Hot Fuzz: A
Overview: Even with a loss to PJ & the Ladies, I must give this team an A. At 9-1, they're currently the front runner (by two games) for that all-important automatic finals berth. If you follow SBL history, you would know that the team who has earned the automatic berth has gone on to win the championship each of the three years since its inception in 2004.
Positives: Winning nine of your first ten games should be enough of a positive. If not, look at Bryan Frankovich's stats. He is at or near the top of the league in almost every category again this year. Look at the improvement of Pat Nespor and Mike Frankovich from last year (if only there were more than just three singles...). Look away from the stat sheet and look at the stud the KY-Connection brought to the league in Gavin St. John. And I must mention that they swept the season series from the rival Nappy Headed Ho's squad.
Negatives: While he's missed some time, Mikey Moroco hasn't quite got it going yet. Also, some can argue that they got lucky in some of their earlier close wins and that lady luck will not be so kind to them over the next two months.
Outlook: This team is not going 19-1, nor are they going 18-2, so get those thoughts ouf of your head right now. Mikey should pick up the pace a little bit, and Bryan Frankovich should be able to keep pace as to what he has been able to do thus far. I find it hard to believe that the other Frankovich and young Pat Nespor will be able to keep up with their current pace. That leaves Gavin St. John. Much of this team's success will depend on whether he really is that good, or if he simply got off to a great start. Will Bryan Frankovich finally be the bride instead of the bridesmaid? It's all up to his supporting cast.
Kathleen Turner Overdrive: B+
Overview: After a slow start, KTO has played well as of late, reaching the midway point of the season with a 7-3 record. Led by another brilliant season by Terry Shernisky, this team is certainly looking like a force and nobody should be surprised if they took home the left-eye in August.
Positives: As I stated above, Terry Shernisky is having a great season, leading the league in average in assists, while being second in homers, RBI, and double plays. Kip Corbett, save his 1-12 masterpiece in Week Four, is doing a nice job as captain. One must also take notice of Greg Lackey, who is having a fine season himself. This team could easily be undefeated, as all three losses were just by a single run.
Negatives: Does anybody see a lineup of Terry Shernisky, Greg Lackey, and Kip Corbett winning the SBL championship with all of the other stacked teams out there? They're really going to need Tony Mastrian to come more often. He's shown a lot of promise, but that means nothing unless he comes to one of the random Sharon/Hermitage/West Middlesex driveways we play in during the course of a season. Their schedule has been slightly easier than that of other teams, by virtue of being a National Conference team who has played six of its ten games against the American. And where are their shirts (and I don't mean the gay lime green tank tops that look ever so awkward on Greg Lackey)? Don't tell me they're going to have a cool name like Kathleen Turner Overdrive and not have awesome shirts to match! For shame.
Outlook: Kathleen Turner Overdrive should be in the running for that overall top seed and the coveted automatic finals berth. They are currently two games down, but conveniently have exactly two games left to play against Hot Fuzz. In addition to those two games, they play five more against teams at or above .500, giving this team one of the tougher second half schedules. If they can keep the pace that they're on and finish at 14-6, I would be impressed. For now, I'm going to say that they'll do just that and further establish themselves as a true contender.
Team Double Stuff: B-
Overview: Aryn Christman's first venture as an SBL captain is going decently enough so far. Her team reaches the midway point of the 2007 season at .500. I haven't payed a whole lot of attention to this team because nothing stands out. It's almost like an episode of Pee Wee's Playhouse, how they never seem to really be working towards getting anything done, yet somehow, someway, something useful seems to get accomplished by the end of the show. That's similar to how I feel when I watch this team play. Stuff happens, although I can't recall any of it, and somehow this team wins half of the time. The only thing I can think of happening during a Team Double Stuff game was Jon Biddle's near perfect game, which ended in the 9th, and even then, I damn near finished this column without being able to recall it.
Positives: Despite nobody on this roster having a breakout year, they sit at 5-5. Despite all of the negatives, which I am about to say, this team sits ahead of the Nappy Headed Ho's in the conference standings and the Sparkling Wiggles in the overall league standings (by virtue of head to head victories). They have the knack of getting victories they shouldn't, and who knows? They could gain some confidence from this and finish strong. And this just in: Aryn Christman is hot.
Negatives: They've been bitten by the poor attendence bug, and bitten by it bad. They are one of two teams who had to borrow another team's player in order to avoid the Will Williamson rule. Biddle, Ben, and Dank are nowhere to be found on most Sundays. Even when they show up, none of the three has performed well. Same goes for Aryn Christman. Her .510 average is nowhere near it needs to be.
Outlook: As much as a fan I am of Aryn Christman and "bacon foot" Jamie Fabian, I just don't see it happening for this team. I could be wrong, but the schedule gets tougher and I can't bring myself to say that they will finish at or above .500. They still make the playoffs, and anything can happen there, but I would be surprised if they advanced far.
The Nappy Headed Ho's: C
Overview: Ben Smith returns to action this weekend, finding his team at 5-5 and in last place in the National Conference, hardly where he expected this team to be at this point in the season. This team appears to be playing much below where it should be, and the main culprit appears to be (surprise!) attendence. Luckily, they're still in the hunt for a playoff bye and even have an outside chance at the number one overall seed if they can get hot in July.
Positives: Stud Frankovich has played in four games, four more than most people expected him to play in, and there's a good chance he'll play in more. Matt McClelland and Ben Smith are likely to be all-stars, and if you don't think so, I dare you to name six guys who are more deserving from the World. Even though, one would think morale is down for this team after losing five of its last six, their captain appears to be none too worried. They're still right in the playoff race with the toughest part of their schedule behind them. I must also commend Mac on his perfect attendence.
Negatives: When Mac said in last week's power rankings that the offense has been inconsistent at best, I thought that's exactly what this offense is. Have you noticed that they seem to play better in their second game than in their first most weeks? That's because they have used seven different lineups in ten games. Folks, that's a model of inefficiency. Not one person on this team has played as well as would be expected. Matt McClelland and Jamie Moroco should be hitting .100 higher. Ben Smith is only beginning to find the form of two years ago, which led him to a 2005 POTY nomination, but has a little ways to go. Ray Cataline must get his average to the plus side of .400. All of these offensive deficiencies can be attributed to the fact that since they haven't kept the same lineup for more than just a game or two and therefore, cannot seem to build much chemistry. Furthermore, they have twice used Will Williamson. That's not good, and I can't think of a season in which any other team has done that many times.
Outlook: The Ho's seem to want to bust out, and should find some more consistency in the coming weeks. If they don't, boy are they in trouble. I think, by the end of the year, you'll see some more Stud, Ray Cataline batting a little better and pitching in on D, Ben Smith drive in more runs and hit more homers like he's supposed to, and McClelland and Moroco will bring their averages closer to .600 where they belong. The easier schedule suggests that they will finish above .500. It's safe to say that they won't catch Hot Fuzz, but twelve wins and a playoff bye are not out of the question. Just don't hold your breath.