It’s May  1, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s April Wrap Up –  statistics and stories that caught BB Roundtable’s eye in April; leader boards for the month; BBRT’s Players and Pitchers of the Month; and the monthly Trot Index.

Here’s a hint at the kind of things you’ll read about – if you make it to the end of this post.

• The season’s first no-hitter, first triple play and first Immaculate Inning;
• A total of one complete game, and it wasn’t the no-hitter;
• Miguel Cabrera’s 3,000th base hit;
• A bases-loaded intentional walk;
• A walk-off home run by a player named Beer on National Beer Day.
• A pitcher pulled after 80 pitches, while seven innings into a perfect game.

For all this and more, read on.  If the stats don’t grab you, you can scroll to the Players/Pitchers of the Month and Highlights sections.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS AND PITCHERS

OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL

 

—–Players of the Month—–

National League – Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals

Arenado hint .375-5-17, with nine walks for the month (second in the NL in RBI, fifth in home runs and third, among qualifiers, in batting average.) He led NL qualifiers in slugging percentage (.681) and was also in the top five in  in on-base parentage (.444), Arenado started the month with an eight-game hitting streak and, ultimately, hit in 16 of 19 games; with seven multi-hit contests.  And, let’s not forget, he also flashed some pretty good leather at the hot corner.

Starting  his tenth MLB season, the 31-year-old Nolan Arenado has won nine Gold Gloves at the hot corner.   

Honorable Mentions:  Eric Hosmer, 1B, Padres, led all MLB qualifiers with a .389 average (three home runs, 14 RBI). His 28 hits (in 20 games) tied for third-highest in MLB this April.  Manny Machado, 3B, Padres hit 386 for the month, with four  home runs, 15 RBI and an MLB-best 20 runs scored. His 32 April hits led MLB; Rockies’ first-sacker C.J. Cron led the NL with seven home runs (.273 average and 19 RBI) – a 21-to-5 ratio of strikeouts-to-walks hurt his standing.  Really, for me, it was pretty much a toss up among Arenado, Machado and Hosmer.

American League …  Jose Ramirez, 3B, Guardians

Ramirez is a hitting machine. In April, he led MLB in RBI with 28, was second in MLB and led the AL in home runs with seven, led MLB qualifiers in slugging percentage at .722  and hit a robust .342. He also showed good plate discipline with nine walks and nine strikeouts. During the month, he had a six-RBI game and a pair of four-RBI  contests. He collected hits in 17 of 21 games played,with seven multi-hit games.

Honorable Mentions:  Yankees’ 1B Anthony Rizzo, whose nine April home runs led MLB (a .273 average and 21 RBI); Red Sox’ SS Xander Bogaerts, who hit .375-1-9  for the month, collecting 30 hits (second in MLB) and scoring 12 runs.

—–Pitchers of the Month—–

National League – Pablo Lopez, RHP, Marlins

Wow! Pablo Lopez put up a 3-0 record, with an MLB-lowest (among qualifiers) 0.39 earned run average. He also fanned 23 hitters and walked just four in 23 1/3 innings and didn’t give p a single home run. In his one no-decision, he gave up one run in five innings against the Giants (his first start, April 9). It was the only run he gave up in four April starts.  His best game came against the tough Cardinals on April 21.  He went seven innings, giving up just three hits and no walks, while fanning nine. The 26-year-old, out of Venezuela, came into the season with an MLB record of 18-21, 4.04, but was 5-5, 3.07 in 2021.

On July 11, 2021, Lopez started against the Braves (in Miami) and set an MLB record by fanning the first nine batters in a game – using just 35 pitches (30 strikes, including foul balls)  to record the nine whiffs. He got the win, as the Marlins topped Atlanta 7-4. Lopez gave up three runs over six innings (five hits, two walks, nine strikeouts).

Honorable Mentions: Carlos Rodon went 3-0 in four starts (pitching 23 innings).  His 1.17 ERA was third in the NL (among qualifiers). Rodon, however, impressed by leading the NL with 38 April strikeouts; Josh Hader, Mets, was 10-for 10 in save opportunities, fanned 15 batters in 9 1/3 innings and did not allow an earned run; Kyle Wright, Braves, went 3-0. 1.13 in four starts, fanning 34 and walking just six in 24 innings; the Met’s Tylor Megill gets a nod as the NL’s only four-game winner (4-0. 1.93 … 27 whiffs and only six walks); finally, there is tough-luck Corbin Burnes. He pitched 25 2/3 innings, walked only six and posted a 1.75 ERA – yet had only one win (no losses) to show for it. In his final three starts in April, Burnes threw 20 2/3 innings and gave up just two runs (29 whiffs) -and got a win and two no-decision for his efforts.

American League – Logan Gilbert RHP, Mariners

Okay, maybe I’m a sucker for ERA (see Pablo Lopez above), but 24-year-old righty Logan Gilbert went 3-0 with an AL-best 0.40 earned run average in four April starts.  In 22 1/3 innings, he fanned 22 and walked just four. He  gave up a homer run to the second batter he faced this season – the Twins’ Luis Arreaz – and then didn’t surrender another earned run  for the rest of the month (22 innings). (He did give up one unearned run). Gilbert, by the way, was a first-round draft choice in the 2018 MLB draft (out of Stetson University, where he went 23-3, 2.48 over three seasons). He went 11-5, 2.12 in two minor-league seasons, before being called up to the Mariners  last May. In 2021, he went 6-5, 4.68 in 24 starts for Settle.,

Honorable Mentions: Alek Manoah, RHP, Blue Jays was one of just three MLB four-game winners in April – going 4-0, 1.44 in four starts (25 innings pitched), fanning 25 and walking seven; Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins, who went 3-1, with a 1.17 ERA (second in the AL), 0.70 WHIP (second) and fanned 25 batters in 23 innings; and you have to give a shout out to Astros’ 39-year-old veteran Justin Verlander, who went 2-1. 1.73 in four starts (26 innings) and recorded the lowest WHIP among MLB qualifiers at 0.69.

—–Surprise Player of the Month—-

Ty France , 1B, Mariners

Mariners’ 27-year-old 1B Ty France closed out April with a .337-5-21 line – which placed him fifth in the AL (among qualifiers) in average, eighth in home runs and second in RBI. He was also second in the AL in hits. In  April, he recorded seven multi-it games – including a five-for-six performance, with one home run and five RBI, as the Mariners topped the Royals 13-7 on April 23.  He was especially tough in Seattle, hitting .474 at home – and even tougher with runners in scoring positions (11-for-19, .550).  France’s emergence rates as a Baseball Roundtable surprise, but not for the reasons you might think. After all, in 2021, his first full MLB season, he put up a .291-18-73 line.   What surprises The Roundtable is: 1) How was he available in the 34^th round of the 2015 MLB Draft – the 1,017^th overall pick (Padres), especially after putting up a .337 average in three seasons (189 games) at San Diego State? and 2) Why were the Padres were willing to trade him to the Mariners during the 2020 season? The Padres traded France, P Andres Munoz, C Luis Torrens and OF Taylor Trammell to the Mariners for P Austin Adams, P C/INF Dan Altavilla and 1B Austin Nola.

When Ty France was called up to the Padres in August of  2019, he was hitting a robust .399 in 76 games for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas (118-for-296, one hit shy of .400+), with 27 home runs and 89 RBI.

Honorable Mention: Angels’ outfielder Taylor Ward came into the season as a .230 career MLB hitter (four seasons/159 games), but put up a .392-5-13 line in 14 April contests. (He started the season on the IL with a groin strain). On April 27, Ward nearly hit for the cycle – ironically missing just the single – as he went three-for-four with a walk, double, triple, home run and four RBI versus the Guardians. This may be the Taylor Ward the Angels were expecting when they made him a first-round pick (out of California State University in Fresno) in the 2015 MLB draft. (Ward did  put up a .299 average in six minor-league seasons … 490 games). In 2021, Taylor hit .250-8-33 in 65 games with the Angels.

________________

TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE

Through April, 35.5 percent of the MLB season’s 23,462 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 (8.9%); home runs (2.4%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). 

Now, to provide a little context (a more detailed post on this topic coming soon). Here are a few selected annual Trot Index scores since I began watching baseball in earnest:  1950  – 22.8 %; 1960 – 25.1%; 1970 – 27.0%; 1980 – 23.1%; 1990 – 26.1%; 2000 – 29.9%; 2010 – 30.3%; 2021 – 36.3%.

______________

It’s a bit early to to make any judgments about how this season is going, but here are a few observations, as well as a trio of charts that may shed some light on April.

• It’s no surprise that Mets’ starters racked up 11 April wins; but it’s a little surprising that they did it without Jacob deGrom.
• It’s surprising that the Pirates did not have a single victory from a starter in April.
• It’s surprising (only just a little) that April saw only one complete-game in MLB; but not surprising that a Dodger threw it.
• It’s a little surprising to see the Angels leading the NL West and a lot surprising to see the Marlins in second place in the NL East.
• It’s not surprising to see four NL West teams playing .570+ ball, but it is surprising to see all bu tone  AL Central team below .450.
• It’s surprising that the Reds have won only three games, but still have more saves (3) than the Rangers (2).

\

——-Team  Statistical Leaders for April  ———-

RUNS SCORED (average 85)

National League – Padres (104); Giants(104); Phillies (100)

American League – Angels (104); Yankees (100); Mariners (95)

The fewest April runs were scored by Royals at 59.  The Red were at the bottom of the NL with 66. 

AVERAGE (average .231)

National League –  Rockies (.261); Mets (.255); Cubs (.250)

American League –Angels (.255); Guardians (.251); Yankees (.250)

The lowest team average for April belonged to the Diamondbacks at .181 – the only team under.200.

HOME RUNS (average 19)

National League – Braves (28); Giants (24); Brewers (24)

American League –  Blue Jays (30); Yankees (29); Angels (27)

The Tigers had the fewest home runs in April, just 8. Lowest in the NL were the Nationals and Pirates as 12 each. 

STOLEN BASES (average 10)

National League – Cardinals (22); Dodgers (16);

American League – Angels (16); Rays (16); Mariners (14); Royals (14)

The Tigers stole the fewest April bases – two (in five attempts).  The Cardinals were safe on 22 of 23 attempts. 

WALKS DRAWN (average 69)

National League –   Padres (92); Diamondbacks (82); Dodgers (82)

American League – Mariners (86); Angels (77); Twins (76)

The Mets led MLB  in on-base percentage for April at .341. The Angels led the AL  at .338. In slugging percentage, the Rockies  on top at .426, while the Guardians  led the AL at .330.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS (average 180)

National League – Diamondbacks (198); Brewers (198); raves (198)

American League – Orioles (208); A’s (197); Angels (193)

Royals’ batters went down on strikes the fewest times in April   (138).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE

National League – Dodgers (2.29); Mets (2.85); Giants (2.87)

American League – Yankees (2.70); Twins (3.16); Rays (3.18)

Four  teams had April ERAs of 5.00  or higher– Reds (5.97); Pirates (5.09); Nationals (5.08). Those three teams went a combined (19-46).  Conversely, the three teams with the lowest April ERAs went a combined 43-20. 

