Archives for August 2023

On Sunday (August 6). Reds’23-year-old righty Lyon Richardson made his MLB debut – starting against the Nationals in Cincinnati.  His performance, while not what he had hoped for, did attract the attention of baseball trivia buffs. Richardson started his MLB career by giving up home runs on each of his first two MLB pitches – to Nationals’ shortstop CJ Abrams (his 11^th HR of the year) on a 95.5-mph fastball and to RF Lane Thomas (his 19th) on a 96.7-mph heater.  Ultimately, Richardson went three innings and gave up four hits, three walks and four runs, while fanning two, in the Reds’ 6-3 loss.

Now for that trivia “hook.” According to STATS, Richardson is the only pitcher in the past fifty years to give up homers on his first two MLB pitchers.  Taking it a step further, it appears he is the only MLB pitcher ever to “accomplish” that feat.

Baseball Roundtable searched box scores of the for the 79 pitchers listed by Baseball-Almanac.com as having allowed a home run to the first MLB batter they ever faced and found only one other pitcher who allowed home runs to the first two batters he faced – the Yankees’ Danny Rios on  May 30, 1997 – and he did it in a span of nine pitches.  More on that in a bit, but first  some background Richardson.

Richardson was a second-round Reds’ draft pick in 2018 (out of Jensen Beach, FL, High School – where he was 7-0, 0.58 as a senior). Richardson got off to a bit of a rocky start and missed the 2022 season after Tommy John surgery. He came back strong this season, working his way up through A, Double-A and Triple-A – going a combined 0-2, 1.86 with 81 strikeouts in 58 innings over 19 starts. In those 58 minor-league frames, Richardson gave up just two home runs. As far as the rough start to his MLB career, two observations:  1) He is now officially a major-leaguer and that puts him at the highest level of his profession; 2) a fellow name Bob Gibson gave up a home run to the first MLB batter he ever faced and he did pretty well as a major-leaguer.

Now back to the only other player I could find who had  given up long balls to the first two MLB batters he faced.  Danny Rios, a 72^nd Round pick in the 1990 Draft, made his MLB with the Yankees on May 30, 1997. He relieved starter Ramiro Mendoza in the top of the fourth inning, with New York trailing Boston 4-0, two-on and one out.  The first batter Rios faced was SS and number-three batter Will Cordero, who hit a three-run homer on a 2-0 pitch.  Next up was 1B Mo Vaughn, who went deep on a 3-2 offering. Rios ended up pitching 1 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits (three home runs), walking two and fanning one. Rios pitched in just two MLB seasons (1997 Yankees & 1998 Royals). He went 0-1, 9.31 in seven appearances.

As I noted, Rios and Richardson are the only two pitchers I could find who gave up long balls to the first two MLB batters they faced, but along the way I did find some interesting things about a few of  the pitchers who gave up a home run to the first MLB batter they faced.

Turn About Is Fair Play

Dave Eiland made his MLB debut with the Yankees on August 3, 1988 – starting on the mound against the Brewers In Milwaukee. The first batter he faced was Milwaukee 2B and future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. Molitor welcomed Eiland to the big leagues with a home run to center on a 1-2 pitch. That  home run would be the only run Eiland gave up in seven innings of work (three hits, two walks, three whiffs). Eiland went on to pitch in ten MLB seasons (1988-93, 1995, 1998-2000), going in 12-27,  5.74.  The reason he caught The Roundtable’s eye was for something that happened four seasons after his MLB debut.

It was on August 10, 1992, when Eiland was with the Padres.  They were facing the Dodgers, in San Diego, and Eiland drew the start against Bob Ojeda. This was back when pitchers came to the plate in the National League and Eiland got his first MLB at bat with two out and one on in the bottom of the second inning. He drove a 2-2 offering from Ojeda to deep left center for a two-run homer.  In the process, Eiland became the only player to give up a home run to the first batter he faced as a pitcher and hit a home run the first time he came to the plate as a hitter.  It was, by the way, Eiland’s only career MLB home run (he had just 27 MLB plate appearances)>

Boom!  Then on to the All Star Game. Two Times.

Only two players have made an MLB All Star team in the same season they gave up home run to the first MLB batter they faced in their careers.

Hideki Okajima made his MLB debit for the Red Sox on April 2, 2007 (after 12 seasons in Japan).  He came on to open the bottom of the sixth, with the Red Sox down 5-1 to the Royals. Royals’ C John Buck laced Okajima’s first major-league pitch to deep CF for a home run. Okajima went on to pitch 1 2/3 innings that game, giving up just one more hit.  Why does he rate a mention here? Okajima may have given up a home run on his  first MLB pitch – but after that booming 2007 start to hit MLB career- he went on to make the 2007 American League All Star team. (He was 2-0, 0.83 with four saves -in 39 games – at the break.) Okajima pitched in six MLB seasons (2007-11, 2013, going 17-8, 3.09 with six saves (266 appearances).

Like Okajima, Masahiro Tanaka came to MLB after starting his career in Japan (seven seasons). He made his MLB debut with the Yankees on April 4, 2014 – starting against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Blue Jays’ leadoff hitter LF Melky Cabrera took Tanaka deep on a 1-1 pitch to welcome Tanaka to the majors.  Tanaka was unfazed by the rude introduction to MLB.  He went on to pitch seven innings of three-run (two earned), six-hit, eight-strikeout ball to pick up the win. Tanaka, who made the All Star team that season, was a sparkling 12-4, 2.51 at the break. He suffered elbow pain that July and went on the disabled list. He returned in September and finished the season at 13-5, 2.77. He pitched in seven MLB seasons (2014-20 … Yankees), going 78-46, 3.74. He made one more All Star team, (2019).

Oh, Come On, I have to Start My Career Against This Guy

Okay, if your story has Babe Ruth in it, it’s probably a good one.

Philadelphia A’s righty Bobby Coombs took to an MLB mound for the first time on June 8, 1933 – and the first batter he faced was none other than Babe Ruth.

Coombs came on in the top of the ninth, with the Athletics up 14-10. The Bambino took him to  deep to right for his 664th career round tripper. After Ruth’s blast, Coombs retired 1B Lou Gehrig, RF Ben Chapman and 2B Tony Lazzeri in order (all on ground outs).

Coombs had an unusual, career. He went directly from Duke University – where he had excelled in football, basketball, track and baseball (where he was 19-1 on the mound) – to the major leagues.  So, Ruth was also the first batter Coombs ever faced as a professional. After going 0-1, 7.47 in 21 games for the 1933 Athletics, Coombs opened the 1934 season at Double-A Syracuse. He did not return to the major leagues for ten seasons (a 122-124, 4.06 minor-league record, primarily at Double-A). In 1943, he was back in the majors, this time with the Giants, where he went 0-1, 12.94 in nine games. Coombs went on to  coach baseball at Williams College from  1946-73.

Williams College plays its home baseball games at Bobby Coombs Field.

Bob Gibson – Yeah, He Did Okay

Bob Gibson made his MLB debut with the Cardinals on April 15, 1955 – relieving in the seventh inning, with the Cardinals trailing the Dodgers (in LA) 3-0. The first batter he faced was the number-eight hitter, 3B Jim Baxes, who lashed a 2-0 pitch for a home run to left-center.  Baxes, by the way, went .246-17-39 in 88 games in 1959, his only MLB season. Gibson, of course, went on to the Hall of Fame. Gibson was 251-174, 2.91 over his 17-season MLB career – with 255 complete games, 56 shutouts and 3,117 strikeouts in 3,884 1/3 innings. He was a two-time Cy Young Award winner and the 1968 NL MVP.

