Knarro.
American League Report - Flatbush, Sunnyside, Berwyn Battle To The End
What a race this has turned out to be! Using a 7-3 run during the last 2 weeks, Flatbush has claimed a 2 game lead over Sunnyside and 6 game lead over Berwyn in the AL East. The Bums have has a consistent offense, a solid performance from Cy Young candidate Jim Palmer, and a solid bullpen to post the AL's top record at 81-53. Bill Madlock (.336) and Von Joshua (.315) have done a terrific job of getting on base for RBI men Thurman Munson (.323, 74 RBI) and the rejuvenated Tony Perez (.326, 18 HR, 79 RBI). In fact the only disappointment in the Bums' lineup has been George Hendrick's .202 average; however, Hendrick has hit 16 HR and driven in 62 runs.
Jim Palmer is the AL's top pitcher at 21-8, 2.23. He has 7 shutouts, 201 strikeouts, also tops in the AL. His tag-team partner is Mike Torrez, 15-8 despite a 3.94 ERA. Torrez has the 3rd best run support in the AL at 5.8 runs per game. Rich Gossage and Bob Apodaca lead the bullpen, with Dave LaRoche and Rick Baldwin doing middle inning and set up work. Gossage has 23 saves while Apodaca has 14. LaRoche and Baldwin combine for an 11-3 record. The one sore spot is Gossage's win-loss mark of 4-8. Control sometimes can get him into trouble.
Sunnyside is looking to win their 6th consecutive AL East title. Their final three series are against sub-.500 teams, encouraging news if they can keep the Bums from running away. Offense is where the Storm shines. Joe Morgan sets the table with a .335 average and 48 stolen bases. He leads the AL in runs scored with 99. The big slugger in the Storm lineup has been Gene Tenace. Tenace leads the AL with 30 HR and has 86 RBI. Between Morgan and Tenace are Rusty Staub (.289, 21 HR, 78 RBI), Buddy Bell (.286), Rick Monday (.281, 20 HR), Roy White (.277) and Don Kessinger (.273). Part-timer Mike Hargrove's .330 average has been screaming for a chance to play. The Storm leads the AL in HR and scoring at 5.2 per game.
The pitching has been solid, but not spectacular. Mickey Lolich continues to defy reason with a 14-6 record and a 2.86 ERA. Larry Christensen is 12-2, helped in part by a 2.92 ERA and in part by 6.4 runs per game of support. Fred Norman is 10-12 while Marty Pattin is 11-6, despite similar ERAs. Clay Carroll has done a nice job in the pen, converting 24 of 28 save opportunities. The rest of the bullpen has been hideous, posting a 5.02 ERA without Carroll. So a lot rides on the four starters.
The Barons are the Cinderella story of 1975. After making deals to be playoff contenders the past two years, Berwyn management decided to sit pat and spend the year building some confidence in their younger players. A funny thing happened on the way they started winning. After a nice 48-42 first half, the Barons surged with a 27-14 run to sit now just 6 out of first and have a comfortable lead for the 2nd wild card berth. So who is to receive the bulk of the credit for the Barons' success?
Ken Singleton. Ken has come back from a terrible 1974 to post MVP-caliber stats. His .310 average is supported by 43 doubles, 15 HR, 102 runs and 101 walks. He has been the heart and soul of the offense. Hitting behind him are Bob Watson (.320) and Mr. Jackson (.219 but 26 HR and 88 RBI). Dave Chalk has been a nice surprise at .303 while splitting time at 3rd with Don Money.
Doug Rau has been the top starter this year at 14-11. John Curtis has been Berwyn's answer to Larry Christensen with a 13-2 record. But closer Jim Todd has made the biggest difference. Todd has 26 saves with a 1.84 ERA, so any lead after 7 or 8 is likely safe. The plan for the Barons is to hang close until the final series when they host Flatbush.
Cooperstown, Bellingham, Winchester - What Went Wrong?
Nashua's lead in the AL West is secure (8 ½ game lead) so we focus on the teams who didn't challenge this year Cooperstown, Bellingham and Winchester. Why have they not been a factor?
Cooperstown - Perhaps the question should not be why they are not a factor, but rather how is it that they are a .500 club instead of a cellar-dweller? The lineup projected as a collection of aging players whose better days were behind them. Dave Johnson - off to Japan. Doug Rader and Billy Williams - over the hill. After a disappointing 1973, Williams rebounded with a solid 1974 which included a move to first base. This year, Williams' .258 average won't draw much attention but his 20 HR and 79 RBI will. So who is he driving in? Larry Bowa (.300, 28 steals), Amos Otis (.279, 46 steals) and Dusty Baker (.266, 65 RBI). Baker's numbers are below his standard, but he has been a solid contributor. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Enos Cabell's performance (.344) in left field. Cabell has been a player without a job for 2 years, but found himself in left when he started hitting. Phil Niekro (17-7) and Gaylord Perry (16-11) have accounted for 50% of the team's wins.
Bellingham - How do you follow a .400 season? How about a .342 season with 19 HR! That's what Rod Carew has done so far, with 84 runs and 84 RBI. Normally thought of as a singles hitter, Carew has added some pop to his game, rivaling fellow AL comrade Joe Morgan in that regard. Lou Brock (.321, 51 steals) and Ken Griffey (.327) hit in front of Carew giving the Bells perhaps the best 1-2-3 combination in the league. Jay Johnstone (.318) and Gary Carter (.282, 15 HR) have also contributed. So why the sub-.500 record? Must be the pitching. The bullpen ERA is 5.04, and closers Mike Garman, Gary Lavelle and Lindy McDaniel have blown 14 of 33 save opportunities. Had they converted 7 of those 14 games, the Bells would be 3 games out of first.
Winchester - Steve Garvey has been fine (.322) but four of the other eight regulars have averages under .250. The Rifles decided to go with a 5-man rotation and may have suffered for it. Vida Blue (15-6), Tom Seaver (16-8) and Luis Tiant (12-10) have in general pitched well. Glen Abbott (4-10), Mike Caldwell (5-10) and Lerrin LaGrow (3-11), have not. If Abbott and LaGrow, for example, would have their stats replaced with the average of the other four, the net result would be a 9 win gain. These 9 wins would put the Rifles 3 games out of first.
I'll Bet You Didn't Know
More surprising seasons, such as the aforementioned Enos Cabell, this time from the American League:
Check out:
Standings and League Leaders