1999 CFOD Mid-Season Preview Mantle Division 1. Reservoir Dogs - 52-32 - The Dogs are on top, as expected. 3B Chipper Jones is having an exceptional season, slugging .629 with 26 homers, 74 runs scored, 67 RBI, and a starting all-star appearance. The Dogs are chock-full of guys who can get on base, including Randy Velarde (.411 OBA, 54 runs, 50 RBI), Todd Helton (.388 OBA, 58 runs scored), Bobby Abreu (.402 OBA, 47 runs scored), and Jeromy Burnitz (.374 OBA, .536 SLG, 59 runs, 68 RBI's). Orlando Hernandez has been the big recipient of the offense support, going 12-1 in 17 starts, making an all-star appearance. So how can the Dogs improve? Beyond Hernandez, the other starters are not so good, particularly Juan Guzman and his 5-10 record. It's been a closer- by-committee approach so far, with no clear ace fireman in the bunch. Still, the Dogs have a comfortable lead, and an offense that shows no sign of slowing down. 2. San Francisco Shriners - 44-40, 8 games back - The little team that could last year, still in contention this year. All-star Sammy Sosa is once again the straw that stirs the Shriners' drink, with 25 homers, 69 runs, and 62 RBI to his credit. Sosa has plenty of help this year, with 1B Jim Thome (17 homers, 50 RBI) and all-star OF Carl Everett (20 homers, 66 runs scored, 71 RBI, .324 AVG) providing batting power. 2B Eric Young (41 steals, 45 runs) and OF Roger Cedeno (.49 runs scored, 31 stolen bases) provide the speed for the team. The starting pitching staff has been so-so, with Masato Yoshii providing the most wins for the team with an 8-2 record. The other starters are a combined 17-23. A highlight in the bullpen has been closer John Rocker, who has notched 17 saves so far and barely missed making the all-star team. Middle-reliever Steve Montgomery has had the "luck" factor this year, sporting a 10-1 record in relief. So how can the Shriners improve? An impact starter or two would really work wonders. 3. Charlottesville Squids - 41-40, 9 1/2 games back - Struggling for a few years since their '96 championship run, the Squids are back over the 500 mark. No platooning for this bunch, all starters save for the catcher have started every game, and catcher Dan Wilson has started 67 of 83 games. 1B Sean Casey is finally blossoming into a stud hitter, hitting .342 with 54 runs scored, 54 RBI and an all-star appearance. OF Gary Sheffield, Rondell White and 3B Dean Palmer are all over the 50 RBI mark, and 2B Luis Castillo has 56 runs scored with 30 stolen bases. John Smoltz has held his own against the other aces in the league, posting a 7-5 record with a 3.41 ERA. Youngster Ryan Dempster is 6-4 with a 3.35 ERA. So how can the Squids improve? They are hoping that recent acquisition David Cone will find his old form, which would allow for less starts from Chad Ogea, who has been an unimpressive 2-8 with a 6.38 ERA. 4. Mechan Syndicate - 42-44, 11 games back - Coors Field plus talented hitters equals monster hitting years. The Syndicate dominated the hitting ranks of the all-star game this year, led by 1B Rafael Palmiero (.613 slugging, 22 homers, 76 runs, 84 RBI), 2B Roberto Alomar (.360 avg, 20 homers, 63 RBI's, 103 runs scored), and OF Barry Bonds (.906 slugging, 35 homers, 70 runs scored, and 85 RBI) and Sean Green (.699 slugging, 31 homers, 90 runs scored, 87 RBI). The team is easily leading the league in runs scored (nearly 100 runs over the next team) and slugging (.539 team slugging). But the same park that enhances their already potent offense is hurting their pitching staff, which is tied for the league worst mark with a 5.94 ERA. Sydney Ponson is the team ace, with a 7-4 record and a *5.42* ERA. The worst starter ERA goes to Chan Ho Park, who is allowing 7 earned runs a game (yet still has a winning record at 7-6). No real closer in the bunch, although Paul Shuey does have a relatively impressive 3.46 ERA with 5 saves. So how can the Syndicate improve? Pitching, pitching, pitching. They'll need someone to replacce Barry Bonds when he burns out later this season, but that's already been done: Albert Belle has a .950 slugging percentage with the team and has 15 RBI in 20 games with the team. 5. Springfield 'Topes - 38-44, 13 games back - Kevin Brown, how could you? The longtime Springfield ace has been struggling this year, sporting a 5.30 ERA (but with an 8-8 record). Closer Rudy Seanez has been spectacular, leading the league in saves with 22 and made an all-star appearance. On the hitting side of things, CF Bernie Williams made the all-star team, with a .384 OBA and 60 runs scored). 