TOP 10 and BOTTOM 5

Top 10/ Bottom 5 NABCL (after 125 games)

1. Sacramento Terrible Two’s (NL/ 81-41/ Last Ranking #1)
What to say about the Terrible Two’s? They are the defending champions, they have the best record in baseball, they lead the majors in all major Team Pitching categories, they have the lead MVP candidate in Otis Pavlov, 3 Cy Young candidates in Albert Boone, Alex Schmidt, and Fausto Bennett, and the leading Rookie of the Year candidate in Randy Dellucci. And after all that, they have given up the least runs in all of baseball and have scored the 3rd most runs in the NL. They have won 7 in a row and just swept their last series versus NL South leading Memphis with Otis Pavlov, Mitchell Drew, and Brandon Nixon all resting. Some have doubted they can repeat, but right now they have to be the favorite.

2. Los Angeles Robin’s (AL/ 74-50/ Last Ranking #7)
The Robin’s have been one of the more dominant teams in the AL in recent years and have been steadily moving up the rankings. Their 495 runs against are second only to Sacramento as they have been known for their dominant pitching for a long time. The scary thing about this team is their record could be almost 10 games better. They are 19-20 in 1-run games and 6-7 in extra innings. A few close wins the other way and they could easily have the best record in the game. The bottom line is that with their pitching they will be almost impossible to beat in a short series. They have to be the favorite to come out of the AL.

3. Anaheim Natural Disasters (AL/ 72-53/ Last Ranking unranked)
How was this team unranked in the last poll? Their bulletin board must be overflowing with material. They are only 2 ½ games behind Los Angeles in the AL West and as great as Chicago is in the NL, Anaheim has scored more runs and given up less. Their expected winning percentage is 1000th of a point higher than the Robin’s’. They win at home and on the road, although the road isn’t quite as friendly to them as it is to Los Angeles. This is a playoff team, and the race for the AL West is going to come down to the final series of the season.

4. Chicago Beast (NL/ 78-47/ Last Ranking #2)
Chicago continues to roll along and they are in the middle of a 6-game winning streak. They are tied for the 2nd most wins at home in all of baseball and have had control of the NL North for a while now. Will this cost them in the playoffs as they coast to the finish line? Not with young phenom and MVP candidate B.C. Parent crushing baseballs daily. This is one of the best players in the game already, and he is only 25-years old. A potent offense and a solid pitching staff will get them to the playoffs for the sixth time, but will it get them to the World Series for the second time?

5. Trenton Thrashers (NL/ 79-45/ Last Ranking #6)
What to do with the Trenton Thrashers? On paper they look like they could be the favorites to win it all. They are 18-3 against the NL East, 41-23 at home, 38-22 on the road, and are +180 in run differential. But to say they are streaky is an understatement. The Thrashers started the year winning 19 of 20 and 14 in a row. They have had a 7-game winning streak and have won 6 in a row twice. But they have also lost 5 in a row to Chicago and Seattle, and 6 in a row to Portland and Memphis. At times they seem to fall apart against the better teams in the league and beat up on the lower rung squads. Time will tell as they have widened the gap to 13-games over second place Kansas City and should cruise into the playoffs. More importantly, they hold only a 1-game lead over Chicago for the 2nd First Round Bye in the NL, and the importance of this can’t be understated.

6. Jacksonville Jackals (AL/ 70-54/ Last Ranking #8)
How do they do it? Smoke and mirrors? Maybe? They have a Cy Young candidate, Kareem Freeman (who has won 13 games), but he is a setup guy in the bullpen. Their offense ranks in the middle to bottom half of the AL in most major categories outside of On Base Percentage, but they continue to hold off El Paso in the AL South. Ray Riley is a potent bat but he is only hitting .251 for the year. Their two best pitchers (Gary Stephenson and Sammy Bennett) both have ERA’s at 4.00+. What is the bottom line, they have won the South 6 of the 7 years in the NABCL, finished 2nd in the other year, and have a World Series appearance. Looking at it again, the real question becomes, is ebby really Billy Beane?

7. Portland Jacks (NL/ 68-56/ Last Ranking unranked)
This is another team with a great history. They were the only team to make the playoffs each of the first four years of the NABCL, and they have never finished below 2nd place. They have been mostly known for their great pitching, which is still very good, but their offense has become a “Moneyball” magnet by leading the NL in OBP. Whatever works right? Vinny Barber has become an MVP candidate and Benito Pichardo and Tony Soriano will push 40 hr’s each by years end. The problem the Jacks will encounter is the tough NL West. Not only Sacramento, but they are clinging to the 2nd Wild Card by only 2 games over division mate Salem. It will be a close race to the end of the season.



8. Boston Colonials (AL/ 69-56/ Last Ranking unranked)
The Colonials are arguably the premiere offense in the AL. They lead the league in Hits, AVG, OBP, RBI, and are 2nd in Runs, and 2B. Their issues arise with their middle of the pack pitching numbers. But hey, they are in the “slug it out” AL so they fit right in. What do they get for their efforts, a divisional battle with 1st place Norfolk (1/2 game behind)? They are great on the road (37-28) and could easily run away with the division if they could improve on their average home mark (32-28). All in all, this should be a playoff team whether it is by the division or the Wild Card. You may ask, “how is Norfolk ahead of Boston in the standings but not ranked?” Norfolk is slightly worse at home (32-32), are 3-7 in their last 10, and have a lower expected winning percentage (.520) compared to Boston’s (.556).

