With one day to go before the trade deadline takes effect, the American League races are runaways while the National League pennant chases remain tighter than Ebenezer Scrooge.
"If there are to be any deadline deals, they will most likely be in the National League," said longtime baseball writer Jerome Holtzman.
The closest race is in the NL West where the Cincinnati Reds (61-42) hold a two-game lead over Los Angeles. The Dodgers have won eight straight games. Los Angeles swept series from Montreal, New York and Philadelphia.
Houston slipped to 11-14 in July and has fallen to 3.5 games out.
Pittsburgh (62-41) continues to lead the NL East. The Pirates hold a 2.5-game lead over the New York Mets. Pittsburgh and New York will play a four-game series in early August at Three Rivers Stadium.
The Mets will get a huge boost as Tom Seaver appears be 100% after suffering through a series of nagging injuries the five weeks. Seaver, New York's ace right-hander, is just 5-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 15 starts.
Meanwhile, Baltimore and Oakland appear destined to meet each other in the American League playoffs. The Orioles (72-32) hold a 14-game lead over second-place Boston in the East. The A's (67-35) are 14.5 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the West.
JIM Notes: Minnesota All-Star
Tony Oliva leads the AL with a .387 average.
Boog Powell of Baltimore is tops in home runs with 30;
Don Mincher of Oakland is the RBI leader with 76 . . . Pittsburgh's
Dave Cash is the NL's leading hitter at .358. Atlanta slugger
Hank Aaron leads the Senior Circuit with 26 homers and 77 RBI . . . AL pitching leaders include Baltimore's
Mike Cuellar (17 wins), Oakland's
Vida Blue (1.88 ERA) and Cleveland's
Sam McDowell (195 Ks) . . . NL pitching leaders include Los Angeles'
Bill Singer (18 wins), Cincinnati's
Gary Nolan (2.44 ERA) and the Dodgers'
Don Sutton (174 Ks) . . .
Paul Blair of Baltimore hit for the cycle in a 14-9 victory over Detroit July 11. Blair hit a grand slam off
Denny McLain in the game.
Major League 1970 07-30-1970
Standings Report | |