The Sailors have been looking good for their fourth straight division title, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Well that hasn't exactly been GM Lars Cain's philosophy this season, as he's decided to shake things up a bit despite sitting nearly 5 games up on Bedford. Fan favorite Miguel Cabrera was sent packing in favor of Adam Wainwright, while Jason Marquis was sent off for Miguel Tejada. Planning for the future, or feeling the heat from the Crunch and the Dawgs? It hasn't backfired so far, so can't be too critical of the moves. The flurry of trades just came as a surprise, as Cain's usual M.O. has been to keep the same team in there year after year. 

Offense:

The maturing of Prince Fielder was probably what prompted the trade of Cabrera. Cecil's son has put up some impressive power numbers, sitting on the leaderboard for homers while driving in 54. The acquisition of Tejada moves Orlando Cabrera to third, which may actually be an upgrade in defense. Jay Gibbons was a surprise pick as an All Star despite his nice batting average. This team has managed to fight through some tough injuries, including a stint on the DL by Hee-Seop Choi. 

Pitching:

Once again, the cold weather in Canada has helped the team to the league's best team ERA at the break. Just about any pitcher who has struggled in more mild temperatures can be made into an All Star when moved to the Great White North. Adam Wainwright has really turned his game around since his move from Knoxville, while Matt Morris has torn it up with 10 wins. I thought the team would really suffer from the loss of Brandon Webb, who had screamed out of the gate with a 7-1, 2.54 mark. If the team can get him back in August, that could be the difference between winning the division and fighting for a wildcard. With the exception of newcomer Brad Radke, this is the best bullpen in the league. 

Biggest Surprise:

Brandon Webb's impressive start. He was a sub .500 pitcher coming into the season, but a change in his mechanics had him throwing strikes and limiting his walks.

Biggest Disappointment:

Andruw Jones just can't seem to get that average up, meaning he isn't utilizing his speed on the base paths much this year. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Prince Fielder took this designation as a challenge, and he has stepped up big time. Daddy must be so proud.

The Sailors cold air and consistent lineup has put them on top again.  The conditions seem to be able to take a run or so off anybody’s ERA so Halifax once again is leading SLB in many pitching categories.  As I said in the Heaters, Fielder and Young have come to be the stars of the offense and that seems to bode well for the future.  A couple of trades, especially to shore up the IF with Tejada give them another shot at the title, at minimum they seem on track for another post season appearance unless they choke down the stretch.

Offense:

It’s not a star studded lineup, but they get the job done.  Gibbons, hardly a household name, was the only All-Star selection, though Prince Fielder probably deserved to go.  Hee-Seop Choi has had a down year plagued by injuries and what for him is below expectations performance.  C has been a big hole after Javy Lopez hung it up, with Lieberthal and Benes struggling to stay above the Mendoza line.  Adding Tejada really does wonders, though, and may be enough to outscore opponents behind the pitching

Pitching:

Unless you’re Brad Radke, it seems anybody can put up good numbers here.  Matt Morris has become a solid starter and Javier Vasquez continues to be a winner thanks to the Canadian confines.  Brandon Webb and Roy Halladay have been the best ERA-wise though Halladay has lost some good starts.  Fifth starter has suddenly become a problem as Wolf and now Wainwright have been hittable.  Pen has been impressive, especially Mariano Rivera who may be putting a fine cap on his career.

Biggest Surprise:

Fielder, despite the dead-ball aspects of the home park is among the league leaders in HR.  He’s finally arrived.

Biggest Disappointment:

Randy Wolf can’t even get the benefits of starting in Halifax anymore.  He’s getting shelled.

Man on the Spot Update:

Both guys I mentioned, Marquis and Miguel Cabrera got dealt.  I guess that says a lot on its face, Lars Cain is not content to sit on this team.

"...the Bedford Crunch are in danger of being left behind." "...as it stands right now, this roster just isn't cut out to compete over a 6 month season." These are just two of the many asinine quotes provided by yours truly in this season's edition of the Hot Stove Heaters. Who knew that you could subtract Beckett and Hudson from this team and they would be better? Who knew that this offense, which had always struggled in the past, would produce five All Stars? Excitement over the surprisingly great first half should be tempered by the reality that this is the most competitive division in the game, and Cleveland is coming up fast on Bedford's heels. Still, pitching this good would really make this team dangerous in the post season.

Offense:

Finally, a year when guys like David Ortiz, Geoff Jenkins and Eric Chavez all have great years at the same time. Throw in the incredibly over achieving Ramon Hernandez and Milton Bradley, and you have a team that can actually scores some runs. Picking up Ichiro during Spring Training looks like the move of the year, as the speedy Japanese right fielder is actually playing up to his potential, knocking doubles and triples left and right. Add in newly acquired Nomar Garciaparra, and this offense stacks up with the best in the league. The bench is also strong, with Griffey, Nixon, Vasquez and Hunter all hitting over .290.  

