Week 21-22 - Aug. 16-23, 2004  

This Week In The DMBL took an unexpected one-week hiatus last week after Zane Smith attempted an impromptu comeback with the Independent League Pennsylvania Road Warriors. But Smith was shellacked for 8 hits, 3 walks and 5 earned runs without retiring a batter before his manager mercifully yanked him. But the Road Warriors' loss is our gain, as Zane has again put down his glove and picked up his pen for a special two-week edition of This Week.

A Double Dip

It was a great two weeks for the Carolina Mudcats, who went 10-2 to jump from third-place overall to the best record in baseball, 38 games over .500. The 'Cats have locked up a playoff spot -- in fact, they're guaranteed of finishing no lower than the 5th seed. The Arkansas Golden Falcons, who had been tied with the 'Cats for the Morris Division lead, fell 1½ games back after going 10-5... The Newark Sugar Bears continue to stumble toward the finish line, going 7-6 over the two weeks to slip from 1st-place overall to 3rd, just a game ahead of the Stanhope Mighty Men, who remained red-hot by going 10-5. The Golden Falcons, Sugar Bears and Mighty Men have all clinched playoff berths, but the final order is still up for grabs... In 5th place overall, the Columbia Rattlesnakes went 7-5 and are eyeing a Magic Number of 9 to clinch their first-ever playoff appearance.

It's still a horse race for the sixth and final playoff spot, after the Honolulu Sharks fell three games under .500 with a 6-8 performance. But the 7th-place Vancouver Iron Fist failed to take advantage, actually losing a game in the standings to fall 2½ games out after going 5-9 over the two weeks. The dark horse team with the most momentum heading into the last two weeks of the season is the Philadelphia Endzone Animals, who climbed to within 3 games of the post-season after going 8-6. They've won 13 out of 22 games over the last three weeks... The Tijuana Banditos slipped a notch in the standings after going 6-8, but they're still within reach at 4 games out.

The Hillsborough Destroyers have been languishing at the bottom fo the season for most of the year, but they're now officially just playing out the string after being mathematically eliminated from the post-season this week. The Destroyers went a league-worst 2-10 to fall 33 games below .500... The lights aren't out, but it sure is getting dark, for the other four teams in the league. Forget about magic numbers; for these teams, we talk about "tragic numbers," the number of losses -- or wins by the 6th-place team -- needed to eliminate them. The next team to go will likely be the 13th-place Westwood Deductions, who are facing a tragic number of 3. But they can take solace in the fact that they went 7-7 over the last two weeks to open up a 4-game lead on the Destroyers to avoid the shame of finishing in last place overall... The Phoenix Dragons dropped a spot in the standings into 12th place after going 5-8, and have a TN of 7... The Hoboken Cutters had been flirting with a late run, but a 4-9 performance over the last two weeks has pretty much ruled that out. Their TN is 8... The team with the best chance of escaping the league basement are the 10th-place Harrison Rats, who climbed to within 6½ games of the playoffs after an 8-6 week. But they are tied with the Cutters in the loss column, and so are also eyeing a TN of 8. 

Sweet and Low(aiza)

Stanhope's acquisition of Esteban Loaiza was somewhat overshadowed by their subsequent trade, three days later, for former All-Star Mike Mussina. But while Mussina was very solid in his last three starts (1-1, 3.18 ERA, 9.5 R/9, 2 BB, 17 K in 22.2 IP), no one dominated the league like Loaiza did over this two-week stretch. Loaiza gave up just one earned run in 23.0 IP for a microscopic 0.39 ERA. He also allowed just 18 hits and 3 walks (8.2 R/9) while fanning 17 to win the HangARoo Pitcher of the Week Award. Loaiza, who went 8-6 with a 4.75 ERA, 14.0 R/9, in 22 starts with Philly, is 5-2 with a 2.68 ERA, 9.3 R/9 in eight starts with Stanhope. Oh, and by the way, Mussina also is off to a great start for the Mites: 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA, 9.8 R/9 in seven starts, compared to 9-8 with a 4.54, 12.1 in 23 starts with Hoboken.

Talk about throwing smoke: Philly's pitching staff struck out 127 men in 120.2 IP this week, including amazing performances from Mark Prior (2-0, 2.01 ERA, 9.3 R/9, 31 K in 22.1 IP) and Johan Santana (2-1, 2.89 ERA, 11.1 R/9, 24 K in 18.2 IP). The relievers also got in on the act, with Kyle Farnsworth striking out an amazing 14 batters in just 6.2 IP -- that's 14 strikeouts in 20 outs! Armando Benitez (6 K in 3.1 IP) and Francisco Rodriguez (13 K in 8.1 IP) also had "K" signs flapping in the Eagle's Nest Stadium.