STRIKEOUTS (average 180)

National League – Brewers (222); Mets (219); Braves (207)

American League – Yankees (199); Rays (196); Red Sox (196)

The Brewers averaged an MLB-best 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings in April. The White Sox  averaged an AL-best 9.7.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED (average 69)

National League – Dodgers (46); Giants (52); Cardinals (59)

American League –  Guardians (53); Tigers (55); Rays (57)

The Dodgers walked a stringiest 2.3 batters per nine frames. The Reds  walked an MLB’s highest 5.0 per nine innings for the month.

SAVES (average 6)

National League – Brewers (11); Rockies (10); Marlins (9)

American League – Blue Jays (11); Yankees (8); A’s (7); Angels (7)

Bonus Stats – In the Field

The  White Sox and Orioles made the most April errors (21 each); while  the Yankees were guilty of just five April Miscues.

 

—-APRIL HIGHLIGHTS—-

Climbing the Ladder

On April 30,  Blue Jays’ DH and leadoff hitter George Springer led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run off the Astros’ Luis Garcia. He added a second long ball with one out in the third inning, but it was the first-inning shot that drew Baseball Roundtable’s attention.  It was 46th leadoff home run of Springer’ career – moving him into a tie for sixth all-time in leadoff dingers.  Of course, atop that leaderboard is Rickey Henderson with 81.  (Side note: Springer made his lead-off home run more Henderson-like by adding a stolen base after being hit by a pitch in the fifth frame.) Springer is now in position to move further up the ladder this season.  Here is the list of players with the most career leadoff home runs:

 

 

• Rickey Henderson … 81
• Alfonso Soriano … 54
• Craig Biggio … 53
• Ian Kinsler …48
• Curtis Granderson … 47
• Jimmy Rollins and George Springer …46

Welcome To The Show

On April 29, 32-year-old Jason Krizan started in LF for the Giants – and his appearance was a tribute to perseverance in following a dream.  It came in his twelfth professional season, after 1,132 minor-league games.  Krizan was drafted in the eighth round of the 2011 MLB Draft (Tigers) – out of Dallas Baptist University, where, in 2011,  he hit .413-10-81 in 62 games. Over his 1,000+ minor league games, he hit .275-83-541.  On his lengthy journey to the “show,” Krizan had several solid seasons – including  .293-7-56 at Double-A in 2014; .294-10-65 at Double- and Triple-A in 2016; and .316-16-73 at Triple-A in 2021. In his first MLB game, Krizan went 0-for-3 with a walk.

First No-Hitter of 2022 A Team Effort

On April 29, the Mets recorded the first no-hitter of 2022, as they topped the Phillies 3-0. It was a true team effort, as five Mets’ pitchers combined to in a no-hit/no-run performance,  giving up six walks and fanning 12.  Starter Tylor Megill got the win and Edwin Diaz the save. For more on this contest, click here.

Sacrifice Hit (Bunt) Still A Weapon

We hear a lot these days about how hitters have lost the art of the bunt. Apparently, fielders have seen a decline in a related skill set. On April 29, with the Twins facing the Tigers in Minnesota, the Twins executed two sacrifice bunts in a game for the first time since August 31, 2018. It came in the fifth inning of a 2-1 game (Twins ahead). DH Trevor Larnach led off with a groundball single (off Tarik Skubal). The next hitter, CF Gilberto Celestino dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. Detroit third sacker Harold Castro fielded the bunt, but his throw hit Celestino (safe on an error) putting runners on first and second with no out. Next up was 2B Jorge Polanco, who also dropped down a bunt.  This time, Detroit C Tucker Barnhardt made the play – and his throw hit Polanco (safe on an error) – loading the bases (on a single and a pair of “sacrifices”).  The next batter, SS Carlos Correa doubled home all three runners.  The Twins eventually won 7-1.

350 – a Round and Crooked Number

More of #InBaseballWeCountEverything. On April 27, in a Yankees’ 5-2 win over the Orioles in New York, Yankee DH Giancarlo Stanton his his 350th MLB home run. I remember a time when we only saw reports on round numbers  (300th, 400th, 500th home runs). Now, we’re getting updates on round-and-crooked numbers – like 350. We even learned that Stanton was the seventh fastest major leaguer (in terms of games played) to reach 350 long balls.  For those who like to know such things, Mark McGwire was the fastest, reaching 350 dingers in his 1,280th contest. Stanton is in his 13th MLB season. He has topped 30 home runs in six seasons – a high of 59 in 2017, when he was National League Most Valuable Player for the 77-85 Marlins; edging Reds 1B Joey Votto by a 302-to-300 tally. Side note:  The Reds were 68-94 that season.

Leave Me In Coach

On April 25, Dodgers’ righty Walker Buehler started against the Diamondbacks (in Arizona).  Walker pitched well and got the win (which, in itself, is not big news.) But, in a reflection of how the game has changed, he pitched a complete-game, shutout – the only MLB complete-game outing in April.  It was also Buehler’s first career shutout (six seasons, 98 starts) and third complete game. (Side note: Again, on how the game has changed. In 2019, Buehler tied for the NL  lead in complete games with two.) In the April 25 game, Buehler threw 108 pitches (75 strikes). giving up three hit and no walks, and fanning ten. He ended April at 2-1, 2.55 in four starts.

Gotta Love Trivia

You can build a host of trivia questions off this situation (plus it’s more of #HowThe GameHasChanged).  In 2008, CC Sabathia led all of MLB in complete games with ten. He also led the NL with seven complete outings.  In addition, he led MLB in shutouts with five and tied for both the NL lead in shutouts with three and AL lead with two.  More trivia, C.C.’s given name is Carsten Charles Sabathia, Jr.  He was a six-time All Star, the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner and twice led the AL in wins. He finished with a career line of 251-161, 3.74.  

Cabrera Continues to Constructs First Ballot Resume

On April 23. the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera added another line to his Hall of Fame resume.  In the bottom of the first inning of Detroit’s 13-0 home win over Colorado, Cabrera singled off Antonio Senzetal for his 3,000^th major-league hit.  That made the 39-year-old Cabrera, in his 20th MLB season:

• The 33^rd player in MLB history to reach 3,000 safeties; and
• The seventh player to reach 3,000 hits and 500 home runs;

He also set himself up to (eventually) become one of one of just three players to retire with 3,000 hits, 500 home runs and a .300+ batting average (joining the lite company of Hank Aaron and Willie Mays).

Cabrera is also:

• One of just 14 players with four or more batting titles;
• One of 22 players to win the hitter’s Triple Crown (Avg.-HR-RBI); and
• One of just 32 players with multiple MVP Awards.

Technology Changes the Game – in Many Ways

A first for me at the ballpark.  In the top of the eighth inning of the Twins’ April 23 game against the White Sox (in Minnesota), the game was delayed briefly (and the players pulled from the field) due to “a drone in the area.”

Also in the category of how the game has changed, I miss real pasteboard tickets, vendors in the aisles and using cash at the ballpark. 

A Nice Three-for-One Deal

On  April 20,the Mariners (at home) were looking to jump on the Rangers early.   2B Adam Frazier opened the bottom of the first inning by drawing a four-pitch walk from Rangers’ starter Dane Dunning. 1B Ty France followed with a single to left, with Frazier moving up to second base. LF Jesse Winker was up next and, on  a 3-2 pitch, hit a hard liner that seemed headed for right field – putting both base runners on the move. Rangers’ first baseman Nathaniel Lowe snagged the liner for the first out, stepped on the first base bag to retire France and fired to SS Corey Seager, covering second, to retire Frazier – completing 2022’s first triple play. Seattle, however, did go on to win the game by a 4-2 score

He Didn’t Bobble That One

April 18^th was the Astros’ home opener and Yordan Alvarez Bobblehead Night at Minute Maid Park.  Alvarez was in the lineup for the first time in more than a week (illness/fever), but he gave the fans what they were looking for.

Alvarez, who came into the game hitting .143 (two-for-14, with one home run and two RBI), celebrated his bobblehead in style – going three-for-five with two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI, as the Astros topped the Angels 8-3. The Astros’ DH hit a two-run homer in the first inning; singled (and scored) in the fourth; struck out in the fifth; hit a two-run homer in the seventh; and struck out again in the eighth.

 

A Feel-Good Story

On April 25, Tyler Zombro took the mound for the Durham Bulls (against the Norfolk Tides) in Norfolk,Virginia – and it was a big moment.  Early last June, also against the Tides, Zombro was struck above his right ear by a 100+ m.p.h. line drive – an injury that resulted in emergency surgery and the placement of 16 plates and 36 screws to stabilize his skull.  On April 25, He came on in the second inning and pitched a scoreless frame (one double). 

An Immaculate Inning in a Good Outing

On April 17, Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes had quite an outing against the Orioles (in Baltimore). While he only went five innings, he held the O’s scoreless (three hits, one walk) and fanned a dozen.  He threw 88 pitches (62 strikes).  In the bottom of the fourth, he became the first pitcher of 2022 and the 94th  pitcher overall, to throw an Immaculate Inning – nine pitches, nine strikes, three strikeouts. Note: Sandy Koufax, Chris Sale and ax Scherzer have thrown three Immaculate Innings each, Lefty Grove, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Kevin Gausman, two each. Cortes’ victims were DH and cleanup hitter Anthony Santander, CF Ryan McKenna and C Robinson Chirinos.

Walk Don’t Run

On April 15^th, in the bottom of the fourth inning, with one out and  the bases loaded, in a close game (Angels down 3-2), Angels’ manager Joe Maddon elected to call for an intentional walk to Rangers’ left-handed swinging SS Corey Seager – forcing in a run and bringing up righty C Mitch Garver to face righty Austin Warren.  (Note: after the unorthodox move, the Rangers scored two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a balk. The Angels, however, came back to win the game 9-6.)

The most recent bases-loaded intentional walk? Also called by Maddon, who was managing the Rays at the time.  On August 17, 2008, the Rays were leading the Rangers 7-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth (with Rangers on all three bases), when Maddon called on Grant Balfour (appropriate name for this situation) to give an intentional run-producing pass to hot-hitting Rangers’ ‘CF Josh Hamilton. He then brought in Dan Wheeler to face Rangers’ RF Marlon Byrd – and Wheeler struck out Byrd on five pitches to end the game.,

Swing and a Miss, Now that’s Rare

On April 13, Guardians’ rookie outfielder Steven Kwan did something her hadn’t done in his entire MLB career (to that point), he swung and missed a pitch. It came in his sixth MLB game, in his 25th MLB plate appearance and his sixteenth at bat, 117^th pitch and 40^th swing.  (And actually, he did make some contact, foul tipping the pitch into the catcher’s glove – which counts and a swing and miss.) For those who like to know such things, the first MLB pitcher to get a ball past Kwan was Nick Lodolo of the Reds, the pitch was a low-80s curveball and Kwan ended up striking out in a six-pitch at bat.  As April came to a close, Kwan was hitting .354-0-7, with ten runs scored.

More “In Baseball We Count Everything””

In his first four MLB games, Steven Kwan collected nine hits (two doubles, one triple), five walks and one hit-by-pitch  (a .692 batting average and  .790 on-base percentage). He is the only player in the modern era (since 1900) to get on base 15 times in his first four MLB games.

Kwan was a fifth round draft choice (2018) out of Oregon State University, where he hit .329 over three seasons (156 games). In three minor-league seasons (217 games), he stroked the ball at a .301 pace – including .328-12-44 in 77 games at Double- and Triple-A last season.