Pitching:

Pitching has always been a team strength, so it comes as no surprise that the team ERA is below 4.00 once again this year. Every starter has a winning record except Kyle Lohse, who still has a 3.45 ERA and 13 quality starts. Rich Harden and Roy Oswalt were deserving All Stars, as was reliever Luis Vizcaino, who has pitched out of his mind this year. 0-0, 0.47 ERA, .118 OBA, and just 15 hits in 38 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, long and middle relief has suffered from some high ERA's, and the pen accounts for 11 losses.  

Biggest Surprise:

Harden came into the year with a career losing record, but leads the team with 10 victories. And who saw Vizcaino coming?

Biggest Disappointment:

Arthur Rhodes is showing his age, posting a 7.01 first half ERA. I think he's about had it. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Joe Nathan really likes pitching in Brooklyn. He shined here in 2004, and after several seasons of disappointing ball in other cities, he returns to form with 9-5, 3.62 first half.

Addition by subtraction, I guess.  Team let Beckett and Hudson walk and came out the better for it.  Sometimes everybody seems to play better or worse all at once and Bedford got the “play better” bug.  Good for them, but they still aren’t a lock for the playoffs and having dealt some blue chippers to Ellas for Nomar, they are betting a lot on this season.  It’s nice to finally see this team not underachieving, though, that’s for sure.  I really got this team wrong, but who the hell really thought they’d be this good?

Offense:

They are really an underrated pack thanks to playing in homer unkind NEFAC, but this year they aren’t sneaking under the radar as five All-Stars attests to.  Believe it not, Ichiro might have turned this team around.  He’s a perfect fit for this team and he seems to have made Chavez and Ortiz better.  Vidro continues to shine and with the addition of Nomar, this could be the league’s best middle IF.  Ramon Hernandez is having another “on” year, which helps and even the role players like Griffey, Jr. (roleplayer-ouch) and Torii Hunter are having great years.  Like I said, sometimes success is contagious.

Pitching:

Some of this is predictable, like Roy Oswalt having another great year and Joe Nathan seeming to fit in where he belongs in Bedford.  Then, some of it is just goofy, like Vizcaino being the closest thing this league has seen to unhittable—this from a guy who’s had a couple years with 6+ ERAs.  Rich Harden is also on a level he’s not been at before.  Kyle Lohse has had some bad luck and the bullpen, outside of Vizcaino and Kris Benson (yeah, another WTF? There) has been a big problem, but Gin can probably fix that up before the deadline comes down.

Biggest Surprise:

Vizcaino with a sub 1.00 ERA through some real innings pitched.  He’s been just automatic in middle relief.

Biggest Disappointment:

Probably Rhodes.  He’s lost his closer’s job after giving up what, for Bedford, is a lot of long balls.

Man on the Spot Update:

Bray has the highest ERA of the Crunch starters, but he’s still winning most of his starts.  Certainly as good as they needed him to be.

I don't feel so bad about getting this team wrong, because who could have predicted this? If you had told me in the preseason that this team would be starting three rookies, a struggling Jeremy Sowers and an injury replacement (Jake Peavy) in the pitching rotation, I would have patted myself on the back for predicting a losing season. But alas, here we are, 4.5 games out of first and just a game back of Bedford. The bolstered offense has really helped the confidence of the young hurlers, who know they don't have to be perfect every time out to get a win. The team has added some big salary in trades, so this is really a "go for broke" season for GM Mike McAvoy, who is looking at a financial crisis if the team doesn't make the playoffs. But big risk can equal big rewards, and if McAvoy is willing to pull out all the stops, who are we to argue? The fans of Cleveland need something to cheer about.

Offense:

Cooking with gas, baby! The Dawgs are markedly improved over last season, thanks to money well spent in the free agent market last winter. Rolen, Wilson and Drew were All-Stars, as was the latest addition, Todd Helton. Add in Johnny Estrada, who just might be the best hitting catcher in the league, and you have a potent offense that is giving other teams fits. Rafael Furcal has been an apt leadoff man, stealing 36 bases and scoring 61 runs, while Grady Sizemore can flourish now that he isn't burdened with being the big run producer in this lineup. It's no coincidence that when McAvoy made the decision to abandon the youth-centric lineup that the team started scoring runs in bunches. 

Pitching:

The least experienced pitching rotation in baseball is also one of the most successful. Rookie Justin Verlander made the All Star team, while fellow first year Eric Ridener could have as well had he not suffered a brief injury that cost him a handful of starts. You would have thought that a rough year from Sowers would spell doom for this team, but the pressure has been lifted by his fellow greenhorns. Now add in a third rookie, Japanese League star Tadeshi Kawabata, who isn't being very respectful of his new western hosts. In three starts, he has yet to yield a home run, and earned run, or a walk. Then, when Oliver Perez went down, manager Eddie Murray turned to the often disappointing Jake Peavy to eat some innings, and he has been rewarded with a 5-0, 1.79 year. The bullpen isn't great outside of Baez, but this team seems destined to do great things this year.

Biggest Surprise:

So many to choose from, but I'll go with Jake Peavy. He was wallowing in middle relief after a sorry career to date, but has really flourished in his opportunity to start for a winning club.

