 with 21 doubles and 59 RBI, while Freddie Freeman has smacked 19 home runs with 56 runs scored and 64 RBI. Jon Gray is 7-4 with a 2.78 ERA, and Max Scherzer is 7-5 with a 3.38 ERA. Closer Hector Rondon has saved 19 games with a 2.94 ERA, and Sammy Solis has saved 11 games. 3rd - Cincinnati Rock (50-38) - 4 1/2 games behind - Last year's champs look to enter the playoffs to defend their title. Giancarlo Stanton has 24 home runs and 58 RBI, while Carlos Santana has 20 home runs, 51 runs scored and 47 RBI. Brad Miller has smacked 20 home runs with 50 RBI. Carlos Martinez is 9-3 with a 2.54 ERA, and Miguel Gonzalez is 6-1 with a 3.32 ERA at the break. Closer Ryan Dull has saved 18 games with a 1.55 ERA. 4th - Minneapolis Malice (44-42) - 9 1/2 games behind - Joey Votto once again leads the Malice, posting a .387 on base average and 55 runs scored. Off-season acquisition JD Martinez is hitting .296 with 51 RBI, and Randal Grichuk is slugging .542 with 43 RBI. Jon Lester is 7-3 with a 3.22 ERA, and Carlos Rodon is 5-5 with a 3.67 ERA. Closer Seung Hwan Oh has saved 8 games, won another 5 and has a 1.98 ERA. 5th - Somerville Sluggers (44-44) - 10 1/2 games behind - Carlos Correa is justifying his #1 pick status in 2015, hitting .291 with 15 home runs, 55 runs scored and 48 RBI. Manny Machado has 16 home runs and 67 RBI, while Brian Dozier has bashed 28 home runs with 57 runs scored and 69 RBI. Hanley Ramirez has 16 home runs with 51 runs scored and 49 RBI. The team ERA of 4.71 is what is keeping the mighty Sluggers at .500. Jose Quintana is 9-6 with a 4.09 ERA, and Cam Bedrosian has saved 11 games with a 3.38 ERA. Some more pitching and Somerville could make the playoffs. 6th - Walcott Walruses (44-44) - 10 1/2 games behind - Daniel Murphy is having a banner year, hitting .293 with 14 home runs, 50 runs scored and 55 RBI. Ryan Braun has smashed 15 home runs with 54 runs scored and 60 RBI. Chris Carter has free-swung his way to a .195 average, 27 home runs, 121 strike outs and 51 RBI. Corey Seager and Trevor Story have combined to score 61 runs and drive in 63 runs at the shortstop position. Stephen Strasburg is 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA. Despite posting a 3.32 ERA, Kevin Gausman has been unlucky in the win column, going 5-9. Closer Aroldis Chapman has saved 9 games with a 3.67 ERA. *************************************** Ruth Division - 1st - Paxtang Pitbulls (56-29) - Posting the best record at the break, the Pitbulls hosted this year's all-star game. Xander Bogaerts is hitting .301 with 52 runs scored, and Jose Ramirez is hitting .294 with 65 runs scored, 44 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Stephen Piscotty is hitting .271 with 47 runs scored and 47 RBI, and Gregory Polanco has a .502 slugging average and 50 RBI. Miguel Cabrera has added 53 RBI, and Ben Zobrist a .372 on base average and 43 runs scored. Rick Porcello is 10-3 with a 2.77 ERA, and Chris Archer is 8-3 with a 2.84 ERA. Jeurys Familia has saved 13 games with a 1.45 ERA, and Edwin Diaz has saved 14 games with a 1.63 ERA. 2nd - San Diego Termites (50-38) - 7 1/2 games behind - The Termites feature the league's mightiest offense, scoring a league high 479 runs at the break. Josh Reddick is hitting .384 with 44 runs scored and 57 RBI, and Nori Aoki is hitting .352 with 48 runs scored. Jean Segura is hitting .317 with 62 runs scored and 57 RBI, while Melky Cabrera is hitting .310 with 60 runs scored and 55 RBI. Josh Donaldson has smacked 20 home runs with 61 runs scored and 66 RBI. Veteran Albert Pujols has added 16 home runs, 55 runs scored and 52 RBI. Hector Santiago is 6-2 with a 3.74 ERA, but the rest of the starters are definitely relying on run support to win games. Closer Joba Chamberlain saved 11 games before burning out, and the Termites bolstered their bullpen at the break by acquiring AJ Ramos. 