Fan Disappointment Up Close and Personal

On April 13, I braved Minnesota’s uber-chilly spring to take in the Twins-Dodgers at Target Field.  Despite the fact that the Twins were down 3-0, there was plenty of drama on the field and plenty of excitement in the crowd – as many of us anticipated a chance to see Dodgers’starter Clayton Kershaw try for MLB’s 24th-ever Perfect Game.  At the time, Kershaw had thrown just 80 pitches (53 strikes) and had fanned 13 batters – and only three balls had been hit out of the infield. He was cruising and it was a masterful performance to watch.

Kershaw, however, did not come out to pitch the eighth. Dave Roberts instead put in Alex Vesia. I might add the change was met with a chorus of boos, from Twins fans and a large contingent of Dodger Faithful seated behind the third base dugout.

Now, there’s never been a combined Perfect Game, so I had a bit of hope. One out and five pitches after Vesia took the mound, Twins’ catcher Gary Sanchez lined a single to right and the Perfect Game and even the no-hitter were gone. (The Twins, ultimately, lost 7-0 and Sanchez’ single was their only safety.)

Later, I learned, via the Elias Sports Bureau, that only twice since 1900 has an MLB pitcher been pulled after the seventh inning with a Perfect Game intact.  Both times, Roberts was the manager.  (The first was on September 10, 2016, when he pulled Rich Hill – a reported finger issue –  after seven innings with Perfect Game intact against the Marlins (and the Dodgers up 5-0). Hill had thrown 89 pitches (62 strikes) and fanned nine. Hill was replaced by Joe Blanton and ten pitches and two outs later, Marlins’ LF Jeff Francoeur collected the first of two Miami hits in the game.

Now, I should make it clear that Kershaw agreed with Roberts’ decision. And, we’ve heard about the impact of the lockout (short Spring Training) and the arm issues that had Kershaw on the shelf for about two months last season. So,it was probably the right decision.  Still, I was disappointed when Kershaw didn’t take the mound in the eighth.  And, I found myself trying to imagine what would have happened in the same situation with the likes of  Jack Morris, Bob Gibson or Don Drysdale on the bump.

It’s a family affair

On April 11, as the Padres topped the Giants 4-2 in San Francisco, new Padres’ closer Taylor Rogers picked up his third save of the season.  It may have come with somewhat mixed emotions in the larger Taylor household, as – in the same game – Taylor’s twin brother Tyler was saddled with his first loss of the season. Tyler pitched a scoreless ninth (one hit, two strikeouts), while Taylor came on in relief in the seventh inning of a 2-2 game and gave up one run on two hits (with one strikeouts).

Hunter Greene Was Made for Statcast

Reds’ number-one prospect Hunter Greene picked up his first MLB victory in his first MLB appearance (and start) on April 10. While he gave up three earned runs on four hit and two walks over five innings – he made quite an impression. The 22-year-old right-hander  looks like a flame thrower at 6’5” and 230 pounds. And, he throws like on as well. Greene threw 20 of his 92 pitched at 100 MPH or more (a high of 101.6 MPH). His fastball averaged 99.7 mph. Perhaps just as important, he mixed in a slider and change up and threw first strike pitches to 15 of 21 hitters. In his first three MLB innings, Greene faced  just ten batters and fanned six. And, he was just getting started.

In his second outing, against the hard-hitting Dodgers in LA, Greene threw 39 of 80 pitches at 100 mph or better, setting a single-game MLB record (since tracking began in 2008) for triple-digit offerings. In that game, he went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three hits, no walks and two earned runs – taking the loss as the Reds fell 5-2.

Greene garnered plenty of attention as a high schooler, regularly hitting triple-digits with his fastball.  He was the number-two overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft )out of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California). In his first full minor-league season (Class A Dayton Dragons), he went 3-7, 4.48, but fanned 89 hitters in 68 1/3 innings (and he was just 18-years-old). He did give the Reds brass a scare – needing Tommy John Surgery in 2019. He came back in 2021 and went 10-8, 3.30 with 139 whiffs in 106 1/3 innings at Double- and Triple-A.

How Fast Is Hunter Greene?

Reds’ rookie Hunter Greene has shown major-league hitters a 91-mph change up.

Could He Be More Perfect?

On April 10, 20-year-old righty Roki Sasaki, in just his second season in Japan’s top professional league, tossed a perfect game  – with 19 strikeouts – as his Chiba Lotte Marines topped the Orix Buffaloes 6-0. He fanned 13 straight at one point during the game, in which he used just 105 pitched to dispatch the Buffaloes. Sasaki now holds the Nippon Professional Baseball League record for total strikeouts in a game and consecutive strikeout within a game.

Just a week later, Sasaki (who reportedly can hit triple digits with his fastball and who’s splitter “drops ff the table” ) pitched eight perfect innings (fanning fourteen)  against the Nippon Ham Fighters before being pulled with the score knotted at 0-0. (Chiba Lotte lost the game 1-0 in ten frames.) In his next start, April 24 against the Buffaloes, the string of perfection was broken on as he gave up a single on his first pitch of the game. He went on to pitch five less-than-perfect innings (six hits, three walks, two hit batters and two earned runs) in getting the victory.   In his 2021 rookie season, Sasaki was 4-2, with a 1.84 ERA and 87 whiffs in 83 1/3 innings. Sasaki’s record at the end of April was  3-0, 1.50, with 60 whiffs. 13 hits, five walks ad three hit batters in 36 innings.

It’s About Time! Congratulations!

On April 8, Rachel Balkovec, managed her first game for the Yankees Single-A affiliate Tampa Tarpons – leading the team to a 9-6 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers. –  winning her first game as the first full-time female manager in affiliated history.  The 34-year-old has been  a coach in professional baseball for a decade and, in 2019, was the first female full-time hitting coach in an MLB organization (coaching the Rookie-Level Yankees of Florida Complex League). Her selection as Tampa Tarpons manager was announced in mid-January.

In another first, on April 12, Alyssa Nakken became the first women to take to the field as a coach in an MLB game, as she took over for San Francisco Giants’ First Base Coach Anton Richardson (ejected in the third inning).  Nakken was hired as an assistance coach with the Giants in January of 2020.

A Big First Week For a Japanese Import

Seiya Suzuki was already a star when the Cubs signed him this March.  At age 27,  he had already played nine seasons in Japan and was a five-time All Star, carrying a .315 professional average.  Over his most recent three seasons in the Japan, his stat lines were : .317-38-88; .300-25-75; and .335-28-87.

In his first week with the Cubs (April 7-13),  Suzuki hit a nice round .400 (15-for-21, with five walks), had an on-base percentage of .524, with three home runs and nine RBI (all in five games).  Though April, he was .279-4-14,

Hi, Mom. Hi,Dad.

Astros’ rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena has some big cleats to fill – those of All Star and Gold Glover Carlos Correa. Fortunately, he’s got a good cheering section to wish him well.  As the  seventh inning of the Astros’ 13-6 win over the Angels opened on April 8, Jeremy’s parents – Cecilia and Geronimo Pena – were being interviewed on the AppleTV+  live broadcast of the game. At that moment, Pena, leading off the inning, hit the first pitch from the Angel Mike Mayers to deep left center for his first MLB home run – with his parents’ elated reaction captured for the audience.  Pena ended up three-for-five on the night.

Ouch!

Only one team went scoreless on Opening Day. On April 7, the Pirates failed to score as they opened in St.  Louis, losing by a 9-0 tally – despite only being outhit 8-6.  In the game, Pittsburgh pitchers gave up eight hits (three home runs) and seven walks and the Pirates added a pair of errors.  It was also the only shutout among this year’s openers.

Getting that First Free Pass Out of the Way

Last season, the Brewers’ Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes tallied 49 strikeouts before his first walk of the season – which came on May 13.  He pitched 34 innings and faced 126 batters before issuing that first free pass.  In this season’s  April 7 Brewers’ opener, he walked the first batter he faced – the Cubs’ Rafael Ortega. Burnes got a no-decision, pitching five innings and giving up three runs on four hits and three walks, while fanning four.  Last season, Burnes didn’t give up his third walk until his eighth start.

Old Guys Rule

40-year-old Adam Wainwright started the Cardinals’ opener (April 7)  in Pittsburgh and pitched six scoreless frames as the Cardinal won 9-0.  Wainwright is the fifth oldest player on Opening Day rosters this season.  Here are the oldsters:

• Albert Pujols, DH, Cardinals, turned 42 on January 16;
• Rich Hill, LHP, Red Sox, turned 42 on March 11;
• Nelson Cruz, DH, Nationals, will turn 42 July 1;
• Oliver Perez, LHP, Diamondbacks, will turn 41 august 15;
• Adam Wainwright, RHP Cardinals, will turn 41 on August 30.

A Bit More Old Guys Rule

In is second outing of the season, 39-year-old Justin Verlander – coming back from Tommy John surgery – pitched eight innings of three-hit ball, walking none and fanning eight as his Astros topped the Mariners 4-0 in Seattle. It was his just his second appearance and first win since July 24, 2020.  Verlander threw 87 pitched (64 strikes) and got first-pitch strikes on 19 of the 27 batters  he faced. In the seventh inning of the April 16 game, the two-time Cy Young Award winner reached 3.000 career innings pitched.

Finding Opening Day Very Special

On April 7, the Astros topped the Angels 3-1, becoming the second team in MLB history and the first since 1896, to win ten consecutive Opening Day games.  The NL Boston Beaneaters won ten straight from 1887-1896.  A few tidbits.  In their still-alive streak, the Astros:

• Have won five openers at home, five on the road;
• Have had the starting pitcher record each of the ten wins (Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander three each, Zack Greinke, Scott Feldman, Bud Norris and Framber Valdez);
• Have outscored their opponents 44-13.
• Scored five or more runs six times, while giving up as many as three runs just once.

A Fistful of Firsts

In the April 7 Angels’ game, Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to throw his team’s first pitch of the season and also be in the batter’s  box  to take his team’s first pitch of the season – as he started on the mound and lead off at DH.  He also recorded his team’s first strikeout of the season getting the first batter he faced  and made his team’s first out of the season, grounding our short-to-first on the first pitch he saw in the first inning (remember, he was batting first.)

On April 21, Ohtani added to his list of firsts, becoming the first starting pitcher in MLB history to bat twice in a game before throwing his first pitch pitch.  (More #InBasseballWeTrackEverything.) Ohtani started on the mound for the Angels and at DH, batting in the leadoff spot. He led off the game with a six-pitch walk. The Rangers batted around and, by the time Ohtani batted again in the first, were up 4-0.  Ohtani punched a two-run double in his second  plate appearance of the inning. The Angels went on to win the game 6-0, with Ohtani going two-for-four with a walk and two RBI – and pitching six innings, giving up one hit, one walk and fanning 12.

The Ohtani Rule

MLB  has recognized Shohei Ohtani ‘s unique skills with a new rule for 2022.  Basically, it says a team can start a player at pitcher and designated hitter and pull him from the game in one of those roles, while leaving him in the game in the other.  Basically, if Ohtani is pulled as a pitcher, he can stay in the game at DH. I assume – and this would be rare – the Angels could pinch hit for him (as DH) and leave him in a game at pitcher. Pretty nice to be talented and popular enough that they change the rules for you.

