Looks like the 3 year draft plan got ahead of itself, as the young and talented Sailors have put it together this year and are sitting in first place at the break. It was no surprise this team struggled last season, as the team was stocked with young but inexperienced phenoms. Likewise, it's not surprise that they are succeeding considering how talented these youngsters are. It still remains to be seen if this team can maintain this level of play, but GM Larsen Cain is making some trades to bolster the team for the stretch run, so don't count them out.

Offense:

What was a weakness in 2004 has become a strength in 2005. Manager Tim Raines has juggled this lineup almost daily, keeping his players rested and keeping the bench guys happy. Injuries have taken some toll, but not enough to kill the first place buzz. Speed and power are in good balance, with guys like Orlando Cabrera and Andruw Jones contributing both. Hee-Seop Choi has broken out in a big way as a run producer as well.  

Pitching:

The pitching has also turned it around. Eric Milton is a front runner for Comeback Player, Odalis Perez is another great lefty, and former Diablo A.J. Burnett is in line for 17 or so wins. Ben Sheets has been the best scrap heap signing after the Flyers inexplicably cut him in the off season, and Billy Koch is another in the list of Halifax players turning their careers around north of the border.

Biggest Surprise:

Geez, where to start? If I had to pick one, it would be A.J. Burnett, just because I'm bitter that he sucked so bad for my team last year.

Biggest Disappointment:

Edgar Renteria has been abysmal, though Cabrera is the primary SS. Still, not much of a backup. 

Man on the Spot Update:

A.J. Burnett has found new life in Halifax, finally turning that promise into product. He compliments the lefty tandem of Milton and Perez perfectly, and could win close to 20 games with a hot second half.

We’re just gonna have to win the whole freakin’ thing, eh?  Didn’t see this coming, I must admit.  But, Halifax suddenly has one of the best staffs in the league and with Hee Seop Choi, Andruw Jones, and Jay Gibbons breathing new life into this team, they are starting to believe and so are we.  Adding Millwood helps and there’s no reason this team can’t hold on and win this division.  I’m still behind AC, but whatever happens, the turnaround here has just been amazing—definite GMing excellence. 

Offense:

Being young is no longer such a strike against this team.  Choi has proven that he’s more than just a Mexico City freak show and he’s sort of dragged the rest of the team along.  Soriano is hitting like, well, Soriano.  Jones is on his way to 40 HRs.  I don’t know who Jay Gibbons is, but he’s bringing it this year.  And all this with the two best power hitters in AAA sitting down on the farm in Prince Fielder and Delmon Young.  Nifty.

Pitching:

They seem like a totally different bunch.  In some ways they are, but in others, guys just have found ways to turn it all around.  Burnett, Milton and Odalis have all got ERAs under the magic 4.00 mark and Kevin Millwood is 2-0 since joining up (I guess there’s an ex-Flyer factor, too).  Even the Hernandez boys, Runelvys and Carlos are above .500.  The pen, generally, has been less reliable, though Ben Sheets has been the Iceman in the 9^th, which is a bit of a surprise for a converted starter the lowly Flyers cut loose.

Biggest Surprise:

The whole team?  For one guy, pick A.J. Burnett, who, along with Matt Clement is creating the “Ex-Diablo” factor for starting pitchers.

Biggest Disappointment:

Casey Fossum got 7 cracks at breaking into the starting rotation, but he’s pretty much written his ticket out of the league.

Man on the Spot Update:

Runelvys has a winning record but may be the lesser of the Sailors’ starting five.  Nothing to complain about with him, though.

Last year's division champs looked down for the count for most of the first half. GM Roy Shelley was AWOL, and so was the team. Someone must have brought in a motivational speaker or something, because the Gamblers are hitting their stride. Just a game and a half back and on a roll, Atlantic City might pass the Sailors here soon and probably won't look back. The team has given up more runs than it has scored but is still 6 over .500, but that has to change for long term success to be guaranteed.

Offense:

Though this isn't a lineup that is solid 1 through 8, the key players certainly get it done. Starting at the top with D'Angelo Jiminez's .301 average and 30 steals and working your way to Bagwell, Guerrero, and the unbelievable Josh Barfield, and you see why this team is hot. Fewer at-bats for a lot of the other "stars" because of injury, but when healthy the team has a solid lineup. Erstad is back, Damon is getting healthy, and Posada is finally back in for Gregorio. It's a formidable lineup for sure. 

Pitching:

So, how does a team have a winning record when 4 of it's 5 starting pitchers are under .500? Well having a middle reliever go 8-3 helps, as does another going 6-1. Paul Shuey is finally in the rotation where he belongs, and with a healthy offense, the rest of the rotation should get better run support and start winning. If Rhodes can hold down the closer role, the team looks like it's in good shape.

Biggest Surprise:

Josh Barfield, hands down. Best second baseman in the league? One could argue yes, and what makes it especially amazing is that he has been in the league only one year (he was AC's first round amateur pick last year). He leads all second baseman in HR and RBI, and would receive MVP consideration if it wasn't for the ridiculous numbers being put up elsewhere.

Biggest Disappointment:

Freddy Garcia doesn't have a terrible ERA, but like last year, he just can't win. Cursed? 

