Archives for July 2014

Ed Linke – Getting a Head Start on his Best Season

July 26, 2014 by

April 15, 2006: BaseballWhen Ed “Babe” Linke took the mound for the Washington Senators on this day (July 26) in 1935, he had no idea he was soon to start a unique double play – with his head.  In the bottom of the second, with one out, Yankee lead-off hitter and left fielder Jesse Hill smashed a line drive off Linke’s forehead.  The ball hit the right-handed hurler with such force it ricocheted back to Senators’ catcher Jack Redmond, who caught it on the fly and fired to Senators’ shortstop Red Kress, catching a surprised Ben Chapman (Yankee center fielder) off the bag for a 1-2-6 double play – completed as Linke lay semi-conscious on the mound.  Linke was carried off the field on a stretcher and spent two days in the hospital before returning to the Senators – to begin the most successful pitching streak of his six-year MLB career.

At the time of the beaning – including that game – Linke’s record on the season was 3-6, with a 7.41 ERA. (He would complete his MLB career at 22-22, 5.61.) However, for the remainder of 1935, after being felled by the Hill liner, Linke went 8-1, 3.18 in 11 starts and four relief appearances.  During that time, he also threw seven of his 13 career complete games – including a ten-inning, two-run (one earned) performance against the Indians on August 18 and a twelve-inning, three-run (two earned) outing against the Tigers on September 11.

The 23-year-old Linke finished up the season 11-7, 5.01. (The following year he would go 1-5, 7.10; and would be out of the major leagues by age 27.) The knock on the noggin’ didn’t seem to hurt Linke’s batting eye either, Hitting .259 at the time of the injury, Linke finished the season at .294, with one home run and nine RBI.  Clearly, Linke got a head start on his best season on this date 79 years ago.

 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Hall of Very Good Announces 2014 Inductees

July 21, 2014 by

hOVGThe Hall of Very Good (HOVG) – a fine baseball blog that appeals to BBRT’s taste for the game and its history – recently announced its 2014 inductees: Luis Tiant, Tony Oliva and the San Diego Chicken. The trio joins 2012 HOVG inductee Tommy John and 2013 inductees Dale Murphy and Steve Blass.  (I had the chance to chat with both Oliva and Tiant at the 2014 All Star Fan Fest. They are great ambassadors for the game.)  BBRT readers should enjoy the full story on the 2014 HOVG inductees and you can find it here.  And, while you’re at the HOVG blog, take a look at some of the other posts.  I think you’ll find them entertaining and informative.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

BBRT’s Favorite (sm)All Stars

July 15, 2014 by

Undersized until a teenage growth spurt (when I was twelve-years-old, I was usually guessed for eight or nine) brought me up to average size, I have always had a special place for the major league’s smaller (or smallest) players. This affinity for (sm)All Stars was fueled in part by my Dad’s 5’ 1” stature.  In our household, we always rooted for the little guy.

Jose Altuve

Jose Altuve - Houston's (sm)All Star - alongside Manny Machado.

Jose Altuve – Houston’s (sm)All Star – alongside Manny Machado.

Being nothing if not consistent, BBRT’s favorite 2014 All Star is MLB’s smallest player – 5’ 5”, 175 lb. Houston Astros’ second basemen Jose Altuve.  Altuve, a sparkling fielder, came into the All Star break leading all of baseball in base hits (130), number-three in average (.335, second in the AL), number-two  in stolen bases (41, leading the AL, with only three caught stealing). The shortest player in the major leagues, Altuve has inspired a new unofficial unit of measure to document how far a home run has traveled (a 400-foot home run travels 73.8 Altuves).  See the website at www.howmanyaltuves.com for an Altuve calculator.

Altuve, overlooked by many teams because of his size, was signed by the Houston Astros as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Right from the start, he showed solid defense, a quick bat and speed on the base paths. After rapping .343 in the Venezuelan League in 2007, Altuve came to the U.S. and proceeded to hit .284-.302-.301 in three minor league seasons (2008-10), while also showing “plus” defensive skills.

