March/April Wrap – A .400 hitter, Complete-Game Shutouts, a Long Ball Barrage in Mexico City and Some Sweet and Not-So-Sweet 17 Parties

May 1, 2023 by

It’s May 1 and April is now in the MLB’s rear view mirror. That means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s first  2023 monthly Wrap Up (for March/April)  – a look at The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the month, the Trot Index, March/April’s leaderboards and the stats and stories that caught Baseball Roundtable’s eye during March/April. And, there was plenty going on this past month. (Side note:  Going forward, when I refer to month, I’ll be referencing March 30-April 30).  Here are just a few attention-grabbers (at least for me):

  • One qualifying player hitting raking at a .400+ pace for the month;
  • Four pitchers each notching five wins for the month;
  • Two players tying the MLB record for  hits in an Opening Day game;
  • Seven complete games, with five  pitchers tossing complete-game shutouts;
  • The first-ever “cycle” by a Marlins’ batter;
  • One player tying an MLB record by launching two home runs in an inning;
  • A  career- and season-opening 12-game hitting streak (by a player who was sent down to Triple-A before the month was over);
  • A player with an MLB record-tying five extra base hits in a game;
  • A game that featured home runs by ten different players;
  • Nolan Arenado’s 300th career home run and Clayton Kershaw’s 200th career victory; and
  • A minor-league no-hitter that was lost – by the team tossing the no-hitter – by a 7-5 score

Not all the baseball highlights came at the MLB, or even professional, level.  So, this month, I’ll break with tradition (The Wrap Up usually opens with The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month) and start off  with a Baseball Roundtable (College) Highlight of the Month – an event The Roundtable deems as so dramatic that it belongs at the top of this post.

Note:  Some of the MLB records referenced may change as Negro Leagues’ stats from 1920-48 are fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record books. 

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Highlight of the Month … A No-Hitter and a Cycle Not Just in the Same Game, but by the Same Player

On April 7, Brady Ware of the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds threw a no-hitter – fanning 11 –  in the second game of a doubleheader against Drury University.  (As part of the doubleheader, it was a seven-inning game.)  Ware also served as DH in the game, and went four-for-four, with two runs and five RBI – and, just as important, hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and home run). Indianapolis, by the way, won by the lucky score of 13-0.

Now, that Wares Well – a Cycle and a No-Hitter.

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BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS AND PITCHERS

OF THE MONTH

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Baseball Roundtable Player 0f the Month – Ronald Acuna , RF, Braves

Photo: Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Braves’ leadoff hitter, Ronald Acuna Jr., was a driving force behind the Braves’ hold on the number-one spot in the NL East.  He was fourth in the  NL  in base hits (38 – the three co-leaders had 39) and led the league runs scored (23), while hitting .352 (second-best in the NL), with four home runs, 14 RBI and a league-topping 13 stolen bases (in 15 attempts). Acuna’s month included 123 multi-hit games (five three-hit contests).

Honorable Mentions: You can’t leave out the Marlins’ new 2B Luis Arraez, who hit an MLB-best (among qualifiers) .438 for the month and on April 11 became the first Marlin to hit for the Cycle. The Dodgers’  rookie CF James Outman also deserves some props, staring the season at .292-7-20. I also took a long look at Dodgers’ 3B Matt Muncy, who led MLB with 11 home runs, while hitting .238, with 22 RBI. There were a number of other strong RBI men (nine NL-ers with 20 or more RBI), but Muncy’s 22 walks (second in the NL) and .408 on-base percentage gave him an edge.

Baseball Roundtable Pitcher of the Month – Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Dodgers & Zac Gallen, RHP Diamondbacks

Arturo Pardavila III on Flickr, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Dodgers’ veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw tied for the MLB lead in wins for the month – going 5-1, with a tidy 1.89 ERA. He also threw an ML-best 38 innings, fanning 41 batters (fifth in the league) versus just five walks. Kershaw held hitters to a .175 average  and his 0.76 WHIP was the lowest among NL qualifiers.

The Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen went 4-1, 2.15 for the month, led the NL with 51 strikeouts (just five walks) and put up a  0.77 WHIP (second – by 0.01 to Kershaw –  among NL qualifiers). He also pitched just 1/3 inning less than Kershaw and held hitters to a .178 average, as compared to Kershaw’s .175. Yes, Kershaw had a slight statistical edge, but Gallen get extra credit for ending the month with a still-active streak of 28 scoreless innings (over four starts). From April 10 through April 26, he gave up just 11 hits in 27 innings, while fanning 41 and walking just one.

Honorable Mentions:  Braves’ 24-year-old RHP Spencer Strider went 3-0, 1.80 in five starts, and fanned 49 (versus 11 walks) in 30 innings.  Cubs’ southpaw Justin Steele also deserves a mention, after going 4-0, 1.49 in five starts.

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

Baseball Roundtable Player of the Month – Randy Arozarena, LF, Rays

Photo: All-Pro Reels on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational (Crop), CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Given their dominance, you had to know a Ray would be in this spot.  For March/April, it’s Randy Arozarena, who batted right in the middle of that powerful lineup. Arozarena hit .327 for the month (second among AL qualifiers), with seven home runs and 28 RBI (second in the AL).  His 36 hits were third in the league and  his 21 runs fifth.

Honorable Mentions: Have to give a shout out to Rangers’ RF Adolis Garcia, who led all of MLB with 30 March/April RBI (.267 average, eight home runs).  I also liked Orioles’ SS Jorge Mateo, who hit .347-6-17, with 21 runs scored and 10 steals in 22 games – and struck out just 12 times. (Mateo did not have enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting average leader board.)

Photo: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball Roundtable Pitcher of the Month – Gerrit Cole, RHP, Yankees

No surprise here,  Cole always seems to be near the top of the list.  In March/April, Cole went 5-0 (one of just four MLB pitchers with five wins), with a 1.11 ERA (second among AL qualifiers).  He also led the AL in innings pitched (40 2/3) and was fifth in strikeouts with 44. On April 15, Cole threw a complete-game shutout, as the Yankees topped the Twins 4-0.

Honorable Mentions: Wow?  Several to mention here.  Like Cole, Rays’ lefty Shane McClanahan went 5-0 in six starts. He put up a 2.12 ERA and fanned 42 in 34 innings.  You also can’t go without giving a nod to Angels’ RHP Shohei Ohtani. The P/DH tied for second in the league in whiffs with 46, while going 4-0, 1.85.  His 0.82 WHIP was fourth among AL qualifiers. And, finally, there is a  pair of Twins: RHP Sonny Gray, with the lowest ERA among qualifiers (0.77) and a 4-0 record in six starts; and RHP Joe Ryan, who went 5-0, 2.81 in five starts (with a 0.81 WHIP).

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BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE SURPRISE OF THE MONTH – BRYSON STOTT

Here, I am going to go with 25-year-old Phillies’ SS Bryson Stott, who set a new Phillies’ franchise record with a 17-game, season-opening hitting streak.  During his streak, Stott hit .382 (29-for-76).  Stott closed out April with a .317 average, leading MLB in hits (tied) with 39. It’s not a total surprise, Stott was a .340 hitter in three college seasons (University of Nevada-Las Vegas) and hit an even .300 in 169 minor-league games.  In 2022, he hit .234-10-49 in 127 MLB games.  It looks like, in 2023, he’s delivering on the promise the Philllies saw in  the 2019 first-round draft pick,  More on the streak in the Highlights Section.

Honorable Mentions:  Luis Arreaz, Marlins.  Yes, he’s the 2022 AL batting  champ, but .438 and the Marlins’ first-ever Cycle – didn’t expect that.  I was also surprised by Cubs’ southpaw Justin Steele, who came into the 2023 season with an 8-11, 3.53 MLB record (two seasons) and a 18-23, 3.44 record in seven minor-league campaigns. In March/April, he was 4-0, 1.49 for the Cubs. Steele was a fifth-round draft choice in 2019, out of George County High School. He did show a bit of what he was capable of in 2022, putting up a 3.18 ERA  in 119 innings for the Cubs (despite a 4-7 record).  Looks like he’s doubled down in 2023.  And, of course, there’s Dodgers’ rookie James Outman (already noted in the NL Player of the Month Honorable Mentions) at .292-7-20.

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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE

Through April 30  36.1 percent of the MLB season’s 32,143 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 (23.0%); walks (8.8%); home runs (3.0%); HBP (1.2%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits 7,403 – 7,057.

The 36.1 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 Long and Short of It … The Saga of the Pitch Clock, Batter Time Oit Limit and Pick-Off Limits

Through April 30, the average length of a 2023 MLB game was 2:36.  The last season in which the average MLB game ran under three hours was 2015 (2:56). 

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If the season ended April 30, your playoff teams would be:

American Leagues:  Rays, Twins, Rangers:  Wild Cards: Orioles; Blue Jays, Astros.

National League:  Pirates; Braves; Diamondbacks or Dodgers (Diamondbacks and Dodgers tied for West Division lead) . Wild Cards: Diamondbacks or Dodgers, Brewers, Cubs, Mets.

The stars of March/April  were the Tampa Bays Rays, who came out of the gate with by winning their first 14 games of the season (tying the MLB record for a season-opening streak).  For more on the streak, click here.  The Rays also homered in each of their first 22 games – another season-opening MLB record. The Rays, in short, were dominant as they ran out to a 23-6 record. On offense, they led MLB in average (.281), home runs (61), runs scored (195) – as well as in on-base percentage (.351) and slugging percentage (.528). If that wasn’t enough, they had MLB’s lowest Earned Run Average (3.10) and WHIP (1.11) – and gave up the fewest runs (92).  The Rays had seven players with at least 15 RBI in March April – in an offense led by LF Randy Arozarena (.327-7-28), RF Josh Lowe (.342-5-18), 1B Yandy Diaz (.319-7-16) and SS Wander Franco (.300-5-17). The mound staff was led by Shane McLanahan (5-0, 2.12 in five starts) and Zac Elfin (3-0, 3.00).

Location – Location – Location

Every team in  the AL East was over  .500, while the AL Central had just one team over .500. 

There were a couple of surprises in the AL.  The Orioles (83-79, in fourth place, a year ago), got off to a 17-8 start, led by the likes of SS Jorge Mateo (.347-6-17, with ten steals); C Andy Rutschman (.291-4-17); CF Cedric Mullins (.255-3-21, with 11 steals); and 1B Ryan Mountcastle (.244-6-21). On the mound, they looked to Kyle Gibson (4-0, 3.93) and a bullpen that contributed ten wins and nine  saves. (and MLB’s lowest bullpen ERA for the month at 2.86). The Orioles were fifth in the AL in run scored and  and gave up the eighth-fewest runs.

Texas also surprised quite a few folks, with an offense that trailed only the Rays in runs scored (174 to the Rays 188).  RF Adolis Garcia and 2B Marcus Semien finished first and fifth in the AL, respectively, in RBI for the month (30 and 23).. The team ERA was 3.43 – good for third in the AL.  They got solid work out of the bullpen, particularly from closer Will Smith (1.93 ERA in ten games) and Jose Leclerc (0.93 ERA in ten games). Martin Perez led the starters at 4-1, 2.41.The Rangers, 68-94 in 20-22, stood at 17-11 at the close of April action.

Then, of course, there are the  Oakland A’s, with a hard-to-imagine 7.72 ERA. Right now, the only bright spot for the A’s may be DH Brent Rooker,  who came into the season with a .200-10-23 line over 81 MLB games and finished April at  .353-9-22.  And, we can’t forget the White Sox, who suffered through a ten-game losing streak (April 21-29), when they were outscored 70-25.

Over in the National League, as expected, the Braves were at the top of the East – with RF Ronald Acuna, Jr. on an MVP pace (.352-4-14, with 23 runs and 13 steals), 1B Matt Olson and 2B Ozzie Albies each driving in 20+  runs, and Spencer Strider and Max Fried combining for five wins and a 1.26 ERA.

The Pirates (62-100 a year ago) were a surprise atop the Central at 20-9. The Pirates were number-one in the NL in runs scored (156) and had given up he fourth-fewest tallies. Pittsburgh’s offense was led by LF Bryan Reynolds (.302-5-23). Veteran Andrew McCutchen, back in a Pirates’ uniform, contributed .256-5-14). The pitching staff was led by Mitch Keller (3-0, 3.53 in six starts) and closer David Bednar was lights out (2-0, 1.75 with nine  saves in 13 appearances).   Equally surprising was the fact that the favored Cardinals were at the bottom of the Division.

The Marlins closed out April with a 16-13 record. N0tably, they were 10-0 in one-run games.  

The NL West also surprised, with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers tied for the lead at 16-13.  Arizona boasts a balanced offense, with six players posting between 11 and 19 RBI for the month and seven scoring between 11 and 19  runs.  One player to watch is 22-year-old outfielder Corbin Carroll, who went .309-4-9, with 19 runs scored and 10 steals in March/April. On the mound, Zac Gallen (4-1, 2.15) leads the way.  The Diamondbacks are doing it more with offense, however.  They were fifth in the NL in runs scored, but and gave up the third-most runs.  The Dodgers were  second in runs scored in the NL,  but a surprising (especially for the Dodgers) eighth in ERA at the close of April.  LA was also dead last in the NL in batting average for March/April at .224; but first in home runs at 47.