3rd - Miami Mangos (47-38) - 9 games behind - Currently sitting on the #2 league wildcard, 2016 is Miami's best chance yet at making the post-season. Kyle Seager is hitting .317 with 21 home runs, 64 runs scored and 55 RBI. Adam Jones is hitting .291 with 20 home runs, 49 runs scored and 46 RBI. Francisco Lindor has scored 53 runs, and Ian Kinsler and scored 50. Masahiro Tanaka is 9-5 with a 3.34 ERA, and Jake Arrieta is 9-7 with an uncharacteristically high 4.04 ERA. Jose Fernandez is a likely candidate for improving in the 2nd half, currently with a 5-2 record and a 4.37 ERA. Relievers Kyle Barraclough and Ryan Buchter each have 9 saves with ERA's below 2.50. 4th - California Coneheads (44-42) - 12 1/2 games behind - Currently on the outside looking in, the Coneheads are a win streak away from playoff consideration. Justin Turner is hitting .310 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI, while Paul Goldschmidt is hitting .298 with 14 home runs, 18 stolen bases and 64 runs scored. Joc Pederson has 23 home runs, 50 runs scored and 6 RBI. Their rotation has been so-so, with James Paxton going 6-5 with a 4.04 ERA and Bartolo Colon going 8-6 with a 4.46 ERA. Closer Kelvim Herrera has been great, saving 15 games with a 2.41 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR - Topeka MooseDogs, Olympia Rainiers *************************************** Young Division - 1st - Brookfield Brouhaha (46-38) - The Brouhaha have had a strong 1st half to find themselves on top of the Young division. Wilson Ramos is hitting .373 with 13 home runs, 53 runs scored and 51 RBI. Kole Calhoun is hitting .290 with 49 runs scored and 56 RBI. Chris Davis is hitting a mere .194, but with 15 home runs, 57 runs scored and 44 RBI. RA Dickey is 6-3 with a 4.06 ERA, and Nelson Liriano is 8-4 with a 4.07 ERA. Closer Matt Bush has 13 saves, but is 1-4 with a 4.46 ERA. 2nd - Tualatin Pioneers (45-40) - 1 1/2 games behind - The Pioneers are legit contenders for the Young division title this year. Todd Frazier has 30 home runs, 48 runs scored and 76 RBI, while Ian Desmond is hitting .287 with 49 runs scored. Dexter Fowler has a .379 on base average and 61 runs scored. Victor Martinez is hitting .282 with 47 runs scored and 44 RBI. Madison Bumgarner has been an ace, going 9-3 with a 3.39 ERA. Julio Teheran is 8-4 with a 4.26 ERA. Dellin Betances has saved 8 games with a 1.74 ERA. 3rd - Seattle Moshers (45-40) - 1 1/2 games behind - Despite giving up more runs than they've scored, Seattle is still in the division race. Khris Davis has smacked 24 home runs with 46 runs scored and 59 RBI, while Nolan Arenado has 20 home runs, 50 runs scored and 45 RBI. Zach McAllister is 5-2 with a 3.35 ERA, and Dallas Keuschel is 7-7 with a 4.37 ERA. Seattle's good fortunes this year rest on the shoulders of closer Mark Melancon, who has saved 18 games, won another 4 and currently has a 1.13 ERA. 4th - Park City Climbers (45-41) - 2 games behind - The Climbers are a small win streak away from the top of the standings. Charlie Blackmon has been stellar, hitting .321 with 16 home runs, 62 runs scored and 45 RBI. Kris Bryant has 21 home runs with 62 runs scored and 51 RBI, while Yeonis Cespedes has a .362 on base average and 49 RBI. Tyler Chatwood had an astounding 1st half, going 9-2 with a 1.188 ERA. Jameson Taillon is 6-2 with a 2.60 ERA, and Colby Lewis has won 4 games with a 3.14 ERA in 12 starts. Closer Francisco Rodriguez has been solid, saving 14 games with a 2.30 ERA. 5th - Rocklin Thunder (40-44) - 6 games behind - In David Ortiz's swan song, the Thunder may need some help to make it to the post-season. Ortiz is hitting .302 with 16 home runs, 61 runs scored and 56 RBI. Carlos Beltran is also defying father time, hitting .298 with 18 home runs, 47 runs scored and 56 RBI. Bryce Harper has struggled relative to his talents, hitting .225 but with 18 home runs, 54 runs scored and 47 RBI. Chris Sale is 7-5 with a 3.22 ERA, while Noah Syndergaard is 7-4 with a 3.50 ERA. Closer Kenley Jansen has been spectacular, saving 14 games with a miniscule 0.80 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR - San Francisco Piazza's