Richard Castle - contributing reporter
Cincinnati haters continue to hate, as the team continues to be the top rated in the league. Going from last to first with the change of owners. Atlanta must have read the blog as they've come on strong this 1/4 of the season since our last update. We are not at the mid-way point of the year with teams making final decisions on being buyers or sellers. By record after game 80/81, here are the top 5 records:
- 61-21
- Cincinnati Reds (NL-E)
- 59-23
- Atlanta (AL-E)
- 57-25
- Houston (AL-S)
- 53-29
- Helena (AL-W)
- 51-30
- Santa Fe (NL-S)
In the AL, Minnesota, Dover, and Philadelphia are still in a tight race for the division; even if once again the winner will have a losing record. To no surprise, Atlanta has already ran away with the East and once again should already be resting players for their playoff run - 17 game lead. Similar with Houston, no matter how hard Huntington tries; they still trail by double digit games. Colorado Springs is doing their best as they come out of a rebuild but are 6 games out of Helena who have owned the division the last 3 seasons. The wildcard is looking like Huntington and Colorado Springs with Augusta not too far behind.
For the NL, Tacoma seems to have slipped a bit from last year's run but are still holding onto the division crown by 6 games. Cincinnati nearly has a 20 game lead on the division and should likely be rest players at some point too. While many thought Santa Fe might lose the division because the owner was replaced after FA, they hold an 8 game lead and the 5th best record in league, second best in the NL. The West was all over the place, but lately OKC is starting to pull away; which means this will jinx them. Wildcard is looking like either Charleston, Austin, or Washington DC. New Orleans needs to step it up a bit, as they risk not getting to 55 games per our last report.
- .712 - Cincinnati Reds (NL-E Champ)
- .688 - Atlanta Expos (AL-E Champ)
- .649 - Houston Space Cowboys (AL-S Champ)
- .574 - Helena Hot Dogs (AL-W Champ)
- .596 - Huntington Tropics (AL Wildcard 2)
- .586 - Tacoma Aroma (NL-N Champ)
- .577 - Santa Fe Surf Riders VIII (NL-S Champ)
- .552 - Montreal Fighting Poutine Plates
- .547 - Augusta Alcoholics
- .539 - Austin Son's of Odin (NL Wildcard 2)
- .526 - Colorado Springs From My Loins (AL Wildcard 2)
- .511 - Boston Mass Hysteria
- .501 - Minnesota North Stars (AL-N Champ)
- .495 - Washington DC Nationals
- .495 - Tucson Toros
- .491 - Salem Bourbon Makers
- .490 - Oklahoma City Barons (NL-W Champ)
- .489 - Anaheim Diablos
- .480 - Columbus Corgis
- .460 - Buffalo Bisons
- .460 - Philadelphia Harpers
- .459 - Jacksonville Lizard Kings
- .450 - Charleston Offspring (NL Wildcard 1)
- .449 - Vancouver Canucks
- .441 - New York Empire
- .434 - Hartford Rising Stars
- .422 - Scottsdale Sazeracs
- .402 - New Orleans Hurricane Dodgers
- .398 - Dover Hazmats
- .388 - Mexico City Staring Frogs
- .380 - Fargo Snowmen
- .344 - Chicago Gunslingers