Despite ongoing problems among our pitching staff, we extend our lead into double figures in the early part of August going 9-3 with all three losses remarkably by a score of 6-5.
By the time September rolls around, we are at 81-49 and a comfortable 13 clear.
That runs out to a 9-game win streak and our squad returns to full strength when Scott Fletcher comes back to us after a quick rehab.
He takes over the everyday 3B role with Jay Bell staying at SS and Bill Madlock being used off the bench and resting our corner IFs when needed.
Only briefly is this the case, however, as Andy Van Slyke has a back issue flare up and we IL him just to be safe while we’ve still got the time.
We are the first to lock down our division, doing so in mid-September and, while we get stuck on 99 wins for a while, we eventually break triple-figures courtesy of a walkoff 3-run homer against the Mets by Scott Fletcher and finish a stellar season at an MLB-best 104-58, 21 to the good of Philly.
Another unusually uncomplicated regular season.
The Dodgers never look troubled and clinch a couple days after us, going on to take out the NL West by 19 games.
Same goes for the Red Sox, who again run away with the AL East, putting it to bed with a 10-game win streak in mid-August and finishing 13 clear.
The A’s run right over and then away from the Twins but suffer a massive blow when sparkplug Rickey Henderson is ruled out for the season after straining his PCL.
They struggle without him in the closing period but still come out ahead by 9 in the end.
Final Leaders and Top 20s
Don Mattingly easily takes out the AL batting crown while Kevin Seitzer just edges out Thad Bosley - they were equal at 325 entering the final day - in the NL.
Jose Canseco leads all hitters with 41 HR, while Donnie Baseball's 122 RBI are the most.
Vince Coleman is the top base-stealer with 94.
Rocket Clemens misses out on the Triple Crown by 2 ERA pips and Fernando Valenzuela also finishes podium across the three stat cats.
Rocket's 24 Wins and 244 strikeouts, and Nando's 2.42 ERA, are the best marks this year.
Ken Dayley leads all relievers with 44 Saves.
I missed it last year but Joe Morgan passed Ted Williams to become the all-time leader in bases on balls; he finishes this year on 2403.
Monthly Award Winners
August
American League
Batter – Don Mattingly (Yankees): 368 / 6 HR / 25 RBI
Pitcher – Tom Henke (White Sox): 1-0 / 0.00 / 10 SV / 22 K / 18.2 IP
Rookie – John Kruk (Red Sox): 320 / 3 HR / 21 RBI
National League
Batter – Will Clark (Giants): 330 / 11 HR / 27 RBI
Pitcher – Fernando Valenzuela (Dodgers): 6-0 / 0.74 / 36 K / 48.1 IP
Rookie – Will Clark
September
American League
Batter – Brian Downing (Angels): 333 / 9 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher – Bruce Hurst (Red Sox): 4-0 / 3.14 / 29 K / 43 IP
Rookie – Mark McGwire (A’s): 322 / 8 HR / 21 RBI
National League
Batter – George Bell (Phillies): 340 / 6 HR / 21 RBI
Pitcher –Jack Morris (Reds): 5-1 / 1.94 / 30 K / 41.2 IP
Rookie – Greg Maddux (Braves): 3-0 / 1.98 / 26 K / 36.1 IP
Milestones and Observations of Note
2000 Hits: Don Baylor, Bobby Grich
200 Wins: Frank Tanana, Jerry Reuss
Baltimore’s Oddibe McDowell has his season ended by a concussion, while Reds OF Len Dykstra misses 5 weeks with a hand injury.