It’s September 1, and regular readers of this blog know it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s look at the standings, stats and stories that captured The Roundtable’s attention over the previous month, as well Baseball Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month (August) and the ongoing Trot Index.
Here’s just a teaser of the things that caught Baseball Roundtable’s eye in August:
- The Nationals got their first win from a starting pitcher since July 6;
- The Twins turned their second triple play of the season;
- The Rangers’ Adolis Garcia had a 21-game hitting streak;
- Mariners’ rookie pitcher George Kirby started a game and didn’t throw a called ball until his 25th pitch;
- The Yankees’ Josh Donaldson hit an”Ultimate Grand Slam;”
- The Angels’ Pablo Sandoval channeled “The Professor” and threw a “Maddux;”
- Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to hit at least 30 home runs and collect at least ten pitching victories in the same season;
- 42-year-old Albert Pujols put up a .361-8-17 stat line in 23 games;
- The Phillies had a game in which they put up 18 runs on 22 hits – without a single home run;
- The Cardinals hit the most home runs in August and gave up the fewest round trippers;
- The Angels, who hit the AL’s fewest home runs in July, led the AL in August round trippers.
You’ll find more on all this – and more – as you read through this post. Not into stats? Skip ahead to the Highlights Section.
That Makes Sense
The Dodgers Guardians and Rays all put up earned run averages under 3.00 for August – and went a combined 56-26. The Rockies, Red Sox and Nationals all put up earned run averages 0f 5.00+ – and went 31-52 for the month.
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—-August Players and Pitchers of the Month—-
National League
Player of the Month – (Tie) Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals & Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals. Let’s look at these two Redbirds.
It’s no wonder the Cardinals went 22-7 in August (and moved to the top of the NL Central). The team boasted three solid candidates for NL Player of the Month: Nolan Arenado; Paul Goldschmidt; and Albert Pujols. Baseball Roundtable thinks it’s appropriate that Arenado and Goldschmidt share the recognition. Let’s look at the August offensive contributions of this this pair of corner infielders, who both also have multiple Gold Gloves on their resumes.
- Arenado had the edge in August average – .364 to Goldschmidt’s .343. They were, respectively, second and fifth in the NL among players with at least 60 August at bats. (Pujols, by the way, was third at .361)
- Goldschmidt and Arenado each hit nine August home runs – tying for the major-league lead. (Pujols had eight.)
- Arenado led MLB with 29 August RBI, Goldschmidt was third with 27.
- Goldschmidt’s 25 August runs were second in the NL; Arenado scored 19 times.
- Arenado’s 39 hits were third in the NL, while Goldschmidt’s 35 August safeties were seventh
- Goldschmidt’s .448 on-base percentage topped NL hitters with at least 60 August at bats. Arenado was at .410. On the other hand, Arenado’s slugging percentage for August was .729 (second only to Pujols’ .803 among NL players with at least 60 August at bats), while Goldschmidt was fourth at .667.
Goldschmidt had nine multi-hit games (five three-hit contests) and eight multi-RBI games (including a five-RBI contest in an 8-3 win over the Cubs on August 25. In a four-game stretch from August 17-20, he went 11 -for-17 (plus two walks), with two home runs and eight RBI.
Arenado had ten multi-hit games. He had eight multi-RBI contests – and only once went two consecutive games without a hit.
Honorable Mentions: The Cardinals’ 1B/DH Albert Pujols – at age 42 – had a tremendous month (as he climbed up the All-Time offensive charts. He put up a .361-8-17 line in 23 games. Mets’ 2B Jeff McNeil also deserves mention. His .385 average was the highest among NL players with at least 60 August at bats (he had 109) and his 42 hits tied for the MLB August lead. McNeil had two home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored for the month, Finally, a shout out to Mookie Betts of the Dodgers for his .330-9-17 month, which include an MLB-best 30 runs scored and five steals in five attempts.
Pitcher of the month – Zac Gallen, RHP Phillies
Zac Gallen went 5-0 (the only National Leaguer with five August wins), with a minuscule 0.68 earned run average in six starts (the lowest ERA among MLB pitchers with at least 25 August innings). His 40 innings pitched were second in MLB and his 44 strikeouts third . In four of his five wins, he went at least seven innings without surrendering a run. He put up a 0.75 WHIP and held hitters to a .154 average.
Zac Gallen ended August with an active steak of 34 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
Honorable Mentions: The Mets’ Jacob deGrom, who was also in the running, led MLB in August strikeouts with 55 (in 36 1/3 innings) putting up a 4-1, 1.98 record. I also considered Tony Gonsolin, RHP, Dodgers. He put up a 4-0, 0.76 line in four August starts.The fact that he threw just 23 2/3 innings (20 strikeouts) was the difference maker. And, I looked at Dodgers’ southpaw Julio Urias, who went 4-1, 0.90 in five starts.
Baseball Roundtable Extra – August’s Mr. No-Decision
Cubs’ southpaw Justine Steele put up a nifty 0.96 ERA in five August starts – with 39 strikeouts (eight walks) in 28 innings. And, while the Cubs eventually won four of those five games, Steele did not pick up a single win. (All five were no-decisions).