Then in 2011, Altuve had a breakout season.  He started the year at High-A Lancaster, hitting .408 with five home runs, 38 runs, 34 RBI and 19 stolen bases in just 52 games.  That performance earned him a promotion to AA Corpus Christi, where he hit .361 with five home runs, 21 runs, 25 RBI and five stolen bases in another 35 games. His next stop was Houston (in July) and he finished up the season with 57 major league games, a .276 average and seven steals in ten attempts  – and that was just the beginning. In 2012, Altuve hit .297 (with 33 steals), earning his first All Star berth.  He came back with .283 and 35 steals in 2013 – before his sterling start to 2014.

Now, at just 24-years-old, the diminutive Altuve has made two All Star teams and his cleats are in the Baseball Hall of Fame – honoring a late-June streak during which notched multiple stolen bases in four consecutive games. Altuve was just the third player since 1900 to achieve that feat and the first in 97 years.

For Trivia buffs, on May 1, 2012, when Altuve faced New York Mets’ 6’ 11” reliever Jon Rauch (MLB’s tallest player ever), the 18″ height difference between hitter and pitcher was reported to be the second largest ever – exceeded only by the 25-inch difference between 3’ 7” Eddie Gaedel (sent to the plate on August 19, 1951 by the St. Louis Browns in a Bill Veeck publicity stunt) and Detroit Tigers’six-foot tall pitcher Bob Cain.

Bobby Shantz

SHnrtzAltuve, however, is not BBRT’s favorite (sm)All-Star. That recognition goes to a player my dad often  referred as “Little Bobby Shantz.”   The 5′ 6″, 139-pound southpaw side-arming hurler was not an imposing figure on the mound.  He was, however a three-time All Star who, in 1952, went 24-7, 2.48 for the fourth-place Philadelphia Athletics – leading the AL  in wins and winning percentage and capturing the MVP award (making Shantz the smallest-ever MVP winner – the lightest and tied with Phil Rizzuto for the shortest).

In his 16-season MLB career, Shantz moved between starter and reliever (171 starts and 366 relief appearances) and went 119-99, with a 3.38 ERA. He pitched for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics (1949–1956), New York Yankees (1957–1960), Pittsburgh Pirates (1961), Houston Colt .45’s (1962), St. Louis Cardinals (1962–1964), Chicago Cubs (1964) and Philadelphia Phillies (1964). In 1957, he helped the Yankees finish atop the AL, going 11-5 and leading the AL in ERA at 2.45 (21 starts and nine relief appearances).

An agile athlete, Shantz also won eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards (American League, 1957–60; National League, 1961–64).  In our household “Little Bobby Shantz” was always a favorite (sm)All Star, who held out hope for the little guy.

 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Filed Under: Uncategorized

T-Mobile All Star FunFest – My Volunteer Stint

July 12, 2014 by

Yesterday, I completed my first five-hour shift as a volunteer at the T-Mobile® All Star FanFest – a 400,000+ square foot “playground” for baseball fans; part of the Twin Cities All Star Game activities. Today, I can hardly wait to get back for my Monday and Tuesday shifts. Billed (accurately) as “the world’s largest interactive baseball them park, FanFest is open July 11-15 (9 a.m.-8 p.m.) at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  (Tickets: $30-$35.)

Plenty of shopping opportunities - but lots of give-aways and free activities.

Plenty of shopping opportunities – but lots of give-aways and free activities.

