2017 CFOD Playoff Race Mid-Season Review IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY - Mantle Division - Arlington Arthropods (49-39) Koufax Division - Walcott Walruses (52-36) Ruth Division - California Coneheads (55-31) Young Division - Park City Climbers (52-34) MK Conference Wildcard - Pig's Eye Pirates (47-38) RY Conference Wildcard - Topeka MooseDogs (53-34) #1 League Wildcard - Rocklin Thunder (47-37) #2 League Wildcard - Angry Candy (47-41) IN THE WILDCARD PLAYOFF HUNT: Seattle Moshers (44-41) - 1 1/2 games behind Fightin' Oglethorpes of Georgia (45-42) - 1 1/2 games behind Springfield 'Topes (43-42) - 2 1/2 games behind San Francisco Organization (43-42) - 2 1/2 games behind San Francisco Piazza's (43-43) - 3 games behind Lakeview Zeros (44-44) - 3 games behind Cincinnati Rock (44-44) - 3 games behind Minneapolis Malice (43-43) - 3 games behind Brookfield Brouhaha (41-43) - 4 games behind *************************************** Mantle Division - 1st - Arlington Arthropods (49-39) - Mike Trout is leading the way for the Arthropods, hitting .313 with 22 home runs, 15 stolen bases, 65 runs scored and 43 RBI at the break. Elvis Andrus has added 57 runs scored, and Miguel Sano has added 19 home runs and 55 RBI. Gary Sanchez has smacked 17 home runs with a .297 batting average from behind the plate. Luis Castillo is 5-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 8 starts, and Danny Salazar is 5-2 with a 1.98 ERA in 18 starts. Saves have been spread out amongst the relievers, with Jose Leclerc having the most with 7. 2nd - Angry Candy (47-41) - The Candy finished up strong to put themselves into contention at the break. Anthony Rendon is hitting .285 with 11 home runs, 55 runs scored and 47 RBI. Joe Panik is hitting .278 with a .480 slugging average and 39 runs scored. Kevin Kiermaier is hitting .283 with 16 home runs. Marcus Stroman had a strong first half, going 8-1 with a 2.08 ERA. Anthony Swarzak leads the team in saves with 12, but has a 3.91 ERA to go along with it. 3rd - Fightin' Oglethorpes of Georgia (45-42) - The Fightin' Oglethorpes are built on strong pitching (their 3.61 ERA is tied for 4th best). Michael Fullmer is 8-6 with a 2.75 ERA. Andrew Miller has been one of the best closers in the game, saving 19 with a 1.38 ERA. On the hitting side, Marwin Gonzalez is hitting .280 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI, while Eric Thames is slugging .600 with 18 home runs, 39 runs scored and 37 RBI. Some more thump in the lineup may be the key to Georgia making the post-season. 4th - Springfield 'Topes (43-42) - The 'Topes are hanging in there. Joe Mauer is having a productive season, hitting .309 with a .387 on base average and 45 runs scored. Steven Souza has been a source of power, hitting 20 home runs with 52 RBI. And Yasiel Puig has hit 13 home runs with 42 runs scored and 51 RBI. Still, a few more bats might help. On the pitching side, rookie Antonio Senzatela has been punching above his weight, going 9-4 with a 3.57 ERA. Closer Will Harris has been spectacular, saving 20 games with a 1.87, but both pitchers are likely to burn out before the end of the season. 5th - San Francisco Organization (43-42) - Leading the division for a time, a recent skid knocked them down to 5th place. Matt Joyce has been a monster at the plate, hitting 22 home runs and 53 RBI. Justin Upton has 19 home runs but a .217 batting average to go along with it. Eric Hosmer is hitting .288 but with only 24 RBI to his name for an offense that has scored a league low 320 runs at the break. Corey Kluber keeps them in contention, going 9-5 with a 2.55 ERA at the break. Raisel Iglesias has been solid as a closer, saving 18 games with a 1.42 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Mechan Syndicate *************************************** Koufax Division - 1st - Walcott Walruses (52-36) - The Walruses geared up for a championship run in the pre-season and so far it has paid off, as Walcott has the conference's best record. George Springer is hitting .300 with 20 home runs and 71 RBI, and Yulieski Gurriel is hitting .289 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI. Justin Smoak has based 21 home runs with a .286 average, 50 runs scored and 58 RBI, and Daniel Murphy is hitting .282 with 61 RBI. Rookie Cody Bellinger has 26 home runs, 56 runs scored and 63 RBI. Stephen Strasburg has been the best pitcher in baseball, going 12-3 at the break with a 2.35 ERA. Fellow hurler Robbie Ray is 10-1 with a 2.61 ERA for a pitching staff that is tied for the 4th lowest ERA in the league. Closers Chad Green and Wade Davis have combined for 26 saves an an average ERA hovering around 2. 2nd - Pig's Eye Pirates (47-38) - Last year's conference world series representative is in the playoff hunt. Jose Altuve has been stellar, hitting .356 with 11 home runs, 17 stolen bases and 74 runs scored. Christian Yelich is hitting .289 with 56 runs scored, and Anthony Rizzo has smacked 14 home runs with 51 runs scored and 72 RBI. Evan Longoria has added 48 RBI and Andrelton Simmons 15 stolen bases and 47 runs scored. Dylan Bundy is 7-4 with a 3.49 ERA, and Jake McGee and Addison Reed have gone 11-3 in relief. Closer Greg Holland has saved 16 games with a 2.55 ERA. 3rd - Lakeview Zeros (44-44) - Currently on the outside looking in, Lakeview is still a win streak away from making the playoffs. Corey Dickerson is hitting .311 with 15 home runs, 55 runs scored and 64 RBI, while Freddie Freeman is hitting .298 with 17 home runs, 49 runs scored and 47 RBI. Trea Turner has stolen 37 bases while hitting .295 with 61 runs scored. Carlos Santana has added 14 home runs and 54 RBI. Jon Gray and Max Scherzer are both 8-3 as starters. Saves have been scattered around the bullpen, with Archie Bradley leading the way with 9. 