A Mystery Writer Publication SPECIAL 95 CHAMPIONSHIP $4 The EDITION! CIMA League Times Vol. VIII, No. 5 October 15, 2006 REDS #1! White Sox Upset Nats for Western Crown by Editor in Chief, The Mystery Writer The Reds Answer Their J Critics o s great as it was to win that first one, I think I’m enjoying this one even more. Our ’96 team set a points H “Arecord, but never got the kind of respect I thought we deserved. Winning again and joining five other owners who have won a more than one championship seems like a validation of our franchise’s competitiveness and our approach to winning,” said the Reds’ n very happy owner, David Brantlinger. In the end, the Reds overwhelmed all of their Eastern Division challengers, finishing Reds more than 400 points ahead of both the sec- ond-place Athletics and third-place Braves. JOHAN SANTANA... The Orioles and Marlins finished fourth and Santana was lights out in September. With Francisco Liriano out, Roy Halliday fifth, respectively, well out of contention. hurting, and Felix Hernandez stumbling a bit, it was Johan to the Red’s rescue. In The Reds’ competition for this year’s the season’s final 30 days, Santana won four games and contributed 157 points to championship came out of the West. Going the Reds’ cause. “Santana was huge for us down the stretch, and every man on this into the season, the Nationals (previously squad knows that this championship wouldn’t have been possible without Johan,” the Dodgers) were coming off back-to-back said Reds’ top kick, Dave Brantlinger. championships and were installed as the preseason favorite to win both the Western systematically rebuilding their franchise, the White Sox were looking like the biggest Division and a third straight CIMA League came out of the blocks fast. Their quick start, kid on the block with the Nationals the only championship. Early season injuries to allstar coupled with the Nationals’ misfortunes, team capable of upsetting the Sox’ run to a first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman gave White Sox management and their fans a Western Division title. Marcus Giles and right-handed flame-throw- reason to believe. As the separations began to occur, the er Rich Harden transformed the Nationals’ As we approached mid-May, a two-horse “haves” began searching the “have-nots” for season. The preseason favorites were in trou- race was emerging in each division. The East opportunities to improve. By the trading ble, and the newly installed management was was settling into a dogfight between the deadline, three of the four contenders had facing some tough decisions. front-running Athletics (the 2005 Eastern Meantime, the White Sox, who had been Division champs) and the Reds. In the West, see The Reds’ Answer, page 6 Western Division White Noise. What can you say? The Sox’ 7,667 points, while only good enough for the sec- ond spot this season, would have been enough to have won the championship last season. This is one very productive offense, with several tremendously gifted young starters. If the Sox can find a top-notch closer, they’ll certainly begin the 2007 season as a favorite to win the West and, like was true this year, a contender for the championship. Rumor has it that Joel Zumaya may just be the closer the Sox need. National Alert. The injuries to Lee and Harden were a shame and, absent those injuries, there’s no doubt that the Nationals’ season would have had a different ending. That said, those injuries and the Nats’ reaction to them caused the Nationals to get a whole lot older this year. The question facing the Nationals is whether, after examining their roster this off-season, they decide to reload or rebuild. From this writer’s perspective, I think they’re in for several lean years and rebuilding is the way to go. Prince Fielder came on strong during the second half of the season and should be ready for a break-out year in 2007. New York Times. Despite a number of very talented young ballplayers, this Yankee team is still a couple of years away from contention. That said, other than the Yanks themselves, how many of you knew that the Yankees had the most productive pitching in 2006? Well, they did. Still, their offense is anemic and must develop. I think Jose Reyes is the best offensive player in baseball— period. Filibuster. The Senators are better than they were, but they’re not nearly as good as they need to be. While the good news is certainly the pick-up in the 2006 draft of Papelbon, Santana, and league R.O.Y. Matt Holliday, the bad news is the move of Soriano to the outfield and