Man on the Spot Update:

Matt Morris has the second best ERA in the rotation at 3.87, but is still a game under. He needs more support from the offense because he deserves better.

My pick for this team to win the division still looks pretty good.  Halifax and Bedford got off to hot starts but AC is trending up and right on Halifax’s heels.  Getting Shuey in the starting rotation will help and so would getting a 3B that can hit his weight.  Minus Tim Hudson, you’d think this would be the weakest team in the playoffs if they get there, which is exactly why I picked them to win it all—reverse psychology!

Offense:

They don’t swing the biggest sticks in the league, but with high averages and especially a defiant “I should have been ROY” season from Josh Barfield, the Gamblers get by.  Injuries have been a problem, but I’m not sure how that explains all the PT for Tom Gregorio at C or why AC hasn’t put some more effort into finding another 3B to replace Edgardo the lame.

Pitching:

No longer the studs they once were with Tim Hudson off the squad, the Gamblers have only Paul Byrd among the original starting 5 with a winning record.  However, the bullpen has been swell, with Orber Moreno going 8-3 and Jeff Zimmerman 6-1.  Moving Shuey into the ro’ should help, but Garcia, Schmidt and Morris really need to lock down more Ws.

Biggest Surprise:

Orber Moreno leading the team with 8 wins is sure a shock.  Good for Moreno, but having a middle reliever lead your team in wins isn’t usually a good thing.

Biggest Disappointment:

Edgardo Alfonso sucks and Joe Crede probably isn’t the solution.  Anybody with a corner IF who can hit his weight, please call Jersey.

Man on the Spot Update:

Freddy Garcia’s 4-8 record might make him seem like the goat, but his ERA has really been good enough to be a .500 pitcher.  Blame run support, maybe, but he’s still no Tim Hudson

Things have changed in Bedford. This is no longer the pitching powerhouse that we saw a year ago. In the meantime, the offense has improved, even with the early season-ending injury to Junior Griffey. Still, the team is lucky to have it's head above water when you consider the Crunch have scored 14 fewer runs than they have surrendered. At just 3 games out of first, it's a bit early to write the team off, but something has to be done to address the pitching for this team to have any chance.

Offense:

Eric Chavez and Ramon Hernandez are the unlikeliest of All Stars, but the numbers say they deserve the nods. This is a really good hitting team, as every regular starter has a batting average of .278 or higher. Jose Vidro continues to be the best #2 hitter around, Shannon Stewart provides speed, and even Trot Nixon has become a run producer. When you can consider C, 2B and SS as strengths in the lineup, your offense is in mighty good shape. 

Pitching:

Borderline disaster. The Crunch have the worst team ERA in the league; a marked departure from last year's "Young Guns" pitching staff. Joe Mays probably should have been an All Star with his 11-4 record and Diablo cast-off Derek Lowe is 9-3, but the youngsters who propelled this team last year (Beckett, Webb, Harden, Nathan) are all getting shelled. Trachsel and Ortiz have been given audtions and failed, and outside of Strickland and Bradford, the bullpen is atrocious.

Biggest Surprise:

Joe Mays finds ways to win despite a below average ERA. Maybe he has enjoyed a much better offense than he did last year with Atlanta.

Biggest Disappointment:

Rich Harden was 12-9 last year, but has  scored a single victory this season. Compounded with a 9.63 ERA, this guy is clearly a candidate for Goat of the Year.

Man on the Spot Update:

Brandon Webb isn't fairing a whole lot better than Harden. Webb was given a top position in the Crunch pitching rotation, but has given up 95 hits in 77 IP so far. Ouch.

Given the erratic way his young pitchers have performed, I think you have to say Richard Gin has done about all you could expect a GM to do in order to keep this team as close as they are.  They don’t have the same offensive weakness as last year, but they suddenly have the worst pitching staff in the league with the only team ERA over 5.00.  Given all that, they should be more than 3 games out and the fact they are makes you think Darin could have gotten it right picking this team to win it all if only they can find some scrap of consistency in the second half of the season.

Offense:

Having a healthy year from Jose Vidro has made a big difference and if Alex Cintron could have done the same, this might be the league’s best double play combo.  Add to that perhaps the best bargain pick up in the offseason, Ramon Hernandez, a possible 35 HR guy at C and Bedford is shedding those automatic outs.  Plus Eric Chavez is having an MVP-type year.  Letting Sammy Sosa be a ringer pinch hitter is almost making sense when you look at the numbers—except his $/AB, don’t ask that number.

Pitching:

Yeah, maybe these guys aren’t the “phenoms” we thought they were….  Were it not for the additions of Joe Mays and Derek Lowe, this team would be firmly in last place thanks to Beckett, Webb, Harden, and Nathan who no longer look like the second coming of the Koufax-era Dodgers.  And the bullpen has been a revolving door exemplified by Rafael Soriano who started out well and then has been bad enough to lose his closer’s job and make Bedford wonder if he was worth Carl Everett who’s blossoming in Athens.  Don’t give up, though, since Beckett and Nathan could turn it around in a big way.

Biggest Surprise:

Joe Mays is a story alright, but what’s up with Trot Nixon posting an .850 OPS?  Trot Nixon?

