Pastime Baseball League
June Review (cont.)
Northern League Review
The New York Heroes maintain their division lead, and it all comes down to pitching. Jim McCormick (12-3, 3.63) and Frank Killen (11-2, 2.47) are showing no signs of slowing down, and Bill Byrd (7-7, 3.68) is rounding into form. Offensively, Roger Connor (.358-8-53) is putting up great numbers, while David Wright (.221-10-38) is showing power but a continued lack of patience.
In Louisville, the Racers slowed a bit, going 13-14 on the month as the offense struggled beyond Dan Brouthers (.291-18-61). The team is second in OBP but only sixth in slugging. A bit more power, even gap power, could go a long way here. To the hill, Edinson Volquez (7-4, 2.67) has posted a 1.77 ERA over his last 12 starts, while Roy Oswalt remains his brilliant self (9-1, 3.28).
There's plenty of fight in the Charlotte Cougars, who saw themselves embroiled in two braws this month: Tex Hughson and Paul Hines earning suspensions of 8 and 9 games, respectively for their parts. The team is second in pitching despite nobody with double-digit wins (Ben Sheets leads with 8) while their offense ranks last despite all four infielders having double-digit homers (1B Harry Davis has 14, 2B Fred Dunlap has 13, SS John Beckwith has 13, and 3B Mark Reynolds has 12).
Charlotte's infield is offset by the Philadelphia Ringers' outfield, which has three double-digit homer players – LF Charley Jones (18), CF John O’Rourke (21) and RF John Anderson (11) – plus DH/OF Matt Holliday (11). But disappointing pitching from Satchel Paige (5-8, 5.29), Joel Pineiro (8-7, 4.57) and Charley Radbourn (5-8, 5.52) have left the Ringers in the cellar, though at 9 ½ out, by no means out of the hunt.
Out West, the Wichita Brigade still haven’t gotten hot, but they’re plugging steadily. Management, however, decided that’s not good enough, and pulled the trigger on a pair of deals. Seeking some more power, the Brigade dealt 2B Sammy Strang (.324-8-35) to the Los Angeles Idols for OF/1B Jay Gibbons (.242-10-34) in a move that surprised many. Wichita, however, felt Gibbons provides more power potential for a lineup last in the Northern League with only 41 thus far. Since the June 4 trade, Gibbons has hit .286 with 3 homers and 12 RBI. They weren’t done, though, trading P Elton Chamberlain (3-3, 4.73) to the struggling Chicago Hitmen for RF Chick Stahl (.298-6-21).
The latter deal raised some questions when a week after its completion, Chamberlain began complaining of elbow soreness. He has not been DL’d, but some in Chicago are less than thrilled and complaining Wichita knew something was up. One pitcher not hurt, though, is Rube Waddell, who went 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in June and could be rounding into form once again.
The league’s best offense resides in Indianapolis, where the Engines are watching the trio of Nick Johnson (.266-10-56), Jake Beckley (.334-7-50) and rookie Stan Musial (.272-12-50) get big hit after big hit. Their pitching staff, however, is the worst in the Northern League with a 5.12 ERA. But that didn’t stop them from going 18-10 in June, buoyed by Abner Dalrymple’s .371 average for the month. Also of note: rookie Phil Rizzuto has been installed in a platoon situation with Sam Wise at short. Until now, Rizzuto has been a defensive replacement, but he’s earned regular time by hitting .350 off the bench.
Luck finally ran out on the Sacramento Stingers in June. They had the league’s worst offense and the 6th (of 8) pitching staff a month ago, yet sat only 2 ½ games out. But they went 9-19 in June with ace Cole Hamels still out another 6 weeks, things could get ugly in a hurry. The infield offense is easily baseball’s worst, as both second base (converted 3B Morgan Ensberg) and third base (Pedro Feliz) are black holes, hitting under .200.
We wrap up this month’s review in Chicago, where the Hitmen are desperately trying to keep the faith. Cy Young and Johan Santana remain out – Santana for the season it appears – and they were joined by Josh Hamilton (due back this week) and, in a crushing blow, Adam Dunn. Though batting only .202 when he went down with a torn PCL, Dunn was a legitimate power threat, with 9 homers but 34 last season. The injury means that whatever concerns there are that kept Babe Ruth limited in the first 2 ½ months of the season, they’re cast aside now. Ruth is back in every day in the hopes he can improve his patience – he’s only 21, remember - to best utilize his massive power. On June 24, he slammed two homers and drove in 6 against Sacramento, perhaps a sign of what’s to come. Everyone is underperforming at this point other than rookie 1B Eddie Waitkus (.278-13-55). Can the heart of Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and the reinstated Ruth lift the Hitmen to a second-half surge? Chicago fans are counting on it.
AWARDS
Player of the Week
6/6 RF John Anderson – Philadelphia Ringers
6/13 LF Harry Walker – Sacramento Stingers
6/20 LF Charley Jones – Philadelphia Ringers
6/27 SS John Beckwith – Charlotte Cougars
Batter of the Month
1B Roger Connor – New York Heroes
Pitcher of the Month
Jim McCormick - New York Heroes
Rookie of the Month
SS John Beckwith – Charlotte Cougars