Last year's World Series runner up isn't looking as hot thus far in 2011, though they do (for the moment) claim first place in the division. The high turnover has resulted in a team that is excelling on offense, but hasn't found it's stride on the mound. You wonder when GM Mike McAvoy is going to make his next move, as clearly this division is looking for one team to step it up and take control. McAvoy seems the most likely to do just that (given his trading history), though it's unclear what tradable parts remain on this roster. It's become clear that the only team from this division making the playoffs is the first place team, so it's a risky venture to sit too long hoping your team catches fire.

Offense:

The Dawgs lineup is impressive, ranking in the top 5 in the league. Josh Hamilton (who never got his proper due in Tennessee) is a dark horse MVP candidate and is surrounded by some great hitters in Kotsay, Cabrera and Lee. The team is very strong up the middle with Kotsay, Hudson and Jeter, though Hudson's season ending injury puts the 2B position into flux. The team can't keep a healthy catcher as Mauer has had a slow healing injury for most of the year, while Laird and LaForest have been ineffective backups. The bench has been a non-factor, with the highest average at just .222.

Pitching:

It shouldn't be surprising that the pitching has struggled considering the names on the roster. If it wasn't for a Spring Training trade for Jake Peavy, this rotation might rank as one of the worst in the league. Danny Haren has had better years, Derek Thompson (now traded) was a disaster, and you'll take what you can get from Garland and Wainwright. Was it a mistake to trade Sabathia to Halifax? He was pricey, and his contract probably would have prevented some of these offensive players from coming to Cleveland, but the lack of an ace here is apparent. Have had mixed luck in the pen as Koch, Looper and (more recently) Landers have had good years, while Strickland, Sadler and Kozlowski have been disasters.

Biggest Surprise:

Billy Koch is pitching with an ERA two full runs under his career mark. 

Biggest Disappointment:

He's no longer on the team, but Derek Thompson, who was one of the most under appreciated players in the league in his Thunder days, just couldn't find it in Cleveland. He's been banished to London to lick his wounds.

Man on the Spot Update:

Peavy started hot, has cooled of late, but at the end of the day remains the most effective starter on the staff.

Despite all the wheeling and dealing shenanigans, the Dawgs are still in first, barely, as midseason approaches.  No small feat given the cap overstretch and turnover, which was, basically, the whole team.  This one is hardly in the bag, though.  Late word has it that the Dawgs are making more deals (shocking, I know) to add some pitching at the expense of Josh Hamilton.  Big bat to trade, so it probably will come down to how Pierre and Drew play, especially Pierre who is having a comeback year, and whether Cleveland sorts out the bullpen in time.

Offense:

The Dawgs are hitting .281 as a team, pretty much average, maybe a little better.  They might be over .300 if they could find a catcher to hit his weight.   Lee, Cabrera and Hamilton are having predictably good years while Kotsay and Hudson are playing above their heads hitting .330 and .326, respectively.  Derek Jeter is having a pretty average year with lower power numbers than in Athens, but he’s still getting on and getting around.  Keep an eye on Juan Pierre.  Can he keep up .270?

Pitching:

The team ERA is 4.87, worse than either the Panthers or the Knights, so that’s why they’re looking to deal for an arm.  Jake Peavey is the only go to guy here, with a 9-5 record and a 3.29 ERA.  Danny Haren has a winning record but his ERA isn’t what it’s been in past years.  Wainwright and Garland have really struggled.  The bullpen, all things considered hasn’t been too bad.  Koch, Landers and Looper have all been fine.  Ben Kozlowski continues to do a better job than expected in middle relief.  They’ve had a bunch of other names in and out of middle relief spots, which have been the ugly ERA numbers.

Biggest Surprise:

I’m going with Billy Koch who I’d written off as a 5.00 plus ERA guy.  He’s at 3.72 and second on the team in appearances.  A big time factor in holding the ‘pen together.

Biggest Disappointment:

Joe Mauer.  For whatever reason, this guy just isn’t a big league hitter.  And nobody else has stepped up at C so there’s a big gaping hole in the lineup.

Man on the Spot Update:

Peavy looks like the real deal.  He’s leading the staff in wins and ERA by a wide margin.  Hell of a comeback from having to take a league minimum contract and what amounted to a minor league offer.

After a rough year in 2010, both Tom and I left the Crunch for dead. But in this "up for grabs" division, they are right in it, just 1/2 game back with a .500 record. This isn't your prototypical Bedford team either, as the offense has scored a bunch of runs while the pitching has an ERA over 5.00 for the first time, well, ever. Can a trade be made to shore up the pitching? Does GM Richard Gin think this season is worth bargaining a bit of the future for? Or will we see more of a "let it ride and see what happens" attitude as we close in on the trade deadline?