FanFest features more than three dozen attractions – and offers something for baseball fans of all ages.  There are numerous historic displays (National Baseball Hall of Fame, Negro Leagues, Women in Baseball, World Baseball Classic, Hometown (Minnesota) Heroes and more.  There are also plenty of interactive displays. Attendees can take part in clinics and test their skills at fielding, hitting, pitching and base-running. For more sedentary activity, there are trivia competitions and you can “picture” yourself on your own Topps baseball card or behind the MLB Network news desk (both for free). You can collect free autographs from past, current and future baseball stars (in my first hour, I garnered Jim “Mudcat” Grant, Fergie Jenkins and Louis Tiant).  Giveaways abound, ranging from souvenir baseballs to foam fingers to balloon hats. In addition, attendees can purchase official All Star Game souvenirs (MLB Clubhouse Store) and visit a host of dealers offering baseball memorabilia from all eras and baseball-related products of all kinds.

I’d like to share a little bit about my first day as a volunteer at FanFest.  I’ll also include a link at the end of this post that will take you (if you are interested) to the story of how I came to be an on-the-floor volunteer for this All Star event.

July 11 – My First Actual Work (fun) Day

With my Friday shift starting at noon, I decided to arrive at FanFest early (about 9:30) and take in some of the activities.  It was a wise choice.  Before I had even worked my first shift, I:

  • Had a great conversation with Jim “Mudcat” Grant (we discussed his excitement not only over winning game six of the 1965 World Series for the Twins, but hitting a home run in that game);
  • Collected autographs from Grant, Fergie Jenkins and  Louis Tiant;
  • Purchased a trio of pins from the Pin Man, who offers one of the most complete selections of baseball-themed pins I have ever seen – and at reasonable prices. (I collect pins from ball parks or baseball events I attend and was able to fill in a couple of pins from events I attended before I started the collection).
  • Visited displays focused on the Negro Leagues, Women in Baseball, the Baseball Hall of Fame and Minnesota Baseball Heroes.

I also had one of the best hot dogs I’ve ever tasted  – a Kansas City Royal Dog (pulled pork at the bottom, a layer of spicy relish, an all-beef hot dog, three pickle slices – all topped with coleslaw – messy, but delicious).

My assignment was at the MLB Network booth.

My assignment was at the MLB Network booth.

Then it was off to my assignment (led there by self-announced Yankee fan and Zone Supervisor Jim Barletto).  My first duties were at the MLB Network exhibit, where fans (for free) could get a photo of themselves at the MLB Network news desk (by themselves or with the MLB Network’s Harold Baines or Twins’ Mascot TC the Bear.) My job was pretty simple, moving chairs behind the news desk (to accommodate different size groups – from one to four) and ensuring people exited on the correct side of the “set.”

Other volunteers at my attraction worked to bring people into the exhibit or help them into one of the many different-sized MLB Network blue blazers for their picture.  In my five- hour session, we had fans of all ages (from as young as eight days to more than 80 years) – but they all seem to have one thing in common, smiles.  Everyone was having fun.

The people watching was pretty good.  While the majority of attendees were sporting some type of baseball apparel (with just about every major league city represented), there were also those in suits and ties, dresses and heels, and even a Goth look or two. There were also lots a freshly painted faces – everything from butterflies to baseballs – foam fingers and balloon hats. Again, the visitors to  our activity still had plenty in common – baseball, a spirit of fun and anticipation over how their photo souvenirs would turn out.

I scored a few top-notch autographs

I scored a few top-notch autographs

After finishing my shift, I took another hour to tour the FanFest floor (you really need to devote several hours to truly take it all in.  I had a personal Topps baseball card made (free), as well as a Greetings from Minnesota photo (in an American League All Star Jersey with Target Field as the backdrop – also free).  That, by the way, is one of the great things about FanFest, once you get in, there are a host of free activities and giveaways.

As I said, I have two more shifts to work and plenty more to see, so I’m anxious to get back.

Now, if you are interested, here is a link to the story of how I came to be a FanFest volunteer.

 

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

BBRT June Review

July 1, 2014 by

With July upon us, it’s time for BBRT’s monthly reflection on the MLB season to date.  Let’s start with a look at who stands where.   If the season were to end today, the play- off teams would be:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Division Leaders: Blue Jays, Tigers and A’s – no change since May 31.

