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AMERICAN LEAGUE REVIEW

The Oakland Athletics ended the '80s as the premier team in Major League Baseball and through the first half of the 1990 season they've only strengthened that status. The ballclub took a league-best 59-29 record and an eight-game western division lead into the All-Star break. The power hitting of '88 MVP Jose Canseco, baserunning excellence of Rickey Henderson and a great pitching unit led by Dennis Eckersley is the foundation upon which their success has been built. Canseco was the AL's Batter of the Month for May. He's batting .318, leads the league in RBI with 81 and is 2nd in home runs (24). Meanwhile Henderson has already recorded 44 steals and swung the bat in a timely fashion as his average of .300, 22 home runs and 66 RBI (4th in the AL) illustrate.

At 35 years of age Dennis Eckersley is in his 16th year in the majors but shows no signs of slowing down. After being used out of the Athletics bullpen in his first three years with the club he has resumed the familiar role of starter this season with spectacular results. In nineteen outings he's 13-3 with an AL-best ERA of 2.52. He's 2nd only behind the Rangers' ageless wonder Nolan Ryan (121) in strikeouts with 117 and has been ably supported by the #2 man in the Athletics rotation Dave Stewart (11-3, 3.25 ERA, 99 K) and Mike Moore (8-5, 3.47 ERA, 44 K). Veteran reliever Rick Honeycutt has been outstanding in the role of closer, recording nineteen saves with an ERA of 3.09.

The Athletics were remarkably consistent through the first three months of the season, going 17-8 in April and 19-8 in both May and June. They slowed down somewhat to start July, taking a 4-5 mark into the break. Oakland are not only the best team in the majors, they're also the best team in the best division in the majors. Struggling to stay with them are a quartet of teams who would be right in the midst of a pennant race in any other division. As it is the California Angels (51-37), Texas Rangers (50-39), Kansas City Royals (48-40) and Minnesota Twins (47-42) can only look up at the big lead the Athletics have built, a lead that will be extremely difficult for those other ballclubs to cut into.

After going down in five games to the Athletics in the '89 ALCS the Toronto Blue Jays are determined to make it back to the post-season this year and gain some redemption. They've made a good start in their attempt to achieve that goal, taking a 3.5-game eastern division lead into the All-Star break. The Blue Jays (52-37) have succeeded so far with a balanced gameplan. They're ranked 7th in the American League in batting average and 6th in ERA. 1st baseman Fred McGriff has excelled, the 26 year-old ranking 3rd in the AL in homers with 23 while driving in 62 runs and batting .321. His fellow infielder Kelly Gruber has also contributed to the cause, recording a team-leading 74 RBI, which sees him ranked 2nd in the AL.

NATIONAL LEAGUE REVIEW

In an unexpected situation the senior circuit is being paced by a trio of ballclubs that only a handful of experts expected good things from. The Montreal Expos (54-34) and Pittsburgh Pirates (52-36) boast the two best records in the National League and have been waging an entertaining battle for 1st place in the east through the season's opening three months. Montreal is home to one of the top pitching staffs in the majors with the trio of Dennis Martinez (7-3, 3.33 ERA, 73 K), Zane Smith (9-4, 3.11 ERA, 55 K) and Kevin Gross (6-3, 2.87 ERA) making things miserable for opposing lineups. The Expos aren't as strong at the plate, but have received solid production from Andres Galarraga (.313, 14 HR, 62 RBI) and Tim Raines, who ranks 3rd in the majors in stolen bases with 33.

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished ahead of only their Pennsylvania state rivals the Phillies in '89 but they're making a push for the post-season this year. Led by the All-Star double Bs, Bobby Bonilla (.332, 17 HR, 65 RBI) and Barry Bonds (.300, 22 HR, 58 RBI) they've brought renewed hope to the Keystone State. However, it's actually their pitching that's gotten them this far. Number one hurler John Smiley is 1st in the NL in wins with twelve. He's posted an ERA of 3.90 and like Bonilla and Bonds he's been selected to take part in the All-Star Game. Neal Heaton (9-6, 3.49) and Bob Walk (8-3, 3.92) have also been outstanding.

Meanwhile the Houston Astros find themselves on top out west. Although the ballclub finished 3rd last year, just six games behind division champs San Francisco they weren't considered to be one of the contenders this season. They've taken a four-game lead into the break on the back of strong pitching and confident hitting, with 1st baseman Glenn Davis (29 HR) on target to threaten the single season home run record. Veteran starting pitcher Dan Schatzeder has turned back the clock, recording ten wins from fifteen starts as the #5 man in the rotation. Schatzeder hasn't been a regular starter since his days with Montreal in '85 but 2nd year Astros manager Art Howe has shown belief in him and the lefty has repaid it with some great performances.

This year the senior circuit has witnessed some fantastic hitting, with a quartet of batters all going into the break with at least 29 homers. They're led by 2nd year Braves 1st baseman David Justice, who's cleared the fences an amazing thirty times already. Also threatening Maris' record are Houston's Glenn Davis, Giants outfielder Kevin Mitchell and Cincinnati's Eric Davis (all with 29). It will be fascinating to follow them as they attempt to climb one of baseball's highest mountains in the months ahead.

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NOTEABLE INCIDENTS

24 April: Chicago Cubs ace Greg Maddux suffered a broken hand when he deflected a line drive in the 3rd inning of a game against the Padres. Maddux was out for six weeks as a result of the injury.

1 May: Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Rob Deer blasted three homers and drove in nine runs in a 21-4 decimation of the Royals.

4 May: Boston Red Sox 3rd baseman Wade Boggs was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn hamstring muscle in a matchup against the Athletics at Fenway Park.

23 May: The Oakland Athletics recorded a 13-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Centrefielder Dave Henderson hit two homers and drove in four runs in the victory, which was the third straight for the Athletics. Over the course of the three games they scored 33 runs and conceeded four.

25 May: At 43 years of age, Texas Rangers starter Nolan Ryan threw the sixth no-hitter of his career. Ryan walked three batters and struck out seven in the Rangers' 8-0 win over Baltimore.

1 June: New York Mets rightfielder Darryl Strawberry went 5-for-5 in an 11-2 rout of the Phillies. Strawberry homered twice, doubled and drove in four runs.

19 June: Cincinnati Reds 2nd baseman Mariano Duncan hit for the cycle in a 7-3 win over the Braves in Atlanta. Duncan was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI.

27 June: Oakland Athletics starter Dennis Eckersley threw the second no-hitter of the season, walking two and striking out nine in a 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.

30 June: Baltimore Orioles 1st baseman Randy Milligan smashed three home runs in a 8-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Milligan drove in six of Baltimore's eight runs.