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NORTHEAST BASEBALL RECAP: MAY

NORTHEAST U.S.A. (May 31, 1882) – May is over, and as always that means the first month of the baseball season in the Northeast has been completed. Here is how each of the four competitions look.

AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS

The standings through 26 games are, quite frankly, weird. The two highest Run Differentials in the Colonial Conference are by the two teams tied for 3rd, while the team with the second-worst RD in the whole league went 13-13 and Knick is sitting at 11-15 with a positive RD. Obviously it’s early, so these things should fix themselves over the next two and a half months.

COLONIAL CONFERENCE

Niagara ends May with the #1 record thanks to two things: an 8-2 mark in one-run games and a stunning May from P.o.t.M. Moses Smith, who took over at P2 after both Ed Jenkins & Tomoharu Mukai faltered during April Training. In addition, big winter signing Jonathan Cobb is batting .394 and looks a lock for his fourth straight All-Star Game.

Flour City is 2nd because the top half of their lineup is doing superb work. Newark has taken a number of double-digit wins, and the signing of Reginald Roper after the opener was great business. Shamrock has also been battering teams in wins, mostly at the reconfigured South End Grounds. St. John’s is off to another “slow” start, but going 13-13 with a league-worst Batting Average (.266) means they’re due for a quick rise up the standings. Alleghany’s reconfigured team is figuring things out. Pt. Jersey’s attack, especially B.o.t.Y. runner-up Vincent Dixon, has struggled. Mass. Bay has the league’s worst pitching & fielding.

METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE

Outside of a run where they lost five straight at Niagara & Quaker St., Tiger has been just as good as expected. Their fielding has been flawless, which has meant their pitching has also been excellent. All-Star signees Gerald Burns & Samuel Eastman have fit into the lineup seamlessly. They will be the team to beat in the Metropolitan.

Excelsior had a good May, but it should be noted that 17/26 games were at home in Brooklyn. Still, their star Batsmen are performing well. B.o.t.Y. Garfield Koonce is off to another red-hot start for Kings Co. Orange has taken some big losses, notably the 4-26 beating at Newark on May 6th, but their .500 May is admirable considering who they lost over the winter. Yet again, Gotham is showing off a big attack but a defense that is letting them down. Quaker St. is playing as expected: great Outfield, very weak Infield, mediocre Pitchers. Knick is in transition and having a tough time of it. American looks hopeless.

A.P.B.L. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Harold Durand (LF, QS) – .424, 1.088 OPS, 19 R, 50 H, 12 2B, 7 3B, 22 RBI, 4 BB, 2 SB, 2.1 WPA, 1.6 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Moses Smith (NIA) – 10-2, 2.52 ERA, 89.1 IP, 7 CG, 9 K, 0.5 K/BB, 1.41 WHIP, 1.0 WAR, 1.7 rWAR

GREENHORN OF THE MONTH
Jacob Overfield (3B, GOT) – .322, .895 OPS, 29 R, 39 H, 9 2B, 7 3B, 14 RBI, 9 BB, 10 SB, 1.1 WPA, 1.5 WAR

Reigning B.o.t.Y. Garfield Koonce had the best Average (.425) by a single point and a superior On-Base Pct. (.453), but Durand’s Slugging mark of .644 and #1 overall OPS while having better than 2.0 WPA made him May’s best Batsman. There was a case to be made for Niagara RF Jonathan Cobb, whose first month in Buffalo (.394, 1.033 OPS, 26 RBI, 2.0 WPA) was grand.

This is a stunner. Smith, who was a SUB P for Niagara for three years after signing from the P.C.L., was named Niagara #2 on Opening Day and promptly earned ten Wins in May, even if his BB/K Ratio wasn’t good. The only man who could’ve beaten Moses was Newark’s John Ratican, based on secondary statistics (8-4, 2.29 ERA, 33 K, 2.0 WAR).