Biggest Disappointment:

Have to go with Sowers. He was 10-8, 3.57 last year, 4-9, 5.07 this year. If he could have managed even a .500 record to this point, his team would be in 2nd place. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Oliver Perez was chosen here because as of Opening Day, he was the only veteran in the rotation who had any track record of success. He has done alright, going 5-6, but has missed some time with arm problems.

So, I called this team “an effin’ mess” in the Heaters and then they go off and do this to me?  Man, are they making this prediction thing hard.  But, that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?  Proving your critics wrong.  You have to hope Cleveland keeps it up, because they are getting some serious second guessing on their “what salary cap?” trades, and without at least a trip to the World Series, this is going to be a painful year of paying big to run with the big boys for a short time.  But, heck, with a roster newly salted with All-Stars and a Japanese phenom, anything could happen, right?

Offense:

This is a last place offense no more.  Preston Wilson came over with a serious chip on his shoulder having taken a major salary cut and has tore into SLB pitching something fierce.  Johnny Estrada is a man possessed and you could argue Grady Sizemore is doing more for this team than Ichiro did.  Add Todd Helton, an overpriced but legit star and you’ve got some run producers the Dawgs have lacked so far in their league history.  JD Drew is productive despite a low BA and all you could really want is some more IF production and maybe more consistent OBA from the top of the order.  Good enough to get the WC?  Maybe.

Pitching:

Youth triumphant.  Yeah, Sowers has had a big time Sophomore slump, but Verlander and Ridener have been amazing.  And, somehow, even Jake Peavy is tearing it up.  Kawabata isn’t exactly young, but like other Japanese imports, he qualifies as a rookie making this one heck of a cheap and dominant starting staff.  The bullpen is a serious problem Biddle, Moreno and “Every shitty day” Eddie Guardado.  Make some pen trades and this could definitely be a contending staff, though.  I think—but then again, could Ridener or Verlander collapse under the pressure of carrying a team down the stretch?  Stay tuned.

Biggest Surprise:

Peavy.  I mean, come on.  He sat on the FA wire for long stretches with nobody willing to gamble on him and he’s arguably the team ace right now.  Comeback candidate fo’ sho.

Biggest Disappointment:

Not to pick on Sowers from both sides, I’ll say Furcal.  Not that he’s been awful, just not that he’s ever gotten it going in Cleveland the way they had hoped.

Man on the Spot Update:

Perez was probably not pulling his expected weight according to the cash it took to get him, but after his injury, the Dawgs rediscovered Jake Peavy, so, it’s all good.

To say this team has been disappointing is an understatement. Tom and I both predicted good things for the Gamblers in '08, but Jose Gutierrez's squad has done nothing to live up to expectations. The pitching has been a real eye sore, and despite some good bats in the lineup, the team just can't seem to score enough runs to keep their heads above water. Pitching coach Alex Fernandez is on the hot seat, as his staff has the fourth worst team ERA in the league and the second fewest quality starts. Add in a bad luxury tax problem, and you could be looking at a team that is in fiscal misery in 2009 if it should fail to hold off Philly.

Offense:

Vladdy, Manny and Richie are just fine, thank you. The rest of the team isn't getting the job done. The drop off in home runs and RBI from the big three to the rest of the team is jaw dropping, especially considering the batting averages aren't terrible. Bernie Castro, back in a starting position after a few years in baseball purgatory, is proving that his speed is valuable. Unfortunately, his OBP is an unacceptable .273 and he's on the leaderboard for strikeouts. Josh Barfield continues to prove that his rookie year was fool's gold; he is a competent second baseman, good for 6th or 7th in the order, but he no longer holds the promise of being a dominant 2nd or 3rd place hitter.  

Pitching:

Pretty damn bad. Dennis Tankersly is 9-4. Great. Dontrelle Willis has been a major league suckfest, while Brad Penny is making my Comeback Player prediction look asinine. Zach Day is laughing all the way to the bank, taking his huge paychecks every week and phoning in his starts. He's seen two teams already this season, and has blown on both of them. Two of the players that Gutierrez signed this past winter have been good in the bullpen; Gagne and Hendrickson both have respectable ERA's, keeping the walks down. 

Biggest Surprise:

That Manny Ramirez was snubbed by the All Star voters?

Biggest Disappointment:

Oh, let's see. Paul Shuey has managed a good ERA every year despite a low endurance, but he is being stretched beyond his usefulness this year. 

Man on the Spot Update:

We asked if Tankersly was the #2 starter on a championship team. Maybe if he's traded he will be. He HAS been the best starter on the team, but because of the futility of the rest of the rotation, will not have a chance to show off his skills come October.

If you believe in baseball curses, you may want to start talking about “The Curse of Jorge Posada.”  After his bizarre retirement debacle last year, the Gamblers have never really been the same.  Darin and I both raved about Jose Gutierrez’s trading virtuosity and this team’s chances to be at the top of the North for years to come, but this season has been a total disaster—one All-Star, a luxury tax hit and no guarantee they won’t wind up in last when it’s all said and done.  Not much they can do at this point but plan for the next Free Agent Auction.

