Los
Angeles Colemans
Current:
1 Last: 1
Big
Picture: Has a nine game lead for one of the byes, and a six
game lead for the number one seed.
Biggest
Surprise: 19 year old Raphael Jiminez raking to a .900+ OPS and
making a bid for ROY.
Biggest
Disappointment: Nobody is seriously underperforming, but I bet
the Colemans had hoped soph-a-more Brian Weaver would have taken the
next step.
Wichita
Rocks
Current:
2 Last: 7
Big
Picture: In a multi-team battle for one of the byes.
Biggest
Surprise: Addison Locke has far exceeded expectations after
stepping into the rotation.
Biggest
Disappointment: He adds value with his speed but the hope would
be that COF'er Louis Jamison would produce better than a OPS of just
over .600.
Honolulu
Jackwagons
Current:
3 Last: 2
Big
Picture: Trying to fend off surging Burlington/Montreal for a
bye, while trying to catch Wichita for the one seed.
Biggest
Surprise: Since getting the full-time job at catcher a year ago,
Glenn Seo has continued to impress.
Biggest
Disappointment: After signing a long term extension, defensive
whiz William Berger has totally disappeared at the dish.
Richmond
Confederates
Current:
4 Last: 3
Big
Picture: The front runner for the second seed and a bye, and
still has a shot at catching LA for the one.
Biggest
Surprise: B.C. Bolivar with career highs in homers and ribbies.
Biggest
Disappointment: Yannick Manning with career lows in BA and OPS.
Montreal
Stars
Current:
5 Last: 15
Big
Picture: Has eyes on both the the division and a bye.
Biggest
Surprise: Rookie starter Gary Rhodes has not really experience
growing pains.
Biggest
Disappointment: Christian Downs has seemed to have taken a step
back at the plate.
Cincinnati
Dawgs
Current:
6 Last: 5
Big
Picture: Tight fight for the division and a possible bye.
Biggest
Surprise: Tsubasa Sasaki has career highs in homers and steals,
and is raking to a .800+ OPS.
Biggest
Disappointment: Carlos Mateo has regressed to the norm after an
outstanding 37.
Burlington
Bookworms
Current:
7 Last: 11
Big
Picture: Battling Montreal for the division, and is
fighting for one of the byes.
Biggest
Surprise: After breaking out last season, Giancarlo Velez has
taken it to another level.
Biggest
Disappointment: Sam Henry will probably end the season with
career lows in HR, BA and steals.
Santa
Fe Brooks
Current:
8 Last: 6
Big
Picture: Within striking distance of Wichita for the division,
and is in a tight battle with a cluster of teams for the wildcard.
Biggest
Surprise: Albert Jose likely to establish career bests in wins,
ERA and WHIP.
Biggest
Disappointment: Brooks had hoped Matty Simmons could slide into
the set up role.
Las
Vegas Bookies
Current:
9 Last: 10
Big
Picture: Battling teams on all sides. In a tight race with
Honolulu for the division, and could still earn a bye if they can
catch them.
Biggest
Surprise: Felix Wagner breaking out big time, eclipsing last
season's highs in every offensive category, including 117 runs
scored.
Biggest
Disappointment: Was expecting Jamie Reed to take the next step
in the bullpen.
Detroit
Chippewas
Current:
10 Last: 8
Big
Picture: Best case scenario is catching Cincy and earning a bye.
Worst case is that miss out on a spot entirely, but do have a slight
edge against the other wildcard hopefuls.
Biggest
Surprise: Wilin Aparicio has played a vital role in the back
of the bullpen.
Biggest
Disappointment: After last season's 40 HR, 99 RBI breakout,
catcher Brandon Cunningham is struggling to maintain a .700 OPS.
Colorado
Surf Riders III
Current:
11 Last: 4
Big
Picture: The thin air has done a job on the pitching staff, but
they are very much still in the mix for a playoff spot.