Biggest Disappointment:

Rich Harden.  Whoa, nelly.  After 6 horrendous starts where opponents hit nearly .400 off him, Harden’s been shipped to Detroit and may be done pitching in the bigs.

Man on the Spot Update:

Brandon Webb has sucked all kinds of ways this year and Gin may have given up on him.  Except nobody he’s tried seems any better. D'oh!

What does nearly $90 million in payroll and a record 8 All Stars get you in this league? How about 4th place and a game over .500. What is up in the City of Brotherly Love? All this talent and little to show for it. You can't blame GM Eric Etrain, as he has pulled off some trades to improve the team, but for one reason or another they just won't play together. Bad clubhouse chemistry? Bad luck? If the team can figure out how to score a few more runs, they are right in this thing, but something has to start clicking here soon.

Offense:

A very different looking lineup from opening day. Konerko, Durham, Lieberthal and Ramirez have been replaced by Palmeiro, Castillo, Piazza and Castilla, making for a more productive lineup. Larry Walker has suffered from the injury bug, as has Rule V pick Travis Hafner. Mike Piazza was a great upgrade at catcher, and if Luis Castillo can figure it out in Philly, this team could start increasing it's run production. 

Pitching:

When Etrain put reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki into the starting rotation last year I thought he was nuts, but Sasaki is the starter for the All Star game with his 10-2 record, and Etrain has started a trend in SLB (See Tim Worrell starting in Ireland). Pedro has been Pedro, which is good since he makes more money than most small countries. Bartolo Colon has a proved to be a good pickup as well, giving this team a mean top 3 that could terrorize the post season if the team can make it there. The fourth and fifth starter roles have been harder to nail down, as Hampton and Padilla continue to struggle and FA signee Victor Zambrano shows why Cleveland cut him in the first place. Solid bullpen in the late innings, with rookie Oscar Villareal pitching lights out in the 9th and setup by Benitz and Cordero.

Biggest Surprise:

Jeremy Giambi has outplayed his brother in Cleveland (and got to play along side him in the All Star game). An .879 OPS is much more than the team was expecting at the start of the year.

Biggest Disappointment:

Mike Hampton continues to cough up runs in bunches, leaving the team without that lefty that can make all the difference in a long series. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Paul Konerko was the cleanup hitter on opening day but has been relegated to bench duty with the addition of Raffy. 

I keep dissing this team and they keep making me look bad for being so pessimistic.  They’re sending a slew of All Stars and, while in 4^th place, are right in it at only 4 games out of 1^st place in a division that nobody wants to win, it seems.  GM Eric Etrain may be your GM of the year as he’s been quick to pull the trigger on some deals that have worked out pretty well.  It’s going to cost them some draft picks, but so far it’s hard to argue with adding Colon and Palmeiro, among others.

Offense:

I’m still not convinced this is a championship offense, but adding Piazza and Palmiero helps.  Piazza is the best C in the league and with Shawn Green is part of a great R-L combo.  Durham and Hairston haven’t been too inspiring so Etrain traded to get burner Luis Castillo off Atlanta.  Vinny Castilla is having “one of those years” he has, which has helped a bunch.

Pitching:

Some are really good and some are really bad, there’s not much in between.  If anybody is worth $16mil, it’s Pedro, though thanks to an injury, converted reliever Kaz Sasaki is leading the team in wins.  Bartolo Colon, acquired from Ireland rounds out a great 1-3.  After that, it gets ugly.  Hampton has gone from reliable lefty to headache and nobody has nailed down the 5^th starter role since Astacio was sent packing unceremoniously.  Bullpen is the same: Cordero and Villareal rock, everybody else blows.

Biggest Surprise:

I don’ t think Jeremy Giambi was supposed to lead the team in RBI, but nobody in Philly is gonna bitch about that one. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Mike Hampton is having a meltdown.  Philly almost traded him and now probably are kicking themselves they held on to him.

Man on the Spot Update:

Etrain did as predicted and shelved Konerko pretty early adding Palmiero, a nice move indeed.

Sometimes a team just defies logic, and for two years running, Cleveland has been it. Yes, I know I predicted them to finish last, and with good reason it seems, but still the star power alone should make this a .500 ballclub. Injuries have taken some toll, as has a shaky pitching staff, so I guess the question is who will be on the market and who won't. Expect the team to shed some big salaries here at the deadline to set up for the free agent auction.

Offense:

If not for a stint on the DL, Manny Ramirez would be right in the MVP race. His .669 Slg. is mighty impressive, and he is hitting a homer every 9.5 at-bats. Giambi, Jones and Ordonez have all done their part, and the team has upgraded itself with a slew of speedsters. Rafael Furcal was a great addition from Ellas, but his injury has hurt the team at the top of the order. Hudson is a worthy All Star.

Pitching:

Feast or famine on this staff. GM Mike McAvoy was criticized for not upgrading the pitching staff this off season, and now we can see why. Mussina has been the workhorse, but word is that his house is on the market. Roy Oswalt has done everything but win since coming over from Ellas, but with his numbers, he deserves better. Same with Affeldt, who is a young lefty the team plans to build around. Chan Ho Park started hot but has cooled, and neither Ishii or Marquis has done much. Gagne is still a lights out in the ninth, but the rest of the pen is in bad shape.

