Week Nineteen (July 15, 2002)  

Zane Smith is away for this week. This week's guest columnist is Maine Lobster and Austin Outlaw, Mel Hall.

Tijuana - Do You Wanna?

The Tijuana Banditos moved into fifth place in the overall standings and retained their third place rank in the Morris Division after a 5-1 week. The Banditos have been red hot lately, winning 16 of their last 21 games after losing 10 of 11 last month. The Vancouver Iron Fist held fast with a 5-2 week, staying in fourth place overall and second in the Morris Division. Over in the Hanover Division, the Hoboken Cutters went 5-2 to hold onto the top wild card slot. The Cutters ended the week on a five game win streak. On the other end of the spectrum, the Honolulu Sharks lost 7 of 8 this week and fell to the sixth wild card spot. The Sharks held a 2 1/2 game lead over their nearest competitor, the Wanaque Wolverines, who suffered a 3-5 week. The other top competitor, the Phoenix Dragons also had a poor showing this week, going a measley 2-5 on the week. The Columbia Rattlesnakes only managed a 3-4 record this week, falling 5 games off the pace for the final spot.

The Harrison Rats started the week out with a three game sweep of the Philadelphia Endzone Animals, but only won one more game the rest of the week to finish at an even 4-4. The Animals suffered a less kind fate, losing 6 and winning only two on the week. The sixth-place Carolina Mudcats remained in the wildcard race, winning four of seven games this week. The Mudcats face an uphill battle, but the way the competition is stacked up, a losing streak or a Mudcat winning streak could shake up the standings easily. Brooklyn had a winning week at 4-3, though the Bean Counters are far from being a playoff contender at this point. Also falling fast are the Mighty Men, who only managed one win this week as opposed to seven losses.

The Arkansas Golden Falcons became the first team to clinch a playoff spot and are only three wins or three Vancouver losses away from clinching a division title. Arkansas and Vancouver have taken turns taking the division crown since the league went to a two-division format in 1993. Arkansas has righted the ship this week and is on pace to tie Vancouver for the record for most wins in a season with 118. Meanwhile, in the other division, the Newark Sugar Bears also had a strong week at 5-1. The Sugar Bears are close to clinching a playoff spot and their magic number to clinch the Hanover Division is 12.

Thome Boy!

The Sugar Bear offense is a huge reason for their first-place standing in the Hanover Division and one of the top producers is Jim Thome. Thome has quietly put up MVP-caliber numbers: 49 HR, 124 RBI, 101 runs, 1.040 OPS, 111 BBs. The starting All-Star DH finally put together a week worthy of an Omaha Steaks Batter of the Week Award. Thome hit .375 (6-16) with 5 HR, driving in 9 runs and scoring 6, while compiling a 1.858 OPS. Teammate Manny Ramirez chimed in as well, hitting .350 with 2 HR and scoring 6 runs....Phoenix's Jason Tyner slapped together a .478 (11-23) week before hitting the shelf with an injury. Dragon teammates Jorge Posada (9-22) hit .409 on the week and Ichiro Suzuki also put together a solid week (.344, 11-32)...Wanaque's team combined to only hit .252 this week, but their bench wasn't to blame. Their five bench players (Bubba Trammell, Joe Girardi, Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Mark Loretta, and Mike Cameron) hit .344 (13-33).

Vancouver suffered through a rough three-game stretch, scoring only two runs and 14 hits in the three games. Jeff Bagwell and Moises Alou's homers helped to fuel a 12-run breakout game in Sunday's second game....Barry Bonds continued his hot hitting, smashing five more homers this week, taking a commanding lead in the home run race. Bonds (.310 AVG, 10 R, 8 RBI) is currently the leader in all three Triple Crown categories, which would make him the first to win the coveted prize. Bonds' teammate Phil Nevin drove in 10 RBIs this week, while batting .313...Harrison batters were hot for once, including Javy Lopez (.500 AVG, 7 RBI) and Fred McGriff (.450 AVG, HR, 4 runs). McGriff earned the full-time DH job after Chris Richard was given his walking papers last week. McGriff amassed more playing time than he would have this year, subbing in while teammates Gary Sheffield and Reggie Sanders were shelved with injuries early on....Hoboken's Juan Pierre stole the show this week with four stolen bases. Pierre hit .394 on the week...Tijuana's Vlad Guerrero (.435 AVG, 1.114 OPS, 5 RBI) and Bret Boone(.391, 2 HR, 8 RBI) continued their hot streaks this week and were joined by Sean Casey (.400 AVG, HR, 5 RBI) and Ramon Hernandez (.364 AVG, 6 RBI). The entire Tijuana team batted .320 on the week, with an .870 OPS....Carolina's Torii Hunter, fresh off the disabled list, wasted no time getting into the swing of things, hitting .429 (3-7) with a HR and four RBIs.

