This Month in RLB

This Month in RLB

June 1992

Interleague update

*as of 7/6

AL Awards

Rookie of the Month

SS Matt White – Minnesota Twins: .330/.384/.670, 9 HR, 25 RBI, 15 R

Pitcher of the Month

RP Chad Jenkins – Chicago White Sox: 5-0, 0.66 ERA, .152 BAA

Batter of the Month

RF Billy Brett – Detroit Tigers: .358/.443/.695, 9 HR, 21 RBI, 24 R

NL Awards

Rookie of the Month

LF Ivano Mavrin – Colorado Rockies: .333/.426/.785, 13 HR, 26 RBI, 27 R

Pitcher of the Month

SP Rich Esparza – Atlanta Braves: 5-0, 1.93 ERA, 28 K, .156 BAA

Batter of the Month

DH Randy Kinner – Colorado Rockies: .358/.435/.771, 13 HR, 28 RBI, 25 R

Who’s Hot:

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies have been one of the best teams in RLB all season, and in June they put up a league best 20-8 record. It is no surprise that the offense leads the way; for the season they lead the NL in Slugging, OPS, Home Runs, and are second in runs scored overall. Randy Kinner has been the most impressive overall, but Ivano Mavrin, Jim Williams, and Danny Hernandez have also put up 2+ WAR so far this year. Colorado’s success can’t all be credited to their home field advantage however, as they have gone 23-17 on the road all season and 7-2 in the month of June.

San Diego Padres

The Padres put together a 15-11 record in June, overtaking the slumping Montreal Expos for the second Wild Card spot in the National League. Ace Jose Gonzalez had an impressive month on the mound, picking up two wins to go along with a 1.14 ERA and 3:1 K:BB ratio. Craig Grose also shook off his slow start, slashing .417/.455/.835 with 11 HR and 26 RBI. The Padres still have a strong pitching staff, if their offense can come together and provide more support this is a team that can make plenty of noise in the NL.

Phil Krueger

Does this guy ever age? At 36, Krueger is proving to still be one of the better power hitters in the game. He hit .323 for the month to go along with 10 Home Runs, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard in the AL. At the time of press, Krueger is one HR away from being the first player in RLB history to hit 500 HR. Please excuse this Pirate fan as I go cry into my coffee and think of what could have been.

Who’s Not:

National League

Before the start of interleague play this season, it was difficult to tell which league was actually the superior of the two circuits. Three months into the season we are getting a much clearer picture. In the month of June the NL had an abysmal 13-23 record against the AL, bringing the year-long total to 56-46 in favor of the AL so far in 1992. There are only five teams in the NL that have a winning record so far, and only six have a positive run differential.

Texas Rangers

After a divisional title in 1990 and finishing second in 1991, the Rangers have been off to a much tougher start this year. Texas sits in last place in the AL West with a 34-49 record (10-18 in June.) Pitching has been solid, allowing the third fewest runs in the AL; however the offense ranks last or second to last in BA, OBP, OPS, hits, extra base hits, and runs scored. Any sort of offensive help could start a turnaround for the Rangers, however if it doesn’t happen soon it may be too late to make a run at the postseason.

Milestones/Other Notes:

· Jose Gonzalez (SD) – 1,500th K on 6/2

· Jason Orlando (PIT) - 1,500th K on 6/3

· Mike Belkin (MIL) – 2,500th hit on 6/3

· Beau Reedy (DET) – 1,000th K on 6/4

· Warren Glenn (SD) – 1,000th K on 6/9

· Dennis Kane (MIL) – 2,000th K on 6/15

· Karl Kingree (PIT) – 250th save on 6/17

· Phil Krueger (CAL) - 1,500th RBI on 6/20

· Guillermo Martinez (CAL) – 200th save on 6/21

· Mike Jones (MIL) – 1,000th RBI on 6/22

· Jay Register (BOS) – 1,000th hit on 6/27