——-Team  Statistical Leaders for March/April 2023 ———-

 

RUNS SCORED … MLB Average 130

National League – Pirates (156); Cubs (146);  Dodgers (146)

American League – Rays (195); Rangers (178); Red Sox (163)

The fewest  runs (through April 30) were scored by the Tigers – 88. The Marlins tallied the fewest runs in the NL at 99. The only other team under 100 was the Royals at 96. 

AVERAGE  …  Average .247

National League – Cubs (.276); Phillies (.272); Diamondbacks (.265)

American League – Rays (.281); Rangers (.259); Blue Jays (.258)

The lowest team average through April belonged to the Mariners at .219. The Dodgers were the lowest in the NL at .224.

HOME RUNS …  Average 32

National League – Dodgers (47); Giants (46); Braves (41)

American League –  Rays (61); Angels (39); Rangers (38); Twins (38)

The Nationals had the fewest home runs through April at 15. The Guardians were at the bottom of the AL at 17.

The Rays  led MLB in slugging percentage through April  at .528.  The Pirates led the NL at .449.  The average team slugging percentage was .405.

STOLEN BASES … Average 20

National League – Pirates (41); Marlins (27); Cubs (25); Diamondbacks (25)

American League – Guardians (35); Orioles (30); Athletics (29)

The Twins stole the fewest sacks through April – just four in seven attempts..   The Rockies were at the bottom of the NL with six in eight attempts. 

WALKS DRAWN … Average 94

National League –   Dodgers (130); Pirates (113); Padres (113)

American League  Orioles (109); Guardians (103); Red Sox (103)

The Rays led MLB  in on-base percentage through April  at .351. The Cubs led the NL  at .347.  The Royals had MLB’s lowest  OBP through April  at .279.  

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS … Average 247

National League – Giants (289); Dodgers (275); Phillies (265); Brewers (265)

American League – Mariners (279); Twins (275); Athletics (271)

Nationals’ batters fanned the fewest times through April  (189) – the only team under 200.

Earned Run Average … Average 4.35

National League – Braves (3.37); Brewers (3.41); Pirates (3.55)

American League – Rays (3.10); Astros (3.22); Rangers (3.43)

The Athletics  had an ERA through April of 7.72.  Ouch.  Others over 5.00 were: White Sox (5.96); Royals (5.49); and Rockies (5.36).

STRIKEOUTS … Average 247 

National League – Reds (2655); Phillies (264); Cardinals (264)

American League –  Twins (285); White Sox (285); Yankees (277)

The White Sox averaged  an MLB-best 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings through April. The Reds averaged an AL-best 9.8.  The MLB team average was 8.9.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED… Average 94

National League  – Giants (74); Dodgers (74); Braves (83)

American League – Twins (76); Rangers (77); Astros (79)

The Twins and Dodgers walked an MLB-lowest 2.6 batters per nine innings through April.  The Athletics walked walked an MLB-worst 5.1 batters per nine frames.

SAVES … Average 7

National League – Pirates (13); Padres (11); Brewers (9)

American League – Guardians (11); Angels (11); Blue Jays (11)

Bonus Stat:

The Athletics gave up an MLB-high 50 home runs through April – The Rays gave up an MLB-low 19. .

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March/April Highlights

 

Adley Rutschman’s First Opener (march 30) Officials “On/In the Books” … Springer Springs into Action

Photo: Keith Allison: Flickr, e-mail, Twitter, Instagram, website, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Orioles’ C Adley Rutschman – who made his MLB debut last May – played in his first Opening Day game March 30, as the Orioles faced the Red Sox in Boston.  Batting in the number-two hole, Rutschman got his season off to a great start.  Not only did he record the Orioles’ first hit of 2023, he also was credited with the team’s first home run, first run scored and first RBI of the new season.

More notably, the 25-year-old went five-for-five (four singles and the homer), with a walk, in the game. He had one run scored and four RBI. His five hits tied the  MLB record for hits in an Opening Day game.  The Orioles, by the way, needed all of Rutschman’s production, as they squeaked by the Red Sox 10-9. Rutschman, who went .254-13-42 (113 games) in his rookie season, ended April at .291-4-17, with a league-leading 22 walks.

Veteran outfielder George Springer (tenth MLB season) also got off to a good start – tying the mark for most hits in an Opening Day game. Batting leadoff and playing RF, Springer went five-for-six (all singles), with four runs scored and one RBI.  As with the Orioles and Rutschman, the Blue Jays needed all of Springer’s production – as they won (over the Cardinals) by a 10-9 score.

Sweet 17 Party … Oh, I Mean Parties

The Rockies opened the season March 30, against the Padres in San Diego and (according to the Elias Sports Bureau) were the first team in the modern era (since 1900) to record at least 17 hits, while also fanning at least seventeen times in a nine-inning game. The Rockies, by the way, won the contest 7-2. RF Kris Bryant, batting second for Colorado, was the only starter not to fan. (Bryant went three-for-five, with a double, run scored and an RBI.)  1B C.J. Cron was the offensive hero for Colorado, going two-for-four, with two homers and five RBI (he fanned once). Six Rockies fanned two or more times, led by leadoff hitter CF Yonathan Diaz, with four whiffs (all swinging) in five plate appearances.

The strikeout artists were Padres’ starter Blake Snell (nine whiffs in 4 1/3 innings) and relievers Nabil Crismatt (2K / 1 2/3 IP), Domingo Tapia (4K / 2 IP) and Steven Wilson (2K/ 1IP).

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There was a not-so-sweet seventeen party in Oakland on April 14, as A’s pitcher gave up 17 runs – on 11 hits and 17 walks – in a 17-6 loss to the Mets.  In the game, the Mets has two six-run innings that featured just one hit in each – each time by SS Francisco Lindor – who picked up seven RBI in the two frames.

In the second inning of the game, the Mets tallied six runs on just one hit off A’s starter James Kaprielian.  It went like this: DH Daniel Vogelbach, walk; 3B Eduardo Escobar (line out to right); 2B Luis Guillorme, walk; C Tomas Nido, walk; CF Brandon Nimmo, walk (forcing in a run); RF Starling Marte, walk (forcing in a run); SS Francisco Lindor, Grand Slam home run; 1B Pete Alonso, strikeout, LF Jeff McNeil, pop out to second.

Apparently wanting g to prove the inning wasn’t a fluke, the Mets tallied another six runs on one hit in the fifth inning (off A’s hurlers Hogan Harris and Chad Smith).  This one went: Vogelbach, ground out to second; Escobar walk; Guillorme, walk; Nido, walk; Nimmo, hit-by-pitch, forcing in a run; Marte walk, forcing in a run; Lindor, double, scoring three; Alonso, walk; McNeil, hit-by-pitch; Vogelbach, fielder’s  choice (force at second), bringing in a run; Escobar strikeout.

Another Sweet Seventeen

Seventeen was also pretty sweet for Phillies 25-year-old  2B  Bryson Stott, who opened the 2023 season with a seventeen-game hitting streak – the longest-ever seasoning-opening streak for a Philllies’ player.   During the streak, Stott went 29-for-76 (.382), with one home run, six RBI and five runs scored.  Stott had 11 multi-hit games over the course of the streak. Stott clearly was taking an aggressive approach.  During the streak, he walked just once and struck out 18 times. The streak ended in the second game of an April 18 doubleheader, with Stott going zero-for-four in a 3-0 loss to the White Sox (the Philllies has just one hit  against a quartet of White Sox pitchers). Stott was a first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft (out of the University of Nevada). A .340 hitter in three college seasons, Stott hit .300 in 169 minor league games before making his MLB debut with the Phillies on April 8, 2022. He hit .234-10-49 in 127 games for the Phillies last season.  As of April 30, of this season, his stat line was .317-2-9.

George Sisler holds the modern ERA (post-1900) record for the longest season-opening hitting streak (34-games) for the 1925 St, Louis Browns. During his streak, Sisler went .399-1-18.He finished the 1925 season at .345-12-105. 

Effectively Wild?

Photo: Charles Edward Miller: Flickr, website, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On April 1, Cardinals’ starter Jack Flaherty pitched five no-hit, no-run innings versus the Blue Jays – as the Cardinals topped Toronto 4-1 in St. Louis. That does not mean there wasn’t a lot of traffic on the bases. His five innings of work included seven walks and one hit batter – as he threw 49 strikes and 46 balls. His only clean inning  (1-2-3) was his fifth and final frame.

Counting up, not Down

On April 3, as the Yankees topped the Phillies 8-1 in New York, Yankee 2B Gleyber Torres hit his 100th career home run (in his 580th game). In five plate appearances, he had a single, home run and three steals.

On April 11, Twins’ DH Byron Buxton joined the 100-home run club, with a second-inning, two-run shot off the White Sox’ Lance Lynn. It came in  his 595th MLB game and helped the Twins to a 4-3 win.

On  April 28, Twins’ 2B Jorge Polanco joined the 100-HR Club, poking a three-run shot in  the fourth inning of a Twins’ 8-6 win over the Royals. The long ball came in Polanco’s 759th MLB game.

Lets’ NOT Turn the Lineup Over

On April 3,  The Padres came into the bottom of the ninth (against the Diamondbacks), trailing 4-3, with their numbers eight, nine and one batters slated to step to the plate.  David Dahl was called on to pinch hit for number-eight hitter RF Jose Azocar – and took reliever Scott McGough deep to left center for a game-tying blast.  Next up was number-nine hitter Ha-Seong Kim who blasted a walk-off winner into the left field corner.   More  #InBaseballWeCountEverything, it marked the first time a team got back-to-back, tying and walk-off homers out of the number-eight and number-nine holes in the order.    (A tip of the hat to AJ Cassavell, MLB.com for that tidbit.).

Now, That’s Old School

Photo: Ryan Casey Aguinaldo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On April 4, Marlins’ starter (and 2022 Cy Young Award winner) Sandy Alcantara, in his second start of the season, went truly “Old School,”  throwing a 100-pitch, three-hit, one-walk- five-strikeout, complete-game shutout, as his Marlins topped the Twins 1-0 in Miami. Want more “Old School?”  The game was completed in 1:57.

Of course, this should be no surprise,  In 2022, Alcantara led all of MLB in complete games with six,

Seven  Innings – No Hits – Seven Runs

On April 8, the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds) faced off against the Rock City Trash Pandas (Angels). Trash Pandas’ starter Coleman Crow was pitching a gem in the first game of a doubleheader (scheduled for seven innings). After six frames, the Trash Pandas (I like typing that name), were up 3-0 and Crow had not given up a hit (just two walks), while fanning six. Trash Panda reliever Ben Joyce was called on to finish off the no-no. Joyce walked three of the first five batters he faced, while also recording two outs.  So, the Trash Pandas were one out away from a no-hit, no-run victory. Oops! Another walk led to a run and that was followed by a three-run error on a fly ball to center.  Next to the mound was Eric Torres, who who hit four batters and walked one before recording the final out of the inning.  So, the score was now 7-3 in favor of Chattanooga, which still did not have a hit. The Trash Pandas got a couple of runs in the bottom of the frame, but still ended up with a 7-5 loss, despite the completed no-hitter.

Nolan Rolls a 300

Cardinals’ 3B Nolan Arenado in his 11th season and in possession  of ten Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger Awards poked his 300th career home run on April 8, as the Redbirds topped the Brewers 6-0 in Milwaukee. It was a third inning, two-run shot off Eric Lauer.

Ever See a  Fish on a Cycle?  That Would be Louis Arraez

Going into the 2023 season, the Marlins were the only major-league franchise that had never seen a player in their uniform hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and home run in one game).  Then, on April 11 – in the franchise’s 4,700th game – newcomer Luis Arreaz (acquired in a trade with the Twins) broke the ice – completing a Cycle as the Marlins topped the Phillies 8-4.  Arreaz did it in usual Arreaz’ fashion, as the 2022 AL batting champ used pretty much the whole field.   He doubled to right-center in the first inning, lined out to center in the third, tripled to right in the sixth, homered to left in the seventh and singled to left in the eighth.

Arreaz ended the game with a .537 average (22-for-41) on the season – and closed the month of April with a .438 average.

I’ll Have a Dozen of Those 

Cardinals’ rookie RF Jordan Walker made his MLB debut on Opening Day of this season (jumping from Double-A Springfield, where he hit .306-19-68 in 2022) – and proceeded to start his career in The Show with a 12-game hitting streak (March 30-April 12). During the streak, he hit .319 (15-for-47), with two home runs and eight RBI. Thirteen proved an unlucky number for Walker, as he was finally held hitless in his 13th game – on April 13 – as the Pirates topped the Cardinals 5-0. Walker went zero-for-four with two strikeouts.

David Dahl (2016 Rockies) and Chuck Aleno (1941 Reds) share the record for career-opening hitting streaks at 17 games.)

More of #InBaseballWeCountEverything.  Walker’s 12-game streak matched Eddie Murphy’s (1912 Athletics) record for hitting streaks to begin a career by NL/AL players under 21.

The baseball gods can be a bit fickle, however, between April 13 and April 23, Walker hit just .192 in 28 plate appearances and on April 24, he was sent down to Triple-A Memphis.

200 – A Nice Round Number

On April 18, Dodgers’ nine-time All Star and and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw picked up his 200th MLB victory (versus just 88 losses). In a 5-0 win over the Mets, Kershaw pitched seven shutout innings, with three hits, no walks and nine whiffs. It brought his record on the season to 3-1, 2.52.

