(AP-Johannesburg, South Africa)
TML Biff Barnes Highlight Reel - June 2010
=================================================

A Triple Crown Threat?

The 'Skayuna Squires Albert Pujols had a terrific
month and won "Player of the Month" honors (see
below). He led his team to an 18-12 month, but
they still trail Steinmetz Division leader Walla
Walla by 9 games. Pujols now leads the TML in
batting (.372), HR (41) and RBI (94). The one
and only "Triple Crown" performance in TML history
was Darkfyre's Eddie Murray in 1984 (.364, 56 HR,
164 RBI). Additionally, Pujols also leads the TML
in SLG (.826), Runs (88). EXBH (74), TB (284) and
RC (126). There's a long way to go, but Pujols
will be competing all season long.

In the Steinmetz, Walla Walla (15-15 for the
month) lost some ground to both Albany (18-12)
and 'Skayuna (18-12), but leads them by 8 and 9
games, respectively. In the Ruth, Arkansas (22-8)
and Danny Way (21-9) continue to play .700+ ball
and have pulled away from the rest of the division.
In the Williams, a 13-17 record by Lake Wobegone
and Rocky Mountain was the best the division could
post. Rocky Mountain at .512 leads by a rather
comfortable 7 games over Brandon (12-18) and
Oklahoma (11-19).

Over in the Atmospheric Conference, Beverly
(20-10), also playing over .700 ball, has opened
up a big 14-game lead in the Gatto over Carolina
(16-14) and the charging Valparaiso (20-10). In the
Robinson, Rensselaer (18-12) caught Duluth (14-16)
and share first place. In the Gehrig, Toxic Waste
(16-14) gained a little ground on Traffic (14-16)
and now leads by 4 games. Cheticamp (18-12) pulled
to within 9 games of the Toxins. Unlike in the
Oceanic Conference, the Atmospheric Conference
Wild Card playoff spot is up for grabs!

-------------------------------------------------

As noted earlier, Pujols leads in many offensive
categories. His main threats on the batting lead
are from Carolina's Joe Mauer (.368), Madison's
Ichiro Suzuki (.367) and Rensselaer's Chone Figgins
(.367). His main threats on the HR and RBI titles
are from Valparaiso's Adrian Gonzalez (36, 82)
and Cheticamp's Mark Reynolds (35, 91). Walla
Walla's Michael Bourn still leads in SB (58),
followed by Albany's Hanley Ramirez (45).

In pitching, we now have three 13-game winners,
Beverly's Dan Haren (13-1) and Danny Way's Adam
Wainright (13-2) and Scott Baker (13-3). Arkansas'
Josh Johnson is right behind at 12-1. Perth's
Zack Greinke leads in ERA at 2.34 and K (156).
The new Saves leader is Arkansas' Angel Guzman
(25 for 25, 0.27). Duluth's Daniel Aardsma (22-24,
1.82) and Toxin C.J. Wilson (21-23, 3.62) are right
behind. Lake Wobegone's Daisuke Matsuzaka is now
0-12 and his ERA went up to 10.89 this past month!

There were four 1-hitters this month, Beverly's
Dan Haren (against Cheticamp), Oklahoma's Matt Cain
(against 'Skayuna), Rocky Mountain's C.C. Sabbathia
(against Danny Way; see below) and by the "Pitcher
of the Month" Valparaiso's Gavin Floyd (against
Duluth; see below). (None carried a no-hitter past
the 6th inning.)

Below are some awards and tid-bits from May 2010
in the TML American.

=================================================

** Player of the Month **




(SS) Albert Pujols
.411, 51-124, 12-0-14, 105 TB
36 R, 34 RBI, 10 W, 48 RC




-------------------------------------------------

** Pitcher of the Month **

(VD) Gavin Floyd
5-0, 1.76, 6 GS, 5 QS, 2 CG, 1 Sho
41 IP, 29 H, 6 W, 44 K, .196 OAVG
(1-hitter versus DT)



Honorable Mention:
Rick Porcello (AV) 5-0, 2.23
Dan Haren (BV) 5-0, 2.53
-------------------------------------------------

** Best Offensive Performance of the Month **

'Skayuna's Victor Martinez powered his team to
an 11-8 victory over the visiting Chinooks.
He blasted 3 HRs, with the final one a walk-off
GWH, 3-run blast in the 9th! The Chinooks had
led 7-2 after 4.5 innings.