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American League
Player of the Month – Alex Bregman, 3B, Astros
Photo: D. Benjamin Miller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Alex Bregman hit .362 for the month (fourth in the AL among players with at least 60 at bats) with seven homers (tied for fourth in the AL) and 22 RBI (tied for third.) He also scored a league-leading 27 August runs and drew 17 walks to just ten whiffs (giving him a .452 on-base percentage (third among AL players with 60 or more August at bats). Bergman’s month included ten multi-hit games – including a four-hit, two-home run, six-RBI game (against the White Sox) on August 21.
Honorable Mentions: Rangers’ 1B Nathaniel Lowe’s .389 average led all MLB hitters (with at least 60 August at bats), his seven August home runs tied for fourth in the AL, and his 21 RBI were seventh. He led the league with 42 August hits. For Baseball Roundtable, the difference (that gave Bregman the edge) was that Lowe walked ten times times and fanned 21; versus Bregman’s 17 walks and ten whiffs. (Bregman also had the edge in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage.)
Pitcher of the Month – Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros
Framber Valdez was just the only AL pitcher to win five games this August (and one of just two in MLB). Valdez went 5-0 2.04 in five starts. He went at least seven innings in four of his five starts and fanned 33 batters in 35 1/3 innings. Valdez ended August with a 14-4, 2.63 record on the season.
Honorable Mentions: The Guardians’ Shane Bieber went 3-1, 1.62 in five starts, fanning 35 and walking just four in 33 1/3 innings. He put up a 0.90 WHIP, fifth among AL pitches with at least 25 August innings. He pitched at least seven innings in three of his five starts and, in his one loss, he gave up just one earned run in 6 1/3 frames. Drew Rasmussen of the Rays had the best August WHIP (0.67) among AL pitchers with at least 25 innings pitched, while going 3-1, 1.59, walking just four and fanning 29 in 28 1/3 innings.
Baseball Roundtable Extra – Life Is Just Not Fair
The White Sox’ Lucas Giolito went 4-2 in six August starts – despite a 5.68 earned run average. The Yankees’ Gerrit Cole went 1-4, despite a 3.20 ERA.
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Surprise Player of the Month – Mariners RHP George Kirby
Mariners’ 24-years-old rookie righty George Kirby – who made his MLB debut in May – came into August with an MLB career record of 2-3, 3.56 (but with just 11 walks, versus 73 strikeouts in 73 1/3 innings pitched). In August, he turned it up a notch. In four starts, he went 4-0, 2.15, with just three walks and 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. (You’ll find more on this 2022 surprise in the Highlights section.)
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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE
Through August, 34.4 percent of the MLB season’s 146,364 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 (22.3%); walks (8.2%); home runs (2.8%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Personally, I’d like more action in the field of play.
The 34.4 percent figure is down slightly from 2021’s full season 36.3 percent. 2020’s 37.3 percent; 2019’s 36.2 percent and 2018’s 34.8 percent. By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.
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The Dodgers went 21-7 and were hitting on all cylinders. Their 2.29 earned run average for the month was easily the best in MLB and they were second in runs scored (to the Cardinals). A few tidbits:
- They didn’t loses their first August game until the 14th;
- In August, they held opponents to two or fewer runs 13 times and scored eight or more runs 12 times;
- They had eight players with 12 or more August RBI and six with 13 or more runs scored;
- Key starters Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin went a combined 8-1, 0.83.
Now, we hear a lot about the Dodgers’ (22-game winners in August) potent lineup (Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner and more) and their lights-out starting rotation. But what caught Baseball Roundtable’s attention was the work of a group of lessor-known (except for one) relievers, who each appeared in a dozen August games. Together they pitched 46 innings and went a combined 3-0, with two saves and a 0.78 ERA, Their names and August records? Evan Phillips (0-0, 0.00 ERA and one save in 11 2/3 innings); Alex Vesia (0-0, 0.00 in 11 innings); Chris Martin (3-0, one save, 1.59 in 11 1/3 innings); and the better-known David Price (2-0, 1.50 in 12 innings.)
The Cardinals also won 22 August games. Despite the NL’s fifth-best earned run average, their hitting is what stood out. They led MLB in August runs scored, home runs, average, RBI, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Cardinals had five players with at least 50 at bats hit over .335 in August; three players among the top four NL August home run hitters; and two of the top three in RBI (three Cardinals drove in 20 or more runs in August). For more on the Cardinals’ offense, check the August NL Players of the Month section. Jordan M0ntgomery may have been the Redbirds’ mound surprise of the month – going 4-0, 1.76 in five starts. Closer Ryan Helsley picked up four wins and three saves (2.45 ERA in nine appearances). The other 14 wins were split among nine pitchers.
–——Team Statistical Leaders for August 2022 ———-
RUNS SCORED
National League – Cardinals (173); Dodgers (165); Braves (160)
American League – Astros (132); Rays (130); Rangers (124); Mariners (124)
The fewest August runs were scored by the Marlins – 62. The A’s tallied the fewest runs in the AL at 89.
AVERAGE
National League – Cardinals (.281); Dodgers (.273); Phillies (.273)
American League –White Sox (.270); Red Sox (.268); Astros (.265);
The lowest team average for August belonged to the Marlins at .196.
