2019 CFOD Playoff Race Mid-Season Review IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY - Mantle Division - San Francisco Organization (50-35) Koufax Division - Walcott Walruses (55-33) Ruth Division - California Coneheads (58-28) Young Division - Brookfield Brouhaha (52-32) MK Conference Wildcard - Angry Candy (51-37) RY Conference Wildcard - Tualatin Pioneers (52-33) #1 League Wildcard - Miami Mangos (49-36) #2 League Wildcard - Pig's Eye Pirates (48-37) IN THE WILDCARD PLAYOFF HUNT: Arlington Arthropods (49-39) - 1/2 game back Olympia Rainiers (45-40) - 3 games back Fightin' Oglethorpes of Georgia - 3 games back Rocklin Thunder (43-41) - 4 1/2 games back Topeka MooseDogs (44-43) - 5 games back *************************************** Mantle Division - 1st - San Francisco Organization (50-35) - #1 pick Pete Alonso has not disappointed, hitting 25 home runs with 50 runs scored and 65 RBI at the break. Veteran Ryan Braun has hit 14 home runs wtih 46 runs scored, and Josh Donaldson has hit 20 home runs with 60 runs scored. Mike Clevinger has been an ace, going 9-2 with a 2.55 ERA. Shane Bieber has won 6 games with a 3.18 ERA. Closer Ken Giles has saved 10 games with a 3.14 ERA. The Organization look to be a lock in the playoffs. The only question is, will they do it as Mantle division champs or will the Angry Candy catch up to them? 2nd - Angry Candy (51-37, 1/2 game back) - The Candy have the league's most potent offense at the break, scoring a league high 484 runs. Eduardo Escobar is hitting .299 with 24 home runs, 64 runs scored and 73 RBI, while Anthony Rendon is hitting .303 with 19 home runs, 72 runs scored and 60 RBI. Max Muncy has blasted 36 home runs with 73 runs scored and 68 RBI. Garrett Cooper is hitting .362 with 43 runs scored. Mike Soroka is 11-3 with a 3.54 ERA, and Jesse Chavez won 7 games in 17 starts before burning out for the season. Closer Joakim Soria has saved 9 games with a 3.68 ERA. Being just 1/2 game behind the lead, the Mantle division is within the Angry Candy's grasp. 3rd - Arlington Arthropods (49-39, 2 1/2 games back) - Currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in, the Arthropods are a win streak away from the post-season. Alex Bregman has smacked 25 home runs with 65 runs scored and 63 RBI, and veteran Robinson Cano is hitting .308 with 53 RBI. Mike Trout is hitting just .246, but has 23 home runs, 51 runs scored and 52 RBI. Adam Eaton has 59 runs scored, and Miguel Sano has 21 home runs and 60 RBI. Their winningest pitcher is reliver Matt Andriese, who is 7-1 with a 3.45 ERA. Starter Jeff Samardzija has won 6 with a 3.29 ERA. Closer Shane Greene has racked up 14 saves, but has a sky-high 5.62 ERA. Perhaps some pitching help is on order? 4th - Fightin' Oglehthorpes of Georgia (46-41, 5 games back) - Young Ozzie Albies continues to impress, sporting 13 home runs, 10 stolen bases, 62 runs scored and 60 RBI at the break. Double play partner Tim Anderson is hitting .321 with 20 stolen bases, 51 runs scored and 58 RBI. Bryan Reynolds is hitting .335 with 59 runs scored. Jake Odorizzi has been stellar in the rotation, going 11-1 with a 2.68 ERA. Fellow hurler Aaron Nola has been equally impressive, going 11-4 with a 3.03 ERA. Roenis Elias leads the team in saves with 9 and a 3.77 ERA. The Fightin' Oglethorpes are very much in the playoff hunt, but may need to acquire some players for the playoff race. BETTER LUCK NEXT SEASON - Mechan Syndicate, Springfield 'Topes *************************************** Koufax Division - 1st - Walcott Walruses (55-33) - Cody Bellinger is having an MVP season, hitting .341 with 38 home runs, 90 runs scored, 85 RBI and 18 stolen bsaes. George Springer is hitting .302 with 32 home runs, 67 runs scored and 71 RBI, while Trevor Story is hitting .283 with 22 home runs and 72 runs scored. Matt Chapman has blasted 25 home runs with 57 runs scored and 61 RBI. Jonathan Shoop has gotten into the dinger parade, adding 16 home runs and 42 RBI. Walcott's 185 home runs currently leads the league. Stephen Strasburg has been the best starter in the conference, going 12-1 with a 2.86 ERA at the break. Sonny Gray and Robbie Ray have 8 wins each. Closer Aroldis Chapman has been unhittable, saving 20 games with a 1.57 ERA in 34 1/3 relief innings. 