Bert Blyleven – Maybe Less of a Surprise Than Gibson

Bert Blyleven, like Gibson, pitched his way into the Hall of Fame after giving up a dinger to the first MLB batter he faced.  It came on June 5, 1970, with the 19-year-old Blyleven starting for the Twins in Washington. The first MLB batter he faced was Senators’ RF Lee Maye, who homered to right. Blyleven seem unperturbed, as he pitched seven five-hit, one-run innings for the win. He walked one and fanned seven. The Maye homer would be one of 430 (ninth all-time in MLB) Blyleven would surrender in his 22-season MLB career.  Blyleven holds the record for the most home runs allowed in an MLB season at 50 (1986 Twins). Over his career, Blyleven went 287-250, 3.31, with 3,701 strikeouts in 4,970 innings. He also notched 242 complete games and 60 shutouts.

Bill Macdonald – Turned Things Around Pretty Quickly

Righty Bill Macdonald made his MLB debut for the Pirates on May 6, 1950. He came on in eighth inning, facing the Giants’ Bobby Thomson, who would (of course) become known for a different home run.  Anyway, Thomson touched Macdonald for a three-run homer. Macdonald was then replaced on the mound by Woody Main.  Macdonald is mentioned here because, in his next appearance – a May 23 start at Philadelphia – he twirled three-hit shutout (one walk – seven whiffs), lowering his MLB earned run average from infinity to 1.00. The righty pitched in two MLB seasons (1950 & 1953 Pirates), going 8-11, 4.66.

Not a Pretty Scorecard

John Wasdin made his MLB debut for the A’s on August 24, 1995. The A’s, playing the Red Sox in Oakland, trailed 8-2, with two-on and one out in the top of the third.  That’s when the call went to Wasdin in the pen.  The first four MLB batters Wasdin faced went like this:

• SS John Valentin – three-run home run;
• 1B Mo Vaughn – walk;
• DH Jose Canseco – two-Run home run;
• LF Mike Greenwell – walk.

Wasdin then fanned RF Troy O’Leary and got 3B Tim  Naehring on a pop fly. He  settled down nicely and ended up giving up three runs on four hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings. (No runs after that the first three batters he faced.)

In and Out of Trouble

Jason Dickson broke into the majors with the (then) California Angels on August 21, 1996, He started against the Yankees in New York) and the first batter he faced was SS Derek Jeter, who popped a home run to left.  Despite that beginning, Dickson was around into the seventh pitching  in and out of trouble.  In 6 1/3 innings, he gave up ten hits and two walks, but only that lone first-inning run. Dickson left the game with a 2-1 lead and got the win as the Angels prevailed 7-1.

Dickson pitched in four MLB seasons (1996-98, 200) and went 26-25, 4.99. He was an All Star in 1997,  when he went 13-9, 4.29.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Bobby Coombs Obituary, Berkshire Eagle, October 23, 1991 .

 

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Yesterday (August 4, 2023), the Toronto Blue Jays’ 24-year-old rookie 2B Davis Schneider, became the 138th major-leaguer to hit a home run in his very first MLB at bat.  Note:  I expect this list to expand as Negro Leagues’ records from 1920-48 are further documented and incorporated into the MLB record books.  The 138 include 79 National Leaguers, 57 American Leaguers and two from the old American Association. 

Schneider’s call up from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons followed a recent injury to Blue Jays’ SS Bo Bichette. The Blue Jays – in a tight AL-East battle for a playoff spot –  responded by trading for  Cardinals’ SS Paul DeJong, as well as adding Schneider (who can play 2B, 3B and LF), who appears ready to add some offense in Bichette’s absence. Schneider was hitting .275-21-64 in 87 games at Buffalo. He also drew 72 walks – for a .416 on-base percentage. Schneider was a 28th Round pick (number 894 overall) in the  2017 MLB draft (out of Eastern High School, Voorhees, NJ). The versatile defender has steadily worked his way up the Jays’ minor-league system and, as he matured, has shown surprising power for a 5’9″, 190-pounder.

In that August 4 game – Jays versus Red Sox in Boston – Schneider got his first MLB at bat with one out in the second inning and the Blue Jays up 2-0. He drove  a 1-1 pitch from southpaw Jame Paxton high into the seats above the left field green monster.  Davis went on to line out to CF (off Paxton) in the third inning; strikeout in the fifth (Paxton); single in the seventh (Mauricio Liovera); and foul out in the ninth (Richard Bleier). The Blue Jays won the game 7-3.

Now, how about some more first-at bat homer tidbits.

Start a Season and a Career with a Bang – Change Sides and Repeat

On April 19, 1938, the Dodgers opened the season against the Phillies in Philadelphia.  Yes, that’s right, Opening Day on April 19 (How the times have changed).   That day a couple of rookies showed they truly knew how to “get a party started” – hitting home runs in their first MLB at bats on Opening Day.

Batting third for Brooklyn was 28-year-old rookie left fielder Ernie Koy. In his first-ever MLB at bat, he took Phillies’ starter Wayne LaMaster deep to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.  Leading off for Philadelphia in the bottom of the inning was 25-year-old rookie second baseman Heinie Mueller.  In his first MLB at bat, Mueller homered off Dodgers’ starter Van Lingle Mungo to tie the game.  It was the first time in MLB history that two players homered in their first MLB at bat in the same game – a feat that would not be matched for nearly 80 years (2016).

The Dodgers, by the way, won 12-5; with Koy going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mueller went 2-for-3, with two walks, three runs scored and one RBI. In that rookie season, Koy hit .299, with a career-high 11 home runs.  He played six MLB seasons (558 games) and put up a .279-36-260 line. Mueller finished 1938 with a .250-4-34 stat line and went .253-17-127 in four MLB seasons.

How About Starting Back-to-Back, Jack(s)?

On August 13, 2016, MLB saw two players homer in their first MLB at bat in the same game for just the second time. This time, they were on the same team – and accomplished the feat back-to-back. It came in the bottom of the second inning, with the Yankees facing the Rays. With two outs and the bases empty, Yankee rookie 1B Tyler Austin took Rays’ starter Matt Andriese deep to right field to give the Bronx Bombers a 1-0 lead.  Rookie RF Aaron Judge immediately followed up with a home run of his own (also in his first MLB at bat); this one to straight-away center.  Austin ended the season with five home runs in 31 games, while Judge got in just 17 games and hit just .179 with four home runs.  Note: By virtue of that limited playing time, Judge kept his rookie status for 2017 – when he went .284-52-114, setting a new MLB rookie record for home runs (since broken) and leading the AL in runs scored (128), home runs, walks (127) and whiffs (208), while winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award. 

Here are a few other first-at bat home run factoids.

• Thirty players hit a home run on the very first MLB pitch they ever saw.

For a deep dive into those first-pitch-ever homers, click here. 

• Just four players have hit a Grand Slam home run in their first MLB at bat: Bill Duggleby, Phillies, April 21, 1898; Jeremy Hermida, Marlins, August 31, 2005; Kevin Kouzmanoff, Indians, September 2, 2006; and Danial Nava, Red Sox, June 12, 2010. Notably, Kouzmanoff and Nava put a little icing on the cake, hitting their Grand Slams on the first MLB pitch they ever saw.
• Twenty pitchers, including the first player to hit a Grand Slam in his first at bat, homered in their first-ever MLB at bat.

• Only two players have homered in their first two at bats: Bob Nieman, Browns, 1952 and Keith McDonald, Cardinals, July 4, 2000. Note: McDonald collected just three base hits in his MLB career – and they were all home runs.  For that story, click here.