1B Tino Martinez, cut by the team and subsequently redrafted, leads the team in RBI with 61. OF Luis Gonzales has a .422 OBA, .519 slugging average, and 54 runs scored. So how can the 'Topes improve? The best way they could improve is get Brown to a sports psychologist. If Brown can't improve, then the 'Topes can't, either. Middle infielders Rey Sanchez and Jose Vidro are both hitting .200/.300/.300, which is partially the reason why the 'Topes have scored a league low 337 runs. 6. Toronto Towers - 28-56, 24 games back - It's just one of those years. The Towers do boast two all-stars in C Ivan Rodriguez (.503 slugging, 60 RBI), and 2B Edgardo Alfonzo (.403 OBA, .562 slugging, 54 runs scored, 49 RBI), but the hitting talent gets rather thin after that. SS Miguel Tejada continues to improve, slugging .460 with 43 runs scored. Pitching is pretty much in shambles, with the staff showing a 5.16 team ERA. Reliever Travis Miller has been the bright spot, going 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 8 saves. So how can the Towers improve? Well, it's not going to happen this year, so all Toronto fans can do is sit back and wait for that nice fat 1st round pick to come their way to draft a solid veteran or a star rookie. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Koufax Division 1. Cincinnati Rock - 58-28 - Youth gone wild. The Rock were expected to contend, but certainly not dominate the league as they have. Their .674 winning percentage is best in the league, and they enjoy a 9 1/2 game lead over the 2nd place team. The hitting staff has really clicked this year, with no real holes in the lineup. 3B Troy Glaus is the team star, banging out 23 homers with 60 runs and 60 RBI. 1B JT Snow is having a great year in platoon duty, with a .417 OBA, .534 slugging percentage, 15 homers, 54 runs scored and 50 RBI. OF Brady Anderson has 57 runs scored and 50 RBI. There really aren't any holes in the lineup. And the lineup isn't even the Rock's stongest point. Those honors belong to Kevin Millwood and Bartolo Colon, who made the all-star team as starters, and are the top two starters in the league. The two are a combined 23-9. Reliever Anthony Telford is 8-0 with a 3.02 ERA, and closer Scott Williamson made the all-star team, going 7-3 with 16 saves. The Rock's 3.90 team ERA is the best in the league. So how can the Rock improve? Well, they can't, which is why they're the best team in the league. 2. Oregon Wet Sox - 47-36, 9 1/2 games back - Believe it or not, but the Oregon Wet Sox failed to place a hitter on the all-star team this year. SS Nomar Garciaparra is having a phenominal year, hitting .359 with 21 homers, 52 runs scored and 80 RBI. 1B Jeff Bagwell and OF Larry Walker have been merely excellent, combining for 110 runs and 87 RBI, with an average of .400 OBA/.500 slugging. CF Andruw Jones continues to improve, scoring 59 runs, driving in 49, and slugging .468. He's only getting better. On the pitching side of things, Roberto Hernandez made the all-star game, thanks to his 8-3 record, 17 saves, and a miniscule 1.32 ERA. Ace Mike Mussina is 7-6 with a 3.93 ERA. The other starters have combined for a mediocre 18-22 record. So how can the Wet Sox improve? They're already in the playoff hunt, so they're doing pretty good. They could use another good, solid starter, as well as a star outfielder. Jeff Conine and Stan Javier are hitting like a shortstop in the mid 1980's. 3. Somerville Sluggers - 45-38, 11 1/2 games back - The Sluggers have always been contenders, and this year is no different. Somerville placed 3 all-stars this year, SS Tony Bautista (26 homers, 59 runs, *91* RBI), 3B Robin Ventura (.586 slugging, 60 runs scored, 70 RBI's) and OF Manny Ramirez (.544 slugging, 18 homers, 72 runs, 58 RBI). OF Jerry Glanville is hitting .328 with 57 runs scored, and 1B Mark Grace has scored 67 runs. All in all the hitting is chugging along like expected. The pitching has been a little bit of patchwork, tied up by a stellar closer. Derek Lowe made the all-star team, saving 20 games with a 2.93 ERA. Curt Schilling has been the Sluggers' ace for years, and so far has just 13 starts with a 6-2 record. So far no other starter has stepped up to the plate, and the team ERA is 5.04. Right now the Sluggers have a hold of the 2nd league wildcard spot. So how can the Sluggers improve their position? Well, they need what everyone else needs: a starter who will start every 5th day and come away with the win. But even if they don't nab an ace starter via trade, Bautista, Ventura & Ramirez should guarantee them a spot in the post-season. 