We're now through 2/5 of the "parts" in our epic 30 for 30 league. If you missed the draft, preseason prediction or part one, you can find them at those links to catch up to what's going on. In Part 2, each team played a home/road split against their four division rivals. 32 games of interdivisional play later, and the standings are crazy and stats are fun! Let's dive into what's happened and the narratives that are afoot approximately 40% through this season.
With four CG shut outs on the year, Montreal's Pedro Martinez is making a Cy Young case...
are the Expos making a World Series case too?
Now let's get to the standings!
STANDINGS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NARRATIVES: For the National League, it has to start and end with the incredible Marlins solidifying their hot start by going 18-14 against their division rivals and keeping a solid 6 game advantage over the red hot Phillies (21-11 in part 2) while stretching their "best record in the NL" lead by three games over Milwaukee. Philly did have the best record in the NL in part 2 and with 100 games to go, they're set up nicely to challenge Miami. The Mets and Atlanta continue to stay above .500 too. With the next 60 games comprising of six games against each non-NL East team, it looks like this powerful division may get absolutely wild in the next couple parts (could we see a 2021 AL East situation, where four teams win 90 games?)... but don't count out Montreal entirely -- any team with Pedro, Vlad and Larry Walker could get hot at any moment!
However, the tightest NL division right now is the NL Central -- looks like they've got three potential playoff teams after St. Louis went on a division leading 21-11 tear and the Cubs went 18-14... Milwaukee managed to squeak out a 17-15 record to hang onto first place, but it's feeling awfully cramped at the top of the standings. Cincinnati is hanging around at 30-32, but Pittsburgh feels like they took the majority of the beatings by the top teams, as a 9-23 record in part two plummets them to 21-41 overall.
Meanwhile, out west the DBacks hang onto first place following a 17-15 run in Part II, but the Dodgers narrowed the deficit by a game (18-14 in part II). The other three teams are all hanging around... all it takes is one 21-11 type run, and BOOM, back in the game. That said, Colorado's pitching is getting devastated and I don't think they can hang on much longer (if being 11 gb counts as hanging on).
Speaking of Colorado's pitching woes, this rotation piece went 0-5 in 6 GS with an ERA over 7 and WHIP over 2 in Part II
For the American League, the big story out East has to be Boston separating itself from the pack with an impressive 21-11 inter-division record. The Rays went 19-13 to pull to .500, but they find themselves 7 GB. The Orioles and Blue Jays both went 13-19 and remain tied, and their playoff dreams appear dashed at 14 games under .500 with 100 to play. The Yankees went 14-18 and fall to third place, but at 6 games under .500, there's still time for a turnaround. The Red Sox also lead the AL overall by 2 games.
The AL Central is the closest division in baseball, by far! No team is more than two games over .500, and no team is more than 5 games out of first place. After a dreadful start, the Tigers came roaring back with a 17-15 record to make a couple games back in the standings and stay within striking distance. They tied with Minnesota for best record in part II in the division, with the Twins also gaining some ground, now at 30-32 and tied for second (only 2 gb). Minnesota is tied with the surprising KC Royals, who most wrote off for dead before the year but are only two back of Cleveland. The division leaders went 15-17 in part II and are merely 32-30. The White Sox tied Cleveland for worst record in division in part two at 15-17... That's right, these teams were spread between 17-15 and 15-17 in part II. SUPER competitive division. I think it's unlikely they get a wild card with how evenly matched it feels, but the actual division race looks like it'll be a barnburner... and it looks like there's still life for the Detroit believers!
The AL West has to have an argument with NL Central (three teams of 35+ wins) and NL East (four teams over .500, Marlins with most wins) for best division in baseball, with a trio of teams of 33 wins or more. The Angels were the leaders in part II, going 20-12 and overtaking first place, where they sit with a 2 game lead over Houston and Oakland. The Astros were solid too, going 18-14 for a strong 34-28 start. Oakland's bats cooled off in Part II and, as a result, they dropped to 33-29 (15-17 this round), but are currently still in second wild card spot. However, as you'll see below, Big Mac did not cool off... he hit 9 more HR (23 through 62 games) with a 1.281 OPS. Seattle went .500 to stay alive in the playoff hunt if they can get absolutely red hot, but I think we can stick a fork in Texas at 23-39.... they don't have Pedro or Vlad.
If Seattle is going to catch up in the AL West, they're going to need three more parts like this from Diaz (0.56 ERA, 8/8 SV)
Individual performances of note:
- Pedro pitched another pair of complete game shut outs
- Roger Clemens added a pair of compete game shut outs too, and added one CG shut out each were Greg Maddux and Brandon Webb
- Dom Smith and Luke Voit both had five hit games
- Luke Voit's five hit game was also a THREE HR game!
