Sometimes on a lazy day – actually almost always – my thoughts turn to baseball. So, here are just a few random thoughts (stories and stats) that crossed my mind today. Hope you enjoy this stream of consciousness post.
How About a Little Respect?
Photo by apardavila 
Yesterday, August 4, the Phillies optioned 3B Maikel Franco to Triple A. Franco, at the time hitting .231-15-47, apparently got more respect from the opposition. He was leading all of MLB in 2019 Intentional Walks, with 17.
Things Can Turn Around Quickly
On August 3, Aaron Sanchez – an August acquisition by the post-season bound Astros – started his first game in a Houston uniform. It looks like the change of scenery was good for him.
When Sanchez came over from the Blue Jays on July 31, he was leading MLB in losses (3-14, with a 6.07 earned run average). In his first start for the Astros, Sanchez threw six scoreless, HITLESS innings (two walks/six whiffs), leaving the game with a 6-0 lead (and eventually picking up the win). A trio of relievers (Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski) followed Sanchez to the bump, turning three more scoreless, HITLESS frames. So, in Sanchez’ first start for his new team, he was part of MLB’s 14th combined no-hitter (out of 302 official no-hitters). The Astros, by the way, collected 15 hits in the 9-0 whitewashing. Side note: Sanchez was an All Star as recently as 2016, when he went 15-2, 3.00 in 30 starts for the Blue Jays.
Combined No-Hitters, Becoming a Thing?
The Astros’ August 3 no-hitter was the third MLB no-hitter thrown in 2019 – and the season’s second combined no-hitter. Given today’s pitch counts and seventh-, eighth- and ninth-inning specialists, combined no-hitters are becoming more common. MLB saw just one combined no-hitter before 1967 (more on that coming) and a total of nine combined no-hitters (out of 272 total no-hitters) through 2011. Since then, we’ve seen five combined no-hitters (out of 30 no-hit games). And again, two of three 2019 no-hitters have been collaborative works.
Babe Ruth and the First-ever Combined No-Hitter
The first-ever combine no-hitter took place on June 23, 1917 – with the Red Sox topping the Senators 4-0 in Boston. This game is special for several reasons:
- It was the first MLB combined no-hitter;
- Babe Ruth was the starting pitcher;
- It is the only combined no-hitter in which the pitcher was not pulled by the manager with a no-hitter in progress;
- It involved the most meager contribution by any starter (actually any pitcher) in a combined no-hitter (zero innings pitched/one batter faced);
- It is arguably the most “perfect” combined no-hitter ever.
Ruth, at the time plying his trade as a 22-year-old southpaw starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, opened the game by walking Washington’s lead-off hitter Roy Morgan. Ruth and Boston catcher Pinch Thomas took issue with umpire Brick Owens’ strike zone and, during the argument, Ruth made contact with the umpire. The ultimate result of the confrontation was the ejection of both Ruth and Thomas (with Ruth earning a $100 fine and ten-game suspension); hence he was not pulled by the manager and left the soon to be first-ever combined no-hitter after facing just one batsman.
Red Sox’ pitcher Ernie Shore was called in to replace Ruth; and Sam Agnew took Thomas’ spot behind the plate. Morgan decided to test Agnew’s arm and was thrown out stealing, after which Shore retired the next 26 hitters in order – completing the first combined no-hitter and facing the minimum 27 batters. (Hence the “most perfect” combined no-hitter). Ruth finished the 1917 season at 23-13, with a 2.01 earned run average and a league-leading 35 complete games. Shore finished the campaign at 13-10, 2.22.
Can’t I Get Any Justin? Yes, you can.
Shane Bieber is having a great season. Not only was he the All Star Game MVP, his record stands at 11-4 and he leads all of MLB with three complete games and two CG shutouts. Name recognition? Maybe not so much.
The back of his Topps baseball card reads “Until Bieber did it 2018, no Indians pitcher in 54 years had logged six or more strikeouts in each of his first three big-league appearances. Justin was particularly comfortable on the road, where went a team-record 7-0 and was undefeated in 11 starts.” Yep, Shane’s 2018 road record was attributed to Justin Bieber.
Shane Bieber leads MLB in complete games this season with three. In 1884, Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn started 73 games – and completed 73 games. A few other tidbits:
- The last pitcher to complete ten or more games in a season was the Rays’ James Shields (11 in 2011);
- 2000 was the first season that saw no MLB pitcher complete at least ten games;
- The last pitcher to complete 20 games in a season was the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela in 1986 (20 CG);
- The last pitcher to complete 30 games in a season was the Yankees’ Catfish Hunter (30 in 1975);
- Currently, there are ten MLB teams without a complete game in 2019. There were nine in 2018;
- The last season in which every MLB team had at least one complete game was 2014.