Biggest Surprise:

Affeldt's ERA has dropped since last year, and could be the ace of this staff next year.

Biggest Disappointment:

Juan Uribe just can't hit. Too bad, since an OBP over .300 would go a long way here. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Mussina has put up the wins, but to what end? He will do very well for a contender in the last few months before hitting the free agent market.

Whatever the Dawgs are doin’ it ain’t workin’.  The rest of the division is within a series sweep of each other, but Cleveland is alone in last place.  You can’t really pin it on any one guy, but somehow this team finds a way to lose.  If Manny Ramirez comes back strong and Roy Oswalt and Jeremy Affeldt stop getting out pitched, they could storm back in it, but for now, it’s pretty frustrating.

Offense:

Other than Victor Martinez at C, nobody is really crappy, just a lot of people are off a bit.  Furcal and Ramirez have been fighting through injuries that have cost them and Ordonez and Giambi are just a shade off.  Orlando Hudson wasn’t supposed to hit .300, so that’s been nice, but the stars have to start shining a bit brighter, basically.

Pitching:

The current starring 5 of Mussina, Oswalt, Affeldt, Ishii and Park are pretty good, though their records reflect uncertain run support.  The bullpen is all Eric Gagne.  Whether Mussina sticks around may depend on how far out the Dawgs are come trade deadline time. 

Biggest Surprise:

There aren’t many.  Chan Ho Park was the talk of the league for the first month or so, but he’s come back to reality.  He’s still a nice pick up on the FA market.

Biggest Disappointment:

Roy Oswalt hasn’t exactly been bad since coming over in the Prior deal, but in a trade that just didn’t seem to do what it was supposed to, his inability to win is pretty symbolic of all that’s going wrong.

Man on the Spot Update:

Roy Oswalt hasn’t exactly been bad since coming over in the Prior deal, but in a trade that just didn’t seem to do what it was supposed to, his inability to win is pretty symbolic of all that’s going wrong.

Not much to complain about in Vegas, as the Rounders enter the break with the best record in the league. Great off season acquisitions, coupled with the explosion of Albert Pujols, has kept this team firmly in first place almost since opening day. Though they've struggled a little lately, Vegas is as close to a lock for the playoffs as you'll find in the league. Barring a disastrous second half, expect these guys to be in the post season to defend their crown.

Offense:

Albert Pujols is finally playing like the team expected him to, and he's a contender for MVP honors. What no one expected was the offensive surge of Garrett Anderson, who made the All Star team and is second on the team in HR and RBI. Tejada was kicking butt before hitting the DL, but Adam Everett is just fine in the meantime. Catcher remains a tough spot to fill, especially since Mike Matheny followed a year on the DL with yet another injury. Phelps and Blalock are young hitters who are coming into their own. 

Pitching:

So far, Tim Hudson has been worth every penny, and will likely contend for the Cy Young. Kevin Brown has really put it together, leading the league with 11 wins. Lohse has gotten beaten around but has benefited from tremendous run support, while Peavy and Halladay have been good enough. It's feast or famine in the pen, where Isringhausen/Rodriguez/Smoltz are the best threesome on any team, but the rest are getting beaten soundly.

Biggest Surprise:

Garrett Anderson for sure. Clearly not what the team expected, but they'll take it.

Biggest Disappointment:

His average is good, but Hideki Matsui has cooled off on the run production since his division MVP campaign a year ago. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Kevin Brown was on the spot, and he's pulled through with flying colors. The ERA isn't sparkling, but you can't argue with 11 wins.

It’s no fun picking champions to repeat, but Vegas shows every sign that they are up to the task.  As with last year’s team, they hit for average and power up and down the lineup, even though injuries have been more of a factor this season.  The pitching has been better than on last year’s team, actually, though there are some guys you still wonder about like the magnet for run support, Kyle Lohse.  It’s Vegas’ division to lose at this point, so if they don’t run this one out, they choked big time.

Offense:

They’ve been eclipsed by Paris and possibly Ellas as the best offense, but this is still no bunch of Bush leaguers.  Pujols has been crushing the ball since opening day this time around and the usual suspects of Tejada, Matsui, Garrett Anderson, and Adam Everett have been at it again.  The only guy who really drags the team down is JD Drew and Las Vegas can always find another OF.

Pitching:

Last couple of weeks have blipped the team ERA above 4.25, but before that they looked second only to London.  Hudson has been worth every dime it took to land him in the FA market and Kevin Brown has been resurgent.  Peavey and Halladay have been up and down, but that’s par for the course for 4-5^th starters in SLB.   Whatever Mike Remilinger’s “trick” for getting lefties out is, it ain’t working as they are blasting him at a .456 clip.  Kevin Appier has been awful in long relief, but Felix Rodriguez and John Smotlz mostly make up for that.

Biggest Surprise:

Josh Phelps took over for last year’s bargain star Hideki Matsui and it really hasn’t cost the Rounders anything in production.  Bit of luck, there.

Biggest Disappointment:

You’d figure JD Drew would tear shit up in this offense.  You’d be wrong.  Try .229 and losing your job to Larry Bigbie.

