Week 3 Summary (May 2, 1938

Week Three of the 1938 BBW replay is in the books, and it was another exciting week. While it is still early, pennant races in both leagues tightened up as teams that got off to a good start slowed down a bit, while teams that struggled out of the gate appeared to have found their stride. Of course, bad teams are still bad teams, and they continue to struggle. The weather has been a problem for some teams, but teams are all either right at or just below twenty games played. There is still some level of roster adjustment going on as well, as teams are still looking to pare down their rosters in preparation for the upcoming summer.

Boston (NL) Manager
Casey Stengel

In the AL, the surprising St. Louis Browns still sit atop the standings - barely, but right on top. They had temporarily fallen out of first place in mid-week but regained their footing and moved back on top by week's end. They have been coming through with key hits when they need them, and they have gotten just enough solid pitching, although no one is sure how much this can go on. Detroit is 0.5 games out of first, as they followed up a six-game losing streak with four consecutive wins to end the week. The hottest team in the AL is Cleveland, having won nine of their last ten to recover from their horrible start to the season.

Right behind Cleveland are the New York Yankees. A perennial juggernaut, New York was slow out of the chute this season, but with Joe DiMaggio now returned to the lineup, and once they get their pitching straightened out … this is the one team everybody fears. Boston currently sits in fifth place, with a five-game losing streak able to drag them all the way down out of first. Washington has a .500 record after twenty games played, but they are currently sitting in sixth place, a mere 2.5 games out of first. As for Chicago and Philadelphia … it's gonna be a long season.

In the NL, New York got off to a strong start and had dominated in first place so far, at least until they ventured to Pittsburgh this past week. The Pirates swept a two-game series and were able to climb into a first-place tie. Pittsburgh had doggedly clung to the Giants' tail and were able to make their move as soon as the New Giants came to Forbes Field. This may portend a contentious pennant race un the NL this season, with these two plus Chicago nipping right behind them, nipping at their heels.

Behind these three, the NL is much more of a question. Who, if anyone, will get hot and move into the upper half of the standings. St. Louis is currently sitting in fourth place, but no one has high expectations for the Cardinals. St. Louis was a powerhouse earlier in the decade (and would be so again in upcoming years), but 1938 is a rebuilding season. But any team that has Enos Slaughter, Joe Medwick, and Johnny Mize in the 3-4-5 slots in their lineup is not someone to take lightly.

Brooklyn resides in the fifth slot, with Cincinnati right behind them. The Reds had hopes of finishing in the upper half of the NL standings, but so far their pitching has let them down. Boston has the best pitching in the NL, but their lack of offensive pop finds them at the bottom, just ahead of the helpless Philadelphia Phillies.

It's been a rather rambunctious start to the season. While most of the games fall into the realm of normal "4-3" games, there is a twenty-hit explosion by someone almost every day, plus everyone gets to participate, even hitless wonders like the White Sox. You never know when it is going to happen, but a team will put a few runners on and then commence to start walking and hitting with no regard for the opponents' pitchers. Even relievers are subjected to the wrath of the offensive uproar, often leaving a close game a bloody mess.

After next week (Week Four), I will include a report on league leaders. St. Louis (NL) rookie outfielder Enos Slaughter is supposed to finish with eight homeruns, but is currently sitting at seven, with a pair of two homeruns games just this past week. It happens every season. We will see if he can keep it up.