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ZapMast · 02-07-2026, 06:43 AM

It's Monday, June 1, 1981… April and May are in the books!

As we enter June here’s where we stand…

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Ernie Bewell Beat Reporter — Season So Far (April–May)

As of June 1, 1981 — two months in, and the league has shown its hand… but not all the way.

Two full months are in the books now, and if you’re looking for the clean, orderly hierarchy—one powerhouse per division, a handful of pretenders, and everybody else politely falling into line—you’re in the wrong league.

What we’ve got instead is a season with real leaders, real warning signs, and a whole lot of clubs living in that gray area where you can’t tell if you’re watching a contender… or a team one bad week away from the pack swallowing them whole.

The Big Picture: The Best Clubs Are Winning for Real

Start with the teams that don’t need smoke and mirrors.

Las Vegas (32–19, .627) is the best record on the board, and they’ve paired it with a +40 run differential (224 RS / 184 RA). That’s not a lucky start. That’s a good club.

Dallas (31–20, .608) has been the most forceful outfit in the NBC so far, with the biggest scoring punch we can see: 306 runs, and a league-best-looking +66 run differential. That’s “impose your will” territory.

Charlotte (30–21, .588) and Detroit (30–21, .588) sit right behind, both with +49 run differentials, and both with the kind of record that says, “We’ll be here in August.”

And then there’s Denver (30–21, .588)—same record class, +40 run differential (259/219)—quietly becoming the most credible threat to the Vegas order out West.

That’s the top tier, whether the standings want to admit it or not.

NBC: Dallas Has Teeth, Charlotte Has Position, and the West Is a Street Fight

NBC Central: A real race at the top

Dallas leads at 31–20, but Detroit is sitting one game back at 30–21, and Detroit’s profile looks sturdy—13–7 away and a positive run environment. This isn’t a runaway; it’s a two-horse contest that’s already starting to feel personal.

Chicago is the wild card in that division. They’re 26–25 with a nearly even run picture (220/223) and a habit of tight games (10–7 in one-run games). That can keep you afloat… or it can turn into a trap if the bounces stop bouncing.

NBC East: Charlotte leads, but the division has a wrinkle

Charlotte’s in first at 30–21, and they’ve built it the old-fashioned way: dominant at home (17–6). The wrinkle is the road: 13–15 away. That’s the only reason this division remains breathable.

Miami is three back at 27–24, but their numbers don’t flatter them: -24 run differential (194/218). That’s the profile of a team surviving the week-to-week grind, not controlling it. Still—survival counts, and June has a way of rewriting reputations.

Tampa is the strangest club in the East: 23–28, yet 16–10 away and 7–18 at home. That’s not a slump; that’s a personality disorder. If they ever reconcile who they are, they’re not dead.

And Atlanta? 21–30, but they’ve caught fire late: W5, 8–2 in the last 10. Two months in, that’s how a season can turn: not with a speech, but with ten games.

NBC West: Nobody’s in charge

This is the most unsettled division in the league. Phoenix and San Francisco are tied at 26–25, and neither club looks like a clean division winner yet.

Phoenix is playing better ball lately (7–3 last 10) while San Francisco is wobbling (2–8 last 10). Same record, opposite direction.

Los Angeles is one game back at 25–26, and here’s the tell: they’ve been deadly in tight games (9–4 one-run). That keeps you in the picture, but it’s also the kind of thing that can vanish without warning.

San Diego, at 20–31 with a -44 differential, is the clear trailer—yet even they’re sitting in a division where two strong weeks could change the entire chart.

ABC: Vegas leads the league, but the East and Central are boiling

ABC West: Vegas leads, Denver stalks

Vegas is first at 32–19, Denver sits at 30–21, and that’s the division in one sentence. The numbers say both are legitimate. The next question is whether Vegas can keep separation, because Denver is the kind of club that can win a month.

Seattle is 25–26 with a rough run profile (-43, 210/253) and a tough schedule marker (.531 SoS). That reads like a team paying the price for a hard two months. Portland is buried at 18–33 with an ugly -85 and the highest SoS listed (.536). That’s a long summer if it doesn’t turn soon.

ABC Central: Cincinnati and Nashville are the real thing

Cincinnati leads at 29–22 with a strong +59 run differential (244/185) and they’ve finished May like a club with purpose: W5, 7–3 last 10.

