Baseball Roundtable July Wrap … Here’s Comes the Judge

It’s the first day of a new month and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s Wrap Up of the previous month – the stats and stories that captured The Roundtable’s attention, as well as the Players and Pitchers of the Month, team and individual leader boards and, of course, the Trot Index.

This month’s Wrap Up could easily be termed The Aaron Judge Special Edition.  Judge not only led all of MLB in July home runs, RBI and run scored, he set a new AL record for home runs before August 1, and tied the Yankee franchise records for home runs before the All Star break (tying Roger Maris) and for walk-off  home runs in a season (tying Mickey Mantle). You’ll find all the details in the Highlights Section of this Wrap Up. But Judge wasn’t the only story of July 22. We also saw:

• A rookie became  just the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter and an Immaculate Inning in the same season;
• Another rookie going deep on his first MLB swing of the bat;
• The first team to launch back-to-back-to-back-to back home runs in the first inning;
• The first-ever centerfield-to-third base triple play;
• 2022’s fifth cycle;
• Two players hit their career 200th home runs and one pitcher notch his 100th victory;
• The Orioles put up the Al East’s best won-lost record;
• The Blue Jays explode for 28 runs versus the Red Sox;
• Three players with at least 60 July at bats hit .400 or better and three pitchers with at least 20 July innings pitched put up ERAs under 1.00.
• And more.

You’ll find the stories in the Highlights Section.

First, though, let’;s look at Baseball Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the Month for July 2022.

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Baseball Roundtable Players and Pitchers of the Month – July 2022

National League

Player of the Month – Austin Riley, 3B Braves

Braves’  25-year-old 3B Austin Riley came into July hitting .257 and entered August at .301 – thanks to a .423-11-25 month. Riley’s July included an 18-game hitting streak (July 5-26), during which he hit .444, with eight home runs, 16 RBI and 16 runs scored. (The streak included 11 multi-hit games.)  His .423 July average was second in the MLB among players with at least 60 July at bats, as were his 11  home runs and 25 RBI (tied with teammate Matt Olson). His 44 July base hits led all of MLB, as did his .885 slugging percentage.

Honorable Mentions:  Another 25-year-old, Phillies’ 3B Alec Bohm hit .434-3-14 in 20 games. That .434 average was the highest in MLB for players with at least 60 July at bats. Bohm went without a hit in only two of his 20 July games. During a 14-game hitting streak (July 8-29), he hit a torrid .471.  Dodgers’ 1B Freddie Freeman did MLB veterans proud, going  .388-6-19 in 26 July games.  His 38 July base hits were second in the NL.

Pitcher of the Month – Merrill Kelly RHP, Diamondbacks.

Merrill Kelly went 4-0, with a 1.31 ERA in six July starts, putting up a stingy 0.77 WHIP (lowest in the NL among pitchers with at least 20 July  innings  pitched) and fanning  33 batters (versus just eight walks) in  an MLB-highest 41 1/3 July innings.  The 33-year-old, who came into 2022 with a 23-27, 4.27 MLB record over three seasons, ended July 10-5, 2.87 on the year. He gave up two or fewer runs in each of his six July starts. For the month, he allowed just five earned runs in his 41+ innings of work.

Honorable Mentions:  Mets’ righty Max Scherzer went just 1-1 for July, but  put up a 1.39 ERA and tied for second in the NL in July strikeouts with 45 (just four walks) in 32 1/3 innings. Edwin Diaz, RHP, Mets, was seven-for-seven in July save opportunities, with  a 0.00 ERA and  25 strikeouts (one walk ) in 11 1/3 innings.

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American League

Player of the Month  – Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees

Aaron Judge hit .333 for July with an MLB-best 13 home runs, as well as an MLB-tops 32 July RBI and an MLB-leading  25 runs scored. In addition, he stole five bases in five attempts. Judge had ten multi-hit, three multi-home run and eight multi-RBI games in July. He was also one of just three players with at least 60 at bats to put up an .800+ slugging percentage (.806).

