Mid-Season Spectacular

Jason Michael Barker

Don't worry, that's not some new-fangled name for the Mid-Summer Classic. What it is, however, is a look back at the first half of the major league season - the highs and lows, the surprising and not so surprising, the good and the bad, and of course, the ugly (Bud Selig need not apply). Without further ado, baseball's mid-season marks.

Dark Horses

Nobody seems quite sure how they're doing it (I'll hazard a guess later), but the Boston Red Sox (55-33) have the second-best record in the American League and seem well on their way to a Wild Card berth. They've won all season, despite having no second baseman (Mike Benjamin's .321 average is empty, thanks to just five walks), a struggling 3B John Valentin, SS Nomar Garciaparra's stint on the DL, and a starting rotation which includes Bret Saberhagen, Steve Avery, and a rushed Brian Rose. What they do have are solid contributions from the likes of OFs Darren Bragg and Darren Lewis, C Scott Hatteberg, and DH Reggie Jefferson, as well as an excellent bullpen. Over 184.1 relief innings Rich Garces, Jim Corsi, Ron Mahay, Tom Gordon, Carlos Reyes, and Derek Lowe have combined for 9 wins, 27 saves, and a 2.49 ERA. That's some kind of pen.

In the Senior Circuit, the surprise has to be the San Diego Padres (57-31). Even the most optimistic of predictions only had the Padres as the NL Wild Card team, while some publications picked them fourth in their own division. San Diego has gotten excellent starting pitching from All-Stars Andy Ashby (11-5, 2.54), and Kevin Brown (10-3, 2.67) as well as solid innings from Sterling Hitchcock (4-2, 3.80) and Mark Langston (3-1, 3.78) to go along with closer Trevor Hoffman (3-0, 25 saves, 1.91). Add a lineup which includes RF Tony Gywnn (.381 OBP) , LF Greg Vaughn (1.036 OPS, 30 HR), 1B Wally Joyner (.393 OBP), 3B Ken Caminiti (.887 OPS), and 2B/lead-off man Quilvio Veras (.398 OBP) , and you've got a fine ballclub. The surprise here isn't that the Padres are winning, it's that they've got the second-best record in the NL. Don't be surprised if they knock off the Braves in the NLCS.

Lame Horses

At 37-51 after preseason World Series aspirations, the Seattle Mariners are the AL's biggest bust this season, if not this decade. Despite a terrific offensive squad including CF Ken Griffey Jr. (1.060 OPS, 35 HR), SS Alex Rodriguez (.940, 27), DH Edgar Martinez (.938, 15) and 1B David Segui (.927, 15) the Mariners just aren't winning. They've been done in by both pitching (5.11 team ERA, 106 HRs allowed, both 12th in the AL) and defense. What's worse, they've a team with no direction, no leadership, and a lousy GM-manager team in Woody Woodward and Lou Piniella.

Much like the Mariners, the Los Angeles Dodgers (43-44) have yet to live up to preseason expectations. They appeared to be sluggish and just going through the motions at the beginning of the season, and neither a blockbuster trade nor firing their manager has seemed to help. A team this talented should be more than just a .500 team, but so far the Dodgers haven't been able to put it together. And with new GM Tommy Lasorda calling the shots, it doesn't seem likely they will any time soon.

Mondo Managers

If your team reaches the All-Star break with the best first-half record in baseball history, you'd better at least get some consideration here. Joe Torre has led the Yankees to a 61-20 record despite injuries to SS Derek Jeter, CF Bernie Williams and closer Mariano Rivera, early-season struggles of starters Andy Pettitte, David Wells and David Cone, and a less than stellar bullpen. Torre must be doing something right, and so far it's resulted in the best record in baseball. Honorable Mention: Art Howe, Oakland.

Speaking of doing something right, San Diego's Bruce Bochy has his club poised to win their second NL West crown in three years. Remember that just five seasons ago the Padres lost 101 games, and they were well on their way to 100 losses in 1994 before the strike cut the season short. Bochy took over the team in 1995, and he's turned a last-place club into a World Series contender in a remarkably short time. It's about time he starts getting some credit outside the San Diego area.

Regal Rookies

Oakland's Ben Grieve would run away with the Rookie of the Year voting if it were held today, and deservedly so. What he's done this season has been remarkable for any rookie, let alone one who's 22 years old. As if his .916 OPS weren't enough, he's also walked 47 times in 84 games, and he's Oakland's representative at the All-Star Game. The A's have a good young core, and it all begins with Grieve.

The ROY chase in the NL isn't so clear, but right now the leader is Chicago Cubs' flame-thrower Kerry Wood. In 93.1 innings this season, he's struck out 139 batters while allowing only 63 hits, and held opposing hitters to a .190 batting average. His youth makes his numbers all the more impressive. He can be downright dominating, as he was on May 6 when he threw a 20-strikeout, complete game one-hitter against the Astros in Wrigley Field. He's a big reason the Cubs are in the Wild Card chase this year.

Cy Young Cinches

Many thought he wouldn't be as dominating in the AL as he was in the NL, but Boston's Pedro Martinez has had one heck of a year. No, his numbers haven't been as good, but he's been just as impressive. He's started 18 games, winning 11, and the Red Sox staff would be in serious trouble without him. In 125.1 innings, he's struck out 142 hitters, while walking just 34. Opposing batters are hitting just .216 against him, and he always gets off to a good start - he hasn't allowed a run in the first inning all season. He also should have started the All-Star game, but that's for another time.

Greg Maddux - another year, another Cy. They really should just give him the award before the season starts, and save other pitchers the disappointment of not winning it. I could give you all sorts of statistics, but the one I like the best is his 117:15 K to BB ratio. Control like that only comes along once in 50 years, and Maddux puts up those kind of numbers every year.

MVPs 'R' Us

RBI be damned; I'm sticking with Cleveland's Jim Thome. He does the one thing Juan Gonzalez doesn't, namely drawing a ton of walks. His 62 walks in 83 games translate to a .435 OBP, and you've got to respect that. For comparison, Gonzo's OBP is .332. Incidentally, Thome has the edge in OPS by a large margin as well, 1.090 to .920. Hopefully his strong showing in the Home Run Derby will get him some of the media respect he deserves, having been in Frank Thomas' shadow his whole career.

Mark McGwire didn't have a strong showing in the Derby (it's not as if he needs any more coverage), but he's still my NL first-half MVP. With all of their pitching problems (primarily injuries to Matt Morris and Alan Benes), where would the Cardinals be without Big Mac? Everybody knows about the 37 home runs, but what impresses me are the 88 walks and subsequent .483 OBP. That's right, he gets on base nearly 50 percent of the time. Wow. His 37 dingers are all the more impressive when you consider that they've come in only 268 at-bats. Griffey's 35 have come in 345 at-bats, Sosa's 33 in 333. Double wow.

Jason Michael Barker had planned on not showing up for this article, but he reconsidered when he heard the fans' boos. It would break his heart if you told him the fans would have booed regardless, but someone's going to have to break the news to him eventually at jmb@strikethree.com.