Embedded Files
Circuit Clouts
July 1, 1995
July 1, 1995
East W L GB Last R RA
Keystone 49 35 - 18-9 1 18
Boston 46 38 3 13-14 6 8
Manhattan 43 41 6 16-11 14 14
Brooklyn 41 43 8 11-16 7 10
Havana 41 43 8 15-13 2 7
Toronto 39 45 10 10-17 13 17
Washington 37 47 12 10-17 16 9
Montreal 36 48 13 12-15 15 11
Florida 30 54 19 10-17 17 15
West W L GB L10 R RA
Los Angeles 54 30 - 17-10 9 1
Cleveland 51 33 3 17-10 12 2
Detroit 49 35 5 18-9 3 6
Atlanta 46 38 8 16-11 5 4
Chicago 45 39 9 17-10 11 3
St. Louis 44 40 10 14-13 8 5
Denver 39 45 15 12-15 4 12
Minneapolis 38 46 16 7-20 10 15
Seattle 28 56 26 10-17 18 12
TOP STORIES
TOP STORIES
Keystone and Cleveland were the top stories of the first half. The Starlings, a sixth-year expansion team, ended June atop the East Division and on track for their first playoff appearance, thanks to one of the most prolific offenses in UL history. Cleveland, meanwhile, opened a new ballpark in a new division, with a totally revamped lineup, and look poised to snap the circuit's longest playoff drought at 21 years.
In an historic game at the King County Multipurpose Domed Stadium on June 18, Chicago's Alan Trammell got his 3,000th hit and Gary Sheffield hit for the cycle in an 8-0 win. Four days later, Trammell's hitting streak ended at 21 games, falling one shy of his 22-game streak in 1992.
Keystone's John Shelby, 1985 MVP, got his 2,000th hit and 400th stolen base in back-to-back games June 6 and 7.
INJURIES
(Min 4 wk; bold=this sim)
INJURIES
(Min 4 wk; bold=this sim)
ATL SS Jose Valentin (6 mo)
MAN 2B Mickey Morandini (3 mo)
MAN 2B Damion Easley (3 mo)
MPS RF Mike Aldrete (3 mo)
STL SP Roger Salkeld (season)
SEA RP Mariano Rivera (4 mo)
SEA 2B Glenn Hubbard (3 mo)
WAS SP Frank Viola (2 mo)
MILESTONES
MILESTONES
June 2 - LA Don Robinson
2500 strikeouts (#24 all-time)
June 5 - DET Tony Fernandez
2000 hits (#56)
June 6 - KEY John Shelby
2000 hits (#57)
June 7 - KEY John Shelby
400 stolen bases (#32)
June 18 - CHI Alan Trammell
3000 hits (#5)
June 20 - CLE Rich Gedman
2000 hits (#58)
June 22 - BOS Bret Saberhagen
2000 strikeouts (#)
All Bat, No Pitch? No Problem!
Mashing Keystone Tops East
The Keystone Starlings are a case study in extremes. Pairing the top offense with the league's worst pitching staff, Doug Aiton's club has scaled the (relative) heights of a diminished East Division (see below), overcoming a slow start with a 37-18 surge after May 1 and taking over 1st place on June 21.
The Starlings are on pace for the most prolific offensive season in UL history. Keystone hitters have touched home plate 550 times already this season, on pace for nearly 1,050 runs, which would shatter the Atlanta's 1971 record by a hundred runs. In addition, Aiton's side could threaten the team home run record. Their 145 dingers at the midway point puts them within range of Toronto's record of 295 in 1992.
Some other team batting records Keystone could break this year:
• Team batting: Current .307 would top 1989 Seattle's .305
• Team OBP: Current .370 would top 1958 Brooklyn's .365
• Team SLG: Current .519 would shatter 1989 Toronto's .491
• Doubles: Pace of 343 would threaten 1957 Brooklyn's 351.
Realignment Consternation
Barons Thriving in the West
When the league shuffled four franchises in the offseason to achieve a better geographic alignment, the move received little notice. All four clubs were on board in what seemed like an inconsequential change. After all, the move seemed like a net wash, with a very good Detroit and a very bad Cleveland evened out by an average Florida and Havana. What nobody could foresee was the Cleveland Barons meteoric rise from the team with the longest playoff drought (21 years) to the second-best record in the league.