9. Memphis Maniax (NL/ 73-52/ Last Ranking #3)
This is a very good team, in 1st place by 4 games, has a genuine MVP candidate in Phil Rubel, and they dropped 6 spots in the pole? How is that possible? Simply put, they went cold at the wrong time (3-7 in their last 10). Are they better than the #9 ranking? Yes, but they just faced off in a series against Sacramento and were swept. Obviously Sacramento is a quality team, but to win the NL Pennant you will have to go through the Two’s and the Maniax simply didn’t put up a fight, which puts a lack of confidence in the voters. Can they win the Pennant? Absolutely. Phil Rubel is a documented Two killer and they have given the reigning champs fits most times. Believe me, nobody wants to draw Memphis in the playoffs. They are still getting plenty of Vegas money and could easily reach the World Series.

10. Salem Timberhawks (NL/ 66-58/ Last Ranking #28)
This was easily the biggest mover in the rankings but also the most difficult pick. Who were the contenders for the coveted #10 spot (and why did they fall short)? Kansas City (simply not playing well enough and getting old at key positions), Helena (-23 run differential), New Britain (27-34 record at home), Norfolk (3-7 last 10), El Paso (30-33 record at home). Why did Salem get the nod, two words, Lenny Singleton. He is a freak of nature and although he may not win the Cy Young award this year, he is cut from a completely different cloth. He is the pitcher we all want our pitchers to become.

Dropped Out: New Britain, Norfolk, Kansas City, and El Paso.



Bottom 5
28. Scranton Screwballs (NL/ 48-76/ Last Ranking unranked)
What has happened to this proud franchise? The franchise that won the season 2 World Series and finished 1st or 2nd in 5 of the 7 years coming into this season? They are in the middle of an 8-game losing streak and have scored a mere 490 runs (the only worse team being the rebuilding Wichita ‘weed). What’s the good news? There is help on the way, as their minor league records show. AAA=71-54/ AA=75-50/Hi A=75-50/ Lo A=68-57/ we wont talk about the rookie league, but you get the point.

29. Pawtucket Patriots (AL/ 41-83/ Last Ranking #31)
Summed up: 6-15 versus the division/ 9-24 in 1-run games/ 2-7 in extra innings/ run differential of -169. Positives: played well in interleague play and moved up 2 spots in the rankings.

30. Iowa City Shuckers (AL/ 47-78/ Last Ranking unranked)
Summed up: 8-13 versus the division/ run differential of -256
Positives: 19-14 in 1-run games/ 6-3 in extra innings

31. Las Vegas Muckers (AL/ 48-77/ Last Ranking #30)
Summed up: 8-13 versus the division/ run differential of -249
Positives: 18-8 in 1-run games/3-2 in extra innings

32. Wichita ‘weed (NL/24-101/ Last Ranking #32)
Summed up: 4-17 versus the division/ 9-19 in 1-run games/ run differential -336
Positives: oldave is a committed owner who has stuck with this team, renewed it already for next season, and is determined to turn it into a winner. This is what makes the NABCL the best league in all of HBD, the best owners in the business. Oldave is a class act and a great competitor. Also, it looks as if he will beat the projected win total of 30 predicted during the pre-season.

Climbed Out: Salem and Colorado Springs.

UPDATED NABCL RANKINGS

NABCL'S TOP 10 TEAMS

1. Sacramento Terrible Two's (NL / 70-38 / Last Ranking #1)

No brainer here - best record in the league and they show no signs of slowing down. Some critics say they won't repeat, but I wouldn't bet against them

2. Chicago Beast (NL / 67-41 / Last Ranking #4)

Some strong series against Top 10 teams had Chicago climb up 2 spots to #2. They have an upcoming 4 game series at Wrigley with visiting Sacramento in a couple days - possible NL championship series preview???

3. Memphis Maniax (NL / 67-41 / Last Ranking #3)

Phil Rubel is an absolute BEAST!!! (Sorry Chicago fans)

4. New Britain Block Heads (AL / 61-47 / Last Ranking #5)

They recently took 2 out of 3 from streaking Norfolk. Can they keep up the pace in a very tight AL playoff race? Also, if Rubel is a beast, Craig Hooper is a God - what a pickup this season by New Britain!

5. Norfolk Loyalists (AL / 61-47 / Last Ranking #7)

They have scored more runs than any team in the entire NABCL. The pitching has been questionable. The key here is how trade deadline acquisitions Mark Nakano and Hugh Bradford shore up the rotation. One thing is for sure - they'll be more effective than their predecessors.

6. Trenton Thrashers (NL / 68-40 / Last Ranking #6)

Bashings from Chicago have us wondering if Trenton is a legit contender or not, but an 18-3 division record almost seals their playoff spot without anything else. Fans better hope they can solve Chicago's lineup if they draw the Beast in the playoffs...