Offense:

Not really the problem.  Vladdy, Sexson and the always menacing Manny Ramirez are about as good a middle of the order trio as anybody has.  Bernie Castro is scoring runs and stealing bases like a fiend, so his BA can be excused.  Beltre, Phillips and Barfield are no superstars but they aren’t really hurting the team at their positions either.  If the pitching was holding up, they’d be enough.

Pitching:

It has not been pretty.  The only bright spot has been Dennis Tankersly, who at 9-4 is the team’s only reliable arm.  Dontrelle Willis has taken his unpredictability to new levels, getting utterly shellacked in a few starts this year and putting up a fat ERA.  Atlanta suckered AC into taking Zach Day off their hands and he’s taken to proving it wasn’t just the Atlanta bad vibe that turned him into the league’s most overpaid starter.  You can’t really say Paul Shuey is worth what the Gamblers shelled out for him either as he’s been basically a .500 dude.  Penny is probably as good as could be hoped for as a relatively cheap reclamation project, but still, he’s not likely to have a winning record.  And, to top it off the pen outside of Hendrickson, the best off season pick up for Gutierrez, and Gagne has been pretty crappy, too, especially Mitre, who’s been taken out for a beating by the league.

Biggest Surprise:

Castro could still be in the top 10 in runs despite batting around .250.  90+ SB sorta makes a difference.  Imagine if this guy hit .300?

Biggest Disappointment:

Willis.  He gets your hopes up with a good year and then shatters them.

Man on the Spot Update:

Castro, as said above has been productive despite his low OBA.  For a SS, you’ll take it.

In a league this small, we've proven that a team can't win if it does one thing well but not the other. In Philly's case, they can pitch like crazy, but couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. The result is a season of low scoring games and disappointing finishes. The team has lost 16 one-run games already, with many losses coming from a very good bullpen that has no margin for error. The team is just a game out of fourth place and GM Brian B is working the trade wires like crazy to improve his team before the deadline. It's admirable that he hasn't given up on the season yet, plus it makes the division that much more competitive down the stretch.

Offense:

Well, what can you say? They pretty much suck. When Josh Phelps is your All Star representative, I think we know what kind of year the offense is having. Not to take anything away from Phelps, who is having a stunning season considering no one has wanted him all these years. Shawn Green's constant health problems have hamstrung the offense, as have the terrible OBP's up and down the lineup. Larry Walker hasn't turned out to be much of a hitting coach, and could see his tenure cut short pretty soon. Will the recently acquired Carlos Beltran do anything for the team, or will he continue to hit in the .230's (which, come to think of it, would make him fit right in). Pudge Rodriguez looks like he's about done.

Pitching:

Always good, though a little less so in the wake of some recent trades. Bartolo Colon was shipped for financial reasons, but Matt Clement is now in his place, and he isn't getting anyone out. Zito, Mulder and Wood continue to impress, though Wood's All Star bid was a bit dubious considering some other pitchers who were snubbed. Can Freddy Garcia continue his unexpected success, or did Cleveland ship him at just the right time? The bullpen has been very good in ERA, but they account for 13 losses. All Star Shingo Takatsu went the first 2+ months of the year without giving up an earned run.  

Biggest Surprise:

Takatsu, who looked like a bust after his first two seasons in the States. He has really refined that slow ball this season, and is on pace to break the single season saves record.

Biggest Disappointment:

Shawn Green just can't stay healthy. Two unrelated injuries have limited him to just 111 at-bats. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo. Yikes. Both have good speed and decent stolen base totals, but their combined OPS is 1.175 (Dallas McPherson's is 1.096 by himself).

Sort of like it’s been for Bulls’ fans for a decade, in Philly it’s come down to picking over the remnants and recalling the memories of a once great franchise.  On the upside, I think this team pretty much hit bottom this year.  They’ve unloaded most of their dead-weight salaries and should have some serious cash to throw around last place or not. 

Offense:

Scrubs and has-beens.  Josh Phelps has been well above expectations and Shawn Green can still get it done when he’s healthy, but outside that, it’s been a long year watching the Ensbergs and Pierres stink it up.  Carlos Beltran is here now and just maybe he’ll finally play to his talent level.  Al Pepper seems to hit in this league and probably ought to be given the rest of the year to prove whether that’s for real or a fluke.  Val Pasucci continues to show off unknown power reserves.  Expect a lot of new faces in 2009.

Pitching:

Unbelievably inconsistent.  Yes this may be Kerry Wood’s best year so far, but Mulder has been pushing a 5.00 ERA all season.  Zito, back to winning, Colon was getting beat before his trade.  Takatsu is now the man in the pen, but Westbrook and Donnely have racked up lots of losses.  Wood will be back, many others won’t.  Big questions as to whether the farm system can do anything to plug the holes.

Biggest Surprise:

Josh Phelps as an All-Star is something you’d have gotten a laugh outta me on at the start of the year.

Biggest Disappointment:

Escobar, Pierre and Castillo.  You can’t steal first base.

