FSBL LINEUP FOR AUGUST 1:
9 NOTES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE
1
Five of the six division races in the FSBL are within five games. But we start off the August 1 FSBL Lineup writeup with the one race that isn't a race. The Oakland A's, winners of 111 games in each of the first two seasons of the FSBL, once again have taken complete control of the AL West, having gone 40-13 in their last 53 games (.755) to build an 18 1/2 game cushion over the Angels. They've scored the most runs (561) and allowed the fewest (359) in the league. Reggie Jackson leads the AL in RBIs with 81, five players have hit 20+ homers already and all five starters have at least 10 wins. "I know the Giants are the defending champs," said division rival Ken Griffey Jr., who is having another brilliant season for the struggling Mariners. "But Oakland's the best team in baseball. They have no weakness. Scary good!"
Rickey Henderson (.305-12-42, 34 SB) and the A's are racing toward their third straight AL West division title.
2
The tightest race in baseball kicks off with a four-game set to open August, as the red-hot Phillies, winners of six straight, head to Atlanta to take on the Braves, whose lead in their quest for their first division title has been trimmed to a half a game. The Braves continue to hold the National League's best pitching staff top to bottom, but the Phillies' pitching has rounded into form as the season has rolled on and they have the NL's best offense, led by MVP frontrunner Chuck Klein ( .292-33-93). Atlanta has been forced to carry on despite the loss of Ronald Acuna (.292-20-47, 15 SB) but so far they've navigated it well. Ace, and current NL Outstanding Pitcher frontrunner John Smoltz (13-2, 2.46) will start the series opener against Cliff Lee (11-5, 2.88). .
Righthander John Smoltz is arguably the best pitcher in the NL this season, and will start the opener of a big four-game series in Atlanta against the surging Phillies, who are only a half game back.
3
The Red Sox chased down the Yankees, albeit briefly, to end July. Boston took a one-game lead for a day before dropping a pair while the Yankees closed out the month with two wins to reclaim the lead. But, while the expected dogfight between the two fierce rivals has materialized, a third party has been heard from on the convention floor, as the Toronto Blue Jays have won five straight and 8 of 10 to get themselves into the second wild-card spot and only three games back in the division. The three teams are 2nd, 3rd and 4th in runs in the AL behind Oakland. Lou Gehrig has taken over the AL home run lead with 33, one ahead of Toronto's Jose Bautista, who has 32, while Derek Jeter (.323-14-51) pursues his second straight batting title. The Sox have three players with 25+ homers in Reggie Smith (.317-25-68), Mookie Betts (.273-26-57) and Ted Williams (.321-26-66). But Toronto's gotten a lift with the mashing of rookie catcher Josh Gibson, who has caught fire and now has 23 homers and 62 RBIs to create a formidable 1-2 punch with Bautista. Could Toronto - which has all five starters between 3.19 and 3.83 in ERA - stun the baseball world and throw a monkey wrench into the works down the stretch?
4
The Pittsburgh Pirates ended the month having dropped 8 of 10 after starting it in the midst of a 12-game winning streak. But as the St. Louis Cardinals continue to struggle - and they've now reached the point of concern over the sophomore struggles of last year's Rookie of the Year Dizzy Dean (7-12, 5.44) - the Pirates have been able to hold on to the division lead as they look for their first Central crown and second playoff berth. However, though not surging to the degree of the Blue Jays in the AL East, keep an eye on the Cincinnati Reds, who have won 8 of 10 and drawn within six games of the division and three games of the second wild-card spot. Mario Soto (12-4, 3.24) and Johnny Cueto (7-4, 3.29) have led the rotation's improvement, while Ernie Lombardi (.317-20-56) and George Foster (.273-22-60) have led the offense.