Offense:

I don't remember the last time Bedford's All Star representatives were all on the hitting side. Bradley has been fantastic all year, while Chavez, when healthy, remains the most reliable third baseman in the league. It's hard to believe that he's the active career leader in hits and doubles, isn't it? Wily Mo Pena is having his best season since his Diablo days, leading the team in both RBI and stolen bases. It doesn't hurt having a catcher and shortstop who can rake at the plate, and management has to be thrilled with the play of some injury-replacement rookies this year. Upchurch, Avila and Shealy have all had positive contributions when pressed to duty.  

Pitching:

John Riedling is the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA under 4.00. That's shocking, as Bedford usually has one of the better staffs in the league. But Nathan is gone, Bray is bad, and the rest of the rotation is not the stuff of legend. Rich Harden recently returned to Brooklyn but has yet to make much of an impact. Even the bullpen has had a rough time. This is unfamiliar territory for Gin, who is usually more concerned with how to score more than 3 runs a game rather than how to keep 5 off the board from their opponent.

Biggest Surprise:

Oreste Upchurch was promoted from AAA to fill in for an injury, and at the time, had awful numbers in Detroit. He has been more than an adequate backup. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Marcus Giles, the player Upchurch replaced, has gone from the DL to waivers. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Andrew Brown has been adequate as a 5th starter quality guy, but unfortunately for Bedford, his numbers are awfully similar to a lot of other pitchers on the staff.

Bedford is certainly going to have a crack at being the worst team in SLB this year. –Or not, you know, I could always be wrong just this one time.  So, Bedford is hanging in there, only a half game out at this point.  Also, only playing .500 ball, but that might be all it takes.  They’ll have to get by without David Ortiz, but Rich Gin recently got Harden back to where he pitches best and added usually reliable reliever John Riedling.  No reason why they can’t win.

Offense:

As usual, Bedford is low on power and high on average, but this time it’s working pretty well, giving them 474 runs at break, only 3 behind Paris.  The best news is Wily Mo Pena is back and along with a career year out of Milton Bradley, they are carrying the Ortiz-less offense.  Unexpected contributions are coming from Oreste Upchurch and Wally Shealy, making the jump from the minors better than expected.  A quiet year so far from Ichiro.  Marcus Giles also wasn’t cutting it so the Crunch went out and got Edgar Renterria.

Pitching:

There’s really nobody having a great year here, like, say, when Joe Nathan used to put up sick numbers.  Jeff Weaver continues to outpace expectations.  William Bray and Jason Davis have winning records despite less than stellar ERAs.  The bullpen has been particularly helpful this year, with the main guys going 11-5.  Riedling has been a nice pick up.  The big second half question will be Rich Harden who was having a miserable year in Baltimore but has done well in the past here.  Could he help take the Crunch to the playoffs?

Biggest Surprise:

Willy Mo Pena.  He’s back and boy did they need him.

Biggest Disappointment:

Jason Davis.  We wondered if pitching in Bedford would give him a chance to keep his ERA down.  Nope. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Brown’s 4-6 with a 4.88 ERA.  An improvement, not #2 starter stuff, though.

Early in the season, Halifax looked like they were done before they started. GM Lars Cain was frustrated, his stars were injured, and the team could very easily have packed it in and called it a season. But the Sailors have hung around, and thanks to the flexibility of this year's cash trading system (don't get too used to it), the team is back in this race. Now the cynic would say that a $106 million team ought to be a little better than 43-45, but in this division, it doesn't matter what your final record is as long as you're in first. Will we see any more trades down the stretch, or has Cain pushed his payroll to the limit?

Offense:

Have suffered some terrible blows in the first half, losing both TJ Mackey and Delmon Young to season ending injuries. Luckily Prince Fielder has carried a lot of the offensive load, and Graham Koonce, acquired from Paris midseason, has really caught fire. Burroughs, Barfield and Gibbons, though effective, are all having down years, while shortstop and catcher (now that Poterson is out) are rough spots in the lineup. The team isn't real fast and isn't real powerful, but they play well at home and have won 7 of their last 10 overall. 

Pitching:

Like Bedford, Halifax is seeing an uncharacteristic year from it's normally dominant pitching staff. This is surprising considering the talent here, especially in the rotation. Sabathia has been very good and deserves a better record (poor run support?) while Beckett and Morris have both been streaky. Barry Zito just can't get his ERA down anywhere, and Kelvim Escobar, who came over in the deal with Koonce, hasn't matched his past success. There have been some pleasant surprises in the bullpen, notably Joel Hanrahan eating up innings in middle relief, and Craig Hansen showing no signs of a sophomore slump while making his first All Star team. Armando Benitez is ancient but still throwing 100mph.

Biggest Surprise:

Graham Koonce wasn't just a product of the Paris home field. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Josh Beckett looked like an ideal fit for this team but hasn't been able to put a three win streak together. 