More hot hitters: Brooklyn's Scott Spiezio (.563 AVG, .750 SLG) and Ruben Sierra (.357 AVG, 4 HR, 7 runs, 9 RBI); Carolina's Rondell White (.360 AVG, .640 SLG, 2HR, 5 RBI); Columbia's Terrance Long (.385 AVG, HR, 8 RBI); Philly's Rafael Furcal (.387 AVG, 2 SBs) and Albert Pujols (.353 AVG, 5 R, 5 RBI).

He's Good, and We Ain't Lyon!

Everyone loves when a rookie makes the headlines. But no one expected it would be Vancouver's Brandon Lyon. Selected in the seventh round with the 97th overall pick, Lyon wasn't even expected to make the rotation, but he beat out Sean Lowe for the fifth spot. Two weeks ago, Lyon was named the R. Kelly Sex Tape Pitcher of the Week. This week, Lyon again is awarded the Pitcher of the Week Award. Lyon won both of his starts and gave up no runs in 15 1/3 innings, while striking out 8. Lyon outdueled Stanhope's Kerry Wood Sunday and pulled off a 1-0 victory over the Mighty Men. Billy Wagner, who saved Lyon's win Sunday said "Brandon's been working with [pitching coach] Buddy [Black] since the beginning of the year and we're now seeing what he's capable of." On the season, Lyon is 12-5, with a 3.92 ERA...Speaking of Wagner, the Vancouver closer had three saves in his three appearances this week....One pitcher who's turned his season around is Brooklyn's Dave Williams who went 2-0 this week with an 0.69 ERA in 13 innings. Williams started the season off 2-8, despite an ERA under 4.00, but a lack of run support gave the rookie only a 20% winning percentage. Williams has really started to pick it up lately, however, and has won four of his last five decisions and has improved his record to 6-9 on the year, while sporting a 3.21 ERA -- good enough for sixth in the league.

Arkansas pitchers continued to pitch incredibly well. Pedro Martinez remains unbeatable, going 2-0 this week with a 1.20 ERA. Pedro struck out 17 in 15 IP to improve his record to 16-2. Teammate Roger Clemens also was 2-0, despite a 4.15 ERA... Hoboken's Kevin Duckworth (1-0, 1.72, 12 K) won his 10th this week and Joel Pineiro also had a strong week (1-0, 2.84)... Tijuana's Steven Sparks (1-0, 1.04) has woken up from his slump and has nearly evened his record (10-11). Sparks has won his last three decisions and has five quality starts in his last six games...Rookie Bud Smith impressed with a 2-0, 3.00 week, while striking out 10 in 15 innings...More of this week's top starters: Honolulu's Mark Mulder (1-0, 2.25); Wanaque's Bartolo Colon (1-0, 0.00); Brooklyn's Odalis Perez (1-0, 1.54, 11 K); Carolina's Shawn Estes (1-0, 0.00); Columbia's Miguel Batista (1-0, 3.00) and Mark Buehrle (1-1, 3.60); Tijuana's Randy Wolf (1-0, 0.00); Newark's rotation of Darryl Kile (1-0, 1.50), John Burkett (1-1, 2.19), Randy Johnson (1-0, 2.57) and Eric Milton (1-0, 3.00); Philadelphia's A.J.Burnett (0-1, 1.35) and Chan Ho Park (1-0, 3.50, CG); Phoenix's Jason Bere (0.00, 6 IP, 7 K) fresh off the DL and Brian Tollberg (1-0, 2.35); and Stanhope's Kerry Wood (0-1, 2.13, 13 K).

