The Montreal Royals have climbed to only 3 points behind the first place
New Orleans Vampires. The Royals no longer fail to surprise... this is the
3rd year in a row they have come back from seemingly insurmountable leads
to close the gap in the pennant race. Last year, you'll recall, the
Montreal Royals were 14 games behind first in August, and they managed to
tie by the end of the season for first place.
The Royals' usual fall heroes, Rusty Greer, Brady Anderson and Frank Thomas
are all healthy. And their situation can only improve when their two best
pitchers, Jack McDowell and last season's Cy Young-winner Ben McDonald, get
off the DL.
Philip Raisor, slightly-embarassed owner of the Deadwood Outlaws, remembers
very well the Royals uncanny ability to sneak up on the competition: "they
always seem to underachieve before the All-Star break, and slowly and
steadily get better and better. They are the tortoise of the PVBL."
