1 (2)- Little Rock Mockingbirds (76-45)- Pedro Castillo (15-7, 2.51 ERA) is showing why he was the most expensive IFA in SP history (blog post preview?). He's having another All Star season, and is now firmly entrenched as the 3rd best starting pitcher in the NL. He'd probably have a Cy Young by now if it weren't for Pepe.
2 (7)- Kansas City T-Bones (75-46)- You may as well give the AL MVP to Junior Chang right now, because its not even close. He's hitting .367 (leads the AL) with 33 HR and 128 RBI (leads the AL). If he goes on a power surge, he has an outside shot at the AL Triple Crown. Oh, he also has 28 stolen bases. This just in... Chang is really good at baseball.
3 (9)- Monterrey Gringos (73-48)- The Gringos are the hottest team in SP right now, riding a W7. There currently have 5 players with 25 or more HRs. By the end of the season, they could have 9 players who hit 20. Marv Sanders, Marvin Shannon and Geoff Bowles have a combined 111 HR. Thats more home runs than 7 entire teams in SP: Los Angeles, Norfolk, Kansas City, Pitssburgh, Detroit, Chicago and Oakland.
4 (6)- St. Louis Redbirds (73-48)- The top two Cy Young candidates in the AL are both in red. Surprisingly, its not Leonard who is the favorite but veteran Thurman Olerud. The former Soda Popper is having the best season of his career and is 17-1 with a 1.99 ERA. Leonard and Olerud have been the best 1-2 pitching punch in the AL this season, a combined 35-8 with a 2.39 ERA.
5 (3)- Milwaukee Boys of Summer (73-48)- The Boys have definitely turned some heads this season. They lead the NL in runs scored and stolen bases. The pitching, buoyed by a number of key midseason acquisitions, is now posting a solid, above average team ERA of 3.84. The only real are of concern of Milwaukee fans is the inconsistency of the defense. The team is near the bottom of the NL in fielding percentage and total '-' plays.
6 (4)- New Orleans Jazz (72-49)- The Jazz might be the most balanced team in the AL. All phases of their game are above average. The pitching is ranked 7th in team ERA, the fielding is above average and the team is 3rd in the AL in runs scored. Even how they score runs is versatile. An excellent mix of speed and power, the team is ranked 6th in the AL in HR, 5th in stolen bases and 4th in OPS.
7 (1)- Philadelphia Stomp (72-49)- Since Quilvio Lee (9-4, 2.94 ERA) injured his rotator cuff in the first game back after the All Star Break (which was also a 15-1 beatdown at the hands of Kansas City) the Stomp have really been struggling. They are 13-17 in that span, which accounts for their long tumble down the power rankings. Lee is definitely the heart of this team. The team is hopeful that he'll be ready in time for the playoffs, but first they have to worry about making it into the playoffs. The acquisition of veteran pitcher Benny Renoso from Detroit has helped steady the ship in the meantime. Renoso is 2-2 with a 3.41 ERA in his 4 starts since arriving in Philadelphia.
8 (11)- Washington Generals (70-51)- The Generals have faded a bit since the All Star break. They're probably bored. While the AL MVP race is all but decided, the NL MVP race is going to be very close. Juan Arancebia has an excellent chance to win his second straight MVP award, currently hitting .308 with 21 HR and 53 RBI, to go with 30 stolen bases.
9 (8)- Norfolk Whiskey Jacks (69-52)- With the 3rd fewest HR in the AL, the Jacks rely on manufacturing runs. They're 5th in the AL in OBP (.342) and 2nd in steals with 189. The offense is overall just middle of the pack though, and the pitching is only above average. You have to wonder if they are playing above their heads, or they really are this good.
10 (12)- Richmond Rebellion (67-54)- The Rebellion have been unable to keep up with Little Rock, and have been cruising along in 2nd place, in pole position for a Wild Card spot. Lou O'Brien is having the best season of his career, currently 11-5 with a 2.88 ERA.
11 (15)- Vancouver Tragedy Twins (67-54)- The news of the demise of the Twins has been much exaggerated. They have quietly clawed their way back to the top of an otherwise weak division. They now also lead the NL in home runs, and have 3 players currently with 30 or more dingers.
12 (13)- Iowa City Badgers (66-55)- Like Richmond, the Badgers have been unable to keep up with their division leader, and have settled into 2nd place with their eye on the Wild Card. This season, Matos is keeping up with Sosa, and in the conversation for the Cy Young. The NL's 2nd best starting pitcher is 15-5 with a 1.93 ERA.
13 (10)- Houston Buushwackerz (66-55)- The Buushwackerz find themselves in 3rd place, despite a very good record. They are in the mix for what should be an interesting, and brutal Wild Card race in the AL. Odalis Owen (13.-4, 2.74 ERA) has now been named to four consecutive All Star games and is probably the best 'under the radar' starting pitcher in the AL.
14 (5)- Charlotte Legends (65-56)- The Legends are in the midst of an absolute free fall. They have lost 14 or their last 18 games and their plummet down the power rankings reflects the team's struggles. Its been a collective team failure in that time as well. The offense has only scored an average of 3.2 runs during those 18 games, while the pitching has surrendered 5.4 runs in the same period. If they don't right the ship soon, they won't be in any position to contend for the Wild Card.
15 (14)- Atlanta Soda Poppers (64-57)- The Poppers are good, but not great. They find themselves only 2 games out of a very close NL Wild Card race. Danny Piersoll is having an excellent season, filling in the team's ace role vacated by the departed Olerud. Piersoll is 10-2, with a 2.35 ERA.
16 (19)- Cleveland Lake Shores (63-58)
17 (17)- Oakland Athletics (62-59)
18 (20)- Anaheim Pepper Pickers (60-61)
19 (-)- Baltimore Revolution (58-63)
20 (16)- Tampa Bay Bandits (55-66)
Bounced Out:
San Diego Wiley Coyotes (18)
