Two-Week Update

Standings
Team		W	L	PCT	GB	RS	RA	DIFF
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers		9	3	0.750	-	68	57	+11
1934 St. Louis Cardinals		8	4	0.667	1	52	45	+7
1961 New York Yankees		7	5	0.583	2	44	42	+2
1962 San Fransisco Giants		6	6	0.500	3	62	62	+
2001 New York Yankees		4	8	0.333	5	43	70	-27
1971 Baltimore Orioles		2	10	0.167	7	36	51	-15
League Leaders
Hitting				Pitching
AVG	HR			W			ERA
.417 Rip Collins, St. L	8  Willie Mays, S.F.			3  Jack Sanford, S.F.			1.00   Mike Mussina, '01 NYY
.391 Bill Skowron, '61 NYY	6  Felipe Alou, S.F.			2  Carl Erskine,  Bkl			1.44   Juan Marichal,  S.F.
.388 Felipe Alou, S.F.	5  Roger Maris, '61 NYY			2  Russ Meyer,  Bkl			1.59   Bud Daley,  '61 NYY
.373 Harvey Kuenn, S.F.	4  Rip Collins, St. L			2  Preacher Roe,  Bkl			1.80   Bill Stafford,  '61 NYY
.353 Carl Furillo, Bkl	4  Bill Skowron, '61 NYY			2  Billy Loes, Bkl			1.88   Jim Palmer,  Balt
				5 Others at 2
SB	RBIs			K
13  Derek Jeter, '01 NYY	18  Willie Mays,  S.F.			28   Mike Mussina,  '01 NYY
8  Jim Gilliam,  Bkl	18  Rip Collins, St. L			26   Dizzy Dean,  St. L
7  Merv Rettenmund,  Balt.	13  Bill Skowron, '61 NYY			24   Carl Erskine,  Bkl
7  Chuck Knoblauch, '01 NYY	12  Felipe Alou,  S.F.			23   Jack Sanford,  S.F.
6  Pepper Martin,  St. L	12  Roger Maris,  '61 NYY			21   Roger Clemens, '01 NYY

Roe scatters 7 hits as Dodgers take top spot

With the convincing win by the Dodgers in the previous game, this, the second game in the series, would decide who would be leading the league at the end of the second week of the season.  With the Cardinal ace, Dizzy Dean, already defeated St. Louis would turn to his brother Daffy Dean. Going for the Dodgers would be Preacher Roe, who came into the game at 1-0 on the season.

The Dodger bats would get started early in the game. After a 1-2-3 inning in the first, first baseman Gil Hodges would connect solidly for a single.  Carl Furillo would also single, moving Hodges to third. Cox sent a hot shot down the third base line that might have scored two but third basesman Pepper Martin played it beautifully, diving quickly to his right and snagging it before it hit the ground. A Pee Wee Reese blooper into right would score Hodges and Preacher Roe would help his own cause by shooting one down the middle and bringing in another run.

The 4th inning for the Cardinals started promising. A double by Frankie Frisch was followed by a Ducky Medwick single. The rally was cut short, however, when Rip Collins grounded into a double play but would get an RBI as Frisch would score on the play. The Dodgers would close the door on any comeback for the Cards in the bottom half of the same inning. It would start again in the bottom of the lineup with Furillo smacking a base hit past Frisch. Reese would get his second hit on the day with another single. A fielders choice by the pitcher would advance the runners and Jim Gilliam would break it open by hitting a two run triple.

The Dodgers would add another in the 5th on an error by Medwick but Roe wouldn't need any more support. The Cards would only put two men into scoring position for the rest of the game and only tally three hits. Roe would finish with four strikeouts, no walks and only one earned run. Daffy Dean gave up eleven hits, four earned runs, five strikeouts and walked three.

This game would move the Dodgers to sole possesion of first place.  "Well we had good momentum going into this series. We feel that we're the best team in the league and our hard work is finally showing that," Jackie Robinson said after the game. The Dodgers move to 9-3 for the season and the Cardinals drop to 8-4.

WP :  Preacher Roe (2-0)
LP :  Daffy Dean (1-2)

Team		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cardinals		0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	7	0
Dodgers		0	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	x		5	12	0

Clemens leads way while Pinstripes bats heat up

The Orioles would strike first, Rettenmund would reach on a Bernie Williams error, and Paul Blair would single to score him. Clemens would take control after that, giving up only four hits, striking out 7 and walking none.  Yankee runs came from Williams and Posada homers in the 6th and 7th. Mike Cuellar took the loss on a strong outing, the O's offense returned to the struggles they have experienced throughout the season; tallying only four hits.