Honorable Mentions: For most of the month, Yankee OF/DH Matt Carpenter was running neck-and-neck for this Roundtable recognition (a late-July power explosion by Judge closed the deal). Still, the 36-year-old veteran Carpenter deserves recognition for coming up big when the Yankees needed it. His 23 July RBI were second in the AL to Judge and he also delivered nine home runs (second in the AL to Judge) and a .356 July average.  Now a .400 average is a “bright and shiny thing” that tends to attract The Roundtable’s attention. So ,I have to give a shout out to Rays’ 1B Harold Ramirez (.400-1-10 in 16 games).

Pitcher of the Month – Dylan Cease, RHP, White Sox

Dylan Cease’s strikeout ratio for July was 10.1 per nine innings – his lowest for any month this season (11.5 in April, 13.6 in May and 14.8 in June).  Still, it was his best season of the month in terms of wins and  second-best in terms of ERA). Cease, 5-1, was the only MLB five-game winner in July.  His 0.76 ERA was the MLB’s lowest among pitchers with at least 20 July innings pitched.  He fanned 40 batters in 35 2/3 innings. In his six starts, he never gave up more than one earned run.

Honorable Mentions: The ageless wonder – Astros RHP, Justin Verlander – went 4-0, 1.01 in four July starts, fanning 32 batters in 26 2/3 innings (five walks). Cole Irvin, LHP, A’s, went 4-1, 1.85 for the A’s.  Notably, Irvin’s five starts including three  games against the Astros and one against the Blue Jays  – a pretty demanding set of assignments.  Despite facing these challenging lineups (and the fact that he fanned just 22 batters in 34 innings), Irvin’s WHIP for July was 0.65 – best in MLB among pitchers with at least 20 July innings.

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Surprise of the Month  – Tie: Ramon Urias, IF , Orioles & Jose Miranda, 1B/3B Twins

Ramon Urias was originally signed by the Rangers in 2010, as a 16-year-old international free agent out of out of Mexico. From 2011 through 2020, he played in the Rangers, Cardinals and Orioles minor-league systems, as well as in the Mexican Leagues.  In February 2020, Urias was selected off waivers (by the Orioles from the Cardinals) and he made his major-league debut in his tenth professional season (August 20, 2020), hitting .360-1-3 in ten games for the Orioles.  (Urias had gone .262-10-55 at  at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A in 2019). In 2021, Urias played in 85 games for Baltimore and hit .279-7-38. This season, he it .225-6-18 for the Birds through June, before turning in a surprising July – a .329-5-18 line, as the O’s made a July surge.  While he played primarily 3B in July, he also took the field at 2B and SS.

Twins’ 24-year-old rookie Jose Miranda came into July hitting .240-5-20 for the season (and his MLB career … 44 games).  In July, Miranda turned it up a notch (or more), going .353-5-19 in 20 July games. Miranda, signed by the Twins in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft may have been a bit less of a surprise than Urias.  In 2021, he hit .344-30-94 in 127 games at Double- and Triple-A and was named the Twins Minor League Player of the Year.

Honorable Mentions: Braves’ 23-year-old rookie righthander Spencer Strider surprised me not by his success, but by how quickly his “stuff” has proven dominant – particularly since he missed the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.  Strider was selected by the Braves in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB draft – out of Clemson University, where he was 5-2, 4.71 over two seasons – fanning 89 batters in 63 innings. In 2021, he worked his way  from A-Level ball to High-A, Double-A and Triple-A before making his MLB debut with the Braves in October ( 2 1/3 innings in two appearances). Strider  (whose fastball averages in the high-90’s) started this season in the Braves’ bullpen. In fact, he didn’t get his first start until May 30 – when he lasted 4 /13 innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks.  He went 2-1, 2.70 in five starts for the Braves in July, opening some eyes (even further) by fanning 41 batters in just 26 2/3 innings. Also mentioned as a surprise is the entire Baltimore Orioles team – more on that a bit later in this post.

