Here are the standings at the midway point of the season:
Code:
National League Standings
West Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run
San Jose 50 31 .617 - 52-29 -2 21-19 29-12 2-3 12- 8
San Diego 45 36 .556 5 48-33 -3 23-15 22-21 5-2 12- 8
Los Angeles 39 42 .481 11 39-42 0 21-19 18-23 1-2 9-12
Sacramento 39 42 .481 11 40-41 -1 17-22 22-20 2-5 7-12
Portland 38 43 .469 12 39-42 -1 15-26 23-17 6-5 11- 9
Phoenix 31 50 .383 19 36-45 -5 14-28 17-22 0-4 7-12
Northeast Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run
Pittsburgh 53 28 .654 - 51-30 2 24-17 29-11 4-2 11- 5
Hartford 45 36 .556 8 41-40 4 22-18 23-18 7-5 9- 9
Buffalo 42 39 .519 11 39-42 3 20-22 22-17 6-5 12-10
Rochester 39 42 .481 14 38-43 1 14-28 25-14 2-3 9-12
Harrisburg 34 47 .420 19 38-43 -4 17-23 17-24 2-5 7-13
New Jersey 31 50 .383 22 28-53 3 17-24 14-26 6-2 10- 6
American League Standings
Southeast Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run
Miami 50 31 .617 - 51-30 -1 20-19 30-12 4-4 15-11
Nashville 39 42 .481 11 37-44 2 18-23 21-19 4-2 12- 9
Washington 38 43 .469 12 41-40 -3 17-23 21-20 2-3 10- 5
Atlanta 36 45 .444 14 41-40 -5 17-22 19-23 2-3 5-13
Knoxville 35 46 .432 15 35-46 0 21-21 14-25 3-6 7-13
Charlotte 34 47 .420 16 30-51 4 15-25 19-22 3-2 13- 6
Central Division
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run
Denver 55 26 .679 - 54-27 1 27-12 28-14 2-1 14- 9
Tucson 50 31 .617 5 54-27 -4 26-14 24-17 3-3 6-12
Memphis 42 39 .519 13 42-39 0 25-16 17-23 3-2 9-12
Grand Rapids 40 41 .494 15 39-42 1 17-24 23-17 2-2 12- 9
Green Bay 35 46 .432 20 28-53 7 18-25 17-21 5-6 13- 7
Kansas City 32 49 .395 23 34-47 -2 14-27 18-22 4-3 6-16
Right now, Denver, is cruising along. It's not a huge lead on Tucson, but its comfortable- a lot more comfotable than it was last season, that's for sure! Meanwhile, the most interesting playoff races seem to be the second place races in the Northeast and the Southeast Divisions. The Southeast, in particular, should be intriguing, because only 5 games separate the current 2nd place team and the 6th place team. All of those teams are close enough that one or two key acquisitions at the deadline could push any one of them above the rest.
I also have a question for anyone who may be reading this dynasty. Do you think that these Hall of Fame bios are distracting from the main focus of the thread? I ask this, primarily, because I had wanted to finish the bios by the time the season was completed, but it is now halfway through the season, and I am really not that far along with the bios. If I want to finish them by the time the season is over, I will have to significantly increase the ratio of bios to Denver updates. It would seem to me, then, that what is ostensibly the focus of the dynasty would be somewhat lost in the shuffle for awhile.
I would really appreciate some honest opinions of this.