7. Los Angeles Robins (AL / 63-45 / Last Ranking #9)

Still pitching very well, but they are 2-5 against Norfolk, which could hurt them come playoff time...

8. Jacksonville Jackals (AL / 61-47 / Last Ranking #UNRANKED)

Ray Riley has his team peaking at the right time - but can they keep it up with streaking El Paso knocking at their door?

9. Kansas City Kangaroos (NL / 60-48 / Last Ranking #2)

They've cooled off a bit recently, but could still prove dangerous come playoff time. Their track record speaks for itself, and csherwood does have a reputation for pulling out key playoff series as an underdog...

10. El Paso Ultraviolence (AL / 57-51 / Last Ranking#UNRANKED)

This young team has been overlooked a lot, but they could very well overtake Jacksonville by season's end. The pitching here has been strong all year, led by 2nd year stud Diego Lee

Dropped Out: Richmond, Boston, Anaheim, San Antonio

NABCL'S BOTTOM 5 TEAMS

28. Salem Timberhawks (NL / 54-54 / Last Ranking #UNRANKED)

They've lost 6 straight and are 2-8 in their last 10. While this may be a surprise ranking, they are not playing very good baseball right now at all.

29. Colorado Springs Coyotes (NL / 46-62 / Last Ranking #UNRANKED)

Only 3 teams in the NL have given up more runs than the Coyotes. Even though they have been playing well lately, going 6-4 in their last 10, it won't last when divisional play picks up again and Sacramento gets batting practice...

30. Las Vegas Muckers (NL / 43-65 / Last Ranking #UNRANKED)

Negatives: They're 3-7 in their last 10. They're 20 games behind Los Angeles. They've given up the 2nd most runs in the entire NABCL.

Positives: Their cheerleaders are becoming more liberal with their dances to attract fans. Maybe the 'weed should take note here...

31. Pawtucket Patriots (AL / 36-72 / Last Ranking #31)

Not much better than the 'weed, but they did have a respectable showing in divisional play last time around.

32. Wichita 'weed (NL / 20-88 / Last Ranking #32)

They've lost 8 in a row and show no signs of that letting up any time soon...

Climbed Out: Vancouver, Scranton, Seattle

Blue Light Special

Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin Seattle Salty Dogs Age: 21 B/T: R/R Born: Waldoboro, ME Position(s): P (SP5) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

(KMart) was recalled to the Major Leagues before the 3 game set with Sacramento, and was quickly penciled in to start game 2 of the series against fellow rookie Randy Dellucci . After being beaten handily (9-3) in the first game of the set, Seattle was just hoping for a quality start from their rookie righthander. KMart was up to make 3 starts earlier in the season when injuries forced him in. Management was quite cautious with him and moved him around so that he was able to make 2 of his 3 starts vs the Weed in an attempt to ease him into the big leagues. They also let it be known from the outset that he would be returning to AAA once the injuries healed. Well after going back to AAA and continuing to impress as well as an ineffective starting rotation, Seattle could no longer hold him down and decided to loosen the leash a bit and put him into the rotation. He certainly impressed vs the defending World Champion Terrible Two's, allowing only 2 hits, 1 run(a HR to perennial MVP Otis Pavlov ), 7K's and 3 BBs over 8 innings to give Seattle a 2-1 win, and narrowly beat fellow rookie Dellucci. Dellucci only allowed 2 runs (both solo shots) and pitched quite well over 8 innigs.
Seattle management thinks that this late season experience will pay huge dividends as they already have an eye towards next year. They are hoping a full season of KMart and a full healthy season from TJ (Tony Johnson) will enable them to make more of a push towards the playoffs.

Salty Dog's Mid Year Pitching Grades

Seattle - As promised today we'll review and hand out grades of the Salty Dog pitching staff. This year the bullpen has been solid, but the rotation has been the downfall. Without further adieu here we go...
The Rotation
Tony Johnson - Incomplete - Returned before the break to make 2 starts and was absolutely brilliant. He can't be expected to pitch this well all year (14 IP/2-0 record/0.64 ERA/0.106 OAV/0.50 WHIP/10.9 K's per 9ip/1.29 BB per 9 ) Still his return has the 'Dogs dreaming of ending up at .500.

Terrence Roberts - B+ - T-Rob has pitched well, having his best year yet (105 IP/5-2/3.86 ERA/0.233 OAV/1.25 WHIP/5.66 K's/3.69 BB's). Could still improve his BB/9 rate and would become an elite pitcher. Still he's been the best SP in the first half for the Dogs.

Michael Lee - C - Is having his worst season statistically (100 IP/6-6/4.50 ERA/0.290 OAV/1.42 WHIP/5.49 K's/2.25 BB's) of his career as his OAV is much higher then his career average. Also spent some time on the DL for the 1st time in his professional career. He probably could have avoided it, but management decided to be cautious and let him rest his groin!

Edgardo Plata - C- - This veteran righty was acquired via trade from Memphis earlier in the season. He pitched quite well for Memphis, but as soon as he arrived in Seattle the wheels fell off (45 IP/2-5/6.80 ERA/0.292 OAV/1.62 WHIP/9 K's per 9/3.80 BB's). There is some hope, as his K rate is still high, but apparently he hasn't clicked yet with new catcher Paul Yoshii. He is in his free agent year so expect a bounce back in the 2nd half.