A COUPLE OF BOOKENDS

Only two players have gone deep in their first and last MLB at bats, Paul Gillespie and John Miller.

Gillespie hit his first-at bat homer for the Cubs on September 11, 1942 and his last-at bat homer for for the Cubs on September 30, 1945.  In three MLB seasons, he hit .283, with six home runs and 25 RBI (in 75 games).

Miller Hit his first-at bat homer (for the Yankees) on September 11, 1966 and his last-at bat long ball for the Dodgers on September 23, 1969,  He played in 32 MLB games and those were his only MLB homers (.164-2-3). For more on Miller, click here. 

• The first recorded/documented instances of a player homering in their first MLB at bat came on (American Association) Opening Day (April 16) in 1887 – Orioles’ OF Mike Griffin and Red Stockings’ OF George Tebeau (in separate games).
• Twenty-three of the players to homer in their first MLB at bat ever have only one MLB home run on their resumes (three are still active).

 

 

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com

 

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It seemed appropriate to celebrate my (76^th) birthday (August 4) with a blog post. So, I looked for some kind of theme from baseball events that took place on August 4 in years past – at least as a starting point.  As regular readers know, when The Roundtable starts looking into an event or topic “one thing always seem to lead to another.”

At any rate, the most unique baseball event to take place on August 4 relates to travel and trades. So, that was my starting point.

What’s That Starting Time Again?

On August 4, 1982, outfielder Joel Youngblood made MLB history by becoming the only player to collect a base hit for two different major-league teams in two different cities – on the same day.

Youngblood started the day with the Mets, playing an afternoon game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Youngblood opened the game in center field, batting third in the order.  After striking out in the first inning, Youngblood drove in two runs with a single in the top of the third.

Youngblood was then replaced in centerfield by Mookie Wilson in the bottom of the fourth – and was told by Mets’ manager George Bamberger that he had been traded to the Expos (for a player to be named later), who were scheduled to play the Phillies in Philadelphia that night.

Youngblood immediately set out to join his own team – catching a 6:05 flight to Philadelphia – eventually arriving at Veterans Stadium with the game in progress. To his surprise, there was an Expos uniform, with his name already sewn on the back, waiting for him.  And, the Expos wasted no time getting their newest player into the game. Manager Jim Fanning sent Youngblood into right field and the number-two spot in the batting order (replacing Jerry White) in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, Youngblood singled in his first Expos’ at bat.

Two hits, for two different teams in two different cities in one day – an historic accomplishment.  Youngblood’s day was even more amazing when you consider the pitchers he touched for his two safeties. In Chicago, it was future Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins, while in Philadelphia, it was future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton. So, base hits for two different teams, in two different cities, off two future Hall of Famers in one day.

Youngblood played in 14 MLB seasons (1976-89 … Reds, Cardinals, Mets, Expos, Giants). He was also a true utility player, making 100 or more MLB appearances at second base, third base, left field, center field and right field – as well as 402 pinch-hitting appearances. His final stat line, in 1,408 games, was .265-80-422.

He made one All Star team (in the strike-shortened 1981 season, when he hit .350 in 43 games for the Mets).  He best season was 1983, when he hit .292, with 17 homers and 53 RBI in 124 games (at four positions) for the San Francisco Giants.  Youngblood was an All Star in the strike-shortened 1981 season, when he went .350-4-25 for the Mets.

Just Point Me Toward The Mound.  I’ll Find It.

In another travel/trade-related August 4 event, when southpaw Jaime Garcia started on the mound for the Yankees (in Cleveland) on August 4, 2017, he became the first pitcher in the modern era to make a series of three consecutive pitching starts – each one for a different MLB team (and he did it in a span of 15 days).

• On July 21, Garcia, who opened the season with Braves, started for Atlanta (at Los Angeles) and went seven innings in a 12-3 Braves’ victory.
• On July 24, Garcia was traded to the Twins.
• On July 28, Garcia started for the Twins at Oakland) and went 6 2/3 innings in a 6-3 victory.
• On July 30, the Twins traded Garcia to the Yankees.
• On August 4, Garcia started for the Yankees (at Cleveland) and went 3 2/3 frames in a 7-2 loss.

Overall, Garcia was 5-10, 4.41 in 27 games (all starts) in 2017. He played 10 MLB seasons (2008, 2010-18 … Cardinals, Braves, Twins, Yankees, Blue Jays, Cubs).  His final stat line was 70-62, 3.85 and his best season was 2010, when he went 13-8, 2.70 for the Cardinals.

Side note: In 1895, Gus Weyhing was on the mound for the Phillies, Pirates and Louisville Colonels in consecutive  starts.  Of interest to me, was that prior to that well-traveled 1895 season, Weyhing had an MLB record of 216-154, 3. 55 with 242 complete games in eight seasons – averaging and apparently arm-draining 407 innings pitched per campaign. From 1895 through his retirement  in 1901, he went 48-78, 4.90 with 107 complete games.

Now, for the one thing leads to another portion of our programming.

Five Tams in One Campaign

In 2018, 32-year-old right-hander Oliver Drake set a major-league mark by playing for five MLB teams in a single season.

Drake began the season with the Brewers (where he finished the previous campaign).  After going 1-0, 6.39 in eleven appearances, he was designated for assignment on May 2 and, on May 5, purchased from the Brewers by the Indians.

He was with the Tribe until the final week in May – going 0-0,with a 12.46 ERA in just four appearances – before again being designated for assignment.

May 31, he was selected off waivers by the Angels. Sixteen days (and 0-1, 10.13 record) later, he was again designated for assignment.  He went unclaimed and reported to the Angels’ Salt Lake City Triple-A affiliate – where he was pretty much lights out.  That earned him a trip back to Anaheim, where he added four more appearances, with an 0-0, 3.00 record – and was again designated for assignment.

He was picked up (off waivers) by the Blue Jays on July 26 and was there for just two appearances (giving up three runs in 1 2/3 innings) before again being designated for assignment.

On August 3, he was selected off waivers by the Twins – his fifth MLB team of the season – where he found a bit more success and stability. Pitching for his fifth MLB team of the year, Drake finished the season with Minnesota, getting in 19 games and posting a 2.21 earned run average and  fanning 22 batters in in 20 1/3 innings pitched. What did that get him?  In the off-season, he was again designated for assignment.

Drake finished the 2018 season with an 1-1 record, a 5.29 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings.  Drake pitched in six MLB seasons (2015-20 … Orioles, Brewers, Indians, Twins, Angels, Blue Jays, Rays). Over those six campaigns, he went  10-10, 4.27, with five saves in 196 appearances.

Changing Clubhouses in Mid-Doubleheader

And, finally, Joel Youngblood does not stand alone in playing for two teams in a single day. On May 30, 1922, the Cubs and Cardinals made a trade that made MLB history. The two squads were facing off (in Chicago) in a Memorial Day doubleheader. Remember those?

The Cubs won Game One 4-2 – and batting fifth in their lineup (collecting one RBI, despite going 0-for-4) was RF Max Flack.  The CF for the Cardinals that game (batting seventh) was Cliff Heathcote – who went 0-for-3. Flack was in his ninth season for the Cubs, while Heathcote was in his fifth season for the Cardinals.

In between Games of the twin bill, Flack and Heathcote were traded for each other. The two outfielders each crossed over to their new team’s clubhouse and  suited up against their previous team for Game Two – becoming the first two players to take the field for two major-league teams in a single day.  Both collected hits for their new teams in the second game (Flack a single in four at bats, Heathcote a pair of singles in four trips to the plate).

