August 16, 1976
NEXT SIM:
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Rainiers Surge into First Place Tie
SEATTLE (August 16) -- A season that began with great uncertainty is poised to end with great excitement. The Seattle Rainiers, a club without a home going into spring training, are making the most of their move from the heart of Texas to the Pacific Northwest, climbing into a first place tie in the West and making a serious postseason bid after 14 years of futility in Dallas. The Rainiers closed a six-game gap with San Francisco in two weeks with a 10-2 run since Aug. 1.
Seattle ranks 2nd in runs, 4th in starters ERA, and 5th in bullpen ERA. Starters Frank Tanana, John Montefusco, and Wayne Simpson were a combined 6-1, 1.91 in 7 starts, Mark Littell notched 5 saves in 6.1 shutout innings, and RF Bobby Murcer (.405-6-17) and 3B Aurelio Rodriguez (.463-2-12) were among the hottest hitters in the league. Rodriguez, 27, cut by Denver last year, started the season in Triple-A Memphis but quickly stole the starting third baseman job from the weak hitting Doug DeCinces. Seattle has three players in the top 10 in batting average (Rodriguez, Rod Carew, and Chris Chambliss), and two in the top 10 in ERA (Montefusco and John Candelaria). The club is so hot that is has barely missed 2B Rod Carew, as recently as last year one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dismal roster. Carew, 29, defending batting champion and six-time 200-hit man, suffered a torn meniscus on Aug. 8 and will miss a month, but should be back in time for the last 15 games. 
Monuments Overtake Superbas
Meanwhile, in the East Division, Washington has claimed first place, taking advantage of Brooklyn's 10-17 slump since July 16 with an 18-9 run of their own that included sweeps of Atlanta, Montréal, Chicago, and San Francisco. Don Wilson, 5-0, 1.51 in his last 7 starts, has reclaimed the contested ace job from Vida Blue, who has struggled of late (4-3, 4.15 since July 1) after a 13-2, 2.00 first half. Kansas City's Steve Braun Retires After Shoulder Injury KANSAS CITY (Aug. 11) -- Steve Braun's leaping catch against the wall to rob Memphis RF Jerry Martin of his 23rd home run of the year turned out to be the last play of his six-year career. Braun, 27, suffered a torn labrum on the play, was carted off the field, and retired from baseball from a hospital bed two days later. The Trenton, N.J. native was a third round pick of the Chicago Colts in 1971, was an IL All-Star in his rookie year, was traded to Brooklyn in '72 and back to Chicago in '73. His best season was his sophomore campaign with the Superbas in 1972, when he started 139 games and batted .275-12-55, .739 OPS. As his production dropped, so too did his playing time. He had only 87 at-bats with the Colts last season and was demoted back to the minors this year. A good fielder who could hit for average and rarely struck out, Braun was batting .338 with a .918 OPS in 90 games for the Monarchs, and was poised for a September call-up back to the big club. |
WEST DIVISION
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EAST DIVISION
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BATTING LEADERS
BATTING AVERAGE
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HOME RUNS
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RUNS BATTED IN
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VORP
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PITCHING LEADERS
EARNED RUN AVERAGE
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WINS
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STRIKEOUTS
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VORP
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FIELDING LEADERS ZONE RATING
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TRADES
February 1 (358)
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February 1 (360)
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May 16 (362)
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June 16 (364)
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