WP : Roger Clemens (1-1)
LP : Mike Cuellar (0-3)

Team		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
01 Yankees		0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0		3	9	1
Orioles		1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	4	1

Late Yankee surge helps secure win

The Giants appeared to be the better team on this day when they threatened in the first five innings, scoring one. It was not until the 7th when the Bombers put up two, a two run home run by Bill Skowron. Then put the game away in the 9th with a two run triple by Tony Kubek followed by a two run home run by Elston Howard. Luis Arroyo would take over for Bud Daley in the 7th and was credited with the win. Giant pitcher, Juan Marichal, was chased out in the 8th and was credited with the loss.

WP : Luis Arroyo (1-0)
LP : Juan Marichal (2-1)

Team		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
61 Yankees		0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	4		6	11	1
Giants		0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	x		1	7	0

Giants offense overshadowed by Sanford gem

The Giants pounded Whitey Ford early and often, scoring four in the first two innings. A homerun by Tom Haller in the 6th and a rally in the 7th put the Giants up 7-1. A late solo homerun by pinch hitter John Blanchard was the only real offense for the Yankees after the 3rd inning. Sanford would strikeout nine and give up two earned runs on five hits.

WP : Jack Sanford (3-1)
LP : Whitey Ford (2-2)

Team		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
61 Yankees		0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1		2	5	0
Giants		3	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	x		7	11	0

UPDATE

In lieu of writing detailed descriptions of each game, which has turned out to be a terribly long process, I have decided to write in detail about the games that warrent it and a brief description about the games that are not as exciting or do not effect the standings as much. This is in an effort to get on with the actual games and work toward the playoffs and championship. I have finished the 2nd week of the season, and after writing those games up I will post the standings and league leaders again.

Thanks,

Dobson K's 11 as O's bats continue hotstreak

Day 13 would bring a match up between the two worst teams in the league.  The Orioles came into the game with only one win but bringing momentum from the previous win. Pat Dobson would start for the O's who came into the game 0-2 and have given up ten runs in those two starts.  Randy Keisler (0-1) would go for the Pinstripes, it was his second start of the season.

The scoring started early for New York, tallying a run and two hits in each of the first two innings, which included a homerun from Alfonso Soriano.  While the Yankees did score in the first two innings the Orioles only threatened; putting two runners on base in the first and loading the bases before a strikeout by Paul Blair to end the inning.  However, the Orioles would break through in the 3rd. Frank Robinson walked to lead off and Boog Powell homered deep to right.  Then again in the forth Belanger would walk to start, the pitcher Dobson singled, then another walk to Rettenmund would load the bases with no outs in the inning.  Blair would redeem his strikeout earlier in the game with a single that would score Belanger. Frank Robinson would walk again, he had three walks on the day, which would bring in another run.

The Yankee offense was stifled but was not completely ineffective against Dobson after the 2nd inning.  Only getting three hits the rest of the game, unfortunately for the O's, two of the hits were solo homeruns by Jorge Posada and Soriano, his second of the game, to take the lead in the 7th. The Orioles had an answer the following inning. A walk, a double and a single by Frank Robinson would score the eventual game winning run. Dobson would make it interesting by walking Posada and conceding a single to Brosius but would end the game with a strikeout of Soriano, his eleventh of the game. "Well obviously this game was big for us. We really felt that if we got just one win we could build off of that and continue to win," Dobson, the winning pitcher, said.

"We're not getting production from the middle of the lineup and that cripples any team. We can compete with any team in this league but we need production from those guys," Derek Jeter, the captain, said. With the three through five hitters going 0 for 12 in the game Jeter would seem to be right.

The win was Baltimore's second bringing their record to 2-9.  The Yankees record drops to 3-8.

WP : Pat Dobson (1-2)
LP : Randy Keisler (0-2)

Team		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
01 Yankees		1	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	0		4	7	1
Orioles		0	0	2	3	0	0	0	1	0		5	9	0

Erskine tosses complete game shutout - Dodgers cruise

When the Cardinals and Dodgers met for the second series between the two, it would determine who would have the top spot in the league. The Cardinals come into the series with a one game lead over the Dodgers and a lot of confidence.  "Them boys from Brooklyn ain't gonna be able to touch my stuff," said Dizzy Dean, the starter for the first game of the two.