Nashville is right behind at 28–23, and they’ve scored plenty (269 runs, +37 differential). That’s a division built for June drama.

St. Louis has slid back to 26–25 and they’re stumbling into June on a L4 skid. Their run differential is still healthy (+32, 201/169), which tells you they’re better than this stretch—but stretches can become habits if you don’t stop them.

Houston is 25–26, negative run picture (-18), but playing decent lately (6–4 last 10). They’re not out of it; they’re just not in control of it.

ABC East: A three-way scrape behind Boston

Boston leads the division at 26–25, which tells you everything you need to know: nobody has taken command.

New York and Philadelphia are both 24–27, and Pittsburgh is already deep in trouble at 19–32 with a brutal -76 run differential. That isn’t “unlucky.” That’s “fix it or fold.”

What Two Months Have Proven — and What They Haven’t

Proven:

Dallas and Las Vegas are built like top seeds. The run differentials back it up.

Charlotte and Detroit look like real postseason pieces, even with flaws.

Denver and Cincinnati aren’t flukes; their numbers travel.

Not proven yet:

The NBC West is still unclaimed territory.

The ABC East hasn’t produced a true leader—Boston’s simply been the least unsteady.

A handful of clubs are living on one-run margins and late-game coin flips, and June is where those accounts get audited.

June 1 is where the season stops being “early.” From here on out, trends start turning into identity.

Who holds the single season record in the Action Baseball League for complete games?

Jose Contreras, ATL, 19, 1976
Tony Oubre, NY, 18, 1978
Netz Altman, CIN, 17, 1976
Jose Contreras, SEA, 17, 1980
Omar Garcia, DET, 17, 1978

Welcome to the Action Baseball League
presented by Sim Baseball Vision (See it for yourself)

Real. Fictional. ⚾.

================================================== ================================================== =======
ABL on StatsPlus | ABL on OOTP | ABL History | ABL (prime) the old thread | ABL Stat of the day | Sim Baseball Vision
| ABL Real Time Sim | Major Sim Baseball | The Players League, 1946 | DEFENDING THE SHIELD | The Baseball Observer