Wild Cards: Angels and Mariners – as of May 31, the WC leaders were the Angels and Yankees. The Mariners moved passed the Yankees into the WC spot thanks to an 18-10 June (while the Yankees went 12-15).

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Division Leaders: Braves, Brewers and Dodgers – The Braves and Brewers held their spots, while the Dodgers moved from 7 ½ games out to the West Division lead (posting a 19-10 June record, while the Giants went 10-17).

Wild Cards: The Giants and Nationals. A June slump dropped the Giants from the division lead to a WC spot, while the Nationals’ 18-11 June enabled them to overtake the Cardinals (15-13 for the month). *Note: You can find the complete standings through June 30 and each team’s June record at end of this post.

Teamwork

Lots to celebrate in Oakland

Lots to celebrate in Oakland

June’s Hottest Teams The AL’s hottest teams in June came primarily from the West Division:  the Oakland A’s had the best June record in all of MLB (17-8/.654), which was bad news for the Seattle Mariners (18-10/.643 and Los Angeles Angels (15-10/.600), who also played .600 ball for the month.  The only other AL team to top .600 for June was the Royals, who finished the month at 17-10/.630. The AL East, which boasts three of the AL’s top five opening day payrolls, faded during June, with only the Baltimore  Orioles playing above .500 (16-12/.571) for the month.  Texas had the AL’s worst June record at 9-17/.346.

In the NL, the Brewers, Dodgers and Reds tied for the best June results (18-10/.643). The Central Division – home to the Brewers and Reds – was MLB’s toughest; with every team finishing above .500 and the Pirates joining Milwaukee and Cincinnati above .600 (17-10/.630).  The only other NL team above .600 in June was the Nationals, who finished at 17-11/.607. The NL’s worst June Swoon?  The Rockies at 8-20/.286.

Rays’ Hurlers Team Up to Break Single Month Strikeout Record

The Tampa Bay Rays’ pitchers were missing bats in June – recording 287 whiffs (in 259 innings), the most ever for any MLB team in a single month (the Cubs had held the record – 286 – set in August of 2002).  For the month, nine members of the Ray’s staff averaged at least one strikeout per inning. Contributing for the Rays:

  • Starters:  David Price (54 Ks/39 2/3 IP); Erik Bedard (34 Ks/31 IP); Jake Ordozzi (34 Ks/30 IP); Chris Archer (31 Ks/37 IP); Alex Cobb (29 Ks/33 2/3 IP); Alex Colome (3Ks/5 2/3 IP).
  • Relievers: Brad Boxberger (23 Ks/13 1/3 IP); Jake McGee (16 Ks/11 2/3 IP); Grant Balfour (15 Ks/12 1/3 IP); Joel Peralta (15 Ks/11 IP); Cesar Ramos (12 Ks/12 IP); Kirby Yates (12 Ks/9  2/3 IP); Juan Oviedo (8 Ks/11 IP); Josh Lueke (1K/1 IP).

The Rays, by the way, took the record chase right down to the wire. Brad Boxberger notched the record-breaking strikeout (versus Ichiro Suzuki) in the bottom of the twelfth inning of a June 30 4-3 win over the Yankees.  It was Boxberger’s only whiff in two innings of work that game.

Playing .600 Ball for the Season

Through June, only two teams are playing .600 or better baseball – the Oakland A’s (51-31/.622) and the “no-longer-surprising” Milwaukee Brewers (51-33/.607).  The AL Rays and NL Diamondbacks are tied for the worst record in MLB (35-49/.417).

If you’re talking bang-for-the-buck, the A’s are baseball’s biggest bargain – boasting MLB’s best record (as well as the most runs scored at 422 and third-fewest runs given up at 288), with the fourth-lowest opening day payroll (in the AL, only the Astros have a lower payroll than the A’s).

2014's biggest disappointment?

2014’s biggest disappointment?