The Dodgers must have heard Dizzy. The Cards were taken care of easily in the top half of the 1st. Brooklyn would hang four on Dizzy Dean and the Cards, putting the game away early.  A walk to Jim Gilliam, and a stolen base, allowed him to score when Jackie Robinson singled to right.  Snider and Campenella would go down quietly but Gil Hodges would keep the inning alive with a double into the right field gap, scoring Robinson. Carl Furillo would then single back up the box while Hodges would trot home.  Cox would single and Pee Wee Reese would add another base hit to bring home Furillo.

Dean showed his frustration with the Dodger hitting in the 1st.  First by throwing his glove into the dugout and then arguing with his shortstop Leo Durocher. Dean would calm down after the 1st, retiring the side in order in the 2nd.  The 3rd would see the Dodgers score again however.  Campenella would single to the right side and Hodges would get his second hit of the day, putting runners at the corners.  Pee Wee would come through with two outs and single up the middle and bring in Campenella.

The five runs would be all Brooklyn would need as Erskine was in top form all day.  Erskine would walk five, including three in one inning to load the bases, but scattered only four hits and St. Louis was unable to capitalize. "Well I got myself in a jam or two there but I trusted my command and my defense behind me and was able to work out of it. It helps when you get good run support like today, no pitcher would complain about five runs in three innings," the smiling Erskine said after the game. Dizzy Dean cooled down and finished the game strong.  Giving up eleven hits and striking out seven.

The loss would create a tie between the two teams at the top of the leaderboard, both teams sitting at 8-3, and set up a game for the lead tomorrow.

WP : Carl Erskine (2-2)
LP : Dizzy Dean (2-1)

Team		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Cardinals		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	4	0
Dodgers		4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		5	11	0

Massive 7th just enough to pull out win for '01 Yanks

Ted Lilly, the starter for the '01 Yankees against the '61 Yanks, knew this would be a tough matchup.  "With guys like Mantle and Maris and guys like Billy Skowron who's having a good year, this team could explode on you at any moment."  This caution and preparation might have helped lead the lefty to striking out the side to lead off the game. Unfortunately, his luck would only last as long.  The 2nd started with a Maris walk, Lilly unable to find his location early in the count.  After a Yogi Berra groundball, Skowron would reach out and poke a ball that Paul O'Neill could do nothing but watch as it soared over the fence.  The 3rd inning would be just as cruel to Lilly.   Tony Kubek, who is having a below average year from the leadoff spot, would hit a towering pop fly that would find its way over the short porch in right field.  Two outs later Maris would pound a ball deep to center field that everyone in the park knew was gone as soon as it left his bat.

Lilly would get through one more inning before being taken out of the 5th, leaving two men on for Mike Stanton, his replacement.  Stanton would fare better, getting through two innings, giving up one earned run and striking out three.  He would be the pitcher in the 7th when it would be the Yankees turn to explode.  Tino Martinez would lead off with a single; Posada, Brosius and Soriano would all follow with singles of their own.  With two runs on the board and the bases loaded, David Justice, pinch hitting for Stanton, would show good patience and draw a walk. After walking Justice on four pitches Ralph Terry, who had been cruising up to this point, was taken out in favor of Truman Clevenger. The first batter he faced, Knoblauch would single to left, scoring two.  Jeter, who is staying hot, doubled, scoring Justice. A Bernie Williams walk that loaded the bases for the second time in the inning would lead to a Martinez sacrifice fly to score the sixth run for the '01 Yanks.

A devestated '61 Yankee club was unable to muster a late game rally.  Randy Choate and Jay Witasick would combine to close the game down and secure the win. "These games are always tough to take.  When we take the lead 5-0, we should win the game," Skowron said of the game. Skowron would go 2 for 4 with a two run homerun.  A developing concern for '61 Yanks fans is the continuing struggles of Mickey Mantle, who went 0 for 3 with two walks. "It's ok to not hit and not contribute when your team still wins but not when we lose.  I need to contribute to take this team where we all know it can go."

The '61 Yankees would drop to 6-4 while the '01 Yankees would win their third of the year, and improve to 3-7 overall.

WP : Mike Stanton (1-0)
LP : Truman Clevenger (0-1)
S : Jay Witasick (1)

Team		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
01 Yankees		0	0	0	2	0	0	6	0	0		6	10	0
61 Yankees		0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0		5	12	1