April 1894
England - First Division
Preseason favorites
Wolverhampton are on fire, losing only 3 games this month. After losing to Derby on Opening Day, they embarked on an 11 game unbeaten streak, which was snapped by West Midlands rivals West Bromwich at home. The Wolves own both the 2nd best offense and defense of the league at this point. Their best starter has been RHP Quentin Naylor, who has a perfect 7 wins from 7 starts for a 1.92 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 1.2 WPA. Naylor has never been a standout pitcher, and his braggadocio makes it tough to root for him, but his popularity amongst Wolves fans might increase if he carries his career-best start into May. Offensively, the club is being led by 3B Gary Smith (.341/.407/.585, 21 RBI, 1.2 WPA) and CF Jamie Coulter (.409/.464/.489, 15 RBI, 1.1 WPA). The underlying numbers suggest this offensive rate is not sustainable, but the Wolves are most certainly in the hunt for their first title.
Just 2 games behind, there's a team that already knows what it takes to win it all in Preston North End. Their rotation's been solid, with a veteran lefty leading the way. Edward Middleton has been with the team for two years now, making his debut for Accrington in 1888. When the club wound up in 1892, the southpaw was signed by Rotherham, but he never played for them as the Lancashire outfit purchased his contract just a couple weeks before the 1893 Opening Day. This season, Middleton holds a 6-1 record with a 3.39 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 0.5 WPA. Preston's offense is as talented as always, with 2x YPotY SS William Hogarth hitting .304/.353/.418, with 19 runs batted in and 0.8 WPA. The 39 year old captain, 1B James Harley has also been one of the top contributors, with a .423/.471/.577 slash, and driving in 13 runs for a 0.6 WPA. The club is definitely in the race, but more consistent pitching (they've only pitched 6 QS) might secure Preston North End their 3rd trophy.
At the bottom of the table, Derby, Rotherham and Sheffield United have got their work cut out for them to remain in the division.
Hitting Leaders
C Zak Marshall - Wolves -
.460/.507/.603, 6 2B, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 1 SB
SS Bertrand Winward - West Brom - .387/
.536/.452, 2 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 1 SB
CF Danny Hodder - Bolton - .395/.458/
.698, 8 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR,
24 RBI, 1 SB
3B Liam Mack - Aston Villa - .444/.495/.654,
9 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB
CF Douglas Rousset - Everton - .357/.426/.548, 2 2B,
7 3B, 14 RBI, 3 SB
RF Dennis Cox - Derby - .365/.419/.541, 3 2B,
4 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB
LF Mo Humphreys - Stoke - .349/.438/.566, 6 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI,
15 SB
Pitching Leaders
RH Quentin Naylor - Wolves -
7-0, 61 IP, 1.92 ERA, 1.23 WHIP,
25 K, 17 BB
LH Keith Coleman - Burnley - 4-3,
72.1 IP,
1.87 ERA,
1.19 WHIP, 17 K, 10 BB
RH Lester Spencer - Aston Villa - 1-1, 22 IP, 3.27 ERA, 2.05 WHIP, 4 K,
7 BB
RH Daniel Perrin - Wolves - 4-1, 62.1 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 14 K, 28 BB
LH Edward Middleton - Preston - 6-1, 61 IP, 3.39 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 16 K, 30 BB
England - Second Division
Darwen, Arsenal and Walsall lead the way in the fight for a spot in the Test Matches. Lincoln, Newton Heath and newcomers Leicester are just one good run away from breaking into the top 3.
Hitting Leaders
RF Oliver Hall - Sunderland -
.431/
.488/.667,
11 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI
1B Lewis Hallworth - Port Vale - .273/.354/.
