2021 CFOD Playoff Race Mid-Season Review IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY - Mantle Division - Arlington Arthropods (61-27) Koufax Division - Cincinnati Rock (59-29) Ruth Division - Olympia Rainiers (56-29) Young Division - San Mateo Thunder (51-33) MK Conference Wildcard - Port Huron Hubris (53-32) RY Conference Wildcard - Miami Mangos (52-33) #1 League Wildcard - Topeka MooseDogs (53-34) #2 League Wildcard - San Francisco Organization (50-35) IN THE WILDCARD PLAYOFF HUNT: Chandler Killers (49-37) - 1 1/2 games behind California Coneheads (47-39) - 3 1/2 games behind Mechan Syndicate (46-40) - 4 1/2 games behind Park City Climbers (44-42) - 6 1/2 games behind Seattle Moshers (43-42) - 7 games behind *************************************** Mantle Division - 1st - Arlington Arthropods (61-27) - Firing on all cylinders, the Arthropods entered the all-star break with the league's best record. Shohei Ohtani is in the MVP race, hitting .275 with 38 home runs, 69 runs scored and 75 RBI at the break. Catcher Mike Zunino has 28 home runs, 48 runs scored and 49 RBI at the break, while Brandon Crawford is hitting .305 with 18 home runs, 57 runs scored and 53 RBI. Byron Buxton is hitting .386 with 45 RBI and 8 stolen bases. Kevin Gausman is 10-2 with a 3.42 ERA, and Luis Castillo and Frankie Montas have won 7 games each. Ohtani is 6-0 in 7 starts with a 2.56 ERA. Andrew Chafin has saved 8 games with a 1.82 ERA. With 488 runs scored (tops in the majors), Arlington could further distance themselves from the field with an infield bat or two, or they could stand pat and likely have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 2nd - Port Huron Hubris (53-32, 6 1/2 games behind) - Youngster Luis Robert had a stellar first half, hitting .335 with 51 runs scored and 12 stolen bases, although Robert won't likely last too much longer in the 2nd half. Joey Gallo has smacked 31 home runs with 58 runs scored and 68 RBI, and Adam Duvall has hit 16 home rusnw ith 51 RBI. Marcus Semien has 18 home runs, 56 runs scored and 59 RBI. Charlie Morton is 9-3 with a 2.99 ERA, John Means is 8-4 with a 3.22 ERA, and Tyler Alexander is 7-1 with a 3.20 ERA. Andrew Kittredge has 12 saves with a 3.73 ERA, and Hunter Strickland has 10 saves with a 2.65 ERA. It's hard to see any obvious holes in this team (save for the impeding Robert burnout), it would be a real shocker to see the Hubris fall out of playoff contention. 3rd - San Francisco Organization (50-35, 9 1/2 games behind) - Currently holding the #2 league wildcard, the Organization are in a postiing to defend their 2020 CFOD Championship. Darin Ruf hit .283 with 15 home runs, 54 runs scored and 47 RBI before burning out. Yasmani Grandal has 21 home runs, 56 runs scored and 46 RBI, although he won't be a 100% starter for the 2nd half of the year. Patrick Wisdom has smashed 34 home runs with 48 runs scored and 68 RBI, and an early 2nd half burnout is in store for him as well. Nathan Eovaldi is 9-6 with a 3.94 ERA, and Joe Kelly had saved 9 games with a 4-0 record in relief before burning out. With so many players on the verge of burning out, the Organization will need to go on an acquisition spree to maintain their playoff position. 4th - Mechan Syndicate (46-40, 14 games behind) - Brandon Lowe is having a banner year, hitting .277 with 38 home runs, 76 runs scored and 62 RBI. Giancarlo Stanton is hitting .274 with 30 home runs, 63 runs scored and 62 RBI. Jazz Chisholm has 45 runs scored, 46 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Ryan McMahon has 14 home runs, 52 runs scored and 46 RBI. Mookie Betts is having a bit of a down year, hitting only .216 but with 42 runs scored. Carlos Rodon is 9-1 with a 3.00 ERA, Corbin Burnes is 7-4 with a 3.25 ERA, and Zack Greinke is 6-3 with a 3.91 ERA. Closer duties have been by committee, with no 1 player having more than 5 saves. If the Organization can't get some replacement players in the 2nd half, and if Mookie Betts starts living up to expectations, the Syndicate might be able to slide into the playoffs as a league wildcard. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Angry Candy, Fightin' Oglethorpes of Georgia *************************************** Koufax Division - 1st - Cincinnati Rock (59-29) - Sporting the league's 2nd best record, Cincinnati was close to hosting this year's all-star game. Rafael Devers is hitting .310 with 24 home runs, 51 runs scored and 59 RBI, and Starling Marte is a rotissere wonder, hitting .317 with 49 runs scored and an easily league-best 37 stolen bases. Jared Walsh is hitting .332 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI. Kyle Tucker is hitting .263 with 23 home runs, 56 runs scored, 59 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Veteran infielder Jean Segura has scored 48 runs with 43 RBI. As good as the hitting has been, the pitching has been even better, with a staff ERA at a conference best 3.32. Gerrit Cole is 11-2 with a 2.72 ERA, Brandon Woodruff is 11-4 with a 2.83 ERA, and Freddy Peralta is 9-1 with a 2.55 ERA. Closer Blake Treinen has 15 saves and a 1.47 ERA. The Rock will be a formidable threat come playoff time. 2nd - Chandler Killers (49-37, 89 games behind) - Ke'Bryan Hayes followed up a phenominal rookie campaign with a solid sophomore effort, hitting 12 hoem runs with 50 RBI. Luis Arraez is hitting .323 with 41 runs scored, and Myles Straw is hitting .291 with 45 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. As a whole, the team has not been hitting for much power, posting a team slugging average of .390. Mike Minor has been a solid starter, going 7-2 with a 2.57 ERA. Emmanuel Clase has been dominant as a closer, saving 17 games with a 1.43 ERA. The team ERA of 3.58 is pretty solid, but the Killers will likely need to acquire some more hitting to make the post-season. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Pig's Eye Pirates, Somerville Sluggers, Lakeview Zeros, Trisolaris Droplets *************************************** Ruth Division - 1st - Olympia Rainiers (56-29) - Juan Soto continues to be one of the best young hitters in the league, hitting .270 with 12 home runs and 53 runs scored at the break. CJ Cron is hitting .265 with 17 home runs, 47 runs scored and 51 RBI. Yordan Alvarez has smacked 19 home runs with 49 runs scored and 51 RBI. Corey Seager is hitting .275 with 45 runs scored. The pitching has been amazing, with a league best team 2.96 ERA. Julio Urias is 8-2 with a 2.33 ERA, Eduardo Rodriguez is 7-4 with a 2.92 ERA, and Nestor Cortes went 8-3 with a 2.93 ERA before burning out. Collin McHugh has saved 24 games with a 2.45 ERA. Sporting the conference's best record, Olympia is the odds on favorite to represent the RY Conference in the 2021 CFOD World Series. 2nd - Miami Mangos (52-33, 4 games behind) - Veteran Paul Goldschmidt still has it, hitting .311 with 25 home runs, 64 runs scored and 63 RBI. Bo Bichette is emerging as one of the best young shortstops in the league, hitting .310 with 19 home runs, 70 runs scored and 47 RBI. Josh Donaldson is hitting .275 with 13 home runs and 59 RBI, and Ryan Mountcastle has 15 home runs and 55 RBI. Austin Meadows is slugging .533 with 16 home runs and 48 RBI. Zack Wheeler has gone 11-3 with a 2.96. 