Arkansas' Octavio Dotel was busy this week, appearing in six games and saving one, while allowing no runs in 8 1/3 innings. Dotel had 12 strikeouts as well...Phoenix's Jose Cabrera went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three appearances...Vancouver's Jeff Zimmerman picked up a save this week in three appearances, while sporting a 0.00 ERA...Kyle Farnsworth (1-1, 2.25, 3 G) of Stanhope picked up Stanhope's only win of the week...Philly's Jose Mesa picked up a loss, but only gave up one run in six innings for a 1.50 ERA...Newark's Keith Foulke saved a couple of games this week (6 2/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 5 K)...Honolulu's Danny Graves and Ray King each appeared in four games and gave up no earned runs in a combined 9 1/3 IP...Hoboken's Jason Isringhausen (0.00 ERA, 2 SV) was solid....Carolina's pen picked up three of four wins this week, one each by Bob File, Flash Gordon, and Scott Strickland....Harrison's Ramiro Mendoza picked up two wins in six relief appearances (2.08 ERA, 13 IP, 11 K) and teammate Derrick Lowe saved 2 and won 1, while compiling a 1.69 ERA....Finally, Brooklyn's Robb Nen went 1-0, with a 0.00 ERA in three appearances.

Trading Fever

The Endzone Animals were the busiest team at the deadline, making two deals within the division.

The first deal sent third baseman Tony Batista and a fifth round pick to Tijuana for DMBL veteran Rafael Palmeiro. Although Palmeiro had planned to retire in Mexico, Tijuana GM Paul Barbosa decided it was time for a youth movement. "We love Raffy" said Barbosa, "but we have to think long-term."

Meanwhile, Vancouver made a swap for some relief help, acquiring David Weather in exchange for a seventh round pick. Weathers was having an outstanding season, compiling 2.27 ERA in 79 1/3 innings along with two saves.

Trading Places

Today marks the trading deadline and there were several moves made as teams either reload for the playoffs or restock for next year.

Harrison cleaned house Wednesday, cutting bait on Nate Cornejo, Luke Prokopec, Chris Richard, Matt Williams, and Mitch Meluskey in favor of David Bell, Jose Vizcaino, Alex Gonzalez, Roberto Hernandez and Billy Koch. Hoboken cut backup catcher Brook Fordyce and picked up lefty reliever Mark Guthrie.

Madness in the air

Something was in the air as several players lost their marbles this week. Columbia's Luis Castillo was so enraged when teammate Frank Castillo finished his box of Cocoa Puffs™, that he burned his hand on a toaster while trying to throw it at the pitcher. "Damn that bastard -- first he takes my name, then he takes my breakfast!" said the enraged Castillo.... Brooklyn's Ben Davis lost it when a heckler said he was "a bad player". "There's just no excuse for that kind of language" said Davis through his tears. Davis will take the next two weeks off to gather his wits back after the incident emotionally scarred him... Arkansas' Ben Molina thought it would be a good idea to get a pet monkey, but the little critter proved to be his undoing. Molina twisted his ankle while trying to chase the pet in his apartment... Jason Tyner of Phoenix threw a fit in the team clubhouse when he read an article in the local papers that said his bobble-head doll day was cancelled. "Those bastards can't take away my bobble-[expletive]-head day from me!" said Tyner while throwing bats and equipment around the clubhouse. "Even [expletive]Brian Tollberg got a [expletive] bobblehead!" While Tollberg was unsure what he did to provoke the mention, the team is waiting for Tyner to calm down until he returns to the lineup....Hoboken's Tino Martinez was taken prisoner in a paintball game that went too far. The team says they will let him go after they get Tino to admit that he cheated by using illegal paint.

Wanaque's Richard Hidalgo saw a fan holding a sign that said "Hidalgo for President" in the stands and thought it might be a good idea to run, so he will miss the next two weeks organizing his campaign...Arkansas' Roger Clemens thought that his pitch count was getting too high, so he told management he was going to use his two weeks vacation now. Arkansas general manager Stump Matiash was, well, stumped. "I didn't know we gave our players vacation time" said the perplexed GM....More weirdness in Wanaque: third baseman Jeff Cirillo burned his hand while changing a lightbulb in his house. "It was too bright so I wanted to go for a dimmer one" said Cirillo, "I guess I should have turned it off first, though."

TWIB may have Ozzie Smith, but we have the better Smith! Zane Smith, former pitcher for the San Antonio Slingers and Sacramento Seahawks, now writes this column exclusively for the Diamond Mind Baseball League. Click Here for past articles.