HALFTIME
REPORT FOR AL EAST

We've
got  a nice race out east in the AL
with only 6 games seperating the top four teams.  Quigley sits in familiar spot atop the
division having won the title the last three years.  Perennial runnerup Black Swamp is only 1
back, the surprising Colt All-Stars sit 2 back and Lake Superior is within
striking distance at 6 back.  The
pre-season forecast had the Q's and Salamanders 1-2 but Lafayette was pegged
for last in the division.  The
Whitecaps were pegged for fourth but with a losing record.

Second
half forecast-Quigley and Black Swamp are two of the top teams in the league
and their team pitching is 1-2.
Their head to head series could well determine the division.  Lafayette and Lake Superior's successes
have also been pitching based but both teams are overacheiving.  Nonetheless, if they can stay close in
July either team could stay in the race and push the Q's and Salamanders.  Birmingham and Carolina can start making
draft preparations.

QUIGLEY

TOP
PLAYER-Bobby Bonilla, 15-60-.261

TOP
PITCHER-Erik Hansen, 11-1, 2.72

TOP SURPRISE-Randy
Bush, although only a part-timer he's picked up some of the slack from Greg
Brocks underacheivment at 1B.

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Lou Whitaker, Big power drop off.  On pace to hit only 6 homers while
hitting 18 in real season.

KEY
OVERUSAGE-Catcher Brian Harper will have to rest more.

BLACK
SWAMP

TOP
PLAYER-Kevin Mitchell, 23-65-.325

TOP
PITCHER-Dave Stewart, 9-2, 1.86

TOP
SURPRISE-Kevin Mitchell, On pace to pass real life homers by 11.

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Mike Sciosa, no homers after belting 15 in real life.

KEY
OVERUSAGE-Jody Reed will sit a little more but he's been disappointing so far.

LAFAYETTE

TOP
PLAYER-George Bell, 14-58-.278

TOP
PITCHER-Greg Maddux, 16-2, 1.85

TOP
SURPRISE-Greg Maddux, Nobody expected this since this wasn't a vintage Maddux
year.

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-None

KEY
OVERUSAGE-George Bell will get about 80 fewer at bats in the second half.  Not what you want from your best hitter.

LAKE
SUPERIOR

TOP
PLAYER-Willie McGee, 2-20-.353, 59 runs, 17 SB

TOP
PITCHER-Melidio Perez, 10-5, 2.50

TOP
SURPRISE-Glenn Davis, On 30 homerun pace

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Jim Presley, Under the Mendoza Line and suffering power outage.

KEY
OVERUSAGE-Top pinch hitter Hector Villenueva has only 14 ab's left

BIRMINGHAM

TOP
PLAYER-Chris Sabo, 9-42-.260

TOP
PITCHER-Bud Black, 7-6, 3.94

TOP
SURPRISE-Walt Weiss, has matched most real life full time stats already.

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Candy Maldanado, where has all the power gone?

KEY
OVERUSAGE-Weiss, Don Mattingly and Jack Daugherty will all have to sit more.

CAROLINA

TOP
PLAYER-Tim Wallach, 16-67-.305

TOP
PITCHER-Kevin Brown, 4-3, 3.58

TOP
SURPRISE-Joe Carter is blasting righties and hitting 50 points higher than real
life.

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-This was Vince Coleman's best on base year and he's only at a
.313 clip and his steals are way down.

KEY
OVERUSAGE-Andy Van Slyke, Spike Owen and Edgar Martinez will all have to rest
more.