Week in Review: May 20 - May 26, 1984

Dan Driessen is in the top five for NL OPS

This is our first "Week in Review" since September 2016, meaning it took seven months to finish the week.  That honestly feels like a pretty good pace, one playing day a month.  At that rate I could finish two weeks in the same calendar year.

The Phenomenal Phive:

1. Houston Astros, 32-12, .727 win%  Just about everything is going the right way for the Astros.  Their starting pitching delivers, the bullpen is the best in the National League, and their platoons on offense are clicking.  I need to start playing Ray Knight more in anticipation of his trade later in the season to the Mets, so that could dampen the run scoring.
2. Toronto Blue Jays, 31-13, .705 win %  There isn't a better outfield in the league right now than the Blue Jays.  Dave Collins, Jorge Bell, and Lloyd Moseby are murdering the ball, and Jesse Barfield is coming off the DL this coming week.  That's bad news for the AL East.
3. St. Louis Cardinals, 32-14, .696 win%  The Cardinals continue to distance themselves from the rest of the NL East.  Bruce Sutter now leads the league in saves (10) and has been nearly unhittable.
4. Detroit Tigers, 28-14, .667 win%  Detroit Rock City continues to keep the pressure on Toronto.  Kirk Gibson leads the multi-pronged offensive attack as Howard Johnson has enjoyed increased playing time with Tom Brookens' injury.
5. New York Yankees, 27-16, .628 win%  The Bronx Bombers are still performing above their true talent level.  They got a nice pick-me-up when Willie Randolph came off the DL, and Dave Winfield's bat is sizzling right now.

Useless Stats:

• Brett Butler leads the AL in caught stealing with eight, twice as many as the runner in second place.  Tim Raines leads the NL with six, though he's successfully nabbed 22 bags.
• Lloyd Moseby has been plunked seven times so far this season, good for tops in the AL.  Dave Anderson of the Dodgers leads the senior circuit with four.
• Kent Hrbek has grounded into 15 double plays.  Mike Marshall leads the NL with 11.
• Ricky Horton is the only pitcher in the National League with a save and at least one game started.
• Dave Stieb and Doyle Alexander of the Blue Jays lead the American League with four complete games pitched.