Clayton Kershaw is now one of  just four pitchers (since 1900) to reach 200 wins before accumulating 100 losses (the others are Whitey  Ford, Lefty Grove and Pedro Martínez).

Where’s Waldo? Er, I mean where’s Mookie

After  nine+ major-league seasons, 1,130 games (not to mentions six Gold Gloves as an outfielder), Mookie Betts found himself in the field at shortstop (after pinch-hitting). Betts, who was drafted as a shortstop in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft, had not played the position since 2013 (Arizona Fall League). After taking the field at SS in the bottom of the seventh (versus the Cubs at Wrigley), Betts turned a nifty short-to-first double play in the eighth to help preserve a 2-2 tie.  (The Dodgers eventually scored four in the ninth to win it.)

So, why “Where’s Mookie?” In the very next game (April 21), again versus the Cubs, Mookie started the game back at his familiar right field spot. In the seventh inning, he moved to second base and in the eighth he moved to shortstop. On April 22, he started at second base (versus the Cubs), and later moved to RF and, on April 23 (still at Wrigley), Betts  got his first MLB start at SS and played the whole game there. Since April 21, Betts has started four games in RF, three games at ss and two game at 2B.

An Imperfect Way to Lose a Perfecto

On April 21, Cubs’ southpaw Drew Smyly, as he took the mound in the eighth inning,  was cruising along with a 13-0 lead and a  Perfect Game (with nine strikeouts) against the Dodgers. The first batter was Dodgers’ LF Dave Peralta, who had entered the game as part of group of Dodger defensive changes in the bottom of the seventh. Peralta dribbled a pitch weakly to the left side of the infield (weakly enough that both Smyly and Cubs’ C Yan Gomes went after the ball).  As Smyly picked up the ball and prepared to make a throw to first, Gomes collided with him, upending the hurler – and Peralta was safe at first.  The official scorer ruled it a base hit – albeit one that traveled only a about 20 feet – and the perfect game and no-hitter were gone.  Smyly got the next two batters (pop up, strikeout) before being relieved by Jeremiah Estrada, who finished up the one-hit shutout.

A Big Day for Garcia

On April 22, Rangers’ RF Adolis Garcia had a five-for-five day, as the Rangers beat the Athletics 18-3 in Texas.  Garcia:

  • Laced a two-run homer in the first;
  • Was hit by a pitch in the second;
  • Bopped a second two-run homer in the third;
  • Rapped a third two-run homer in the fifth (running out of verbs here);
  • Eased up a bit, with a two-run double in the seventh;
  • Added a double in the ninth.

According to MLB.com, Garcia’s night tied an MLB single-game record for extra base hits in a game (five) and, in  true #InBaseballWeCountEverything form, he became the first American Leaguer with three homers and two doubles in a game,

Two Blasts in One Inning

On April 23, Red Sox LF Masataka Yoshida, became just the 60th MLB player to launch two homers in a single inning. It came in a nine-run top of the eighth (versus the Brewers in Milwaukee) and included a solo shot to right off Matt Bush and a Grand Slam to right off Javy Guerra.  For the complete story, click here.  The Red Sox, by the way, won the contest 12-5.  Yoshida finished April at .276-4-16.

It’s Been a Long Time Coming

After 13 minor-league seasons (including six stints at Triple-A), 1,154  minor-league games and 4,494 minor-league plate appearances, thirty-three-year-old infielder Drew Maggi finally made his first MLB appearance – as a pinch hitter (for the Pirates) in the eighth inning of the Pirates’ April 26 8-1 win over the Dodgers. He did fan on four pitches, but it was a major-league strikeout (what most of us wouldn’t give for one trip to the plate in The Show) and Maggi did come to the plate to a standing ovation.   (I should add that, for Maggi, the best was yet to come.) For trivia buffs, Maggi pinch hit for former MVP and 15-year veteran Andrew McCutchen.

Maggi got his first MLB start (at 3B), the following night, but went zero-for-three in a Pirates’ 6-2 win over the Dodgers. Then, in the second game of an April 29 doubleheader (versus the Nationals), Maggi was called in to pinch hit (for 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes), with a runner on third, no outs and the Pirates up 12-0. He delivered his first MLB hit (a single to center off Hobie Harris) and drove in his first MLB run. Maggi stayed in the game at 3B and picked up a second hit (a double) in the top of the ninth – eventually scoring his first MLB run on a Miguel Andujar home run.  After the momentous game, it was back to the Double-A Altoona curve – with a .333 MLB average.

During his professional odyssey, Maggi has played in the Pirates, Dodgers, Indians, Twins and Phillies systems –  for the State College Spikes, Bradenton Marauders, West Virginia Power, Altoona Curve, Arkansas Travelers, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Tulsa Drillers, Columbus Clippers, Rochester Red Wings, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, St. Paul Saints, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, and Indianapolis Indians.

This, by the way, was not Maggi’s first call-up to The Show. He also spent a couple of days on the Twins’ roster in September of 2021, but did not get into a game.

High Times in Mexico City – Aided by the Altitude

A sellout crowd for the first MLB game ever played in Mexico City – and the first MLB game played at 7,300 feet above sea level – enjoyed plenty of action. Aided by the altitude, the two teams launched 11 home runs in Padres 16-11 win over the Giants.  While the home run total was two short of the record for an MLB game (13 by the Diamondbacks and Phillies on June 10, 2019), they did tie the record for the most players going deep in a game (10).  Homering in the game were: The Padres’ Nelson Cruz, Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis, Jr., and Manny Machado (2); and the Giants’ Brandon Crawford, LaMonte Wade, Jr., Mitch Haniger, Blake Sabol and David Villar.

The forty-two-year-old Cruz had a big day: five-for-six, with four RBI, one run scored, a double, a homer and a stolen base. He became the second-oldest MLB player to record a five-hit game (Pete Rose did at age 45.)

The second game in the Mexico Series was  a bit more normal.  The Padres prevailed 6-4 and only three homers were hit.  (That may have something to do with the 24 combined strikeouts.

Quite A Turn-Around

On April 29, the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays seemed to be finally “cooled off.”  White Sox starter Lance Lynn carried a no-hitter (and a 3-0 lead) into the seventh inning against the Rays – having allowed just one baserunner (walk) and notched eight strikeouts, The Rays broke up the no-no with a ten-run seventh inning – nine hits (three home runs) and two walks off three ChiSox’ pitchers).  Lynn saw his no-hitter disappear with a home run by SS Wander Franco (on an 0-2 pitch) to lead off the inning. Lynn was gone after four more batters  (strikeout, single, run-scoring double, walk) and the carnage was on. Final score: Rays 12, White Sox 3.

–——Individual Statistical Leaders for March April   2023——-—

AVERAGE (qualifiers) 

National League – Luis Arreaz, Marlins (.438); Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (.352); Thairo Estrada, Giants (.346_

American League –  Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (.384); Randy Arozarena, Rays (.327); Yandy Diaz, Rays (.319)

The lowest March/April  average (among players with at least 50 at bats in the month)  belonged to the Braves’ Marcell Ozuna at .085 (5-for-59)

HOME RUNS

National League – Matt Muncy, Dodgers (11); Pete Alonso, Mets (10); Patrick Wisdom, Cubs (10)

American League – Rafael Devers, Red Sox (10); Brent Rooker, A’s (9); Adolis Garcia, Rangers (8)

The Blue Jays’ Matt Chapman had the highest March/April  slugging percentage (among qualifiers) at .687.  The NL leader was the Dodgers’ Max Muncy at .663.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Pete Alonso, Mets (25); Ozzie Albies, Braves (23); Nolan Gorman, Cardinals (22); Matt Olson, Braves (22)

American League –  Adolis Garcia, Rangers (30); Randy Arozarena, Rays (28); Yordan Alvarez, Astros (27); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (27)

HITS

National League – Luis Arraez, Marlins (39); Nico Hoerner, Cubs (39); Bryson Stott, Phillies (39)

American League –  Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (38); Matt Chapman Blue Jays (38); Alex Verdugo, Red Sox (36); Randy Arozarena, Rays (36)

The Marlins’ Luis Arreaz led MLB (qualifying) players in on-base percentage at .500. The AL  leader was the Blue Jays’ Matt Chapman at .465.

DOUBLES

National League –  Francisco Lindor, Mets (11); Nick Castellanos, Phillies (10); Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (10)

American League – Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (15); Wander Franco, Rays (12); Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers (10); Andrew Vaughn, White Sox (10)

TRIPLES

National League – Brandon Marsh, Phillies (4); James Outman, Dodgers (3); seven with two

American League – Riley Greene, Tigers (2); Bobby Witt, Royals (2); Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays (2); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (2); Amed Rosario, Guardians (2)

The Blue Jays’ Matt Chapman,  had an MLB-high 120 extra-base hits in March/April. 

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Ronald Acuna, Jr., Braves (13) Ji Hwan Bae, Pirates (11); Jazz Chisholm, Marlins (11)

American League – Cedric Mullins, Orioles (11); Esteury Ruiz, A’s (11;Jorge Mateo, Orioles (10))

The Orioles’ Cedric Mullins had the most March/April steals without getting caught (11).

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Padres (27); Max Muncy, Dodgers (22); Dansby Swanson, Cubs (21)

American League –  Adley Rutschman, Orioles (22); Alex Bregman, Astros (21); three with 18

The Marlins’  Luis Arreaz led MLB in walks/strikeouts ratio (among qualifying batters  at 2.20 … 11 walks versus five  whiffs in 25 games.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Matt Olson, Braves (43); Jazz Chisholm, Marlins (41); Ryan McMahon, Rockies (39)

American League – Teoscar Hernandez, Mariners (38); Riley Greene, Tigers (37); MJ Melendez, Royals (37)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (5-1); Justin Steele, Cubs (4-0); Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (4-1); Vince Valasquez, Pirates (4-2)

American League – Gerrit Cole, Yankees (5-0); Shane McClanahan, Rays (5-0); Joe Ryan, Twins (5-0)

Bailey Falter, Phillies (0-5, 5.01) and Logan Webb, Giants (1-5, 4.19)  led MLB in September losses.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (among qualifies)

National League –  Justin Steele, Cubs (1.49); Spencer Strider, Braves (1.80); Wade Miley, Brewers (1.86)

American League – Sonny Gray, Twins (0.77); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (1.11); Luis Castillo, Mariners (1.82)

Location-Location-Location

In March/April, Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays,  went 3-2, with a 5.18 ERA, while  Josiah Gray, Nationals – with a 2.67 ERA – went 2-4. 

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Zac Gallen, D-backs (51 K / 37 2/3 IP); Spencer Striker, Braves (49 K / 30 IP);’ Nick Lodolo (44 K / 30 2/3 IP)

American League – Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (54 k / 38 2/3 IP); Pablo Lopez, Twins (46 K / 36 IP); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (46 K / 34 IP)

Among qualifying players, the Braves’ Spencer Strider has the highest Strikeouts/Nine Innings ratio at 14.70. The Rangers’ Jacob deGrom led the AL at 13.35.

FEWEST WALKS ALLOWED PER NINE INNINGS (Among Qualifiers)

National League: Anthony DeSclafani, Giants (0.90); Alex Cobb,Giants (1.08); Noah Syndergaard, Dodgers (1.15)

American League: George Kirby, Mariners (0.59); Tyler Wells, Orioles (0.93); Joe Ryan, Twins (1.13)

Among qualifiers, Brad Keller of the Royals had the highest BB/9 rate at 7.12 (24 walks in 30 1/3 innings).

SAVES

National League – Josh Hader, Padres (10); David Bednar, Pirates (9);  six with five

American League – Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (9); Jordan Romero, Blue Jays (9); Paul Sewald, Mariners (7); Felix Bautista, Orioles (7)

A Walk on the Wild Side

Shohei Ohtani  led MLB in Wild Pitches (tied at five) and hit batters (six).  Of course, he was also 4-0, 1.85 and second in the AL in strikeouts with 46 – and then there’s his .294-7-18 batting line. 

WHIP (Walks +  Hits per Inning Pitched – among qualifiers)

National League – Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers, (0.76); Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (0.77); Spencer Strider, Braves (0.83);

American League – Tyler  Wells, Orioles (0.72); Jacob deGrom, Rangers (0.76); Joe Ryan, Twins (0.81)

BONUS STAT

The A’s Ken Waldichuk  gave up an MLB-high ten  home runs in March/April (over 31 innings).

 

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

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

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Fernandomania – a Little Nostalgia and Wonder

April 27, 2023 by

Photo: Tony Barnard, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On this date (April 27) in 1981, a 20-year-old rookie southpaw for the Dodgers named Fernando Valenzuela threw his third consecutive shutout (and fourth in five starts), as his Dodgers topped the Giants 5-0 in LA before a raucous crowd of 49,478.

With that event in mind, I’d like to use this post to allow “geezers” like me to look back with nostalgia on the phenomenon that was Fernandomania and to let a new generation of fans get a better idea of the “wonder” that was Fernando Valenzuela’s  screwball.

Fernando Valenzuela is the only MLB player to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season.

In July of 1979, Valenzuela, then 18-years-old, was purchased by the Dodgers from the Yucatan Leones of the Mexican League.  Early on, teammate Bobby Castillo taught the youngster (who did not have an overpowering fastball) how to throw a screwball. It was a stroke of good fortune for Valenzuela and the Dodgers. Valenzuela quickly perfected the pitch and took it to new heights.  That screwball, in fact,  would earn Valenzuela a call up to the Dodgers by September of 1980.  As the 1980 MLB season closed out, Valenzuela made ten relief appearances for the Dodgers –  pitching  17 2/3 innings without giving up an earned run (walking five and fanning 16).