Notably, the top seven MLB teams in August run production were from the National League.
HOME RUNS
National League – Cardinals (51); Brewers (41); Dodgers (40)
American League – Angels (40); Mariners (39); Rangers (33)
Bonus Stats
- The Angels had the fewest home runs for July at 15 – then led the AL in long balls in August with 40.
- The fewest August home runs belonged to the Tigers, just 13.
- The Cardinals led MLB in August slugging percentage at .503 – the only team over .500. The Astros led the AL at .411.
STOLEN BASES
National League – Marlins (25); Phillies (24); Diamondbacks (22)
American League – Royals (23); Guardians (21); Rangers (21)
The White Sox stole the fewest sacks in August – two (in six attempts).
WALKS DRAWN
National League – Padres (120); Cardinals (109); Brewers (106)
American League – Twins (96); Mariners (95); Rays (94)
The Cardinals led MLB in on-base percentage for August at .361. The White Sox led the AL at .334.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
National League – Cubs (263); Reds (261); Braves (257)
American League – Angels (279); Tigers (270); Red Sox (252)
Bonus Stats
- The Cardinals led MLB in total bases in August with 504. By contrast, the Marlins were 30th, with 287 total bases for the month.
- The Red Sox grounded into an MLB-high 33 double plays in August; the Marlins hit into an MLB-low 11.
- Five of the thirty teams did not put down a single successful sacrifice bunt in August. The Diamondbacks led in successful sacrifice bunts with ten.
Earned Run Average
National League – Dodgers (2.29); Braves (3.27); Mets (3.41)
American League – Guardians (2.80); Rays (2.85); Astros (3.00)
Three teams had August ERAs of 5.00 or higher– Rockies (5.70); Red Sox (5.36); Nationals (5.00).
STRIKEOUTS
National League – Mets (275); Braves (262): Dodgers (254)
American League – Twins (265); Astros (262); Guardians (256)
Bonus Stats
- The Astros averaged an MLB-best 9.47 strikeouts per nine innings in August. The Braves had the highest ratio in the AL at 9.42.
- The Rays walked a stringiest 1.96 batters per nine frames in August. The Padres were best in the NL at 2.27.
- The Pirates walked an MLB-highest 3.99 per nine innings for the month.
- The Rays has MLB’s best strikeouts-to-walks ratio in August at 4.70. The Padres led the NL at 3.94.
SAVES
National League – Cubs (10); Phillies (9); three with 8
American League – White Sox (10); Astros (10); Orioles (9); Red Sox (9)
The Pirates recorded just three saves in seven August opportunities. The Cubs, despite leading MLB in August saves, also flubbed the most save opportunities (10 saves in 20 save opportunities).
WALKS AND HITS PER INNING PITCHED (WHIP)
National League – Dodgers (0.94); Braves (1.18); Mets (1.20); Brewers (1.20)
American League – Guardians (0.99); Rays (1.06); Yankees (1.10)
Bonus Stats
- The Dodgers held opposing batters to an MLB-lowest .183 average (the only team to hold opposing hitters under .200)
- The Nationals and Cubs gave up an MLB-high 45 home runs in August; the Cardinals gave up an MLB-low 19 dingers. (Notably, the Cardinals hit the most August homers at 51.)
- There were only nine complete games pitched in August: three by the Phillies (two for Aaron Nola, Noah Syndergaard) and one each by the White Sox (Johnny Cueto), Angels (Patrick Sandoval), Marlins (Sandy Alcantara), Cardinals (Jordan Montgomery) and Nationals (Paolo Espino).
- The Marlins staff shutout their opponents an MLB-high five times in August.
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—-August 2022 Highlights—-
Lucky Seven? Maybe Not So Much.
On August 4, the Angels became just the sixth team to homer seven times in a loss – as they hammered seven solo home runs in an 8-7 loss to the A’s. It was also reported that it was the first time (at least since 1900) that a team hit seven solo home runs – without scoring any other runs in the game. The dingers belonged to:
- First Inning – DH Shohei Ohtani
- Second Inning – C Kurt Suzuki
- Third Inning – RF Taylor Ward
- Fourth Inning – LF Jo Adell
- Sixth Inning – 1B Jared Walsh
- Seventh Inning – Ohtani
- Ninth Inning – CF Mickey Moniak
More of the Shohei Show
Photo: hj_west from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
As usual, the Baseball Roundtable monthly update includes a tidbit about Shohei Ohtani – the Angels’ two-way star. In the Angels’ August 9 game against the A’s in Oakland, Ohtani started on the mound and in the lineup (batting second) at designated hitter.
Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings (four hits, three walks, five strikeouts) for his tenth win of the season. He also went two-for-three, with his 25th home run. That pitching victory made Ohtani just the fourth MLB player to hit at least ten home runs and record at least ten pitching victories in the same season. The only others? Babe Ruth, for the Red Sox, back in 1918 (13-7, with 11 long balls) and two Negro League stars – Ed Riles (11-6, with 11 home runs) for the 1927 Detroit Stars and Bullet Rogan (14-8, with 15 home runs) for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1922. Ohtani ended August at 11-8, 2.67, with 176 strikeouts in 128 innings on the mound and .260-30-82 on 469 at bats.