Papelbon from the bullpen. Unless these switches aren’t made, the Senators have two big holes to fill on a team that already finished fourth in the West. Does Bubba Crosby have compromising pictures of Bill Kingsley…if not, what’s the obsession? Tiger Beat. As the Nats got older, the Tigers got younger. The 2007 Tiger franchise will be much improved and, if they can begin to get some big-league experience and production from Brandon Wood, Stephen Drew, and Delmon Young, they may be one of the league’s most-improved teams. While there is much to be happy about, the diagnosis of Jon Lester and the surgery on Pedro Martinez are tough blows to a team that needed every one of their players healthy and available to make a strong move next Brian McCann has emerged as one of the league’s best season. backstops. The CIMA League Times Eastern Division Red Square. What’s left to be said? The Reds won and deserved to win. Brantlinger has suffered, if not thousands, hundreds of words of criticism from this rag in the past and has earned our heartiest congratulations on his championship win. Can the Reds repeat? Certainly. Their championship this year is new evidence of an astrological discovery known as “Brantlinger’s Comet.” It is a bright red star that is observed every ten years. First sighted in 1996, next sighted this summer (2006) and, according to many astrologers and every living, breathing Wang, Sheets, Wood, and Baldelli for Suzuki? Huh??? baseball expert, not expected to be seen again until 2016. Jock Jive. The A’s played it smart this season. As desperate as they are to win their first league championship, when faced with adversity (injuries to Pujols and Oswalt), they stood firm rather than trade away talent in a mad effort to recover. The A’s go into next season much stronger than they entered this season. Over the summer, Justin Morneau has emerged as a top-tier producer, Dustin Pedroia has stamped his ticket in the Sox’ infield, Chuck James has emerged as one of the best young left-handed starters in The A’s seem to have gotten the best of the Marlins in the baseball, and Troy Tulowitzki has laid claim Beckett-for-Buehrle deal. But, the jury ordered din- to the shortstop position in Colorado. The A’s ner—stay tuned. are ready for a big rebound. Smoke Signals. While the Braves finished a disappointing third, they were just 22 points behind the A’s for the second spot in the East and can point to a number of very positive developments this season. Chief among them, the emergence of Eric Bedard as a quality power-pitching southpaw. While these types are not mandatory, most CIMA League champions have one—see Johan Santana and Randy Johnson. Next season, the Braves are hoping that Brad Lidge regains his confidence, Billy Butler finds his Only one starting pitcher outpointed John Smolz this way into the Royal lineup and the rest of these year—Johan Santana. Is that wild, or what? Kudos to Braves stay healthy. If that happens, you can’t Smolz. count this Braves team out. Bird Droppings. Like the A’s, the Orioles stood pat this season. Despite crippling in- juries to Mark Prior and Bartolo Colón, both slated as front-line pitchers on this Birds team and, despite the loss of both second basemen, Cantu and Kinsler, to injury, injuries to Shannon Stewart, Cliff Floyd, and Alex Rios, the Orioles never flinched. Rather, they watched Jeff Françouer, Ryan Zimmerman, Hanley Ramirez, and Scott Olsen develop. As bad as the Orioles season went, Oriole fans have much to be excited Will Orioles keep three top shortstops and three top third- about. This team can come back and, if they basemen, or will they look to deal someone this offseason? stay healthy next season, will. …doubtin’ a deal! Fish Tales. The Marlins are the worst team in the league, and it is not really a close call. I predict the Marlins draft 18 players next season. Though they have a number of quality young players, they aren’t deep enough to qualify as a kiddie pool. Hurst may have five CIMA League championships, but that sixth one is going to be a long time in coming. Jim (Rodgers) and Boog (Powell) will notice signs of evolu- tion in the fish they’re catching before this Marlins team will win a title. Hell, they finished 1,752 points behind the Reds. If you’d given them Pujols, Isn’t there a single ray of light…? No. Not really. Mauer and Santana, they still would have fin- ished 177 points behind. This Fish stinks. The CIMA League Times WEST DIVISION #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 WHITE SOX NATIONALS YANKEES SENATORS TIGERS 1B P.