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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE

Through July, 34.5 percent of the MLB season’s 114,855 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.3%); walks (8.2%); home runs (2.8%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Personally, I’d like more action in the field of play.

The 34.5 percent figure is down slightly from 2021’s full season 36.3 percent.  2020’s 37.3 percent;  2019’s 36.2 percent and 2018’s 34.8 percent.  By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.  

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When you look at July’s winningest teams, you see some expected squads – the Dodgers (21-5), Astros (19-9); Braves (18-8); and Mets (17-8). I’d like to devote a few paragraphs to a couple of teams among July’s top winners who would have to be noted as “surprises.”

Let’s start with the Orioles, who:

• This June had their first winning month (14-12) since August of 2017;
• In the past five years, have finished last in the East four times and second-to-last once; and
• Last season finished 58 games under .500 and 48 games out of first place.

In July, the Orioles put up the best record in the Al East (16-9), raised their season record to 51-51 and moved to within three games of a Wild Card spot. The O’s were led on offense by 3B Ramon Urias (.329-5-18 for July); RF Anthony Santander (.316-5-17); and CF Cedric Mullins (.250-2-14, with six steals and 14 runs scored). On the mound, 12 different pitchers recorded July wins, led by Jordan Lyles (3-1, 3.58 in six starts) and Spencer Watkins (2-0, 2.35 in four starts), as well as some solid bullpen work. (Bryan Baker (2.45 ERA in 12 appearances); Felix Bautista (2.03 in 13 games);  Cionel Perez (1.46 in 13 appearances); Joey Krehbiel (1.54 in 11 appearances); and six saves by Jorge Lopez (despite a 4.76 ERA for the month).  The Orioles’ 3,61 ERA was the AL’s third-best for July.

Orioles’ July Win Streak

From July 1 through July 13, the Orioles surprised fans with a ten-game winning streak – going from nine games under.500 to one game over. The double-digit streak included five one-run wins, three walk-offs and victories notched by eight different Orioles’ pitchers. During the streak, they outscored opponents 52-30, outhit them .266 t0 .220 (but were out-homered 9-8). Over the streak, the Orioles’ pitching staff put up a 2.93 ERA to their opponents 4.80 and fanned 9.1 batters per nine innings to their opponents’ 8.1.

The Seattle Mariners also made a big move in July, leading the AL West with a .720 winning percentage – CF Julio Rodriguez led the offense (.267-5-18) and, while the averages weren’t strong, the Mariners got run production out of C Cal Raleigh (.224-4-14); 3B Eugenio Suarez (.218-3-14); and 1B Carlos Santana (.179-5-12). SS J.P. Crawford (.275 with 13 runs scored) and LF Sam Haggerty (.292, with 10 tallies) also chipped in.  Like the Orioles, the Mariners benefited from solid pitching, especially out of the pen: Ryan Borucki (2-0, 0.96 in nine games); Diego Castillo (2-0, 1.04 in nine games); Erik Swanson (2-0, 1.69 in 12 games); Matthew Festa (2-0, 3.12 in nine games); Matt Brash (1-0, 2.45 in seven games). That’s nine of those July wins (against no losses), right there.   Chris Flexen led the starters at 3-0, 1.95 in five starts.  The Mariners’ 3.22 July ERA was the AL’s lowest.

Mariners’ Big Streak

From July 2 through July 17, the Seattle Mariners ran off a 14-game winning streak.   During the streak, the Mariners outscored their opponents 70-34, outhit them .257 to .228 and out-homered them 21-to-11. The pitching really carried the streak, however, putting up a 2.07 ERA (to the opponents’ 4.46) over the 14 games; giving up two runs or fewer in nine games. Seven of the 14 wins were by one run and eight of the victories came on the road.  The streak ended with the Mariners dropping three straight to the Astros (July 22-24) in Seattle.