Shohei Ohtani hit his 30th home run of the 2022 season in an August 31 Angels’ 3-2 win over the Yankees. Coupled with his 11 pitching wins (thus far this season) that made him the first MLB player ever to earn at least ten pitching victories and hit at least 30 home runs in a season,
Field of Dreams
On August 11, the Cubs and Reds played the second annual MLB at Field of Dreams Game in the MLB-built ballpark, in a cornfield outside of Dyersville, Iowa. The Cubs prevailed 4-2, but this one (although it counted) was more about nostalgia and atmosphere than the outcome. The highlights – other than the locale – were probably Ken Griffey, Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. walking out of the cornfield to “have a catch” and the pregame ceremonies that included Hall of Famers Billy Williams, Andre Dawson, Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Barry Larkin.
Nelson Cruz Putting Up a Nice Round Number
On August 13, as the Nationals topped the Padres 4-3 in Washington, 42-year-old Nelson Cruz went two-for-three, with a walk and a run scored. His second hit of the night, an eighth-inning single, marked his 2,000th MLB safety.
Pete Alonso also Putting Up Some Round Numbers
Photo by slgckgc 
On August 19, as the Mets topped the Philllies 7-2 in Philadelphia, Pete Alonso drove in the first run of the game on a fielder’s choice in the first inning– notching his 100th RBI of the season. Then, in his next at bat (third inning), he added another round number hitting a two run home run for his 30th round tripper of the year. The 2019 home run leader as a rookie (with a rookie-record 53 home runs) finished August with a .271-31-105 line on the season.
So Close and Yet …
On August 14, the Drew Rasmussen pitched a gem – taking a perfect game into the ninth inning in just his 30th major-league start (67th MLB appearance in three seasons). Rasmussen reached the ninth inning (against the Orioles in Tampa) having retired the first 24 Orioles to come to the plate on a total of 79 pitches (56 strikes). Six Orioles had gone down on strikes.
In the top of the eighth, Rasmussen retired the Orioles on two ground outs and a strikeout, but needed 16 pitches to record the three outs (the most pitches he had thrown in any inning of the game). Over the first seven innings, he needed more than ten pitches to the retire the Birds in just one frame (12 in the second). Despite striking out, Orioles’ 2B Rougned Odor made Rasmussen work – with an eight-pitch at bat in the eighth (the longest Orioles’ at bat of the contest).
Orioles’ SS Jorge Mateo, who came into the game hitting .231, put an end t0 the suspense by hitting Rasmussen’s first pitch in the ninth for a double to left. Rasmussen, still working toward his first MLB complete game and first MLB shutout, then got PH Terrin Vavra on a ground out (second-to-first), with Mateo moving to third. Next up was CF Brett Phillips. With the count 1-2, Rasmussen tossed a wild pitch for ball two, with Mateo scoring from third. Two pitches later, Phillips swung and missed (for strike three) on another wild pitch, but gained first base. That ended Rasmussen’s day. After eight perfect frames, no perfecto, no no-hitter, no shutout, no complete game – but his seventh win (four losses) on the season. For more on perfect games lost late (with two outs in the ninth or later), click here.
Rasmussen, by the way, went 3-1, 1.57 in six August starts – running his 2022 record to 9-4, 2.70. It looks like a solid future ahead.
Baseball Roundtable Extra – Space Cowboys Launch a Big Inning
On August 19, the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys faced off against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The game was tied 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Space Cowboys scored 17 runs on ten hits, nine walks and one hit-by-pitch. Eight of the nine Space Cowboy hitters reached base two or more times in the frame. The inning lasted just two minutes shy of an hour.
Note: The MLB record for runs scored in an inning is 18, set by the Chicago White Stockings in the seventh inning of 26-6 win against the Detroit Wolverines on September 6, 1883. In the seventh inning of that game, the White Stockings launched 18 hits and had three players get an MLB-record three hits in an inning – Tom Burns (two doubles and a home run); Fred Pfeffer (a double and two singles); and Ned Williamson (a double and two singles). For more on players with three-hit innings, click here.
Patrick Sandoval Channels the Master
On August 19, Angels’ southpaw Patrick Sandoval channeled Professor Greg Maddux – tossing what MLB has come to term “A Maddux” – a complete-game shutout in less than 100 pitches. It was Sandoval’s first career complete-game (four seasons, 50 starts). After the game, Sandoval joked that “Usually, I’m like through four innings on 97.” In the 1-0 win, over the Tigers in Detroit, Sandoval gave up just four hits and no walks, while fanning nine. Of his 97 pitches, 73 were strikes. Notably, nine of those pitches came in a single at bat – Tigers’ CF Riley Greene grounded out second-to-first to end a nine-pitch at bat for then final out in the sixth inning. It as the only three-ball count in Sandoval’s outing. Sandoval closed August with 5-9, 3.02 record on the season.