Man on the Spot Update:

If anybody got more out of $500K than Philly got out of Josh Phelps, I don’t know who.  If only the “Man on the Spot” was really what this team’s season hung on.

I was wary as to how successful this team could be this year, what with a questionable pitching rotation and a distinct lack of power in the lineup. Some unexpected performances coupled with a healthy dose of good fortune has kept the Diablos in first place so far this season, but not without some serious pressure from Tennessee. In fact, the two teams play a four game series right after the All Star Game, and Havana could be in 2nd place by the time you read this report. It looks like the team has the pitching to succeed in the post season, so the challenge from here out is making it there. 

Offense:

The Diablo offense has compensated for its lack of a 50 HR slugger with even run production across the lineup, as well as a dedication to team speed. Mike Lowell has stepped up as the big run producer, stepping it up a notch since Mike Piazza was traded last month. The return of Jeremy Reed as a legitimate RBI man, coupled with the emergence of Wily Mo Pena as a viable every day starting OF has helped the team overcome the lack of the "Big 3 Sluggers" in the middle of the lineup. An injury to Alex Sanchez gave Darin Erstad the opportunity to start, and he has done a fantastic job, leading the team in hits and locking down the #2 spot in the order. Rookie 2B Esteban German made the All Star Game thanks to his 31 steals and 11 triples. Alex Gonzalez has been a beast off of the bench, averaging a HR every 10 at-bats and posting a 1.371 OPS.  

Pitching:

Truly surprising, considering how suspect the rotation looked on paper going into the season. Having cheaped out on some of the big-ticket free agents, GM Darin Keesing was left with Orlando Hernandez and Eric Milton as his 4th and 5th starters, following second year man Bobby Brownlie. Milton was a mess and has since been moved to long relief, but El Duque has been fine as a 5th starter (posting an 8-7 first half mark). Overall, the Diablos have given up the fewest runs in the league.  Bobby Brownlie has blown up, going 12-3, 2.75 and pitching like a legitimate Cy Young candidate. Johan Santana had a terrible April (0-3, 6.23), but really turned it on in May (4-2, 2.19) and June (2-0, 2.27). Kaz Sasaki has been fantastic, but low run support has kept him to just a 6-5 record. Wade Miller's arrival solidified the rotation top to bottom. Steve Karsay has been unhittable in the bullpen, and though the rest of the relievers aren't stellar, they haven't been too much of a liability. Keesing will surely try to add some arms before the deadline.

Biggest Surprise:

Bobby Brownlie has escaped the sophomore slump that has affected Jeremy Sowers and Jeff Niemann. Darin Erstad has given more than you could ask for, especially considering he was a $750,000/year late round free agent pick up.

Biggest Disappointment:

Danny Patterson was a guy you could usually pencil in for a 2.50 ERA and great 8th inning work. But this year his ERA has hovered near 5.00. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Brownlie has not only stepped up his game, he has established himself as the ace of the staff.

Sure, it helps that three of the five teams in their division think of .500 baseball as “overachieving” but the Diablos continue to play like it matters and GM Keesing is looking at 2008 as this team’s best chance at a title.  Tennessee, despite a suspect staff, won’t go away, so the Diablos will have to earn their way into the playoffs.  They seem a safe, bet though, and then it’s a matter of whether they can ride Sasaki or put enough runs up to take out Halifax or Paris.  Free agency won’t be pretty, so they are looking at “now or never.”

Offense:

The Diablos are gaining a reputation for making B-list players into All-Stars.  Five of them this year including Esteban German, Darin Erstad and Wily Mo Pena, who are all playing well above their heads.  Mike Lowell, likewise, is on a mission and could be the HR champ—no, really.  Alex Sanchez has fallen back to earth in a rough way and Ryan Klesko is scuffling, but Havana wasn’t really counting on them.  What got into Alex Gonzalez I don’t know.  Going from Piazza to Varitek at C should be a real drop, but it hasn’t seemed to matter so far.

Pitching:

Probably about as good as anybody considering they don’t play in a dead-ball park.  Bobby Brownlie has come out of nowhere to duel Jerome Williams for the CY and Orlando Hernandez has been back to winning form.  Wade Miller came over from Ellas and he’s likely to be a big help down the stretch.  Santana and Sasaki have not put up big W numbers, but ERA wise they are spectacular.  Who to go with in October will be a tough call.  Karsay has taken charge in the pen, but needs some help esp. with Danny Patterson having a major drop-off in quality.

Biggest Surprise:

Brownlie.  He looked like a decent 4^th starter last year, but this season he’s been like Tom Seaver.

Biggest Disappointment:

Alex Sanchez was supposed to be the Carl Crawford of Cuba.  Not this year, and he’s been injured to boot.

Man on the Spot Update:

El Duque has been as good as Havana needed him to be.  His ERA may not be stellar, but if he wins, they don’t care.