–——Team  Statistical Leaders for July  2022 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Dodgers (147); Diamondbacks (126); Brewers (125)

American League – Yankees (167); Astros (139); Rangers (135)

The fewest July runs were scored by the Angels – just 71. The Nationals  tallied the fewest runs in the NL at 78.

AVERAGE

National League – Dodgers  (.275); Rockies (.260); Brewers (.256)

American League – Blue Jays (.288);  Guardians (.269); Royals (.269)

The lowest team average for July belonged to the Angels at .199.

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (42); Dodgers (36); Brewers (35)

American League –  Yankees (50); Astros (43); A’s (36)

The Angels  had the fewest home runs for July  at 15.

The Dodgers led MLB in July slugging percentage at .482.  The Yankees led the AL at .479.

STOLEN BASES

National League – Marlins (26); Braves (21); Cubs (18); Brewers (18)

American League – Yankees (22); Angels (21); Royals (20)

The Twins and Reds stole the fewest sacks in July – three each (the Twins in six attempts, the Reds in nine).  The Giants were 14-for-14 in steal attempts.

WALKS DRAWN

National League –   Dodgers (102); Giants (98); Brewers (97)

American League – Yankees (116); Rays (95); Astros (95)

The Dodgers  led MLB  in on-base percentage for July at .358. The Yankees led the NL  at .356.  

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Pirates (260); Reds (259); Giants (251)

American League – Red Sox (265); Rangers (262); Rays (251)

Bonus Stats

• The Yankees led MLB in total bases in July with 440 . By contrast, the Angels were 30^th, with 234 total bases in July.
• The Reds led in July hit-by-pitch, with 22 Reds’ batters plunked.  The Phillies and Diamondbacks each had just three “victims” each.
• Five of the thirty teams did not put down a single successful sacrifice bunt in July. The Diamondbacks, Guardians and Mets led in sacrifice bunts with five each.

Earned Run Average

National League – Mets (2.48); Cubs (2.87); Dodgers (2.94); Braves (2.95)

American League – Mariners (3.22); Astros (3.25); Orioles (3.61)

Three teams had July ERAs of 5.00  or higher– Red Sox  (6.30); Twins (5.30); Nationals (5.27)

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Mets (259); Marlins (247); Brewers (247)

American League – Astros (282); Yankees (249); Angels (236)

The Brewers averaged an MLB-best 10.28 strikeouts per nine innings in July. Also at 10+ were the Angels (10.24); Mets (10.21); and Astros (10.19).

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League  –  Dodgers (56); Mets (62); Phillies (64); Cardinals (64)

American League –  Rays (59); Blue Jays (62); Orioles (65); A’s (65)

The Dodgers walked a stringiest 2.16 batters per nine frames in July.  The Red Sox walked an MLB’s highest 4.20 per nine innings for the month.

SAVES

National League – Marlins (10); Braves (10); Dodgers (10)

American League – Mariners (10); Orioles (9); A’s (9)

The Angels recorded just one save in July (just two  opportunities). They did win only six of 24  games.

WALKS AND HITS PER INNING PITCHED (WHIP)

National League – Dodgers (1.03); Mets (1.05); Phillies (1.11)

American League – Astros (1.07); A’s (1.13); Blue Jays (1.17)

Bonus Stats

• The Mets were the only team to fan at least four times as many batters as they walked in July – 4.18 K/BB.
• The Nationals gave up an MLB-high 42 home runs in July; the Giants gave up an MLB-low 18 dingers.
• There were only four complete games pitched in July. One each for the Guardians (Shane Bieber); Astros (Framber Valdez); Giants (Carlos Rodon); and Cardinals (Adam Wainwright).