Donaldson Posts Ultimate Grand Slam
On August 17, Yankees’ DH Josh Donaldson joined the ranks of the MLB players who have launched an “Ultimate Grand Slam” – a Grand Slam, Walk-Off Home Run with their team down by three runs. Note: This list may change as the Negro League records from 1920-48 are fully documented and incorporated into the MLB records.
Donaldson’s blast came in the bottom of the tenth inning, with his Yankees trailing the division-rival Rays 7-4. The Rays had plated three runs in the top of the inning (placed runner, two walks and a double) off New York closer Aroldis Chapman to set up the need for the four-run shot. The Yankees opened the bottom of the inning with RF Aaron Judge placed at second base and Jalen Beeks on the mound for the Rays. New York 2B Gleyber Torres greeted Beeks (on an 0-1 pitch) with a single to right, with Judge moving to third. 1B Anthony Rizzo then walked on four pitches, loading the sacks for Donaldson, who hit a Grand Slam, Walk-off home run down the right field line.
Donaldson is no surprise on this list. He’s a long-standing legitimate power threat. The dinger was the four-time All Star’s 12th home run of the season and 263rd regular season long ball of his career. It was also his seventh career Grand slam and eighth career walk-off home run.
Below is a list of the AL/NL players who have poked an Ultimate Grand Slam since 1900. There are some expected names (like Donaldson, Travis Hafner, Adam Dunn, Babe Ruth and Roberto Clemente), and some surprises (like David Bote, Brian Bogusevic and Danny Kravitz). Note: Baseball-Almanac.c0m also credits Roger Connor of the 1881 Troy Trojans with a UGS.
Prince Albert Passes Stan the Man
Photo by Dirk DBQ
Albert Pujols, in what he has announced will be his final season as a player, proved he can still handle the dog days of August– putting up a .361-8-17 line in 23 August games for the Cardinals. During August, Pujols passed Stan Musial for second all-time in total bases. As the month ended, he stood among the top-five all time in games played (fifth); total bases (second); doubles (fifth); home runs (fifth); RBI (third); extra-base hits (third), and intentional walks (second). His career stat line was 296-694-2,191 at the close of August.
Another Notch in Pujols’ Belt
On August 29, in the third inning of a Cardinals 13-4 win over the Reds (in Cincinatti), Redbirds’ 1B Albert Pujols hit his 15th home run of the season – a two-run shot off he Reds’ Ross Detwiler. In another of those #InBaseballWeCountEverything moments, it marked the MLB-record 450th pitcher Pujols has taken deep in his 22-season MLB career.
Not a Path to the Majors You Could Bank On
In 2019, southpaw Nate Fisher had his best college season (7-3, 3.27) – in his senior year with the University of Nebraska. Surely, the scouts would come calling. Fisher, however, went undrafted and signed a minor-league deal with the Mariners. In 2019, he went 0-2, 4.10 in 12 games (six starts) at Low-A. Then, when COVID resulted in cancellation of the 2020 season and Fisher was released by the Mariners in May, the 24-year-old took a position as a commercial lending analyst at a bank in Omaha. But his baseball dream was not yet over.
In June of 2021, he signed another minor-league deal with the Mariners and put up a 3-0, 2.89 line in 21 games – working his way from rookie ball to High-A to Double-A to Triple-A. . He became a free agent that November and signed another minor-league deal (Mets) that same month. He went 1-3, 3.38 at Double- and Triple-A before an August call up to the Mets – who were facing an injury-depleted pitching staff and a heavy schedule.
On August 21, Fisher came on in the fifth inning of a game in which the Mets trailed the Phillies 7-4. He pitched three scoreless (one hit, two walks, one whiff) innings and left with the game tied 7-7. (The Mets eventually own 10-9). Just as a stint in banking interrupted his baseball career, his MLB debut was also interrupted 45-minute rain delay after his first inning of work. What lies ahead for the pitcher/banker? Hard to say, the day after his MLB debut, he was designated for assignment. Somehow, I expect he will persevere and Baseball Roundtable opes (and expects) to see him back in an MLB uniform.
Little League Classic – Big Success
On August 21, the Red Sox and Orioles traveled to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to play in the fifth Little League Classic – a game played (in the minor-league home of the Williamsport Crosscutters) in conjunction with the Little League World Series. This year’s game was won by the Orioles 5-3, but the real highlight was the interaction between the Little Leaguers and their big-league counterparts – autographs, selfies, high-fives, fist bumps, impromptu games of catch between major leaguers and little leaguers, the sharing of big and little baseball stories and, of course, the cardboard sliding down the hill beyond the center field fence of Lamade (Little League) Field. As is usual for this great event – a good time was had by all. Of all the “events” MLB has created recently to boost the game (think Field of Dreams Game and Players Weekend), the Little League Classic is by far my favorite.
Three IS a Crowd
On August 22, the Twins turned their second triple play of 2022. (There have been four triple-killings this season). It came in the top of the fourth inning of a Twins 2-1 loss to the Rangers. At the time, the game was scoreless and Twins’ starter Sonny Gray had given up a single to 2B Marcus Semien, followed by a four-pitch walk to SS Corey Seager. The next batter, 1B Nathaniel Lowe, lined the first pitch he saw from Gray to Twins’ 1B Jose Miranda. The runners were moving on the hot smash and Miranda tagged first to double off Seager) and tossed to shortstop Carlos Correa, who stepped on the second base bag to retire Semien.