Perhaps the biggest disappointment – in terms of payroll versus performance are the last-place Phillies (36-46), with MLB’s third-highest (and the NL’s second-highest) opening day payroll and the fourth-place Red Sox (38-45) with MLB’s fifth-highest (AL’s third-highest) opening day payroll.

 

 

 

 

Other Team Notes

  • The Colorado Rockies, with a 36-47 record, have scored the second most runs in MLB this season (418).  They have, however, also given up the most runs (436). Gotta love that mountain air.
  • Only two teams have reached 100 home runs through June, and they are both in the AL East (Toronto 108, Baltimore 100).  Colorado leads the NL with 98 round trippers.  The Jays boast six players in double digits for long balls: Edwin Encarnacion (25), Jose Bautista (15), Brett Lawrie (12), Juan Francisco (12), Melky Cabrera (11), Colby Rasmus (11).
  • The Dodgers, led by Dee Gordon with 40 steals, top MLB in that category with 81 through June.  Houston, led by Jose Altuve with 37 thefts, leads the AL with 70 steals.  Both league leaders are second basemen.  The A’s lead the major leagues in stolen base proficiency at 84 percent (48 steals in 57 attempts), followed closely by the NL Nationals at 83 percent (44 for 53).
  • Washington lays claim to MLB’s lowest team ERA through June at 3.07. Oakland has the AL’s lowest mark at 3.19.  Key contributors  for the Nationals include starters Jordan Zimmerman (6-4/2.95), Tanner Roark (7-5/2.98) and Doug Fister (6-2/2.83). The bullpen has also pitched in, featuring a  quartet of hurlers with at least 25 innings pitched and an ERA of 2.00 or less: Drew Storen (1.03/26 1/3 IP); Rafael Soriano (1.09/33 IP); Aaron Barrett (1.93/28 IP); and Tyler Clippard (2.00/36 IP).  The A’s boast two starters with ERAs under 3.00 – Scott Kazmir (9-3/2.61) and Jesse Chavez (6-4/2.98) – and a trio of workhorse relievers (127 2/3 IP among them): Daniel Otero (2.10/51 1/3 IP); Francisco Abad (2.20/32  2/3IP); and Lucas Gregerson (2.27/43 2/3 IP).

 

Individual Achievements

 

 Clayton Kershaw – A Remarkable Month

The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw had a remarkable June, leading MLB in wins (6-0), ERA (0.82), strikeouts (61 K’s in 44 innings) – and even tossing a no-hitter.  Kershaw’s outings for the month:

Date                                        IP          H        R         BB       SO

June 2 – CHW (5-2 win)          8          4          2          0          9

June 8 – @COL (6-1 win)        5          3          1          0          9

June 13 – ARZ (4-3 win)          7          8          1          1          7

June 18 – COL (8-0 win)          9          0          0          0          15

June 24 – @KC (2-0 win)         8          6          0          1          9

June 29 – STL (6-0 win)         7          5          0          2          13

Dodgers' ace dominated in June.

Dodgers’ ace dominated in June.

On June 18th, Kershaw put the exclamation point on his blazing June, tossing the second no-hitter of the season in an 8-0 win over the Rockies.  It was also the second 2014 no-hitter by a Dodgers’ pitcher (Josh Beckett no-hit the Phillies on May 25), and the 22nd in Dodger franchise history (the most of any franchise).  The only base runner in the no-no was Drew Stubbs – safe on an error by LA shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

Kershaw struck out a career-best 15 batters in the no-hitter – tying the record for strikeouts in a no-hitter by a southpaw.  (Lefty Warren Spahn, tossing his first no-hitter on September 16, 1960 – at age 39 – struck out 15 and walked two in beating the Phillies 4-0.)  Only right-hander Nolan Ryan logged more strikeouts in a no-hitter (17 in 1973 and 16 in 1991). Kershaw’s 15 Ks were also the most ever in a no-hitter with no walks.