—–July 2022 Highlights—–

Nolan Arenado Does a Little RE-Cycling

Nolan Arenado got July off with a bang, providing some notable fireworks in the Cardinals’ July 1 5-3 loss to the Phillies in Philadelphia. In the game, Arenado hit for 2022’s fifth cycle (single, double, triple and home run in the same game). It was the second cycle of Arenado’s career, making him  the 29^th modern-era American or National League player to hit for multiple cycles. The feat leaves Arenado one short of the all-time record for career cycles (three) shared by Christian Yelich, Trea Turner, Adrian Beltre, Babe Herman and Bob Meusel.

In the game, Arenado:

• Got the triple out of the way in the top of the first inning (off Bailey Falter);
• Added the home run (a two-run shot) off Falter in the third;
• Hit a leadoff double (off Nick Nelson) in the sixth; and
• Singled off Seranthony Dominguez in the eighth.

On the day, Arenado was four-for-four, with one run scored and three RBI.

2022 Cycles

The 2022 season has seen “cycles” by the Brewers’ Christian Yelich (May 11); Mets’ Eduardo Escobar (June 6); Angels’ Jared Walsh (June 11); Orioles’ Austin Hayes (June 22); Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado (July 1).

Three is a Crowd – a Good Crowd

On July 1 (in the same contest as Nolan Arenado’s’ cycle – reported above), Phillies’ rookie DH/1B Darick Hall hit his third home run of the season (he made his MLB debut June 29). It was made notable by the fact that it was also his third career base hit (coming in his third MLB game) and made Hall just the second Phillies’ player whose first three hits  were long balls. The other was outfielder Ed Sanicki in 1949, whose three homers came in his first five games. Sanicki, by the way, played in just 20 MLB games (in the 1949 & 1951 seasons), going .294-3-8. He had five MLB hits (one single, one double and three home runs).

Hall collected his first no-homer MLB safety (a single) on July 3.  At the close of July, his stat line was .244-5-11 in 24 games.  Hall has shown consistent power in the minor leagues. He was .269-20-67 in 72 games at Triple-A this season and has hit 188 home runs in 631 minor-league games – .250 minor-league average.

A Handful of Homers

Pirates’ infielder Rodolfo Castro is the only player whose first FIVE MLB safeties were home runs. He accomplished the feat in 2021, going .238 (5-for-21), with five long balls in his first nine MLB games.  He collected his first non-homer hit  (a double) in his 11^th MLB game (July 3, 2021). Side note: Keith McDonald is the only player with more than one MLB hit (three), whose every MLB hit was a home run.  For more on McDonald, click here. 

Come on Let’s Get this Party Started

On July 2, the Cardinals looked to be getting off to a slow start.  In the top of the first, in Philadelphia, the first two batters (SS Tommy Edman and LF Brandon Donovan) were retired on seven pitches. (Kyle Gibson was on the mound for the Philllies). Then Redbirds’ 1B Paul Goldschmidt singled – followed by consecutive home runs off the bats of 3B Nolan Arenado, 2B Nolan Gorman, DH Juan Yepez and CF Dylan Carlson.  After the four blasts, RF Lars Nootbaar flied out to end the five-run inning). It was the just the 11^th time an MLB team has hit four consecutive home runs in an inning and the first time it happened in the first frame. The Cardinals rode that five-run first inning outburst to a 7-6 win. (It took another Arenado home run in the ninth to seal the deal.)

Jeremy Pena Provides the Thunder, Pitching Staff Throw in the Lightning

Astros’ rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena has some big shoes to fill (Carlos Correa’s to be exact) and, on July 3, he more than filled the bill. Pena went four-five, with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBI – as the Astros topped the Angels 4-2 in Houston.  The icing the cake was that the second Pena blast was a two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.

The pitching staff, however, stole the show – tying an MLB nine-inning, single-game record  by fanning 20 Angels. STATS also reported that the Angels became the first team in MLB history to fan 48 batters in a three-game series that did not include extra innings. In the July 3 game, starter Framber Valdez fanned nine batters in six innings, Hector Norris and Rafael Montero each fanned two in one inning of work apiece and closer Ryan Pressly fanned three in a 1-2-3 ninth.  Four Astros’ pitchers fanned 12 Angels in a 9-1 win July 2 and three Houston hurlers fanned 16 in an 8-1 win on the first.