5
When the Minnesota Twins collapsed in the second half a year ago, blowing what was a 10 1/2 game lead at the All-Star Break, it was largely tied to the loss of three main cogs: Joe Mauer, Joe Cronin and Chuck Knobluach, for significant portions of the second half. There's been no such injury issue this season, but there has been an effectiveness issue. While Mauer (.328-8-62) has been his consistent self, Cronin's subpar play has seen him demoted at the end of July, and Knoblauch (.265-6-35) has been erratic to say the least. The result is an 8 game losing streak to end July that has dropped the Twins 7 1/2 games back of the division leading Tigers. But Detroit's struggling as well, losers of four straight and 7 of 10, and open up August with a four-game set against the first-place Yankees. The White Sox (6 games back) face the Red Sox, while the Indians (3 1/2 games out) face the last-place Astros, meaning the complexion of the AL Central could change in this opening week of August.
Can rookie Josh Gibson power the Blue Jays to their first postseason berth?
George Foster and Ernie Lombardi have combined for 42 homers and 116 RBIs in trying to carry the Reds into the playoff race.
After a strong rookie season, the Twins' Joe Cronin has been sent down as Minnesota tries to shake things up to avoid another second-half collapse.
6
The July 31 trade deadline came and went with a few minor deals from teams in the playoff hunt but only one that could be classified as an impact move, as the Toronto Blue Jays traded a pair of minor leaguers to the Marlins for closer Bryan Harvey (24 saves, 2.16 ERA). Harvey will take over closing duties from Mark Eichorn (32 saves, 3.44 ERA), who will move into a setup role as the Blue Jays go for it and try to be the surprise playoff team of Year 3. Others deals included the Yankees trading minor league pitcher Orlando Hernandez to the Astros for third baseman Ed Charles, the Red Sox trading Jody Reed and a low-level prospect to the Mariners for centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez and the Braves swapping outfielders, trading Dave May to the Rockies for Dante Bichette.
Bryan Harvey amassed 98 saves over 2 1/2 years for the Marlins, and now will try to get Toronto into the playoffs for the first time.
7
The 100-HR club continues to grow here in Year 3, as 12 players have now reached the career threshold, with several more waiting in the wings. Ken Griffey Jr. remains the leader with 135, followed by Mark McGwire, Willie Mays, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, Manny Ramirez, Mel Ott, Willie Stargell, Johnny Mize, Mike Trout and Jim Edmonds. Closing in with 95+ entering August: Bryce Harper, Nate Colbert, Larry Walker, Eddie Murray and Ted Williams.
The Angels' Mike Trout leads te FSBL in slugging in Year 3 and has joined the 100-HR club, which now has 12 members.
8
The American League won for the first time in the 3-year history of the Franchise Stars Baseball League with a 6-0 drubbing of the National League. The Angels' Mike Trout and the A's Frank "Home Run" Baker hit 2-run and solo homers, respectively, in the first inning off Braves started Kid Nichols, who currently leads the NL in ERA for the first-place Braves. Derek Jeter added a solo homer off the Cardinals' Lindy McDaniel and Cleveland's Victor Martinez and Boston's Ted Williams each had RBI singles in the 8th off the Phillies' Ryan Madson. AL started Eddie Plank of the A's, who struck out four in two scoreless innings to earn MVP honors. The NL had won 2-0 in Year 1 and 5-1 in Year 2.
Oakland's Eddie Plank struck out four over two innings to earn All-Star MVP honors as the American League picked up its first Midsummer Classic victory, 5-1, over the NL.
9
The Dodgers, trying to return to the postseason after missing the playoffs last year, currently have the top three pitchers in strikeouts in the National League: Van Mungo, Sandy Koufax and Dazzy Vance. But their middling offense, seventh in the National League, hasn't been enough to chase down the Giants. The biggest issue for the Dodgers, though, has been a mediocre performance in the weak NL West, where they've gone 24-19 while the Giants have gone a fantastic 37-13! Los Angeles has a 1/2 game lead for the second wild-card spot over the Cardinals, They have split two of the first three in a current series against Arizona, then host Colorado for three next week before a four game set against the Padres. That stretch will lead them into a three-game set against the Giants Aug. 16-18.
Sandy Koufax (10-7, 2.99) is second in the National League in strikeouts as he tries to pitch the Dodgers back to the playoffs.
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