.697, 1 2B,
9 HR, 18 RBI
2B Gael Haycock - Lincoln - .275/.362/.536, 4 2B,
1 3B, 4 HR, 14 RBI
LF Leo Evans - Sunderland - .333/.371/.607, 2 2B, 7 HR,
18 RBI, 2 SB
LF Glen Smith - Crewe Alex. - .267/.337/.333, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI,
19 SB
Pitching Leaders
LH Robert Matheson - Darwen -
6-0, 64.2 IP,
0.70 ERA,
0.80 WHIP, 52 K, 16 BB
RH Graham Knight - Birmingham - 3-7,
78.1 IP, 3.45 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 59 K, 22 BB
RH Michael McBurney - Leicester - 4-4, 62 IP, 2.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP,
69 K, 16 BB
RH Ian Coll - Newton Heath - 4-3, 40.1 IP, 3.79 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 27 K,
6 BB
RH Billy Rees - Newton Heath - 5-2, 77 IP, 1.64 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 50 K, 16 BB
Scotland - Division One
The preseason favorites also lead in Scotland, as St. Mirren finishes the month on a 5 game lossless streak. Their pitching has carried them so far, as they own the best rotation in the league. Their pitching staff has allowed 69 runs, including 5 shutouts so far. Lefty Scott Weir has been their best starter, with a near-perfect 5-0 record from 7 starts. Weir has a 2.14 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 14 K and 22 BB. Allowing just 3 runs per game has done wonders in allowing a bottom-half offense to settle into first place. 2B Ian Wallis has been the best hitter for them, slashing .442/.473/.593.
It is newly promoted Clyde, not 3rd LRV, who find themselves battling it out for first place. A 9-game winning streak early in the month had them tied for first, but a 2-4 end to April put them a game and a half back. Clyde have the 2nd best rotation, with Welsh lefty Sebastian Duncan doing well in his first season in Scotland following a November trade from Bolton. The Cardiff native is also 5-0 after 7 starts, though with a 4.13 ERA and 1.43 WHIP, striking out 8 and walking 16. 3B Jack Robertson leads the collective 2nd best offense with a .333/.408/.379 slash, driving in 14 runs. It will be an exciting race at the top if the Bully Wee can keep it up.
At the bottom of the table, Dundee and Renton have a mountain to climb to avoid the drop.
Hitting Leaders
LF Lewis Johnston - Dumbarton -
.447/.505/.706, 6 2B, 8 3B, 15 RBI, 25 SB
2B Aidan Walker - Hearts - .406/
.512/.565, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI
3B Douglas Gilbert - Rangers - .443/.479/
.727,
9 2B, 8 3B, 15 RBI, 22 SB
LF Fraser Graham - Leith - .362/.381/.617, 1 2B,
10 3B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 15 SB
2B Ian Wallis - St. Mirren - .442/.473/.593, 5 2B, 1 3B,
2 HR,
17 RBI, 12 SB
RF Thomas Barrett - Dumbarton - .284/.419/.419, 4 2B, 3 3B, 9 RBI,
36 SB
Pitching Leaders
LH Scott Weir - St. Mirren -
5-0, 63 IP,
2.14 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 14 K, 22 BB
RH Cameron Mason - 3rd LRV -
5-5,
82.1 IP, 4.92 ERA, 1.59 WHIP,
20 K, 23 BB
LH Andrew Gibson - Leith - 4-2, 63 IP, 3.00 ERA,
1.19 WHIP, 17 K, 17 BB
RH Samuel Stewart - Renton - 1-2, 26 IP, 5.54 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 4 K,
7 BB
LH Aiden Kennedy - St. Mirren - 3-1, 60.1 IP, 3.58 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 10 K, 22 BB
Scotland - Division Two
St. Bernard's are hoping for an immediate return to Division One, but Abercorn and Partick Thistle will make it as difficult as they can.