How much more could we have f'ed up this prediction? We were sure that the losses of Prior, Smoltz and Rolen would do in a team that was already over achieving. But the Thunder have proved us wrong once again, hitting the break just a game behind the Diablos and having won 8 of 10 games. The team hasn't allowed injuries to Pujols, Fullmer and Mauer slow it down, and the pitching has been far better than anyone could expect. Now the team has made a move to acquire Miguel Cabrera, adding another weapon to an already potent offense. If this team gets a little more pitching, they could win their second division title.

Offense:

It should be no surprise that a team that has A-Rod, Pujols and now Cabrera in it is scoring a lot of runs. The team is second only to Paris in most hitting categories, and leads the team in steals, thanks mostly to Carl Crawford's 51. The team also leads the league in OBP, drawing the most walk and striking out the fewest times. Rodriguez is a legit MVP candidate, putting it all together for the first time in his career. Josh Hamilton should have been the CF alternate in the All Star game rather than Corey Patterson, as he is batting over 100 points higher. If the team can get completely healthy, they will really make life miserable for opposing pitching.

Pitching:

Great run support can make even average pitching look great, and that is often the case in this rotation. Jason Jennings is 11-2 despite an ERA near 5.00, while Lowe and Thompson also have good records thanks to good support. Danny Haren and Jeff Weaver (huh?) have had the best statistical years of the five starters. The bullpen has been surprisingly good, with Danny Graves making it clear that pitching for a contender has motivated him in a way that playing in London never did. If this team could add an actual #1 quality pitcher to the staff, they could really put the division away.  

Biggest Surprise:

Jeff Weaver has stepped into the rotation and pitched great. Not the guy you would think could pitch regularly for a contending squad.

Biggest Disappointment:

Despite his 51 steals, Carl Crawford isn't hitting well and leads the team in strikeouts. We wouldn't be so harsh on him if he weren't making $9 million a year.

Man on the Spot Update:

We didn't think that Danny Haren could the #1 starter on this team. He is probably suited better for #2, but his 9-5, 3.38 first half can't be ignored.

Even though it’s what the standings say, I’m still not sure I believe this team is a game out of first place, you know?  Like, how?   Jason Jennings wins all the time, but his ERA is horrid.  Danny Haren is one of the league’s better pitchers, but who saw that coming?  Middle relief is great.  And the offense is better than expected.  Mostly, this team just finds a way to win.  I’m not sold this staff can hold up over the second half, but Tennessee has been proving me wrong so far.

Offense:

You could argue they are second only to Paris.  If you don’t vote A-Rod for MVP this year, you should be kicked out of the league as he’s just all world and on pace to have a crack at the Triple Crown.  Miguel Cabrera has turned it up since coming over from Halifax, so that trade worked out.  Hamilton and Pujols have also been tearing it up when healthy, with Hamilton an MVP possibility someday, too.  Even Mauer and Reyes are giving some production out of the C and SS spots.  The only real disappointment is Crawford’s low OBA, which, for the $9mil they are paying him should be higher.

Pitching:

Sure doesn’t seem like they should be able to get it done, but they do without anything like a “star” pitcher.  In fact, nobody from the staff made the All-Star game, pretty telling for a team a game out of first.  Graves and Stewart deserve special mention as a middle relief duo that has bailed them out of the ugly games.  Likewise, Marte, Benitez and Urbina have all got pretty good ERAs in the short relief roles.  Of course, bullpens are flaky and the second half could have them tanking, but for now, the pen has been a major asset for the Thunder.

Biggest Surprise:

Mark Prior, who?

Biggest Disappointment:

Crawford’s drop in BA.  He could be in the top 5 in runs easy with A-Rod behind him if he was hitting just .280.

Man on the Spot Update:

Jeff Weaver is, indeed, over .500.  Consider me shocked.

How does a team spend what seemed like a trillion dollars on new pitching end up with a team ERA over 5.00? Easy. Just about everyone who isn't Beckett, Hudson or Burnett has sucked to high heaven. The team has an inordinate amount of bullpen players on the active roster (10), and most of them are terrible. Even in their new ballpark with its huge dimensions, the Rounders can't seem to keep the runs off the board. And what money is their left to improve this situation? And is it even worth trying to fix this team this year when Vegas is 16 back in the division?

Offense:

This lineup has some run production potential, but the lack of plate discipline can be maddening at times. It's surprising, since hitting coach Mark Grace's career was highlighted by a patient approach and a low strikeout total. But this Vegas team is last in the league in drawing walks, and has the second highest strikeout total (in other words, the polar opposite of the Thunder). The most productive hitters are the ones who are hitting for average despite the poor OBP, like Hank Blalock, whose 70 RBI first half received the biggest All Star snub this year. Rookie B.B. Boo-Ya has been outstanding as a leadoff man, but health issues have limited him to 66 games played. He leads the team in OPS despite just 8 homers. This is the thinnest bench in history, with just 2 players coming off the bench. No, we don't know why.