Three for Two
The Twins remain the only team to turn two triple plays in one game. They came on July 17, 1990, in a 1-0 Twins’ loss to the Red Sox in Boston. Both triple plays (in the fourth and eighth innings) were the most traditional of triple plays – ground ball third base (Gary Gaetti, steps on bag); relay to second (Al Newman); relay to to first (Kent Hrbek).
More #InBaseballWeCountEverything
On August 24, Mariners’ 24-year-old rookie right-hander George Kirby started against the Nationals in Seattle. And, he got off to quite a “start.” Kirby opened the game by throwing 24 straight strikes (before his first called ball). According to STATS, that represents a record number of strikes to start off a game (at least since the initiation of pitch tracking in 1988). Kirby did not throw a called ball until he was facing his eleventh batter – with two out in the bottom of the third. Over that span, he fanned three batters, and gave up five singles and one run. While the Mariners eventually lost the game 3-1, Kirby had a solid outing – seven innings (eight hits, one run, no walks and nine strikeouts). He threw 85 pitches (69 for strikes).
Kirby, a first round pick in the 2019 MLB draft (out of Elon University), has a well-earned reputation as a strike thrower. In 30 minor-league outings, he went 7-4, 2.26 and walked just 21 batters in 117 1/3 innings (139 strikeouts). Thus far in 2022, his MLB record is 5-3, 3.32, with just 13 walks (102 whiffs) in 97 2/3 innings.
Baseball Roundtable Extra … Bartolo Colon Goes on the Record on Strike(s)
On April 18, 2012, the Oakland A’s Bartolo Colon started on the mound against Ervin Santana and the Angels. During one stretch of that game, won by A’s 6-0, Colon threw 38 consecutive strikes. (The longest such streak since pitch-by-pitch data began being accurately tracked in 1988.) Were all 38 offerings in the strike zone? Perhaps not, but all those pitches that were outside the zone were close enough that the batters offered at them.
Overall, the streak lasted from the second pitch of the fifth inning until the seventh pitch of the eight frame. Surprisingly, Colon struck out just two batters during the streak. He also gave up two hits during the streak of strikes. A few notes:
- 35 of the 38 pitches were fastballs (two change ups and one slider).
- There was only one swing and miss (17 strikes looking).
- There were ten foul fouls and ten balls put in play.
Another Mariners’ Shining Rookie
On August 24, Mariners’ 21-year-old rookie CF Julio Rodriguez popped his 20th home run of the season (the only Seattle score in a 3-1 loss to the Nationals). Matched up with his 23 stolen bases, Rodriguez became just the fourth AL/NL rookie to notch a 20-20 season. The others are: Mitchell Page, 1977 A’s (21 home runs/42 steals); Marty Cordova, 1985 Twins (24 HR/20 SB); Ellis Burks, 1987 Red Sox (20 HR/27 SB). Rodriguez ended August with a .266-21-65, 23 stolen bases stat line.
More Old Guys Rule
Being and “old guy” myself, I always enjoy it when some of MLB’s most veteran players make the highlights (like Nelson Cruz, Justin Verlander, Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright). Well, you can add Rich Hill to that list. On August 27, the 42-year-old southpaw – in his 18th MLB season – picked up his sixth win of 2022 (6-5, 4.32) – going seven scoreless innings (three hits, one walk and 11 strikeouts) in a Rays 5-1 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. In the process, he became the first Red Sox pitcher in his 40’s to record at least 11 whiffs in a game.
They Call Him the Streak
From August 3 through August 27, Rangers’ outfielder Adolis Garcia put up a 21- game hitting streak – going 30-for-95 (.316), with three home runs and 16 RBI.
Decisions… Decisions
On August 27, Nationals’ starting pitcher Patrick Corbin pitched six solid innings (four hits, two runs – one earned – one walk and five strikeouts) and picked up the win as the Nationals topped the Reds in Washington D.C. It was Corbin’s fifth win against 17 losses. Why does it make the Highlights? It was the first win by a Nationals’starting pitcher since July 6; an MLB-record 43 consecutive games without a win from a starter. Over that time, the Nationals’ starters went 0-26. Here’s a breakdown. (Note: decisions and earned run averages are only as starters, an asterisk indicates the pitcher also had relief appearances during the streak.
- Patrick Corbin … 0-7, 9.82 in eight starts
- Anibel Sanchez – 0-5, 5.72 in eight starts
- Paolo Espino … 0-4, 5.53 in nine starts
- Erik Fedde … 0-3, 7.50 in four starts
- Josiah Gray … 0-3, 6.94 in seven starts
- Cory Abbott* … 0-2, 5.78 in four starts
- Joan Adon* … 0-1, 9.00 in one start
- Cade Cavalli… 0-1, 14.54 in one start
Who got that July 6 win? That was Josiah Gray, who fanned 11 batters in six innings (four hits, two earned runs, one walk) in a 3-2 win over the Phillies.
