The Buck Doesn't Stop Here (Crazy 48's Update)

Buck O' Brien of the 1912 Red Sox.

As you all may (or may not) know, I have decided to do 48 games each of the 48 teams involved in the Crazy 48's League. We are finishing up on the last of the series against non-division teams, starting Game #29 it will be 4 games each against the 5 division teams.

Two teams have been red-hot of late, those are the 1912 Red Sox, who just got done sweeping a 100+ win 1993 San Francisco Giants team, a team that is going in opposite direction by losing 7 straight. The Giants' division mates, the 1998 San Diego Padres have won 10 games in-a-row, and are closing in on the record set by the 1935 Pittsburgh Crawfords - the record of 12 straight wins.

Buck O'Brien, the Red Sox' #2 starting pitcher behind "Smokey" Joe Wood, just won his 7th game of the season! He is 7-0, in 7 starts, 4 complete games, and 2 shutouts -- Only allowing 23 hits with 11 walks in 56.2 innings (a WHIP of only .600 -- WHIPs that low, usually are for great relievers), he also has a 1.11 ERA to boast! He just got done pitching a complete game two-hit shutout of a lineup that consists of Barry Bonds, Matt Williams, Will Clark, Willie McGee and Robby Thompson!

For the Giants, their problems got worse at Will Clark & Robby Thompson are out the next two games due to injuries.

To put the 1912 Red Sox' recent success into perspective, they just passed the 1906 Chicago Cubs and 1917 Chicago White Sox in their division standings! Those are two superb teams, the usually consistent White Sox hit a bump in the road by losing a recent series to the unpredictable 2002 Oakland "Moneyball" Athletics, 3-1.

Other recent series:

• 1977 Phillies & 1960 Pirates split 2-2.
• 1984 Tigers win their series against the 1971 Athletics, 3-1.
• 1929 Cubs & 1985 Blue Jays split 2-2.

I will do a division by division breakdown after 28 complete games through for every team.