Week in Review - National League (May 13-19, 1929)

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The Giants reclaim the top spot in the National League and are currently the hottest team in all of baseball, not losing a single game over the last week.  Their winning streak now stands at 6 games and they have opened a 2 game lead over the Cubs.  The Phillies offense continues to keep them hovering around the top of the standings as well.  As seems to have been the case over the last two weeks, it keeps feeling like the Cardinals and the Pirates are finally going to kick it into gear, but neither has been able to maintain it - the Cardinals remain at .500 while the Pirates continue to struggle to get to that mark.

Here is the link to the Baseball-Reference page that shows today's actual standings in 1929.  The Giants are clearly overachieving compared to real life performance, but considering the offensive weapons in their lineup, and the solid pitching being delivered, I don't find it that surprising.  The Robins are also far outpacing their real life record - Babe Herman and Rube Bressler have been really hot and Dazzy Vance has been the best pitcher in the National League, so how they are performing so well is also not a mystery.  What is more surprising is the inability of the Cardinals and Pirates to get near the top of the standings where they are expected to be.

National League Batting Leaders

 

 

 

 

 

Like in the American League, I am a little concerned that some of the hitting numbers are a bit high, particularly with so many hitters over .400 even at this stage in the season.  Hopefully it continues to normalize.  The guys that are hitting so well at least are individuals that did have outstanding seasons in 1929.

National League - Top 10 Hitters


Rogers Hornsby (CHC)

1. Rogers Hornsby, Chicago Cubs (Prev: 1) (.439/.488/.825, OPS: 1.313; Other highlights: 10 HR, 43 RBI, 23 runs, 50 hits) - He may no longer be in Triple Crown position, but he still has a good shot at ending the season with a Triple Crown, and he remains the best baseball player on the planet at this moment.

2. Lefty O'Doul, Philadelphia Phillies (Prev: 2) (.439/.509/.673, OPS: 1.182; Other highlights: 6 HR, 27 RBI, 26 runs, 43 hits)

3. Chuck Klein, Philadelphia Phillies (Prev: 7) (.355/.436/.688, OPS: 1.124; Other highlights: 8 HR, 27 RBI, 22 runs)


George Harper (BSN)

4. George Harper, Boston Braves (Prev: 5) (.444/.553/.544, OPS: 1.097; Other highlights: 40 hits, 23 BB) - Can he maintain this pace at the plate?

5. Jim Bottomley, St. Louis Cardinals (Prev: 3) (.352/.421/.602, OPS: 1.023; Other highlights: 7 HR, 26 RBI, 22 runs, 38 hits)

6. Bill Terry, New York Giants (Prev: 6) (.418/.481/.582, OPS: 1.063; Other highlights: 27 RBI, 38 hits)

7. Fresco Thompson, Philadelphia Phillies (Prev: NR) (.422/.471/.587, OPS: 1.058; Other highlights: 28 runs, 46 hits) - A new entrant in these rankings, Thompson is the guy at the top of the Phillies lineup that gets everything started and is putting together a season that could rival his incomparable teammates, Lefty O'Doul and Chuck Klein.

8. Babe Herman, Brooklyn Robins (Prev: 10) (.373/.435/.598, OPS: 1.033; Other highlights: 22 runs, 38 hits, 11 SB)

9. Kiki Cuyler, Chicago Cubs (Prev: 4) (.375/.459/.548, OPS: 1.007; Other highlights: 25 runs, 39 hits, 6 SB)


Rube Bressler (BRO)

10. Rube Bressler, Brooklyn Robins (Prev: NR) (.388/.448/.635, OPS: 1.083) - Bressler and teammate Babe Herman are keeping Brooklyn fighting to get into a pennant race.

American League Pitching Leaders

 

 


American League - Top 5 Pitchers


Dazzy Vance (BRO)

1. Dazzy Vance, Brooklyn Robins (Prev: 1) (6 games, 6 starts, 4-1, 1.37 ERA, 1.1 WHIP, 23 Ks: Other highlights: 2 CGs) - Dazzy stays on top.

2. Red Lucas, Cincinnati Reds (Prev: 2) (6 games 5 starts, 3-2, 2.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 11 Ks; Other highlights: 4 CGs)

3. Charlie Root, Chicago Cubs (Prev: 3) (7 games, 6 starts, 4-1, 2.55 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 20 Ks; Other highlights: 4 CGs, 1 shutout)


Carl Hubbell (NYG)

4. Carl Hubbell, New York Giants (Prev: NR) (6 games, 6 starts, 4-0, 3.5 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 16 Ks; Other highlights: 2 CGs, 1 shutout) - The young Hubbell is establishing himself as the ace of the Giants' staff and is a key reason why they are shockingly starting to pull away at the top of thestandings.

5. Sheriff Blake, Chicago Cubs (Prev: 4) (9 games, 6 starts, 5-1, 3.06 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 10 Ks: Other highlights: 4 CGs, 1 shutout)











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