Flack played in 12 MLB seasons (1914-25 … Chicago Chi Feds of the Federal League, Cubs, Cardinals) and went .278-35-391 in 1,411 games. Heathcote played in 15 MLB seasons (1918-32 … Cardinals, Cubs, Reds, Phillies), going .275-42-448 in 1,415 games.

The trade, by the way, seem to be a positive for both teams and both players. Prior to the exchange, Flack was hitting .222-0-6 in 17 games for  the Cubs,  Post-trade, he hit .292-2-21 in 66 games for the Cardinals. Heathcote was hitting .245 (in 34 games) for the Cardinals. After the trade, he went .280-1-34 in 76 games for the Cubs

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; NationalPastime.com.

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.

 

 

It’s August 1 and that means it’s time for the Baseball Roundtable July Wrap up – the stats and stories that caught The Roundtable’s attention in July – as well as the Players and Pitchers of the Month and the ongoing Baseball Roundtable Trot Index.

Notably, there was plenty to write about for July:

• A triple play;
• A 250^th home run and 250^th career win;
• a 300th home run;
• A combined no-hitter;
• A four-strikeout inning;
• A player swiping second, third and home in one plate appearance;
• Some “Long Ball “birthday celebrations;
• Three bases on a strikeout; and
• More.

For the stats and stories, read on.

_______________________________________

Let’s start, as usual, with the Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE JULY PLAYERS/PITCHERS OF THE MONTH

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Player of the Month … Tie: Manny Machado, 3B, Padres and Cody Bellinger, CF, Cubs

Manny Machado led MLB with 11 July home runs and 29 July RBI, while also putting up a .309 average and scoring 20 runs – all in just 25 games.   Machado truly made his hits count, driving in those 29 runs on 29 hits.  Machado’s month included six multi-RBI games. In a seven-game stretch (July 3-14), when the Padres recorded six wins, Machado went 12-for-27 (.444), with five home runs and 14 RBI.  Machado also walked more often (16) than he struck out (14).

A .400+ average is the kind of a bright and shiny thing that attracts Baseball Roundtable.

Cubs’ CF Cody Bellinger spurred the Cubs’ 15-11 record in July,  with – among other stats – an MLB-best (among players with at least 50 at bats) .400 average for the month. He led all of MLB in July hits (40), while stroking eight home runs (tied for fourth in the NL) and driving in 24 (second in the NL). Bellinger also scored 21 runs.  Bellinger recorded at least one base hit in 23 of 26 games and had 13 multiple hit games. During the month he was never held hitless in consecutive games.

Honorable Mentions: We start here with a couple of brothers from “The Catching Contreras Family.” Brewers’ catcher William Contreras finished second in the NL in July hits (35), batting .365, with three homers and 18 RBI in 23 games. Willson Contreras, of the Cardinals- went .429-3-9 in 17 games.  (He had only 49 at bats, so didn’t make the Roundtable leader board.) The Roundtable also took a look at Nationals’ 22-year-old SS CJ Abrams, who led MLB in July stolen bases (16 in 16 attempts) and added a .327 average, with 32 hits (sixth in the NL) and 24 runs scored (tied for first in the NL).  Abrams, notably, came into the month hitting just .230 on the season, with 11 multi-hit games, he raised his average to .257 by months end.

Pitcher of the Month … Corbin Burnes, RHP, Brewers

Burnes went 4-1, 1.85 for the month (six starts). He also fanned 47 batters (second only to Spencer Strider in the NL) versus 13 walks in 39 innings. Burnes’ 0.72 WHIP (Walks & Hits per inning pitched) was the lowest among NL pitchers with at least 20 July innings, as was his batting average against (.115). Burnes went at least six innings in each of his six starts and his 39 July innings led MLB.

Honorable Mentions:  The Padres’ Blake Snell went 4-1 in six starts – and put up a 0.56 earned run average, lowest among MLB pitchers with at least 20 July innings. Snell fanned 42 batters in 32 innings. So, why – despite that bright and shiny ERA –  Burnes over Snell?  I couldn’t get past the fact that Snell walked an MLB-highest 26 batters in July and his WHIP (1.50) and Batting Average Against (.196) trailed Burnes. Still, he pitched his way into and out of trouble, an deserves mention here.  Snell’s teammate, RHP Joe Musgrove, also deserves recognition  for his  4-1, 1.45 in five July starts – fanning 36 and walking just five in 31 innings.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Player of the Month … Kyle Tucker, RF, Astros

Tucker put up a .359 average in July (fourth in the AL among hitters with at least 50 at bats), with seven home runs (tied for fourth in the AL) and 21 RBI (also tied for fourth). In addition, his 33 July hits were third in the AL and his 19 runs scored tied for second. Tucker’s month included a three-homer game on July 15, two four-hit games and two four-RBI games.  He reached base safely in 21 of 25 games. During an 11-game hitting streak (July 14-25), he hit .439-5-13.  Tucker also stole six basses in eight attempts. Tucker drew 14 walks and his .448 on-base percentage was third among AL hitters with at least 50 July at bats.

Honorable Mentions: Royals’ SS Bobby Witt, Jr. made this a tough call.  Witt hit .327-6-21 for the month, with six steals in eight attempts.  He 32 hits tied for fourth  in the AL and his three triples tied for the July league lead. What separated Tucker and Witt, from The Roundtable’s, perspective, was that Witt had just three walks (and 20 strikeouts), while Tucker had 14 walks and 14 strikeouts. Justin Turner, DH, Red Sox hit .337, with five homers and an AL-best 28 July RBI.

Pitcher of the Month … Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Rays

Glasnow went 3-2 for July, putting up a 2.11 earned run average and fanning an AL-highest 51 batters, while also throwing an AL-highest 38 1/3 innings. Notably, he walked only eight batters in his six July starts. His 0.89 whip was fifth-best in the AL and he held hitters to a .186 average.  His two losses came to two of MLB’s hottest teams – the Braves and the Orioles.  In those two contests, he gave up just three earned runs in 12 2/3 innings and fanned 17 batters while walking just one.

Honorable Mentions: The Roundtable also looked at a couple of effective relievers here. The Red Sox’ (RHP) Nick Pivetta, serving primarily as a long-reliever, went 3-1, 1.91 in six appearances (one start) and fanned 43 batters, against just six walks, in 28 1/3 innings.  He put up a 0.71 WHIP and held batters to a .144 average, The Orioles’ closer, Felix Bautista, saved eight games in eight opportunities and fanned 25 batters in 14 innings – giving up just three hits, four walks  and zero runs.

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Surprise Player(s) of the Month 

Tie: Triston Casas,1B, Red Sox & Tanner Bibee, RHP, Guardians

The Roundtable went with a couple of rookies here.

Triston Casas  – The 23-year-old Red Sox 1B (rookie status still intact) – came into July hitting just .227.  For the month, he went .348-7-13, with 16 runs scored.  He hit safely in  13  of the 17 games he started and logged seven multi-hit contests. Casas was a Red Sox first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft – out  of American Heritage High School. (He also played for the U.S. Team in the 2020 Summer Olympics.) The 6’5”, 244-pound Casas hit .269-46-181 over four minor-league seasons. Last season, he hit .273-11-38 in 72 games at Triple-A in 2022 and .197-5-12 in 27 games with the Red Sox.