Victor Silva - D - Silva is easily having the worst year of his 5 year career (117 IP/3-12/5.52 ERA/0.274 OAV/1.44 WHIP/6.37 K-9/2.99 BB-9). Still he keeps taking the ball and has pitched the most innings on the team. Hopefully he can turn things around in order to bounce back for next year.

Next up the bullpen

Marino Rios - C - Gets a higher grade then numbers might suggest (48.2 IP/1-2/4.44 ERA/0.277 OAV/1.44 WHIP/4.81 K-9/3.33 BB-9) due to the fact that not much was expected. More then likely he will be heading back to AAA when either Kevin Martin comes up to stay or someone comes off the DL.

Eric Dingman - INCOMPLETE - He was acquired right before the break from Scranton. However, he gets an A for the #'s he put up with them ( 34.1 IP/4-1/ 5 of 5 SVs/2.88 ERA/ .214OAV/ .93 WHIP). He will start out as a setup man but could easily be the closer by the end of the year.

Alex Ishida - B- - Acquired in the offseason, he has helped improve the bullpen, but still gives up too many HR's. For his price he has pitched quite well (57.1 IP/2-2/3.77 ERA/0.220 OAV/1.12 WHIP/6.91 K-9/2.67 BB-9).

Brad Spivey - A- - This rookie righthander was acquired a few seasons back in the Vitas Hogan trade with LA. He has been a dominant force at times, despite being roughed up lately. Still his #'s (36.1 IP/ 2-1/3.72 ERA/0.213 OAV/0.99 WHIP/6.69 K-9/1.73 BB-9) are quite good for a rookie, and if he had been the closer getting Save opportunities would likely have made the All Star team.

Victor Maradona - C- -Started out as the closer and quickly lost that spot. Is more suited for the setup role as his past history shows.

Nicholas Cunningham - A - This Lefty was forgotten about to start the year, but with injuries was called back up. Has made the most of the latest opportunity, which is a good thing too since he's out of options. Has been dominant in limited action since his recall (17 IP/0-1/1.59 ERA/0.153 OAV/0.71 WHIP/4.24 K-9/1.59 BB-9). The question is has he turned the corner at age 26 or will he simply turn back into a pumpkin?

Sergei Fischer - A- - Became the closer by default, but has done a good job, saving 9 of 10 opportunities. Has a propensity to give up more homers then you'd like out of your closer but still has been nothing short of excellent so far (52 IP/3-1/3.46 ERA/0.213 OAV/1.00 WHIP/ 7.27 K-9/2.08 BB-9).

Harry Moreno - C - Currently on the DL, he has pitched right around his career avg's. Is in his walk year and probably won't be resigned unless he takes a big pay cut as his #'s (95.2 IP/4-6/5.64 ERA/0.267 OAV/1.49 WHIP/8.18 K-9/4.14 BB-9) don't warrant the contract.

A.J. Gonzales - Incomplete - Also currently on the DL, he didn't get to make but 6 starts before landing on the DL with a ligament tear in his shoulder. Is eligible to come off the DL soon, but not much is expected.

Kevin Martin - Incomplete - Due to injuries he was called up to make 3 starts for the big club. He definitely impressed while he was up, although in fairness 2 of his 3 starts were against the woeful Weed. I thought it was important to note since he will be up again later in the year, and for good, when the rosters expand.

Beasts of Burden Take Focus on Back Half

(Chicago - Associated Press) With the weight of the Second City on its shoulders and the all too frequent skeptical appraisals of its NABCL brethern ringing in its ears, Chicago's Boys of Summer have adopted the Rolling Stones tune "Beasts of Burden" as its official team anthem. As the clubhouses doors closed to the All-Star break, Bullet6464 could be heard crooning "Am I hard enough / am I rough enough / am I rich enough / I am not too blind to see...."

And what is that Bullet can see? A dominating fourteen game bulge that should translate to Chicago's fourth NL North Crown in five season, a retooled roster that includes four All-Stars including Man-Child B.C. Parent, whose first half has some national pundits talking about the NABCL's first ever Triple Crown, and perhaps most importantly the drive to conquer its formidable National League Competititon and bring a World Series title to the Windy City.

And so as the back half of the journey begins it is important to assess the team strengths and weaknesses to date:

Offense Grade A-

The first game of the season was a harbinger of things to come for the Beast offense - five home runs, nine extra base hits and 22 runs scored. Led by Parent's ungodly first half (.354, 33, 101) the Beast feature five hitters with 20+ home runs to date, a team batting average of .285 and a team OPS of .825.

With that said, close followers of this club believe that the club has yet to fire on all cyclinders and similar, if not better numbers could be in the offing for the seond half. Mid-season acquisiton Virgil Wilkerson could be the key to keeping the fires burning.