Another West Coast No-No

Just seven days after Kershaw’s no-hitter, the Giants’ Tim Lincecum no-hit the Padres in San Francisco.  Lincecum walked just one (Padres’ third baseman Chase Headley, with one out in the second inning) and struck out six in the 4-0 victory. Lincecum became only the second pitcher to throw two no-hitters versus the same team. (He no-hit the Padres on July 18, 2013 – walking four and striking out 13 in a 9-0 win.)  The other hurler with multiple no-hitters against the same team is the Cleveland Naps’ Addie Joss, who no-hit the White Sox on October 2, 1908 and April 20, 1910. (Both no hitters were 1-0 wins, with the 1908 no-no being a perfect game.) Lincecum also became just the 27th pitcher to toss multiple no-hitters; a list led by Nolan Ryan with seven no-hit performances.

Jose Altuve Leads the MLB June Hit Parade

Altuve topped .400 in June and flashed some leather.

Altuve topped .400 in June and flashed some leather.

Houston Astros’ 2B Jose Altuve raked MLB pitching in June, compiling a .411 average for the month (39 for 45) and moving into the AL batting lead with a season mark of .344.

Over in the NL, Troy Tulowitzki continued to hold his batting lead at .353 – after posting a June average of .354.

A look at the home/away splits of the two batting leaders is interesting.  Altuve’s numbers are relatively balanced.  Through June 30, he hit .347 at home and .341 on the road.  Tulowitzki clearly prefers home cooking –and the Rocky Mountain air – with his numbers through June showing .447 at home and .266 on the road.

June and Season Home Run/RBI Leaders

White Sox rookie 1B Jose Abreu led all of MLB with 10 June home runs, while putting up a .313-10-22 line.  Next on the June power list was Baltimore CF Adam Jones with nine June homers (.348-9-20).

Over in the NL, Phillies’ RF Marlon Byrd, Pirates’ CF Andrew McCutchen and Reds’ 3B Todd Frazier each notched eight June home runs.

Abreu’s ten June home runs moved him into a three-way tie for the AL and MLB lead at 25 homers on the season.  The other co-leaders are Baltimore LF Nelson Cruz (.281-25-66) and Toronto 1B Edwin Encarnacion (.278-25-65).  The NL leader in round trippers (through June) is Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton with 21 (.313-21-60).

Two NLers sit atop the RBI list for June with 25 runs plated during the month: Rockies’ 1B Justin Morneau (.327-3-25) and Pirates’ CF Andrew McCutchen (.343-8-25).  Leaders on the season (through June) are Baltimore LF Nelson Cruz with 66 driven in (.281-25-66) in the AL and Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton in the NL (.313-21-60).

June and Season Pitching Leaders

As noted earlier, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw dominated in the month of June, recording MLB’s most wins (6-0), most strikeouts (61) and lowest ERA (0.82).  In the AL, June saw seven pitchers tie with four wins for the month, with the Orioles’ Bud Norris and the Angels’ Garrett Richards managing their four victories without a loss. Richards also took the June ERA crown at 1.05, while the Rangers’ Yu Darvish led in strikeouts with 57 in 43 innings.

For the season, the Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka leads the AL and MLB in wins (11-3); while the Reds’ Alfredo Simon (10-3) , Cardinal’s Adam Wainwright (10-4) and Dodgers’ Zack Greinke (10-4) share the NL lead.  MLB’s lowest ERA goes to the Red’s Johnny Cueto at 1.88, while Tanaka has the lowest AL ERA at 2.10. Strikeout leaders through June are Tampa Bay’s David Price in the AL (144 in 124 innings pitched) and, in the NL, the Nationals’ Steven Strasburg (123 in 104 2/3 innings).

 Oddities

Trending – Pitchers as Pinch Hitters

Just a few more reasons why BBRT hates the DH – and a further argument against the “pitchers can’t hit” point of view. On June 16th, the Cubs and Marlins went into the 13th inning at Miami tied 4-4.  With two outs in the top of the inning and the Cubs’ LF Junior Lake on first – after a single – Cubs’ reliever Carlos Villaneuva was slated to bat.  Cubs’ manager Rick Renteria, running short of players, called upon pitcher Travis Wood (a .250 hitter) as a pinch-hitter. Wood delivered a double down the left field line to score Lake with what proved to be the winning run.

