A to Z League update: Puget Division

We're about a third of the way through the A to Z League season and our quest to determine which letter is better. We'll be taking a quick look this week at all of the teams. Today: the Puget Division.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND: 39-17, leading the division

Barry Bonds

Bainbridge has the best record in the league, built on solid pitching and hitting. They're second in the loop in home runs with 77 and fifth overall in scoring, and they're third in team ERA at 3.31.

Barry Bonds leads the attack with 22 home runs, tied with Lou Gehrig for most in the A to Z League. Bonds is second in RBI, fourth in slugging, and fifth in runs scored and OBP. George Brett is batting .305-9-23, and Jeff Bagwell is at .277-9-32. Manager Lou Boudreau would like to get more production from his catchers. Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra are sharing time behind the dish, and both are right at the Mendoza Line.

Rod Beck has been stellar out of the Bainbridge bullpen; he has a 7-0 record, 15 saves, and an ERA of 1.84. Among the starters Tommy Bridges is 6-1, 2.96, Chief Bender 5-3, 2.85, and Kevin Brown 2-1, 3.05.

SNOQUALMIE: 33-23, second place, 6 games back

Mike Schmidt

Snoqualmie has a strong offense, third in the league in runs, third in bating average, and fourth in homers. Mike Schmidt leads the way with 17 long balls and 49 RBI. Tris Speaker sets the table and has scored 40 runs, and Willie Stargell and Duke Snider have chipped in with 10 homers each.

Casey Stengel's mound crew is sixth in the league in ERA at 3.59. Warren Spahn leads the way at 5-2 and 2.16 while Tom Seaver is 5-3, 2.93. Bruce Sutter has had some difficulty out of the pen. He's saved ten games but is 3-5 with an ugly ERA of 8.06. Casey may lean more on Lee Smith in the closer spot and is also toying with the idea of moving John Smoltz out to the pen.

RENTON: 28-28, third place, 11 games back

Babe Ruth

Renton's hitting has been solid, as they've scored 243 runs to rank fourth in the league. However their 4.23 team ERA is 20th out of 22 teams.

Babe Ruth has led the way on offense, with 20 homers and 50 RBI. Cal Ripken, Jr. has played every game and chipped in with 13 home runs.

Manager Wilbert Robinson has looked to shore up his pitching by giving Ruth a recent start, and the Bambino pitched seven solid innings and may get more turns. Nolan Ryan is the club's top winner at 6-5 and his ERA is 3.71. Uncle Robbie may also give Dave Righetti some starts, as Mariano Rivera has been solid as the closer (2-1, 1.76 and 16 saves).

TUMWATER: 23-33, fourth place, 16 games back

Jim Thome

Tumwater is ninth in the league in scoring with 239 runs. Though their batting average ranks 19th (.232), they're fourth in homers at 77. Jim Thome has 15 homers and 31 RBI. Frank Thomas and Mike Trout both have 33 RBI and have hit 10 and 11 homers, respectively.

Manager Chuck Tanner is looking to improve the club's pitching. John Tudor has been fine, going 5-3 so far with an ERA at 3.05. Luis Tiant, Jr. is at 4.04 but his record is just 5-8. His pop, Luis Sr., has pitched in tough luck, going 2-7 on a 4.26 ERA. Frank Tanana has been battered: 2-5, 7.53. Starts for Mike Torrez and Kevin Tapani may be around the corner.

NORTH BEND: 21-34, fifth place, 17 1/2 games back

Bill Nicholson

North Bend has been weak on offense and defense, ranking last in batting average, next to last in runs, and 19th in ERA.

Bill Nicholson has been the bright spot so far, knocking 15 homers and driving in 36 runs while hitting .258. Graig Nettles, expected to be a big contributor, has hit 9 homers and has 25 RBI but is hitting just .199.

Gary Nolan is 5-3 as the club's top starter and his ERA is 2.63. Joe Nathan has saved 11 of the team's 21 victories.