Although our pitching continues to look shaky, we still play it safe and rehab Danny Darwin when he comes off the IL.
Before he makes it back, we lose Andy Van Slyke for a minimum IL stint with Cecil Espy back up and he’ll probably stay once rosters expand.
We’re certainly not playing well through this period, with the bats the main culprits as we go 4-11.
Two home losses to the Mets cut our lead to 5 but thankfully that’s about as close as either they or the Expos get as we find our footing and clinch with half a dozen games left.
A late charge sees us win our final 8 games to finish at 101-61.
We extend Dan Plesac on a 1/305 deal.
After tying the Saves record with 45 a year ago, Alejandro Pena makes it all his own this season with 48.
The Red Sox are the first to clinch, doing so easily and finishing with the league’s best record at 103-59.
The two West Division races go right to the finishing post.
With three to play, they look like this…
… and entering the final day, Oakland leads Texas and the Dodgers lead the Braves by one game in both cases.
LA clinches with a win; Oakland with a loss.
Final Leaders and Top 20s
Batting crowns to Wade Boggs, whose bid for 400 comes up well short in the end, and Pedro Guerrero.
Darryl Strawberry, with 42, is the only player to break 40 homers this season. Cleveland's Ruben Sierra leads both leagues with 121 RBI.
While Rickey has to be content with the third-highest total for the season behind Gerald Young (106) and Vincent Van Go (95), his 92 steals for the year take him past Lou Brock as the all-time leader and he ends the season on 1093.
Pascual Perez notches two legs of the Triple Crown, with his 21 Wins the league's highest this season and his AL-low 2.59 ERA just pipped by Joe Magrane across the aisle.
Rocket repeats as the King of K with 225, pipping El Sid Fernandez by 1 and, of course, Alejandro leads the Saves tally.
Monthly Award Winners
August
American League
Batter – Spike Owen (White Sox): 415 / 6 HR / 23 RBI
Pitcher – Roger Clemens (Red Sox): 4-0 / 2.15 / 44 K / 50.1 IP
Rookie – Pete Harnisch (Royals): 3-2 / 2.61 / 30 K / 41.1 IP
National League
Batter – Darryl Strawberry (Mets): 424 / 8 HR / 19 RBI
Pitcher – Jack Morris (Reds): 5-1 / 1.72 / 32 K / 47 IP
Rookie – Pete Harnisch (Royals): 3-2 / 2.00 / 24 K / 45 IP
September
American League
Batter – Dave Martinez (Yankees): 402 / 3 HR / 15 RBI
Pitcher – Charlie Leibrandt (Mariners): 5-0 / 1.80 / 26 K / 50 IP
Rookie – John Smoltz (Braves): 4-0 / 2.14 / 31 K / 46.1 IP
National League
Batter – Von Hayes (Phillies): 351 / 8 HR / 20 RBI
Pitcher – Joe Magrane (Expos): 5-0 / 2.16 / 33 K / 50 IP
Rookie – Jack McDowell (Dodgers): 4-0 / 2.45 / 35 K / 44 IP
Milestones and Observations of Note
400 HR: Darrell Evans
2500 Hits: Dave Parker
2000 Hits: Jerry Mumphrey; Eddie Murray
A fractured elbow brings an abrupt end to the season for Indians reliever Duane Ward, while a fractured rib puts Ozzie Smith on the shelf for 5 weeks.
The Astros lose rookie SP David West in late August, his season ended by a UCL tear, and then 2B John Castino for the year as well a few days later to an elbow break.
Jays outfielder Jim Dwyer also gets an early holiday after suffering a UCL tear, as does Mets Closer Roy Smith thanks to RC troubles.