Man on the Spot Update:

"Is this kid the next big closer?" Why yes, he certainly appears to be just that.

This looked like the year Halifax would finish the rebuild and take over the North again.  But the injury bug hit and, with Cleveland and Bedford having better years than might have been expected, Halifax is in third.  But only a game and half out.  GM Lars Cain made a couple of lopsided trades with Philly and Paris which gives this team a real chance, yet.  There are a slew of people on this team underperforming from their career numbers, if a few of them right the ship, pun intended, this could be the hot team of the second half.  That’s my prediction and I bet they finish close to the 84 wins I predicted for them.

Offense:

With Delmon Young out for most of the season, the Sailors are struggling to find the right parts to fit together.  They picked up Preston Wilson, who was having a down year from Philly and traded to get Graham Koonce off the bench in Paris, a deal that is paying off in spades.  Prince Fielder is leading the league in HR and Josh Barfield is having one of his “on” years.  Platoons in C and SS are middling at best.  A better effort from Sean Burroughs would surely help, though at least he’s stayed healthy…so far.

Pitching:

Mysteriously bad—or at least not as good as they looked on paper.  Sabathia has been great with 15 QS in 18 games, 2.89 ERA and 9-5 record.  Beckett has a good ERA but is still just pitching .500 ball.  Zito has been pretty disappointing, but we’ve gotten used to that from him.  Same for Eric Ridener, who is working his way back to the minors.  The real crash has been from Matt Morris who is having a horrible year.  The pen has been up and down.  Joel Hanrahan has been better than expected with a 3.30 ERA.  Hansen is the only young closer to really establish dominance.  Orber Moreno, on the other hand is a joke and newly acquired Michiyo Towaki doesn’t look like he’ll offer much help.

Biggest Surprise:

John Poterson.  He’s made it out of the minors and is hitting .301.  Out of a catcher on the cheap that’s spectacular. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Barry Zito.  A 5.14 ERA in Halifax is awful.  Patience with this guy is running out.

Man on the Spot Update:

Burroughs is hitting .278 with not much pop.  He could heat up at anytime, but so far he ain’t worth 8 million bucks a year.

Philly earns this year's proud distinction of "the best last place team in the league." It must be nice to be 7 under but just 4 out. On the other hand, that puts GM Brian B in a sticky situation. Do you look at your overall record and become a seller at the deadline, or do you look at the "Games Back" column in the standings and make a push? Early indications are that management is going with Option A, as Kerry Wood heads a list of players widely considered available for the right price. If the Phynatics want to cut their losses and reload for next year, I can't blame them, but it sure would be fun to see all four teams go balls out to try to steal a playoff spot.

Offense:

As always, this team has trouble buying a run when they need it. There certainly have been some impressive seasons so far, and it's clear that the core of this lineup is in place with Blalock, Hunting and Pasucci, but low OBP's just about everywhere in the lineup mean not many RBI opportunities. The lack of walks and plate discipline is a big area of concern, and the front office should look to target those types of players in this coming off season. Overall, not a great lineup, as several of these starters would be bench players on other teams.  

Pitching:

Brad Penny an All Star? I'm as surprised as you, but he deserved it. His 11 wins ties him for 2nd in the league, and his impressive ERA landed him in the All Star game. Kerry Wood, on the other hand, has been a disaster. He's on the block and it's no surprise; he's being out pitched by the likes of Guthrie, Affeldt and Marquis this season. The bullpen has been okay but not great, with Rule V steal Calvin Trest the best of the bunch. 

Biggest Surprise:

Penny by far. Probably the best $500,000 pitcher in the league. 

Biggest Disappointment:

So many! Can you really count Wood as a disappointment after such a rocky career?

Man on the Spot Update:

Lane and Wilson were the Men on the Spot. Lane has been beyond terrible, batting just .170 in 165 AB's, while Wilson has been shipped to Halifax.

The Phynatics are playing more or less like we expected them to, probably headed for 73-74 wins.  But if they crank it up a notch, they could be right in this thing given the weakness of this division.  Four games out is certainly a spot that would encourage you to go for broke if you’re a hungry team like Philly is.  GM Brian B is said to be working the phones shopping some big names around, so we’ll see what sort of chops the guy has for the second half.  This is the best chance they’ve had in a while.

Offense:

The Phynatics made a good trade early in the year to add Will Hunting from Atlanta who has been the best of a mediocre bunch.  The call up of players from the dominant Washington AAA team hasn’t helped much, especially Jack Schalk who hit a dismal .233 and then got hurt.  Neither Jason Lane nor Hank Blalock has provided the reliable big bat they hoped for, though Rafael Furcal is having the best year he’s had in some time.  Somebody here needs to step it up and provide some leadership.  Will anyone hear the call?