In 1981, as a 20-year-old with his rookie status still intact, Valenzuela not only made the season-opening Dodgers’ roster, but when the slated Opening Day starting pitcher Jerry Reuss suffered an injury warming up, manager Tommy Lasorda chose Valenzuela to start the opener.   He didn’t disappoint.  In his first MLB start, the Dodger rookie pitched a complete-game shutout (topping the Astros 2-0), with five hits, two walks and five strikeouts – and thus the foundation of Fernandomania was born.

Over his first five MLB starts, using his devastating screwball and unorthodox lineup, the likable youngster pitched  five complete games, four of them shutouts, while  walking 11 and fanning 43 in 45 innings. In his only non-shutout, Valenzuela gave up one run on four hits and two walks, while fanning ten. After five games, the 20-year-old was 5-0, with a 0.20 ERA and 43 whiffs in 45 innings.  In the process, Valenzuela captured not only the hearts and passion of the California Latino community, but the attention of fans across baseball.

At home, Valenzuela’s 1981 starts drew 48,431 fans, as compared to 40,912 for games he didn’t start  – an 18 percent increase.  Valenzuela’s road starts drew an average of 33,273 fans, while Dodger road games he did not start drew 19,456.  I’ll do the math again.  That’s a 71 percent jump.

Eleven of Valenzuela’s 12 Dodger Stadium 1981 starts were sellouts.

Valenzuela brokered his devastating screwball into a 13-7, 2.48 record (in a strike-shortened 100-game season), finishing second in the NL in wins (13), first in innings pitched (192 1/3); first in strikeouts (180); first in games started (25); first in complete games (11); and first in shutouts (eight).  Valenzuela also won a Silver Slugger Award in 1981 (hitting .250 over 64 at bats).

Not only did the 20-year-old rookie make the 1981 NL All Star team, he was chosen to start the game.  Then he topped off the season by winning not only the NL Rookie of the Year Award, but also the league’s Cy Young Award.  He helped lead the Dodgers to the World Series and won Game Three, as the Dodger stopped the Yankees four games-to-two.

From 1981 through 1987, Valenzuela went 111-82, 3.11 for the Dodgers in the regular season and 5-1, 2.00 in the post season,  His career marks  (1980-91, 1993-97 … Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres, Cardinals) were: 173-153, 3.54 in the regular season and 5-1, 1.98 in the post season.

A few other Valenzuela tidbits:

  • On June 29, 1990, Valenzuela threw a no-hitter, as the Dodgers topped the Cardinals 6-0 in LA;
  • He won two Silver Slugger Awards and one Gold Glove.
  • He was a career .200 hitter, with ten home runs and 84 RBI in 936 at bats.
  • In 1990, he hit .304-1-11 in 69 at bats.
  • In 19 place appearances as a pinch hitter, Valenzuela hit .368.
  • He led the NL in wins once (21 in 1986).
  • He also led the league in complete games three times, and shutouts, innings pitched and strikeouts once each.
  • He was a six time All Star – consecutive years 1981-1986.

In the 1986 All Star Game, Fernando Valenzuela tied the record (set by Carl Hubbell) for consecutive strikeouts with five. Valenzuela’s victims were: Don Mattingly; Cal Ripken, Jr.; Jesse Barfield; Lou Whitaker; and Teddy Higuera.

 

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; How Fernando Drew Thousands of Extra Fans, by Mike Petriello, MLB.com, August 15, 2012; When 20-year-old Rookie Fernando Valenzuela Captivated LA and Major League Baseball, by Phil Sheridan, History Channel, September 8, 2021.

 

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One-Player/Two-Homer Innings … A few Trivia Tidbits (and a list)

April 24, 2023 by

Yesterday (April 23, 2022), Red Sox’ rookie  LF (and cleanup hitter) Masataka  Yoshida became the 60th MLB player to connect for two home runs in a single inning.   He accomplished the feat in the eighth innings of the Red Sox’ 12-5 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee. He hit a solo home run to right on a 1-2 pitch from Matt Bush after DH Justin Turner led off the frame with a solo shot to left.  Yoshida came up again with two outs in the inning, facing Javy Guerra with the bases loaded. This time, he smacked a Grand Slam to right on an 0-2 pitch.  They were Yoshida’s second and third homers of the season.

Yoshida, by the way, was on Baseball Roundtable pre-/early-season watch list. For that post, noting key players to watch for each team, click here for the AL and here for the NL.

The Red Sox signed the Japanese outfielder  to a reportedly five-year $90 million deal last December. The 28-year-old is coming off a .335-21-88 season (119 games) in Japan and has shown a combination of power and plate discipline in Nippon Professional  Baseball.   In seven seasons there, Yoshida averaged .326, with 135 home runs.  Perhaps more important, he walked more times (427) than he struck out (307).   After his first seventeen games with the Red Sox, Yoshida’s  stat line is .231-3-15.

Side note:  Some recent articles have indicated only 58 players have hit two home runs in an inning.  Those lists do  not include early Players League and American Association players (those leagues were added to MLB records in a 1969 ruling). Also, this list may change as Negro Leagues records from 1920-48 are fully documented and incorporated into MLB records.

Now, more on two-homer innings, with a full list to follow.

Two Grand Slams in One Inning

Fernando Tatis – only player with two Grand Slams in one inning.

The most historic two-homer inning belongs to the Cardinals’ Fernando Tatis who, on April 23, 1999, not only hit two homers in an inning – but hit two grand slams in one inning.  It was the 11-run third inning of the Cardinals’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers in LA.  Equally surprising to BBRT is the fact that Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park was on the mound for both grand slams (the second finally drove Park from the game).  Park’s inning went like this:  single – hit batsman – single – home run – ground out, first base to pitcher – home run – walk – walk – fielder’s choice – error by first baseman – single – fly out to right field – home run – relieved by Carlos Perez, who got the final out of the inning on a foul pop up.

Teaming Up for a Two-Homer Inning

On May 2, 2002, Brett Boone and Mike Cameron became the only two teammates to hit two home runs in one inning in the same game – and they did it in the same inning (a ten-run first in a 15-4 win over the White Sox) and they did it back-to-back.

Two Times Two = A Record

Only five  players have achieved two home runs an inning twice in their careers:

  • Jeff King, Pirates (April 8, 1995 and April, 30, 1996);
  • Willie McCovey, Giants (April 12, 1973 and June 27, 1977);
  • Andre Dawson, Expos (June 30, 1978 and Sept. 24, 1985);
  • Alex Rodriguez, Yankees (September 5, 2007 and October 4, 2009).
  • Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays and Mariners (July 26, 2013 and April 8, 2019, respectively.

From Both Side Now

The Indians’ Carlos Baerga (August 8, 1993), the Cubs’ Mark Bellhorn (August 29, 2002) and the Angels’c Kendrys Morales (July 30, 2012) are the only players to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning.

Two in One Frame … How About Two More?

The Braves’ (Boston) Bobby Lowe (May 30, 1894) and Mariners’ Mike Cameron (May 2, 2002) each achieved a two-homer inning in the midst of a record  four-homer game.

Team Totals

The Giants have had the most two-homer innings accomplished by individual players with seven.  The Yankees follow with six, the Red Sox and Expos/Nationals ranked third with five.  (All five Expos/Nationals two-homer player innings were accomplished in Expos’ uniforms.)  The Mets, White Sox, Royals, Diamondbacks and, surprisingly, high-altitude Rockies have never had a player with a two-home inning.

Lucky Seven

In 2002, a record seven MLB players produce a two-home inning.

Here is your two-homer inning list:

2023, April 23 …. Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox

2022, September 21 … Gleyber Torres, Yankees

2019, April 19 … Edwin Encarnacion, Mariners

2016, April 15 … Mark Trumbo, Orioles

2013, July 26 … Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays

2012, August 22 … Adrian Beltre, Rangers

2012, July 30 … Kendrys Morales, Angels

2011, Sept. 18 … Pablo Sandoval, Giants

2010, Sept. 23 … Juan Uribe, Giants

2009, October 4 … Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

2009, August 23 … Michael Cuddyer, Twins

2008, August 12 … David Ortiz, Red Sox

2008, June 21 … Jim Edmonds, Cubs

2007, Sept. 5 … Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

2007, August 12 …  Magglio Ordonez, Tigers

2007, May 7 … Benji Molina, Giants

2006, July 22 … Julio Lugo, Rays

2004, June 19 … Juan Rivera, Expos

2003, August 20 … Reggie Sanders, Pirates

2002, August 29 … Mark Bellhorn, Cubs

2002, August 9 … Aaron Boone, Reds

2002, July 26 … Carl Everett, Rangers

2002, July 23 … Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox

2002, June 11 … Jared Sandberg, Rays

2002, May 2 … Mike Cameron, Mariners

2002, May 2 … Brett Boone, Mariners

2000, August 22 … Eric Karros, Dodgers

1999, April 23 … Fernando Tatis, Cardinals

1997, July 13 … Gary Sheffield, Marlins

1997, May 7 … Mike Lansing, Expos

1996, Sept. 22 … Mark McGwire, A’s

1996, May 17 … Dave Nilsson, Brewers

1996, May 16 … Sammy Sosa, Cubs

1996, April 30 … Jeff King, Pirates

1995, April 8 … Jeff King, Pirates

1994, June 24 … Jeff Bagwell, Astros

1993, Oct. 3 … Joe Carter, Blue Jays

1993, April 8 … Carlos Baerga, Indians

1990, August 27 … Ellis Burks, Red Sox

1989, July 27 … Dale Murphy, Braves

1985, Sept. 24 … Andre Dawson, Expos

1985, June 11 … Von Hayes, Phillies

1980, May 13 … Ray Knight, Reds

1978, July 30 …Andre Dawson, Expos

1977, June 30 … Cliff Johnson, Yankees

1977, June 27 … Willie McCovey, Giants

1974, April 29 … Lee May, Astros

1973, July 6 … John Boccabella, Expos

1973, April 12 … Willie McCovey, Giants

1966, April 30 … Rick Reichardt, Angels

1962, May 23 … Joe Pepitone, Yankees

1959, Sept. 4 … Jim Lemon, Senators

1955, April 17 … Al Kaline Tigers

1949, July 31 … Sid Gordon, Giants

1949, June 2 … Andy Seminick, Phillies

1936, June 24 … Joe DiMaggio, Yankees

1935, August 24 … Hank Leiber, Giants

1928, June 16 … Bill Regan, Red Sox

1925, July 1 … Hack Wilson, Giants

1922, August 7 … Kenny Williams, Browns

1894, June 6 … Jake Stenzel, Pirates

1894, June 30 … Bobby Lowe, Braves

1890, September 23 … Ed Cartwright, St. Louis Browns, American Association

1890, September 12 … Lou Bierbauer,  Brooklyn Ward’s Wonders, Player League

1880, June 10 … Charley Jones, Braves

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

 

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A Look at Those Lucky 13-Game, Season-Opening Winning Streaks

April 16, 2023 by

On Friday the 14th (of April, 2023), the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4, stopping the Rays’ season-opening winning steak at 13 games (leaving the Rays tied with the 1987 Brewers and 1982 Braves for the longest season-opening winning streak since 1900).  Who led the charge the put an end to the streak?  Blue Jays’ starting (and winning) pitcher Jose Berrios, who came into the game with an 0-2 record and a 11.17 ERA over his first two starts, played a major role.   Berrios went  five innings (four hits, one run, zero walks, six whiffs).  Also contributing were: Jays’ RF and leadoff hitter George Springer, who opened the bottom of the first with a home run; and SS Bo Bichette, who went five-for-five with a pair of doubles.

A lot has been written about the Rays’ streak. In this post, Baseball Roundtable would like to add a few thoughts about all three of MLB’s post-1900, 13-game, season-opening wining streaks – comparing how they were built, some challenging moments along the way and some unexpected performances .

2023 Rays

Randy Arozarena Photo: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Rays’ streak included ten home wins and three on the road, with just one one-run win and six by five or more tallies.  It was easily the most dominant showing by any of the three teams with 13 season-opening wins.

During their streak, the Rays:

  • Outscored their opponents 101-30;
  • Outhit them .287 to .189;
  • Out-homered them 32-6;
  • Put up a 2.23 earned run average to the opponents’ 8.24;
  • Walked 31 batters to the opponents’ 46;
  • Fanned 122 hitters to the opponents’ 94.

Challenging Moment: The closest the Rays came to being stropped mid-streak came on April 10 – Game 10 of the streak – when the they were tied 0-0 with the Red Sox after seven innings and won the game 1-0  on a Brandon Lowe home run in the eighth.

Key contributors to the Rays’ streak (and their stats over the length of the streak);

  • 2B Brandon Lowe – .333-5-12;
  • LF Randy Arozarena – .314-3-16;
  • SS Wander Franco – .333-4-12;
  • SP Shane McClanahan – 3-0, 1.59 in three starts;
  • SP Jeffrey Springs – 2-0, 0.56 in three starts;
  • SP Drew Rasmussen – 2-0, 0.00 in three starts.