Biggest
Surprise: After posting an ERA near 8 last season, Trevor Bonilla has been key at the back of the bullpen.
Biggest
Disappointment: Junior Chong is around for his defense, but
he's hitting more than 30 points below his career average right now.
Iowa
City Johnsons
Current:
12 Last: 12
Big
Picture: Too many cold stretches have all but eliminated a shot
at the division, but are in the hunt for a wildcard.
Biggest
Surprise: He didn't come in with high expectations, so I'm sure
they must be thrilled with an .800+ OPS from Bobby Walsh.
Biggest
Disappointment: After back-to-back strong seasons at the plate,
Wallace Herrera has seemed to disappear into those cornfields ala
Moonlight Graham.
Washington
D.C. Senators
Current:
13 Last: 9
Big
Picture: Has pulled away in the division, but will be a long shot
to earn a bye.
Biggest
Surprise: Toby Stanton having a career year, and will establish
career highs in BA, homers, and doubles.
Biggest
Disappointment: I bet the hope was that second-year man Felipe Pirela would produce more.
Tacoma
Tornadoes
Current:
14 Last: 20
Big
Picture: A recent slump has knocked them behind several teams
for the wildcard, but they have the goods to pull it off.
Biggest
Surprise: Garabez Del Rosario's time was coming, but we didn't
figure it'd be this soon.
Biggest
Disappointment: It made sense that Jolbert Seanz went down with an
elbow injury, as he just wasn't himself this season.
Fargo
Marlboro Men
Current:
15 Last: 22
Big
Picture: Strong play down the stretch has not only made them
frontrunners for a wildcard, but also thrust them into the mix for
the division.
Biggest
Surprise: Rookie Hayes O'Brien has far exceeded offensive
production expectations.
Biggest
Disappointment: Oswaldo Flores will establish career lows is
almost all offensive categories.
Charlotte
Charlatans
Current:
16 Last: 21
Big
Picture: After winning 92 games last year, they'll be fortunate
to finish at .500, but they still have a slim lead for the division.
Biggest
Surprise: Starter Kosuke Sakamoto has progressed each season, but
he's now taken it to new heights.
Biggest
Disappointment: After hitting .309 last season, Dave Haren is at
.232.
Texas
Wildcats
Current:
17 Last: 14
Big
Picture: Solid season has put them in the playoff hunt, but
there may be too many teams to leapfrog.
Biggest
Surprise: Rookie catcher Ender Crespo has raked to a .940 OPS.
Biggest
Disappointment: After Walt Phillips hit .307 last season, they
were banking on at least decent production.
Tampa
Bay Don Cesars
Current:
18 Last: 18
Big
Picture: Recent stretch of strong play has made them relevant,
but may be too little, too late.
Biggest
Surprise: Many thought Farmer Torres was done, but he's converted
30 of 32 save chances.
Biggest
Disappointment: Although he's turned it on recently, Pablo Figureoa still has 15 losses.
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Current:
19 Last: 16
Big
Picture: They were one of the hottest teams in the league around
the break and were in the hunt, but they have too much of a hill to
climb at this point.
Biggest
Surprise: Stu McCurry has finally faded into the sunset, but he
was a key contributor during their run.
Biggest
Disappointment: Hanley Everidge had been a key member of the
bullpen, but he's had a rough go of it.
Pittsburgh
Appalachians
Current:
20 Last: 19
Big
Picture: There were whispers of playoff hopes well into the
second half, but they now must wait for next year.
Biggest
Surprise: Brett Johnson has saved 20 games while posting a good
WHIP and ERA.
Biggest
Disappointment: They knew he could pick it, but Pitt needed at
least a little pop from newcomer John Koh.
Scranton
Rail Riders
Current:
21 Last: 13
Big
Picture: Just couldn't keep pace with Burlington and Montreal.
Biggest
Disappointment: After hitting a combined .280 the last two
seasons, Souta Sung is hitting .215 this year.