Seth Beer Lives Up to His Name

April 7 was National Beer Day – and guess  what? Diamondbacks’ DH Seth Beer (gotta love that baseball name) hit a walk-off home run to put the Diamondbacks past the Padres 4-1.  It was his second career homer and first career walk-off long ball.

A Beer and a Burger

I was at an April Twins game (versus the White Sox) in which Jake Burger started at the hot corner for Chicago. I’d like to see the Diamondback’s Seth Beer traded to the Sox (or the  ChiSox’ Jake Burger to Arizona), so we could have a Beer and a Burger in the lineup together.

——-Individual Statistical Leaders for April———

AVERAGE (50 April  at bats minimum)

National League – Eric Hosmer, Padres (.389); Manny Machado, Padres (.386); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (.375)

American League –  Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (.375); Andrew Benintendi, Royals (.373); J.P. Crawford, Mariners (.360)

The lowest April  average (among qualified players) belonged to the Twins’ Miguel Sano at 0.93 (5-for-54). 

HOME RUNS

National League – C.J. Cron, Rockies (7); Ozzie Albies, Braves (6); Joc Pederson, Giants (6); Austin Riley, Braves (6)

American League –  Anthony Rizzo, Yankees (9); Jose Ramirez, Guardians (7);  Yordan Alvarez, Astros (6); Vlad Guerrero, Blue Jays (6); Aaron Judge, Yankees (6); Byron Buxton, Twins (6); George Springer, Blue Jays (6)

The Indians’ Jose Ramirez  had the highest  April slugging percentage (among qualifiers)  at .722.  The NL leader was the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado at .681.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – C.J. Cron, Rockies (19); Pete Alonso, Mets (17); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (17). Trea Turner, Dodgers (17)

American League – Jose Ramirez, Guardians (28); Ty France, Mariners (21); Anthony Rizzo, Yankees (21)

RUNS SCORED

National League –   Manny Machado, Padres (20); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (19); Bryce Harper Phillies (17)

American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (17); Miles Straw, Guardians (17); George Springer, Blue Jays (15)

HITS 

National League – Manny Machado, Padres (32); Eric Hosmer, Padres (28); Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (27)

American League – Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (30); Ty Frances, Mariners (28); three with 27

The Nationals’ Josh Bell led MLB qualifying players in on-base percentage at .460. 

DOUBLES

National League –  Matt Olson, Braves (9); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (8); six with seven

American League –  Yuli Gurriel, Astros (9); Owen Miller, Guardians (9); Wander Franco, Rays (8); Enrique Hernandez, Red Sox (8); J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (8)

TRIPLES

National League – Jazz Chisholm, Marlins (3); Jake Cronenworth, Padres (2); Jesus Sanchez, Marlins (2); Kolten Wong, Brewers (2)

American League – Andres Gimenez, Guardians (2); Josh Lowe, Rays (2); Austin Meadows, Tigers (2)

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Harrison Bader, Cardinals (6);  Tommy Edman, Cardinals (5); six with four

American League – Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (9); Jorge Mateo, Orioles (7);  Aldaberto Mondesi, Royals (5) ; Luis Robert, White Sox (5)

The Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez was 9-for 9 in April  steal attempts. .

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Nationals (21); Max Muncy, Dodgers (16); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (15); Matt Olson, Braves (15)

American League – Jesse Winker, Mariners (17); Anthony Santander, Orioles (16); three with 14

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Dansby Swanson, Braves (30); Adam Duvall, Braves (29); Patrick Wisdom, Cubs (28)

American League – Franmil Reyes, Guardians (35); Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (30); Joey Gallo, Yankees (29)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Tyler Megill, Mets (4-0); ten with three wins

American League – Adam Cimber, Blue Jays (4-0); Alek Manoah, Blue Jays (4-0); four with three wins.

Adam Cimber picked up four April wins, despite pitching just 11 innings (in ten games). He also had four holds and a save – and put up a 1.64 ERA.   On the reverse side of the coin, the Royals’ Jake Brentz was charged with three April losses (0-3), despite pitching just 5 1/3 innings.  In those innings, he gave up 11 hits and ten walks, 15 runs (14 earned) and fanned nine.  

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (qualifying pitchers)

National League – Pablo Lopez, Marlins (0.39); Kyle Wright, Braves (1.13); Madison Bumgarner, Diamondbacks (1.17)

American League – Logan Gilbert, Mariners (0.40);  Joe Ryan, Twins  (1.17); Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (1.44)

Among qualifying pitchers, the Senators’ Joe Adon had the highest April  ERA (1-4, 7.33  –19 earned runs, over 23 1/3 innings in five stats.

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Carlos Rodon, Giants (38); Eric Lauer, Brewers (34); Aaron Nola, Phillies (34)

American League – Shane McClanahan, Rays (42); Nathan Eovaldi, Red Sox (32); Kevin Grossman, Blue Jays (31); Frankie Montas, A’s (31)

Among qualifiers, Carlos Rodon of the Giants had the highest K/9 rate at 14.87. The Rays’ Shane McClanahan led the AL at 14.00. 

SAVES

National League – Josh Hader, Brewers (10); Taylor Rogers, Padres (8); Daniel Bard, Rockies (6); Anthony Bender, Marlins (6); Kenley Jansen,Braves (6)

American League – Jordan Romano, Blue Jays (10); Raisel Iglesias, Angels (6); Aroldis Chapman, Yankees (5)

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

National League – Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (0.70); Pablo Lopez, Marlins (0.73); Corbin Burnes, Brewers (0.74)

American League – Justin Verlander, Astros (0.69); Joe Ryan,Twins (0.70); Brad Keller, Royals (0.77)

BONUS STAT

Among qualifying pitchers, the Mets’ Max Scherzer  held opponents to the lowest April batting average (.131 )

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; ESPN.com; MB.com; Elias Sports Bureau

SPOILER ALERT — THE MAY WRAP UP WILL BE A LITTLE LATE.  IN LATE MAY AND EARLY JUNE, I WILL BE ON MY 32ND BALLPARK TOURS BASEBALL JOURNEY. 

 

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

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

 

Early each season, since 2014, Baseball Roundtable has announced the John Paciorek Award (JPA). The JPA recognizes players who have had short, sometimes very short, major-league careers, but whose accomplishments, nonetheless, deserve recognition.  Past winners have included:  a player whose every MLB hit (three in nine career at bats) was a home run;  a player who had only one MLB at bat, but earned  a World Series ring and a Purple Heart; a player who had just two home runs in 61 MLB at bats (for the vaunted Yankees and Dodgers), but whose “body of work” made him one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major league batter’s box; a war hero who pitched in the majors on one leg; and more.  There are links to the bios of past honorees later in this post. (Note: Information on John Paciorek’s career – the inspiration for the JPA – can be found at the end of this post. Paciorek’s day in the sun constitutes arguably the best one-game MLB career ever.)

This year’s JPA honoree is one of the better known (if not the best known) players to appear on this list –  Southpaw Karl Spooner, who holds a share of the record for strikeouts in an MLB debut (15) and also threw complete-game shutouts in each of his first two starts.  Let’s look at how Spooner got to these pages.

Karl Spooner was born and raised in Oriskany Falls, New York, where – was a teenager – he played not only for his high school, but also for the local townball  team. He became known for a trio of high-velocity pitches (fastball, curve and sinker).  After his junior year in high school, Spooner was signed by the Dodgers (1950).  He quickly established himself as a hard thrower with good stuff – but command issues. In 1951, with the Class-D Hornell Dodgers the 20-year-old Spooner went 10-12 –  leading the league with 200 strikeouts in 170 innings, but also walking 163.  In 1952 (in Class-C & -B), he went 4-12, 5.42 – and continued to rack up strikeout and walks.  Things stared to come together in 1953, when he went 12-12, but with a 2.75 ERA at A-level. He fanned 233 batters in 203 innings, but still walked 164.

Then came that marvelous 1954 season. Spooner started the year with the Double-A Fort Worth Cats – and went 21-9, 3.14, with 262 strikeouts and 162 walks in 238 innings. That earned him a September call up to the Dodgers – and a place in MLB history.

The Dodgers threw the 23-year-old rookie right into the fire – starting him on September 26 against the first-place Giants (6 ½ games up on the Dodgers) and Johnny Antonelli, who was 21-6, 2.29 at the time. In the first frame, it looked like it might be a short game for Spooner – as his command issues were exposed. It took him 32 pitches to get out of the inning (17 strikes – 15 balls). He gave up a single and two walks and had to fan Giants’ 3B Bobby Hoffman with the bases loaded and two out (on a 3-2 pitch) to escape unscathed.

In the second inning, something seemed to “click.” Spooner needed just 13  pitches to retire the Giants (10 strikes), fanning two – and would have gotten back to the dugout sooner  if strikeout victim Antonelli hadn’t reached first on a third-strike passed ball.  From the second inning on, Spooner dominated the eventual World Series Champion Giants. In that span, he threw 111 pitches, 72 for strikes, fanning 14 batters – bringing his whiff  total to an MLB-debut record 15 for the game (a record which still stands, tied by the Astros’ J.R. Richard in 1971). Over those last eight frames, Spooner gave up just two singles and a walk, and no runner reached second base.  He finished his debut with a 3-0, complete-game, 15-strikeout  shutout victory.

Karl Spooner hit the very first MLB pitch he ever saw (from Johnny Antonelli) for a double to center.  He finished his inaugural game one for three with a walk and a run scored.

But the story gets better. Four days later (September 26), Spooner made second MLB appearance – a start against the Pirates (in Brooklyn). In this one, he threw another complete-game shutout – giving up four hits and fanning 12 in a 1-0 win.  His 27 strikeouts in his first two appearances remain an MLB record.   Those 27 whiffs in his first 18 MLB innings are even more notable when you consider that, in 1954, the MLB average for strikeouts per nine innings was 4.2.

That man had a fastball that was unbelievable, not for sheer speed, but for how much the ball moved. He was one of the toughest left-handers that I’ve ever seen.

Dodger Pitcher Clem Labine

Spooner clearly was off to a blazing start, but the fire was dimmed quickly – by a shoulder injury suffered in Spring Training the following year (1955). Long story short: Spooner didn’t get his first start of the 1955 season until May 15, but things were still apparently not right – as he gave up five hits and four tuns in 2 1/3 innings. He didn’t pitch again until June 5, when he lasted four innings (four hits, four runs, two walks, six strikeouts). He finished the season, his last in the major leagues, 8-6, 3.65 in 29 games (14 starts) – fanning 78 in 98 2/3 innings (41 walks). He also pitched in two games in the 1955 World Series, giving g\up five runs in 3 1/3 innings.  His last MLB appearance was on October 3, 1955, when he started Game Six of the World Series (against the Yankees in New York). He faced six batters, got just one out (appropriately a strikeout) and gave up five runs on two walks, two singles and a home run. His final major-league pitch was hit for a three-run home run by Moose Skowron. Spooner pitched for three more seasons in the minors, but never recaptured 1954 glory.  Still, he put on a show well worth recognizing – and still unmatched –  in his first two MLB appearances.

Nobody ever threw harder than that kid did in the first two games he pitched in the majors. He’s the greatest young pitcher I’ve ever seen.

                                                Hall of Fame Dodger Catcher Roy Campanella

_____________________________________

Now, here are links to the stories of past JPA honorees.