Tanner Bibee. The Guardians’ 24-year-old rookie RHP had a stellar month, going 3-0, 1.78 in five starts. He fanned 33 batters (10 walks) in 30 1/3 innings, put up a 0.99 WHIP and held hitters to a .183 average. Bibee was a fifth-round  pick (out of California State University, Fullerton) in the 2021 MLB Draft. Bibee may be a bit less of a surprise. In 2022, he went 8-2, 2.17 at High-A and Double-A, and, this season,  was 2-0, 1.76 at Triple-A before being called up.  He finished July 7-2, 3.11 on the season. Even given his high status as a prospect, it’s a surprise when a rookie does so well so quickly.

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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through July 30,  35.6 percent of the MLB season’s 120,859 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.7%); walks (8.6%); home runs (3.1%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits 27,465 – 26,787.

The 35.6 percent figure is up from 2022’s full season 34.6 percent.  Other recent seasons: 2021 – 36.3 percent; 2020 –  37.3 percent;  2019 – 36.2 percent; and 2018 – 34.8 percent.  By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.  

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The Orioles are no longer a surprise – and their 17-9 July record, coupled with the Rays’ slump – have vaulted the Birds into first place in the East. In July, the O’s scored the second-most runs in the AL and gave up the fourth fewest tallies.  As a team, they made their hits count – scoring the second-most July runs with the league’s fifth-lowest team batting average and fifth-fewest home runs. It’s also notable that their starting pitchers went 7-6 for the month, while the bullpen staff put up a 10-3 record (with ten saves).  There may be some vulnerability there. The stretch run should be interesting.

The biggest surprise in the AL may have been the slumping Rays – who scored the fewest runs in the AL in July (just 87, as compared to the Orioles’ 126). Looking at the starting lineup, only 1B Yandy Diaz (.324) and 2B Brandon Lowe (.284) hit .250 or better in July.  A couple of other AL observations:  The Central Division Title seems like the crown no one wants to wear.  The Astros seem to be coming to life in the West (or maybe the Rangers are just fading a bit). In July, Houston topped the AL in home runs (40) and runs scored (131) – led by RF Kyle Tucker (.359-7-23 in July) and CF Chas McCormick (.351-6-23). On the mound J.P. France led the way, going 4-0, 2.30 in five July starts.

Over in the NL, the Cardinals began to show some life.  Though they remain in last place, they had a winning month of July – scoring the NL’s second-most runs. Third baseman Nolan Arenado provided the most firepower (.295-6-23 for the month). The pitching staff, however, put up the NL’s fifth-highest ERA. Meanwhile, the Reds continue to play well, putting up the NL’s third-lowest July ERA (3.51) and scoring the fifth-most runs. A couple key July contributors were RHP Graham Ashcraft (3-1, 1.84 in five starts) and closer Alexis Diaz (ten saves in ten opportunities). On offense, they shared the load, with six players driving in ten or more runs in July. In the West, the Dodgers are back on top, while in the East the Braves continue to bash home runs (an MLB-highest 47 in July) and Spencer Strider continues to fan batter at a dizzying rate.

–——Team  Statistical Leaders for July  2023 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League –  Cubs (150); Cardinals (138); Padres (135)

American League – Astros (131); Orioles (126); Red Sox (124): Mariners (124)

The fewest  runs in July  were scored by the Giants – 83. The Rays tallied the fewest runs in the AL at 87.  

AVERAGE

National League – Cardinals (.275); Marlins (.272); Cubs (.268)

American League – Red Sox (.285); Rangers (.270); Guardians (.269)

The lowest team average for July belonged to the Giants at .209. The lowest in the AL was the Rays (.216).  The only other team under .220 was the Pirates (.218).

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (47); Padres (39); Dodgers (38)

American League –  Angels (41);  Astros (40); three at 34

The Marlins had the fewest home runs in July at 17.  They were the only team under 22.

The Braves led MLB in slugging percentage for July at .497.  The Red Sox led the AL at .475. 

STOLEN BASES

National League – Nationals (31); Reds (29); Cubs (27)

American League – Guardians (27); Red Sox (25); Royals (23)

The Pirates stole the fewest sacks in July  – just four in eight attempts.   The Angels  were at the bottom of the AL, with eight in eleven  attempts. 

WALKS DRAWN

National League –   Padres (107); Cardinals (101); Dodgers (100)

American League  Yankees (96); Blue Jays (92); Angels (90)

The Cardinals led MLB in on-base percentage for July  at .353. The Blue Jays led the AL  at .341.  The Rays had MLB’s lowest  OBP for July  at .288.  

BATTERS’ STRIKEOUTS

National League – Reds (241); Phillies (239); Pirates (234)

American League – Mariners (272);Twins (258); Angels (251)

Guardians  batters fanned the fewest times in May  (163).

Bonus Stats

• Cardinals’ batters racked up the most total bases in July at 422.  The Giants were at the bottom of MLB at 278.
• The Diamondbacks led in sacrifice bunts for July with eight. Three teams (Rockies, Tigers and Rays) recorded zero sacrifice bunts
• The Mariners had 25 hit batters in July to lead MLB. The Mets led the NL with 23.  The Marlins had just four.
• The Cardinals grounded into an MLB-high 30 double plays in July.

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Earned Run Average

National League – Padres (3.25); Mets (3.49); Reds (3.51)

American League –  Blue Jays (3.27); Marines (3.35); Orioles (3.61)

The Nationals had the highest July  ERA at 6.04.  Others over 5.00 were:  Rangers (5.64); D-backs (5.46); Pirates (5.28); Royals (5.07).

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Brewers (255); Padres (247); Marlins (225)

American League –  Mariners (247); Blue Jays (246); Twins (242)

The Brewers  averaged an MLB-best 10.34 strikeouts per nine innings in July. The Rays averaged an AL-best 10.16.  Others over 10.00 were the Twins (10.07)  and the Blue Jays (10.06). Twelve teams averaged nine whiffs per nine or better.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League  – Giants (51); Rockies (65); Phillies (66); Brewers (66)

American League – Rays (49); Mariners (62); Twins (62); Tiers (62)

The Giants walked an MLB-lowest 2.06 batters per nine innings in July.  The Padres walked an MLB-worst 4.21 batters per nine frames.

SAVES

National League – Brewers (12); Reds (12); three with eight

American League – Astros (11); Orioles (10); three with nine

Bonus Stats:

• The Nationals gave up an MLB-high 46 home runs in July – The  Mets gave up an MLB-low 20.
• The Mariners held opponents to an MLB-low .226 average in July; the Nationals’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .300 during the month.
• The Rays strikeouts-to-walks ratio for July topped MLB at 4.90. The Nationals had MLB’s worse ration at 1.95.
• The Cardinals and Marlins led in blown saves in July at eight each: Cardinals five saves in 13 opportunities; Marlins three saves in 11 opportunities.  By contrast, the Red Sox and Mariners were each nine-for-ten in converting save opportunities.

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—–JULY HIGHLIGHTS —- –

Abreu Hits number 250

On July 3, as his Astros topped the Rangers 12-11 in Texas, Houston 1B Jose Abreu went two-for-five with a double, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.  It was Abreu’s seventh home run of the season and 250^th of his ten-season (2014-2023) MLB career. Abreu was the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year (White Sox), is a three-time All Star and was the 2020 AL Most Valuable Player.

More Complete-Game Shutouts

July saw four more complete-game shutouts – Mariners’ Logan Gilbert; Angels’ Shohei Ohtani; Twins’ Pablo Lopez; Giants’ Logan Webb.  That brings 2023 CG Shutouts to 15.  One  year ago, there were six complete-game shutouts through July and 16 for the full season.