Pitching Grade C+

Management has tried to sell the concept that pitching is not a weakness for this club. With a team ERA hovering just below 5.00 that is an really tough sell. Yet a closer look reveals that the pitching has been better than the numbers suggest. The starters led by Frazzman whipping boy, Felipe Matos, have delivered 48 quality starts (minimum 6 innings of three runs or less) in 87 tries (55%) and Greg Hamilton has converted on 28 of 30 save opportunities. Moreover, early season aquistions Adrian Shave and Dan Redding provide excellent set-up options.


The key for continued success in the second half and on into the post season will be to manage the games when the staff is a little off. The offense can provide some protection but not if the games get out of hand early.

Fielding Grade B

Long an after thought for Beast management, the team's overall fielding has improved dramatically during the last two campaigns. The addition of Wilkerson at third base (himself a former SS) has not only strengthened the infield but also had a ripple effect in the OF as Bernie Tatis took over for the aging Cookie Prince. James Suzuki is a legit gold glove candidate at first.

Second Half Questions:

1) Big Bulge letdown - With a fourteen game lead, the onus will be on Bullet6464 to keep his club interested down the stretch. Battling Trenton, Sacramento, Memphis, and Kansas City for one of the top two seeds should provide enough incentive.

2) Hang with the competition - At the All-Star break, Chicago sports a 15-15 record against the league Iron (Sac/Mem/Tre/KC/Sal). It will be important to show that the club can stay with its NL brethern.

3) Injuries - Can and will always play a huge roll in the game and Chicago is sure to face a couple of hurdles in the back half. Future ML Lee, Walsh, Robertson, and Neruda will be called on to aid the big club should anything happen to the ML Core.

All Star Review of the Salty Dogs

Seattle - Due to the high optimism before the season, this year has to be considered a big disappointment. The lack of hitting and Starting pitching is what has killed this team. Their bullpen has been the only bright spot. We'll grade out each player based on a variety of factors(playing time, expectations, production etc)

1st the positional players
Paul Yoshii - C+ - He was signed for relatively low amount of money and has played well, but Safeco has really sapped his offensive abilities. Could still hit 30 HR's(enters the break with 17), but more was expected in terms of average(currently .274) and OBP(.354).

Jesse Murphy - C- - His grade would be lower, but expectations of playing time were greatly reduced due to the signing of Yoshii. Started out abysmally bad which kept the manager from putting him in for even spot starts. Has gotten more playing time recently and has improved of late.

Gerald Stull - A - Was not expected to get more then 250 or so AB's (currently 232), but due to his good performance (.302 BA, .375 BA) and a few injuries he has greatly outperformed expectations.

Nigel Jamison - C - Injuries knocked him to the 15 DL at a time when he was really swinging the bat well. Starting to recover he currently sits at .308/.348/.474 with 13 HR's and 40 RBI's.

Alex Randolph - C- - Playing mainly 2B this year, Salty Dogs management thought he'd settle in nicely and finally have that career year they've been waiting on. While his patience at the plate has improved, his average has gone way down. Until that comes up his grade remains low due to the higher expectations.

Matty Navarre - F - Has been used sparingly and his #'s reflect. More then likely he'll be gone once he begins making more then the minimum salary.

Bum Stocker - B- - This rookie has played decent, but expectations (justified or not) were huge, and he hasn't lived up to them yet. He has shown flashes of brilliance (20 HR's 57 RBI's), but has been up and down. He should only get better, and seems to have settled in nicely at 3B.

Santos Sanchez - C- - Wasn't expected to do much with the stick and his glove has been steady but his range is steadily declining. Had been under the Mendoza line for much of the season but has dramatically picked it up lately, including a surprising 9 HR's in the 1st half.

Alan Cameron - C- - Up until recently he would have graded higher (when his OBP was in the .360-.370 range) but has hit a rough patch. Still, could be on pace to break his personal SB record in a season(89 in season 6) as he has 69. He has been caught 5 times this year, which is still a good conversion rate, but bad by his lofty standards.

Rick Myers - D+ - This once promising prospect really needs a change of scenery. His lack of D gets him no playing time in Seattle, and his hitting style is not conducive to Safeco. He has speed but has no idea how to use it. Has seen limited playing time and unless injuries crop up, probably won't see too much more in the 2nd half.

Dante Baek - A - This former Intenational Signee has played well, even despite tailing off recently. Add in the great D in CF(his stats are better then last year when he won the Gold Glove) and he has filled in at both SS & 2B admirably at times to give others breathers. Earned a backup spot on the All Star team (the only Salty Dog) gets him an A.

Pedro Merced - F - After absolutely murdering AAA pitching the first month, we had hoped that he had refound his stroke. Based on that we decided to let loose Joe Edmonds to Fargo in a cost cutting move. Unfortunately it looks like the injury a few seasons back has sapped him of all abilities. What was once a promising career could be looking for a change of scenery. A team would be definitely buying low.

We'll do the pitchers later...