Pitching:

I wouldn’t have expected the phrase “Brad Penny is carrying this staff” to be part of the Midseason Reports, but, yep, that’s what it looks like.  Only starter with a winning record.  Kerry Wood is having a horrible year and reports are pretty much confirmed he’ll be dealt soon.  Gil Meche is out with an injury and that’s probably all for the best, Jeremy Affeldt has moved up from the bullpen to the rotation and seems to be doing fine.  Jason Marquis has had a couple of good starts lately.  The bullpen has had good middle relief from Calvin Trest and Grant Roberts, though they are missing Brad Lidge at the end of games where Dante Inferno has blown a few saves.

Biggest Surprise:

How about Calvin Trest.  Rule V guy leads the team in appearances and hasn’t blown a game all year.  Nice pick up.

Biggest Disappointment:

While Kerry Wood’s 5.58 ERA deserves a nod, I’ll go with Jack Schalk.  Did not live up to the hype.

Man on the Spot Update:

Jason Marquis has been pretty dismal with a 3-7 record and a poor QS ratio.  Not as bad as Kerry Wood or Gil Meche in the ERA dept., though, which says a lot.

It seems hard to believe that this team was so bad for so many years now that they have put the full package together. Years of despair are easily forgotten when you have such a talented team on the field, and as we stated in the HSH, anything less than a World Series appearance must be counted as a disappointment this year. The offense is great, the starting pitching has been outstanding, and the bullpen, while by no means great, is at least better than in past years. GM Jim Masters isn't one to mortgage the future for the present, but the addition of one more bullpen arm may be the difference between a division title and the big prize.

Offense:

A year older and that much better. Lemming and Dennis lead the way on this high octane offense and both should be considered for MVP honors at year's end. Aside from D2J's large edge in doubles, the two players' numbers are eerily similar. The middle infield has played exceptionally well, though the injury to Hairston will cut production down there. Same story behind the dish, as Paris' contributions are unlikely to be matched by backup J.D. Closser. Eric Valent has provided far more than expected, making the trade of Will Hunting an easier pill to swallow. 

Pitching:

With the exception of Mahara's sophomore slump, the starting pitching has been as good as anyone's in the league. Runelvys Hernandez has done a fantastic job filling in, going 3-3 with 7 QS. Mark Prior has been everything you'd expect, but an injury may hurt his chances for an unprecedented 5th Cy Young award. Johan Santana has been predictably spectacular, and now David Bailey, who had a rough start to his career, is a sparkling 10-2. Poor Carlos Zambrano is probably on pace to set the record for most no-decisions, sporting just a 2-3 record in 18 starts. For whatever reason, this team is just doomed to not have a good bullpen. The acquisitions of Lidge and Rodney were the right idea, but they too have fallen victim to the 4+ ERA blues. Randy Choate and Tom Martin have combined for 17 decisions and a high ERA, not exactly what you need from your middle relief corps.

Biggest Surprise:

Runelvys Hernandez looked like he was destined for a career as a middle reliever, but he has stepped it up when given his chance in the rotation. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Rookie Pitcher of the Year Mahara has fallen on rough times. Have American hitters figured out his tricky delivery?

Man on the Spot Update:

I made Jim Masters my Man on the Spot, and so far, the team has lived up to expectations. Time to close the deal.

Remember when you used to relish that series with Atlanta as a chance to sweep and pick up a couple games in the standings?  Yeah, not so much anymore, more like hoping to leave with a win.  This is clearly one of the best teams in the league in years, with a staggering .670 winning percentage so far.  The only thing left for them to prove is post season worth, so that’s pretty much the goal from here on out, stay healthy, don’t choke.

Offense:

Predictably brutal.  The Dream Outfield of Dennis, Lemming and Valent are all hitting well above .300 and Lemming and Dennis have chances at 50 HR.  Both are the lead candidates for MVP and Lemming has a shot at being the first member of the 50/50 club.  When it rains it pours, so JD Closser, Adam Lind and Morgan Ensberg are all hitting over .300, too.  Troy Paris went down, which might be cause for concern if the team wasn’t cruising. 

Pitching:

Aside from Carlos Zambrano’s bizarre inability to pick up decisions, pretty much what you’d expect.  Santana, Prior and Bailey rarely lose and the bullpen has been a mess even with Brad Lidge on board.  Tosekawa Mahara isn’t having a good year, so he and Runelvys switched roles, which seems to be working so far.  Prior, Zambrano and either Santana or Bailey will be the rotation in the playoffs, so the only issue will be the pen blowing games.  Will they make another trade to try to add at least on more solid arm in the pen?

Biggest Surprise:

It’s no real shocker but David Bailey’s 10-2 is impressive still.  All that hype and then some.