Man on the Spot Update:

Lohse continues to win games, ERA be damned.  I’d think he can’t keep it up, but he’s done it for a year and half now.

Last year was injury plagued, leaving us to wonder what the Thunder could do given a healthy season. Apparently what they can do is pitch real well and win a lot of games. At 10 over .500, the team is on pace to win 90 games, which ought to win you at least the wildcard. The team sent five players to the All Star game, and with the team starting to click, expect Tennessee to contend not only for the WC, but for the division as well.

Offense:

Talk about healthy! The 8 starting hitters haven't missed a single game, and 7 of the 8 are in double digits in homers. Terrific hitting, enough speed at the top, and more .500+ SLG than any team in the league it seems. Nomar probably shouldn't have been an All Star (and wouldn't have been had Tejada been healthy), but his speed is valuable. Brian Giles was a great buy in the auction, and when matched with Edmonds and Abreu, makes for the best outfield in the division. 

Pitching:

Young and good. Zito, Zambrano and Jennings are solid 1-3, while rookie Joel Hanrahan has surprised with a 6-2 record to date. The last slot has been a bit tougher to fill, with either Adam Eaton giving up a lot of runs, or Oliver Perez not getting the run support. The pen has been very good outside of Matt Anderson at closer. Hawkins or Patterson should be slotted in there.

Biggest Surprise:

I'll say Hanrahan, if only because he was an unknown commodity coming into the season. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Oliver Perez deserves better than 2 wins. 

Man on the Spot Update:

I nominated anyone but Zambrano or Zito in the rotation. Well the other 3 are a combined 16-15 (with Perez being 2-7 in there). Not bad.

This team started off slow and I was beginning to think blaming last year’s record on all the injuries may have been too generous.  Then the Thunder started making some noise and here they are nipping at the heels of the Rounders.  They actually are pitching better than Vegas and that’s reason to believe they just might be the team to knock the Rounders hopes of a repeat championship down.  Local All Star voters must be stuffing the box since the case for Nomar and Rolen to be in the game are pretty weak and Brian Giles seems to be going on last year’s numbers.

Offense:

They don’t really seem that inspiring since everybody seems to hit about .275, but there aren’t any easy outs and they get timely hits.  They also crank out doubles like mad.  I have to say, Abreu, Brian Giles and Nomar are all playing well below what I’d expected.  That could bode well, though, since they may be storing up for second half outbursts.

Pitching:

Second only to London in team ERA, the Thunder are just under the magic 4.00 mark as a squad.  Much of this, as expected, is due to Zambrano and Zito, though give Jason Jennings and the pen some credit, too.  Oliver Perez has been shafted with a 2-7 record despite holding his ERA to 4.07.  On the down side, 5^th starter has been a tough billet to fill and Rickey Stone has failed to translate his AAA success to the majors.  Still, if Tennessee can land the WC or catch up with Vegas, they can ride Zito, Zambrano and Jennings in the post season.

Biggest Surprise:

Probably Jason Jennings who’s looked every bit as good as Zito and Zambrano. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Nomar hitting .239 kinda rubs you the wrong way doesn’t it?

Man on the Spot Update:

In and out of the rotation Hanrahan has gone 6-2.  Not bad.  Not enough to lock in a job, either, I guess.

Looks like I had a more realistic expectation of this team than Tom did this preseason, as my Diablos are solidly in third place. The young offense has really come together, but the pitching has been spotty and overall, the team hasn't been able to sustain any sort of winning streak. Still, at just 4 games out of the wildcard, Havana is hardly out of it, and a few upgrades to the staff could put them into a better winning mode.

Offense:

One might have argued that losing veterans like Thomas and Giles and replacing them with young hitters was going to spell disaster in Cuba, but the youngsters have been fantastic. Jeremy Reed is a front runner for ROY, while teammate Jason Lane is nipping at his heels. Erubiel Durazo has quickly made fans forget the Big Hurt, while Alex Sanchez has done great in CF when healthy. Jose Reyes has not played like he did in spring training, and with Mike Lowell on the shelf for most of the first half, the left side of the infield has been extremely unproductive. I-Rod is still among the elite catchers in the league.

Pitching:

The rotation ERA's are a bit up and down, but only one guy has a record under .500. So where do the losses come from? The bullpen, which was a team strength a year ago, is a mess. Tom Martin was a much needed upgrade, especially since Fidelito Castro is so unwilling to play Troy Percival. A few more bullpen additions would go far here, as they've combined for 14 losses. Luckily, Kim, Wood and Maddux have done very well, and could contend with anyone in the playoffs should the team make it that far.

Biggest Surprise:

I'll say Durazo, who has lead the team in RBI for most of the year. He's been a very cheap run producer at just $600k per year.

Biggest Disappointment:

The team gave up Ichiro to land LHP Johan Santana, but the young pitcher hasn't done close to what he did in London last year. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Maddux shook off a tough start to hit the break at 8-6. His propensity to give up the long ball hasn't hurt him as badly as once feared.

At this point Darin seems to have done a better job predicting his team than I did.  They still might make a run for it, but I’m not going to stand behind that prediction given the play of Las Vegas up to this point.  Keesing failed to land Driefort or Millwood and that may be the case of the move you don’t make costing more than the one you do.  A lot now rides on Patterson and Santana turning their seasons around.  Keesing has been indifferent to his bullpen outside of locking down a good closer in Percival and that’s really something he’s paid for this season.