Hitting Leaders
RF Blair Ball - Abercorn -
.449/
.500/.562, 4 2B, 3 3B, 15 RBI, 3 SB
1B Ewan Murray - Pt. Glasgow - .386/.446/
.639, 2 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 10 SB
RF Shaun Miller - Hibernian - .370/.407/.494,
8 2B, 1 3B, 16 RBI, 6 SB
CF Daniel Allison - Abercorn - .357/.476/.524, 2 2B,
6 3B, 11 RBI, 17 SB
2B Cowal Wilson - Partick Thistle - .378/.429/.622, 5 2B,
5 HR, 17 RBI
2B Thomas Jackson - Abercorn - .330/.380/.432, 3 2B, 3 3B,
25 RBI, 16 SB
RF Logan Weir - St. Bernard's - .376/.453/.559, 3 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI,
24 SB
Pitching Leaders
RH Harvey John - Partick Thistle -
7-1, 64.2 IP, 2.37 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 19 K, 19 BB
LH Jay Lawson - Cowlairs - 3-6,
69.1 IP, 4.80 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 19 K, 18 BB
LH Ryan McIntyre - Dundee - 2-0, 22 IP,
2.05 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 4 K, 13 BB
RH Connor McArthur - Abercorn - 6-1, 60.1 IP, 2.54 ERA,
1.01 WHIP,
25 K,
5 BB
RH Robbie Walker - St. Bernard's - 6-1, 62 IP, 3.05 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 23 K, 26 BB
Ireland
A three-way tie at the top has Distillery crowned champions! It is their second title and first since 1891. Distillery were 3-3 against Cliftonville and 5-1 against Linfield. Cliftonville was 1-4-1 against Linfield. In what was an exciting, short season, Distillery lost their final 2 series against Cliftonville and Glentoran, opening the door for the others. Linfield went 5-3-1 in the final 3 series, beating Cliftonville in the final two games to tie everything up. In the end it's the Lisburn club who win the title!
Player of the Year
RHP Steve Lawrence - Cliftonville - 1st - 5-3, 66 IP, 1.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 15 K, 11 BB
Young Player of the Year
LHP Pat Repton - Distillery - 22, 1st - 1-0, 3.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 1 K, 1 BB (Repton was the only U23 player who participated this year)
Team of the Year
C Jack Murray - Linfield - 3rd - .317/.394/.413, 4 2B, 1 3B, 7 RBI, 1 WAR
1B Dermot Smith - Linfield - 1st - .306/.362/.431, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 0.4 WAR
2B Jackie Curtis - Linfield - 2nd - .352/.387/.451, 7 2B, 14 RBI, 0.6 WAR
3B Daniel Murphy - Distillery - 3rd - .382/.425/.485, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 1 SB, 0.6 WAR
SS Canice Jones - Glentoran - 1st - .322/.322/.322, 7 RBI, 4 SB, 0.1 WAR
LF Corcoran Spear - Distillery - 3rd - .333/.362/.413, 4 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 10 SB, 0.7 WAR
CF Connor Young - Linfield - 1st - .286/.286/.333, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 11 SB, 0.7 WAR
RF Caoimhin Green - Distillery - 2nd - .296/.324/.338, 1 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBI, 9 SB, 0.3 WAR
P Steve Lawrence - Cliftonville - 1st
Argentina
With 3 series left, Flores are pretty much 2 wins away from securing their first title.
Hitting Leaders
RF Joe O'Connor - St. Andrew's -
.516/
.545/.710, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB
RF Josh Gillies - Flores - .478/.514/
.754, 4 2B,
6 3B, 1 HR,
14 RBI,
4 SB
1B Ethan Cairns - Flores - .443/.533/.590,
6 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI
CF Skelly Nydie - St. Andrew's - .286/.333/.414,
3 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB
1B Jacob Budgen - St. Andrew's - .304/.345/.342, 3 2B, 11 RBI
Pitching Leaders
RH Flaherty Peck - Flores -
4-0, 45 IP, 2.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 16 K, 23 BB
LH Darragh O'Donnell - Lobos -
4-4,
69.1 IP, 3.76 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 23 K, 18 BB
LH Gearroc Harris - Lomas - 1-2, 34.1 IP,
1.57 ERA,
0.99 WHIP, 4 K,
5 BB
RH Fergus O'Brien - St. Andrew's -
4-2, 51.2 IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.45 WHIP,
26 K, 16 BB
RH Aaron Thomson - Flores -
4-1, 44.2 IP, 2.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 17 K, 7 BB