Loyalists Quietly Making Playoff Push

NORFOLK (AP) - Fans in Norfolk thought they were going to have to wait one more season to enjoy a contender. After the first 10 games of the season, the Loyalists were outscored by more than 20 runs! This led to a Bottom 5 ranking and left management wondering if this offense was ever going to come around. Led by team captain Wilson May and unsung heros Wayne Hunter and Ruben Soriano, the offense has come alive - now leading the entire NABCL in runs scored with 541. This success however does not come without some irony. Soriano was actively being shopped during the offseason. Hunter is Norfolk's version of the "30 Year Old Rookie." Manager squirrel1014 credits the rookie Hunter and another rookie Alfonso Franco for their recent success: "Hunter has played better than we could have expected while we wait for some prospects to develop, but the big difference maker I think is Franco. When our ace starting pitcher Diego Guerrero went down for the season, we were sure Boston would pull away. Franco has done well keeping us in games, evidenced by his 5-1 record since his call up from AAA. Instead of Boston pulling away, it has been us slowly chipping away at Boston's lead and now we're in 1st place behind some great play by these rookies."

Will Norfolk's "Young Guns" (May, Soriano, Franco and Hunter) keep it up for the 2nd half? That remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure - fans in Norfolk now have the foundation of a team that could be contenders for seasons to come.

Philadelphia Dead Milkmen: Two Back at the Break

In an up-and-down season, Philadelphia enters the All-Star break on a seven-game win streak, standing two games behind the AL North-leading New Britain Block Heads. Early in the season, the Milkmen looked lost after a 3-13 stretch left them in fourth place at 10-16. But immediately after that skid, Philadelphia reversed course and tore off a 13-3 stretch; since their nadir, the team has played .630 ball and posted a 41-24 record.

Offense remains Philadelphia's strength. The Milkmen lead the AL in slugging, OPS, and runs, and rank near the top in many other categories. Pitching has been more problematic: Philadelphia's 5.01 ERA is sixth-worst in the AL. The rotation has improved drastically with the addition of several key rookies, but the bullpen is still a major weakness.

Midseason grades:
CATCHER Sean Thomson (.287/.339/.498, 12 HR, 54 RBI): C+
CATCHER Rolando Belliard (.303/.353/.453, 4 HR, 27 RBI): B-
Belliard has torched lefties (.897 OPS) while Thomson has done well against RHP (.853).
FIRST BASE Shooter Farrell (.255/.345/.593, 35 HR, 71 RBI, 67 RS): B-
Farrell has struggled at times this season, but continues to mash.
SECOND BASE Everett Griffiths (.274/.343/.373, 32 SB, 65 RS): B
Leadoff hitter Griffiths is on pace to set a franchise record for stolen bases with 57.
THIRD BASE Jacob Dunn (.268/.326/.481, 24 2B, 21 SB, 50 RBI, 52 RS): B+
Rookie Dunn has mostly delivered on his promising minor league career.
THIRD BASE/SHORTSTOP Bernie Uribe (.298/.318/.552, 16 HR, 46 RBI): B
Despite an alarming lack of patience, Uribe has filled in for the injured Sosa fairly well.
SHORTSTOP Benito Sosa (.260/.325/.435 in 35 G): INCOMPLETE
Sosa's injury ended a fairly good season; only time will tell if he can return to form.
LEFT FIELD Jim Jenkins (.296/.373/.443, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 41 RS): C+
The veteran Jenkins started out very strong, but has faded in recent weeks.
CENTER FIELD Bobby Ellis (.237/.309/.303, 15 SB, 43 RS): D-
Ellis' play both at the plate and in the field has been a major disappointment this season.
RIGHT FIELD Walker Wilkins (.342/.424/.591, 20 HR, 66 RBI, 69 RS) : A.
Wilkins, Philadelphia's lone All-Star, is among the top players in the AL.
DESIGNATED HITTER Homer Buddie (.279/.362/.540, 24 HR, 64 RBI, 63 RS): B+
Free agent Buddie has provided the middle-of-the-lineup presence Philadelphia needed.
BENCH: Victor Costilla (.327/.397/.519 in 52 AB) has provided a spark in recent weeks, while Carlos Bennett's sure glove has been invaluable with the injury to Sosa.

STARTER #1 Rafael Vidal (125 IP, 11-4, 1.22 WHIP, 3.53 ERA): A-
At age 40, Vidal continues to pitch well, and could have merited an All-Star nod.
STARTER #2 Haywood Jodie (108 IP, 4-3, 1.27, 3.98): B+
The only blemishes on Jodie's season are a lack of run support and a minor injury.
STARTER #3 Miguel Almanza (39 IP, 3-2, 1.59, 6.46): C-
Acquired by trade, Almanza has been disappointing.
STARTER #4 Geraldo Nunez (69 IP, 3-8, 1.21, 4.00): B+
A poor win-loss record belies how essential the rookie Nunez has been to the rotation.
STARTER #5 Louis Durham (49 IP, 7-1, 1.41, 4.22): B+
Won his first five starts and is second on the team in wins despite making only 8 appearances.
LONG RELIEF Billy Robinson (50, 1.80, 7.28): D-; Ronald Cota (50, 1.79, 6.97): D-; Jamie Hunter (57, 1.54, 5.21): D+
Robinson has completely lost his touch, while Cota and Hunter have lost their starting jobs and struggled in relief.
SETUP Bret Jackson (56, 1.31, 5.24): C-; Julio Rosado (78, 1.30, 4.46): B-
Jackson has been victimized by the long ball; Rosado has made an acceptable rookie debut.
CLOSER Derrek Jensen (19/19 SV, 1.50, 4.95): C+
While Jensen has not pitched particularly well, he has yet to blow a save opportunity.

