What a gutsy first sectional from this group that I am labelling
The Little Engine that Could.
We start in a positive manner with 8 wins from our first 10 games as Pops once again comes out of the gates hot, but it is a struggle after that as he, and we, cool right down.
Then he gets injured and a broken elbow bone means hell have to sit out the maximum 3-month Legacy stint. We call up rookie Reggie Walton from AAA.
Then we lose Tony Armas to a hip injury for 4 months. Fair to say the wheels are falling off. Veteran Dave May comes up to fill the spot but we are desperately thin at CF now.
We also lose Dave Parker for a week with back spasms but he doesnt need to go on the IL.
But the guys dig really deep throughout and, despite some light hitting from a few of them, somehow get through this most challenging period with a 24-21 record and in a virtual tie for first with our friends the Cubbies.
Definitely a case of the sum of the parts being greater than the whole. But, as usual in circumstances like these, one has to worry about the toll all of these exertions will take at the pointy end of the season.
Depending on one's perspective, you could say that the big dropoff from the top 3 is a cause for concern or an opportunity for improvement.
The rotation has basically been the glue in this early bit, with only Whitson failing to impress. The BP, on the other hand, has looked anywhere from shaky to downright scary - and I don't mean that in a good way.
We re-up Kent Tekulve for 4 years at a ridiculously low $115k (vs his $180k this season) and for a year at $105k with Bill Almon.
The Dodgers, riding the Fernando craze and scintillating form to win 18 from their first 30, look impressive so far, as does Oakland, and it's nice to see the Brew Crew doing well.
Monthly Award Winners
April
American League
- Batter Jim Rice (Red Sox): 392 / 5 HR / 17 RBI
- Pitcher Steve Renko (Royals): 3-1 / 1.67 / 15 K / 32.1 IP
- Rookie Steve Howe (Twins): 3-1 / 2.37 / 3 SV / 7 K / 19 IP
National League
- Batter Dale Murphy (Braves): 384 / 6 HR / 20 RBI
- Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers): 4-0 / 1.10 / 28 K / 41 IP
- Rookie Fernando Valenzuela
May
American League
- Batter George Brett (Royals): 420 / 6 HR / 18 RBI
- Pitcher Larry Christenson (Brewers): 5-0 / 1.41 / 18 K / 44.2 IP
- Rookie Neil Allen (Red Sox): 4-1 / 2.57 / 5 SV / 16 K / 21 IP
National League
- Batter Mike Schmidt (Phillies): 308 / 8 HR / 21 RBI
- Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers): 5-1 / 2.25 / 37 K / 48 IP
- Rookie Fernando Valenzuela
News and Leaders
Milestones and Observations of Note
- 2000 Hits: Al Oliver
- 200 Wins: Don Sutton
- The Os lose quality OF Dave Collins for most of the season to an elbow break, while our old mate Bill Robinson now with the Friars sadly suffers a season-ending version of the same injury. Seems to be the in thing right now.
- Astros rookie 2B Dave Stapleton is done for the year courtesy of a torn labrum and Blue Jays 3B Doug DeCinces almost certainly likewise thanks to a broken kneecap, while the Expos will be without pitcher Roger Erickson for the rest of 1980 thanks to another torn labrum. Many an injury trend at the moment.
- White Sox rookie Harold Baines homers in each of his first three games in the bigs.
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