CHAPTER 4 NOTES

80 games are in the books so things look good at the half way point for the Pirates,  Orioles and the Dodgers.  The Orioles and Dodgers are the defending World Series teams so they are performing as expected but the Pirates are looking stronger the deeper I get into the schedule.

The Pirates went 8-1 in CH4 and it looks like their starters and bullpen are good enough to support a lineup like this:

1. Matty Alou LF
2. Manny Mota 3B
3.  Roberto Clemente RF
4.  Willie Stargell LF
5.  Donn Clendenon 1B
6.  Gene Alley SS
7.  Bill Mazeroski 2B
8.  Jim Pagliaroni C
9.  Pitcher

Clendenon leads the race for the Project MVP.  The MVP uses various data based on percentage ratings as well as cumulative data and the Pirate 1B excels on both accounts.  The Donn has a 436/671/1107 slash line and a 397 BA along with 3 HR and 18 RBIs.  The Phillies Johnny Briggs has a 556/714/1270 slash line but the Phils have only played 7 games which explains 2HR/4RBI/429 BA.

The Orioles went 6-1 thanks to a starting rotation of McNally, Palmer, Watt and Barber.  Add in a bullpen which includes Stu Miller, Eddie Fisher, Moe Drabowsky and Frank Bertania.  Only the Astros and the Reds managed to score more than 2 runs against this staff in Chapter 4.  Boog Powell leads Baltimore with a 369/613/982 slash line which goes along with a 339 AVG/4 HR/18RBI.

Here are the leading pitchers for the Cy Young award based on their production in 8 categories….

1. Bob Veale PIT 15
2. Al Jackson STL 9
3. Jim Palmer BLT  7
4. Don Sutton LAD 6
5. Woody Fryman PIT  6

Here is the top 5 in the MVP race:

1. Donn Clendenon PIT 41
2. Johnny Briggs PHL 20
3. Boog Powell BLT  17
4. Matty Alou PIT 12
5. Roberto Clemente PIT 12

Here are the pitching and hitting leaders

Batting