FRUSTRATION!

During the brief Municipal League History there have been two teams who battled each other, who made it deep into the playoffs, with each team trading turns winning the championship trophy. Today, at the season mid point, both of these two teams are in serious jeopardy of not making a playoff appearance.

While its true that the National League East has two juggernauts (Monroes and Rubble) both Gahanna Small Ball and the Minneapolis Millers have fallen way short of the mark.

The Gahanna Small Ball sits at 37-44, 9 games out and cemented to the basement floor. While Barry Bonds and Lou Gehrig have been world beaters, the rest of their lineup has been putrid. Roberto Clemente is hitting just .248 with a slugging percentage of .373. No one else has stepped up, very unlike 2007 for GSB. The pitching staff of Gooden, Schmidt and Blue are combined 7-11 with an ERA over 5. The teams bright spot is the pen which shows up with an impressive 15-9 record in one run games. The season is long, but frustration has set in for the erstwhile manager. Bonds and Gehrig have not lifted their teamates, atleast not yet.

The Minneapolis Millers biggest problem this season may have been arrogance. Dropping their entire roster from a 2007 championship season has only proved that the owner is infatuated with his brillance. Someone needs to change the lightbulb because it has burned out. Pat Reilly, Phil Jackson, John Moosey, ya their champions if they have a team full of all stars, dump the stars . . . well then your playing in the second division. The Millers are four games behind two of the hottest teams in the National League. Their problem is the bats or lack of. Not one hitter has a power average close to .500. Honus Wagner leads a bunch of slap and dash players who do not have the ability to compete with a team of sluggers.

2008 is proving to be a year of Change in more ways than one.