2nd - Pig's Eye Pirates (48-37, 5 1/2 games back) - Christian Yelich and Anthony Rizzo have been a dynamic duo in the 1st half for the Pirates, hitting over .300 with a combined 39 home runs, 122 runs scored and 116 RBI. Max Kepler has added 19 home runs and 54 RBI, while veteran Evan Longoria is slugging .504 with 18 home runs and 42 RBI. Jose Altuve is only hitting .247, but has 17 home runs, 51 runs scored and 51 RBI to show for it. Jacob deGrom has had a fine first half, going 9-5 with a 3.09 ERA. Madison Bumgarner is 9-6, and Anibal Sanchez has won 6 games with a 2.57 ERA. Archie Bradley leads the bullpen with 9 saves and 3.00 ERA. Currently sitting on the #2 league wildcard, the Pirates might need to motivate their lineup to hit a bit better or trade for an extra bat to secure a spot for the post-season. BETTER LUCK NEXT SEASON: Cincinnati Rock, Somerville Sluggers, Lakeview Zeros, Minneapolis Malice *************************************** Ruth Division - 1st - California Coneheads (58-28) - Currently owning the league's best record, Calfornia hosted this year's all-star game. Michael Brantley is hitting .323 with 15 home runs, 53 runs scored and 45 RBI, while Matt Olson has 18 home runs and 60 RBI. Catcher Mitch Garver has bashed 22 home runs in 203 at bats, driving in 49 runs. Jorge Polanco has scored 62 runs. Mike Minor is 11-5, and Charlie Morton is 8-5 with a 3.26 ERA. Tanner Rainey has mopped up wins in relief, going 7-1 with a 1.29 ERA. Closer Roberto Osuna has been lights out in the closer position, saving 21 games and winning another 5 with a 0.67 ERA (just 3 earned runs allowed in 40 1/3 innings). The scary thing with the Coneheads is that they could plug a few holes in the lineup via trades and could further improve their reocrd. 2nd - Miami Mangos (49-36, 8 1/2 games behind) - Currently sitting on a league wildcard spot, Miami will need to maintain their good pace to assure a post-season ticket. Glyber Torress has smacked 24 home runs with 55 runs scored and 46 RBI, and catcher JT Realmuto is hitting .305 with 14 home runs and 43 RBI. Trey Mancini has hit 15 home runs with 46 runs scored and 44 RBI, and Eddie Rosario has hit .283 with 15 home runs and 45 RBI. Austin Meadows is hitting .270 with 18 home runs and 50 runs scored. Francisco Lindor has been slumping, hitting just .232 with 39 runs scored. Lucas Giolito has won 8 games with a 3.05 ERA, and Zack Wheeler is 7-7 with a 3.54 ERA. Closer Will Smith has been strong, saving 15 games with a 2.10 ERA. 3rd - Olympia Rainiers (45-40, 12 1/2 games behind) - Olympia is 3 games behind in the wildcard race, but a strong 2nd half could propel them into the playoffs. Juan Soto has hit 20 home runs with 63 runs scored and 58 RBI, and Carlos Santana has hit 15 home runs with 68 runs scored. Gio Urshela has hit .306 with 43 runs scored and 41 RBI. Yordan Alvarez is having a strong rookie year, hitting 16 home runs and 51 RBI. Kyle Gibson is 9-6 with a 3.94 ERA, and Zach Davies is 9-5 with a 4.84 ERA (lots of run support!). Closer Stefan Crichton has saved 13 games with a 1.84 ERA. 4th - Topeka Stingers (44-43, 14 1/2 games behind) - A bit of a long shot to make the playoffs now, some big trades would need to be done to make the post-season. 1B Christian Walker has been solid, hitting .282 with 18 home runs, 58 runs scored, 54 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Fernando Tatis Jr is having a banner rookie year, hitting .277 with 13 home runs, 13 stolen bases and 51 runs scored. Hyun-Jin Ryu is 8-8 with a 4.04 ERA. Josh Hader has been their most effective pitcher, saving 11 games and winning another 7 in relief with a 2.17 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Paxtang Pitbulls, San Diego Termites *************************************** Young Division - 1st - Brookfield Brouhaha (52-32) - The Brouhaha's league leading 3.48 team ERA has led them to the top of the division at the break. Lance Lynn has gone 12-4 with a 2.31 and the all-star start. Brad Keller is 9-2 with a 2.78 ERA, and Tanner Roark and Kyle Hendricks have each won 6 games. Closer JB Wendelken has saved 16 games with a 2.66 ERA. Michael Conforto has hit 17 home runs with 43 runs scored and 48 RBI, and David Bote sports a .400 on base average with 14 home runs and 42 RBI. An extra bat or two might solidify Brookfield's hold on the division. 2nd - Tualatin Pioneers (52-33, 1/2 game behind) - Hot on the heels of the Brouhaha are the Pioneers, who are well within striking distance of the Young division lead. Avisail Garcia has been hot, hitting .315 with 20 home runs and 61 runs scored. Tommy Pham is hitting .309 with 24 stolen bases and 56 runs scored, while infielder Scott Kingery is enjoying a career year, hitting .290 with 21 home runs, 13 stolen bases, 66 runs scored and 67 RBI. Starlin Castro has added 13 home runs and 52 RBI. Julio Teheran is 7-4 as a starter, and Kenta Maeda is 8-5. The real stars have been the bullpen, with 6 relievers logging at least 40 innings with ERAs under 3. Felipez Vazquez leads the team in saves with 10 and a 2.98 ERA. 3rd - Rocklin Thunder (43-41, 9 games behind) - The playoffs are a long shot for Rocklin, who are instead playing for a better draft position. Ketel Marte has been stellar, hitting .336 with 24 home runs, 71 runs scored and 53 RBI. Aaron Judge has hit 23 home runs with 50 runs scored and 59 RBI, while Bryce Harper has only hit .237 with a mere 50 runs scored. Jack Flaherty is 11-3 with a 2.19 ERA, and Chris Sale is 9-1 with a 3.34 ERA. Closer Aaron Bummer has most certainly not been a "bummer", saving 17 games with a 1.32 ERA. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: San Francisco Piazza's, Seattle Moshers, Park City Climbers