Emergence from the Pack;
the 1998 Scrubs
The 1998 season was the most exciting in N.J.R.B.L. history.
There were five teams within ten points of first place for most of the year; each
still had championship hopes at the trade deadline in early August. There were also
record setting team performances and incredible individual achievements.
Mark McGwire (70) and Sammy Sosa (66) smashed the all time league record of
58 homeruns in a season. Cal Ripken saw his consecutive N.J.R.B.L. games streak
come to an end at 735. Kerry Wood made a big rookie splash by striking out
20 batters in a single game. Roger Clemens and Tom Glavine each picked up another
Cy Young award. Nomar Garciaparra and Alex Rodriguez continued to establish new
standards for the shortstop position. Greg Vaughn became arguably the best claim
in league history when he was one of four players to crack the 50 homerun barrier.
Thirteen players actually hit 40 or more homeruns. Amazing individual seasons that
will be talked about for years to come.
1998 Headliners
The Scrubs posted an N.J.R.B.L. record 113 total points despite only finishing first
in three of the twelve statistical categories. This easily surpassed the previous mark of
108.5 points established by the 1994 RH Factor squad. The Swillers became the first team
to total more than 4,000 TBSBs in a single season.
Records were also broken when the Scrubs
socked 364 homeruns and the Swillers scored 1,319 runs.
The most interesting aspect of the 1998 season was the five way battle for the championship.
Three of the five teams did not even finish in the money in 1997; with the Swillers making the
climb from eleventh place. The La-z-Boyz surrounded big guns Mo Vaughn, Nomar Garciaparra, and
Ken Griffey with solid hitters but were the first to fall out of contention when the pitching
staff stumbled with two months to go. RH Factor was in first place for much of the season, and
in second place with a week to go, yet finished a disappointing fourth. Some have called this
"the greatest collapse in N.J.R.B.L. history". The PC 1st Cousins finished third on the strength
of four players that averaged 50 homeruns and 145 rbis, and the best 1998 draft as evaluated by
the VPI. This franchise also
cornered the market on individual postseason Awards with both
MVPs and a Rookie of the Year. The Swillers hung on for second place behind a nucleus of young hitters
acquired primarily via trade. The jump from eleventh place was also aided by the second best 1998
draft. This group projects to be the dominant hitting franchise over the next five seasons. But the real
story of the 1998 season was how the Scrubs added 21.5 points over the last seven weeks to jump from
fifth place all the way to a runaway repeat championship.
|
Team
|
Week 19
|
Final
|
Change
|
Hit Chng
|
Pitch Chng
|
|
RH Factor
|
102.5
|
95.0
|
(7.5)
|
(6.0)
|
(1.5)
|
|
La-z-Boyz
|
98.5
|
82.5
|
(16.0)
|
(6.0)
|
(10.0)
|
|
Swillers
|
97.5
|
99.0
|
1.5
|
6.0
|
(4.5)
|
|
PC 1st Cousins
|
93.0
|
98.5
|
5.5
|
1.0
|
4.5
|
|
Scrubs
|
91.5
|
113.0
|
21.5
|
6.0
|
15.5
|
Thats 21.5 points over a seven week period, and just as importantly 14.5 of the points
were taken directly from the other four contenders. The charge was led by a handful of saved hitters
and pitchers acquired via trades. The Scrubs draft, despite five first round picks, was not a good one.
Dustin Hermanson (#32) and Tom Gordon (#99) were really the only two contributors added.
HITTING
|
AVG
|
OBP
|
HR
|
RBI
|
RUNS
|
TBSB
|
|
.286
|
.413
|
17.3
|
51.4
|
48.6
|
155
|
Average Week (Last 7 Wks)
The big studs carried the hitting attack. Mark McGwire was battling Sammy Sosa
in the homerun race, Manny Ramirez made a run at the AL MVP award, and Larry Walker
had his average soar as he got healthy. Robin Ventura and Ray Lankford were also hot
down the stretch.
Hitting Leaders over Last 7 Weeks
|
PLAYER
|
AVG
|
OBP
|
HR
|
RBI
|
RUNS
|
TBSB
|
|
McGwire
|
.329
|
.604
|
24
|
44
|
42
|
129
|
|
Ramirez
|
.297
|
.468
|
18
|
50
|
47
|
111
|
|
Walker
|
.441
|
.647
|
8
|
17
|
38
|
83
|
PITCHING
|
W/L
|
S
|
IP
|
K RAT
|
ERA
|
WHIP
|
|
+17
|
35
|
412.7
|
.935
|
2.81
|
1.066
|
Last 7 Weeks
Three key late season pitching acquisitions provided the "rocket" fuel for the
Scrubs take off. Mike Jackson was added for future considerations (Denny Neagle);
Pete Harnisch was acquired for Bobby Bonilla; and Roger Clemens was added for Chuck
Knoblauch. This trio combined with Mike Mussina, Denny Neagle, Dustin Hermanson, Billy
Wagner, and Tom Gordon to form a very solid pitching staff. Scrubs management deserves
the credit for once again making the right moves at the correct time.
Late Pitching Acquisitions
Stats with Scrubs
|
PLAYER
|
W/L
|
S
|
IP
|
K RAT
|
ERA
|
WHIP
|
|
Clemens
|
+6
|
0
|
78.6
|
1.39
|
1.72
|
.88
|
|
Jackson
|
0
|
21
|
30.0
|
.83
|
1.20
|
.87
|
|
Harnisch
|
+5
|
0
|
70.6
|
.75
|
2.80
|
1.08
|
The Scrubs put it all together at the right time to runaway with their second consecutive title.
Which franchise will put it all together in 1999? If form holds there will be some surprise contenders,
but all roads to a championship lead through the Scrubs franchise.
Championship II
