Hard to properly express either my surprise at or admiration for how well this group has done in the opening stanza of this season. Early injuries to Dick Groat - just back with the group today - and Matty Alou - still a couple months off - make it even more extraordinary that this ragtag (said with all the love and respect in the world) bunch on the league's 4th-lowest payroll can be sitting at an MLB best 32-16 as we enter June.
We've done this with guys like Jose Pagan and Dick Schofield - decidedly bench pieces - assuming everyday roles and making themselves right at home.
Gonna have to play devil's advocate here, however. Look at both the team and individual metrics and it's fairly obvious we are playing well beyond our means and that they are highly unlikely to be sustainable over a full season. That's OK, this first bit has been worth the entry price alone.
Once again, this group's effectiveness, while limited, is rooted in its collectiveness. Not one of them below replacement value, each one of them contributing. Roberto and Maz are again leading the way, but check out that line for Jose Pagan in Dick Groat's absence.
Off the scale, here, that's for sure. 2.30 overall ERA, with the BP at a sparkling 1.74. Just 132 runs conceded in 48 games - less than 3 RPG. SP1 thru 4 at 140 ERA+ or better, with only notorious slow starter Pizarro struggling. The schedule means his SP5 role hasn't seen much action, which is why we put him there given his problems in these early weeks, but we'll eventually swap him and Purkey.
Once again, Joe Gibbon has been the tall timber in the pen, but we are having some strife renegotiating his deal and it is looking more and more likely we won't be able to retain him past team control. On the other hand, Bob Miller ends up tempering his demands and we've now got him with us thru 1965 at least.
We'll know a heck of a lot more about who is in this year's fight in the next recap than we do now, with very few clear patterns having emerged to this point.
Monthly Award Winners
April
American League
- Batter Harmon Killebrew (Twins): 275 / 7 HR / 14 RBI
- Pitcher Orlando Pena (Athletics): 4-0 / 1.71 / 26 K / 31.2 IP
- Rookie Mickey Lolich (Tigers): 3-1 / 2.89 / 28 K / 37.1 IP
National League
- Batter Ron Santo (Cubs): 382 / 5 HR / 22 RBI
- Pitcher Sandy Koufax (Dodgers): 3-1 / 1.67 / 42 K / 43 IP
- Rookie Sammy Ellis (Dodgers): 2-0 / 1.80 / 20 K / 30 IP
May
American League
- Batter Roger Maris (Red Sox): 386 / 11 HR / 25 RBI
- Pitcher Orlando Pena (Athletics): 5-1 / 1.51 / 23 K / 42 IP
- Rookie Mickey Lolich (Tigers): 4-0 / 1.71 / 44 K / 47.1 IP
National League
- Batter Billy Williams (Cubs): 362 / 7 HR / 21 RBI
- Pitcher Jim OToole (Dodgers): 6-1 / 2.35 / 46 K / 57.1 IP
- Rookie Jim Dickson (Reds): 2-2 / 3.48 / 7 SV / 9 K / 20.2 IP
News and Leaders
Milestones and Observations of Note
- 250 Wins: Warren Spahn
- 300 HR: Ernie Banks
- The World Champs will have to defend their title without pitcher John Buzhardt, knocked out for the year by a labrum tear.
- A fractured hand puts Tigers 1B Norm Cash on ice for about a month, while Red Sox 3B Tommie Davis suffers a setback with his ankle injury and has his return date pushed back by roughly the same amount.
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