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Grizzlies Bearing Down on Division Title?

Is there a new sheriff in town in the Less Filling Central? A decade plus of sweet Music from Bill Anderson's Pocono squad, only interrupted of late by the warring French and Indians from Justin Rabidoux's upstate Vermont tribe of Fighting Sioux, had made the annual LFC title finish the most predictable dance this side of the waltz.

But in 2010, it appears Jack Howard's Grizzly squad is finally ready to make the change from Ursa Minor to Ursa Major.

Grundy County has always been strong up on the hill, and this year is no different (3.97 team ERA, 2nd in the animal world only to Brad Sherlag's Chow Chows).

But the big difference this year is that the bear is finally showing its claws. Manager Howard seems to have found a solution to the annual GCG 1b/dh logjam. By giving Kevin Youkilis (.302/21/59) an outfielder's glove and rudimentary instructions on how to use it, additional playing time has accrued to Miguel Cabrera (.293/16/65). Cabrera, seeing his first true full-time PT since leaving Honolulu at the end of the 2006 season, has richly rewarded Grizzly Nation. While he may not challenge his former HHA bandbox-enhanced offensive greatness, Cabrera stands to easily eclipse his GCG career highs in virtually every category. Meanwhile, Jack Howard's nephew Ryan Howard has erased cries of nepotism by posting the 2nd best slugging percentage in the league, .602 as of this writing (trailing only SPL's otherworldly Joe Mauer "and that rhymes with Power.") Another Bear who once barely played (just 206 ab's with GCG in 2008), The Other Howard's .293/29/70 line has the concession lines at Grand Canyon Natural Park emptier than the national treasury every time he steps to the plate.

But perhaps the best Grizzly stick is natural left fielder Matt Holliday. At .326/19/69, and with 15 stolen bases to boot, Grizzly runs-scored leader Holliday's picnic-basket toolset always seems to have something for every occasion. Need a run driven in from 2nd? Team leading 40 doubles. Need a baserunner? Team leading 55 walks. Need a defensive play? Only 3 errors in left.

Still, the Grizzlies cannot get overconfident with their newfound power. Pocono still lurks in the woods, just 3.5 games back as of this writing.

Will the Grizzlies be the team to emerge with the 2010 Less Filling Central title? The mere fact we're asking this question this late in the season indicates Grundy County is causing quite a stir.