This Month in RLB
May 1992
Interleague update
*as of 6/1
AL Awards
Rookie of the Month
CF Sean Hamm – Toronto Blue Jays: .308/.373/.607, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 18 R, 6 SB
Pitcher of the Month
SP Phil Kovacs – Baltimore Orioles: 5-1, 3.00 ERA, 36 K, .255 BAA
Batter of the Month
LF Kyle Hubbard – Kansas City Royals: .354/.444/.637, 8 HR, 31 RBI, 23 R
NL Awards
Rookie of the Month
OF Marius Lovin – Colorado Rockies: .456/.500/.706, 14 RBI, 14 R
Pitcher of the Month
SP Leo Granado – Chicago Cubs: 5-0, 1.34 ERA, 26 K, .193 BAA
Batter of the Month
3B Elijah Griffin – Chicago Cubs: .327/.406/.655, 10 HR, 24 RBI
Who’s Hot:
NL Central
After a few seasons of being down overall, things are looking up in the NLC again. So far this season the Pirates have the best record and run differential in RLB, while the Cubs are tied for the second best record and have the second best run differential. (All stats as of 6/1). Houston and Saint Louis are also hovering right around .500, with Cincinnati not far behind. It is looking like two teams from this division will make the playoffs this season, with both of them capable of making a deep run.
Randy Kinner
Kinner is thus far having the kind of breakout season the Rockies had hoped for after acquiring him from the Royals in 1989. That trade is looking to be a steal for Colorado. So far, Kinner is leading the league in BA, Slugging %, OPS, and WAR. As of June 8th he is on pace for 59 HR and 154 RBI, both by far a career high for the 24 year old. Colorado looks to be dangerous in the early season, already racking up a 7.5 game lead in a tough NL West, in big thanks to their DH.
California Angels
After a slow start (for them) the Angels are right back to their usual spot atop the AL West. An 18-10 record in May brought them to a two game lead in their division over the upstart Seattle Mariners. At 36, superstar Phil Krueger is still going strong, putting up a .306/.380/.514 slash line along with 7 HR and 23 RBI in May. Overall it’s been their offense that has been most impressive, scoring the 4th most runs in the AL so far this season.
Who’s Not:
Boston Red Sox
After a 14-8 April (tied for the best in the AL) the Red Sox stumbled in May with a 12-16 record. They currently sit 3.5 games back of the division leader. Pitching has been the main struggle for Boston so far this season, allowing the 12th most runs in the AL as of 6/8. There is plenty of talent in their rotation, so it only seems to be a matter of time before things turn in their favor. The tide needs to turn sooner rather than later as to not fall too far behind in both the Wild Card and Division early in the season.
Those below Expansion teams
It was expected that the Senators (.380 Winning %) and the Diamondbacks (.373 Winning %) would be near the bottom of the standings. What comes as a surprise is three other teams through RLB that have a worse record than both new franchises. The Phillies only have a W % of .380, followed by the Dodgers at .373 and the Twins in the basement with a dismal .300. The race for the #1 overall pick in the 1993 draft has already begun, and it may not be an expansion team that chooses there.
Milestones/Other Notes:
· John Toler (CIN) – 300th career HR on 5/7
· Simon Strong (PIT) – 100th career HR on 5/4
· Nate Drzewiecki (ARI) – 1,000th career K on 5/5
· Brian Lindsey (CLE) – 250th career HR on 5/16
· Zachary Kanelos (CIN) – 1,000th career K on 5/27