As for Pena, the rookie’s doing a solid job in Correa’s stead –  .252-15-38, with six steals at the end of July.

Giving a Double  – no Triple – Take

In their July 4, 6-3 win over the White Sox in Chicago, the Twins’ turned a unique 8-5 (centerfield to third base) triple play. By unique, I mean that, according the Society for American Baseball Research triple play data base, it is the only 8-5 triple play in MLB history.  Here’s how it went down.

The White Sox opened the inning with a ground rule double by 1B Jose Abreu (off reliever Griffin Jax). Jax then hit RF Gavin Sheets with a pitch and allowed a run-scoring single to 3B Yoan Moncada – leaving Sheets at second and Moncada at first with no outs and the game tied at two apiece. The ChiSox then brought in Adam Engel to pinch run for Sheets at second.  Sox LF  A.J. Pollock next hit an 0-2 Jax offering for what looked like a double to  to deep right center – only platinum glove CF Byron Buxton ran it down and made the catch at the wall (out number one). Buxton spun and threw  to the  infield, where Engel and Moncada were running hard. It what may have been a bit of good fortune, Buxton’s throw sailed over the heads of the cutoff man and to the glove of third baseman Gio Urshela, waiting between second and third. As Urshela caught the ball, Moncada (who had been on first) was headed toward third and Urshela made an easy tag for out number two. Engel (who had started on second) had passed Urshela and was rounding third. Urshela ran the ball to second base – tagging the bag for out number three.

Turn Two – or Three

The Twins remain the only team to turn two triple plays in a single game – a July 17, 1990 1-0 loss to the Red Sox.  Those triple killings were both around the horn (third-to second-to first … Gary Gaetti-to Al Newman-to Kent Hrbek) and occurred in the fourth and eighth innings

The very next day, the Twins tied an AL record by turning six double plays in a 4-3 win over the Red Sox.  In that game , the Red Sox also turned four double plays – giving the Twins/Red Sox the MLB record for combined twin killings in a game. 

More #InBaseballWeCountEverthing

According the STATS, the July 4 Brewers/Cubs (in Milwaukee) game was the first in MLB history  to feature  a player’s first career home run; an inside-the-park home run; AND A walk-off home run.

Cubs’ Rookie CF Nelson Valazquez gave Chicago a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with his first career home run. It came in his 14^th Career game and 32nd career at bat.

Cubs’ Rookie RF Seiya Suzuki tied the game a two apiece with an inside-the park home run with one out in the  top of the ninth (off Brewers’ closer Josh Hader). It was his fifth home run and first inside-the-parker.

Brewers ‘1B Victor Caratini topped off the game with a three-run, walk-off homer run in with two out in the bottom of the tenth. It was his seventh of the season and 29^th of his six-season  MLB career.

Robbie (maybe) Didn’t See This One Coming

In the eighth inning of the White Sox July 10 win over the Tigers in Chicago, Detroit LF Robbie Grossman appeared to temporarily lose a fly ball in the sun and had it bounce off his glove for a two-base  error.  An error, no big deal, right?  Well, it was kind of a big deal, it was Grossman’s first miscue in the field since June 13, 2018 – a span of 440 games  and the longest error-free streak by a position player in MLB history. The error, by the way, would have been the third out of the inning in a 2-2 tied game. After the miscue, the White Sox added an intentional walk and a pair of singles for two unearned runs and a 4-2 win.