Mass. Bay 2B Guy Penders managed to hit the ball the hardest (.343 AVG, .936 OPS), but when factoring in patience, baserunning, & fielding it was Overfield, in his first month with Gotham after four years playing for Bridgeport in the C.C., who put in the most impressive work, leading all Greenhorn Batsmen in both WPA & WAR.

A.P.B.L. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .425 by Garfield Koonce (1B, Kings Co.)
OPS: 1.088 by Harold Durand (LF, Quaker St.)
Home Runs: 2 by five different Batsmen
Runs Batted In: 28 by Harold Corso (RF, Gotham) & Matthew Small (LF, Flour City)
Runs: 33 by Oliver Johnson (2B, Niagara)
Stolen Bases: 26 by Konrad Jensen (1B, St. John’s)
Batsman WPA: 2.3 by Charles Barrett (LF, Niagara)
Batsman WAR: 1.7 by Martin Prince (SS, Tiger S.C.)

Wins: 10 by Moses Smith (Niagara)
ERA (50+ IP): 2.29 by John Ratican (Newark)
Strikeouts: 38 by Howard Burns (St. John’s) & George Burroughs (Tiger S.C.)
Complete Games: 9 by four different Pitchers
WHIP (50+ IP): 1.16 by Willie Gray (Tiger S.C.)
Pitcher WAR: 2.4 by Everett Huggard (Gotham)
Pitcher rWAR: 2.8 by Claude Becker (Shamrock) & Willie Gray (Tiger S.C.)

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NATIONAL BASE BALL ORGANIZATION REGIONAL LEADERS

NEW YORK LEAGUE

BROOKLYN: Marathon at 14-6 (Atlantic/Continental 2 GB, Nassau Co./Star 4 GB)
NEW YORK CITY: New York A.C. at 13-7 (all other teams within 5 GB)
UPSTATE N.Y.: Frontier at 16-4 (Syracuse 2 GB, Eagle 3 GB, Utica 6 GB)

BROOKLYN: Surprising Marathon, 28-42 last season, ended May on a 9-1 run to grab the Brooklyn lead at the end of May. They’ve been powered by the N.Y.L.’s #3 attack. Atlantic & Continental are a pair of games back due to, respectively, offense & pitching. Nassau County’s had some good luck. Star’s benefitted from excellent fielding.

NEW YORK CITY: New York A.C. is on top early, but that doesn’t mean much because the other seven teams are all within five games. It’s early, but N.Y.C. is shaping up to be another fight to the finish.

UPSTATE N.Y.: Syracuse started hot, but Frontier ended the month 8-2 to take the lead with the N.B.B.O.’s best record. Their new Pitching Duo has been as good as anticipated, and their offense is #2 in the N.Y.L. Syracuse is still playing well and will be dangerous. Eagle has shown off a very good attack so far. Utica’s been okay. The surprise: Minuteman is 7th at 6-14.

NORTHEASTERN LEAGUE

COASTAL: National at 13-7 (Brighton 1 GB, Maryland 2 GB, Diamond St. 3 GB, Lord Balt./P.B.C.C. Trenton Utd. 4 GB)
INLAND: Lancastra Brit. at 15-5 (Merrimack/Susquehanna 4 GB, Lake Erie/Pioneer 4.5 GB, Squirrel Hill 5 GB)
NEW ENGLAND: Quinnipiac at 13-7 (Granite/Green Mtn. 1 GB, S.o.t.O. 2 GB, Oceanic 3 GB, Cantabrig’s/Salem 5 GB)

COASTAL: The defending cup champs are on top with great pitching, great fielding, and star 2B Chester Dudek batting .386. However, there are six teams 1-4 games behind, and the surprise of the bunch is Brighton, led by 7x A.P.B.L. All-Star Albert Stoffers and an 8-1 month by Herbert Kriser. The attacks of Maryland & P.B.C.C. are struggling, but that won’t last long.

