NL EAST
HALFTIME REPORT

Niskayana
sits it the catbird seat with a five game lead over Ruppert and seven over
Kitsilano.  The MicroMets are an
amazing 25-10 in one run games, living life on the edge.  With a league average offense it's
pitching driving the Mets.  They
have the second best ERA in the league.
Ruppert meanwhile is scoring runs at over 5 per game and hopes to power
it's way to the division title.

Kitsilano
is playing Jeckyll and Hyde with the leagues best pitching and it's worst
offense.  Making up seven games may
be a tall order.  Cleveland at 10
back will need a miracle finish to get in the race and Colorado and Gross
Pointe are out of it.

Second
half outlook-Looks like Niskayuna and Ruppert will battle it out unless
Kitsilano has a lot of offensive overacheivers in the second half.  If Ruppert continues to hit like the
first half and improves the pitching up a notch they could grab the title.  Niskayuna has to keep winning the close
games and their pitching must maintain first half levels.  Cleveland, Colorado and Grosse Pointe
look to  be out of it.

NISKAYUNA

TOP
BATTER-Hal Morris, 4-41-.336

TOP
PITCHER-Ramon Martinez, 12-4, 2.54, leads NL in wins

TOP
SURPRISE-Mike Devereaux, 63 points above real average and on pace to slam 21
homers after hitting only 12 in the real deal.

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Steve Sax, hitting terribly but he isn't making a ton of errors.

OVERUSEAGE
PROBLEMS-Top hitter Morris only has 74 more at bats.  Tartabull and Gibson will have to cut
back slightly.

RUPPERT

TOP
BATTER-Ryne Sandberg, 29-72-.318, .019 shy of triple crown

TOP
PITCHER-Zane Smith, 9-5, 3.14

TOP
SURPRISE-Edgar Martinez, even better than advertised

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Bob Welch, stud is third best starter

OVERUSAGE
PROBLEMS-Van Slyke, Martinez will all have to be watched as well as pitchers
Acker and Mercker.

KITSILANO

TOP
BATTER-Brett Butler, 0-15-.273, 55 runs, 16 steals

TOP
PITCHER-Doug Drabek, 10-7, 2.23

TOP SURPRISE-Chuck
Crim, pitching like a stud closer

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Gerald Perry, not that a lot was expected, but he's hitting like
a pitcher

OVERUSAGE
PROBLEMS-Wally Backman will have to sit more, but everyone else looks good.

CLEVELAND

TOP
BATTER-Tom Brunansky, 14-54-.307

TOP
PITCHER-Mark Williamson, 4-2, 0.95, doing great job as closer

TOP
SURPRISE-Brunansky, playing well above real life level

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Kevin Elster, it's bad when he can't even hit his own weight

OVERUSAGE
PROBLEMS-Larry Walker and Williamson will have to be rationed.

COLORADO

TOP
BATTER-Jose Canseco, 22-59-.264

TOP
PITCHER-Dan Petry, 7-2, 2.11

TOP
SURPRISE-Craig Biggio, hitting 52 points above real life.

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Raffy Palmiero needs good second half to match real life effort.

OVERUSAGE
PROBLEMS-Mack, Sheet, Jacoby, Samuel will have to scale back.

GROSSE
POINTE

TOP
BATTER-Rickey Henderson, 8-33-.296, 47 runs, 22 SB

TOP
PITCHER-John Tudor, 6-3, 3.61

TOP
SURPRISE-Gary Gaetti, all offensive indicators above normal

TOP
DISAPPOINTMENT-Kent Hrbek, power is sorely missed in lineup.

OVERUSAGE
PROBLEMS-Melvin, Ray, Jackson will need monitoring