 

2014 – Brian Scott Dallimore

In his first start (not his first game) for the 2004 Giants, Dallimore had two singles, a Grand Slam (his first MLB hit and only MLB home run), a walk and a hit by pitch.  For the full JPA take on Dallimore’s 27- game MLB career, click here.

2015 – Roy Gleason

Gleason played in just eight MLB games, had a double in his only MLB at bat – but also earned a World Series ring (1963) and a Purple Heart. Ultimately, he was the only ballplayer with MLB experience to serve on the front lines in Vietnam. For the full JPA take on Gleason, click here. Note: Gleason’s life is detailed in the book “Lost in the Sun – Roy Gleason’s Odyssey from the Outfield to the Battlefield.”

2016 – John Allen Miller

Miller played just 32 MLB games (during the 1966 and 1969 seasons), taking the field (at 1B/LF/3B/2B) for the Yankees and Dodgers. Miller collected ten hits in 61 MLB at bats (.164 average) and hit just two home runs – but he made those long balls count – becoming one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major-league batter’s box. For more on Miller, click here.

2017 – Chris Saenz

RHP Chris Saenz’ big day came on April 24, 2004 – when he was called up from Double-A Huntsville (where he was 1-1, 3.86) to make a spot start against the Saint Louis Cardinals, whose powerful lineup included the likes of Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and Reggie Sanders.   The rookie went six innings, giving up just two hits, three walks and no runs, while fanning seven. Two days after this debut, he was on his way back to Huntsville, where he suffered an elbow injury and never returned to the majors. Statistics before 1900 can be sketchy, but baseball-reference.com shows that Saenz is the only pitcher to complete a one-game MLB career of at least five innings pitched, without giving up a single run (earned or unearned). For more details on this JPA honoree, click here.

2018 – Keith McDonald

McDonald’s MLB career (Cardinals 2000-2001) covered just eight games and 11 plate appearances (nine at bats) and three hits – but he made them count.  All of McDonald’s safeties were home runs – making him the only MLB player with more than one career hit who can look back on major league career in which his every hit was a home run. .For the full story, click here.

2019 – Harley Hisner

Hisner’s MLB tenure encompassed the day of September 30, 1951. That’s when the 24-year-old righty faced the New York Yankees – and a lineup that included five future Hall of Famers: Mickey Mantle in RF; Joe DiMaggio in CF; Phil Rizzuto at SS; Johnny Mize at 1B; and Yogi Berra behind the plate. In is very first MLB inning, Hisner faced five batters, four of them future Hall of Famers, and gave up two singles and no runs.  His place in history? One of those singles was Joe DiMaggio’s last MLB safety. For more on Hisner and his ongoing involvement in and love of the game (he went on to earn the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association Colin Lister Award for “dedication to the game of baseball and its historic legacy,” click here.

2020 – Bert Shepard

Shepard set aside his baseball mound dreams in 1943 – after four minor-league seasons – to enlist in the U.S. Army, where he became a P-38 Lightning fighter pilot. Shepard was shot down on his 34th combat mission and, while a prisoner of war, his wounds resulted in the amputation of his right leg below the knee.  Upon his release (a prisoner exchange), Shepard did not surrender his dreams and fought his way back to the major leagues. He made one major-league appearance (for the Washington Senators), pitching 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball.  While Shepard’s MLB career consisted of that sole appearance, he did continue to pitch, coach and manage in minor leagues – and his story proved an inspiration for disabled veterans.  For more of Bert Shepard story, click here.

2021 – Henry Schmidt

Henry Martin Schmidt didn’t make it to the big leagues until eight seasons after his professional (minor-league) debut.  In fact, he was just two months shy of his 30th birthday when he first took the major-league mound.   Why did it take so long?  Simple answer – location.  He had considerable difficulty “locating” his pitches.  While it took a long time for Schmidt to make it to the major leagues, it didn’t take him long to leave MLB. He lasted just one season – and is the only pitcher in MLB history who was a 20-game winner in his only major league season. Why was his MLB career so short? Simple answer – location.  He did not care for the geographic “location” of major league baseball. For more on Henry Schmidt’s unusual career, click here.

 

—–INSPIRATION FOR THE JPA—–

John Paciorek – signed out of Saint Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan (where he had starred in football, basketball and baseball) – appeared in his first major-league game on the final day of the 1963 season (September 29) at the age of 18.  The 6’ 1”, 200-pound outfielder had spent the 1963 season with Class-A Modesto Colts. The Colts’ parent club, the Houston Colt .45s (that was the current Astros’ franchise name back then), was suffering through a difficult season. The team was 65-96 going into that final game.  Looking to the future, Houston had, in fact, fielded an all-rookie lineup (average age 19) on September 27. Youth was still being served two days later when John Paciorek started his first MLB game. The results were surprising – and worthy of recognition.

Playing right field and batting seventh in a 13-4 win over the NY Mets, Paciorek ended up with three hits and two walks in five plate appearances, with four runs scored and three runs batted in.  Perhaps equally surprising is that it was not only Paciorek’s first major-league appearance, it was to be his only MLB appearance.  Back pain the following spring, followed by surgery (he played 49 minor league games in 1964 and missed all of the 1965 season), put an end to his MLB playing days. (Paciorek did play in four more minor-league seasons.)  Still, you will find John Paciorek in the Baseball Encyclopedia and his is arguably the greatest one-game MLB career ever.  Among one-gamers, he holds the record for times on base and runs scored, and shares the record for batting average, on base percentage and RBIs.

Paciorek, by the way, went on to become a high school teacher and multi-sport coach and is the author of the books (Plato and Socrates – Baseball’s Wisest Fans;  The Principles of Baseball: And All There Is To Know About Hitting; and If I Knew Then What I Know Now. You also can enjoy Paciorek’s prose (and expertise) at his blog “Paciorek’s Principles of Perfect Practice” by clicking here. You can find out even more about Paciorek in Steven Wagner’s 2015 book Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder.

A final note. John Paciorek’s insight into the national pastime should come as no surprise. Paciorek comes from a true “baseball family.”  He was the first born of eight siblings and was followed to the big leagues by younger brothers Jim and Tom Paciorek.  (Like John, Jim’s MLB career was short – 48 games for the Brewers in 1987. Brother Tom, however, achieved a .282 average over an 18-season MLB career.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; The Third K, by Harold Uhlman, Think Blue LA, January 15, 2013; Karl Spooner SABR bio, by Richard S. Cohen.

 

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBasebalRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications.

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

 

Yesterday (April 23, 2022), the Cubs crushed the Pirates 21-0 in Chicago. (Despite, I might add, hitting only one home run.)  The big bat in the game was rookie 1B Alfonso Rivas, who went three-for-five with a home run and five RBI. In the game, four other Cubs had at least three hits: RF Seiya Suzuki (three-for-for); C Wilson Contreras (three-for-five); LF Ian Happ (three-for-six); and SS Nico Hoerner (four-for-five).  In the contest, the score was 16-0 by the end of the fifth inning. Pirates’ starter Zach Thompson took the loss – giving up nine runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks in two innings pitched.

Side note:  This post is going out a little later than I would have preferred, but I have a good excuse.  I was at this afternoon’s Twins’ extra-inning win. 

Surprisingly, it was not MLB’s worst-ever shutout loss. In fact, it was not even the worst-ever shutout loss in a Cubs-Pirates game.  On September 16, 1975 – with the Pirates and Cubs matched up at Wrigley Field – the Pirates dealt the Cubs the worst shutout loss in MLB history (at least since 1901) – 22-0 (a lopsided whitewashing later tied) … with the Cubs getting only three hits to the Pirates’ 24.  The Pirates got home runs from Richie Hebner and Dave Parker.

This game was 9-0 after just one frame – which went like this:

Rick Reuschel Pitching

• 2B Rennie Stennett– double.
• 3B Richie Hebner – RBI single.
• CF Al Oliver – walk.
• 1B Willie Stargell – RBI single, Oliver to third.
• RF Dave Parker – sacrifice fly.
• LF Richie Zisk- single, Stargell to third.
• C Manny Sanguillen – walk.
• SS Frank Taveras – RBI single, loading the bases.
• P John Candelaria – two-run single. Taveras to third.

Tom Dettore Pitching

• Stennett – RBI single, Candelaria to third.

Wild Pitch – Candelaria scores, Stennett to second.

• Hebner – ground out to first.
• Oliver – walk.
• Stargell – RBI single, Oliver to third.
• Parker – ground out to first.

Reuschel took the loss, surrendering eight runs (all earned) on six hits and two walks in one-third of an inning.

In this game Rennie Stennett of the Pirates tied the major-league record for base hits in a nine-inning game – going seven-for-seven: four singles, two doubles and a triple. Stennett  had two hits in both the first and fifth innings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________________

On August 31, 2004, the Cleveland Indians tied the 22-0 mark, topping the Yankees by that score in New York.  SS Omar Vizquel was six-for-seven (five singles, two doubles) in that one, with three runs scored and four RBI. Nine different Indians collected RBI in the game: Vizquel (4); C Victor Martinez (4); CF Coco Crisp (3); DH Travis Hafner (3); RF Jody Gerut (3); 1B Ben Broussard (2); LF Matt Lawton (1); 3B Casey Blake (1); and RF Ryan Ludwick, who didn’t start the game, (1). The Indian got  home runs from Crisp, Gerut and Martinez.

For those who might be wondering, the worst-ever run differential in an MLB game (at least since 1901)  is 27.  On August 22, 2007, the Rangers topped the Orioles 30-3 in Baltimore.  That, however, is a topic for another post.

 

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

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

 

Yesterday, Baseball Roundtable took a look at a handful of MLB rookies who got their careers off to a bang over the past few days – Steven Kwan, Hunter Greene, Seiya Suzuki, Jeremy Pena and Jhoan Duran.  For that post, click here.  Well, as always in The Roundtable, one thing leads to another and this post will look at some past sparkling debuts.

Ted Cox, DH, Red Sox … 1977

On September 18, 1977, the Red Sox started rookie 22-year-old Ted Cox at DH, batting second. Cox, a 1973 first-round draft pick right out of high school, had hit .334-14-81 in in 95 games for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox to earn his trip to “The Show.”  Cox’ first day at the plate, as Boston topped Baltimore 10-4, went like this:

• First inning, single to left field , later scored;
• Third inning, walk, later scored;
• Fifth inning, single to left, later scored;
• Sixth inning, single to center;
• Ninth inning, double to right, later scored.

Not bad for Day One one in the big-leagues, but he wasn’t done yet.  The very next day, against the Yankees (in Boston), Cox rapped a single to right and a single to center in his first two at bats.  He finally grounded out to first base in the fifth inning to end his streak – but he had, in hand, the record for base hits in the most consecutive at bats (six) to start an MLB career.

Side note:  Unlike many of today’s players, Cox used the whole field. Of his six hits, two were to left, two to center and two to right.

Cox got in a total of 13 games for the Red Sox that season, hitting .362-1-6, with three doubles, one triple, one home run, and 11 runs scored. He played four MLB seasons (1977-81 … Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, Blue Jays) and hit .245-10-79 in 272 games.

So Close

Last season, White Sox rookie Yermin Mercedes started the season with base hits in his first eight at bats – five-for-five, with one double, one run scored and four RBI on April 2; followed by a solo home run, a single and an RBI double in his first three at bats the following day. The streak ended with a flyout to center on his ninth at bat of the season. Mercedes, however, had one at bat for the White Sox in 2020 (August 2), grounding out to second as a pinch hitter, so he missed a chance to break Cox’ record.