Offense:

As expected the Diablos are hitting, but this is about the time last year that the days in the Cuban heat started to take their toll on the vets.  Can Alomar hold up or is he in for another second half swoon?  ROY predictions for Jeremy Reed seem safe if he stays healthy as 100 RBI seems a lock.  Jason Lane has stolen some of the show if his BA holds up.  Mike Lowell isn’t exactly Mike Schmidt, but Havana feels better with him back and Tatis on the Pine.

Pitching:

I went so far as to say this was the new Diablo team strength after a flurry of offseason spending and while that’s not entirely true, Wood, Kim and Maddux have at least given this team a competitive rotation.  Wood has been amazing and Kim has justified his 10mil salary.  The 4-5 spots have been less successful, but that’s not unique to Havana.  Percival is the prototype closer, but getting him the ball has been a challenge again this year as Wunsch, Eichen, Franklin and Haren have all been lousy. 

Biggest Surprise:

Erubiel Durazo is barely making league minimum, but he’s leading the team in RBI.  Nice. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Scott Posednik still can’t hit and Keesing has apparently given up on him for good.

Man on the Spot Update:

Maddux has paid off handsomely.  He’s been a workhorse even if he’s not got the ERA of Kerry Wood to show off.

Whatever injury bug hit Tennessee last year has apparently blown downwind to Savannah, as the Sabers have been the walking wounded all year. It's disappointing, as the injuries have kept this team from following up on a tremendous second half last year and second place finish. For now, the team is just struggling not to finish last, though if these injuries start healing up, the team should pull away from Atlanta. Still, it must be frustrating for Rich Vohs to see his plans fall apart.

Offense:

The players who have gotten a lot of starts have done pretty well. Nevin, Huff and Jeter have played well enough, and Wilkin Ruan has torn up the base paths. The basic problems here are consistency and lack of a superstar talent. Injuries are to blame for the first part, but GM Vohs needs to make it his first priority this off season to land a blue chip veteran to build this team around. Sorry, but Salmon, Burroughs or Huff don't qualify.

Pitching:

8 pitchers have gotten starts for Savannah this year, but only one (Mark Mulder) has really been consistently good. Wade Miller and Kelvim Escobar have had serious run support problems, and either would do much better on a contending team. The other 2 slots have been disasters, as no one has stepped up to fill the roles. Some surprisingly good relievers on this team, including Farnsworth, Marte, and the oft-injured Mota.

Biggest Surprise:

Wilkin Ruan was a rookie CF that came over in the Kim deal last year, and when put in to fill in for an injury, has stolen the starting job. His speed, coupled with his average, make him a fantastic young player.

Biggest Disappointment:

Wade Miller was supposed to match Mulder win for win. Instead, he cancels him out and puts the combo at a mere .500. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Denny Neagle hasn't won a single game. Need I elaborate?

Can I take back that 3^rd place prediction?  Uhhgly.  Not only is this team well out of contention for the playoffs, they are about to be overtaken by the salary shedding Flyers, which, if it happens could provoke a crisis at the end of the season where the Sabres have some major FA problems looming.  Unless Rich Vohs thinks this team is on the verge of a miracle turn around he’d better start making the kind of moves that Atlanta has been making as the prospects of trying to deal with the core of this pitching staff coming up for free agency while trying to land somebody, anybody, who can hit a home run in the offseason are pretty daunting.  What’s the next move?

Offense:

Pretty much the pits.  You can make a case Philly or Atlanta is just as bad, but Savannah has the fewest runs and fewest HR.  Don’t be surprised if Mexico City’s AAA squad hits more HRs in half a season than the Sabres do all of 2005.  They’ve had some rough injuries, but really, that doesn’t excuse this season so far.  Phil Nevin and Sean Burroughs are probably the only guys you could get a bite on if you went looking for trades.  Aubrey Huff, at least, is a rising star.

Pitching:

Mark Mulder is arguably the best lefty in the game now that Randy Johnson is gone and Wade Miller and Kelvim Escobar are also top shelf.  But they don’t get enough run support and Russ Ortiz and Denny Neagle more than make up for whatever good they do.  I’m baffled at the problems the bullpen has had given the fact I thought they were the best in the league even before Mariano Rivera comes back from his season long injury.  When things go wrong, they go wrong everywhere, I guess.

Biggest Surprise:

Wilkin Ruan has been running like a maniac and leads the league in SB.  He’d be a great lead off hitter on a team that had guys who could drive in more runs.

Biggest Disappointment:

Man on the Spot Denny Neagle has been an 0-6 nightmare.  There have been others, of course, but I’m all about repeating how bad Neagle sucks in this report. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Denny Neagle exemplifies why we do “Man on the Spot.”  Called on over Mulder and Miller to start opening day, he’s yet to win a game and you can thank him as much as anybody for why this team is barely hanging onto 4^th place.

