Standings Summary - National League

With the All Star game completed this week, lets spend a bit more time than usual in a mid-season summary.

NL East

A strong start by Grumman and Galaxy was the highlight of the 1st half.  However, the Guardians have begun to slide recently, steadily dropping from a two way tie at the end of May to a 5 game deficit as Week 7 closes (July 14th).  No single particular flaw has held them back, rather, they've simpy been about an average team with some bad luck since May 20th (-5 RD with a 19-27 record to show for it).

Grumman has been the best team in the East, at least on paper.  They have a slightly above average RD at +18 and while they lead the league in Home Runs, their on base percentage is a league worst .278.  They need to be careful and perhaps make a strategic trade as the Hoboken Zephyrs have quietly moved into contention.  Just 5 games out now thanks to a 29-18 run, Hoboken has enjoyed some real success with their pitching staff of late.  Led by Walter Johnson (8-0, 1.65 ERA in his last 10 starts), the rotation has a team ERA of 2.99 and the pen an even better mark, at 2.77.

As for the Lookouts, well, they are planning for ATB 18 thanks to an ATB worst winning percentage of .341

NL Central

Here we have a two team race as well, with Sparta and Flin Flon trading blows all season long.  Flin Flon will open up week 8 with a three game advantage and with both teams having nearly identical run differentials, it may be the difference maker.  

The Arctic Foxes are the league's premier offense while the Hoplites have the league's premier pitching staff.  It's a direct battle of opposite philosophies that holds promise for a great second half.  Who'll prevail with these great matchups?  The Flin Flon big 3:

.266 / .401 / .615 - Babe Ruth

.250 / .374 / .589 - Mark McGwire

.330 / .371 / .563 - Lip Pike 

versus Sparta's top starters and closer:

11-4, 1.69 - Pedro Martinez

5-6, 2.95 - Vern Law

0.59, 10 Sv - JJ Putz

After a hot start, Alberquerque has struggled (27-36 since early May) and found themselves at the bottom of the division alongside Seattle.  Of the two teams, Albuquerque may have the best chance to improve since Nap Lajoie (.287 OBP) and Duke Snider  (.285 OBP) have underperformed considerably and should get better.

NL West

The West is home to the marquee division race of the National League with two 50 win teams are separated by just 1 game.  The Shamokin Miners currently hold the advantage thanks to a red hot May and June where they won 30 of 46 contests to take a 1/2 game lead. The Miners are led by Oscar Charleston (.274 / .375 / .547) and Johnny Podres (9-5, 3.23) while Lakeview counters with Ted Williams (.343 / .423 / .565) and Clayton Kershaw (10-4, 3.90).

Jeff City could have been a third team in this race, but after a stellar 27-17 start of the season, have struggled terribly of late going 15-29 with the worst RD in the National League at -65.  Their rotation has been the main failure - Hugh Daily, Dwight Gooden, and Rube Waddell each have ERA's well over 6.00 during this period.

Planet 10 has been a disappointment all year, failing to record a winning record in any month so far.

League Leader Races

Batting Average

.343 - Ted Williams (LAK)

.337 - Willie Keeler (GAL)

.337 - Ichiro Suziki (HOB)

On Base Percentage

.423 - Ted Williams (LAK)

.421 - John McGraw (JFC)

Hits

119 - Ted Williams (LAK)

118 - Ed Delahanty (ALB)

116 - Ichiro Suziki (HOB)

Runs

72 - Babe Ruth (FFL)

65 - Ted Williams (LAK)

RBI

73 - Babe Ruth (FFL)

69 - Ted Williams (LAK)

66 - Oscar Charleston (SHA)

67 - Babe Ruth (FFL)

Home Runs
31 - Mark McGwire (FFL)
27 - Mike Schmidt (GRU)

Wins
13 - Roger Clemens (SEA)
12 - Joe Wood (GRU)
11 - Walter Johnson (HOB)
11 - Pedro Martinez (SPA)

ERA
1.69 - Pedro Martinez (SPA)
2.09 - Noodles Hahn (P10)

WHIP
0.79 - Pedro Martinez (SPA)
0.98 - Vern Law (SPA)

Strikeouts
129 - Pedro Martinez (SPA)
111 - Vida Blue (CHA)

Saves
24 - Rafael Betancourt
23 - Koji Uehera (HOB)