[BirdWatcher]

As we enter the final full month of the 1972 season let's take a look at the current standings and also get our first look at the pennant race projections.

As you can see, the SJL is pretty much up for grabs with the Columbus Whalers and the Jacksonville Wolf Pack tied atop the standings. San Antonio, who briefly held first place in the middle of August, is still in the hunt at 4 1/2 games back. The reigning WPK champs and pre-season favorites, the Washington Night Train, currently sit in 6th place and are 3 games under .500. While no team has been mathematically eliminated yet in the SJL, there is virtually no chance of the Night Train getting the chance to defend their title this season.

In the MGL, Charlotte has been stumbling a bit of late and the Brewers now trail them by 7 games. The Brooklyn Aces are still somewhat within striking distance at 8 1/2 games out. The 4th place L.A. Spinners have lost 4 straight and are a distant 13 1/2 games behind Charlotte. And the pre-season favorites in the MGL, the Phoenix Speed Devils, are next at 18 games out, and are 2 games under .500. Again, virtually no chance they achieve what many expected from them this season.

In terms of how teams are performing relative to their run differential and pythagorean win expectancy, the Jacksonville Wolf Pack certainly look like they should have the advantage over Columbus and in fact have the highest positive run differential in all of the WPK. The Seattle Alligators and the Philadelphia Mud Hens look like the biggest over-achievers in the SJL but neither are likely to play a role in the pennant race. The Washington Night Train certainly do seem to have under-achieved a bit but not so much as to indicate that they should be in contention.
In the MGL, the Brewers have the best run differential while the first place Sting, although their run differential isn't far behind ours, certainly appear to have over-achieved a bit this season. But mostly things are pretty much as you would expect them to be in the MGL.

When it comes to pennant race odds, the Columbus Whalers are thought to have a slight edge in the SJL due to having a more favorable schedule down the stretch. San Antonio still has a slight chance as well, according to the mathematical projections. In the MGL, Charlotte is a prohibitive favorite. The Brewers, at this point given a 4% chance of winning the MGL, have a tougher schedule down the stretch and still plenty of ground to make up. They will likely need a minor miracle to get a 4th straight MGL pennant.