One for the Record Books

On July 7, the Braves topped the Rays 2-1 on the strength of C Sean Murphy’s two-run homer in the fourth inning.  It was Murphy’s 16^th long ball of 2023 and, more notably, the Braves 167^th long ball of 2023. That total gave them the Modern Era record for home runs before the All Star Break.

Three-for-Four

On July 7, the Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Rays became the record the 102nd four-strikeout inning in NL/AL history.  It came in the second inning, as the Rays faced the first-place Braves in Tampa Bay. Glasnow fanned Matt Olson (looking ) on five pitches to open the frame.  He then got catcher Sean Murphy on four pitches (also looking) and DH Marcell Ozuna swinging on three pitches.  The final pitch to Ozuna was a wild pitch, with Ozuna making it safely to first base and paving the way for Glasnow’s  fourth whiff of the inning – LF Eddie Rosario, swinging on five pitches.  For those who like to know such things, Glasnow also had a four-strikeout inning for the Rays – versus the Blue Jays – on April 23, 2021.

In the game, won by the Braves 2-1, Glasnow went 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts. While Baseball-Almanac.com  lists 102 four-strikeout innings in MLB history, only 35 of those (like Glasgow’s) have involved four consecutive strikeouts.

Players with Multiple Four-Strikeout Innings

Chuck Finely (3); A.J. Burnett (2); Tyler Glasnow (2); Zack Greinke (2).

 

I’ll Have the Combination Plate

On July 8, the Tigers notched the second no-hitter of the 2023 season, this one a combined no-n0 involving Matt Manning (6 2/3 innings), Jason Foley (1 1/3 innings), and Alex Lange (1 inning).  It came against the Blue Jays, who fell to the Tigers (in Detroit) by a 2-0 score. The three Tiers pitchers fanned seven and walked three. It was the 20^th combined no-hitter in MLB history – the first for the Tigers.

Stop, Thief

On July 8,with the Reds and Brewers tied 5-5 in the seventh inning , Reds’ 21-year-old rookie SS Elly De La Cruz  took the game into his own hands (and feet). With two outs and a runner on third, De La Cruz stroked an RBI single off  the Brewers’ Elvis Peguero.  Then with  Jake Fraley at the plate, De La Cruz swiped second based on an 1-0 pitch and third base (without a throw) on a 1-2 pitch. But he wasn’t done yet. De La Cruz broke for home after Peguero took the return throw from catcher William Contreras and turned his back to return to the mound.  De La Cruz beat the surprised Peguero’s throw to home plate for his third steal of the inning. (The Reds, by the way, prevailed 8-5 and De La Cruz was two-for-four with two runs scored and one RBI.)

De La Cruz became the 47th MLB Player to steal first, second and home in the same inning.  Only four players have accomplished the feat more than once in their careers. (De La Cruz has lots of time to work on that. )

Stealing Second, Third and Home In an Inning More than More Than Once

 

Ty Cobb (4X), Tigers                                                1909, 1911, 1912, 1924

Honus Wagner (4X), Colonels, Pirates            1899, 1902, 1907. 1909

Max Carey ( 2X), Pirates                                        1923, 1925

Jackie Tavener (2X), Tigers                                  1927, 1928

 

Machado Rolls a 300

On July 15, as the Padres dropped the first game of a twin bill 6-4 to the Phillies, Manny Machado went one-for-five with a home run. It was Machado’s 17th long ball of the season and the 300^th of his career. Machado ended July at ,280-303-915 for his 12-season MLB career.

Yeah, You Can Tell They’re Brothers 

On July 14, as the Guardians lost to the Rangers 12-4 in Texas, Cleveland’s 26-year-old 1B Josh Naylor and his brother, 23-year-old C Bo Naylor, made a bit of history, becoming just the 13^th pair of Brothers to homer in the same game for the same MLB team – and the first to do it in the same inning.The Naylor’s  homers came just four batters apart in the third inning. The other pairs of brothers to homer for the same team in the same game include: B.J. and Dustin Upton (six times); Jason and Jeremy Giambi (four times); Henry and Tommie Aaron (three times); Lloyd and Paul Waner (three times); Adrian and Edgar Gonzalez (two times); Cal (jr.) and Billy Ripken (two times); Tony and Billy Conigliaro (two times); Adam and Andy LaRoche; Benji and Jose Molina; Matty and Jesus Alou;  Matty and Felipe Alou.

More #InBaseballWeCountEverything

On July 17, Christian Encarnacion-Strand made his MLB debut – starting art DH for the Reds.  In that zero-for-three performance, he became the player with the longest name in MLB history. Encarnacion-Strand gets credit for 27 characters in his uniform back name (hyphen included), breaking the record of 22 characters by 2022 rookie Simeon Woods Richardson of the Twins. As the end of July, Encarnacion -Strand was hitting .244-17 in 13 games.

13 Can Be A Lucky Number

On July 17, Red Sox’ righty Nick Pivetta came on in relief in the bottom of the third inning, with Boston leading Oakland 2-0.  It was the start of an historic outing. Pivetta went six scoreless/hitless innings, walking two and fanning 13. The thirteen strikeouts were the most ever in a relief appearance by a Red Sox hurler.  (The AL/NL record is 16, by Randy Johnson in a seven-inning relief stint on July 18, 2001.) Pivetta got the win  as Boston triumphed 7-0. For those who like to know such things, the A’s got just one hit in the contest and fanned 18 times.

Wow.  Eons ago, in a Faraway Baseball Galaxy

On July 18, four MLB games ended with both teams scoring at least ten runs.  Three of those games barely made the qualifying mark, ending 11-10. Here are the scores:

Mets 11- White Sox 10;

Diamondbacks 16 – Braves 13

Royals 11 – Tigers 10

Giants 11-Red 10

Here are the previous instances:

July 4, 1894

Colts (Chicago) 16 – Phillies 10

Pirates 13 – Beaneaters (Boston) 11

Phillies 12 – Colts 11

Giants 12 – Spiders (Cleveland) 11

July 9, 1894

Orioles 14 – Pirates 10

Spiders 16 – Senators 15

Colts 13- Beaneaters 11

Phillies 11 –  Browns 10

Turn Up the Contrast

In contrast to the recent day of double-digit scoring games (above) , The most shutouts ever recorded in a single MLB day (modern era) was eight (out of sixteen games) on June 4, 1972 – two of those coming with the A’s topping the Orioles 2-0 in both games of a doubleheader. More contrast?  The eight shutouts involved  a total of 14 pitchers for the winning teams.   On July 30 of this season, MLB saw five shutouts – and the winning teams used a total of 19 pitchers.

A Swing and a Miss … and he Slides into Third

On July 18, the Diamondbacks won a wild game at Atlanta 16-13. The game featured, among other things, one wild pitch and one wild scurry to third base. In the second inning, with the score knotted at five apiece, Diamondbacks’ rookie OF Corbin Carroll came to the plate – against Bryce Elder – with a runner on second and one out. Carroll swung and missed a nasty 2-2 slider from Elder.  The pitch (a wild pitch) bounced in the dirt and skipped away from catcher Sean Murphy. Murphy got to the ball and with Carroll hustling down the first base line, fired the ball past 1B Matt Olson and down the RF line.  By the time RF Ronald Acuna, Jr. got the ball back into the infield, Carroll was at third base.

I Can Do You One Better

On April 25, 1970, I was “privileged” to see Detroit pitcher Earl Wilson circle the bases (well, almost) on a strikeout. It happened in the top of the seventh, with two outs, no one on base and the Twins  up 2-1 over the Tigers.  Wilson was at the plate and the good-hitting pitcher was fanned by Twins’ starter Jim Kaat (yes, both starters were still in the game in the seventh frame).

