2006 CDBL Playoff Race Mid-Season Review IF THE PLAYOFFS WERE HELD TODAY - Aaron Division - Dallas SuperSquad (49-33) Paige Division - Madison Muckrakers (50-35) Gehrig Division - Concord Minutemen (50-34) Tiant Division - Milwaukee Pilots (55-30) MK Conference Wildcard - Manhatten Beach Mashers (48-37) RY Conference Wildcard - Georgia Pines (53-30) #1 League Wildcard - Alphaville Caution (49-34) #2 League Wildcard - Carlsbad Surfers (48-35) IN THE WILDCARD PLAYOFF HUNT: Arkham Investigators (46-38) - 1 1/2 games behind Conference WC Boston Bulldogs (46-36) - 1 1/2 games behind League WC Albuquerque Maul (46-37) - 2 game behind League WC Seattle Decaf (46-39) - 2 games behind Conference WC Anchorage Gold Diggers (43-39) - 4 1/2 games behind League WC Springfield Isotopes (42-42) - 5 1/2 games behind Conference WC ************************************************************************************************************** Aaron Division - 1st - Dallas SuperSquad (49-33) (3 All-Stars) - Derek Jeter has been outstanding for the division leading SuperSquad, hitting .346 with 72 runs scored and 15 stolen bases at the break. Moises Alou, Geoff Atkins, Adam Dunn and AJ Pierzynski each have 50+ RBI. Roy Halladay has been an ace, going 8-3 with a 3.09 ERA and the all-star game start. Closer Todd Jones has been solid, saving 18 games with a 2.30 ERA. The SuperSquad are playoff bound, but some trades for another starter and some bullpen help may be necessary to fend off the dealing Mashers for the division title. 2nd - Manhatten Beach Mashers (48-37, 2 1/2 games behind) (6 All-Stars) - The Mashers are hot on the trail of the SuperSquad, acquiring all-star ringer Roger Clemens from the fading Dragons who may be Roy Hallday's nemesis in the playoffs. CC Sabathia went 11-2 with a 3.39 ERA and John Smoltz 8-4 with a 3.02 ERA, each making the all-star team. Mariano Rivera has won 8 games in relief with a 2.08 ERA. David Ortiz has 25 home runs with 60 runs scored and 67 RBI, and Rafael Furcal has 63 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Catcher Brian McCann is hitting .329 with 42 runs scored and an all-star nod. With recent acquisitions the Mashers are serious contenders for the Aaron division title. 3rd - Arkham Investigators (46-38, 4 games behind) (1 All-Star) - Alfonso Soriano is having a banner year, hitting 29 home runs with 63 runs scored and 76 RBI and an all-star team selection. Brian Giles has scored 52 runs, and Edgar Renteria has scored 51 runs with 15 stolen bases. Dan Haren is 8-5 with a 4.13 ERA, and closer Huston Street has saved 17 games with a 3.47 ERA. Arkham is not that far away from a conference or a league wildcard. A pitcher or two and another bat may be all it takes to propel the Investigators into the playoffs. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Montreal Voltigeurs, Elk Grove Trout, Point Lomas Friars ************************************************************************************************************** Paige Division - 1st - Madison Muckrakres (50-35) (5 All-Stars) - No surprise, the Muckrakers lead the Paige division at the break. Corey Patterson is hitting .353 with 39 runs scored and 20 stolen bases, while Jimmy Rollins has 27 stolen bases and 70 runs scored. Richie Sexson is hitting .328 wtih 23 home runs, 64 runs scored and 71 RBI, while corner infielder David Wright is hitting .306 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI. Andruw Jones sports a .376 on base average, 22 home runs and 61 runs scored. Jeff Francis has been a solid ace, going 11-2 with a 3.02 ERA and an all-star appearance. Francisco Cordero has 15 saves, but sports a 5.11 ERA, and all other starters have ERA's of 5.00 or worse. The Muckrakers are definitely playoff bound, but some more pitching may be needed if they hope to make the CDBL world series. 2nd - Seattle Decaf (46-39, 4 games behind) (3 All-Stars) - Seattle's offense has been hot, scoring 499 runs, the most of any team with a winning record. All-star Joe Mauer is hitting .381 with 49 runs scored, and Juan Rivera has hit 17 home runs with 60 runs scored and 57 RBI. Rocco Baldelli made the all-star team, hitting .288 with 66 runs scored. All-star Ian Kinsler has smacked 22 home runs with 62 RBI. Joe Crede has added 57 RBI at the hot corner. The high octane offense has been needed to support the iffy pitching staff, presently at a below average 4.61 team ERA. No starter has won more than 6 games, and no closer has saved more than 8 games. Trading for some pitching could see Seattle's fortunes rise in the second half and a playoff spot. 3rd - Springfield Isotopes (42-42, 7 1/2 games behind) (2 All-Stars) - Punching above their weight, the Isotopes are in line for a high "just out of the playoffs" pick as they continue to rebuild. Morgan Ensberg has been stellar, hitting 20 home runs with 58 runs scored and 67 RBI with an all-star appearance. Scott Hatteberg is hitting .353 with a rediculous .468 on base average and 67 runs scored. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: San Diego Chickens, Tualatin Thunder, DBL Fishbiscuits ************************************************************************************************************** Gehrig Division - 1st - Concord Minutemen (50-34) (5 All-Stars) - All-star Lance Berkman has been stellar, hitting .332 with 30 home runs, 67 runs scored and 72 RBI. Veteran Chipper Jones is hitting .328 with 17 home runs and 59 runs scored, while all-star Bill Hall has smacked 18 home runs with 62 RBI. Pitcher Johan Santana has a 12-4 record with a 4.03 ERA, and all-star closer Cla Meredith has saved 18 games with a miniscule 0.98 ERA. Concord has some competition this year, so an extra starter or reliever may be needed to secure their playoff spot, much less the Gehrig division title. 