- Ronald Acuna Jr and A-Rod shined by each having a 7-RBI game
- Mike Piazza added a 3 HR game of his own
- In one of Pedro's CG shut outs, he had the best single game K mark of the season with 16 K
3 HR in a game, but a .287 OBP (.754 OPS) in Part II
You can check out all the combined player stats through 62: HERE HERE HERE
Again, that's above at the HERE HERE HERE link to see all player stats -- in each part and combined. Included is a "League Leaders" tab that gives the top 25 hitters/pitchers in each major category.
This will be updated with Part III, Part IV, and Part V
However, here are some notable players and their stats over the course of Part II:
Batting average (min 100 PA)
(1) Joe Randa .423
(2) Mark McGwire .404
(3) Jean Segura .398
(4) Chuck Knoblauch .375
(5) Matt Holliday .370
The Pirates may be 20 games under .500 at the moment, but Joe Randa has been a red hot hitter!
On-Base Percentage (min 100 PA)
(1) Mark McGwire .525
(2) Todd Helton .457
(3) Frank Thomas .455
(4) Joe Randa .451
(5) Bryce Harper .444
Another update, another round of McGwire dominating at the plate!
He's got to be AL MVP frontrunner through 62 games
Home Runs
(1) Todd Helton 11
(2) Christian Yelich 10
(2) Reggie Sanders 10
(2) Sammy Sosa 10
(2) Ryan Howard 10
This absolute monster of a Todd Helton card tore the cover off the ball at Coors in Part II
OPS (min 100 PA)
(1) Mark McGwire 1.281
(2) Todd Helton 1.159
(3) Ryan Howard 1.109
(4) Jean Segura 1.081
(5) Christian Yelich 1.059
(6) Kevin Miller 1.055
Easily one of the most shocking OPS leaders -- dude went off in 105 PA during Part II!
RBI
(1) Jeff Bagwell 27
(2) Jim Edmonds 26
(3) Jeff Kent 25
(4) Matt Holliday 24
(5) Chuck Knoblauch 23
(5) Ronald Acuna Jr. 23
One of Minnesota's OB 11 guys, Chuck didn't have any yips at the plate, accumulating in 23 RBIs!
SB
(1) Larry Walker 16
(2) Melky Cabrera 13
(2) Brett Butler 13
(4) Justin Upton 12
(5) Luis Castillo 11
Mr. Surprise Speed A went rampant on the basepaths!
ERA (min 30 IP)
(1) Shane Bieber 0.98
(2) Blake Snell 1.00
(3) Michael Pineda 1.15
(4) Jose Fernandez 1.17
(5) Jon Lester 1.18
At this point, Shane has to be a leading contender for AL Cy Young for his work leading the rotation
for the current AL Central division leaders
WHIP (min 30)
(1) Trevor Rogers 0.76
(2) Jose Fernandez 0.8
(3) Corbin Burnes 0.82
(4) Shane Bieber 0.89
(5) Blake Snell 0.93
He may not gather the most IP, but Snell is keeping opponents off the bases and from scoring runs in Part II
Wins
(1) Blake Snell 6
(1) Roy Oswalt 6
11 pitchers tied for 3rd with 5 wins
The Phillies went 21-11, but Roy was 6-0 of that record!
Saves
(1) Fernando Rodney 14
(2) Francisco Rodriguez 12
(2) Hung-Chin Kuo 12
(4) Tom Gordon 11
(4) Craig Kimbrel 11
(4) Antonio Bastardo 11
Don't look now, but Rays are back to .500 and have a run towards October in Rodney's sights!
K
(1) Pedro Martinez 69
(1) Corey Kluber 69
(3) Corbin Burnes 68
(4) Zack Wheeler 64
(5) Curt Schilling 63
After helping the Phillies to best record in MLB over Part II with a 1.92 ERA in that span, Wheeler deserves to celebrate!
UPDATE -- Here are the team leaders in the scoring/preventing runs:
Runs Scored
(1) Colorado 261
(2) LA Angels 257
(2) St. Louis 257
(4) Boston 256
(5) Minnesota 250
(6) LA Dodgers 247
(7) Cleveland 245
(8) Houston 235
(8) Arizona 235
(8) Philadelphia 235
Runs Allowed
(1) Tampa Bay 177
(2) Milwaukee 179
(3) Philadelphia 184
(4) LA Angels 185
(5) Arizona 187
(6) Miami 200
(7) Houston 201
(8) Toronto 210
(9) Montreal 211
(10) LA Dodgers 216
(10) Cincinnati 216
(10) Chicago Cubs 216
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