Twins’ catcher  Paul Ratliff, however, had trapped the ball  (as signaled by home plate umpire Marty Springstead).  Only nobody, except third base coach Grover Resinger, saw (or, at least registered) the safe call. Resinger instructed Wilson to stay put at home plate (not unusual for the pitcher to dawdle, and wait for someone to bring his glove from the dugout.). As Ratliff rolled the ball back to the pitcher’s mound,  the fans applauded the whiff and the Twins headed into the dugout. When the bulk of the Twins squad was off the field, Resinger told Wilson to run. As Wilson rounded first and headed toward second, only Twins slow-moving left fielder Brant Alyea was on the field (near first base on his way in from the, apparently far-off, region of left field).  It was an odd sight, Wilson  – instead of taking the mound – running the bases with most of the Twins in the dugout.

Alyea managed to corral the ball as Wilson rounded third and a welcoming party of now-awakened Twins (led by SS Leo Cardenas) was headed toward home plate.  As Alyea threw to Cardenas, Wilson put on the brakes and headed back toward third base, pulled a hamstring and was tagged out by Alyea (who took a return throw from Cardenas). So, we had a play that was scored K-E2-7-6-7.

My dad and I were at the game and on the play were: First, confused; second, entertained; and third, a little miffed, when Twins’ Bob Allison was ejected during the heated discussion that followed Wilson’s circuit of the bases.  The Twins, by the way, won the game 4-3.

Conjugate This  – Fast, Fastest, Fastest

On July 19, when Twins’ closer Jhoan Duran came on in the bottom of the ninth to protect a 6-3 lead in Seattle, he had already tossed the 2023 season’s four fastest pitches  – ranging from 104.4 mph to 104.6 MPH.

Mariners. SS J.P. Crawford opened the frame with a single and Duran then hit CF Julio Rodriguez with a pitch. Duran next  fanned LF Jarred Kelenic after a tough nine-pitch battle. Next, on an 0-2 count to 3B Eugenio Suarez, Duran set a new fastest-pitch-of-2023 mark, with a 104.8 mph fastball (which Suarez grounded to short for out number two).  Duran then fanned Mike Ford on three pitches (the last at 104.0 mph) to end the inning and the game.

Variety is the Spice of Life

On July 21, Astros’ RF Kyle Tucker, batting in the three-hole, had his first career three-homer game – going three-for-four with four RBI as the Astros beat the A’s 6-4 (in Oakland). What caught The Roundtable attention was that he rapped those long ball off three different types of pitches.

• A solo homer in the first off an 0-1 fastball from JP Sears;
• A two-run shot in the fifth on a 2-1 slider (again from Sears);
• A solo shot in the seventh on a 1-1 change up from Taylor Scott.

The Century Mark

On July 21, Astros’ closer Ryan Pressley pitched a scoreless ninth inning, as the Astros bested the A’s 6-4 in Oakland.  It was Pressley’s 23^rd save of the 2023 season – and the 100^th of his career. Pressley, who had just eight saves (3.38) over his first seven seasons (362 appearances, 2013-19), has saved  101 games (2.84 ERA) in 184 appearance since 2020.

Give Me Five, Bro

On July 22, Braves’ 3B Austin Riley went 2-4, with a home run and three RBI, as the Braves lost to the Brewers 4-3 in Milwaukee. A home run in a loss, not such a big deal.  In this case, Riley’s homer marked his fifth straight game with a home run tying the Braves record of consecutive games with a long ball (Others: Rogers Hornsby; Hank Aaron; Chipper Jones; Ronald Acuna, Jr.; Joe Adcock; Brian McCann; Jeff Burroughs; Ozzie Virgil; Eddie Mille.)

Over that five-game stretch (July 18-22), Riley went 10-for-21 (.476), with six homers, one double, one triple, nine runs scored  and 16 RBI. The string was broken when Riley went zero-for-four versus the Brew Crew on July 23. Riley ended the month .274-24-64 on the season.

One-Two-Three and You’re Out at the Old Ball Game

July 25 saw the first triple play of the 2023 season. It was turned  by the Braves in the bottom of the third inning of a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox.

The inning opened with a single by Red Sox’ LF Masakata Yoshida and a walk to RF Adam Duvall (Charlie Morton was on the mound). Then Boston 1B Triston Casas hit a fly ball to Braves’ CF Mitchell Harris II for out number one.  Duvall, who misread the ball, was caught too far off first, with Harris throwing to 1B Matt Olson for out number two.  On that play, Yoshida attempted to move up to third and Olson threw across the diamond to Braves’ 3B Austin Riley, who tagged Yoshida for out number three – an 8-3-5 twin killing.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Phoenix-born Nolan Gorman – now the St, Louis Cardinals’ starting second baseman, returned home in late July, as the Cardinals faced the Diamondbacks. On July 26, Gorman’s mother celebrated her birthday (with a large group of family and friends) by watching her son take the field against the D-backs. (Reportedly, she had indicated she that seeing a home run from her son would be a great birthday gift.) Gorman gave her plenty to celebrate, going three-for-five, with three RBI and a pair of home runs (his 21^st and 22nd of the season).  As July came to a close, Gorman had a .241-22-65 on the season.

There’s Always a Shohei Show to Report

It’s only fitting that, in a two-game day, the Angels’ two-way player Shohei Ohtani would do something remarkable.

On July 27, in the first game of a doubleheader versus the Tigers (in Detroit), Ohtani pitched the first complete game of his MLB career – a  one-hit shutout (three walks/eight whiffs).  It ran his record on the season to 9-5, 3.43, with 156 strikeouts in 120 2/3 innings (20 starts). The Angels prevailed 6-0).

In Game Two of the  twin bill, Ohtani (appearing as the Angels’ DH) went two-for-three, rapping two home runs (37^th and 38^th of the season) and driving in three. The Angels won that one 11-4.

As usual, Ohtani’s feat continued his rewriting of the MLB record books:

• Ohtani became the first player to throw a shutout in one game of a doubleheader and hit two home runs in the other (Elias Sports Bureau).
• Ohtani became just the fifth player to throw a shutout and hit two-homers on the same day. (The other four all did it in one game: Milt Pappas, Orioles, August 27, 1961; Pedro Ramos, Indians, May 30, 1962; Rick Wise, Phillies, June 23, 1971; and Sonny Siebert, Red Sox, September 2, 1971. )

Take It Easy, Boys,  I Got This

On June 23, 1971, Phillies’ righty Rick Wise, tossed a no-hitter as the Phillies topped the Reds 4-0 in Cincinnati. Wise also knocked a pair of homers and drove in three of the Phillies four runs.  I might note:  No-hitting the Reds was no easy task.  The lineup featured the likes of RF Pete Rose; CF George Foster; C Johnny Bench; and 3B Tony Perez.

A Burger and (Big) Flies

On July 28, White Sox 3B Jake Burger went one-for-three as Chicago topped the Guardians 3-0 (in Chicago). The homer was Burger’s 25th of the season and it marked the third time this season Burger has homered in three straight games (July 26-28), May 14-17 and April 14-16).  The 27-year-old Burger finished July with a .214-25-52 line on the season.

Hop On, Boys, I’ll Carry You … or More #InBaseballWeCountEverything

On July 29, as the Dodgers topped the Reds 3-2 in LA, Dodgers’ 3B Max Muncy went two-for-three with two home runs (Muncy’s 26^th and 27^th long balls of the season). Muncy’s two home runs were the only Dodger hits of the game. According to the Elias Sport Bureau, the performance made Muncy the first Dodger (since RBI became an official stats 103 years ago) to record all of the Dodgers’ hits and RBIs in a victory (minimum two hits).