GM Jim Masters received some criticism this off season for not fixing the problems that plagued him last year. I'm just guessing here, but I don't think Jim expected players to get so much in the auction, and thus was left behind after constantly landing in the bottom half of bids. Well the lesson is learned, and now that the Flyers are clearly heading for last place again, Masters is shedding salary as fast as he can. At this pace, Jim will have over $30 million to spend even with another cap hit, which puts him in the catbird seat as far as landing a huge free agent like Vladimir Guerrero or Manny Ramirez. In the meantime, of course, fans have to suffer through some lousy baseball.

Offense:

Close to last in the league in runs scored (again), but the power is up from last year. Ensberg and Berroa are a pretty solid, young left side of the infield, and with Beltran putting it together, it's surprising to hear his name mentioned in trade rumors. Beltran is the only source of speed now that Castillo is in Philly, so he seems like he's worth keeping. You've got to build around somebody! 

Pitching:

When two Rule V players lead the staff in ERA, you understand the problems. Here is where the team really failed to upgrade last year, and the scrap heap pickings that landed in this rotation have played just as you'd expect. Randy Wolf is the only starter left from opening day, as Millwood, Dreifort and Radke are all on new teams. Jerrod Washburn has been a very pleasant surprise, as has Westbrook (one of those Rule V guys). The bullpen has also been picked clean, as Urbina and Benitez are gone.

Biggest Surprise:

Enbsberg has a shot at 90 or so RBI, much more than anyone expected from this unheralded third bagger.

Biggest Disappointment:

Sean Casey isn't hitting for average or power. Expect him to be cut this off season. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Radke couldn't get any run support, but is 2-0 since joining Ellas a few weeks back.

OK, there’s the obvious “bad side” that this team is still the worst in the league as I write this report, but there are two clear “good sides” to write about.  One is that they are only a game away from climbing out of the basement, which, in saving the Flyers another 4mil cap hit would be huge and given how I’ve ripped this team amounts to almost as much of a shock as Halifax being in first right now.  Another is that, wisely, given the situation, Jim Masters has gone about shedding a ton of salary meaning he’ll have more than enough cash to shake things up in the off season to add to the changes his rookie pitchers may bring to the franchise.  Things, frankly, are really looking up and I’m glad to have good things to say about this team for a change.  Maybe not Owner of the Year for Jim this year, but next year, put your marker down.

Offense:

They are still pretty painful to watch, though Kerns, Ensberg and Fick are putting up a brave face while the losses pile up.  Here’s where you really expect to see some improvement come along soon.  There’s little reason to keep investing in people like Pierre and Castillo, who Masters already cut loose.  Again, keep your eye on the call ups as on the job training is likely to be a factor in the second half.

Pitching:

Well, it’s kind of a work in progress.  There were some bright spots in Driefort and Wolf going before the trading flurry, but now it’s going to be 70 games of who knows what as Atlanta is probably going to give anybody who can find their way to the locker room a chance to throw the ball.  It could be fun, it could be ugly, but it really doesn’t matter since the guys who are on the scorecard right now won’t be the ones there on opening day next year, mostly. 

Biggest Surprise:

Jake Westbrook came over as a Rule V pick off the Fort Wayne Harry Baals, who added him as an afterthought last year.  He’s been invaluable in long relief. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Sean Casey can’t do a damn thing right.  Can’t hit, can’t hit for power and grounds into double plays like nobody’s business.  This is probably his last season as a starter.

Man on the Spot Update:

Well, Radke finally got traded to the Evzones where he’s put up 11 scoreless innings since arrival.  Maybe it’s the ouzo.

Looks like Tom and I may both eat crow on this prediction, though right now it looks more like we overestimated the other Euro teams more than underestimating the Knights. Still, we'll give credit where it's due, as London has the best team ERA in the league, and with any offense upgrades at all could make a solid post season run. Whether GM Sean O'Hallaran makes any deals is what remains to be seen.

Offense:

A-Rod is the only guy on the entire team with an average over .300. That's how it goes on this team, where runs are scarce and there are a lot of 3-2 and 2-1 victories. There is certainly some power here, with Delgado, Hinske and Berkman, but the leadoff and #2 hitter roles have been tough to fill, and Kendall's injury has left a hole at catcher. Rocco Baldelli is lucky to still have a job at this point, and Bo Hart needs to be put to pasture right now. Management needs to push hard for some upgrades here before the deadline or the team may not make it to the playoffs at all. 

Pitching:

Livan Hernandez not withstanding, this is a fantastic pitching staff. Surprisingly, Brad Penny has stepped past Pettitte and Ponson as the best pitcher on the team, while Brett Myers continues to develop as a young lefty in the #5 slot. This is clearly the best pen in SLB, with Danny Graves nearly unhittable and Dotel mowing them down. Even B.J. Ryan, a throw in from the Johan Santana deal, has been effective. Time to call up Zach Day to replace Livan?

Biggest Surprise:

Penny wasn't expected to show up in such a big way, but he is an All Star, and well deserved.

Biggest Disappointment:

Baldelli can barely hit his weight, yet leads the team in at-bats. It shouldn't be that hard to find a better outfielder on the market.  

Man on the Spot Update:

Ponson is doing about what he did a year ago, floating around .500 and generally not hurting the team too bad.