Pitching:

The "8-figure" trio has pitched pretty well, but none are justifying their astronomical salaries. Burnett and Hudson's ERA's are over 4.00, and Beckett is just 7-6. Jason Marquis was added recently to try to give the pitching a shot in the arm, but is 0-2 in the desert. Rookie Andrew Brown has had his ups and downs, going just 6-9 in the first half. Time to move Kevin Millwood (2.75 ERA) into the rotation? Tom Andre had 13 of the best relief innings ever before blowing his arm out, leaving the rest of the overpopulated pen in shambles. Doug Waechter is your best reliever? Nice. There has to be someone floating around in the FA pool who is better than these guys. Shit, there are probably five who are better.

Biggest Surprise:

Boo-Ya goes from Rule V pick to elite leadoff man. Think Atlantic City misses him?

Biggest Disappointment:

Just 22 wins combined for Beckett, Burnett and Hudson. Money doesn't win championships. 

Man on the Spot Update:

We teased about Ty Bloomfield batting 5th, but he hasn't been terrible. .286/9/42 is a fine first half, and now he's down in the order.

Maybe the team Bill Norris inherited had a few more holes than I imagined and picking this team to be in second place was overly optimistic.  You can’t much fault Norris for his moves so far as the pitching he blew 30mil on is doing well, but if anything he overcorrected and now this team is short on bats.  And, of course, the rest of the staff and the bullpen—especially—is still Vegas-bad.

Offense:

Looks like they took it for granted and thought they could put up the same sort of numbers this franchise is used to with guys like Endy Chavez, Andy Abad and AJ Pierzynski.  It was not to be.  But, still, Matsui is his usual beastly self, Soriano is really launching the HRs and, best of all, Rule V oops acquisition BB Boo-Ya is looking like the leadoff man for at least the rest of the decade here.  Some holes to be filled for next year, but that’s do-able.

Pitching:

Josh Beckett is probably worth every dime he’s getting, but Hudson and Burnett are suffering from desert ball.  Hudson is winning more, but both are around 4.00 in ERA.  In years past that would be plenty good in Vegas, but like we said, now the pitchers have to win some on their own.  Jason Marquis has been added, but so far he’s not making the adjustment.  Andrew Brown’s rookie campaign hasn’t lived up to the Spring Training hype.  Worst of all, there was only one guy in the bullpen worth a damn—Tom Andre—and he blew his arm out after about a month.  I’m not sure that Norris has the cash left to deal with the bullpen problems, but without some fixes there, this team will never contend.

Biggest Surprise:

In limited usage, admittedly, Millwood has had a pretty good season.  Has he fixed his mechanical issues?

Biggest Disappointment:

Andy Abad.  Looked for years he deserved a shot but he’s a career minor leaguer.  Probably his last chance at a starting job in this league.

Man on the Spot Update:

Burnett has just had a .500 record.  His ERA is respectable for Vegas, but his W-L give you the team story so far so he was, actually, a pretty good barometer.

"I'm not sure the team is quite ready for October baseball yet, but a .500 record isn't out of the question, and a winning record is within reach." At least the first part of that prediction was true. The Sabers have failed to build on a 75 win season a year ago, regressing into the bottom feeder strata of the league. The hitting has been poor, the pitching has struggled, and the team has more or less fallen back to it's last place form of years past. The rookie hitters haven't performed well, the bullpen has had it's problems, and overall, the team is underachieving as a unit. Time to throw in the towel again, or is there a chance to pull out another 3rd place finish with a hot streak down the stretch? That depends on whether or not GM Richard Vohs chooses to enter the trading fray, or sit back and watch the team struggle.

Offense:

Tied for least runs scored in the league. Plus, the team has the fewest stolen bases, lowest SLG and OPS, and second lowest HR and RBI. Yep, failure is a team effort. Lance Berkman is counting the days to his free agency, as he is the only hitter doing anything on this team. Of course, this isn't a lineup riddled with superstars, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but who is to blame for that? Unfortunately, two rookie hitters with big promise (Elmer Davie and Brad Hawpe) have really struggled at this level, making for two easy outs in an already thin lineup. 

Pitching:

The ERA's of the starters are similar to those in Tennessee, but the difference in run support is apparent in the records. Jason Schmidt's spring numbers were entirely misleading (and yet we always believe them). Pavano and Hampton would do really well on other teams, and may prove valuable on the trade market if Vohs wants to shed some salary and set up for the next auction. There are some pretty good relievers here too, like Zimmerman and Sauerbeck. But overall, the pitching staff isn't talented enough to overcome so many low scoring games.

Biggest Surprise:

Xavier Nady hasn't been incredible, but his mix of speed and power has been a nice surprise.

Biggest Disappointment:

Hawpe and Davie. These guys really looked ready to rock at the major league level, but neither has panned out yet.

Man on the Spot Update:

Schmidt has lost 9 games and may have already given up on the year. 

This is a hard to team to figure out.  For a while, they’ll contend and look improved but inevitably they hit a funk and sink to the bottom of the division.  They can’t figure out who they want in the line up day-to-day and they seem unable to get anybody to step it up (hello Kendall, Aurilia).  Pitching isn’t horrible, but likewise, it’s not consistent and not able to take advantage of win opportunities.  Atlanta probably saves them from coming in last, but ownership has to be running out of ideas for what to do in order to get this team to the next level.  Maybe Philip Humber will help get things turned around.