Unexpected Hero:  SS Isaac Paredes.  The 24-year-old, opened the 2023 season with a .209 career batting average (168 games over three season), although he had shown some power (.205-20-45 in 111 games in 2022). Paredes played in 12 games during the streak and went .308-3-10.

1987 Brewers

The 1987 Brewers – who finished third in AL East at 91-72 – built their 13-game, season-opening  winning streak on power – outscoring their opponents 91-53, while out-homering them 22 to 12.  They picked up seven road wins and six home victories and faced more challenges than the Rays. The Brewers’ streak included three one-run victories. .Here’s the tale of the tape.

During their streak, the Brewers:

  • Outscored their opponents 91-53;
  • Outhit them .302 to .246;
  • Out-homered them 22-12;
  • Put up a 3.64 earned run average to the opponents’ 6.82;
  • Walked 36 and fanned 78, to the opponents’ issuing of 52 walks, while fanning 89.

Plenty of contributors on offense:

  • LF Rob Deer – .391-7-17;
  • CF Robin Yount – .321-2-11;
  • 3B Paul Molitor – .370-2-9, with 15 runs scored and six steals.;
  • 1B Greg Brock – .349-4-13;
  • SS Dale Sveum – .383-2-13.

Om the mound, closer Dan Plesac appeared in seven games, picked up five saves and put up a 2.32 ERA;  Teddy Higuera started three games and won all three (23 inning pitched, 2.74 ERA) ; Juan Nieves went 2-0, 4.26 in three stats, but one was an April 15, complete-game no-hitter versus the Orioles.

Challenging Moment: On April 12 – Game Six of the streak – the Brewers needed 12 innings to top the Rangers (in Texas) in a contest in which they trailed 2-1 after seven innings.  It looked like the Brewers had the game won when the plated three runs in the top of the 11th, but the Rangers scored three in the bottom of the inning (two with two out) to retie the game. A two-run, 12th-inning single by Brewers’ C B.J. Surhoff provided the winning margin.

Unexpected Hero: LF Rob Deer gets the nod here – for his sustained performance during the streak. Deer, a power hitter who came intro the season with a career .227 average, hit .391, with seven home runs, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored during the streak (he played in 12 of the 13 games). Deer collected multiple hits in seven of his 12 games. Deer ended the season with a .238-28-80 line in 134 games.  Those 12 games within the streak represented 9 percent of Deer’s season total, but during the streak he accumulated 25 percent of his season home run  total, 21 percent of his RBI total, 18 percent of his runs scored and 16 percent of his base hits. (For those who like to know such things, Deer was a career .220 hitter -11 seasons – with 230 home runs and 600 RBI).

__________________________________________________

The all-time MLB record of 20 wins to start a season belongs to the 1884 Union Association St. Louis Maroons.  The Union Association did not have a lot of balance in 1884.  The Maroons finished 94-19-1 … a full 21 games ahead of their nearest competitor. During their opening 20-game win streak, they recorded 16 home wins and just four on the road – and outscored their opponents 234-67. On the season, they outscored their opponents 887 to 429. 

__________________________________________________

1982 Braves

The 1982 Braves started the season 13-0 and won the National League West title with an 89-73 record.

During the streak, the Braves:

  • Outscored their opponents 66-34;
  • Outhit them .272 to .232;
  • Out-homered them ten to two.
  • Put up a 1.83 earned run average to the opponents’ 4.67;
  • Struck out 66 batters to the opponents’ 58;
  • Gave up 50 walks to the opponents’ 66.

The Braves’ streak included eight road wins (five home wins); three one-run games; one extra-inning  contest; and one walk-off.

Key players in the Braves 13-game streak were:

  • SS Rafael Ramirez (.333-1-9);
  • 1B Chris Chambliss (.356-3-5);
  • CF Dale Murphy (.256-4-12, with ten runs scored and ten walks).

On the pitching staff, notable contributions were made by relievers Rick Camp (who appeared  seven games and went 2-0, with three saves and a 1.74 ERA) and Gene Garber (who appeared in five games and went 1-0, with three saves an a 0.00 ERA in 11 1/3 innings).  Bob Walk started three games (the Braves won all three) and went 2-0, 0.96.

Challenging Moment:  The Braves’ streak might have been over before it started.  On Opening Day (April 6), the Braves faced the Padres in San Diego – and came away with a 1-0 win.  Brett Butler (who had walked)  scored the only tally on a one-out double by 2B Glen Hubbard in the top of the fifth.   Braves’ starter Rick Mahler, who would go 9-10, 4.21 on the season (and 96-111, 3.99 in 13 MLB seasons) pitched a two-hit, complete-game shutout.

Unexpected Hero(s) : SS Rafael Ramirez, a .235 career hitter coming into the season (two seasons, 145 games), hit .333, with 16 hits, one home run, nine RBI and eight runs scored over the 13 games.  He collected 11 hits over the  first six games of the season.  Ramirez finished the season at .278-10-52 and was .261-53-484 over a 13-season MLB career (1,539 games).  More unusual than unexpected, Rick Camp, who would end up starting 21 games in 1982, opened the season in the bullpen and had two wins and three saves during the streak. He would pick up just two more saves that season, ending the year 11-13, 3.65 with 21 starts and 30 relief appearances, five saves and three complete games.

The Braves first loss came at home on April 22 – as the Reds topped them 2-1.  In that one, Reds’ starting (and winning) pitcher Bruce Berenyi drove in what proved to be the winning run, with a fifth-inning , two-out single off Bob Walk.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

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Walk(s) On The Wild Side

April 15, 2023 by

Yesterday’s (April 14), Mets/Athletics game – won by the Mets 17-6 – featured 17 walks to Mets’ batters, as well as two separate innings in which the Mets scored six runs on just one hit.  Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor had both of those hits and collected seven RBI in the process. That contest brought back memories of (and seems an appropriate time to reflect on) perhaps the wildest MLB inning ever – one in which the White Sox scored 11 runs on just one hit.  More on that, but first a look at the Mets’ two wild innings.

 

Top of the Second Inning:

James Kaprielian pitching for Oakland.

  • Mets’ DH Daniel Vogelbach walks (on a 3-2 pitch).
  • 3B Eduardo Escobar lines out to right.
  • 2B Luis Guillorme walks (on four pitches).
  • C Tomas Nido walks (on four pitches), loading the bases.
  • CF Brandon Nimmo walks (on a 3-2 pitch), forcing in a run.
  • RF Starling Marte walks (on a 3-2 pitch), forcing in a run.
  • SS Francisco Lindor hits the first pitch he sees for a Grand Slam.
  • 1B Pete Alonso fans (on a 1-2 pitch).
  • LF Jeff McNeil pops out to first base.

Top of Sixth inning:

Hogan Harris on the mound for Oakland.

  • Daniel Vogelbach grounds out second-to-first.
  • Eduardo Escobar walks (on a 3-2 pitch).
  • Luis Guiillorme walks (on a 3-2 pitch).
  • Tomas Nido walks (on four pitches).
  • Brandon Nimmo is hit by a pitch, forcing in a run.
  • Staring Marte walks, forcing in a run.
  • Francisco Lindor hits a double, scoring all three base runners.
  • Pete Alonso walks

Chad Smith comes in to pitch.

  • Jeff McNeil is hit by a pitch loading the bases.
  • Daniel Vogelbach his into a fielders choice (SS-2B, scoring a run.
  • Eduardo Escobar strikes out.

For the game, the Mets scored 17 runs on 11 hits, 17 walks and two hit batsmen. The A’s scored six times on 13 hits and four walks. Surprisingly, there we no wild pitches.

Now for that wildest of all innings – eleven runs on one hit.

On April 22, 1959, the Chicago White Sox completed what may be the weirdest MLB offensive inning ever.

In the seventh inning of a 20-6 road win over the Kansas City A’s, the Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs on just one base hit. In fact, they got only one ball out of the infield.

Nellie Fox drew two bases-loaded walks in the seventh inning of a White Sox 20-6 win.

Nellie Fox drew two bases-loaded walks in the seventh inning of a White Sox 20-6 win.

This unique offensive “outburst” would prove to be a portent of things to come. The 1959 AL pennant-winning White Sox were became known as the “Go-Go Sox” for their ability to manufacture runs despite a punchless offense. (The Sox finished last in the league in home runs and sixth – out of the eight AL teams – in batting average and runs scored, but first in stolen bases and second in walks).

Still, it would have been hard to predict an inning in which the boys from Chicago would plate eleven runs on just one hit (a single) – or to anticipate a frame which included ten walks, a hit batsman, and three opposition errors. Here are few “numbers” from that 11-run inning:

  • The Sox sent 17 batters to the plate, but collected just one hit – and, in fact, got only one ball out of the infield.
  • Sox’ hitters stepped into the box with runners in scoring position 14 times.
  • Sox’ hitters batted with the bases loaded 12 times and never got the ball past the pitcher.
  • Eight different White Sox’ players drew walks.
  • The Sox drew eight bases-loaded walks (and had one bases-loaded hit batsman).

White Sox 2B Nellie Fox walked twice with the bases loaded in the inning.

Here’s how it went that inning (per baseball-reference.com):

  • 1B Ray Boone is safe on a throwing error by A’s shortstop Joe DeMaestri.
  • RF Al Smith attempts to sacrifice Boone to second (score was 8-6 at the time) and reaches safely on an error by A’s third baseman Hal Smith.
  • LF Johnny Callison singles to right. Scoring Boone and Smith (with the help of an error by A’s right fielder Roger Maris). Callison ends up on third.
  • SS Louis Aparicio walks – steals second (runners now on second and third).
  • P Bob Shaw walks (loading bases).
  • PH Earl Torgeson (batting for 3B Sammy Esposito) walks (scoring Callison).
  • 2B Nellie Fox walks (scoring Aparicio).
  • CF Jim Landis reaches on fielder’s choice – grounding back to pitcher Mark Freeman, who takes the force at home (bases still loaded).
  • C Sherman Lollar walks (scoring Torgeson, bases still loaded).
  • Ray Boone makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks (scoring Nellie Fox).
  • Al Smith makes his second plate appearance of the inning and walks (scoring Landis).
  • Johnny Callison, who had the only hit of the inning in his first plate appearance, is hit by a pitch (scoring Lollar, bases still loaded). Lou Skizas comes in to run for Callison.
  • Louis Aparicio draws his second walk of the inning (scoring Boone, bases still loaded).
  • Bob Shaw strikes out.
  • PH Bubba Phillips (batting for Torgeson, who batted for Esposito earlier in the inning) walks (scoring Smith, bases still full).
  • Nellie Fox draws his second bases loaded walk of the inning (scoring Skizas).
  • Jim Landis grounds out pitcher to first to end the inning.

The 20-runs the White Sox scored that day were the most they plated in any game that season.  Another side note: It did not start out like it was going to be a good day for the White Sox.  The A’s knocked Chicago’s starting pitcher Early Wynn – who would go on to lead the AL in wins with 22 – out of the game with six runs on six hits and two walks in the first 1 2/3 innings. The Sox actually trailed 6-1 after two frames. A few other stats:

  • The Sox collected a total of 16 hits and 13 walks in the contest; which also saw four Kansas City errors.
  • In addition, to scoring 20 times, Chicago left eleven runners on base.
  • Nellie Fox was the offensive star of the game – with four hits (five at bats), two walks and five RBI.
  • The A’s used six pitchers in the contest, three in the seventh inning.

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

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Baseball Roundtable 2023 Trivia Tidbit … Gotta Love Old Milwaukee County Stadium

April 12, 2023 by

Throughout the season, Baseball Roundtable will present Trivia Tidbits … in the form of a question.  If you are reading this, you most likely saw the questions on Facebook or Twitter and have followed the link to this answer.

Let’s review before we get to the answer itself. Many – if not most – fans know that Hall of Fame 3B Eddie Mathews is the only player to play for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Fewer, but still a good number of fans know that Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts is only pitcher to record wins against the Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves.

Probably fewer fans know that Mathews played both major- and minor-league ball in Milwaukee and Atlanta. (Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Crackers. (He only played in three minor-league cities – all as a teenager. )

The answer to this Trivia Tidbit – like Mathews and Roberts – has ties to both Milwaukee and the Braves.

Before we get to the question, a few other pieces of info “for those who like to know such things.” Roberts, whose career record was 286-245, 3.41, was 34-30, 3.38 in starts against the Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves.  Mathews, whose career stat line was .271-512-1,453, was .323-11-30 in 56 games versus Roberts. As an 18- and 19-year-old, Mathews hit .287-38-135 in 183 gamers for the Double-A Atlanta Crackers (1950-51) and, as a 19-year-old, he hit .333-1-5 in 12 games for the Triple-A Milwaukee Brewers (1951).  As a 20-year-old, he was the regular third baseman for the major-league Boston Braves.

Now, today’s question.  On this date (April 12) in 1970, what player became the first of only three players to play for both the major-league Milwaukee Braves and Milwaukee Brewers?  Possibly helpful hint.  He also played for the Athletics in both Kansas City and Oakland.   Kudos if you get this one right.  Extra credit for getting all three names (One is really a “gimmee.” )

Answer.  Catcher Phil Roof, who played for the Milwaukee Braves in 1961 and 1964 (one game in each season).  And later, played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970 and 1971. (151 total games).