4. Boston Brewins - 43-39, 13 games back - The Brewins initially started with their low-OBA, high slugging approach to the offense, but made a few trades in the beginning of the season for a more balanced approach. It appears to be working fairly well. 3B Jeff Cirillo has adapted well to his new team, scoring 53 runs in 79 games. Catcher Mike Lieberthal has 13 homers so far, with a .383 OBA, .511 slugging and all-star honors. OF Greg Vaughn has put in another great season, smacking 25 homers with 67 RBI. OF acuisition Darryl Hamilton has scored 48 runs this season. Jermaine Dye has finally had his breakout year, hitting 19 homers with 60 runs scored and 59 RBI. On the pitching side of things, starter Darren Oliver has posted a 9-2 record with a 4.01 ERA, which was good enough for a spot on the all-star team. All of Boston's starters have been solid this year, with most starters having an ERA around 4. Former team ace Brad Radke was dealt early in the season, replaced by Mike Hampton who has posted a 6-5 record. So how can the Brewins improve? They could use a solid closer. Mike Jackson has 13 saves, but has posted a 5.58 ERA and blown 5 saves. SS Niefe Perez and 1B David Segui have been below average at the plate, so an added bat would do wonders. The Brewins are not out of the hunt yet! 5. Zippys - 45-41, 13 games back - The Zippy bats have been big this year. SS Derek Jeter has finally brought his game to the all-star level, starting for the MK all-stars this year with a .331 average, with 71 runs scored and 51 RBI's. OF Jeoff Jenkins is hitting .355, with a .601 slugging average, 60 runs scored and 60 RBI. 1B John Olerud has 69 runs scored, and OF Brian Daubach has scored 48 runs with 54 RBI on a .554 slugging average. So why, despite putting up a winning record, have the Zippys not put themselves at the top of the standings? Pitching. Ace Jamie Moyer is doing his part, going 8-4 with a 3.31 ERA and an all-star appearance. But their relief staff has not done their job, being bad enough to raise their team ERA to 4.93. A couple of good relievers would do wonders for this team. In the meantime, they are only 1 1/2 games behind the Sluggers for the last wildcard spot. 6. Hillsborough Regulators - 39-46, 18 1/2 games back - This team just needs more horses. They have a few. 1B Jason Giambi is putting in his usually good season, with a .428 OBA, .482 slugging average, 52 runs scored and 55 RBI. Draft pick SS Barry Larkin has 52 runs scored, and 3B Cal Ripken has 51 RBI. Closer Trevor Hoffman has been all that has been advertised and more, saving 15 games with a 1.98 ERA and all-star honors. Rick Helling is the team ace, going 8-7 with a 4.48 ERA. But it looks like Hillsborough will have to play this season out, and hope to nab a few more players to bolster their lineups. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruth Division 1. Road Warriors - 51-32 - The newly-named Warriors have been chock-full-o- talent for several years now, and this season is no different. The Warriors have a few newer faces leading the way this year. 1B Carlos Delgado is in the running for MVP honors, slugging .663 with 36 homers, 69 runs scored and 93 RBI and an all-star appearance. 3B Fernando Tatis was an all-star starter, with a .323 average, 21 homers, 74 runs and 62 RBI. Ken Griffey is his usual all-star self, starting in CF with 27 homers, 68 runs scored and 65 RBI. In fact, the worst performer of the bunch may surprisingly be SS Alex Rodriguez, who is slugging only .420 with 52 RBI, which was good enough for an all-star appearance! The only thing holding this team back from dominating the league is the pitching, but even this is relative. Their 4.44 team ERA is still above average. Bobby Witt and Darryl Kile have been prime benefactors from the super-offense, going a combined 17-9 despite an average ERA of 5. Jose Rosado Is 6-3 with a 4.08 ERA. Closer Billy Koch has notched 21 saves with an all-star appearance. So how can the Whaleheads add to their lead? Their offense continues to shine, although Alex Rodriguez still has a lot more that he can contribute, and the obvious killer starter would help too. 2. California Coneheads - 49-34, 2 games back - Last year's champs are locked in a fierce battle with the Warriors for the Ruth division pennant. The trade in the off-season for uber-ace Randy Johnson paid off, as Johnson has gone 9-4 with a 2.6 ERA and an all-star appearance. Closer Mariano Rivera also made the all-star team, with 19 saves and a tiny 1.5 ERA. Young-un Tim Hudson has been frighteningly