Karl Spooner, LHP, Dodgers … 1955

On September 22, 1954, Dodgers’ rookie southpaw Karl Spooner set the MLB record for the most strikeouts in a debut MLB appearance (15) – a mark tied by the Astros’ J.R. Richard on September 5, 1974.  In his record-setting game, the 23- year-old Spooner shutout the New York Giants (in Brooklyn) on three hits (three walks).  Four days later, he got his second career start, against the Pirates in Brooklyn, and twirled a four-hit shutout with 12 whiffs (three walks).  So, first 18 MLB innings – two complete-game shutouts and 27 strikeouts in 18 innings.  I should also note here in that in 1954, the average number of strikeouts per nine innings in MLB was 4.2.

Spooner truly looked like he was going to be a “pitching phenom” for the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1954, Spooner went 21-9, 3.14 at Fort Worth (Double-A Texas League), fanning 262 batters in 238 innings – despite missing a month of the season with a knee injury.  That performance earned him that  late-season call up to the “show.” Unfortunately, Spooner suffered a shoulder injury in Spring Training the following year – finishing his first (and last) full MLB season with an 8-6, 3.65 record in 29 appearances (14 starts). He made 28 minor-league appearances between 1956 and 1958, but never returned to the majors.

Note:  In J.R. Richard’s 15-whiff debut, he picked up a 5-3 win (Astros over Giants) giving up seven hits, and three runs (two earned), while walking three.  In his next appearance, a start against the Reds, he went five innings and gave up two-hits, and one run, with six walks and five strikeouts.

Pete Richert, LHP, Dodgers …. 1962

On April 12, 1962, Dodgers’ rookie Pete Richert  came to the mound in the top of the second inning (in relief of starter Stan Williams) with the Dodgers trailing 4-0 and the Reds’ SS Eddie Kasko on second base, CF Vada Pinson at the plate and two out.  He brought with him a reputation as a  left-hander who could bring some heat. In four full minor-league seasons, Richert had gone 44-40, 3.71, with 742 strikeouts in 721 innings.

Richert did not disappoint. He  proceeded to fan Pinson to end the inning. Richert came out for the third inning and fanned the next four MLB batters he faced. (Richert remains the only pitcher with a four-strikeout inning in his MLB debut.)  It went like this: Reds’ RF Frank Robinson goes down swinging; 1B Gordy Coleman fans swinging, but reaches first on a passed ball; CF Wally Post strikes out swinging; C Johnny Edwards ends the inning by swinging at strike three.  But, Richert wasn’t done yet.

In the top of the fourth, Richert got the sixth major leaguer to step in against him – Reds’ 3B Tommy Harper – on a called third strike. Ironically, it was Reds’ pitcher Joey Jay who ended Reichert’s career-opening, MLB-record six straight strikeouts by grounding out to first base. Richert got the final out of the inning on another grounder, 2B Don Blasingame retired second to first.  Reichert’s final line for his debut game was  – 3 1/3 innings pitched, no hits, no walks, no runs.

Reichert’s final line for his debut game was  – 3 1/3 innings pitched, no hits, no walks, no runs and seven strikeouts. He faced 12 batters, with two getting on via a passed ball and an error.  He threw 40 pitches – 33 strikes.

Richert finished the season 5-4, 3.87 (19 appearances, 12 starts), with 75 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings. He went on to a 13-season MLB career (1962-74 … Dodgers,  Senators, Orioles, Cardinals, Phillies) – 80-73, 3.19, 51 saves and 925 whiffs in 1,165 2/3 innings.

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

 

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

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

 

“You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.”

Joe DiMaggio

 

Opening Day is the most hopeful and optimistic day of each year.  At least for this one day (Well, actually two days this season, with varying teams opening on April 7 or 8) every team is a contender, every rookie a potential “phenom,”  every fading veteran  a potential “Comeback Player of the Year,” and every new face in the lineup or on the bench a welcome addition.  (Note: Sorry. I’m a day late posting this. Getting to Day One and Day Two games slowed my progress. Also, at the end of this Opening Days celebration, I’ve posted my predictions for the 2022 season – and a few players I’d think are worth watching.)

There are flyovers, team introductions, and ceremonial first pitches in ballparks adorned with red, white and blue bunting across the nation.  As the game time approaches, the sun seems a little brighter, the sky a little bluer, the grass a shade greener.  The scorecard is clean and fresh, awaiting the stroke your pen or pencil – depending on how confident you are in your observational and scorekeeping skills.

Once the game begins, the ball hops off the bat with an especially sharp crack, the pitches seem to have more zip and whir-r-r than ever and the fielders move with a unique combination of grace and energy.  In the stands, the beer is crisp and cold and the hot dogs steam in the cool of early spring. (And, these days, there are loads of new – sometimes even exotic – concession offering to debate over.)  The fans cheer on their old and new heroes and follow this opening contest with pennant-race intensity – the most intense among them logging each play in the new season’s first scorecard.   Baseball is back!

So, there I was, Opening Day 2022, with a couple of friends in the second deck of Target Field.  And, yes, the sun was shining – but it was cold (about forty degrees at game time, with a brisk wind that made it feel closer to thirty.  (Minnesota weather had already led to a one-day postponement of the opener). The sun was shining (we were in the shadows), however, and the festivities were  on spot.  The player introductions, the anthem with the giant American Flag unveiled  across centerfield and new Hall of Famers (to be inducted this summer) Twins Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat throwing out ceremonial first pitches. Then it was baseball, Twins rookie Joe Ryan versus 2021 Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.

To make a long story short, it was a nail-biter, as the Twins fell 2-1 to the Mariners.  But, as always, there was drama – even though the local (StarTrubune) headline read “Zero-for-big moments,” with the subheads adding “Not much worth cheering about for Twins fans” and “Last Shot in lackluster opener dies at fence.”  Ouch! I beg to disagree.

The Mariners scored first, as Ryan hit number-two hitter 1B Ty France with a pitch and one batter later gave up a two-run homer RF Mitch Haniger. So, what about big moment or things to cheer about?

• In the bottom of the third inning, with the score 2-1 and Mariners’ runners on first and second and just one out, new Gold Glove SS Carlos Correa made a beautiful diving stop on a groundball of the bat of Haniger and secured a force out at second – saving at least one run. Ryan then fanned 3B Eugenio Suarez to get out of the inning unscathed.
• In the fourth, new 3B Gio Urshela launched his first home run as a Twin, cutting the score to 2-1.
• In the fifth inning, Twins’ 24-year-old rookie right-hander Jhoan Durn (who boasts a triple-digit sinker) made his MLB debut. A pair of singles (1B Ty France and LF Jesse Winker) and a wild pitch  put him in quick trouble – runners on first and third and no out (in a 2-1 game). The Mariners were threatening to break it open. Over his next ten pitches, the rookie (apparently with nerves as cold as ice) struck out Haniger, Suarez and RF Jarred Kalenic – earning a standing ovation as he walked off the mound. (Duran pitched another scoreless frame, adding a fourth strikeout and walking a batter.)
• In the bottom of the ninth, still 2-1, fan favorite Luis Arreaz delivered pinch-hit single to loud applause. With two outs in the inning, new Twin Gary Sanchez came up and, with fans changing “Gary, Gary” drove what, off the bat, looked to be a game-winning two-run dinger to left. It was caught at the wall by Mariners’ LF Winker.  So close, but still an entertaining opener from this fan’s perspective.

Baseball Roundtable’s First Trot Index of 2022

Regular readers know about the Roundtable’s Trot index, which logs what percentage of MLB plate appearances end in a trot (to first base, around the bases or back to the dugout) – with no action on the basepaths or  by the defense. You know what I mean: walks, strikeouts, hit by pitch, home runs and catcher’s interference.  Well in the fifteen “openers” (a few teams have played two games, I deleted the second games), 37.5% of all plate appearances have met the Trot Index criteria: 23.7% as strikeouts; 9.6% as walks; 2.4% as home runs; and 1.8% hit by pitch.

A few other 2022 Opener observations:

• There were six one-run games and only one blowout (a five or more run differential);
• There were only two games that did not include at least on hit batsman;
• The Phillies pitched the only game without a walk, as the Phillies topped Oakland 9-5, April 8, in Philadelphia. Aaron Nola, Jeurys Familia; Brad Hand; Seranthony Dominguez; and Corey Knebel did the pitching.
• There were two extra-inning games – with the dreaded runners placed at second to start the inning – both on April 8. Yankees 6 – Red Sox 5 (11 innings) in New York and Giants 6 – Marlins 5 in San Francisco. (10 innings)
• There was one game without a home run, Royals 3 – Guardians 1 in Kansas City – a total of 12 hits, eight singles and four doubles.

Ouch.

Only one team went scoreless on Opening Day. The Pirates failed to score as they opened in St. Louis and lost by a 9-0 score – despite only being outhit 8-6. In the game, Pittsburgh pitchers gave up eight hits (three home runs) and seven walks and the Pirates added a pair of errors.  It was also the only shutout among this year’s openers.

A few more Opening Day(s) Tidbits

Getting the First One Out of the Way

Last season, the Brewers’ Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes tallied 49 strikeouts before his first walk of the season – which came on May 13.  He pitched 34 innings and faced 126 batters before issuing his first free pass.  In this season’s  opener, he walked the fist batter he faced – the Cubs’ Rafael Ortego.

Old Guys Rule

40-year-old Adam Wainwright started the Cardinals’ opener in Pittsburgh and pitched six scoreless frames as the Cardinal won 9-0.

Double-Digits

On April 7 , The Astros topped the Angels 3-1, becoming the second team in MLB history and the first since 1896, to win ten consecutive Opening Day games.  The NL Boston Beaneaters won ten straight from 1887-1896.  A few tidbits.  In their still-alive streak, the Astros:

• Have won five openers at home, five on the road.
• Have had the starting pitcher record each of the ten wins (Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander three each, Zack Greinke, Scott Feldman, Bud Norris and Framber Valdez).
• Have outscored their opponents 44-13.
• Scored five or more runs six times, while giving up as many as three runs just once.

A Fistful of Firsts

In the April 7 Angels’ game, Shohei Ohtani became the first player to throw his team’s first pitch of the season and also be in the batter’s  box  to take his team’s first pitch of the season – as he started on the mound and lead off at DH.  He also recorded his team’s first strikeout of the season fanning the first batter he faced  and made his team’s first out of the season, grounding our short-to-first on the first pitch he saw in that first at bat.

Seth Beer Lives Up to His Name

April 7 was National Beer Day – and guess  what? Diamondbacks’ DH Seth Beer (gotta love that baseball name) hit a walk-off home run to put the Diamondbacks past the Padres 4-2.  It was his second career homer and first career walk-off long ball.

Now, Few Opening Day musings from the past.

Williams & Johnson – Not a law firm, but the kings of Opening Day

As much as Baseball Roundtable loves the return of the national pastime, perhaps no one looked forward to Opening Day more than Ted Williams.  “Teddy Ballgame,” a .344 lifetime hitter, outdid himself on Opening Day.  Williams played in fourteen “openers” and was NEVER held hitless.  He  finished his career with a .449 Opening Day average (22 hits in 49 at bats), with 3 home runs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 9 runs scored,  14 RBI and 11 walks.  His Opening Day on-base percentage was .550 and his season-opener slugging percentage was .837.