39-year-old Adam Wainwright is 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA. Paul Sewald has racked up 18 saves, but has a relatively high 4.22 ERA. Miami is currently sitting on the conference wildcard, and will look to prove their mettle in the post-season. 3rd - Topeka MooseDogs (53-34, 4 games behind) - Mitch Haniger is having a stellar season, hitting 24 home runs with 61 runs scored and 72 RBI. Austin Riley is hitting .296 with 18 home runs, 58 runs scored and 72 57 RBI. Ty France has 15 home runs and 50 runs scored. Phenom Fernando Tatis Jr is hitting .284 and 17 home runs, but with a mere 39 runs scored and 33 RBI. Hyun Jin Ryu has ridden his fantastic run support toa 11-4 record with a 4.76 ERA. Ace hurler Clayton Kershaw is 9-3 with a 3.68 ERA, and Triston McKenzie is 6-1 in 11 starts with a 3.46 ERA. Closer Josh Hader has been one of the best closers in the league, logging 19 saves, a 4-2 record and a 1.60 ERA at the break. Sitting on a league wildcard, some 2nd half acquisitions or a winning streak could propel the MooseDogs upwards in the standings and a better playoff position. 4th - California Coneheads (47-39, 9 1/2 games behind) - California sports a big 3 in Matt Olson (20 home runs, 51 runs scored, 53 RBI), Tyler O'Neill (23 home runs, 52 runs scored) and Kyle Schwarber (22 home runs). Justin Turner has 13 home runs, 40 runs scored and 41 RBI, and Jonathan India is hitting .287 with 43 RBI. Steven Matz, Casey Mize and Huascar Ynoa are tied for most team wins with 6. Veteran closer Craig Kimbrel has 13 saves despite a 4.40 ERA. The Coneheads are not yet done, acquiring Jacob deGrom at the break to try and push their way into the playoffs. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Dallas SuperSquad, Slam Diego Termites *************************************** Young Division - 1st - San Mateo Thunder (51-33) - Aaron Judge is healthy this year, and is hitting .288 with 21 home runs and 68 runs scored. Bryce Harper is reasonably healthy as well, hitting .273 with 23 home runs, 65 runs scored and 51 RBI. Bobby Dalbec is only hitting .217, but has 22 home runs and 52 RBI. Dansby Swanson has 17 home runs and 53, and Harrison Bader is hitting .287 with 18 home runs, 46 runs scored and 53 RBI. Jose Berrios has a 9-4 record at the break with a 3.79 ERA. Logan Webb is 8-5 with a 4.22 ERA. Aaron Bummer has been an elite closer, saving 14 games, with a 5-0 record and a 0.76 ERA. With an 8 game lead, the Thunder are virtually assured to battle it out in the playoffs. 2nd - Park City Climbers (44-42, 8 games behind) - Pre-season media darlings, the Climbers have maintained a winning record but are on the outside of the playoff race at the moment. Vladimir Guerrero Jr is hitting .302 with 17 home runs, 58 runs scored and 56 RBI. Kris Bryant is only hitting .231, but has 45 RBI to his credit. Cedric Mullins has 19 stolen bases and 52 runs scored, but a .251 batting average. Cole Irvin is 7-5 with a 3.32 ERA, and Casey Sadler has 9 saves and a 2.57 ERA. The team ERA of 3.62 makes them competitive, but they'll need to improve on their team hitting line of .252/.332/.398 to advance to the playoffs. 3rd - Seattle Moshers (43-42, 8 1/2 games behind) - Hunter Renfroe is providing plenty of fireworks this year, hitting .310 with 30 home runs, 63 runs scored and 69 RBI. Nolan Arenado has 22 home runs, 56 runs scored and 50 RBI, while AJ Pollock is hitting .348 with 9 stolen bases, 16 home runs, 45 runs scored and 46 RBI. Nelson Cruz has hit 21 home runs, while Josh Harrison is hitting .328 with 48 runs scored. Barring a major turnaround (or many acquisitions), the team ERA of 4.73 makes Seattle's playoff hopes a longshot this year. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Brookfield Brouhaha, Tualatin Pioneers, San Francisco Piazza's