effective, going 8-0 in just 10 starts. The team ERA is 4.43, which is better-than-average. On the hitting side of things, Mike Piazza is clocking in another all-star year, this time hitting 22 homers and 66 RBI at the halfway mark. Outfielder Juan Gonzalez has 18 homers and 59 RBI, while 2B Ray Durham has a .382 OBA with 68 runs scored. So how can the Coneheads overtake the Road Warriors? California is a 5th starter away from dramatically lowering their team ERA, as Mike Woodard isn't the answer this year. 3. Topeka MooseDogs - 42-43, 10 games back - Perennial doormats, Topeka has made some strides this year. Richie Sexson was acquired in the off- season, and has become the core of the lineup. Sexson is slugging .627 with 27 homers, 71 RBI and an all-star appearance. Fred McGriff has reverted to his old form, with a .421 OBA, .533 slugging percentage, 53 runs scored and 47 RBI. 3B Todd Zeile has 14 homers, 49 runs scored and 55 RBI. On the pitching side of things, closer Ugueth Urbina has saved 19 games with a 3.29 ERA and an all-star appearance. Starter Roger Clemens has a 4.10 ERA. So how can the MooseDogs get over 500? Pitching, and lots of it. Other than Clemens and Urbina, the rest of the staff have stratospheric ERA's, which explains the abysmal 5.54 ERA. 4. Miami Mangos - 40-45, 12 games back - For a time early this season, Miami was actually _leading_ the Ruth division, but have settled back to the middle off the division. This year the offense is powered by 3B BJ Surhoff and 1B Dmitri Young. Surhoff has a .504 slugging average, 58 runs scored and 50 RBI, while Young has a .404 OBA, .519 slugging average and 56 runs scored. Dave Burba has had a pretty good season, throwing 103 innings of 3.06 ERA ball, but only has a 6-6 record to show for it. Pat Mahomes is 3-1 with 15 saves and a 3.27 ERA. After Burba and Mahomes, the pitching talent drops off dramatically, which explains the 5.02 ERA. But Miami is on a rebuilding path, and just needs more talent (or improvements from star players like Raul Mondesi) to improve further in the standings. 5. Carolina Lightning - 29-54, 22 games back - Power outage in Carolina! The Lightning's .395 slugging average is rock-bottom in the league. Most of the blame goes to 1B Mo Vaughn, who is having a sub-par season. Vaughn is only slugging .416, but thanks to the runners ahead of him has 50 RBI's. 2B Craig Biggio is doing all he can, with a .381 OBA and 48 runs. Ellis Burks is the team's best slugger, with 17 homers, 41 runs scored and 52 RBI's in only 222 at-bats. Ace Tom Glavine hasn't adjusted well to his surroundings in Carolina, going 3-11 with a 5.24 ERA. Pat Hentgen won 32 games total for the Sluggers in 1996 and 1997, but is on pace to lose 20 games this year. So how can the Lightning improve? They'll have to wait until next year, when hopefully Mo Vaughn will return to form and a few more sluggers can be added to the lineup. 6. San Diego Termites - 27-55, 23 1/2 games back - Ouch! The league's best regular season team last year has fallen hard, hitting nothing but the bottom of the standings. OF Albert Belle wanted off the team so bad that he underperformed during his time with the Termites, before being shipped off to the Syndicate. Catcher Mike Sweeney seems at home here, with a .306 average, .377 OBA, 48 RBI, and an all-star appearance. SS Omar Vizquel is hitting .321 with 53 runs scored, while OF Steve Finley has 17 homers and 59 RBI to his name. The hitting isn't too bad, but the pitching is downright terrible. The team ERA is 5.94, tied for worst in the league. 'Nuff said. The Termites are in contention for a really good draft pick next year, which should help bring in some talent. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Division 1. Arizona Thunder - 54-33 - Arizona is having a big-mac attack. McGwire is on pace to have the best season ever by a hitter, with a .411 OBA, .764 slugging percentage, 44 homers, 85 runs scored and 105 RBI's, and that's just at the mid-point of the season! McGwire's productivity has been contageous to the rest of the lineup, as the all-star 1B played alongside OF Matt Stairs (26 homers, 60+ runs/RBI), 3B Matt Williams (27 homers, 60+ runs/RBI) and 2B Chuck Knoblauch (.389 OBA, 63 runs scored) in the all-star game. CF Johnny Damon didn't make the all-star game, but he still is hitting .313 with 29 doubles and 66 runs scored. On the pitching side of things, Mike Thurman has been helped a lot by McGwire & crew, going 10-2 with a 3.22 ERA and an all-star appearance. Closer Matt Mantei has 12 saves and a 2.39 ERA. The team's 4.02 ERA is 2nd best in the league. So how can the Thunder improve? You got me. They have the hitting, and they have the pitching to capture the pennant with flair. 