6/29/2010, RM09-SS09, Busch Stadium
______________1_2_3__4_5_6__7_8_9_____R__H_E
Chinooks______0_6_0__1_0_0__1_0_0__-__8__8_0
Squires_______0_2_0__0_6_0__0_0_3__-_11__9_0

Squires____________AB__R__H__BI___AVG
V.Martinez__________5__3__4___7__.289

1:HR; 4:1B; 5:3-RBI-HR; 9:GWH-3-RBI-HR
-------------------------------------------------

** Best Pitching Performance of the Month **

Rocky Mountain's C.C. Sabbathia tossed a CG, 3-0,
1-hit shutout against the Diamonds who are very
tough to beat at home. The only Diamond hit was
a single by Robinson Cano with 2 outs in the 5th.
Sabbathia walked only 1 and fanned 9.

6/14/2010, RM09-DW09, Rogers Centre
______________1_2_3__4_5_6__7_8_9_____R__H_E
Chinooks______0_0_2__0_1_0__0_0_0__-__3__8_1
Diamonds______0_0_0__0_0_0__0_0_0__-__0__1_0

Squires____________IP__H__R_ER_BB__K____ERA
Sabbathia_(W 6-1)_9.0__1__0__0__1__9___3.20

-------------------------------------------------

** The Dogfight Game of the Month **

In a game that saw several lead changes, the
Dodgers finally prevailed 12-11, but it took
12 innings. Adam Lind socked a 2-run HR in
the home 8th to knot the score at 11-11. In
the top of the 12th, the reliable Derek Jeter
ripped a solo HR, which proved to be the
game-winner. Francisco Cordero made it
interesting in the bottom of the 12th. He did
retire the first two batters. Then, he walked
Morneau and Lind. The game ended when Yadier
Molina picked Lind off first base!

7/3/2010. TR09-GL09, Camden Yards
_____________1_2_3_4_5_6_7_8_9_0_1_2____R__H_E
Dodgers______0_2_0_1_2_0_4_2_0_0_0_1_-_12_16_0
Haymakers____3_0_2_0_1_0_3_2_0_0_0_0_-_11_15_2

-------------------------------------------------

** The Blowout Game of the Month **

Brandon smoked the hometown Yankees 21-4 behind
their #2 & #3 hitters, Mark Teahen (HR, 6 RBI)
and Ryan Braun (2 HR, 6 RBI). It was already
10-0 before the Yankees hit the board in the 6th,
but the 'Machine were still less than halfway to
their final run total!

6/26/2010. BZ09-AY09, Yankee Stadium
______________1_2_3__4_5_6__7_8_9_____R__H_E
Big'Wz'Mchne__1_5_0__0_4_0__3_8_0__-_21_14_0
Yankees_______0_0_0__0_0_3__1_0_0__-__4_12_4

BigWeezMachine_____AB__R__H_BI___AVG
Teahen______________5__2__3__6__.255
Braun_______________5__3__3__6__.341

-------------------------------------------------


** Overtime Games of the Month **

The two longest games of the month (15 innings)
were both played on the same TML date!

6/20/2010,BB09-MN09, PNC Park
_____________123_456_789_012_345_____R__H_E
Blue Jays____100_001_000_000_001__-__3__9_0
Danes________001_001_000_000_000__-__2_11_1

Game winner: Manny Ramirez GW-1B.


6/20/2010,BV09-TR09, Land Shark Stadium
_____________123_456_789_012_345_____R__H_E
Hillbillies__000_101_200_000_000__-__4__9_0
Dodgers______000_000_130_000_001__-__5_14_2

Game winner: Shane Victorino GW-1B.

=================================================

Up next ... Summer Stretch highlights!

Staff Columnist - Biff Barnes