It’s no surprise to me when I come up with a new column idea. It is a surprise when the column really works. I’ll let you be the judge as to whether this one works.
No surprise: The Tigers were the first team to win 40 games. On June 2, they improved to 40-21.
Surprise: The Tigers won their 40th game on the exact same night the Rockies won their 10th game of the season. Their record improved to 10-50.
No surprise: Shohei Ohtani has been voted the National League Player of the Month for May, and Aaron Judge has been voted the American League Player of the Month for May. Shohei is a six-time winner of the award, four of them with the Dodgers. Aaron has won 11 times, and this is the second time Judge has won an award in back-to-back months.
Surprise: The last nine times a Yankee has won the award, Judge has taken the honors. Before his honor, D.J. LeMahieu was a winner for the Yankees in June 2019.
No surprise: The Guardians are in second place in the now competitive AL Central. That’s no surprise. Other than finishing third in 2023, the Guardians have finished first or second in their division every season since they finished first in 2016.
Surprise: The pitcher with the most career wins on the Guards is Jakob Junis. He has 43. If I gave you 10 minutes to name every active pitcher that comes to mind, do you think Jacob Junis would have made your list? Last night’s starter, Tanner Bibee, is next on the team with 26 career wins.
No surprise: Until last night, no team had lost more than one game this season to the Rockies.
Surprise: Last season, the “worst team ever” White Sox were 4-2 against the Angels and the Rays. They were 5-8 against the Guardians and 3-4 against the Red Sox. In 1962, the Mets were 9-9 against the Cubs.
Big surprise: Colorado has won two games in a row against the Marlins. By doing that, the Rockies have won their first series of the season.
No surprise: Garrett Crochet is a really good pitcher.
Surprise: Yet, Crochet has only 14 career wins, and he has pitched all of 301.0 total innings. In 1936, Red Sox pitcher Wes Ferrell threw 301.0 IP and went 20-15.
No surprise: We know that through 55 games last season, the Phillies had the best record in baseball: 38-17, .691.
Surprise: Through 55 games this season, the Phillies again had the best record in baseball: 36-19, .655. The Phils then dropped their next four games.
More surprises ahead. But first, this message from Billy-Ball.
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I love when you write, and I really love when you send pictures. Here’s what Dodger Stadium looked like Monday night, right before Francisco Lindor homered for the Mets. Thank you, Hannah!
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