Byung-Hyun Kim is among the league leaders in saves and relief points, but his shot at the Dennis Eckersley Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award may be in jeopardy as Arkansas manager George Brett has moved his closer into the starting rotation. Kim takes over for Roger Clemens (8-9, 4.33 ERA, 12.5 R/9), who has been shut down for a few days to get some extra rest before the post-season. Making three starts over the last two weeks, Kim was impressive in every category (2.28 ERA, 10.6 R/9, 3 BB, 12 K in 23.2 IP) except the important one -- wins. But the Golden Falcons are going to stick with the plan. "BK is OK," Arkansas pitching coach Bret Saberhagen assured the media. "This kid is going to be a big part of why the Golden Falcons are going to win the Morris Division, again, this season. Just you watch." In Kim's stead, the Golden Falcons have gone with a bullpen-by-committee, with four different relievers -- Octavio Dotel, Brad Lidge, Tom Martin and Scott Williamson -- all finishing games over the last two weeks.

Carolina's Tim Hudson (15-3, 2.02 ERA, 10.8 R/9) continues to rank among the favorites for the Ben McDonald Award after two more terrific starts over the last two weeks (1-0, 1 ER, 12 H, 2 BB, 6 K in 15.1 IP), and then there's the amazing season being turned in by Roy Halladay (17-5, 3.57 ERA, 10.0 R/9, 10 complete games), who won both his starts (2.25 ERA, 9.6 R/9). And even though he got roughed up a bit over these last two weeks (1-1, 4.95 ERA, 12.6 R/9 in 20.0 IP), Barry Zito (17-3, 3.71 ERA, 13.2 R/9) still has to figure in the balloting as well. Lost in the shuffle is sinkerballer Carlos Zambrano (11-11, 3.16 ERA, 11.0 R/9), who has quietly turned into one of the league's best young starters. Zambrano's mediocre record is largely due to a lack of support, from both his lineup (3.6 runs scored per start, lowest on the team) and his bullpen (.364 runners left who scored, highest on the team). These two weeks were no different, as Zambrano gave up no runs, 7 hits and just 2 walks (with 13 Ks) in two starts, but only picked up one win, as his teammates scored just two runs in each start for him. And now, with struggling veteran Ron Villone out of the rotation (4-11, 6.22 ERA, 15.4 R/9), the Mudcats can boast one of the league's deepest rotations with young No. 5 Jake Westbrook (4-0, 3.21 ERA, 11.6 R/9 in 7 starts), who also looked great in his two starts (2-0, 2.70 ERA, 10.8 R/9 in 13.1 IP).

Other top starters: Arkansas's Curt Schilling (3-0, 2.38 ERA, 10.7 R/9, 8 BB, 23 K in 22.2 IP); Honolulu's Jason Schmidt (2-1, 2.35 ERA, 9.4 R/9, 9 BB, 26 K in 23.0 IP); Newark's Eric DuBose (2-0, 2.30 ERA, 9.8 R/9, 3 BB, 11 K in 15.2 IP); Stanhope's Tim Wakefield (2-0, 1.84 ERA, 11.0 R/9, 2 BB, 13 K in 14.2 IP); and Vancouver's Brian Lawrence (3-0, 3.98 ERA, 13.7 R/9, 5 BB, 6 K in 20.1 IP).

Carolina's Rod Beck led the league in saves over the two weeks, going 5-for-5 in save opportunities. Despite not blowing a save, Beck also picked up a win and a loss as he pitched twice in ties... Harrison's bullpen was outstanding over the two week stretch, with Terry Adams, Matt Herges and Dave Veres combining to go 4-0 with 2 saves and 2 holds, allowing just 1 ER, 13 H, 6 BB and striking out 8 in 19.0 IP (0.47 ERA, 9.0 R/9). Other outstanding bullpen combinations: Newark's Keith Foulke (1-0, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 4.1 IP) and Felix Heredia (1 SV, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K in 4.0 IP); Stanhope's Mariano Rivera (3 SV, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K in 6.0 IP) and Paul Quantrill (1-0, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K in 6.2 IP); and Tijuana's Eric Gagne (1-0, 3 SV, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 11 K in 7.1 IP) and Guillermo Mota (2-0, 0 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 9 K in 10.1 IP).