Roof played in 15 MLB seasons (1961, 1964-77), taking the field for the Braves, Angels, Indians, Athletics (Kansas City & Oakland), Brewers, Twins, White Sox and Blue Jays. Roof played 857 MLB games, hitting .215-43-210.  His best season was probably 1975, when he hit .302-7-21 in 63 games for the Twins. It was the only season in which he averaged higher than .241.

The other two players to play for both the major-league Milwaukee Braves and Brewers had somewhat stronger credentials.  Hank Aaron, who suited up for the Milwaukee Braves (1954-1965) and Milwaukee Brewers (1975-76) and Felipe Alou, who took the field for the Milwaukee Braves (1964-65) and Milwaukee Brewers (1974).

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

 

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Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, Trivia

Baseball Roundtable 2023 AL Watch LIst

April 9, 2023 by

As each MLB season get underway, there are players that particularly spark Baseball Roundtable’s interest:  young prospects or veteran players hoping to deliver on expectations; players who are particularly crucial to their team’s prospects for the season; players who offer The Roundtable’s favored combination of Leather and Lumber;  retiring players making a last go-round; or players making adjustments to new positions, new roles or new teams.  You get the idea.  In this post, Baseball Roundtable will present its team-by-team American League Watch List for 2023, one (or two) players from each AL team that The Roundtable will pay particular attention to over the coming months.  For the previously published National League Watch List, click here.

Here is Baseball Roundtable’s 2023 Junior Circuit Watch List.

Baltimore Orioles- Andy Rutschman. Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez

Orioles top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez. Photo: Jeffrey Hayes, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

With the Orioles the watch list is all about youth.

C Andy Rutschman (25-years-old) lived up to all the hype surrounding his rookie campaign – going .254-13-42 in 113 games, but even more important providing  s solid presence behind the plate. Baseball Roundtable expects to see offensive growth in 2023, while Rutschman’s defense and game management remain top notch.

The Orioles also expect good things from 3B Gunnar Henderson (who can also play SS).  Henderson hit .297-19-76, with 22 steals (as a 21-year-old) in 112 games at Double-A and Triple-A a year ago. He also looked comfortable in 34 late-season games with the Orioles, with a .259-4-18 stat line (and, remember, he was just 21).  It will be fun to watch his growth as a major leaguer in 2023.

Finally, there is  23-tear-old RHP Grayson Rodriguez, the Orioles’ top pitching prospect. In five minor-league seasons, Rodriguez has gone 25-9, 2.49 in 70 games (69 starts – one of those in 2023).  The 6’5” 230-pounder has a dominant mound presence – to go with a mid-90s fastball (that can reach triple digits), an effective mid-80s change up, a mid-80s slider and a work-in-progress, low-80s curve.  In 296 minor-league innings, Rodriguez has fanned 421 batters (102 walks).  Grayson made his first MLB start April 5 of this season, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings (five strikeouts).  More to come.

This trio should help keep the Orioles competitive in 2023 – and are solid building blocks for the future.

Boston Red Sox – Masataka Yoshida, Chris Sale and Tristan Casas

The Red Sox finished last (78-84) in the tough AL East last season and they need considerable help if they are going to move out of the basement.

The Roundtable will be watching three players – a Japanese import, a veteran and a rookie – who could contribute to that effort.

The Red Sox signed Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a reportedly five-year $90 million deal last December. The 28-year-old is coming off a .335-21-88 season (119 games) in Japan and has shown a combination of power and plate discipline in Nippon Professional  Baseball.   In seven seasons there, Yoshida averaged .326, with 135 home runs.  Perhaps more important, he walked more times (427) than he struck out (307).  It’ll be fun to see how he adjusts to the American game.

Veteran  southpaw Chris Sale, a  seven-time All Star, has finished in the top five in Cy Young Award voting in six of 12 MLB seasons. Between mid- August of 2019 and Opening Day 2023, however, he has started just 11 games and  pitched only 48 1/3 innings (elbow injury, Tommy John surgery, Covid, right-rib stress fracture, broken finger, broken wrist).  The Red Sox say he’s healthy now.  If he can return to form, it would give Boston a much-needed boost.

Triston  Casas, at 23-years-old, looks to have earned the 1B slot in the lineup. A 2018 first round draft pick, he’s shown both power and plate discipline as a minor-leaguer.  In 2022, he went .281-12-41 in 76 games at Rookie-Level and Triple-A (.273-11-38 in 72 Triple-A games).  That earned him a September call up – and while he hit just .192 (27 games), he did poke five home runs and put up a .358 on-base percentage (19 walks/23 strikeouts).  Casas  hit .327-3-9 in 19 2023 Spring Training games. We’ll see if he’s ready to contribute at the major league level.

Chicago White Sox – Oscar Colas

The White Sox signed Cuban outfielder Oscar Colas in January of 2022. Although he’s only 24-years old, Colas has been around – playing in both the Cuban National Series and Nippon Professional Baseball. He showed his abilities right from the get-go.  In 2022, he moved from High-A, to Double-A to Triple-A – hitting a combined .314-23-79 in 117 games.  Look from him to find success in  a White Sox uniform in 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

Cleveland Guardians – Jose Ramirez and Emmanuel Clase

On the Guardians squad, I intend to enjoy watching a couple of proven performers.

Third baseman Jose Ramirez holds the key to the Guardians’ offense. In 2022, the switch-hitter  went .280-29-126, with 20 steals.  He also drew 69 walks and fanned just 82 times.  Since 2017, Ramirez has  made four All Star teams, averaged .280, hit 20 or more home runs five times (only missing in the Covid-shortened 2020 season), drove in 100+ runs three times and led the league in doubles twice.  It’ll be a pleasure to watch this steady switch-hitter go to work again.

Also on the watch list is 25-year-old closer Emmanuel Clase. The Guardians (then Indians) acquired him a trade with the Rangers before the 2020 season.  (The Indians got Clase and Delino DeShields for Corey Kluber and cash.)  It worked out pretty well for the Guardians. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Clase went 7-9, with 66 saves and a minuscule 1.33 ERA.  Unlike The Roundtable, opponents are not happy to watch Clase come to the hill.

Detroit Tigers …. Miguel Cabrera

Photo: Jeffrey Hayes, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Only one choice here.  Have to watch future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera in his twenty-first – and final – MLB season.  Coming into the season, Cabrera, a two-time MVP and 2012 AL Triple Crown winner (.330-44-139) had a total of 3,088 hits (25th all time), 507 home runs (27th all time) and  1,847 RBI (14th all time). Going into this final season, he needs:

  • 100 hits to make the top-16 all time;
  • 14 home runs to make the top-20 all time;
  • 62 RBI to make number-12 all time.

The Numbers Game

In his first 15 MLB seasons, Miguel Cabrera averaged .321 – and averaged 32 home runs and 11 RBI per season.

It will be fun to watch Cabrera climb up the stats ladder as he makes his farewell tour.

Houston Astros – Jose Abreu and Hunter Brown

The 2023 Astros look a lot like the 2022 versions (Why not?  They won 106 regular-season games and a World Series title). So, they are worth watching.  They are going to be good.  With that in mind, I decided to put the “new guy” – free-agent-signee 1B Jose Abreu – on the watch list.   His veteran bat will fit right into the middle of the Astros’  lineup – and he should get lots of opportunities to drive in runs.  What the Roundtable will be looking for is to see if the short left-field distances at Minute Maid Park will help Abreu return to 30-homer form.  Last season, he hit .304-15-75 in 157 games for the White Sox.  Abreu, however, has hit 30 or more long balls in five of his first nine MLB seasons and driven in 100+ runs in six. I look for a .290-30-100 season.

I also be watching prospect RHP Hunter Brown, whom I expected to make some noise in the Astros’ rotation before the 2023 season is over. Brown was a  2019 fifth-round draft choice (out of Wayne State University, where he went 9-0, 2.21 in his final season).  In three minor-league seasons, he has gone 17-11, 2.40 with 134 strikeouts in 106 innings.  He earned a call up last September and went 2-0, with a 0.89 ERA in 20 1/3 innings (seven appearances/two starts).

Kansas City Royals –  Vinnie Pasquantino

Okay, I admit, I love seeing “Pasquantino” across the back of an MLB uniform. Plus, the 24-year-old (an eleventh-round pick in the 2019 draft) has shown solid power and a good eye at the plate. In three minor-league seasons, he hit .292, with 56 long balls in 246 games – and walked 131 times, while fanning 143.

Last season, he hit .277-18-70 in 73 games at Triple-A (with 40 walks and just 39 strikeouts) – earning a late-June call up.  In 72 games for Kansas City, he went .295-10-26, with 35 walks and 34 whiffs.  He’s big-time ready.

Kinda Shifty if You Ask Me

Pasquantino gets extra credit as a watch list candidate, given the fact that the shift was used against him in 93 percent of his 2022 at bats. The Roundtable will be watching to see if the new rules boost his numbers.  

Los Angeles Angels – Shohei Ohtani

Photo: ogami Kariya, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

No challenge here,  How can you not pick a player who seems to set some new “first” every time out.  Last season, Ohtani hit .273-34-95 with 11 steals – and went 15-9, 2.22 with 219 strikeouts in 166 innings on the mound. Why wouldn’t you want to watch a player with the following on his  resume – a 15-win and 200-strikeout season as a pitcher and a 46-homer, 100-RBI, 26-steal season as a hitter/baserunner.  Ohtani is another MVP award waiting to happen (he won the AL MVP in 2021).

More “Firsts” for Ohtani

On  April 5, Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to be hit with a pitch clock violation both as a pitcher and a hitter in the same game. In the first inning of his start on the mound against the Mariners, he was called for a pitch clock violation  (a called ball) for taking too long to deliver a pitch to  Mariners’ cleanup hitter Cal Raleigh (with two on and no out). Raleigh eventually fanned on a 3-2 pitch.

In the seventh, facing the Mariners’ Andres Munoz, with two on and one  out. Ohtani was penalized (a called strike) for taking too long to get set in the batter’s box.  Ohtani rapped an RBI single in the at bat.

Ohtani finished the game one-for-two at the plate (with two walks and an RBI), and got the victory after throwing six innings of three-hit, one-run ball (four walks eight strikeouts).

Minnesota Twins – Byron Buxton

It all about health with the Twins’ Byron Buxton – a Gold Glove defender and an offensive force (speed and power). He is also oft-injured (due partly to his all-out style of play). Healthy, he’s legitimate CF Gold Glover and 30-30 (HR/SB) guy.  However, in his first eight MLB seasons, Buxton played 100 or more games in a campaign just once.  Still, he has shown what he can do when he’s in the lineup.  In 2021, Buxton hit .306 and scored 50 runs in just 61 games. In 2022, he poled 28 home runs in  92 games.  In 2017, his only season of at least 100 games played, he swiped 29 bases in 140 games and won a Gold Glove for his defensive work in CF.  The Twins know how having Buxton in the lineup can change the game and have put emphasis on keeping him in the lineup (more time at DH).   Looking forward to seeing how that works out.

New York Yankees – DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Volpe

Lots to watch in New York – Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole are probably at the top of most fan lists.  For the Roundtable, I’ll be watching veteran DH LeMahieu and rookie Anthony Volpe.

The 34-year-old LeMahieu is a two-time AL batting champion, who can play around the infield (LeMahieu has won four Gold Gloves, three at second base and one as a utility player). From 2011 through 2020, LeMahieu averaged .305.  In 2020-22, he average .265.  The Roundtable will be watching to see if LeMahieu can up his game (close in on his career .297 average) in 2023. A productive LeMahieu gives the Yankees not only another solid offensive weapon, but considerable lineup flexibility.

I’ll also be watching 22-year-old rookie Anthony Volpe, who won the SS job coming out of Spring Training. A first-round pick (right out of high school) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Volpe has shown power and speed in three minor-league seasons.  In 2022,  at Double-A and Triple-A, Volpe hit .249,with 21 home runs, 65 RBI, 86 runs scored and 50 steals in 12 games.

DJ LeMahieu is the only player (since 1900) to win a batting title in both the AL and NL. (.348 for the Rockies in 2016 and .364 for the Yankees in 2020). 

Oakland Athletics – Ryan Noda

A Rule Five Selection (from the Dodgers) last December, the 27-year-old Ryan Noda could provide some much-needed power to the A’s lineup. In the Dodgers’ farm system (at Double-A and Triple-A), Noda hit 54 home runs and drove in 168 over the past two seasons.  His 2022 Triple-A numbers were .259-25-90, with 20 steals.  It’ll be interesting to see how he handles major-league pitching.

Seattle Mariners – Julio Rodriguez

Mariners’ CF Julio Rodriguez was the runaway winner of the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2022 – receiving 29 of 30 first placed votes.  (For those who need to know such stuff, the other first-place vote went to Orioles’ C  Adley Rutschman.)   Rodriguez also finished seventh in the MLB voting.

Rodriguez is a five-tool player (.284-28-75, with 25 steals in 132 games,  with a strong arm and ground-covering defense). The 22-year-old is a youngster worth watching, who may very well win an MVP award in the near future.  For 2023,  .a 30-30 season would not surprise me,

 

 

 

Tampa Bay Rays – Kevin Cash

I supposed it’s odd to pick a manager here, but Kevin Cash has proven has proven his ability to keep Tampa Bay competitive – without the “cash” available to other AL East clubs.  It’s always interesting to watch how Cash juggles his lineup and pitching strategies to get the most out of the resources on hand.

