The lads start strongly with 8 wins from our first 10 but we suffer an early setback with Dave Parker knocked out of action for 6 weeks by a neck injury. Gene Clines gets the call-up, making his first MLB appearance in four years.
We regress a bit with the pitching the BP in particular really struggling, but eventually get it together and go on a nifty 8-2 run including one 13-2 win over the Mets in which every starter including pitcher Rick Rhoden gets at least two hits.
We hit the 40-game waypoint at 23-17 and go on to close out the sectional at 26-21, a decent achievement given weve been without Cobra for almost the entirety of the season to date.
Plans for him to do a rehab stint at Lincoln and be eased back in are derailed when Amos Otis goes down with an ankle injury that will keep him on ice for a few weeks.
We sort out the John Tudor situation nice and early and on friendly terms, signing him to a 4+1 extension at an AAV of less than $900k. We also re-up with Johnny Ray (1/275), Dale Berra (1/385), Victor Cruz (1/375) and Rod Scurry (1/128).
The Yanks start the year strongly but Boston keeps them close with an 11-game win streak in May and these two look set for a titanic battle this season, with the Tribe looking up for the fight as well in a competitive division.
The Royals are also looking strong again, at one point winning 15 straight. The Mets, on the other hand, start strong but then fall in a heap with a dozen losses on the trot.
Monthly Award Winners
April
American League
Batter Wade Boggs (Red Sox): 481 / 2 HR / 12 RBI
Pitcher Les Cain (Yankees): 4-0 / 1.54 / 26 K / 41 IP
Rookie Randy Ready (Rangers): 358 / 3 HR / 13 RBI
National League
Batter Darryl Strawberry (Mets): 272 / 12 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher Bill Laskey (Phillies): 5-0 / 1.13 / 22 K / 39.2 IP
Rookie Orel Hershiser (Dodgers): 4-0 / 0.86 / 33 K / 42 IP
May
American League
Batter Eddie Murray (Orioles): 333 / 9 HR / 25 RBI
Pitcher Oil Can Boyd (Blue Jays): 7-0 / 2.30 / 27 K / 54.2 IP
Rookie Greg Brock (Orioles): 5-1 / 4.75 / 31 K / 41.2 IP
National League
Batter Tony Gwynn (Padres): 266 / 5 HR / 16 RBI
Pitcher J.R. Richard (Braves): 4-0 / 1.23 / 54 K / 51.1 IP
Rookie Ken Phelps (Expos): 273 / 8 HR / 22 RBI
News and Leaders
Milestones and Observations of Note
250 Wins: Nolan Ryan
2500 Hits: Al Oliver
Mets rookie Darryl Strawberry belts 5 homers in his first 6 games in the bigs and 12 in his first 20.
The Astros lose catcher Ron Hassey for 4 months to a severe hip strain, while White Sox pitcher Charlie Hough gets knocked out for the same amount of time by a finger injury.
A knee injury ends Phillies OF Mickey Hatchers season very early, while Tigers star Lou Whitaker will have to take another maximum 3-month Legacy break after suffering a broken kneecap.