Soon to Join the 60’s Club
On August 29, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, in a 4-3 New York loss to the Angels, rapped his 50th home run of the 2022 season – making him one of just two Yankees to have multiple 50-homer seasons (the others – Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle are fairly well known) – and putting him in good position to join Ruth and Roger Maris as the only Yankees with 60-homer campaigns. Here are your players with at least one 60 or more homer seasons: Barry Bonds (73 in 2001); Mark McGwire (70 in 1998, 65 in 1999); Sammy Sosa (66 in 1998, 64 in 2001, 63 in 1999); Roger Maris (61 in 1961); Babe Ruth 60 in 1927). Note: Judge ended August with 51 home runs on the season.
Jhoan Duran – On Fire
On August 29, Twins 24-year-old rookie reliever Jhoan Duran – known for his 103 mph+ fastball – unleashed 100.8 MPH “splinker” (his combination of a splitter/sinker) – reported by STATCAST to be the first documented 100-MPH+ “offspeed” pitch of the pitch-tracking era. Duran, by the way, pitched the seventh inning of the game – a Twins 4-2 win over the Red Sox – retiring the heart of the Boston batting order on two strikeouts and a ground out. On the season, the rookie is 2-3, 1.91 with six saves and 73 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings.
Probably Won’t See That Again
On August 31, the Phillies closed out the month with a bang – collecting 22 hits and scoring 18 runs – in an 18-2 win over the Diamondbacks,. We may see 18 runs again, but these 18 tallies came without the benefit of a single home run. A few other notes:
- Nine Phillies had multi-hit games;
- Ten Phillies drove in at least one run;
- Ten Phillies scored at least one run;
_______________________________________
——-Individual Statistical Leaders for August 2022———
AVERAGE (60 August at bats minimum)
National League – Jeff McNeil, Mets (.385); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (.364); Albert Pujols, Cardinals (.361)
American League – Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers (.389); Eloy Jimenez, White Sox (.371); Alex Bregman Astros (.362)
The lowest August average (among players with at least 60 at bats in the month) belonged to the Guardians’ Myles Straw at .093 (7-for-75).
HOME RUNS
National League – Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (9); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (8); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (9)
American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (9); Eugenio Saurez, Mariners (9); Shohei Ohtani (8)
The Cardinals’ Albert Pujols had the highest August slugging percentage (among players with at least 60 at bats) at .803. The AL leader was the Astros’ Alex Bregman at .681.
RUNS BATTED IN
National League – Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (29); Manny Machado, Padres (28); Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (27)
American League – Randy Arozarena, Rays (23); Eugenio Suarez (23); four with 22
HITS
National League – Jeff McNeil, Mets (42); Manny Machado, Padres (40); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (39)
American League – Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers (42); Jose Abreu, White Sox (37); Eloy Jimenez, White Sox (36)
The White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez led MLB (players (with at least 60 August at bats) in on-base percentage at .461. The NL leader was the Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt at at .448.
DOUBLES
National League – Manny Machado, Padres (14); Jeff McNeil, Mets (13); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (12); Michael Harris, Braves (12)
American League – Alex Verdugo, Red Sox (12); Jose Altuve, Astros (12); Yandy Diaz, Rays (10)
TRIPLES
National League – Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals (3); J.T. Realmuto, Phillies (3); six with two
American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (3); Magneuris Sierra, Angels (3); six with two
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts and Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado tied for the MLB lead in August extra-base hits with 21 each.
STOLEN BASES
National League – Jake McCarthy, Diamondbacks (8); Starling Marte, Mets (6); Josh Rojas, Diamondbacks (6)
American League –Bubba Thompson, Rangers (8); Andres Gimenez, Guardians (7); Adolis Garcia, Rangers (7); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (7); Randy Arozarena, Rays (7)
The Diamondbacks’ Jake McCarthy and Rangers’ Bubba Thompson was eight-for-eight in August steal attempts.
WALKS
National League – Juan Soto, Padres (25); Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals, (23); Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (19)
American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (25); Adley Rutschman, Orioles (22); Carlos Correa, Twins (18)
The Padres’ Juan Soto led in walks/strikeouts ratio (among batters with at least 60 August at bats) at 1.92 … 25 walks versus 13 whiffs in 24 games.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
National League – Jose Barrero, Reds (41); Oneil Cruz, Pirates (41); Dansby Swanson, Braves (35); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (35)
American League – Riley Greene, Tigers (41); Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (35); Adolis Garcia, Rangers (35)
PITCHING VICTORIES
National League – Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (5-0); Chris Bassitt, Mets (4-0); Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers (4-0): Ryan Hensley, Cardinals (4-0); Jordan Montgomery , Cardinals (4-0); Julio Urias, Dodgers (4-1); Kyle Wright, Braves (4-10; Jacob deGrom, Mets (4-1)
American League – Framber Valdez, Astros (5-0); George Kirby, Mariners (4-0); Cal Quantrill, Guardians (4-0); Michael Wacha, Red Sox (4-0); Lucas Giolito, White Sox (4-2); Marco Gonzalez Mariners (4-2)
EARNED RUN AVERAGE (at least 25 innings pitched)
National League – Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (0.61); Drew Smyly, Cubs (0.90); Julio Urias, Dodgers (0.90)
American League – Patrick Sandoval, Angels (1.39); Drew Rasmussen, Rays (1.57); Shane Bieber, Guardians (1.62)
Among pitchers with at least four August starts or 20 August innings, the Diamondback s’ Madison Bumgarner had the highest ERA at 9.23 (27 earned runs in 26 1/3 innings in five starts).