2nd - Carlsbad Surfers (48-35, 1 1/2 games behind) (5 All-Stars) - Travis Hafner is performing at an MVP level, hitting .356 with 28 home runs, 65 runs scored and 75 RBI. Raul Ibanez is hitting .362 with 16 home runs, 50 RBI and an all-star appearance. Scott Rolen has added 58 runs and 55 RBI at the hot corner, and Jose Reyes has stolen 34 bases and scored 65 runs at shortstop. Closer Joel Zumaya is a front runner for Fireman of the Year, saving 18 games with a 1.43 ERA. Jake Westbrook is 9-2 with a 3.63 ERA, and Ervin Santana has won 9 games with a 3.86 ERA. The Surfers are within striking distance of the Gehrig division lead and a strong 2nd half would secure the division title. 3rd - Albuquerque Maul (46-37, 3 1/2 games behind) (1 All-Star) - Currently outside of the playoffs, the offense has been powered by Todd Helton (.304 batting average, 56 runs scored) and Grady Sizemore (69 runs scored). Mike Lowell has driven in 58 runs and Pat Burrell has hit 19 home runs with 57 RBI. Brandon Webb has just a 6-5 record, but his 2.54 ERA over 18 starts was good enough to start the all-star game. Other than Kevin Millwood (8-4, 3.66 ERA) the rest of the rotation has been struggling. Some trades may be necessary for the Maul to make the post-season. 4th - Anchorage Gold Diggers (43-39, 6 games behind) (3 All-Stars) - Nick Johnson is having a strong season, hitting .310 with 15 home runs, 62 runs scored and 56 RBI. Brian Roberts is hitting .304 with 45 runs scored, 47 RBI and an all-star appearance. Veteran hurler Curt Schilling is grinding out the wins, going 9-6 with a 4.22 ERA. Closer Rafael Betancourt has been amazing, saving 19 games with a 1.88 ERA. The Gold Diggers will need a win streak or some trades to seriously challenge for a playoff spot. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Hong Kong Cavaliers, Topeka Stingers ************************************************************************************************************** Tiant Division - 1st - Milwaukee Pilots (55-30) (4 All-Stars) - The Pilots posted the best record at the break. Ichiro Suzuki is hitting .356 with 46 runs scored, 47 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Nomar Garciaparra is hitting .325 with 15 home runs, 56 runs scored and 53 RBI, while Vernon Wells is hitting .303 with 19 home runs, 59 runs scored and 51 RBI. Despite hitting only .227, Chase Utley has 51 runs scored and 59 RBI. Closer Jesse Crain has been on point, saving 22 games with a 2.57 ERA and an all-star appearance. Jason Jennings is 9-2 with a 3.31 ERA and won all-star MVP honors this year. Jeremy Bonderman is 10-6 with a 4.16 ERA. The offense is above average, and the pitching is above average. The main concern for the league and Tiant division leading Pilots is ... 2nd - Georgia Pines (53-30, 1 game behind) (1 All-Star) - The Pines captured the league's attention with an 18 game winning streak, propelling them to the 2nd best record in the majors and within striking distance of the Pilots. Jason Bay has anchored the lineup, hitting 23 home runs with 68 runs scored, 75 RBI and an all-star selection. Reed Johnson may not be a household name, but he is hitting .314 with 73 runs scored. Georgia's strength is in its pitching staff, which has a league best 3.56 ERA. Tim Wakefield had an 8-2 record with a 3.35 ERA before being cut in favor of Jason Schmidt, his has a 2.08 ERA through 2 starts. Cole Hamels is 8-5 with a 4.20 ERA, and Vicente Padilla is 8-4 with a 4.26 ERA. Their "worst" starter, young Justin Verlander has an ERA of 4.30 (better than some playoff bound team averages). Dennys Reyes leads the team with 10 saves and a 3.18 ERA, and recent acquisitions make the bullpen deep and formidable. Georgia could still finish with the league's best record. 3rd - Alphaville Caution (49-34, 5 games behind) (1 All-Star) - Nearly forgotten in the Pilots/Pines talk this year are the Caution, who are currently sitting on a wildcard spot. Scott Speizio is hitting .326 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI. Wilson Betemit is hitting .305 with 17 home runs, 52 runs scored and made the all-star team. Hanley Ramirez has 11 stolen bases and 52 RBI as he ascends to the upper tier of shortstops. The Caution have done this well despite having a 5.19 team ERA. Their best starter, Rich Harden went 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA before burning out for the year. Damaso Marte has saved 18 games but with a high 4.91 ERA. Alphaville may need to bring in some additional arms if they are to keep their playoff spot. 4th - Boston Bulldogs (46-36, 7 1/2 games behind) (2 All-Stars) - The Bulldogs have finished up strong in the first half to maintain a shot at the playoffs. Catcher Kenji Johjima is hitting .341 with 13 home runs and 46 RBI to nab an all-star appearance. Bobby Abreu sports a .418 on base average with 26 stolen bases and 65 runs scored. Ray Durham has smacked 14 home runs with 51 runs scored. Chuck James is 6-3 in 10 starts with a 3.09 ERA. All-star Tim Wakefield was claimed on waivers, and in 3 starts he is 2-1 but with a 5.59 ERA. Closer Bryan Corey has hoovered up saves, leading the league with 26 despite a ho-hum 4.03 ERA. A few trades (or Wakefield starting to perform like a Georgia Pine) could see Boston sneaking into the playoffs. BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR: Avila Dragons, Dedham Destroyers