If the wheels don't exactly
fall off this month then we certainly start running out of gas, particularly toward the end. After winning 7 of our first 8 games, we post a losing record over the remainder to end the month 17-12.
We're certainly getting our share of pop, 2nd in the division with 77 HR and our hitting overall has been somewhat improved on last season. But Charleston hasn't offered much all year (241/294/364; 7 HR / 44 RBI / 1 WAR) and, if he opts out at the end of this season, I'm not sure we chase him. Cobb goes down with an injury that will see him on the IL for a stint.
In an almost mirror image of 1924, it is our pitching in the doldrums this time around. Brown has been great, but Streeter and Foster have struggled, and this month sees our staff in constant turmoil. Cooper finally gets shunted into the pen, with McDonald moved into the spin. Then Foster goes down for a month with a herniated disc and Wilbur gets his spot back. Then McDonald, who simply hasn’t come on as we’d hoped, loses his spot to Mirabal after a couple of dreadful performances.
In short, we are a bit of a mess in this area right now, and unless we straighten things out I just don't see us getting home here.
The standings remains tight. Only Wilbur’s 250th career win – see my previous post – keeps us in sole possession of first place as we enter the stretch run, with the Cards hot on our heels and a bunched field behind them and well within reach. In the AL the Yanks lead narrowly from the Red Sox and A's, and both races look set to deliver on the grandstand finish they've been promising since OD.
Awards, news, leaders. Rajah is a realistic chance to take out the NL Triple Crown.
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