Albert Pujols Continues to Climb the Charts

On July 11, as the Cardinals topped the Phillies in St. Louis, Albert Pujols touched Phillies’ starter Aaron Nola for an inning-opening double in the seventh (and came around to score on a home run by LF Corey Dickerson).  When Pujols got his hit, the Cardinals were already up 3-1 and it was his only hit in the game.  Still, it had a lot of meaning.  It was Pujols 1,378^th career extra base hit, enabling him to pass perhaps the most famous Cardinal of all –  Stan “The Man” Musial – into third place on the all-time career extra-base hit list. Pujols, who finished July with 1,382 career XBH, trails only Hank Aaron (1,477) and Barry Bonds 1,440.) At the end of July, Pujols was third all-time in XBH, third in RBI (2,174); third in total bases (6,110); and fifth in home runs (686).

Move Over Roger

On July 16, Yankee Aaron Judge hit his third and fourth homers of the month, as the Yankees topped the Red Sox 14-1 in New York. Even more significantly, they were  32nd and 33rd homers of the season – tying him with Roger Maris for the most home runs before the All Star break by a Yankee. It also tied him for eighth all-time in homers by the break. (Keep in mind, the first All Star Game – and thus the first “break” – did not take place until 1933.) More on Judge after the All Star Break (below).

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Baseball Roundtable All Star Break

Plenty has been written about the 2022 All Star Game, in which the American League emerged as 3-2 victors on the strength of a fourth-inning, two-run home run by Yankee LF Giancarlo Stanton, followed immediately by a solo blast from Twins’ CF Byron Buxton.

Baseball Roundtable, with that in mind, will just take a quick look at the game’s Baseball Roundtable Trot Index – percent of plate appearances that end with a batter’s “trot” (back to the dugout, to first base or around the bases).  These are basically plate appearances that produce no action on the field.  For  the game’s 73 plate appearance, The Baseball Roundtable Trot Index was 43.8 percent. It breaks out like this: strikeouts – 30.1%; walks – 6.8%; home runs – 4.1%; hit by pitch  – 2.7%; . (Percentage total differs slightly due to rounding.) If such things interest you, fans also saw 62 players, including 20 pitchers. 

For some unique tidbits from All Star games past (like the time, 1942, when the American League used just 11 players in a nine-inning All Star Game or when, in 1967, Bill Freehan caught all 15 innings of an All Star game, click here.

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Judge Continues His Assault Post All Star Break

After the All Star break, Aaron Judge hit a robust .405, with nine home runs and 21 RBI in 11 games. That gave him 13 home runs for the month and 42 on the season. That 42^nd home run – in  Yankees 8-2 win over the Royals on July 30 –  made Judge just one of two players to reach 200 career round trippers in less than 700 games. Judge got there in 671 games, trailing only Ryan Howard (658 games). Others in the top five include: Ralph Kiner (706 games); Juan Gonzalez (766); Harmon Killebrew  and Albert Belle (tied at 769).

Judge also passed Yankee legend Babe Ruth for the most home runs by a Yankees before August 1 (Ruth had 41 as of July 31, 1928). Stathead indicates Judge’s 42 home runs before August 1 are an American League record and trail only Mark McGwire (45 for the Cardinals in 1998) and Barry Bonds (45 for the Giants in 2001) for the MLB-high.

Blue Jays Explode Against the Red Sox

On July 22, the Blue Jays exploded for 28 runs (on 29 hits) against the Red Sox – winning by a 28-5 score. In the game, every member of the Blue Jays’ starting lineup collected multiple hits and scored multiple runs. For a more in-depth look at the contest, click here.

Betts Gets Number 200

On  July 23, Dodgers’ RF Mookie Betts hit his 22^nd home run of the season, as the Dodgers beat the Giants 4-2 in LA. The blast was also Betts 200^th career home run.

More #InBaseballWeCountEverything

34-year-old Bryan Shaw of the Guardians has been spending his summers in a major-league clubhouse for 12 seasons (2011-2022 … Diamondbacks, Indians, Rockies, Mariners). And, until this July 26, he started every game in the bullpen.  On that day, after 732 relief appearances, he made his first MLB start (against the Red Sox in Boston).