Verlander Hits the 250 Mark

On July 30, the Mets’ Justin Verlander picked up his sixth win of the season (against five losses). The forty-year-old righty went 5 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and one run (one walk/five whiffs) as the Mets bested the Nationals 5-2.  It was the 250^th career win (versus 138 losses) for the three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2006 Rookie of the Year.  Verlander now strands 49^th all-time in career MLB wins, 13^th in career strikeouts (3,279,  The nine-time All Star has led his league in wins four times, ERA once, complete games once, innings pitched four times and strikeouts five times.  It was apparently Verlander’s last outing as a Met, as it’s been reported that he has been was traded to the Astros.

 

Happy Birthday To Me

Pirates’ CF Josh Palacios, drafted (by the Blue Jays) in the fourth round of the 2916 MLB draft finally made his MLB debut in for the Blue Jays in 2021. Over the past three seasons (2021-23), he has played for Blue Jays, Nationals and Pirates.  On July 30 , he celebrated his 28^th birthday, with a game-winning , two-run walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning – giving his Pirates a 6-4 win over the Philllies. It was Palacios’ second career MLB long ball (in 86 games over three seasons).  (Palacios has played in seven minor-league seasons – going .294-34-254 in 478 games.)

——-Individual Statistical Leaders for July 2023———

AVERAGE (minimum 50 July at bats)
National League – Cody Bellinger, Cubs (.400); Wilmer Flores, Giants (.383); William Contreras, Brewers (.365)
American League – Jarren Duran, Red Sox (.384); Edouard Julien, Twins (.369); Corey Seager, Rangers (.365)

The lowest June average (among players with at least 50 at bats in the month) belonged to the Orioles’ Colton Cowser at .098 (5-for-51).

HOME RUNS
National League – Manny Machado, Padres (11); Max Muncy, Dodgers (9); Austin Riley, Braves (9)
American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (9); Jake Burger, White Sox (8); Isaac Paredes, Rays (8)

The Red Sox’ Tristan Casas had the highest July slugging percentage (at least 50 at bats) at .758. The NL leaders was the Rockies Randal Grichuk at .700.

HITS
National League – Cody Bellinger, Cubs (40); William Contreras, Brewers (35); Luis Arreaz, Marlins (34)
American League – Steven Kwan, Guardians (35), Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (34); Kyle Tucker, Astros (33)

RUNS BATTED IN
National League – Manny Machado, Padres (29); Cody Bellinger, Cubs (24); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (23)
American League – Justin Turner, Red Sox (28); Chas McCormick, Astros (23); Kyle Tucker, Astros (23)

The Twins’ Edouard Julien led MLB (at least 50 July at bats) players in on-base percentage at .461. The NL leader was the Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim at .449. .

DOUBLES
National League – William Contreras, Brewers (10); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (9); four with eight
American League – J.P. Crawford, Mariners (11); Jarren Duran, Red Sox (10); Luis Robert, Jr., White Sox (9)

TRIPLES
National League – Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks (3); Padres Jake Cronenworth (3); nine with two
American League – Drew Waters, Royals (3); Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (3); 12 with two

The Astros’ Kyle Tucker, Royals’ Bobby Witt, Jr., Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado, Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Brewers’ Christian Yelich led all hitters with 15 extra-base hits in July.

STOLEN BASES
National League – CJ Abrams, Nationals (16); Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (14); Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks (9)
American League – Will Castro, Twins (11); Andres Gimenez, Guardians (9); Jarren Duran, Red Sox (8)

The Nationals’ CJ Abrams was 16-for-16 in July steal attempts.

WALKS
National League – Juan Soto, Padres (23); Kyle Schwarber, Philllies (20); three with 18
American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (22); Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (20); J.P. Crawford, Mariners (17)

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts led in walks/strikeouts ratio (among batters with at least 50 July plate appearances) at 1.64 … 18 walks versus 11 whiffs in 21 games.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
National League – Elly De La Cruz, Reds (39); Christopher Morel, Cubs (37); Nick Castellanos, Phillies (35); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (35)
American League – Josh Jung, Rangers (35); Eugenio Suarez, Mariners (35); Teoscar Hernandez, Mariners (35)

PITCHING VICTORIES
National League – Corbin Burnes, Brewers, (4-1); Joe Musgrove, Padres (4-1); Blake Snell, Padres (4-1); Justin Verlander, Mets (4-1)
American League – Logan Gilbert, Mariners (4-0); Clark Schmidt, Yankees (4-0); Logan Gilbert, Mariners (4-0)

Mitch Keller, Pirates (0-4, 6.28) and Alex Marsh, Royals (0-4, 6.16) led MLB in July losses.

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Right Place Right Time & Vice Versa
Mets’ reliever Greg Hartwig went 3-0 – with a 6.76 ERA in July. Royals’ reliever Carlos Hernandez went 0-2 – with a 1.35 ERA.

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EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 20 July innings pitched))
National League – Blake Snell, Padres (0.56); Joe Musgrove, Padres (1.45); Justin Verlander (1.69)
American League – Mike Lorenzen, Tigers (1.14); Aaron Civale, Guardians (1.45); Tanner Bibee (1.78)

Among pitchers with at least four July starts or 15 innings, pitched the Yankees’ Luis Severino had the highest July ERA at 11.22 (27 earned runs in 21 2/3 innings in five starts).

The Rockies’ Peter Lambert threw the most July innings without giving up an earned run (14). In three June starts, Lambert pitched 14 innings and gave up no earned runs (eight hits, three walks, seven strikeouts).

STRIKEOUTS
National League – Spencer Strider, Braves (53 K / 31 1/3 IP); Corbin Burnes, Brewers (47 K / 39 IP); Blake Snell, Padres (42 K / 32 IP)
American League – Tyler Glasnow, Rays (51 K / 38 1/3 IP); Nick Pivetta (43 K / 28 1/3 IP); Joe Ryan, Twins (43 K / 25 1/3 IP

Among qualifying players, the Twins’ Joe Ryan had the highest strikeout per nine innings ratio for July at 15.28. The Braves’ Spencer Strider led the NL at 15.22.

SAVES
National League – Devin Williams, Brewers (10); Alexis Diaz, Reds (10); Adbert Alzolay, Cubs (8)
American League – Ryan Pressley, Astros (9); Felix Bautista, Orioles (8); Kenley Jansen, Red Sox (7); Paul Sewald, Mariners (7)

The Reds’ Alexis Alzolay had the most saves without a blown saves in July at ten.

WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched – minimum 20 June innings)
National League – Corbin Burnes, Brewers (0.72); Christopher Sanchez, Phillies (0.75); Kodai Senga, Mets (0.86)
American League – Nick Pivetta, Red Sox (0.71); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (0.80); Aaron Civale, Guardians (0.80)

BONUS STATS
• The Mets’ Max Scherzer(now a Ranger) gave up an MLB-high ten home runs in July (over 31 innings).
• The most July innings pitched without giving up a single home run was 32 by the Padres’ Blake Snell.
• Among players with at least 20 June innings pitched, the Brewers’ Corbin Burnes held hitters to the lowest average (.115) – 15 hits in 39 innings.

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If the season ended July 31, your post-season teams would be:

American League:  Orioles, Twins, Rangers  Wild Cards: Rays, Astros, Blue Jays

National League: Braves, Reds, Dodgers   Wild Cards: Giants, Phillies (Tie: Diamondbacks, Marlins, Brewers)

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; Baseball-Almanac.com

 

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