The spotty form continues early as we drop two games at home to the Mets and they take over in top spot. In fact we have gone 5-15 to this point since the final week of July.
A 4-game home sweep of the Braves at least stops the bleeding for the moment but that’s about it with us still trailing the Mets and Phillies come September.
We lose Robbie Alomar and Shawon Dunston in consecutive days. Robbie only misses a few days but Dunny needs an IL stint and we decide to give young Cesar Morillo – who never made it to the bigs IRL – his first shot at it in this timeline. Rosters have expanded now and the Links are not contending this season, so we’ll keep him up for the remainder and see how he handles himself.
We also lose Jim Gott for a month but get Danny Darwin back after a quick rehab at Lincoln.
Some improved pitching in early Sep push us to the top of the standings and we lead the Phils by 3 when they come to TRS, with the Mets tied with them as well and still with 6 games left to play against us including the final 3.
A big finish looms as mixed results for all three clubs leave us tied with the Phils and 2 ahead of the Mets as we start our final run of 6 games against NY from our remaining 9.
High drama in the first of those with Bonds saving our bacon with a walkoff grand salami and then again the following night when they get a 6-5 win in an epic 19-inning battle that likely did both clubs more harm than good as far as personnel goes.
Another long loss in extras against the Cubs doesn’t help one bit in that regard as the lads are operating on fumes by this point but by the time of our return bout with the Mets at Shea to finish the schedule, they are eliminated and we are still clinging onto a game lead over the Phils.
A tight win over Doc Gooden in the opener couple with a Phillies loss at St. Louis puts us on the verge of getting it done and a more convincing win the next night secures our passage to the promised land.
Boy how the complexion of this season changed in the final six weeks or so, only for the status quo at the beginning of this sectional prevail.
The Red Sox seem on the cusp of putting down their rivals ruthlessly and effortlessly with a hefty win streak in early August but then they do something very un-Boston-like (in this timeline, at least) and completely fall apart. Up by 12 at one point, the Sox’ lead shrinks to just 2 before they get ahold of themselves and eventually book another post-season berth, clinching first of the four and going on to win the div by 7 games. They will, however, be without catcher Mike LaValliere for the playoffs after a setback in his rehab from a rib fracture.
The Braves are next to advance after an untroubled passage in the NL West race.
In the AL West, the Royals make a charge during September with 11 straight wins but when they lose ace Bret Saberhagen for the season not long after it takes the wind right out of their sales and the Halos hang on to win it by 4.
Final Leaders and Top 20s
Darryl Hamilton and Ryne Sandberg win the batting crowns this year. Jose Canseco leads all players with 41 HR, pipping Fred McGriff by one, and his 118 RBI are also the high. Marquis Grissom leads both leagues with 80 SB.
Greg Maddux and Terry Mulholland both win 21 to lead all pitchers, with John Smoltz posting the year's low ERA with a crisp 2.26. 273 whiffs earns The Big Unit his first King of K title, with Rob Dibble top of the mast with 40 Saves.
Monthly Award Winners
August
American League
Batter – Jim Thome (Indians): 417 / 12 HR / 28 RBI
Pitcher – David Cone (Tigers): 5-1 / 3.22 / 37 K / 44.2 IP
Rookie – Dave Burba (Twins): 4-1 / 2.60 / 21 K / 34.2 IP
National League
Batter – Darryl Strawberry (Mets): 333 / 8 HR / 25 RBI
Pitcher – Jose Rijo (Reds): 6-0 / 2.08 / 46 K / 47.2 IP
Rookie – Butch Henry (Dodgers): 5-0 / 2.04 / 25 K / 39.2 IP
September
American League
Batter – Fred McGriff (Royals): 344 / 12 HR / 25 RBI
Pitcher – Kevin Appier (Royals): 5-0 / 1.74 / 43 K / 46.2 IP
Rookie – Robert Toth (Indians): 3-0 / 1.44 / 16 K / 25 IP (never made it to the bigs IRL)
National League
Batter – Ryne Sandberg (Cubs): 407 / 5 HR / 13 RBI
Pitcher – Dan Plesac (Pirates): 3-0 / 0.00 / 7 SV / 7 K / 16 IP
Rookie – Donovan Osborne (Astros): 4-1 / 1.93 / 22 K / 37.1 IP
Milestones and Observations of Note
2000 Hits: Lou Whitaker, Carney Lansford, Tim Raines, Gary Carter
300 HR: Kent Hrbek
The loss of both Nelson Liriano (fractured wrist) and Terry Mulholland (labrum) down the stretch very much cruels the Mets chances.
The Jays cut Manager Bill Robinson in mid-September.
In AAA, Syracuse’s Pat Rapp no-hits El Paso.