Week 18 Summary

Week 18 is in the books and it was another busy week. Week 17 featured a total of twelve doubleheaders and Week 18 had ten. Most importantly, the doubleheaders tended to have the teams that were the most behind in games played, which, of course, makes sense. Week 18 in a 24 week season is the 3/4 mark, and 3/4 of 140 games is 105, so while none of the teams are at the 105 games played mark, there are many that are at least close or a lot closer.

Elmer Flick

In the AL Chicago had shown some signs of weakness recently and Boston and Detroit had started to draw near, but then the White Stockings went on a seven-game winning streak, the last two coming against their closest opponent, Boston. In fact, with these last two losses Boston now finds itself in third place behind a red hot Detroit team. Baltimore got several of their missing starters back in the lineup and they have reeled off seven consecutive wins which may be enough to secure fourth place for them. Philadelphia is the best of the rest with their league-leading hitting and league-worst pitching. Milwaukee lost both ends of a doubleheader to the Athletics to end their week but otherwise find themselves in sixth place, percentage points ahead of Washington. Both Washington and Cleveland have had a rough go for the past two weeks, but of the two, I expect Washington might be able to turn it around.

Pittsburgh continues to have a comfortable lead in the NL and as it happened, the Pirates had a five-day respite in the middle of the week. After a long season, it was good to be able to have a few extra days to let the players accumulated bruises and abrasions heal and to give your starting pitchers a little more rest as well, but they now find themselves with the fewest games played, thus the most games remaining. Philadelphia and Brooklyn are engaged in their own catfight as the two have begun to take turns swapping second and third place. New York is in fourth place, but it is really a case of them being just the best of the rest. Pitching has carried them and fifth place Boston to their current places in the standings and these two will probably have their own personal dogfight until the end. Of the three remaining St. Louis has suddenly decided to pitch well and hit, both at the same time and have won eight of their last ten to move within one-half game of sixth place Chicago. Chicago is having injury issues. Cincinnati ended their week by taking two games in Pittsburgh and they may get to player spoiler a few more time before seasons end.

Bill Donovan

The highlight of the week a pitcher named Dummy Leitner. He had made a relief appearance for Philadelphia (AL) earlier in the season but was then released. New York signed him for the express purpose of making a start in two of the doubleheaders that the Giants had in Week 17. In those two starts Leitner pitcher two complete-game shutouts for me, and against key rivals Boston and Brooklyn as well. At the end of the week, his assigned task completed, New York released him. I think it is safe to assume if he had of really pitched two shutouts New York might have kept him around, but that's what happens in a replay.