Kevin Cash was selected the American league in 2020 and 2021, joining the Braves’ Bobby Cox as the only MLB manage to capture the award in consecutive seasons.

Texas Rangers – Jacob deGrom and Josh Jung

When he’s healthy, Rangers’ free-agent-signee Jacob deGrom is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game (I can offer a Rookie of the Year  and two Cy Young Awards as evidence).  Ahh, but those health issues.  The right-hander  has has not made more than 15 starts or pitched more than 92 innings in a season since 2019, when he went 11-8, 2.43 in 32 starts (204 innings) for the Mets.  The Roundtable will be watching to see if the Rangers got the  pitcher who averaged 30 starts per season from 2015 through 2019 or the one who averaged 13 starts per season in 2021-22 (I left out the short 2020 season).

I’ll also be keeping an eye on Josh Jung, who looks to be given a shot at the 3B position, despite only 153 minor-league games on his resume.   In those 153 games, he went a sterling .311-30-118. Jung earned a call up – last September and hit five homers in 102 MLB at bats.  However, his .204 average and 39 strikeouts to four walks seem problematic.  Still, he had strong spring.314-3-6 ion 19 games (51 at bats) and bears watching.

Toronto Blue Jays – The Outfield

Blue Jays fans – and Blue Jays pitchers – will enjoy watching the revamped outfield.  This season, the  Blue Jays’ garden will feature three superior defenders.  Returnee George Springer – moving from CF to RF to make room for free-agent-signee Kevin Kiermaier (a three-time Gold Glover).  Joining these two will be another superior defender, LF Daulton Varsho, acquired in a trade with the Diamondbacks.  The three will boost Toronto’s defense,  Spring and Varsho should also provide some power and Kiermaier bring some speed to the base paths.  It’s on defense, however, where the trio is worth a watch. If the Blue Jays overtake the Yankees in 2023, these three will play a major roe.

 

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

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

100Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list.  For the full list, click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

 

 

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Baseball Roundtable 2023 NL Watch List

April 6, 2023 by

As each MLB season get underway, there are players that particularly spark Baseball Roundtable’s interest:  young prospects or veteran players hoping to deliver on expectations; players who are particularly crucial to their team’s prospects for the season; players who offer The Roundtable’s favored combination of Leather and Lumber;  retiring players making a last go-round; or players making adjustments to new positions, new roles or new teams.  You get the idea.  In this post, Baseball Roundtable will present its team-by-team National League Watch List for 2023, one (or two) players from each NL team that  The Roundtable will pay particular attention to over the coming months.  For the AL Watch List, click here. 

 Arizona Diamondbacks … OF  Corbin Carroll

Diamondbacks’ OF Corbin Carroll made his MLB debut last August 29, just eight days after his 22nd birthday. In the course of the season, he had made his way up through Rookie Ball, Double-A and Triple-A – hitting a combined .307-24-62, with 36 steals in 36 attempts – while also providing  elite outfield defense.  In 32 games for the Diamondbacks, the former first-round (2019) MLB Draft pick went .260-4-14, with two steals.  He followed up by hitting .370 in 2023 Spring Training.  The Diamondbacks expect big things of the 5’10” 165-pounder – and the Roundtable is looking forward to seeing him in “The Show” for a full season. Extra credit here for the fact that Carroll has shown notable power for a player his size.  Nice to see an average-sized guy delivering above average power.

Atlanta Braves … Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider

Atlanta’s CF Michael Harris II and RHP Spencer Strider finished 1 & 2 in the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year voting (far outdistancing the competition).  Harris had 22 first-place votes and 134 total points, Strider had eight-first place votes and 103 points.  Third place went to the Cardinals’  Brendan Donovan with just 22 points. Harris, who made his MLB debut on May 28, went .297-19-64, with twenty steals (22 attempts) in just 114 games; while Strider, who worked out of the bullpen until May 20, went 11-5, 2.67 overall and 10-4, 2.77 as a starter.  On the season, Strider fanned 13.8 batters per nine innings (202 whiffs in 131 2/3 frames).

A Nice Round Number

Spencer Strider reached 200 career strikeouts after 130 innings pitched, becoming the quickest ever in AL/NL history  (in terms of career innings) to 200 whiffs.  He broke Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s mark of 130 2/3 innings.

Harris entered the 2023 season as a 22 year-year-old, while Striker was 24.  Baseball Roundtable is anxious to see how this pair develops and delivers on 2022’s promise.

Chicago  Cubs – Seiya Suzuki

In March of 2022, the Cubs signed Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki to a five-year contract reportedly worth in the neighborhood of $85 million (exact terms were not released).  Playing for the Hiroshima Carp, Suzuki had been a five-time Japanese All Star, five-time Gold Glover and two-time batting champ.  In 2021, he went he went .317-38-88 in 132 games for Hiroshima.  In nine seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, Suzuki hit .315, with 189 home runs and 621 RBI in 902 games. That record (and contract) has resulted in high expectations.

In his first season  with the Cubs, somewhat hampered by a hand injury, Suzuki hit .262-14-46 with nine steals.  The 28-year-old started the 2023 season on the injured list (oblique), but is expected to return sometime in April.

The Roundtable is will be watching to see what a fully healthy Suzuki can deliver for the Cubbies.

Cincinnati Reds – Hunter Greene

No doubt, Reds’ righty Hunter Greene is a potential “ace” (once he masters his command).  Greene, the second overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft – out of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California – has brought triple-digit heat wherever he’s pitched.  In four minor-league seasons, he whiffed 249 batters in 186 innings. He’s been doing it with a four-seamer that averages 99 MPH and a solid (high-80’s)  slider.  Still, some command issues,  injury issues (a 2002 stint on the IL – shoulder) and the need for a third effective pitch have kept him from delivering on what seems to be his true potential.  A stronger squad behind him would also help.  Keep in mind, he’s just 23-years-old.

In 2022, Greene was 5-13, 4.44 in 24 starts, with 164 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings pitched for the Reds.  There were some positive signs. In his last eight starts of 2022, Greene went 2-3, but put up a 1.75 ERA and fanned 66 batters in 46 1/3 innings.

Baseball Roundtable will be watching Greene’s development – as well as those triple-digit numbers he keeps putting up on the board.

Reds-Hot Heat

On April 16, 2022, the Reds’ 22-year-old rookie Hunter Greene threw 39 pitches of 100 MPH or more – setting a new MLB single game record (in the pitch tracking era) for bringing the heat. And, he did it in just 5 1/3 innings versus a powerful, veteran Dodgers’ squad. That record stood until September 17, when Greene launched 47 missiles of  100 MPH or more in six innings against the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

Colorado Rockies – Ezequiel Tovar

SS Ezequiel Tovar was signed by the Rockies  (out of Venezuela) as a 16-year-old in 2017. The Reds saw solid potential in him then – and that perceived potential has grown as Tovar has matured.  In 2021, at 19-years-old, Tovar hit .287-15-72, with 24 steals in 104 games at Low- and High-A.  He followed up with a solid season at Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, hitting .319-14-49 with 17 steals and showing solid defensive skills.  He had a brief call up in September (.212 in nine games), and became the youngest position player ever to debut for the Rockies. Tovar appears to have won the Rockies’ shortstop job for 2023.  Rockies fans should enjoy watching his continued growth.  So will Baseball Roundtable.

Los Angeles Dodgers … JD Martinez

Lots of star power to watch here – like former MVPs Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and  Clayton Kershaw. Baseball  Roundtable is eager to see what impact newcomer free-agent J.D. Martinez will have on the Dodger lineup and what impact having more protection in the lineup will have on Martinez.  Last season, Martinez was .274-16-62 in 139 games for the Red Sox, but he has six seasons of 25+ home runs and a .288 career average on his resume.

I’ll also be  keeping an eye on the Dodgers’ shortstop “hole.”  With the departure of All Star Trea Turner, Gavin Lux was expected to fill the spot.  Lux went down with a season-ending injury, so now the Dodgers have to look to Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor (or others).  I’ll be watching to  watch to see who ends up there.

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BONUS TRIVIA TIDBIT

With all the rule changes taking effect this season – pitch clocks, limits on pickoff attempts, shift restrictions – Baseball Roundtable decided to look back at a major rule change that took place in the American League in 1973.

On this date, April 6, 1973, the first-ever designated hitter appeared in an MLB  lineup.  A few bits of trivia.

  • The first DH to come to the plate was the Yankees Ron Blomberg; the pitcher who faced him was the Red Sox’ Luis Tiant.
  • The first-ever MLB DH (Blomberg, batting sixth ) came to the plate with two out the bases loaded (Graig Nettles on first, Bobby Murcer on second, Matty Alou on third).
  • The first-ever DH (Blomberg) drew a bases-loaded walk.
  • Ron Blomberg was also the first MLB DH to get a base hit – a single off Tiant in the third inning.
  • Later that Day, Twins DH Tony Oliva  became the first DH to hit a home run – a first-inning, two-run homer off Catfish Hunter (in Oakland).
  • Here’s your list of players appearing at DH on April 6, 1973: Ron Blomberg, Yankees; Orlando Cepeda, Red Sox; Tony Oliva, Twins; Bill North, Athletics; Ed Kirkpatrick, Royals; Tom McGraw, Angels; Ollie Brown, Brewers; Terry Crowley, Orioles.  (On the following day, these players became the first DH’s for their teams: John Ellis, Indians; Gates Brown, Tigers; Mike Andrews, White Sox; Rico Carty, Rangers).

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Miami Marlins – Sandy Alcantara

Photo: Ryan Casey Aguinaldo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

No contest on who to watch here – 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara (14-9, 2.28). The 27-year-old righty’s arsenal includes a 98-MPH four-seam fastball,  a 98-MPH sinker and a 91-MPH change.  And, of all his offering have good movement.  He’s also a bit old school, leading MLB with six complete games and 228 2/3 innings pitched in 2022. His 2022 record could (should?) have been better – in 32 starts, Alcantara gave up two or fewer runs 24 times.  Looking to see more of the same in 2023.  Want to see and old-fashioned complete game?  Keep an eye on Alcantara.

Talk about Old School

In just his second outing of the 2023 season, Sandy Alcantara threw a three-hit, 100-pitch, complete game shutout – topping the Twins in Miami) 1-0 in a game that took just 1 hour and 57 minutes.  

 

Milwaukee Brewers – Brice Turang

Brewers’ 23-year-old second baseman Brice Turang – a first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft – looks ready for the big leagues. In 2022, with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, Turang hit .286-13-78, with 34 steals in 131 games.  He came north with the Brewers after a .289-1-4 Spring Training (17 games).  A natural shortstop (in the minors, Turang made 326 starts at SS, 44 at 2B, 13 in the OF and eight at 3B), Turang is making the transition to full-time at the keystone sack. I’m anxious to see how he fares in the regular season.

I’ll also be keeping an eye on Christian Yelich to see if he can recapture the form that made him the 2018 MVP and the number-two vote-getter for MVP in 2019. (From 2013 trough 2019, Yelich went .301-139-500), from 2020-2022, he went .243-35-130.

New York Mets … Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander missed pretty much all of the 2019 and 2021 seasons (Tommy John surgery), but made a remarkable comeback with the Astros in 2022 – going  18-4, 1.75, while  leading the AL in wins and ERA and picking up his third Cy Young Award.  He signed as a free agent with the Mets in the off-season and is a key to their pennant chances. Verlander, now 40-years-old, started the 2023 season on the IL (shoulder strain).  The Roundtable will be watching to see how the veteran right-hander recovers (he is not expected to be out long) and how he performs in his 18th MLB season.

Can Old Guys Rule (again)?

The Mets are looking to Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander as a 1-2 PUNCH  at the top of their 2023 rotation. The pair have a combined six Cy Young Awards. They also have a combined 78 years in age.  It will be fun to see if Old Guys can rule.

Philadelphia Phillies – Trea Turner

Signed as a free agent, SS Tea Turner went .298-21-100, with 101 runs scored and 27 steals for the Dodgers in 2022. With Bryce Harper out until the All Star break and Rhys Hoskins out for the season, the Phillies need Turner to repeat those numbers if they are going to compete in the East. His MLB resume says he should.   I’ll also be keeping an eye on Kyle Schwarber, who hit a career-high 46 home runs and drove in a career-high 94 tallies  (despite a .218 average and a league-leading 200 whiffs). The Philllies also need Schwarber to step up in the absence  of Harper and Hoskins.

First Signs of Spring

Trea Turner went .478-2-7 in eight 2023 Spring Training games.

Pittsburgh Pirate – Andrew McCutchen

A sentimental choice here.  Andrew McCutchen, in his fifteenth MLB season, is back with the Pirates (free-agent signing), where he began his MLB career, won the NL MVP Award in 2013 and  made five All Star teams in nine seasons.

He’s still got some pop in his bat (.237-17-69 for the Brewers last season). It would be nice to see the veteran energized by a return to Pittsburgh –  say in the neighborhood .275-25-80.

St. Louis Cardinals  – Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado

Baseball Roundtable likes players who flash leather and lumber, so I’ll be watching the Cardinals’ corner infielders (1B  Paul Goldschmidt and 3B  Nolan Arenado), who (appropriately) finished first and third, respectively, in 2022 NL MVP voting.  Goldschmidt went .317-35-115 and showed his usual sterling form on defense (he has four Gold Gloves and seven season of 30+ home runs to his credit).  Arenado went .293-30-103 and picked up his tenth Gold Glove. Arenado has won three home run titles, has three seasons of 40+ home runs and three more of 30 or more.