02-07-2026, 06:43 AM	#129
ZapMast Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 468	It's Monday, June 1, 1981… April and May are in the books! As we enter June here’s where we stand… Ernie Bewell Beat Reporter — Season So Far (April–May) As of June 1, 1981 — two months in, and the league has shown its hand… but not all the way. Two full months are in the books now, and if you’re looking for the clean, orderly hierarchy—one powerhouse per division, a handful of pretenders, and everybody else politely falling into line—you’re in the wrong league. What we’ve got instead is a season with real leaders, real warning signs, and a whole lot of clubs living in that gray area where you can’t tell if you’re watching a contender… or a team one bad week away from the pack swallowing them whole. The Big Picture: The Best Clubs Are Winning for Real Start with the teams that don’t need smoke and mirrors. Las Vegas (32–19, .627) is the best record on the board, and they’ve paired it with a +40 run differential (224 RS / 184 RA). That’s not a lucky start. That’s a good club. Dallas (31–20, .608) has been the most forceful outfit in the NBC so far, with the biggest scoring punch we can see: 306 runs, and a league-best-looking +66 run differential. That’s “impose your will” territory. Charlotte (30–21, .588) and Detroit (30–21, .588) sit right behind, both with +49 run differentials, and both with the kind of record that says, “We’ll be here in August.” And then there’s Denver (30–21, .588)—same record class, +40 run differential (259/219)—quietly becoming the most credible threat to the Vegas order out West. That’s the top tier, whether the standings want to admit it or not. NBC: Dallas Has Teeth, Charlotte Has Position, and the West Is a Street Fight NBC Central: A real race at the top Dallas leads at 31–20, but Detroit is sitting one game back at 30–21, and Detroit’s profile looks sturdy—13–7 away and a positive run environment. This isn’t a runaway; it’s a two-horse contest that’s already starting to feel personal. Chicago is the wild card in that division. They’re 26–25 with a nearly even run picture (220/223) and a habit of tight games (10–7 in one-run games). That can keep you afloat… or it can turn into a trap if the bounces stop bouncing. NBC East: Charlotte leads, but the division has a wrinkle Charlotte’s in first at 30–21, and they’ve built it the old-fashioned way: dominant at home (17–6). The wrinkle is the road: 13–15 away. That’s the only reason this division remains breathable. Miami is three back at 27–24, but their numbers don’t flatter them: -24 run differential (194/218). That’s the profile of a team surviving the week-to-week grind, not controlling it. Still—survival counts, and June has a way of rewriting reputations. Tampa is the strangest club in the East: 23–28, yet 16–10 away and 7–18 at home. That’s not a slump; that’s a personality disorder. If they ever reconcile who they are, they’re not dead. And Atlanta? 21–30, but they’ve caught fire late: W5, 8–2 in the last 10. Two months in, that’s how a season can turn: not with a speech, but with ten games. NBC West: Nobody’s in charge This is the most unsettled division in the league. Phoenix and San Francisco are tied at 26–25, and neither club looks like a clean division winner yet. Phoenix is playing better ball lately (7–3 last 10) while San Francisco is wobbling (2–8 last 10). Same record, opposite direction. Los Angeles is one game back at 25–26, and here’s the tell: they’ve been deadly in tight games (9–4 one-run). That keeps you in the picture, but it’s also the kind of thing that can vanish without warning. San Diego, at 20–31 with a -44 differential, is the clear trailer—yet even they’re sitting in a division where two strong weeks could change the entire chart. ABC: Vegas leads the league, but the East and Central are boiling ABC West: Vegas leads, Denver stalks Vegas is first at 32–19, Denver sits at 30–21, and that’s the division in one sentence. The numbers say both are legitimate. The next question is whether Vegas can keep separation, because Denver is the kind of club that can win a month. Seattle is 25–26 with a rough run profile (-43, 210/253) and a tough schedule marker (.531 SoS). That reads like a team paying the price for a hard two months. Portland is buried at 18–33 with an ugly -85 and the highest SoS listed (.536). That’s a long summer if it doesn’t turn soon. ABC Central: Cincinnati and Nashville are the real thing Cincinnati leads at 29–22 with a strong +59 run differential (244/185) and they’ve finished May like a club with purpose: W5, 7–3 last 10. Nashville is right behind at 28–23, and they’ve scored plenty (269 runs, +37 differential). That’s a division built for June drama. St. Louis has slid back to 26–25 and they’re stumbling into June on a L4 skid. Their run differential is still healthy (+32, 201/169), which tells you they’re better than this stretch—but stretches can become habits if you don’t stop them. Houston is 25–26, negative run picture (-18), but playing decent lately (6–4 last 10). They’re not out of it; they’re just not in control of it. ABC East: A three-way scrape behind Boston Boston leads the division at 26–25, which tells you everything you need to know: nobody has taken command. New York and Philadelphia are both 24–27, and Pittsburgh is already deep in trouble at 19–32 with a brutal -76 run differential. That isn’t “unlucky.” That’s “fix it or fold.” What Two Months Have Proven — and What They Haven’t Proven: Dallas and Las Vegas are built like top seeds. The run differentials back it up. Charlotte and Detroit look like real postseason pieces, even with flaws. Denver and Cincinnati aren’t flukes; their numbers travel. Not proven yet: The NBC West is still unclaimed territory. The ABC East hasn’t produced a true leader—Boston’s simply been the least unsteady. A handful of clubs are living on one-run margins and late-game coin flips, and June is where those accounts get audited. June 1 is where the season stops being “early.” From here on out, trends start turning into identity. Who holds the single season record in the Action Baseball League for complete games? Jose Contreras, ATL, 19, 1976 Tony Oubre, NY, 18, 1978 Netz Altman, CIN, 17, 1976 Jose Contreras, SEA, 17, 1980 Omar Garcia, DET, 17, 1978 Welcome to the Action Baseball League presented by Sim Baseball Vision (See it for yourself) Real. Fictional. ⚾. ================================================== ================================================== ======= ABL on StatsPlus \| ABL on OOTP \| ABL History \| ABL (prime) the old thread \| ABL Stat of the day \| Sim Baseball Vision \| ABL Real Time Sim \| Major Sim Baseball \| The Players League, 1946 \| DEFENDING THE SHIELD \| The Baseball Observer Last edited by ZapMast; 02-07-2026 at 08:23 AM.