Biggest Disappointment:

Tosekawa Mahara.  He got teed up for 21 long balls and the Flyers replaced him with Runelvys.

Man on the Spot Update:

Travis Hughes is godawful.  An 8.49 ERA.  The Flyers had to go out and get Brad Lidge at the cost of Will Hunting.  Bullpen still blows.

No one was quite sure what to expect from the Diablos this season. There were a ton of new faces, a very young pitching staff, and some last minute additions that made the season a tough one to predict. What we've ended up with is an offensive juggernaut that is out-slugging its opponents to make up for a sketchy pitching rotation. Back in late May/early June, this team looked like a .500 ball club, but a recent hot streak and a recent 7 game sweep of the Sabers has put Havana right into the thick of the wildcard race. But can they win with this pitching staff? Does GM Darin Keesing think it's worth trying to make some moves, or is the team content to ride this one out and take what they can get?

Offense:

Paris, step aside. Ellas, sit down. The Diablos are the new kings of swing in SLB, batting over .300 as a team and mashing the ball from every spot in the lineup. They have already scored 160 more runs than last year and could be on pace to break some team records. Some of the big boppers came via trade (Huff, Berkman), some in the auction (McPherson), but some were last minute scrap heap pickings that have turned to gold. No one wanted Scott Hodges or Carlos Beltran during spring training, so Keesing signed them to fill out the roster and both turned into All Stars. Another big story is Eric Dalton. This slugging outfielder has all but locked up the ROY award with his .306/28/72 first half stat line. This is one of the best benches in the league as well. Check out Domenic Rich, a nobody first baseman who has 3 homers and 7 RBI in just 15 at-bats.

Pitching:

When you go young, not everyone is going to work out. Les Beltre and Larry Brush were extremely effective in the cold climate of Scotland, but both are getting lit up in the hitter friendly Caribbean breezes. Rumors swirl that El Presidente Posada moved the fences in at the Cigar Box in the dead of night. Bobby Brownlie wins the "Mr. Run Support" award with his 12-1 record and 4.40 ERA. To his credit, he has pitched much better as of late (4-0, 2.30 ERA in June/July), but for awhile, he was undefeated with an ERA in the mid 5's. The pitchers who were expected to contribute the least are the ones keeping this team afloat. Greinke (5-6) and Danny Graves (8-1) are giving much more than expected. The bullpen isn't great, with Don Drysden an absolute let down and David Bush ineffective in long relief. Donnely, Hodges and Lopez have seen some improvement lately, but opponents still love seeing the pitcher go to the relievers mid game.

Biggest Surprise:

Danny Graves and Carlos Beltran. Both were left to rot in the FA pool and both have had outstanding years.  

Biggest Disappointment:

Beltre. Had a 2.99 career ERA coming into the season, but hasn't seen the right side of 5.00 for quite some time. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Beltre again. He has the potential to be good, but he's clearly not a #1 starter.

The 85-77 win prediction might hold out to be pretty accurate but otherwise this season has been full of surprises.  The offense has been off the charts and nobody really knows why.  The pitching, on the other hand, has been about the worst in the league save for Tennessee’s laughable staff.  It’s like this team is suddenly playing in Paris.  With Atlanta almost beyond reach already, the question is whether the Diablos want to make some trades for arms and shoot for the Wild Card or content themselves with having made major progress, plan for next year.

Offense:

What the hell got into this bunch?  Save for Dallas McPherson, bizarrely enough, everybody is having a career year.  Beltran .322 with 27 HR.  Scott Hodges hitting .343, same for JJ Davis.  Victor Martinez banging away a .344 clip—so much for the weak C.  Aubrey Huff is hitting .394! Even goofball part timers like Andy Machado and Domenic Rich are tearing the roof off.  This can’t last, right?  I guess we’ll see.

Pitching:

On the other hand, these guys suck.  The only “reliable” arms have been Brownlie and Danny Graves, who have combined to go 20-2 with the help of some big time run support.  Brush, Beltre and Bush were really bad and David Asher sure wasn’t the solution to that problem  Zach Grienke has stepped it up as of late, but he’s still sub .500.  The pen has had a few guys pulling decent numbers like Scott Stewart and Aquilino.  But the problems of Drysden and Donnely give the Diablos nobody to trust closing out games.

Biggest Surprise:

You could go with half a dozen guys in the lineup, but Aubrey Huff stands out.  Hitting close to .400.  Where’d that come from?

Biggest Disappointment:

Bush, Brush and Beltre.  Killer B’s they aren’t.  ERAs over 5.00 for all of them. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Berkman’s back on track, hitting .315 and on pace for 40 HR.