Cleveland's success symbolizes the dominance of the West Division this year. The top two teams (L.A. and Cleveland) are both in the West. The top six pitching teams are in the West. And six of the league's nine winning teams are in the West. Atlanta, Chicago, and St. Louis all sit outside the West's three-team playoff zones, each with a better record than the East's 3rd place team, Manhattan, who would be 7th in the West.
The Barons have flipped their roster faster than an All-Star Special at Waffle House. Consider their core players (8 regulars, 5 starters, and top two relievers). Nine of the 15 joined the club this year, three last year, and only Edmonds, Eric Young, and Tomlin were with the club in 1993.
New this year: SS Robin Yount, C Rich Gedman, RF Carlos Delgado, 3B Alex Rodriguez, 1B Wally Joyner, SP Roger Clemens, SP Dave LaPoint, RP Dan Plesac, RP Gary Lucas
Joined 1994: LF Luis Polonia, SP Ismael Valdez, SP Salomon Torres
On team before 1993: LF Jim Edmonds, 2B Eric Young, SP Randy Tomlin
And these are not minor additions.
• Yount and Gedman are likely first-ballot Hall of Famers.
• A-Rod was a #1 draft pick, Valdez a former #2 prospect, and Delgado a former #3 prospect (Jim Edmonds was also a #2 prospect).
Yet between the money involved and the age of the acquisitions (Yount is 38 and Gedman is a 34-year-old catcher), it feels like Cleveland's championship window is more like a sidelight or transom window, or perhaps a fanlight. Or a hopper window, a small window commonly found in basements, hinged at the bottom and opening outward at the top to allow light and ventilation. Or maybe a clerestory window: a high, narrow window at the top of a wall, near the ceiling, to bring in light without compromising privacy. Or if you are going more medieval, perhaps an arrowslit or embrasure. Anyway... the point being that Cleveland's best chance of winning is this year or next. Stay tuned!
Trammell 5th to 3,000 Hits
Joins Torre, Mantle, Cepeda, Yount
What do you give the man who has everything? For reigning Player of the Decade (something that comes along only once every eight years or so) Alan Trammell, that would be a rare milestone: a 3,000th hit. The Chicago Colts shortstop hit the mark on June 18 in Seattle, just under year after fellow shortstop Robin Yount hit the mark on July 15, 1994. Before that day, only three hitters in UL history had hit 3,000 hits, making it one of the rarest milestones. However, it will not be a five-man club for long. Atlanta's Tony Gwynn has 2830 hits and should join the club early next season. And teammate Wade Boggs is not far behind with 2696 hits.
Joe Torre holds the career record with 3,765 career hits, following by Mickey Mantle (3,332) and Orlando Cepeda (3,233). Trammell's feat makes the 600-HR club the most elite hitting club, with just four members (Cepeda, Bob Horner, Mantle, and Frank Robinson), Though one could make a case for the two-man 2,000-RBI Club (Mantle, Cepeda) and the one-man .350 career batting average club (Tony Gwynn).