Season 8 Draft Grades

The newest addition to the blog is the Draft Grades. I have graded every team's draft picks in the first 10 rounds by looking at the players' projections and listing them as All-Star caliber, Major League worthy, borderline ML/AAA player, or career minor leaguer. I assigned point values to these designations and came up with a total score per team which was used to determine a letter grade. Without further ado, here are my draft grades!

A+
San Antonio Missions (Viva The Puffy Taco) frazzman80- The Missions led my grading in points with 2 All-Stars, 4 MLers, and 6 ML/AAA players in their 12 picks. Led by pitchers Sean Gross and Alex Edwards, The Puffy Taco also drafted top reliever Chip Rakers in the 2nd round. The Missions had12 picks in the first 10 rounds.

A+
Jacksonville Jackals examinerebb- The Jackals led all teams with 3 All-Star caliber draftees, also adding 2 MLers and 1 ML/AAA player. 1st round 3B Bret Darwin and 2nd round DH/C Travis Matthews lead the Jackals with SS Dale Mann and reliever Timo Adams helping out the grade. The Jackals had 14 picks in the first 10 rounds.

A
Fargo Roughriders carpediem33- Top pick Sean Sterns gets the fanfair, but a couple key relievers were drafted including Garland Stevens. Solid all-around C Artie Newhouser was snagged in the 10th round. Fargo selected 2 All-Stars, 3 MLers, and 2 ML/AAA guys.

A
Vancouver Loonies cosmicblob- Top pick Dustan Stechschulte looks to be a stud, followed by 5 solid not spectacular ML quality guys including Ugueth Martinez, Juan Peron, and Jim Ashley. The Loonies ended up with 1 All-Star, 5 ML guys and 2 borderline prospects.

A-
Louisville Legionnaires mlhutch- The Legionnaries solid group with one All-Star, 4 ML, and 2 ML/AAA players consists of SP Eugene Roberts and Olmedo Lopez who has closer type stuff.

A-
Richmond Poor Men mdonegan- Also drafting 1 All-Star, 4 MLers, and 2 ML/AAA guys, the Poor Men are happy to have future Fireman of the Year in Alex Alonso, as well as soilid starter Dan Matthews. Would have a better draft if 3rd round pick Woody Finley would sign, who looks to be a bottom of the rotation starter.

B+
El Paso Ultraviolence reaperpgh- Top pick Andrew Lankford is a very good hitter who should challenge for the league batting title year after year. El Paso also drafted 4 other ML quality players with 1 ML/AAA guy.

B+
Wichita 'weed oldave- The 'weed are the highest ranked team without an All-Star selected, but did add 5 ML quality players and 4 borderline prospects including solid SS/3B Stevie Cepeda and defensive whiz Vin Giovanola who should end his career with 10 Gold Gloves, if his owner can handle his poor hitting.

B
Colorado Springs Coyotes drutes- The Coyotes are very happy with their draft haul, picking All-Star quality closer Mark Wilson and catcherTony Woods. While Colorado Springs had a good top of the draft, it's ratings were hurt by a lack of depth with only 2 other MLers and 0 borderline prospects. Still, a good draft class.

B
Anaheim Natural Disasters zackaryl- The Natural Disasters did well by selecting rubber-armed Jude Lindsey, along with [URL=http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1725152]Terry Langerhans[/URL] and Ronnie Ligtenberg. Their class had 1 All-Star, 3 MLers, and 2 borderline guys.

B
Los Angeles Robin's bronco2rings- The Robins scored the same with 1 All-Star, 3 MLers, and 2 borderline prospects lead by 2B/CF Edgardo Sivilla and solid defensive SS Albert Pena.

B
Seattle Salty Dogs donaldkey- Also with 1 All-Star, 3 MLers, and 2 borderline prospects, the Salty Dogs look for big things from professional hitter, Paul Martin. A pair of catchers including Garret O'Keefe make this a pretty good class.

B
Charlotte Queen's Men Erran- Quality pitching was brought in by the Queen's Men, led by starter Ed Gregg and reliever Nick Stewart, plus a solid SS Yamil Cabrera.

B
Kansas City Kangaroos csherwood- The Kangaroos brought in a couple of quality guys, and it's surprising to find them this low. One of the best pure hitters in this crop, Keith Davidson fell to pick #22 due to concerns about his health, while quality hitting catcher Mandy Michaels looks to be a good pickup in round 2. Ozzie Smith Jr., I mean Frank Glauber, who may be better than Vin Giovanola defensively, and can hit a little. Great SS prospects this year.

B
Norfolk Loyalists squirrel1014- The Loyalists had a very top-heavy draft with pitchers Bill Wulf, Cristobal Velazquez, and Dan Damon being about the only true prospects in this draft class.

B-
Las Vegas Muckers nordawg- The Mucker draft board was filled with pitchers, ending up with Rolando Velazquez, Del Clements, and Macbeth Matthews.