Wow, woah, hey, what happened here. This team went from the 2nd best record in the league and a game or two behind Atlanta to third place and a 13 game losing streak pretty darn fast. So what gives? It looks to me like a combination of relying too much on a few players on offense and one of the league's worst bullpens. Something has to be done here, right? Or will GM Richard Vohs call it a year and start selling off potential free agents? Savannah remains one of the few teams to have never seen the playoffs, so I'm not sure how much more patience Vohs will have.

Offense:

As mentioned earlier, this offense relies way to heavily on the bats of Choi and Dunn to score their runs. Granted, these two players are up to the task, but the contributions from most other spots on the field simply aren't enough right now. Brad Hawpe has been pretty good as the third run producer, but Barmes, Erstad, Bay....all have good averages but paltry RBI totals. Timely hitting is clearly not a forte of the Saber lineup.  

Pitching:

The disparity between the starters and relievers on this team is astounding. None of the starters have an outstanding record (Mulder's 8-3 is best on staff) but the ERA's are much lower than their late inning counterparts. Phillip Humber was out for several starts, but surprisingly the team's current 13 game losing streak started when he came off the DL. Roy Oswalt somehow made the All Star team with a 7-6 record while Roy Halladay deserves better than his 7-7 mark. Now the bullpen has completely gone off the tracks and no one knows why. Eric Gagne and Chad Cordero are getting tagged hard, while the middle relief has some iffy names like Chacon and Norton pitching way too many innings.

Biggest Surprise:

Livan Hernandez and All Star? WTF?

Biggest Disappointment:

How can you not say Gagne at this point. A 7.66 ERA is entirely unacceptable.

Man on the Spot Update:

Sizemore has been a non-factor, limited to 1 HR and 8 RBI in just 97 AB's.

You sure don’t want to head into the Midseason reports on a 13 game slide, but that’s where the Sabers find themselves.  From being 46-29 with a lead on the Wild Card and a chance to chase the Flyers, Savannah has tanked it big time now facing a season on the brink.  They are about 4 games out of the Wild Card, so it’s not time to hit the panic button yet, but with this team’s history, you just wonder if they have some aversion to playing well enough to make the post-season.

Offense:

It’s been the Hee Seop Choi show so far and I’d probably give him the nod for MVP at this point just because he’s carrying this team almost single-handedly.  Adam Dunn is chipping in some HR and Darin Erstad is having a better year than he’s had in ages.  Some new faces in Valderrama, Bay and Yema are all producing so far, especially V-Man who’s slugging at a .694 pace so far.  Maybe if Rich Vohs can sort that group out a winning lineup can be scraped together.

Pitching:

The top 3 starters, Oswalt, Mulder and Halladay have ERAs under 4.00 and Rookie Mark McCormick is 6 of 8 in quality starts, so that’s all pretty copasetic there.  Add in an average Carlos Hernandez and they’ll be fine.  But, oh the bullpen. Oh, the humanity.  Livan Hernandez is holding middle relief together and then check the ERAs: Eyre 7.29, Feliciano 6.00, Norton 9.37, Cordero 8.54, Chacon 8.70, Gagne 7.66.  Wow, just wow.  Who do you give the ball to?

Biggest Surprise:

Mark Mulder has an 8-3 record and an ERA under 4.00.  Comeback Player candidate?

Biggest Disappointment:

Eric Gagne has a 7.66 ERA.  Is this guy hiding an injury?

Man on the Spot Update:

Hee Seop Choi heard the call and answered.  Said he had to hit .320 with 40 HRs, he’s hitting .317 and has 32 already.  Yup.

Overview:

It's been a pretty darn good year in Ireland in 2011. The team is sitting atop the tough Euro division thanks to the league's best pitching staff and an MVP front runner in Andruw Jones. The team is in no way perfect, but they have one of the few great bullpens in the league which is key in postseason success. Now if only the Invaders can keep a shortstop healthy....

Offense:

Andruw Jones is going absolutely apeshit. It's quite a show considering Ireland isn't known for big offense. His 91 RBI are most impressive, especially considering he has 23 more than Glaus with just 2 more HR. There have been some pretty good season put together but others, notably Scott Podsednik, but really everyone pales compared to Jones. He'll have stiff competition for the MVP considering some of the hitters in Atlanta and Havana, but his first half was most impressive. Oh, and he hit the game winning walk-off homer in the All Star Game. 

Pitching:

And here we thought Joe Nathan only liked pitching in Bedford. This guy is in the Cy Young race with his 12-1 record and helping Invader fans forget that they have lost Sabathia and Prior in the last two off seasons. A.J. Burnett is red hot after a slow April, giving Ireland a great one-two punch. The team is happy to have Clement back from the DL, as Niemann and Vasquez weren't distinguishing themselves as reliable guys every time out. What a bullpen! Matt Anderson got robbed when the All Star committee snubbed him. An 0.93 ERA? Wow. Four relievers with ERA's in the 2.00's is pretty damn good. 