Offense:

Lance Berkman is the only guy on the team you could say is in the top 5 in the league at his position.  Everybody else is hitting .260-.280 and basically just phoning it in.  Elmer Davie didn’t amount to much and Juan Uribe is back to reality after his .300 season.  Aramis Ramirez is having his first productive season in the league, so that’s nice, but Kotsay, on the other hand, is back to average at best.  Berkman is FA, so just keeping this offense treading water might be tough, let alone fixing it.

Pitching:

Still getting good years out of Schmidt, Pavano and Hampton but the 4-5 starters and the pen have been bad.  The pen, especially, has failed to improve despite the additions of Koch, White and Zimmerman (who’s now gone).  If Humber were in the rotation and a closer can be landed, there’s hope here.  At least for a year until pitching FA problems hit before 2010.

Biggest Surprise:

Aramis Ramirez is on pace for maybe 30 HR, which is by far his best season.

Biggest Disappointment:

Chris Carpenter.  Here and there the guy puts up five good starts and everybody thinks he’s going to blossom into a reliable #3 starter, but it’s just a tease, isn’t it?

Man on the Spot Update:

Adam Dunn is, for now—Done.  Batting around .220 and not at all what the Sabers needed.  The.275/40/100 I said they needed out his is way out of the question.

Last place for the Knights, and is anyone shocked? The off season was a disaster of miscommunication, the pitching staff is worse than some AAA teams, and overall, the team lacks a direction. Despite some better play in recent weeks (6-7 in July), the Knights are just too far buried to hope to do much of anything in 2008. A 4-17 start (coupled with Paris' 18-4 start) put the team hopelessly behind before the flowers had even bloomed. A late rally might save London from losing more cap room, but the current unwillingness to trade means the team is unlikely to be proactive in improving the team midseason.

Offense:

We've seen worse, but with this pitching staff, the team always seems to be handicapped by 2 or 3 runs before they start. Kearns, Giles and Ordonez are having a good year as an outfield tandem, and Aubrey Huff has been atop the leaderboard in batting average for the past several weeks. Weakness at 3B, 2B and C has made for too many easy outs in the lineup, and there isn't much help on the horizon at those positions. I won't go on...the pitching is much more fun to talk about. 

Pitching:

To quote myself from a recent Power Ranking, "When you add Brett Myers to improve your pitching staff, there are big problems." Such is life in the London rotation, where the current iteration of starters is a combined 16-37 with no relief in sight. For some reason, Runelvys Hernandez, who was injured early but has posted a 3.23 ERA in 33 innings has been relegated to long relief in favor of Jimmy Ireland (1-9) or Mike Maroth (6-10). The good news for Jason Davis (3-4) is that he will be hard pressed to lose 20 games this year. Relievers Jason Isringhausen and Brad Lidge seem like the two best bargaining chips this team has, but reports say that neither is available. 

Biggest Surprise:

That Huff missed the All Star team.

Biggest Disappointment:

Too many to list.

Man on the Spot Update:

I said, "Mike Maroth has been put in a pretty important position here, and has to cut at least 2 1/2 runs off his career ERA to keep his spot in the rotation past May 1." Well, he hasn't shaved anything off the career ERA, and it's July 15th and he's still in the rotation.

Yep, they’re a last place team alright, no surprises here.  They’ve had their moments this year and whether London or Atlanta will get that top draft pick is tossup.  Of course, Ireland and Ellas are within reach, so don’t write them off too soon, but, realistically, yeah, I expect this team is losing $4mil.  They’ll dump some overpriced “talent” this year, so we’ll see what they can do.  I’m not sure the farm is going to be as big as it could be in Atlanta, though, so this team needs to be wise with their cash.

Offense:

There are some good OF here, everybody else pretty much stinks.  Aubrey Huff has a shot at the batting title this year if he can overtake Dallas McPherson, which would be a nice moment for a team that has had little to smile about.  Brian Giles is among the league’s best LF.  Aaron Rowand is turning out to be a cheap, productive CF, probably what they wanted when they traded for him.  The usual tough spots of C, SS, 2B, 3B are all sore spots and this team won’t have enough cash to fill all those holes via FA.

Pitching:

Painful to watch.  Just take a quick look at Mike Maroth’s numbers and come back and tell me if you want me to go on…Waiting…right didn’t think so.  So, basically, we’re talking “blow it all up and start over” for the offseason.  Lidge and Izzy were as impressive as billed, but wisdom would be trading them by the deadline to a contender willing to part with something of value.  Closers are the last thing this team needs.

Biggest Surprise:

Probably Huff.  He’s a career .300 hitter but a batting title would be another matter.

Biggest Disappointment:

There aren’t any real jaw droppers, since you figured most of these guys would be craptacular, but Hanrahan putting up an 0-7 is rough, the guy was 16-14 before that.

Man on the Spot Update:

Jimmy Ireland won’t be winning ROY, nossir.