2. Sacramento Fish - 45-35, 5 1/2 games back - Young team makes good. The Fish been the league's youngest team for several years now, and their investments are now paying dividends. The biggest dividend by far is Vladimir Guerrero, who is having his bust-out year. The all-star outfielder is slugging .586 with 21 homers, 65 runs scored and 71 RBI. 2B Todd Walker is hitting .320 with a .381 on-base average. 1B Paul Konerko is slugging .515 with 48 RBI's. On the pitching side, Eric Milton is having a good year in the rotation, with a 7-3 record, 2.62 ERA and an all-star appearance. Rick Ankiel was 6-2 with 13 saves before burning out before the all-star break. The team ERA is 4.42, which is above average. So how can the Fish catch the Thunder? The easiest solution would be to nab a few starters who can pitch better than Jeff Suppan and Javier Vazquez, who are a combined 11-13 witih an ERA in the high 5's. 3. Seattle Moshers - 43-42, 10 games back - They're getting older and time is not on their side. The Moshers have actually given up more runs than they've scored, yet have a winning record. SS Damon Easley is having a great year, with a .306 average, .383 OBA average, 52 runs scored, 49 RBI's and a starting all-star appearance. OF Magglio Ordonez is slugging .472 with 46 runs scored and 49 RBI's. 1B John Jaha has a .515 slugging average, 19 home runs and 55 RBI. Closer Doug Brocail made an all-star appearance, thanks to his 16 saves and 1.58 ERA at the break. Yet the Moshers could have been a lot higher in the standings, but their two biggest strengths are their two biggest weaknesses at the moment. Ace Greg Maddux is having a terrible year, sporting a 4-10 record with an un-Maddux-like 5.54 ERA. David Cone was in a similar boat, going 5-9 with a 5.18 ERA before being shipped off to the Squids. The 4.54 team ERA is still better-than-average, though. So how can the Moshers improve? Having Maddux be Maddux again would be a giant help, as will there be a need for another pitcher to step up to fill the gap left by David Cone. 4. Brookfield Brouhaha - 41-43, 11 1/2 games back - They won the pennant last year, and this year looks to simply be a case of a little lost momentum. Edgar Martinez is still his usual stellar self, with a .415 OBA, .555 slugging average, 18 homers and 54 RBI. An early season trade brought on board veteran slugger Jose Canseco, who should put in a 40 homer, 100 run, 100 RBI season for Brookfield. 3B Joe Randa replaced Jeff Cirillo, and so far has a .364 average, .517 slugging average with 49 runs scored. Hideki Irabu is having a career year, with a 9-4 record, 3.58 ERA and an all-star appearance. Billy Wagner also made the all-star team, saving 18 games with a microscopic 1.22 ERA. Acquisition Brad Radke has been underperforming, who has gone 7-6 but has an ERA of 5.14. The Brouhaha can move up in the standings by an improvement in Radke's performance, as well as the usual added bat or arm. 5. Park City Climbers - 37-44, 14 games back - This is definitely Pedro's team. Pedro Martinez is putting in another all-star season, going 9-3 with a 2.64 ERA and starting the all-star game. Pedro's stellar season helps push the team ERA down to 4.64, which is better-than-average, despite Bret Tomko's (5.1 ERA, 1-11 record) "better" efforts. On the hitting side, 2B Jay Bell is putting in an all-star season, with a .409 OBA, .589 slugging, 21 homers, 52 runs and 67 RBI. Journeyman outfielder Reggie Sanders has bounced back to form, slugging .597 with 15 homers, 59 runs scored and 50 RBI on his way to the all-star team. Team mainstay Rusty Greer has a .394 OBA with 58 runs scored and 45 RBI. So with all this talent, why isn't Park City higher in the standings? They are scoring more than they are allowing, but could be scoring more from a slumping Vinny Castilla, and they've got 30 starts of 7 ERA ball from Nagy, Orel Hershiser and Woody Williams which could be consolidated into a couple more solid starters. They could also use a little better luck! 6. San Francisco Piazza's - 24-60, 28 1/2 games out - The team fell behind early and started to jettison talent. 3B Vinny Castilla, 1B Tony Clark, SS Rich Aurilla, all gone. Despite being gone for 24 games, Clark is still the team RBI leader with 48. The team ERA is sitting at a below-average 5.59. On the bright side, the Piazza's are sitting on the #1 overall draft pick at the moment!