Just six days later, in the American League (which benefits on offense from the DH), a pitcher was again called upon to save a game (at the plate, not on the mound) in extra innings.  With the Oakland A’s down 7-6 to the Red Sox with two outs in the bottom of the tenth, A’s manager Bob Melvin called upon pitcher (closer) Sean Doolittle to pinch hit for pitcher Fernando Abad.  Unlike Wood, Doolittle did not come through, making the final out on a ground out to second.

Pitchers coming off the bench to hit in late innings – trending?  On May 27, with Milwaukee and Baltimore tied at six with two out in the bottom of the tenth, the Orioles intentionally walked Brewers’ 1B Mark Reynolds to get to pitcher Francisco Rodriguez.  Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke went to the bench for a pinch hitter – pitcher Yovani Gallardo – who proceeded to lash a game-winning, walk-off, RBI double to deep left center.

Trending – Walk-Off Grand Slams

On June 30, Tigers’ LF Rajai Davis hit a walk-off grand slam as Detroit topped Oakland 5-4 at Comerica Park.  It was the second walk-off grand slam in June and the fifth of the season (the single-season record for MLB is eight).  Here are 2014’s other walk-off, four-run blasts: April 5, by Mets’ 1B Ike Davis, as New York topped the Reds 6-3; April 18, by the Marlin’s RF Giancarlo Stanton, as Miami bested Seattle 8-4; April 25, by White Sox’ 1B Jose Abreu, as the Sox beat Tampa Bay 9-6; June 19, by Indians’ DH Nick Swisher, as Cleveland topped the Angels 5-3.

The nice thing about walk-off grand slams – they all come in front of the home town fans.

One-hitter Leads to a Loss

On June 4, Pittsburgh Pirates’ starter Francisco Liriano and a trio of relievers threw a one-hitter against the Padres in San Diego.  The only Padre hit was a first-inning bunt single by number-two hitter, SS Evereth Cabrera.  The Padres, in fact, didn’t get a ball out of the infield until the final out of the eighth inning.  Still, the Padres managed to defeat the Pirates and Liriano 3-2.

How did they do it?  How about with a total of nine walks, one hit batsman and one Pirate error?

The scoring went like this.  In the first inning, Liriano walked lead-off hitter RF Chris Denorfria, who stole second base and then took third on Cabrera’s  bunt base hit. Denorfia then scored on a short sacrifice fly, handled by Pirates’ 2B Josh Harrison.  Liriano then hit 3B Chase Headley with a pitch, moving Cabrera to second. Padres’ 1B Tommy Medica next hit a slow hopper to Liriano, who threw to 2B Josh Harrison for the force. Harrison attempted to complete the double play, throwing wildly to first, with Cabrera scoring on the error.

The third San Diego run came in the bottom of the fourth. Medica led off with a walk, Liriano struck out CF Cameron Maybin and got Ike Davis on a soft grounder back to the mound – with Medica moving to second.  Liriano then intentionally walked 2B Jace Peterson to bring up P Ian Kennedy – who also walked, loading the bases.  Liriano walked Denorfia to force in the final run of the game. The Pirates scored their two runs on seven hits, including four singles, a double, a triple and a McCutchen home run.