Yep, this team doesn’t have a shot and the big question is what they’ll do after another cap hit.  Darin and I nailed this one, didn’t we?  So where did these guys come from?  Well, the pitching was there last year, but take away several Hall of Famers from Ellas and Ireland and suddenly, thanks to Paris’s equally moribund staff, London is basically the only team in the division that can pitch consistently.  Yeah, that sort of matters.  Ellas and Paris have been furiously working to add better arms, but will it be too late?  We’ll see when the head to head matchups start up again.  If nothing else, London looks much less doomed to a bigger salary disparity with the rest of this division.

Offense:

Take away A-Rod, the best SS in the league, and this is very weak offense.  Maybe the weakest OF in the league with Baldelli and Ichiro really hitting more like 2B than OF in this mean division.  But, so far, they’ve been enough to win, which is all that matters.  And, there’s always the chance O’Hallaran goes out and nabs a big bat in the OF if that’s what he thinks he needs.  Easier to get that than a #2 starter, right?  Kendall has been out about half the season up to this point and getting him back will help.

Pitching:

Behind Penny’s turnaround and expected fine showings by Pettitte and the bullpen, this has been, marginally, the best staff in the league.  While the pen should continue to be a source of strength, the questions about Myers, Ponson, and Livan Hernandez are coming back hard.  And Penny could be a fluke up to this point.  Keep an eye on that team ERA.  If it stays under 4.00, expect London to stay in the race for this division.  If it balloons to 4.25 or more, it’s back down to the basement.

Biggest Surprise:

Hands down, Brad Penny.  That’s a whole different dude out there this year.

Biggest Disappointment:

One more time with feeling, “Rocco Baldelli still sucks.”

Man on the Spot Update:

Myers was a good call for man on the spot.  He started out on fire but has sank back to below .500.  Where to now?  As he goes, so goes the team it seems.

After a slow start, the Pimps mad a furious rush to the top, and led the division by as many as a half dozen games for awhile. But Paris has fallen apart as of late, winless in July and hitting the break on a 10 game skid that finds them in second place. The offense may break all sorts of records for runs scored, but as the team ERA continues to grow towards 5.00, something clearly must be done to turn this team around. 

Offense:

There is no argument that this is the best offense in the league. I'm sure Tom would argue that his Evzones are close, but over 500 runs at the break is unheard of. Five guys with over .300 batting averages, four with 20+ HR, and Raul Mondesi, who is an MVP candidate, didn't even make the All Star team. If that pisses him off, look out in the second half! Two first basemen from this team also made the trip to the fall classic, an unbelievable achievement as well. If Roberts can get healthy, this team should be solid top to bottom.

Pitching:

When Jerome Williams went down, the team started having problems. Dreifort was brought in to stop the leaks, but unless Willis and Pavano get it together, the Pimpernels are doomed to football score games. The bullpen (outside of Billy Wagner) isn't much better, which is surprising since Paris plays in a pretty voluminous ballpark. Any more trades on the horizon?

Biggest Surprise:

Mondesi. He was good last year, but he is off the charts in '05.

Biggest Disappointment:

Dontrelle Willis has really fallen on hard times. What can get the lefty to turn it around? 

Man on the Spot Update:

Chris Carpenter hasn't panned out the way GM Taylor would have liked, and has joined the list of guys who have moved in and out of this rotation all year.

This team’s offense can’t be stopped and a trip to the playoffs is looking like a formality—What?  They’ve lost 10 in A ROW?  Uh, whoops, well, then.  Maybe not.  Time for panic?  Perhaps not yet, but the fact this pitching staff is lacking anything you or I might call an “ace” may be catching up to these guys.  Vague memories about a Havana collapse are starting to beset folks in France, non?  I still think this team wins the division, but don’t be surprised to see Taylor poach another top notch starter before the deadline.  I’m sure if I were Mike Mussina, I’d learn what a Royale with Cheese is.

Offense:

Some sort of corked bat hootenanny.  You knew this team would be scorin’ runs, but I don’t think Mondesi, Sexson, Lee, and Restovich all banging away around .320 or better was to be expected.  Geoff Jenkins has had an injury plagued, troubled year and Roberts and Santiago are not pulling their weight, but that’s nitpicking.  When the numbers come in at the end of the season, Paris may break some of Las Vegas’ or Ellas’ records.

Pitching:

How good do you need to be with an offense that puts up 5 runs a game?  Just about this good.  With the exception of Williams before he went down and Wagner closing games, this staff is the definition of “good enough.”  Willis, Pavano, Lieber, and Benson all plug along at the 5.00 ERA mark and win about half their games.  Darren Dreifort, who was having a real comeback year in Atlanta is on board and he can really help if he doesn’t get the “yips” again and lose his control.  The bullpen is fine if all they need to do is hold a lead, but if you get to the playoffs, they could become unpleasant.

Biggest Surprise:

Raul Mondesi, I mean, gimme a frickin’ break.  I’m sure you could clean the rust off your car with the guy’s urine sample, but he’s having a career year, that’s for sure.  

Biggest Disappointment:

Chris Carpenter looked like he could be a solid 4^th or 5^th starter on a team with run support.  Looks were deceiving.

Man on the Spot Update:

Williams was tearing it up before he got hurt.  He’s about to come back, and just in time for the Pimps who are dropping like a rock.