Difficult to put into words what has transpired both around the league and with regard to our club specifically these past two months.
Singular is perhaps the most appropriate adjective I can use.
Hard core is another phrase that readily comes to mind.
Here's how things stand as we enter August.
You might be looking at those screenshots and thinking "one game over 500, metrics right in the middle of the diddle -
what's that crazy old fool talkin' about singular for?"
Perhaps the monthly results will paint a more accurate picture.
So those relatively innocuous monthly breakdowns of 13-15 for June and 17-12 for July include a 5-13 run in mid-June, a 10-game win string as part of a 16-3 run in July and a 5-and-counting current losing streak that includes perhaps the worst loss in franchise history - a 17-4 mauling by the Dodgers just the day before last.
A wild old ride indeed.
Our hitting, while prone to prolonged bouts of inconsistency, has generally been solid. Kiner and Elliott have lost a little on previous years but nevertheless continue to produce. Wertz and Boone are each living up to their billing. The addition of Pafko has been a good one. Guys like Vollmer and Batts are coming along nicely.
The same cannot be said for our pitching, with our staff almost to a man having regressed or disappointed. Hutchinson's ERA+ currently sits at a putrid 83, with Sain also worse than league average. Masterson has finally worn out his welcome and is cooling his heels at AAA, with Houtteman into the spin. Still a pretty young group, so hopefully all is not lost, but we need to arrest this pattern post haste. Our D is NOT helping matters - even though we have a slightly positive ZR to this point, our efficiency is in the toilet - not great when your starters WHIPs are through the roof. It's odd, because on paper we line up pretty well with the glove. We just aren't getting it done the way we need to.
A simply fascinating narrative is unfolding in the NL, with interest high as the Dodgers make a bid for their first-ever playoff run and the Cards - who have themselves made only the solitary appearance in 1923 - trying to catch them. For a wee while it looks like the Boys of Summer are going to run away with it, but they get the wobbles and just moonwalk a bit back to the pack. Eight games is a nice break, but no gimme from there with all the attendant pressure. The next couple weeks should prove crucial.
Things are only slightly less dramatic over in the junior circuit, with the Yanks just a half-game ahead of the Red Sox, with the surprising Tigers - who are looking for their first go-around in the Fall Classic since 1934 - just one game further back.
News, Leaders and Top 20s
We look all but guaranteed of at least one Triple Crown winner this season, with Eddie Lopat, Stan Musial and Ewell Blackwell all in the hunt.
Monthly Award Winners
June
American League
- Batter – Ron Northey (Tigers): 407 / 5 HR / 22 RBI
- Pitcher – Tex Hughson (Red Sox): 3-0 / 2.11 / 26 K / 42.2 IP
- Rookie – Richie Ashburn (Browns): 368 / 0 HR / 15 RBI
National League
- Batter – Stan Musial (Cardinals): 375 / 6 HR / 22 RBI
- Pitcher – Preacher Roe (Dodgers): 4-0 / 1.86 / 29 K / 48.1 IP
- Rookie – Bob Rush (Cubs): 3-2 / 2.33 / 20 K / 46.1 IP
July
American League
- Batter – Vern Stephens (Browns): 411 / 6 HR / 26 RBI
- Pitcher – Eddie Lopat (Yankees): 5-1 / 2.89 / 34 K / 56 IP
- Rookie – Vern Bickford (White Sox): 4-2 / 3.07 / 18 K / 41 IP
National League
- Batter – Willard Brown (Reds): 383 / 7 HR / 29 RBI
- Pitcher – Johnny Schmitz (Cubs): 4-0 / 2.06 / 11 K / 39.1 IP
- Rookie – Bob Rush (Cubs): 4-2 / 3.05 / 22 K / 44.1 IP
Milestones and Observations of Note
- More trouble in Philly as Marv Breuer of the A’s has his season cut short by a back injury.
- Shoulder surgery knocks out Boston’s Jack Kramer for the rest of the year, as does an elbow injury for Brooklyn’s Cliff “Lefty” Chambers and a partial UCL tear for Tex Hughson of the Red Sox has a similar result.
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