They Call Him the Streak

Nolan Arenado has won the NL Gold Glove at third base in every season since (and including) his rookie campaign of 2013.

The RoundTable will enjoy watching these two veterans ply their trade on the field and at the plate.

San Diego Padres – Fernando Tatis Jr.

Photo: Ryan Casey Aguinaldo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Fernando Tatis Jr. broke out as a 22-year-old in 2021  (.282-42-97, with 25 steals in 130 games). Since then, he hasn’t played a game – wrist and shoulder surgery and an 80-game PED-related suspension. He comes off suspension on April 20 and will be moving into a new position (moving to the outfield  from primary duty as a shortstop as a result of the Padres’ acquisition of Xander Bogaerts).  He’s got a lot on his plate coming into the season and will be worth a watch.

San Francisco Giants – Blake Sabol

Picked up from the Reds, 25-year-old Blake Sabol won a roster spot with a .348-3-10 Spring (20 Spring Training games).  There seems to be plenty of potential here.  In three minor-league seasons, Sabol went .282-34-142 in 246 games.  In 2022, at Double- and Triple-A, Sabol hit .284-19-75 and even swiped ten bags. A versatile player Sabol looks to spend some time in the outfield and behind the plate.  For The Roundtable, the watch will focus on whether Sabol can claim (and retain) the regular catching duties (over Roberto Perez and Joey Bart).

Washington Nationals – Joey Meneses

Nationals’ 1B  Joey Meneses was one of the feel good stories of 2022. Making his MLB debut on August 2 – as a 30-year-old called up in his tenth minor-league season, he had truly paid his dues.   Meneses, who also spent time on the field  in Mexico, the Caribbean and Japan, was hitting .286-20-64 at Triple-A (96 games) when called up.  He quickly collected on all those due she paid, going .324-13-34 in 56 games for the Nationals.  The Roundtable will be watching to see if the Cinderella story continues.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

100Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list.  For the full list, click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

 

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Twins Raise the Food & Beverage Bar (again) … Minnesota Style

April 4, 2023 by

Yesterday (April 3), Baseball Roundtable took part in what has become a Roundtable rite of spring – the Twins’ Annual Food and Beverage Preview. Sponsored by the Minnesota Twins and Delaware North (the team’s food and retail partner), this annual media event features a look at (and taste of) the upcoming season’s new Target Field food and beverage offerings.

The Twins Keep Raising the Bar

As I’ve noted here before, when I first began attending MLB games, standard fare consisted of (not always piping-hot) hot dogs and (not always ice-cold) beer and soda.  For those wanting to step outside the box, there were peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jack® (which was, of course, in the box and with a toy).  For the really adventurous, there were frozen malt cups (with a wooden spoon after taste).  When pizza and burgers arrived on the scene, we all thought baseball’s culinary landscape was complete.

Side note:  I must admit, I do miss in-the-stands vendors who had mastered the art of applying decorative ribbons of mustard and/or ketchup to a steamed hot dog.  Those days, however, are past. 

The 2023 Target Field Food and Beverage Preview (like those that went before it ) brought home how wrong we were about reaching the ultimate in ballpark fare – and how committed the Twins are to continually raising the ballpark food and beverage bar, while also  building an ever-stronger Minnesota connection.

Here are a few of Baseball Roundtable’s favorite new Target Field offerings for 2023 – as judged by super-taster Bob King and me.   Those items that are Minnesota made are identified.  I attempted to include prices and locations wherever possible. Note:  Many, not all, of the photos show the sample size from the Food and Beverage Preview, rather than full size offering  (generally, if the descriptive sign is in the photo, it’s a full -size offering).  And of course, prices and availability  are subject to change. 

Let’s start with the Baseball Roundtable Taste Team’s  top-six new items.

Number One … Jr.  Gong Jerk Chicken Bowl (Minnesota made), Soul Bowl, Section 113, $14.50.

Roasted jerk chicken thighs, glazed with pineapple jerk sauce and served with sweet plantains and yellow rice.  Bob and I both rated this number-one among the new tastes of the Twins.  The chicken was both spicy and juicy (take an extra napkin), with just enough sweet in the pineapple and plantain to balance the “heat.”

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Number Two … Cochinita Sliders, Truly on Deck.

Pork wrapped in banana leaves and braised in adobe sauce, with habanero pickled red onions and tequila pickles – served on a Sweet Hawaiian Roll.  Bob rated this as “the most unique and original offering.” He liked the combination of the braised pork flavor and  the “tang” of the tequila pickles.  This one really wakes up the taste buds.

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Number Three … Summer Strawberries and Cream Waffles, Waffles and More, Section 114.

Need desert?  We were both impressed by the Summer Strawberries and Cream Waffles.  Waffles crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside – topped with true summer sweetness.  The stand also offers Chicken and Waffles and Belgian Waffles with locally-sourced maple syrup.

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Number Four … Legacy Salad (Minnesota made), Roots for the Home Team, Look for the concession cart.  (In recent seasons, near Gate 34 on weekends).

Lighter Fair?  A salad of brown rice, pickled vegetables, edamame, snap pears and bok choy. Crisp, fresh with just the right level of zip in the dressing. Good food for a good cause. Roots for the Home Team works with area young people  participating in community garden programs to cultivate personal and professional growth.

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Number Five … Banh Mi Sandwich … Sous vide pork belly served on a hoagie roll with dark soy aioli, picked vegetables add sweet soy caramel. Bob noted that “This is a winner for me.  Nice and meaty.  The pork belly has a nice crunch and the hardy bun holds up to the sandwich.” Truly on Deck.

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Number Six … Chicken Sandwich (Minnesota made), Official Fried Chicken, Section 133, $8.99.

Official Fried Chicken offers a Chicken Sandwich ($8.99), as well as four- and eight-piece bone-in chicken and chicken tenders and fries ($12.99-$27.99). All the chicken was tasty, so it’s a matter of personal preference as to how you like your fowl served.  Bob and I both preferred the Chicken Sandwich – juicy broasted chicken in a sandwich that was just spicy enough.    Also, worth a try for the technology.  You order put in your at a kiosk, leave a phone number and then receive a text when it ready.  You’ll find it in one of the convenient heated pick-up boxes (see photo), ready to go.  No fuss, no lines.

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Three Adult Beverages We Think Would All be

a Refreshing Way to Lift Your Ballpark Spirits.

Lovejoy Bloody Mary

Bomboozled … Bomba Juice (Strawberry/Lemonade Hard Seltzer) with an extra kick (60-Proof Strawberry/Basil/Chili Muddle). Gray Duck Deck, left field corner.

Lovejoy Thai Basil Bloody Mary (Minnesota made), garnished with Lovejoy-seasoned Minnesota Duroc Pork Belly.  Gate 34 Pub.

Double Play … (Minnesota made), Keeper’s Heart Rye and Keeper’s Heart Bourbon with pineapple and cranberry juice. Truly on Deck.

 

 

 

 

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A  few other items to consider:

 

Hmong Sausage and Khao Sen/Rice  Noodle Bowl (Minnesota made) …  Seared Kramarczuk’s Hmong Sausage, served with chilled rice noodles, fresh herbs, cabbage, and vegetable slaw in a sweet chili vinaigrette.  Union Hmong Kitchen, Section 127.

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Loaded Potatoes … Looking for some comfort food at the ballyard? Fried baby red potatoes topped with cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon and scallions, Truly on Deck.

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T-Rex Cookies (Minnesota made) … These sweet treats (Chocolate  Chip and Monster Flavor) are the size of a catcher’s mitt (or, at about 8-inches across, seem nearly so).   A chewy-chocolaty dessert to share or, given the new pitch-count rules, one that should last a full inning or more. Multiple locations.

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Mrs. Parker Donut Peach Cobbler (Minnesota made) … Feeling the need for something super sweet?  A yeast donut topped with sweet peach cobbler, caramel drizzle and crushed vanilla wafers. Truly on Deck.

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Jonny Pops (Minnesota made)  … Summer Strawberries and Cream, Chocolate Fudge and Oat Milk, Rainbow Fruit Snacks, Watermelon, and Red, White and Boom.   Section 126.

Beer Bats … Souvenir bat filled with ice-cold beer. This bat should be a hit with fans of beer and baseball – you pick the order. Multiple locations.

Wine Carafes … Wine, champagne, Mimosas and more in a unique carafe you’ll probably want to take home.   Section 114.

This is just a sampling of the new items for 2023.  Many favorites from past seasons will also be back: like Hot Indian Chicken Tikka, Kramarczuk’s Sausages, Tony O’s Cuban Sandwich, Murray’s Smoked Beef Sandwich and more.  And, don’t forget more traditional ballpark favorites like the Twins Big Dog, Nachos Grande in a helmet, bratwurst, pizza, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, and ice cream in a helmet.   The point is, when you head into the Target Field, you have plenty of choices when it comes to food and beverage.  Enjoy – and try not to spill on your scorecard.  (Okay, I’m old school, I still keep a scorecard.)

For a full listing  of concession  offerings, locations and prices, click here to go to the Twins Concession page.

 

Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.

100Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.  To see the full list, click here.

Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list.  For the full list, click here. 

I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT

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

 

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The More Things Change … Well, The More Things Change … New Lineups for 2023

April 1, 2023 by

Marcus Stroman – called for the first-ever regular-season pitch clock violation.

Opening Day (as I begin putting together this post) is upon us (as you read this, it will be behind us). As has been usual in recent seasons, the day is marked by change in MLB.  This year it’s shift-restricting regulations, a strictly enforced time clock, limits on pickoff attempts, a revamped schedule (each team will face all 29 other MLB teams at some point in the schedule, which means 24 fewer in-division games) and permanency for the extra-inning “ghost” runner.  As baseball fans we will, of course, learn to live with these changes.  (Well, most of them anyway. I remain steadfast in refusing to recognize ghost runners on my scorecard.)

In this post, Baseball Roundtable will look at a different kind of annual change.  The change we see in each season’s Opening Day lineups. Consider.  Of the 299 players who found themselves in the 2022 Opening Day lineups  (Shohei Ohtani is the reason the total is one short of ten per team), just 183 (61%) found themselves among the 2023 Opening Day starters.  Further, less than half (135/45 percent)  of 2023 Opening Day starters found themselves on the field to start Opening Day for the same team they “opened” for in 2022.

The highest number of repeat  Opening Day starters was six – by the Yankees, Rays, Orioles, Guardians, Tigers, Astros, Mariners, Braves, Mets, Marlins and Giants.  The fewest number of repeat Opening Day starters was two – Athletics, Pirates, Reds and Diamondbacks.

The Brewers had the highest number of 2022 Opening Day starters appearing in the Opening Day lineups of a new teams in 2023 at five:  2B Kolten Wong (Mariners); DH Andrew McCutchen (Pirates); RF Hunter Renfroe (Angels); C Omar Narvaez (Mets); 3B Jace Peterson (Athletics).  The Cardinals, Rockies and Astros had zero 2022 Opening Day starters appearing in another teams 2022 Opening Day lineup.

So, how does all this lineup change come about? Several ways:

  • Trades:  Think the Twins/Marlins trade that made former-Twin and AL batting champ Luis Arreaz (who started Opening Day 2022 for the Twins) the first player to come to the plate  for the Marlins this season and made former-Marlin Pablo Lopez the first pitcher to take the mound for the Twins in the 2023 campaign.
  • Injuries:   Think players stepping in for Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins of the Phillies or Jose Altuve of the Astros (all of whom were Opening Day 2022 starters).
  • Free Agent signings:  Think Jose Abreu , who started at 1B for the White Sox  on Opening Day 2022 and at 1B for the Astros this Opening Day – or Trea Turner, who started at SS for the Dodgers on Opening Day 2022 and at the same spot for the Phillies this Opening Day.
  • Players getting their first Opening Day start:  Think players  like Yankees’ SS Anthony Volpe and Cardinals LF  Jordan Walker,whose first Opening Day starts were also their MLB debuts. 

In the remainder of this post, Baseball Roundtable will take a look at the 2023 and 2022 lineups, in the order I predict  the teams will finish.  And, for those who are a little more nostalgic, I’ll toss in a look at team lineups from five and ten years ago.

Before we get started, for Roundtable readers from warmer climates, here’s ho we approach the home opener in Minnesota (at least this season).

Now for those lineups (and predictions).

–NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST–

First Place … Atlanta Braves

Second … New York Mets

Third – Phillies

 

 

Fourth … Marlins

Fifth … Nationals 

–NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL–

First Place … Cardinals

Second – Brewers

 

Third … Cubs

Fourth …. Pirates

 

Fifth … Reds 

 

–NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST–

First  Place… Padres

Second … Dodgers

Third … Diamondbacks

 

Fourth … Giants

Fifth … Rockies

–AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST–

First Place …. Yankees

Second … Blue Jays

Third … Rays

Fourth … Orioles

Fifth … Red Sox

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

First Place … Twins

Second … Guardians

Third … White Sox

Fourth … Royals

 

Fifth … Tigers

–AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST–

First Place… Astros

Second … Mariners

Third … Angels 

Fourth … Rangers

Fifth … Athletics

 

 

Primary Resource:  Baseball-Reference.com

Coming Soon: The Roundtable picks one player from each team for its 2023 “One to Watch List.”

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