Vidro Is My Hero

The Endzone Animals refuse to go gentle into that good night. Keeping Philly's flickering playoff hopes alive, the offense put up a fourth-best 72 runs this week, and leading the charge was Jose Vidro. The switch-hitting second baseman has been having a solid but not spectacular season (.278, .731 OPS), but the Animals still have enough time left in the season to grab that sixth seed if Vidro can keep hitting like he did over the last two weeks: .350 (21-60), with a 1.024 OPS, smashing five doubles and four homers, to score 13 runs and drive in 12 more, and he's currently riding the league's longest active hitting streak, at 12 games. Vidro was tied for the league lead in runs, extra base hits (9) and total bases (38), and finished among the league leaders in batting average, slugging percentage (.633), hits, runs, doubles, home runs and runs created (14.0) to win the OmahaSteaks.com Batter of the Week Award. Teammates Jose Guillen (.345, .866 OPS, 2 HR, 11 RBI), Vernon Wells (.328, .871 OPS, 3 HR, 12 RBI) and Albert Pujols (.263, .868 OPS, 4 HR, 13 RBI) were also en fuego.

Newark's Chipper Jones finished second to Vidro in the balloting, despite leading the league in OPS (1.313), runs created per 27 outs (19.2), total average (1.737), AB/HR (7.5) and slugging percentage (.800), and ranking second in OBP (.513) and isolated power (.433). Jones, who hit .367 with 4 HR, 8 R, 6 RBI and 8 BB, conceded Vidro probably deserved the two-work portion of steaks because he plays the more demanding defensive position of second base. "OK, but next year, I am definitely going to be going back to third base," Chipper promised... Teammates Bobby Abreu (.343, 1.068 OPS, 3 HR, 11 R) and Manny Ramirez (.292, .814 OPS, 4 2B, 11 RBI) also had strong weeks as the Sugar Bears hope to stave off the surging Mighty Men and Gary Sheffield (.367, 1.206 OPS, 5 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI this week) as the two teams continue to battle right down to the wire.

This week's other top batters: Columbia's Trot Nixon (.323, 1.262 OPS, 4 HR, 9 RBI); Harrison's Carl Everett (.317, 1.188 OPS, 5 HR, 17 RBI) and Melvin Mora (.397, 1.108 OPS, 4 HR, 13 R);  Hillsborough's Carlos Delgado (.355, 1.201 OPS, 2 HR, 5 RBI); Tijuana's Hank Blalock (.440, 1.183 OPS, 4 HR, 13 RBI) and Vlad Guerrero (.345, .997 OPS, 4 HR, 12 RBI); Vancouver's Sammy Sosa (.320, 1.102 OPS, 6 HR, 13 R, 16 RBI); and Westwood's Corey Koskie (.326, 1.023 OPS, 6 2B, 13 R). 

Barry Quits... Again

Barry Bonds has called it a career. Yeah, again. After being coaxed back onto the field for the stretch run, Bonds abruptly decided -- after just 13 more plate appearances -- to hang 'em up. "Maybe I'll come back for the playoffs, I don't know," Bonds said. "Ask me in a couple weeks. You know how most players don't like Spring Training? Well, when you're on the Golden Falcons and have gone to five out of the last six World Serieses, the regular season is one big Spring Training. Wake me up for the Big Dance, man. Leave the last two weeks of the season to scrubs like Craig Monroe." Bonds said he will spend the rest of the regular season finishing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Meanwhile, Jeff Reboulet, president of the Society for the Continually Reserved, Unused and Benched, said the league's back-up players object to Bonds's use of the term "scrub," which SCRUB considers a derogatory term.

And while it's true that the Golden Falcons have officially clinched a playoff spot for the record-setting 12th straight year, it's still a dogfight among the 6th place Sharks and the 7th place Iron Fist, separated by 2½ games in the standings with two weeks to go. The two teams both sat down a veteran -- Vancouver's Craig Biggio and Honolulu's Jason Kendall -- will be held out of a few games to rest up for the final week of the season.

But what have you done for us lately? Newark activated Marcus Giles and cut Scott Spiezio, despite the fact that Spiezio hit .367 (.944 OPS, 4 2B, 4 R, 4 RBI) during Giles's absence. And if that seems ungrateful, how about Westwood, who activated Matt Stairs and released Frank Catalanotto -- even though the Little Cat hit .438 (1.080 OPS, 2 HR, 5 R, 5 RBI) in 32 AB while filling in for Stairs, including an active 8-game hitting streak.

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.