League Leaders
League Leaders
Batting Average
+Wil Cordero KEY .349
Carlos Baerga KEY .349
+Will Clark MPS .346
Raffy Palmeiro HAV .346
Tony Gwynn ATL .344
David Bell MAN .342
Ivan Rodriguez MON .341
Barry Bonds STL .334
Frank Thomas LA .329
+Ivan Calderon DEN .328
RBIs
Matt Williams BRO 81
Barry Bonds STL 79
Wil Cordero KEY 78
Jeff Bagwell KEY 76
Ken Griffey Jr BRO 73
Ryan Klesko DET 73
Raffy Palmeiro HAV 72
Tim Salmon KEY 72
+Jim Edmonds CLE 67
+Manny Ramirez ATL 63
Infield Zone Rating
Rey Sanchez LA 12.2
Eric Young CLE 10.9
Robin Yount CLE 10.3
+Ryne Sandberg WAS 9.5
Alan Trammell CHI 9.4
Home Runs
Jeff Bagwell KEY 26
Barry Bonds STL 26
Eric Karros TOR 26
Raffy Palmeiro HAV 26
Tim Salmon KEY 26
Matt Williams BRO 25
Ryan Klesko DET 22
Wil Cordero KEY 21
bWAR
Barry Bonds STL 5.1
Raffy Palmeiro HAV 4.8
+Eric Davis LA 4.8
Albert Belle CHI 4.1
+Tim Salmon KEY 4.0
Jeff Bagwell KEY 4.0
Frank Thomas LA 3.9
Rich Gedman CLE 3.9
+Alan Trammell CHI 3.9
Matt Williams BRO 3.9
Outfield Zone Rating
Ken Griffey Jr BRO 11.7
+Eric Davis LA 8.7
Michael Tucker ATL 8.6
+Stan Javier LA 8.4
Rondell White ATL 8.4
Earned Run Average
Floyd Youmans LA 2.28
Pedro Martinez ATL 2.55
Shane Reynolds HAV 2.75
+Randy Tomlin CLE 2.97
+Tom Glavine WAS 2.99
Angel Miranda STL 3.00
Erik Hanson MAN 3.04
Steve Cooke CHI 3.15
Kelly Downs HAV 3.22
Greg Swindell LA 3.29
Strikeouts
Pedro Martinez ATL 116
Steve Cooke CHI 109
Floyd Youmans LA 105
Erik Hanson CHI 101
Hideo Nomo DEN 99
+Donovan Osborne STL 98
+John Smoltz ATL 95
Mike Mussina FLO 93
+Tom Glavine WAS 91
+David West DEN 91
Wins
Floyd Youmans LA 11
Erik Hanson CHI 11
+Don Robinson LA 10
+Ismael Valdez CLE 10
+W Vanlandingham KEY 10
+Alex Fernandez DET 9
Donovan Osborne CHI 9
+Bret Saberhagen BOS 9
pWAR
Pedro Martinez ATL 3.8
Floyd Youmans LA 3.4
Dwight Gooden TOR 3.1
Erik Hanson CHI 3.0
Bret Saberhagen BOS 2.9
+Greg Mathews BOS 2.9
+Kelly Downs HAV 2.9
+Andy Pettitte MAN 2.8
+Bruce Ruffin SEA 2.8
Steve Cooke CHI 2.8
Awards
Awards
Batter of the Month
APR Matt Williams BRO
MAY Barry Bonds STL
JUN Eric Davis LA
JUL
AUG
SEP
Pitcher of the Month
APR Hideo Nomo DEN
MAY Erik Hanson CHI
JUN Randy Tomlin CLE
JUL
AUG
SEP
Rookie of the Month
APR Hideo Nomo DEN
MAY Roger Salkeld STL
JUN Troy Percival BOS
JUL
AUG
SEP
Player of the Week
4/10 Matt Williams BRO
4/17 Ryan Klesko DET
4/24 Wil Cordero KEY
5/1 Jerry Browne MAN
5/8 Frank Thomas LA
5/15 Raffy Palmeiro HAV
5/22 Reg Jefferson STL
5/29 John Shelby KEY
6/5 Hal Morris DEN
6/12 Carlos Baerga KEY
6/19 Wil Cordero KEY
6/26 Albert Belle CHI
West Division
West Division
East Division
East Division
Stud: Floyd Youmans (11-5, 2.28) has resurfaced as a serious Cy Young candidate. The 1992 winner ranks 1st in ERA, 1st-T in wins, 2nd in WAR, and 3rd in strikeouts.
Dud: Somehow the Outlaws rank 1st in runs against, despite the 12th-ranked bullpen. Derek Lilliquist (6.48), Bob Ojeda (5.74), and Dave Schmidt (5.61) have been particularly inept.
Pop: On a team loaded with firepower, 1B Jeff Bagwell who leads the pack with 204 TB and 83 wRC. His .325 average and 1.065 OPS are +60 and +220 over his career averages.
Flop: Somehow Kirk Rueter (6.29) and Butch Henry (6.38) have identical 8-4 records, despite two of the worst ERAs in the league.
Stud: Sophomore ace Ismael Valdez (10-3, 3.71) is on pace to become the Barons' first 20-game winner since Burt Hooton in 1976.
Dud: Veteran Roger Clemens (4-7, 4.49) has been the only weak link in an otherwise rock-solid rotation. His ERA and WHIP (1.37) are approaching career worsts.
