The minor league seasons are drawing to a close ending in late August or the first week in September. When the first half of the minor league seasons ended I expected none of the Dodger teams to make it to post season play. However, it seems the Dodgers minor league affiliates are second half teams and several now have a shot at making the play-offs although some may be long shots.

I am not sure why the minor league teams have played considerably better in the second half of the season. Perhaps the managers were trying to provide an equal distribution of playing time in the first half of the season, as best they could , for all of the players on their rosters. Perhaps the teams are just gelling at the right time or perhaps some player additions have bolstered a lineup or players have returned from the injury reserve list. 

Regardless of the reason, the function of minor league teams is to prepare players for the parent club at the MLB level. However, winning as a goal to a season can never be denied and from watching the Great Lakes Loons it seems they are now playing to win and fielding the roster best able to do so. 

With three weeks or so left in the minor league season, here’s a look at how all of the Dodger affiliate teams stand in the hunt for a play-off spot.

Albuquerque Isotopes: The Isotopes are one of the Dodger minor league teams pretty much out of the 2014 play-off picture. The ‘Topes are 55-66 on the season, presently 12.5 games behind the Las Vegas 51’s in the Southern Division of the Pacific Conference. Their elimination number is 10 with 22 games left in their schedule.

Even though Joc Pederson is tied for first in the PCL with his 26 home runs, it is very unlikely that the Isotopes will make the playoff this season. (Photo courtesy of MiLB.com)

Chattanooga Lookouts: During the first half of the season the Lookouts had a rather dismal 26-44 record putting them a full 20 games behind the first place Huntsville Stars in the Northern Division of the Southern League. The second half has gone more smoothly and I expect much more to manager Razor Shines liking. He doesn’t like to lose. The Lookouts presently are riding a seven game winning streak. The battle for the top spot in the second half is a four way fight among the Lookouts, the Jackson Generals, Tennessee Smokies and Birmingham Barons. The Lookouts are two games out of the top spot with all four teams within two games of each other. Chris Reed was recently promoted to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes, perhaps in advance of a September call up by the Dodgers, and his departure leaves a gapping hole in the Lookouts starting rotation. Let’s see if the Lookouts can keep up their winning ways during their next 24 games ending on the first of September.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes: The first half of the season was a bit disappointing for the Quakes with a 32-38 record and finishing 12 games behind the first place Lancaster JetHawks. Since the June 17 All-Star game the Quakes have posted a 26-23 record . During that time they have been on steaks winning 10 in a row at one point and losing 10 of 12 in a more forgettable streak. They have lost their last three games. The bad news is they are seven games out of a wild card spot but the good news is that they are presently tied with the first half winning JetHawks for first place in the Southern Division of the California League. Lake Elsinore Storm is nipping at their heels one game back of the Quakes. Let’s hope they get into a “W” streak during the final 20 games of the season.

Chris Jacobs has had a great season with the Quakes. He will need it to continue for his team to hold on to first place in the Cal League South’s tight second half race. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Great Lakes Loons: The Loons have been relatively consistent during the season with a 34-36 before the All-Star break and a 23-25 record since the break. The first half of the season ended with the Loons seven games behind first place West Michigan Whitecaps who finished on top of the Eastern Division of the Midwest League. It appears that the South Bend Silver Hawks will finish first in the second of the season. However, all is not lost, the Loons are in a four way battle for a wild card berth with the Dayton Dragons, Lake County Captains, and Fort Wayne TinCaps. The Loons are presently one game behind in the battle. They have been getting excellent pitching but the offense in almost non-existent at times with the team having lost twice by 1-0 scores in their its four games. Their final 22 games in 2014 will all present a play-ff atmopsphere for the young Loons.

Ogden Raptors: The Raptors too had a first half struggle going 15-23 and finishing nine games behind the first place Orem Owlz. . Since the All-Star break, the Raptors are sporting a 9-5 record tying then with the Grand Junction Rockies for first place in the Southern Division of the Pioneer League. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games but recently saw Jose De Leon, perhaps the league’s best starting pitcher, promoted to the Great Lakes Loons. However, with 25 games to go and Michael Ahmed, Devan Ahart and Julian Leon leading the way offensively, the Raptors have a good chance of getting manager Black Jack McDowell into the play-offs.

Arizona League Dodgers: True to form the Dodgers finished the first half of the season with a 12-26 record and a full five games behind the DSL Indians. The Indians are again dominating in the second half of the season. A play-off berth now goes to the second place team as the Indians may well have finished first during both parts of the season. The Dodgers, presently 4-7, are competing with the Reds and Brewer for the second spot determined by the best overall record during the season. The Brewers lead that race by two games over the Dodgers and Reds who are tied. With 17 games left in the season the Dodgers go head-to-head with the Reds twice and three times with the Brewers.

Dominican Summer League Dodgers: The DSL Dodgers may have a mountain too tall to climb. With a 31-29 record in the Boca Chica Northwest Division of the DSL they are 5.5 games behind the division leading Royals .They are 8.5 games behind the Giants in the wild care race. There are only 12 games remaining in the regular season in the DSL. The Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 games which is a nice way to be finishing off a season. They are 7-5 against the Royals and 7-6 against the Indians – the two teams in front of them in their division.