Cellar-Dwellers Emerge
Second Worst Pitching Staff is Now Best, Mons' Bats Hot
Last year's cellar-dwellars have bolted out of the gate.  Chicago has the league's best pitching staff, winning 14 of its last 17 games after a 5-5 start to join defending champions St. Louis atop the West Division, while Washington's young lineup has scored the most runs in the East.

CHICAGO (May 1) -- Chicago boasts the best starting rotation in the circuit (2.25) and the third best bullpen (2.16).  Ron Reed and Bill Singer are in the top three in ERA and VORP, and Chicago has allowed just 2.8 runs per game after allowing nearly 5 per game over the last two seasons.  Singer (6-0, 1.64 in 7 starts) leads the league in wins and is 3rd in ERA, while Reed (3-1, 1.32 in 5 starts) is 2nd in ERA.  Free agent signing Johnny Kucks has a 2.43 ERA in 5 starts, and southpaw Wilbur Wood is 3-1, 2.67 in 5 starts.  In the bullpen, both Dooley Womack and rookie Bob D. Johnson are in the top 8 in the league in saves.  The offense, which ranks fourth in the league, is led by corner infielders Tony Perez (.327-5-19) and Carlos May (.284-4-14).

Rich Reese Wins Batter of the Month
Begging Question: Who Is Rich Reese?
WASHINGTON (May 1) -- On a team seemingly loaded with half of this year's top rookies, it is a 1968 draft pick who is winning accolades in the Nation's capital.  Rich Reese, an obscure first baseman who was the 43rd overall pick in 1968, took home Batter and Rookie of the Month honors, hitting .388 with 5 homers, 20 RBIs, and a 1.033 OPS.  Reese spent the last two years in Baltimore, where he hit .316-4-79 in 210 games.  He is joined by teammates Ray Fosse (.283-4-21) and Al Oliver (.284-3-18) in the top 10 in RBIs.  The Monuments won 12 of 14 from April 8-20, including 5 of 6 against Detroit and 15-6 and 12-6 blowouts.