W E S T   D I V I S I O N

E A S T   D I V I S I O N

Washington Monuments
Steven Giovanelli

The Colonels' were 8-2 from May 2-12, expanding their lead in the West, before losing twice to New York.  The offense exploded in May, scoring 81 runs in 13 games (6.2 per game).  Hank Aaron (.375-11-36) is hitting .404 (21-52) with 5 HR and 22 RBI in May.  Aaron was Player of the Week 5/12, and ranks first in home runs (tied), RBI, and OPS, and second in batting and OBP.  Johnny Antonelli is 8-0, 2.18 in nine starts, including back-to-back shutouts against San Francisco and New York.  Johnny's ERA is 0.68 in his last three starts.  The record for most consecutive wins is 13, shared by Gene Conley and Carl Erskine.
 

Stu Miller tossed his second shutout of the year May 14, a two-hitter against Detroit.  Willie Mays was 2-for-4 with a triple, and scored both runs in the 2-0 win.
   The Monuments were 5-0 against division rivals Detroit in May.  The Griffins scored a total of five runs in the five games.
   Washington is 6-2 in their last eight games, including three shutout wins (a pair of Carl Erskine 3-hitters vs. SF on May 7th and 12th, and Miller's May 14th shutout of Detroit.
   The team is hurting in one-run games, with just one win in six contests.  That usually signals bullpen problems, which is the case with Bud Podbielan (13.50), Frank Smith (6.75), and Moe Drabowsky (6.08).
 

Larry Jansen silenced Chicago with a two-hit shutout May 5.  Jansen is just 3-5 despite a 2.84 ERA (6th) and 9.7 Ratio (7th).  Ray Boone homered and drove in three runs in the 8-0 win.
Stan Musial allayed fears that 1957 was more than just an off-year, but a career decline, by emerging from a tepid April with a torrid May.  What's the difference?  Musial no longer starts vs. lefties.  Since switching to a righty-only platoon role, 'Stan the Man' is hitting .381 with 13 RBI in 13 games, and a 1.101 OPS.  He has also has a league-best 11-game hitting streak
 

Ralph Kiner is walking like a dog.  The six-time base-on-balls leader and three-time OBP leader is averaging a walk a game this season.  In May, Kiner leads the Griffins in home runs, RBI, and runs, despite a .200 batting average.  Kiner, 34, got his 1,000th hit earlier this season, and is closing in on 300 home runs (272).
   There is a dominant lefty in Detroit's bullpen, and it isn't Sandy Koufax, who despite seven saves, continues to struggle (8.22 ERA in 15.1 innings, 19.4 Ratio).  Art Ceccarelli (1-0, 1.50 in 11 games) has been fantastic, allowing just 9.8 baserunners per nine.  "Chic" has the endurance to be a starter, and may get his chance after Cal "Bus" McLish's recent performance (2-5, 5.11 in eight starts).  Also, Johnny Podres is just 1-2, 4.54 after nine starts, with an amazing six no-decisions, including three in which he allowed two or less runs.  He was victimized by Koufax' lapse on May 5.  After 8.1 shutout innings, Podres left with a 2-0 lead, only to see Koufax surrender four runs and the game to Washington.
   

The Spiders rank third in ERA (4.09) and home runs allowed (24), led by Ewell "The Whip" Blackwell, who is 4-0, 2.30 in his last 6 starts.  George Zuverink, who had 31 saves last year, already has eight in '58.
   Catcher Ed Fitz Gerald and third baseman Ken Boyer are both hitting .327.  Boyer leads the team in OPS (.854).
 

Minnie Minoso snapped out of a .259 April, hitting .455 (10-22) with 3 HR and 9 RBI in his last 6 games.
   After five wins in his first six starts, Gene Conley is winless in his last three (0-0, 3.98).  Tom Gorman, 1955 Cy Young winner, seems to be sputtering into old age (33).  Gorman missed huge chunks of the last two seasons but managed to win 14 games last year (14-5, 3.89).  This year, Gorman has just one win in eight starts (1-3, 5.14).
 

Boston Beacons
Charlie Qualls

Losing in the clutch: Los Angeles is 0-2 in extra innings and 2-7 in one-run games.  Art Houtteman (8.31), Ray Semproch (5.63), and Joe Black (5.40) have struggled in relief.
   Strong vs. the Big Apple: Los Angeles swept five games against New York and Brooklyn, on either side of a 1-4 series loss to Detroit.
   Ray Herbert continues to dominate in every category but wins.  He is 3.06 in 8 starts, but his record is just 2-5.  He has the 3rd worst run support of the league's 41 qualifying pitchers (3.0).  The worst run support belongs to St. Louis' Billy Pierce (2.0).
    

Eddie Mathews won Player of the Week May 5, batting .350 with 6 HR and 9 RBI.  Mathews hit five homers in four games from Apr. 28 to May 2.  It was Boston's first POW award since Mathews won back-to-back awards in 1955. (CQ)  Mathews hit two homers against Chicago on May 2, and hit two more against Chicago on the 8th.  After one home run in his first 16 games, Eddie has nine in his last 14.
   Wally Westlake is paying dividends.  The 36-year old rehab project is hitting .370 in a part-time role, and has been crushing righties (.458 in 24 AB).
   Boston is 7-1 against left-handed starters, ironic, since they have the first all-lefty rotation in UL history.
   

New York Gothams
Shawn Martin

Tom Sturdivant was struck in the face by a line drive on May 7, suffering a broken cheekbone that will shelf him for seven weeks.  Boston's Gil Coan was credited with an infield single off Smoke's face.  "Golly, I feel awful," Coan said after the game.
   Backup catcher Bill Sarni was 4-for-4 with 4 RBI on May 6, for the first POG of his career.  Gil Hodges is up to his usual spring antics, batting .160 with a .602 OPS, third lowest of 56 qualifying batters.
    

The New York rotation is coughing and wheezing.  Bob Friend, Billy O'Dell, and Bob Purkey are a combined 3-17, 5.70.  Only Bubba Church (5-3, 3.35) has managed to avoid blowing chunks this spring.  The problem, however, is that the rotation is actually the strength of the staff.  Try on these reliever numbers for size: Andy Hansen (0-2, 8.25), Ralph Branca (8.10), Taylor Phillips (7.00).  The club ranks dead last in ERA, opponent average, and runs allowed.
   The is only marginally better, ranking 9th in batting and runs scored (ahead of only Chicago).  The biggest cool-offs have been Larry Doby (-295 OPS from last year), and Roy 'Squirrel Sievers (-123).