The Washington Senators’ right-hander Walter Johnson also was always ready for an Opening Day assignment.  On his first-ever Opening Day start (April 14, 1910), the 22-year-old Johnson tossed a 3-0 one-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Athletics.  Note:  President William Howard Taft, on that day, became the first President to toss out the season’s ceremonial first pitch – caught by Johnson.  Sixteen years (and 13 Opening Day starts) later, a 38-year-old Johnson fulfilled his last Opening Day assignment with a 15-inning, complete-game, 1-0 win (6 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts) over the Athletics.  Johnson holds the record for Opening Day pitching victories with nine (against five losses) and also threw a record seven Opening Day shutouts.

Not All Opening Day Memories Are Pleasant

Circumstances were clearly working against Ron Karkovice on March 31, 1996, when he set an MLB Opening Day record by striking out five times.

First, future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson (who retired with the second most strikeouts in MLB history) started on the mound for the Mariners – and he was on his game, whiffing 14 batters in seven innings (including Karkovice in the second, fourth and seventh).

Second, the White Sox could muster only two runs on four hits over the first nine innings – taking a slim 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth (at that point in the game, Karkovice had only a mundane three strikeouts to his credit – or debit – for the day).

Third, the Mariners tied the contest in the ninth, and the game went to 12 innings before the Mariners prevailed 3-2.  In those three extra innings, Karkovice struck out against Norm Charlton (tenth inning) and Edwin Hurtado (twelfth inning) to set the Opening Day record.

Of note – at least to BBRT – is the fact that, despite five strikeouts in five plate appearances, Karkovice did not leave a single runner on base.

Another Unpleasant – or at least painful –  Opening Day Memory

On April 9, 1990, Astros’ first baseman and clean-up hitter Glenn Davis (a 1989 All Star) opened the season in a bruising manner – tying an Opening Day (and MLB regular season) record for getting hit by a pitch in a game (three times). Davis came to the plate six times and never put the ball in play – but still made only one out.  For the game, Davis was hit by a pitch three times, walked twice (once intentionally) and struck out once. The Astros lost to the Reds 8-4 on Davis’ historic and painful day. The Opening Day action did help Davis lead the league in one category in 1990 (Hit by Pitch – eight).

Of note to the Roundtable, Davis finished Opening Day 1990 with a batting average of .000, but an on-base percentage of .833.

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE 2022 PREDICTIONS

Baseball Roundtable would like to celebrate Opening Day 2022 with some predictions for the season ahead … and a few comments on the teams likely to be contenders.

—–National League (or what, “back in the day,” we called the Senior Circuit)—–

NL East

Braves                  94-68

Mets                     90-72

Phillies                  87-75

Marlins                 72-90

Nationals             72-90

Even missing Ronald Acuna, Hr. (ACL), who hopes to return in early -to mid-May, and having lost free-agent Freddie Freeman, the Braves have more than enough offense to repeat as AL East Champions.  They added Matt Olson (trade) to replace Freeman. Olson brings Gold Glove fielding skills and last season hit .271-39-111. He joins a lineup that includes plenty of offensive firepower. The Braves scored the most runs in the NL East last season, with only about a half-season (82 games) from Acuna. Max Fried (14-7, 3.04 ) will again lee the rotation, followed by veteran Charlie Morton (14-6, 3.34).   Then, to top it all off, they added free-agent closer Kenley Jansen to add depth – at the front – of the bullpen.,

Then there’s the Mets, with  a rotation that starts with Cy Young Award  candidates  Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.  Ouch!  deGrom likely to be out until late-May or early-June and Scherzer is starting the season with a tender hamstring. Fortunately, they Mets added free-agent Chris Bassitt (12-4, 3.15 with Oakland) – who will be in the number-two slot until deGrom is ready. The Mets bullpen is solid. Closer Edwin Diaz, while he may test your nerves at times, did convert 32 of 36 save opportunities a year ago; and Trevor May, Adam Ottavino, Seth Lugo and Joely Rodriguez can get the ball to him. The Mets  added some excitement on offense over the off-season and newcomer free-agent RF Starling Marte (.310-12-55, with 89 runs scored and 47 steals  for the Marlins and A’s) should get the fans up out of their seats. While the Mets offense does not have the “Names” you see in the Atlanta lineup, the sum of its parts is pretty good.  They will give the Braves a fight, but – surprisingly to me – it may be pitching that puts the Braves over the top.

The Phillies come  in poised to improve on 82 wins in 2021 – having upgraded  their bullpen and adding  a bit more lineup protection for Bryce Harper. The Phillies added a couple of solid bats in DH Kyle Schwarber and LF Nick Castellanos. Returning to the middle of the lineup are MVP candidates’  RF Bryce Harper (.309-35-84.,with 13 steals last season) – who could be even better with Castellanos batting behind him.  Ultimately, the offense is solid – with four potential 30+ home run bats (Harper, Schwarber, Castellanos and Rhys Hoskins) leading the charge. The defense may betray the Philllies at times, but the offense will be there. The rotation has notable potential. Zach Wheeler (14-10, 2.68) and Aaron Nola (9-9, 4.63 in an off year), followed by  Kyle Gibson; Zach Elfin; and Ranger Suarez.  Southpaw Suarez may be the emerging gem.  He was 8-5, 1.36 in 39 game last year (12 starts). The Philllies need help in the bullpen and they went out and got it. – signing free agents Corey Knebel  (2.45, with three saves, in 27 games for the Dodgers – and with a 39-save season on his resume); Jeurys Familia and Brad Hand.  It should be a scramble at the top of the East.

NL Central

Brewers               95-57

Cardinals              88-74

Cubs                      75-87

Reds                      73-92

Pirates                  61-101

The Brewers won 95 games last season – and that’s where they appear to be headed in 2022. Pitching – rotation and bullpen – will again be the driving force behind Milwaukee’s success. The Brewers’ staff led MLB in strikeouts last season  and put up MLB’s third-best ERA – and all the key arms are back. The rotation starts with three 2021 NL All Stars:  2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes (11-5,  with a league-low 2.43 ERA and 12.6K/9); Brandon Woodruff (9-10, 2.58, 10.5K/9); and Freddy Peralta (10-5, 2.81, 12.2K/9). Adrian Houser and Eric Lauer round out what should again be a dominant rotation. The bullpen starts (or should I say ends) with one of the game’s elite closers – Josh Hader. Getting the ball to Hader are the likes of Devin Williams and Brad Boxberger.  As gaudy as the Brewers’ pitching number were, their other offensive stats were middling – sixth in the NL in runs scored; eighth in home runs and last in average.  I’m not seeing great improvement ahead.  RF Hunter Renfroe, SS Willy Adames and DH Andrew McCutchen are key  elements – and the Brew Crew could use a bounce back from 2018 MVP Christian Yelich. Ultimate, the Brewers pitching will carry them to a repeat at the top of the Central.  It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Brewers make a deal for another bat for the stretch run and post-season.

The Cardinals finished five games back of the Brewers in 2021, and they did not make any off-season moves that convince me they will close the gap. With the new universal DH, they brought back free-agent fan favorite (42-year-old) Albert Pujols, but this is not the Pujols of old (.236, with 17 home runs in 2021). The Redbirds added Corey Dickerson ( .271-6-29 in 109 games for the Blue Jays & Marlins).  The infield will give opponents fits in more ways than one.  Not only  does the Cardinals infield put up notable firepower, they have Gold Gloves at  1B, 2B and 3B. Third baseman Nolan Arenado hit .255-34-105; 1B  Paul Goldschmidt  hit .294-31-99; and 2B Tommy Edman hit 11 homers and stole 30 bases.  LF Tyler O’Neill brings a big bat to the plate, along with  Gold Glove defense.   CF Harrison Bader (another 2021 Gold Glover) and RF Dylan Carlson  round out the outfield – and can contribute double figure in home runs  each. Yadier Molina nine-time Gold Glover will handle the catching, but at 39-years-old may need more breaks. Now, when you read about the offensive prowess and all those Gold Gloves,  you may wonder why I didn’t pick the Cardinals for the top spot in the East.  The fact is, this lineup is pretty much a carbon copy of 2022’s second-place squad. Moving on to the rotation,  40-year-old Adam Wainwright will lead the rotation (17-7, 3.05) and he just keep chugging along – tossing quality starts.  Number-one in waiting, Jack Flaherty unfortunately will open the season on the IL (shoulder). That is a significant blow to the Redbirds   Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Dakota Hudson and Jordan Hicks should round out the starting five. In the pen. last season, Alex Reyes was 10-8, 3.24 with 29 saves in 69 games – but he was 5-4, with 24 saves and a 1.89 ERA through July and  pitched to a .5.84 ERA from Augustforward. Giovanny Gallegos has secured  the  closer role (with 11 saves in September) .

While the Cubs could make some noise, to me it looks like a two-team race in the NL Central.

NL West

Dodgers               102-60

Padres                  90-72

Giants                   88-74

Rockies                 70-92

Diamondbacks  61-101

The Dodgers, with four former MVPs in the lineup, should coast home in the NL West.  I say this despite the fact that the Giants  won 107 games (to the Dodgers 106) in 2021. The Dodgers can put forward a lineup you could reasonably expect to have eight of the nine hitters punch 25 or more home runs – led by RF newcomer 1B Freddie Freeman, DH Max Muncy, RF Mookie Betts, CF Cody Bellinger, SS Trea Turner and C Will Smith.  There are no weak spots. The rotation is headed by former MVP Clayton Kershaw, 2021 20-game winner Julio Urias and 16-game winner Walker Buehler. The Dodger lost free-agent closer Kenley Jansen to free agency, but went out and traded for Craig Kimbrel .  Then you also have to factor in the Dodgers proven willingness to go out and get more help if they need it.

Losing Fernando Tatis, Jr. (for two-to-three months, fractured wrist) is a major blow to the Padres’ chances to challenge the Dodgers. Still, they’ve got a solid lineup with 3B Manny Machado, incoming DH Like Voit and RF Wil Myers and 1B Jake Cronenworth providing power. CF Trent Grisham is another exciting player at the top of the lineup. He punched 15 home runs and stole 13 bases  in 132 games a year ago – and could be a 20-20 threat. The lineup just doesn’t have the depth or power of the Dodgers. The Padres may have the second-best rotation in the Division, particularly if Yu Darvish and Blake Snell return to form. Joe Musgrove and newcomer Sean Manaea can also put up quality starts. A last minute trade with the Twins brought proven closer Taylor Rogers to bolster the bullpen. Still, when you look at the rosters,  you have to give the Dodger the edge.  But Padres fans have plenty to be happy about – and think they will be celebrating into the post-season.