Just Like Little League – Moving Those Pitchers Around

On June 9, with the Astros up 4-3 on the Diamondbacks (in Arizona), Houston left-handed reliever Tony Sipp came on to start the bottom of the seventh inning and retired Arizona, giving up just one walk. Sipp came back out for the eighth and opened the inning by fanning left-handed hitting Diamondbacks’ RF Gerardo Parra. This brought right-handed, power hitting 1B Paul Goldschmidt to the plate. Houston manager Bo Porter brought in right-handed reliever Jerome Williams to face Goldschmidt, but with left-handed hitting C Miguel Montero on deck, he didn’t want to give up a favorable lefty-lefty match up. So, Porter sent Sipp to right field, moved RF Alex Pressley to left field and pulled LF Robbie Grossman. The best laid plans don’t always go as expected – Williams walked Goldschmidt.  Then Porter got back into the act, returning Sipp to the mound (to face lefty Montero, whom he fanned), moving Presley from left field back to right field and bringing in Marwan Gonzalez to play left.  After Sipp fanned Montero, he was replaced on the mound by Kyle Farnsworth, who struck out Diamondbacks’ 3B Martin Prado to end the inning.  The P-RF-P move apparently paid off, as the Astros held on to win.

Just six days later, it was nearly déjà vu all over again. This time, the Astros were at home, trailing Tampa Bay 4-3 in the eighth. Sipp came on to relieve Jerome Williams (with one run in and runners on second and third with one out).  Sipp got left-handed hitter RF Kevin Kiermaier on a fielder’s choice (2B-C).  Then with right-handed power-hitting 3B Evan Longoria coming up, Porter brought in righty Josh Zeid to pitch, moving Sipp to left field and pulling LF Robbie Grossman. Sipp returned to the mound in the top of the ninth, with Presley taking left field, and sandwiched a fly out and a strikeout around a single before again being relieved by Farnsworth, who fanned pinch hitter Sean Rodriguez to end the inning.  Seeing a pattern here?

Brotherly Love can be Powerful

On June 24, B.J. and Justin Upton tied an MLB record when the brothers both homered for the Braves in a 3-2 win over the Astros. It was the fourth time they homered in the same game as teammates – tying Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero and Jason and Jeremy Giambi for that distinction.  It looks like they’ll have plenty of time as Braves’ teammates to take sole possession of the record – and they may need it.

Last season, the Upton brothers roared out of the gate – homering in three of the first 20 games they played together. Then, however, there was a 217-game, 14-month, dry spell.  Hopefully, the wait for the fifth game in which they go deep as teammates will not be as long.  

Standings as of June 30

AL EAST

TEAM                W        L          PCT     GB       (June)

Toronto            45        39        .536                 (12-15)

Baltimore          43        39        .537     1.0       (16-12)

NY Yankees     41        40        .506     4.5       (12-15)

Boston             38        45        .458     6.5       (12-16)

Tampa Bay      36        49        .424     9.5       (13-16)

AL CENTRAL

Detroit              45        34        .570                 (14-13)

Kansas City      43        39        .491     3.5       (17-10)

Cleveland         39        43        .473     7.5       (13-13)

Chicago WS     39        44        .470     6.5       (11-18)

Minnesota        26        30        .464     8.0       (12-16)

AL WEST

Oakland           51        31        .622                 (17-9)

LA Angels        45        35        .563     5.0       (15-10)

Seattle             45        38        .542     6.5       (18-10)

Texas               37        45        .451   14.0       (9-17)

Houston           36        48        .429   16.0       (12-13)

 

NL EAST

Atlanta             45        38        .542                 (15-13)

Washington      44        38        .519     0.5       (17-11)

Miami               39        43        .476     5.5       (11-16)

NY Mets           37        46        .446     8.0       (11-17)

Philadelphia    36        46        .439     8.5       (12-17)

NL CENTRAL

Milwaukee         51        33        .607                 (18-10)

St. Louis           44        39        .530     6.5       (14-13)

Cincinnati         43        39        .524     7.0       (18-10)

Pittsburgh        42        40        .453     8.0       (17-10)

Chicago Cubs  35        46        .365     14.5     (15-13)

NL WEST

LA Dodgers     48        37        .565                 (18-10)

San Francisco  46        36        .519     0.5       (10-16)

Colorado          36        47        .434   11.0       (8-20)

San Diego        36        47        .455   11.0       (10-17)

Arizona            35        49        .404   12.5       (12-14)

 

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