STRIKEOUTS
National League – Jacob deGrom, Mets (55 / 36 1/3 innings); Blake Snell, Padres (46 / 32 innings); Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (44 / 40 innings); Max Scherzer, Mets (44 / 40 2/3 innings)
American League – Triston McKenzie, Guardians (43 / 38 2.3 IP); Lance Lynn, White Sox (42 / 36 2/3 IP); Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (42 / 36 2/3 innings); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (42 / 39 1/3 IP)
SAVES
National League – Daniel Bard, Rockies (6); Edwin Diaz, Mets (6); Kenley Jansen, Braves (6)
American League – Lam Hendriks, White Sox (9); Felix Bautista,Orioles (7); Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (7)
WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched – 25 innings minimum)
National League – Jacob deGrom, Mets (0.55); Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (0.75); Freddy Peralta, Brewers (0.81)
American League – Drew Rasmussen, Rays (0.67); Cal Quantrill, Guardians (0.76); Justin Verlander, Astros (0.79)
__________________________________
If the season ended August 31, the post-season teams would be:
National League: Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals Wild Cards: Braves, Phillies, Padres
American League: Astros, Yankees, Guardians Wild Cards: Rays, Mariners, Blue Jays
—–Statistical Leaders Through August 2022 ———-
RUNS SCORED … Average 561
National League – Dodgers (691); Braves (646); Cardinals (644)
American League – Yankees (652); Blue Jays (600); Astros (593)
The fewest runs (through August) were scored by the Tigers – 431. The Pirates tallied the fewest runs in the NL at 463.
AVERAGE … Average .243
National League – Dodgers (.261); Rockies (.261); Cardinals (.258)
American League – Blue Jays (.260); White Sox (.260); Red Sox (.258)
The lowest team average through August belonged to the A’s at .215. The Pirates were at the bottom of the NL at .220.
HOME RUNS … Average 139
National League – Braves (194); Brewers (181); Dodgers (170)
American League – Yankees (205); Astros (172); Rangers (159)
The Tigers had the fewest home runs through August at 76 … the only team under 100 dingers.
The Dodgers led MLB in slugging percentage through July at .449. The Blue Jays led the AL at .426. The average tam sluggiung percentage was .395.
STOLEN BASES … Average 66
National League – Marlins (108); Phillies (86); Cubs (86)
American League – Rangers (101); Royals (85) ; Guardians (83)
The Twins stole the fewest sacks through August (27 in 42 attempts). The Rockies were at the bottom of the NL with 36 in 52 attempts. The White Sox stole 41 bases through August and were caught just eight times.
WALKS DRAWN … Average 399
National League – Dodgers (485); Padres (476); Brewers (467)
American League Yankees (500); Mariners (464); Astros (439)
The Dodgers led MLB in on-base percentage through August at .337. The Yankees led the AL at .323. The A’s had MLB’s lowest OBP through August at .280.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS … Average 1,086
National League – Braves (1,211); Pirates (1,205); Reds (1,145); Cubs (1,157)
American League – Angels (1,264); Tigers (1,140); Rays (1,134)
Guardians’ batters fanned the fewest times through August (887).
Earned Run Average … Average 3.98
National League – Dodgers (2.82); Mets (3.51); Braves (3.53)
American League – Astros (3.03); Yankees (3.31); Rays (3.32)
Two teams had ERAs through August of 5.00 or higher – Nationals (5.11) and Rockies (5.05).
STRIKEOUTS … Average 1,086
National League – Braves (1,245); Mets (1,235); Brewers (1,217)
American League – Astros (1,182); Yankees (1,172); White Sox (1,157)
The Braves, Mets and Brewers averaged an MLB-best 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings through August. The Astros averaged an AL-best 9.2. Eight teams average at least nine whiffs per nine innings.
FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED… Average 399
National League – Dodgers (320); Giants (356); Mets (357)
American League – Rays (304); Blue Jays (342); Yankees (342)
The Rays walked an MLB-lowest 2.4 batter per nine innings through August. The Dodgers were best in the NL at 2.5. The Royals walked an MLB-worst 3.9 batters per nine frames.
SAVES … Average 33
National League – Braves (44); Brewers (43); Padres (42)
American League – Astros (41); White Sox (39); Yankees (38);
Bonus Stats:
- The Nationals gave up an MLB-high 195 home runs through August. By contrast, the Astros and Giants gave up an MLB-low 111.
- There were 26 complete games through August. The Marlins had the most complete games at four. Sixteen of the 30 MLB teams have yet to record a complete game.
- There have been 275 team shutouts (ten of those single-pitcher complete game shutouts). The Mets have the most shutouts with 17.
- The Mariners committed the fewest errors through August (47) and had the top fielding percentage at .990. The Pirates committed an MLB-high 95 fielding miscues through August.
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