C+
Pawtucket Patriots fletchkd- Basically a one man draft class, but what a man it is! Star ace Victor Fernandez catapaulted the Patriots into this spot, with just one other MLer drafted and signed. The class would be much better if 2nd rounder Dee Dee Benard would sign, but getting Fernandez is good enough.

C
Helena Misfits rugrat- John Sanders and Morgan Crosby are the top to prospects from the Misfits draft that resulted in only 1 All-Star, 2 MLers, and 1 borderline prospect.

C
Sacramento Terrible Two's Save_Mr_X- Top pick Marvin Vernon is good, but not quite All-Star quality. Chris Vina is great defensively, but not much of a threat with the bat. Okay, but a C grade.

C
Memphis Maniax gerald007- Top pick Henry Jones is a great slugger, while Rondell Barrett is a good defensive SS. Add 3 borderline prospects, and you have the Maniax' draft.

C
Boston Colonials randallball- Pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching, pitching. Unfortunately, just not good enough pitching. The best of the lot is 1st rounder Alex Lo and Sammy Carreon.

C
Chicago Beast bullet6464- Chicago also went pitching heavy, with the best 2 being relievers Dick Magee and J.J. Willis.

C
New Britain Block Heads Verd- The Block Heads got some pretty good relievers in Phil Moreno and Apollo O'Halloran to go with top pick Steven Crosby.

C
Trenton Thrashers tmf12- The Thrashers drafted a good hitter in Bud Evans and a solid defensive SS in Chris Allen.

C
Washington D.C. Federals Shalmelo- Luther Gordon looks to be a soild starter, while my next jersey purchase may be that of Patrick Zoltan. What a great name!

C-
Iowa City Shuckers sportznut11- The Shuckers got a good starter in David Sierra with the 3rd pick overal, while getting a decent hitting and fielding Mario Halter in the 3rd round. Grade would be better if 2nd rounder Lew Poole would sign.

C-
Scranton Screwballs keith1995- The Screwballs got good hitting 3B Oswaldo Cortez in the 4th round to go with top pick Dweezil Elliott. The lack of a 2nd round pick hurt their rating.

D
New Orleans Crawdads wonka1- The Crawdads drafted starter Sergio Hinske and RFWillie Ruffin, but not much else. 3rd rounder LF Dan Faulk has yet to sign.

D
San Diego Storm davesanchez- The Storm were hurt by not having a 2nd or 3rd rounder, but basically only drafted sweet hitting DH Aramis Melendez.

D
Philadelphia Dead Milkmen newarkwilder- The Dead Milkmen drafted 2 ML hitters in Shane Spivey and Damian Goodwin, but 3rd rounder Denny Magadan has yet tot sign.

D-
Portland Jacks dtrain34- Missing a 1st round pick definitely hurt the Jacks, but ony drafted a defensive SS (although he can hit righties) in Jeremy Wilkinson and a borderline LF/1B Al Santos.

F
Salem Timberhawks buffalowade- Based on ratings, the Timberhawks should be in the middle of the pack with a C, drafting All-Star caliber SS Benito DaSilva, 3B Trevor Kendall, and Dale Lary. Unfortunately not one pick in the first 10 rounds has been signed, so as of right now, the grade has to be an F.

I hope everyone enjoyed the first annual draft grades and I look forward to your comments!

Thrashers Struggle as Starting Pitching Wanes

The Trenton Thrashers are currently in a sixteen game funk. With the All Star break looming, the mighty Kansas City Kangaroos have turned a double digit deficit into a 3 game deficit.

The last 16 games have been a struggle for the young Thrashers. Over this time they are 4 - 12, including losing streaks of six and five games. The starting pitching has been miserable over this period. They have combined for an ERA of 9.14 with a record of 1 win and 12 losses and only 3 quality starts. But it gets worse, recent acquisition Kevin Martin has been the best of the bunch, going 0 and 2 with an ERA of 2.59 and producing 2 quality starts. Taking his numbers out, Derrick McPherson (3 GS, 5.3 IP, 16 ER, 27.17 ERA), Bono Wilson (4 GS, 16.5 IP, 17 ER, 9.27 ERA), Junior Sanchez (3 GS, 15.5 IP, 19ER, 11.03 ERA), and Pep Feng (3 GS, 16.2 IP, 15 ER, 8.33 ERA) have a combined ERA of 11.27. Feng and Wilson were All Star candidates at one point. McPherson has been chased from two games without seeing the 3rd inning and Sanchez, a potential All Star, has had a below par season from the beginning.

The Thrashers don't rely on starting pitching to win games, but they do rely on them to not lose games. The guys have been getting into big holes early and not giving their hitters a chance to win the game. Soon changes will need to be made and perhaps the answers lie in the bullpen.

As a result of the short appearance by the starting pitchers, the long relievers have picked up significant innings. Over this time, Joey Kent has pitched 10.4 innings without giving up an earned run. Bo Forbes has 14.7 IP with a 1.22 ERA and Ozzie Stanley has 13.9 IP with a 4.53 ERA. It is possible we could see some starting pitching demotions soon.