Biggest Surprise:

Reynaldo Garcia did nothing in his years with Cleveland. Now he's pitching great middle relief. 

Biggest Disappointment:

I would have expected Javier Vasquez to thrive on this team. He hasn't done so. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Matt Clement, when healthy, has been good enough to pitch #3 on this team. Guess his 2010 season in London wasn't a fluke. Late bloomer?

Overview:

Were it not for the unholy tear that Atlanta is on, the Invaders would be the league’s best team.  They do have, by a fair margin, the league’s best pitching.  And they can hit, too.  So, it’s all coming together.  But, they have to be looking over their shoulders nervously.  Paris has caught fire and you never want to rule that team out.  Ellas is going to get one big bat back soon, so that’s probably going to help them.  It’ll be anybody’s to take but so far, Ireland looks to have a good shot to get into the playoffs for the 2^nd time in 3 years.

Offense:

It’s your basic Earl Weaver 3-run homer kind of offense.  Troy Glaus has never been able to put up the BA numbers he did in Paris, but he is on his pace for 50+ HR this year.  The real leader has been Andruw Jones, who is leading the league in HR and leads in RBI by a wide margin.  He may have a shot at Bonds’ record.  Injuries to Tejada and Berroa means some Alex Gonzalez action, which isn’t good.  Neither is the Hammock at catcher situation.  Podsednik has evolved into maybe the league’s best lead-off guy.

Pitching:

Best in the league.  Period.  Joe Nathan leads the Cy Young race at 12-1 with a 3.13 ERA.  Burnett has arguably been better but has fewer W to show for it.  Clement, Niemann and Vasquez have combined to pitch .500 ball, which is fine if you have two guys really pitching well at the 1-2 spots.  Bullpen has been stellar led by saves leader Ricky Stone and Matt Anderson’s .93 ERA.  Wunsch, Garcia and Stone have ERAs under 3.00 and Bettancourt’s is 3.70.  You can’t ask for much more there.

Biggest Surprise:

Joe Nathan and Matt Anderson can both lay a claim here.  Nathan is 12-1 and Anderson is sporting a .93 ERA.

Biggest Disappointment:

Derek Lowe.  Got torched early and went to AAA.  You can stick a fork in him.

Man on the Spot Update:

Clement’s been pretty good.  5-4 with a 3.50 ERA.  You never know with that guy.

Is there a season when this team doesn't face adversity? The team seemed poised for it's first division crown when it lost both of it's great young sluggers with days of each other. But unlike past years, this team has persevered, and at just 2.5 games back, they are still in position for the division. They also lead what shapes up to be a terrific wildcard race. The offense is still doing well, the pitching has for the most part been excellent, so when Dave Peppers returns, it might be the boost the team needs to pass Ireland. In the meantime, they just need to hang around and fend off Paris.

Offense:

Even without Peppers and Rockwell this team scores some runs. Hitting coach Pete Incaviglia seems to get the most out of his guys as witnessed by the good numbers by Coon and Stieb. The acquisition of A-Rod has been key as it gives this lineup a go to guy with the corner infielders on the DL long term. The team has had nice output from Estrada, Coon and Mackowiak, but Jacque Jones has been a bust thus far. Peppers is scheduled to come off the DL in 2-4 weeks, and his addition to the lineup might be what gives Ellas the edge in the division.

Pitching:

Making it work with an average rotation and great bullpen. Wade Miller is the one starter who has excelled, landing an All Star bid and on pace for 18 or more wins. Jason Jennings is getting it done with 9 wins despite a high ERA, while Ben Sheets has struggled. The Webb Brothers (unrelated) have been as mediocre as you can get, combining for a 10-10 record. Wouldn't be terrible if Sheets was producing, but you don't want 3 pitchers at .500 or worse in your rotation when you are expected to compete for the post season. Luckily, Ellas actually has a good bullpen this year (shocking, I know). Urbina and Wagner have done all that was expected, Ramirez has stepped it up, and even Yarnall hasn't sucked too much. Then there is Brandon Villafuerte, who I'm convinced has himself on a fantasy baseball team as he seemingly loves to blow games for the starters to get the win himself. 

Biggest Surprise:

Rob Mackowiak with 20 HR at the break? 

Biggest Disappointment:

Ben Sheets. So mercurial. 

Man on the Spot Update:

Brandon Webb has been neither brilliant nor a failure. I think Hey expected more though.

Given the devastating injuries to their two best hitters, it’s a small miracle the Evzones are as close as they are.  If Rockwell and Peppers had been here all year, this team might be closer to the Flyers in record as their pitching has been better than in years.  It’s still an uphill battle to get to the playoffs without Rockwell, who was going to be an MVP candidate it looked like.  Peppers is probably 2 weeks away.  The Evzones are still looking around for deals, but they are close to tapped out in prospects and cash to move around.