INLAND: For now, Lancastra is on top with the N.E.L.’s best record thanks to offense & fielding that are among the best in the N.E.L. However, with Susquehanna two games back that means the lead can change hands in a hurry. The surprise among those close behind: Lake Erie, whose last three seasons have finished 17-53, 18-52, & 16-54.

NEW ENGLAND: Pennant holders Quinnipiac are on top after May, but six teams are within five games and the other team is 7x regional champs Portland at six GB. The leaders have the top two offenses in the N.E.L. right behind them, so it’s shaping up to be an exciting pennant race in New England.

N.B.B.O. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMEN OF THE MONTH
NYL: Albert Alsip (1B, VIC): .422, 1.065 OPS, 17 R, 38 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 25 RBI, 7 BB, 2.0 WPA, 1.1 WAR
NEL: James Burke (CF, PBCC): .489, 1.258 OPS, 23 R, 43 H, 9 2B, 6 3B, 18 RBI, 9 BB, 13 SB, 1.4 WPA, 1.8 WAR

PITCHERS OF THE MONTH
NYL: Charles Sturch (FRO): 9-1, 2.28 ERA, 86.1 IP, 8 CG, 27 K, 1.9 K/BB, 1.18 WHIP, 1.6 WAR, 2.3 rWAR
NEL: Ben Lauppe (NAT): 7-2, 2.31 ERA, 78.0 IP, 7 CG, 30 K, 2.1 K/BB, 0.96 WHIP, 1.9 WAR, 2.9 rWAR

GREENHORNS OF THE MONTH
NYL: James Brennan (NYAC): .322, .860 OPS, 21 R, 28 H, 6 2B, 4 3B, 24 RBI, 9 BB, 2 SB, 1.1 WPA, 1.3 WAR
NEL: Charles Pranger (GRA): .322, .878 OPS, 20 R, 28 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 7 BB, 1.2 WPA, 0.7 WAR

N.B.B.O. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .489 by James Burke (CF, Philadelphia B.C.C.)
OPS: 1.258 by James Burke
Home Runs: 2 by ten different Batsmen
Runs Batted In: 31 by Scott Conway (CF, Reading A.C.)
Runs: 30 by Edward Shores (LF, Granite) & Charles Towson (SS, Green Mtn.)
Stolen Bases: 17 by Noah Jones (SS, Brighton) & Michael Wolff (LF, Merrimack)
Batsman WPA: 2.7 by Joseph Turner (CF, Lake Erie)
Batsman WAR: 1.7 by John Porretta (2B, Susquehanna)

Wins: 9 by Charles Sturch (Frontier)
ERA (50+ IP): 2.19 by Jacob Wesolowski (Syracuse)
Strikeouts: 39 by Haywood Birch (Eagle)
Complete Games: 9 by Herbert Kriser (Brighton)
WHIP (50+ IP): 0.96 by Ben Lauppe (National)
Pitcher WAR: 2.6 by Harry Miller (Hilltop) & Howard Shepherd (Cont’l)
Pitcher rWAR: 3.7 by Simeon DiStefano (Maryland)

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COASTAL BASEBALL CONFERENCE LEADER

Capitol City at 13-7 (Bridgeport/Essex Co./Sportsman’s 2 GB, Lynn 3 GB, Olympic 4 GB, C. & A. 5 GB)

Thanks to the conference’s best attack and its most talented pitcher, Capitol City ends May in the lead. They have five Batsmen hitting over .300, including 1B Irving Knight at.413, while five-star #1 John Baker is working well with #2 Francis Tinney. Everyone except Highlander is within five games, and for Bridgeport it could just be a matter of them taking over once their new lineup members are done settling in.