Okay, the Giants surprised me a year ago.  I don’t expect it to happen again. I expect them to be in the hunt for a post-season spot – perhaps even finishing ahead of the Padres – but I do not expect them to finish ahead of the Dodgers again. They are going to feel the loss of C Buster Posey (retired) and staff ace Kevin Gausman (14-6, 2.81 in 33 starts). The offense will be led by  free agent newcomer LF Joc Pederson; RF Mike Yastrzemski;  SS Brandon Crawford and 1B Brandon Belt. What is a bit concerning is that Pederson is the youngest of the group at 30-years-old. The Giants did bolster the rotation with the addition of Carlos Rodon (a 13-game winner for the White Sox last year) and Alex Cobb (8-3, 3.76 for the Angels).  They join Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani and  Alex Woods in a very solid one through-five. Thirty-five-year-old Jake McGee (31 saves a year ago) may face a challenge for the closer role from Camilo Duvall (a 24-year-old with a high-90s fastball and a swing-and-miss slider). Doval, Tyler Rogers and Zack Littell man a bullpen that should be an asset.

NL AWARD WINNERS

MVP

1. Trea Turner, Dodgers
2. Juan Soto, Nationals
3. Bryce Harper, Phillies
4. Fernando Tatis, Jr. Padres
5. Ronald Acuna, Jr. Braves

Cy Young Award

1. Corbin Burnes, Brewers
2. Walker Buehler, Dodgers
3. Max Scherzer, Mets

Rookie of the Year

1. O’Neil Cruz, Pirates
2. Hunter Greene, Reds
3. Seiya Suzuki, Cubs

A Few NL Players to Watch

Taijuan Walker, Mets.  Which Taijuan Walker will the Mets see? Last season, Walker was 7-3, 2.66 in the first half and 0-8, 7.13 in the second half.

Ranger Saurez, Philllies.  Saurez was 8-5, 1.36 last season – 3-2, 1.51 as a starter (12 starts) and 5-3, 1.12 in 27 relief appearances. (He didn’t make his first  start until August.)  It will be fun to see what he can do in a full-year starting role.

Nelson Cruz, Nationals. The ageless wonder, who will turn 42 this season, hit 32 home runs this past season and that his lowest total since 2013 (excluding the Covid-shortened 2020 season). He’s a professional hitter, a team leader and a joy to watch.  What can he do as he turns 42?

Seiya Suzuki, Cubs.  The 27-year-old comes over from Japan with legitimate power potential. His Japan Central League stats for the last three seasons are: .335-28-87; .300-25-75; .317-38-88.  It will be interesting to see how those his skills transfer to MLB.

Trea Turner, Dodgers.  One of the most exciting players in the game – .328-28-77, with 32 steals a year ago.

Reiver Sanmartin, Reds. The 25-year-old southpaw was 10-2, 3.32 at Double- and Triple-A last season, fanning 112 in 100 2/3 innings. He looked good in a couple of late season starts with the Reds.

—–American League/Senior Circuit—–

 

Blue Jays              95-67

Yankees               90-72

Rays                       89-73

Red Sox 8              6-76

Orioles                  59-103

The Blue Jays  won 91 games a year ago – and played only 36 games truly at home (in Toronto). The Jays  lost staff ace Robbie Ray, but free-agent pickups Kevin Gausman (14-6, 2.81 for the Giants in 2022) and Yusei Kikuchi (Mariners), plus  a full year of Jose Berrios should more than make up for it. The bullpen, led by Jordan Roman (23 saves, 2.13), Yimi Garcia, Tim Mayza and Adam Cimber is ready to save wins for the rotation. The Blue Jays have also  put together an offense led by  MVP candidate Vlad Guerrero, Jr., with lots of firepower from the like of SS Bo Bichette, RF Teoscar Hernandez, LF Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. and newcomer 3B Matt Chapman. They are poised to take the Eat.

The Yankees should be in the fight, but I do have some concerns with the pitching.  You can’t go wrong when you start your rotation  with Gerrit Cole (a perennial Cy Young candidate).  Following Cole are Luis Severino Jordan Montgomery, who could both present some injury concerns, as could Jameson Taillon. Still, if Severino and Montgomery are back – and they do appear to be  healthy again – the rotation should keep the Yankees in the race (and hold off the Rays.)  As usual, the Bronx Bombers will have plenty of firepower in the offense (RF Aaron Judge, DH Giancarlo Stanton, new 3B Josh Donaldson, 1B Anthony Rizzo) and plenty of heat in the bullpen (Aroldis Chapman, Jonathan Loaisiga, Chad Green and more).  The addition of SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa should help steady the defense.

The Rays always seem to surprise me, but they will  miss staff ace Tyler Glasnow (August Tommy John surgery) and  22-year-old righty Shane Baz (elbow surgery), who may be out for the first few weeks of the season. Southpaw Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.43 in 25 starts a year ago) should start the season at the top of the rotation. Still the Rays will do their mix-and-match magic (on the mound and in the lineup) and should be in the hunt.  If the Yankee stumble, the Rays could move into second place. Ultimately, the Blue Jays, Yankees and Rays should all be in the pot-season.

AL Central

White Sox            94-68

Twins                    84-78

Tigers                    82-80

Indians                 81-81

Royals                   75-87

The White Sox lost All-Star free-agent Carlos Rodon (and his 13 wins) to the Giants, but they still have plenty of solid arms in the rotation – with Lucas Giolito; Lance Lynn and Dylan Cease, with the back of the rotation drawn  from Dallas Keuchel, Reynaldo Lopez and Michael Kopech.  Behind the rotation, the bullpen should be a major plus with Liam Hendriks, Aaron Bummer, Reynaldo Lopez – and improved  (Kendall Graveman) from a year ago. The offense, potent last season,  also has the potential to be improved, with full (healthy) seasons from outfielders Eloy Jimenez (.249-10-37 in 55 games) and Luis Robert (.338-13-43 in 68 games). Key offensive cast members include SS Tim Anderson (a premier leadoff hitter), 1B Jose Abreu and newcomer RF A.J. Pollock. The White Sox  led the AL Central in runs scored last season and gave up the fewest runs in the Division. They could easily repeat that performance.

Before the lockout ended, I probably would have put my hometown Twins in fourth place. However, some (unexpected) moves improved their prospects. Picking up Sonny Gray to head the rotation and (perhaps the top free agent on the market) Carlos Correa to play SS were major moves. The Twins have the offense to go head-to-head with the ChiSox (CF Byron Buxton, SS Correa, 2B Jorge Polanco, RF Max Kepler , 1B Miguel Sano). Buxton and Correa are Platinum Glove Winners up the middle. Chicago has a measurable edge on the mound. (The Twins rotations beyond Gray (Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer, Chris Paddock) may surprise, but it does not measure up to the White Sox. Plus ,the Twins traded their established closer (Taylor Rogers) to get Paddock, so they may be sorting out bullpen roles to start the season.   Second place for the Twins.

The Tigers are a team on the rise and, if the Twins falter, I could see a second-place finish.  However, I’m not convinced they are quite ready to challenge the White Sox and Twins. The Tigers did take a hit when top-prospect Riley Greene (.301-24-84,with 16 steals) suffered a fractured foot in Spring Training. Penciled in as Detroit’s CF, Greene is expected to be out for several weeks.

AL West

Astros                   94-68

Mariners              91-71

Angels                   85-77

Rangers                75-87

A’s                          70-92

The Astros lost SS Carlos Correa, SP Zack Greinke and reliever Kendall Graveman to free agency.  On the pitching side, Justin Verlander should be back from Tommy John surgery and they picked up free-agent reliever Hector Neris.   They will miss Correa’s glove and bat, but there is still more than enough here to win the AL West.  The offense will go through 2B Jose Altuve (.278-31-83 a year ago), DH Yordan Alvarez (33 homers and 104 RBI), underrated 24-year-old RF Kyle Tucker (.294-30-92, with 14 steals). A bounce back from 3B Alex Bregman would also be a plus – and I haven’t even mentioned LF Michael Brantley (.311 in 121 games). The rotation has Verlander, Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 in 22 starts), Joe Urquidy (8-3, 3.62 in 20 starts), Luis Garcia and Jake Odorizzi.  Ryan Pressley, Ryne Stanek and Hector Neris head up a solid pen.

The Mariners won 90 games a year ago – and just missed the post-season. This year, 90 wins should get them in – and they appear positioned to deliver those victories.  The Mariners made some moves to strengthen the team for 2022, the most important of which may be the singing of strikeout artist Robbie Ray (13-7, 2.84 with the Blue Jays last season) to head their rotation, which has some solid arms in Logan Gilbert, Marco Gonzalez and Chris Flexen. The bullpen proved to be a strength last season.  The question is can they repeat.   It looks like Drew Steckenrider (14 saves, 2.00 ERA) has won the closer job, but Paul Sewald, Diego Castillo and newcomer veteran Sergio Romo are all used to pitching big innings. The retirement of 3B Kyle Seager triggered some changes on offense, with a couple of new faces (via trade) in the lineup:  power-hitting 3B Eugenio Suarez (31 homers for the Reds, but just a .198 average a year ago) and OF Jesse Winder (.305, with 77 runs scored for the Reds.) RF Mitch Haniger (39 home runs ) is still in the middle of the lineup and 1B Ty France, along with youngsters LF Jarred Kelenic and CF Julio Rodriguez will be in the mix. The Mariners seem well-positioned to  again put 90 wins up on the board.

Despite 2021 MP Shohei Ohtani and perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout, I don’t see the Angels finishing higher than third place.  Still, there is some talent to watch. On offense, both Trout and Ohtani are capable of 40 or more home runs, 1B Jarred Walsh has 30-homer power and 3B Anthony Rendon and SS David Fletcher are solid players. Raisel Iglesias saved 34 games in 2021 and has a dependable supporting cast.  Ohtani may be both the best hitter and best starting  pitcher on the squad. The remainder of the starting five will be drawn from Reid Detmers, Noah Syndergaard, Jose Suarez, Michael Lorenzen and Patrick Sandoval. As the season opens, there are still questions to be answered there.

AL AWARD WINNERS

MVP

1. Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays
2. Shohei Ohtani, Angels
3. Luis Robert, White Sox
4. Mike Trout, Angels

Cy Young Award

1. Gerrit Cole, Yankees
2. Shane Bieber, Indians
3. Robbie Ray, Mariners

Rookie of the Year

1. Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals
2. Spencer Torkelson, Tigers

A Few AL Players to Watch

Vlad Guerrero, Jr. Blue Jays.  Just 23, Guerrero a “must-watch” Most Valuable Player candidate. – .311-48-111 a year ago, he should put up similar numbers in 2022.

Bobby Witt, Jr.  Royals. Witt seems ready to join the likes of Vlad Guerrero, Jr. and Bo Bichette as second-generation MLB stars.  Last year’s Minor league Player of the Year (.290-33-97, with 99 runs and 29 SB at Double-A and Triple-A), the 22-year-old is a must-watch Rookie of the Year Candidate.

Byron Buxton, Twins. A full season of Byron Buxton would be a thing of beauty. He’s capable of .300, with 30 homers, 30 steals and Platinum-Glove defense if he avoids injury (he’s only played 100+ games in one of seven seasons). Keep an eye on Buxton, especially when he closes in on the outfield walls.

Spencer Torkelson, Tigers. The Detroit 1B is  is a legitimate power hitter and Rookie of the Year candidate.

Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles.  Just 22-years-old, the 6’5” righthander may not get to Baltimore this season – but Baseball Roundtable hopes he does. At High-A and Double-A last season, he went 9-1, 2.36 in 23 starts, fanning 161 batters (just 27 walks) in 103 innings.

Shohei Ohtani, Angels.  Nothing needs to be said here  … triple-digit heat, 40-homer power and dangerous on the basepaths.

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

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

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here.  More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.

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