Pop: June ROM RP Troy Percival (2.65, 18 SV) is emerging as a ROY front-runner.
Flop: Ace Jon Lieber (5.30, 1.49 WHIP) is suffering a severe sophomore slump after last year's 15-11, 3.12 campaign with 1.15 WHIP.
Stud: LF Ryan Klesko is putting up MVPesque numbers (.319-22-73, 1.072). His .993 OPS in June was his worst month.
Dud: Batting champ Dave Nilsson (.286) is batting 45 points below his .331 average a year ago.
Pop: 3B David Bell came out of nowhere to bat .342 with a .402 OBP in the first half, tossing his name into the ROY hat.
Flop: SP Melido Perez is on a disturbing trendline of adding a run to his ERA every year: from 3.77 in 1993 to 4.71 last year to 5.72 in the first half.
Stud: LF Manny Ramirez (.300-19-63, .974) is having a breakout year in his third season, after batting just .249 with a .792 OPS last year.
Dud: A year after establishing several team pitching records, the Toppers rank just 4th in team ERA, due largely to Fernie Valenzuela (4.86) and Darryl Kile (4.50), who are +1.65 and +1.76 over last year.
Pop: 3B Matt Williams' 81 RBIs puts him on pace to break Bob Horner's record of 153 RBIs in 1982.
Flop: CF Ken Griffey Jr (.277, .867 OPS) is having the worst season of his career, -40 and -80 off his career clips.
Stud: Though his counting stats are not particulary eye-popping, LF Albert Belle is slashing .320/.393/.606 for a .999 OPS—all of which are on track for career highs.
Dud: Long considered a potential batting champion, 1B John Olerud has failed to impress. The 25-year-old has not hit over .300 since 1992 and hit a career-low .252 in the first half.
Pop: The Leones first Cuban star, 1B Raffy Palmeiro (.375-21-54, 1.233) is putting together a career year.
Flop: The Dan Pasqua experiment has not yielded the desired results. The 33-year-old RF is batting just .247 with a .775 OPS in his 1.5 seasons with the Lions, Those figures are -25 and -80 points off his career numbers.
Stud: 35-year-old 2B Julio Franco loves batting in St. Louis. Since re-joining the team from LA in May, Franco is hitting .335/.871 OPS. For his career, Franco is hitting .328 as a Maroon, 30 points better than with any of his five other clubs.
Dud: Closer Rob Dibble is having a dismal campaign, with a 6.03 ERA and 11 meltdowns.
Pop: RF Juan Gonzalez hit .309-29-87 last year and is on pace to shatter all three number
Flop: Ace Dwight Gooden had the worst half-season of his career (3-6, 4.11), capped by perhaps his first winless month (0-3, 3.99 in 6 GS)
Stud: RF Ivan Calderon (.328-10-58, .926) has found his sweet swing after OPSing just .762 in Florida last year.
Dud: The bullpen has been leaky across the board, with no RPs under 4.20 ERA.
Pop: SP Tom Glavine (8-5, 2.99) is 5th in ERA and 9th in Ks
Flop: RF Mike Greenwell, who hit .323 with a .940 OPS in Triple-A last year, is batting just .207/.664 with the big club.
Stud: 1B Will Clark's .346 ranks third in the league and is a 100+ point improvement over last year in Washington.
Dud: 2B Chris Gomez ranks last with -1.2 bWAR and next to last with a .607 OPS
Pop: C Pudge Rodriguez is having his long-awaited breakout year (.341-7-58, .872 OPS).
Flop: 39-year-old SP Ed Whitson (2-11, 5.98) is shaping up to be the worst FA signing of the offseason ($4.64 million)
Stud: Rookie RF Derek Bell leads the club with 44 RBI. SP Bruce Ruffin ranks 9th in pWAR.
Dud: SP Joey Hamilton is having a singularly horrific rookie campaign. His 653 ERA ranks 71th out of 72 qualified pitchers and his 1-15 record is on pace for a league worst record
Pop: LF Ruben Sierra's 52 RBIs is on pace to break the club record of 101 by Ivan Calderon in 1993.
Flop: SP Pete Smith, who was 3.21 last year, has the worst ERA in the league (6.73)
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