4th - Cincinnati Rock (44-44) - Cincinnati led the division early on before settling back into the Koufax division pack. Giancarlo Stanton has been having an MVP-esque year, hitting 27 home runs with 56 runs scored and 53 RBI. Starling Marte is hitting .354 with 33 stolen bases and 48 runs scored. Tim Beckham has added 49 RBI and 14 home runs. The starters have been a bit below average, with Miguel Gonzalez being their ace with a 7-4 record and 4.21 ERA. Darren O'Day has been great at closer, saving 16 games with a 1.30 ERA. 5th - Minneapolis Malice (43-43) - The Malice are team #3 that are hovering at .500 at the break. Joey Votto has been his usually stellar self, hitting .283 with a .418 on base average, 16 home runs, 56 runs scored and 48 RBI. JD Martinez is hitting .301 with 24 home runs and 66 RBI, while Zach Cozart is having a great year at shortstop, hitting .283 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI. Brian Dozier has smacked 17 home runs with 53 runs scored and 57 RBI. Pitching has been a problem, with a below average 4.28 team ERA. Jon Lester is 8-4 with a 4.23 ERA, and Dave Robertston leads in saves with 9 and a 2.63 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Somerville Sluggers *************************************** Ruth Division - 1st - California Coneheads (55-31) - Posting a league best 55-31 record at the break, the Coneheads are winning thanks to a league best 2.91 team ERA. James Paxton is 7-2 with a 2.31 ERA, and Paul Blackburn is 5-0 in 5 starts with a 2.14 ERA. Alex Meyer is 5-0 in 7 starts with a 2.70 ERA. Closer Matt Albers has been spectacular, saving 24 games with a 1.69 ERA. On offense, Lonnie Chisenhall is hitting .299 with 31 runs scored and 37 RBI in 184 at bats. Justin Turner is slugging .485 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI, while Paul Goldschmidt has 17 home runs and 46 runs scored. 2nd - Topeka MooseDogs (53-34) - 2nd place in the division but also 2nd best record in the league, the MooseDogs are having a strong year. Marcell Ozuna is on an MVP track, hitting .312 with 16 home runs, 64 runs scored and 53 RBI. Adrian Beltre has turned back father time, hitting .332 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI. Edwin Encarnacion has 16 home runs, 56 runs scored and 61 RBI. Ervin Santana has been an ace, going 9-3 with a 3.02 ERA. Martin Perez is 6-4 with a 3.61 ERA. Closer Josh Hader is on it, saving 18 games with a miniscule 1.15 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Paxtang Pitbulls, San Diego Termites, Miami Mangos, Olympia Rainiers *************************************** Young Division - 1st - Park City Climbers (52-34) - Park City's pitching has powered them to the top with a 2nd-league best 3.25 ERA. Tyler Chatwood is 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA and Jhoulys Chacin is 7-3 with a 2.81 ERA. Closer Roberto Osuna has saved 20 games with a 1.40 ERA. Reliever Shane Green has allowed just 4 earned runs in 38 2/3 innings, going 5-0 with a save. Charlie Blackmon leads the offense with a .290 average, 15 home runs and 63 runs scored. Kris Bryant is hitting .285 with 14 home runs, 51 runs scored and 44 RBI. Yoenis Cespedes is slugging .500 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI. 2nd - Rocklin Thunder (47-37) - Aaron Judge is having a monster year, hitting .290 with 25 home runs, 64 runs scored and 76 RBI. Jed Lowrie is hitting .298 with 57 runs scored, and Bryce Harper (who is still a year younger than Judge) has 18 home runs, 64 runs scored and 52 RBI. Jason Vargas has gone 9-3 with a 3.59 ERA, and David Hernandez has won 6 games in relief with a 2.98 ERA. Closer Kenley Jansen may only have 11 saves at the moment but still sports a closer-like 2.17 ERA. 3rd - Seattle Moshers (44-41) - On the cusp of the playoffs, Seattle is a win streak away. Nolan Arenado is hitting .270 with 14 home runs and 52 runs scored, and Dee Gordon is hitting .309 with 43 stolen bases and 50 runs scored. Didi Gregorius is hitting .308 with 13 home runs, 41 runs scored and 43 RBI, while catcher Salvador Perez is slugging .500 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI. Jay Bruce has smacked 19 home runs with 44 RBI. Dallas Keuchel is 6-4 with a 2.72 ERA, and closer Alex Colome has saved 16 games with a 2.80 ERA. 4th - San Francisco Piazza's (43-43) - The Piazza's are still looking to put the pieces together for a playoff run. Jose Abreu is hitting .295 with 15 home runs and 59 RBI, and Nelson Cruz has slugged 18 home runs with 56 runs scored and 52 RBI. Andrew Cashner is 9-4 with a 3.26 ERA and Justin Verlander is 9-9 with a 3.44 ERA - with the rest of the rotation with ERA's of 5.00 or worse. Closer Craig Kimbrel has been effective, saving 14 games with a 1.87 ERA. 5th - Brookfield Brouhaha (41-43) - Brookfield needs a strong 2nd half to make the playoffs. Michael Conforto is hitting .299 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI, and Chris Davis has 13 home runs with 33 RBI in 195 at bats. Lance Lynn has been a strong starter, going 7-4 with a 2.99 ERA. Kyle Hendricks is 8-3 with a 3.99 ERA. Closer Trevor Rosenthal has been good, saving 15 games with a 2.27 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Tualatin Pioneers