C.B.C. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Mark Russo (CF, SPO) – .429, 1.052 OPS, 22 R, 39 H, 8 2B, 3 3B, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 5 SB, 1.5 WPA, 1.6 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Francis Tinney (CC) – 7-1, 1.79 ERA, 80.2 IP, 5 CG, 20 K, 2.0 K/BB, 9.0 H/9, 1.13 WHIP, 1.4 WAR, 1.7 rWAR

C.B.C. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .429 by Mark Russo (CF, Sportsman’s)
OPS: 1.052 by Mark Russo
Home Runs: 2 by Harold McMichael (3B, Bridgeport) & Jonathan Richards (SS, Olympic)
Runs Batted In: 24 by Harold McMichael (3B, Bridgeport)
Runs: 24 by three different Batsmen
Stolen Bases: 13 by Robert Werstler (CF, Bridgeport)
Batsman WPA: 1.9 by Lacy LeGendre (2B, Camden & Amb.)
Batsman WAR: 1.6 by Mark Russo

Wins: 7 by William Rucker (Essex Co.) & Francis Tinney (Cap. City)
ERA (50+ IP): 1.79 by Francis Tinney
Strikeouts: 48 by Stephen Willis (Sportsman’s)
Complete Games: 7 by three different Pitchers
WHIP (50+ IP): 1.13 by Francis Tinney
Pitcher WAR: 2.5 by Stephen Willis
Pitcher rWAR: 1.7 by Francis Tinney

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PHILADELPHIA CITY BASEBALL LEAGUE LEADERS

EAST: Frankford & Queen Vill. at 13-7 (Pt. Richmond 0.5 GB, S.o.B./Yorktown 3 GB, Spartan 4.5 GB, Keystone 5 GB)

It’s not about who’s there, but who’s NOT there. Frankford Arsenal, no surprise, has the league’s best offense, Queen Village is also hitting well, and Port Richmond’s attack is right behind Frankford’s. The big thing here is that Minerva, who went 54-16 last year and took the Philadelphia title, is in last place after a 5-15 May in which their record-setting offense crashed.

WEST: Bartram Vill. at 12-8 (all other teams within 4 GB)

As usual, the West is a mess. Bartram is on top after having won their final four games to end the month. However, Germantown, Merion, and pennant holders Schuylkill are one game back, and favorites Overbrook are two behind. It could take quite a while to figure out who the contenders are.

P.C.B.L. MONTHLY AWARDS

BATSMAN OF THE MONTH
Caesar Sorensen (2B, QV) – .405, 1.093 OPS, 22 R, 34 H, 10 2B, 4 3B, 23 RBI, 9 BB, 6 SB, 1.7 WPA, 1.5 WAR

PITCHER OF THE MONTH
Jonathan Parker (QV) – 7-3, 1.27 ERA, 92.0 IP, 10 CG, 1 SHO, 25 K, 0.9 K/BB, 1.37 WHIP, 1.2 WAR, 4.2 rWAR

GREENHORN OF THE MONTH
Frank Miceli (LF, SCH) – .374, .964 OPS, 19 R, 34 H, 8 2B, 4 3B, 21 RBI, 7 BB, 2 SB, 1.2 WPA, 1.1 WAR

P.C.B.L. STATISTICAL LEADERS

Average: .430 by Haywood Saban (2B, Pt. Richmond)
OPS: 1.093 by Caesar Sorensen (2B, Queen Vill.)
Home Runs: 2 by three different batsmen
Runs Batted In: 25 by James Niven (CF, Overbrook)
Runs: 29 by Haywood Saban
Stolen Bases: 16by Jonathan Auriemma (2B, Minerva)
Batsman WPA: 2.0 by William Greene (3B, Schuylkill)
Batsman WAR: 1.7 by Archie Bell (SS, Minerva) & Paul Ward (SS, Frankford)

Wins: 7 by Jonathan Parker (Queen Vill.)
ERA (50+ IP): 1.27 by Jonathan Parker
Strikeouts: 34 by Oliver Greene (Frankford) & Orville Oliver (Keystone)
Complete Games: 10 by Jonathan Parker
WHIP (50+ IP): 1.14 by Henry Brown (Merion)
Pitcher WAR: 2.0 by Thomas Bath (Penn) & Byron Chase (Sons of Ben)
Pitcher rWAR: 4.2 by Jonathan Parker