Offense:

Pretty average with their two 50 HR guys out for most of the year.  A-Rod has been the man to take the leadership role with Rockwell gone, leading the team in HR and hitting .355.  Coon is having a sub-par year for him.  Johnny Estrada is having a better year than any he’s had in Athens.  The Stan Stieb lead-off experiment is not working, so Wilkin Ruan is getting some AB.  Rob Mackowiak is doing a nice job filling in at clean up on track for 40 HR.  The Evzones will be glad to get Jacque Jones back to the bench when Peppers is cleared for action.

Pitching:

Wade Miller got off to a hot start and had a chance at the Cy Young, but has cooled off as of late.  9-5 out of Jason Jennings is good news.  The Webb boys have pitched .500, which is about all you can ask for, especially out of John Webb who is doing what GM Hey hoped he would: keep the HR and BB down and give the offense a chance.  Ben Sheets is having a bad season, but he’s always been more of a second half guy.  The investment in the pen is paying off as they’ve gone collectively 15-10 and have only really blown a handful of games.  Billy Wagner is ice in the 9^th.

Biggest Surprise:

Brandon Villafuerte can go 7-3 with a  6.67 ERA. His career record is 40-11.  Bizarre.

Biggest Disappointment:

Jacque Jones.  The Evzones needed him to step up with Peppers out and he’s barely above the Mendoza line.

Man on the Spot Update:

Both Webb’s got off to a rough start but have clawed their way back to .500 records.  Jury is still out.

Here we are in last place again Knights fans. I'd like to say the team is "showing steady improvement" or is "poised for the future," but the truth is, they are pretty much exactly where they were (record-wise) last year, and management is doing very little to improve. The team has the least active owner when it comes to player movement (just check out the team transaction page) and the team is stuck in 2nd gear because of it. And while the team is no longer in danger of being the worst in the league, they certainly aren't making any strives towards being the best.

Offense:

The usual suspects are getting it done. Kendry Morales is a great young hitter, and could be even better with a few more hitters around him. Jose Reyes was a deserving All Star, as was Jeremy Reed. Hinske's numbers have cooled from a year ago, which doesn't help, and Justin Upton shows more and more that he was probably rushed to the big leagues.  

Pitching:

Showing the struggles of a young staff. Broadway and Newby have shown improvements, and would probably have better records on a team with more offense. Wolf and Davis have also done better than expected. Odalis Perez was allowed to start way too many games when injured, resulting in a string of 1 inning (or less) appearances that taxed the bullpen. Not good management. The bullpen has really impressed, especially William Buckner who has erased many critics' questions about his future in the big leagues. Time to trade K-Rod? Probably won't get more value for him than right now.

Biggest Surprise:

I'll say Buckner. He looked like a huge bust but has really been great, going 5-0 in the pen and posting fine stats. 

Biggest Disappointment:

Eric Hinske was supposed to be the #2 run producer behind Morales but has had a tough time.

Man on the Spot Update:

The jury is still out on Broadway. He has been brilliant in some starts, terrible in others. Remember, he's just 24 years old, so it's worth letting him struggle through things as long as he continues to improve.

Yep, last place again. But this isn’t really a “bad” team, just not competitive in the Euro.  At least not yet.  After expansion, who knows?  There are some bright spots here and, heck, they’d only be about 8 back in the North.  Playing above .400 is a pretty fine season for London and they should have about $30 million to spend in the off season if they can spend wisely for once.  Signs of life at least.

Offense:

They’re really about average.  They don’t seem to score as many runs as you’d think with their BA and HR numbers, but I guess that’s why they’re in last.  Reyes, Reed and Morales are all doing well, which is especially nice to see out of Reed who looked like he was bottoming out.  Morales is the franchise player here, close to the league lead in HR and with an OPS above 1.000.  Justin Upton is still struggling, though he’s learning on the job.  The Knights have to be about fed up with Mike Rivera.

Pitching:

They seem to uniformly have ERAs around 4.50 to 6.00.  Not anybody to really get happy over.  Kyle Newby is having a decent year and he’ll be a good 4-5 starter for a few years.  Bill Buckner gives them one solid bullpen guy and Brandon Durden might be another in a year or two.  If Volstad can settle down and make the jump they can hope to buy the rest of the staff.  Or maybe hope for another ML ready-soon prospect in the next ammy.  Still, more work needed here than in the offense, but Thompson and Odalis are out the door, and won’t be missed, so the cash will be there to try to get an impact guy.

Biggest Surprise:

William Buckner.  Got the call up and he’s really getting it done.

Biggest Disappointment:

Derek Thompson.  He had been a reliable if not flashy #2 starter and he’s just getting hammered this year.

Man on the Spot Update:

Odalis Perez is just bad.  Shitty shitty bad.