Anaheim
Arte Morenos
Current:
22 Last: 24
Big
Picture: Too many strong teams in front of them, but they'll
easily eclipse their win totals from each of the past two years.
Biggest
Surprise: Edgmir Ramirez has been lights out in a supporting
role in the 'pen.
Biggest
Disappointment: Steve Snow had a 40/40 season and a 30/30 season
in each of the past two seasons. Arte was banking on more than
20/20.
Jacksonville
Minutemen
Current:
23 Last: 17
Big
Picture: Starting completely from scratch, as most of the big
pieces are gone.
Biggest
Surprise: Danny McMichael having his most productive season.
Biggest
Disappointment: After the two best seasons of his career, we
thought Sandy DaVanon had turned the corner.
Durham
Bulls
Current:
24 Last: 23
Big
Picture: About a .500 team after their 0-10 start, so the
turnaround should happen soon.
Biggest
Surprise: James Nelson providing some speed, and establishing
himself as a decent run producer.
Biggest
Disappointment: Doug Shannon in danger of finishing the season
with an OPS under .700.
Toledo
Mud Hens
Current:
25 Last: 26
Big
Picture: Running hot and cold, but has a legit shot at the
division title.
Biggest
Surprise: Career high already in wins for Renyel Estrada.
Biggest
Disappointment: A drop off in production for the 35 year old Otis Sparks was expected, but he has not produced at all.
Trenton
Thunder
Current:
26 Last: 27
Big
Picture: Staying competitive while going through a rare rebuild.
Biggest
Surprise: After serving as a swing man for the past few seasons,
Skip Roundtree has exceeded expectations as a member of the rotation.
Biggest
Disappointment: Newcomer Chris McKnight has an OPS under .700,
and is getting caught on the bases as well.
Syracuse
Barking Spiders
Current:
27 Last: 25
Big
Picture: Investing their funds in acquiring players for the
future.
Biggest
Surprise: We knew rookie Shannon “Don't Call Me Kate” Gosling would be good, but probably not this good. Sky's the limit.
Biggest
Disappointment: We probably expected a little more from Steve Lennon.
New
York Blues
Current:
28 Last: 30
Big
Picture: Getting the young talent ready for the future.
Biggest
Surprise: Wildthing Ignacio Valdes staying in control out of the
bullpen.
Biggest
Disappointment: After signing a big contract after his career
year season 37, Sandy Perez has neither hit nor fielded well.
San
Francisco Lockdown
Current:
29 Last: 29
Big
Picture: Waiting for continued minor league success to graduate
to the big team.
Biggest
Surprise: Rookie catcher Rolando Jacquez has burst onto the
scene with his 22 bombs in spacious San Fran.
Biggest
Disappointment: The hope was that starter Gary Hamilton would
build upon his successful season 37.
San
Jose Sea Slugs
Current:
30 Last: 28
Big
Picture: The franchise has been in the playoff mix for forever,
but the much needed rebuild is in full effect.
Biggest
Surprise: Career under-achiever Kane Brown has been lights out
coming out of the 'pen.
Biggest
Disappointment: Former MVP Gerald Hull has been in decline for
awhile, but it's tough to see him with an OPS below .700.
New
York Bombers
Current:
31 Last: 31
Big
Picture: Will be looking to become relevant at the big league
level in the near future.
Biggest
Surprise: Rule 5 guy Pete Murphy has proven to be an effective ML
reliever.
Biggest
Disappointment: If you're going to sacrifice defense at 2B, you'd
hope Caleb Cowgill would give you even a little production at the
plate.
Chicago
Blagos
Current:
32 Last: 32
Big
Picture: Lots of young talent to build upon.
Biggest
Surprise: Jerry Winchester is having his best season so far.
Biggest
Disappointment: Ross Rogers seemed to be a good fit for Wrigley,
but hasn't produced as expected.