The Rays have gone the longest without a complete game 565 games (back to May 14, 2017). In the NL, that honor goes to the Brewers at 387 games (June 18, 2017.)
Finally, A Three-Blast Day
Photo by Keith Allison
The Twins Nelson Cruz has been a flexing his long-ball muscles for more than a decade. He came into the 2019 season, at age 38, with 360 MLB home runs and 203 home runs over the previous five campaigns (all for the Mariners). Yet, in 14 MLB seasons, he had never had a three-home run game. That is, not until, July 25 of this season, when (at age 39) he popped three home runs in a Twins 10-3 win over the White Sox. He proved it wasn’t a fluke on August 3, when he had his second three-home run day. This time it came in an 11-3 win over the Royals – and, by the way, made Cruz the oldest MLB player ever to have two three-homer games in a season. Oldest player ever with a three-homer game? That would be Stan Musial July 8, 1962, at age 41 (and 229 days). As I write this, Cruz is hitting .292-30-72 on the season.
The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time?
Photo by slgckgc
Jacob deGrom currently has a 6-7 record on the season, with a nifty 2.78 earned run average. Meanwhile, there are nine pitchers with ten or more wins, with ERA’s over 4.00. But all that should be nothing new to deGrom. In 2018, he won only ten games (10-9) in 32 starts, despite a MLB-lowest 1.70 ERA.
A few Whiff Stats
- The first time any MLB batter fanned 200 times in a season was 2008 (Mark Reynolds – 204). Since then, we’ve seen a dozen more seasons of 200+ strikeouts.
- Mark Reynolds has the most 200+ whiff seasons at three (2008, 2009, and 2010).
- 2018 saw the most players with 200+ whiffs in a season at three (Joey Gallo, Giancarlo Stanton, Yoan Moncada).
- Babe Ruth never fanned 100 times in a season, but led the league in whiffs five time.
Yankee Don Larsen is, of course, best known for throwing the only World Series perfect game. You should also know that, as a Saint Louis Browns’ rookie (1953), Larsen set a record for consecutive base hits by a pitcher (seven).
The streak started in the second game of a doubleheader against the Red Sox on July 24. In his final at bat (in the eighth inning) of that game, Larsen laced a double to right-center off Mickey McDermott. (Larsen came on in relief in the sixth inning). Larsen pitched again on July 26th – one inning of relief against the BoSox – but did not come to the plate.
On July 28, he came on in relief (against the Athletics) in fourth inning and took the loss in 9-7 game. On the mound, Larsen gave up three earned runs in five frames (two hits, two walks, four strikeouts). At the plate, he did better, with an RBI single to CF in the fourth, a single to RF in the seventh and another single to RF in the ninth. The streak was now at hits in four consecutive plate appearances. Side note: The Browns let Larsen bat with two outs in the ninth, trialing 9-7. Larsen relieved against the Athletics again on July 30, pitching a scoreless eighth, but did not come to the plate.
On August 5, Larsen got the start against the Orioles and went the distance in a 5-0 loss. At the plate in that game, he collected: a single to left in the third; a single to left in the fifth; and single to center in the seventh – giving him base hits in seven consecutive plate appearances. At the time, he was 2-10, 4.32 on the mound, but had a .288 batting average on the season. It turns out, Larsen would appear in four more games before the streak would officially come to an end.
Larsen next trip to the plate came on August 7. In that game (against the Senators), he came in to play left field in the sixth and grounded out in the eighth. Technically, the streak was still alive, since he grounded out as a left fielder, not as a pitcher. He appeared again in the first game of a doubleheader against the Senators on August 9, this time as a pinch runner (scoring a run, but not appearing at the plate). In the second game of the DH, Larsen batted again, but still not as a pitcher. He hit into a double play as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning (as the Browns lost 12-3). On August 11, Larsen finally batted again as a pitcher. He started against the Tigers (taking the loss in a 9-3 game) and flied out to short in the third to end the streak.
Larsen ended his 1953 rookie season at 7-12, 4.16 – with a .284-3-10 line at the plate.
Photo by Ted Van Pelt
The World Champion 1965 Dodgers had just one batter with at least 100 bats and a .300 or better batting average. That was pitcher Don Drysdale, who hit .300-7-19 in 130 at bats. Next best was speedster Maury Wills at .286 in 650 at bats (no home runs and 33 RBI). Drysdale’s seven long balls were seventh on the team – although every player ahead of him had 400 or more at bats.
Primary Resources: ESPN.com; Baseball-Reference.com
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