Why is this in the Highlights Section?  It gave Shaw the most relief appearance ever at the beginning of a career before making a start. (Keep in mind, you have to make at least one career start to qualify.) Shaw went 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk, while fanning two.  Cleveland won 8-3 and Shaw got a no-decision. Shaw was relieved by 25-year-old righty Nick Sandlin, who has made 61 relief appearances without a start.

If Shaw’s name sounds a bit familiar, it should. In his first 11 MLB season, he led the AL in appearances four time.

Is Forty, the New Thirty?

On July 27, the Cardinals topped the Blue Jays on the strength of a three-run home run by 42-year-old Albert Pujols (part of a three-for-four games) and a one-run, seven-inning, eight-strikeout performance by 40-year-old starter Adam Wainwright.

He wasn’t Throwing Junk Out There

I’ve always though Homer Bailey was an unfortunate name for an MLB pitcher, in the same way Steve Swisher is not ideal for a hitter.  Well, add Angels’ 26-year-old rookie righthander Janson Junk to that list. On July 27, Junk made his second MLB appearance of 2022 (and sixth career MLB appearance). Junk started against the Royals and went five innings (four hits, one walk, eight strikeouts) in picking up his first MLB victory. Oh, one of my favorite baseball names? How about the Diamondbacks’ Seth Beer?

More  Judgments (or Judge moments)

On July 28, Yankee OF Aaron Judge rapped his 39^th home run of  the 2022 season.   It came with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and gave the Bronx Bombers a 1-0 win over the Royals. It was Judge’s third walk-off home run of the season, tying Mickey Mantle (1959) for the franchise record for walk-off long balls in a  single campaign.

Sho-Time Again

It wouldn’t be a 2022 Roundtable Highlights Section without a nod to Shohei Ohtani. The Angels’ two-way star. On July 28, as the Angels lost to the Rangers 2-0 in LA, Shohei gave up two runs on eight hits over six innings – while fanning 11 and walking none. While it was a loss, it was also the sixth consecutive game in which Ohtani fanned 10 or more batters – leaving him to enter August one game shy of the franchise record for consecutive games with double-digit strikeouts,  Who owns that record?  None other than Nolan Ryan. Not bad company. Since June 22, Ohtani has made six starts on the mound, going  4-2, 2.08 and fanning 68 batters (eight walks) in 39 innings.

Old Guys Continue to Rule

Okay, let get this right up front, Houston righty Justin Verlander is 39-years-old, missed the 2021 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and pitched only one game in 2020. So, how’s he doing.  On July 29, he became the 2022 season’s first 14-game winner, going 7 2/3 innings  and giving up one run on five hits (with five  strikeouts), as the Astros topped Seattle 11-1. That victory ran Verlander’s record to 14-3, with a 1.81 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 124 innings.  Verlander has won his last six starts, putting up a .086 ERA over 41 2/3 innings (on out shy of seven innings per start).

100 – That a nice Round Number

On July 30, Mets’ right-hander Carlos Carrasco threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball, as New York topped the Marlins in Miami. It ran Carrasco’s season record to 11-4, 3.79 – and was his 100^th MLB victory. Carrasco is 100-82, 3.86 over 13 MLB seasons. His best season was 2017, when he went 18-6, 3.29 for the Indians, leading the AL in victories and finishing fourth in the Cy Young Award balloting.

Three’s Company – Pretty Good Company!

In the second inning of the Angels’ matchup with the Rangers (in Texas) – with the score knotted at 1-1 – Angels’ rookie starter Reid Detmers was slated to face 3B Ezequiel Duran, RF Kole Calhoun and 2B Charlie Culberson (the numbers 6-7-8 batters in the lineup). He dispatched the trio on nine pitches – all strikes – to record an Immaculate Inning (three strikeouts on nine pitches, to produce a 1-2-3 inning).

It was the fourth Immaculate Inning this season, but this one was extra special.    Detmers, you may recall, threw a no-hitter against the Rays back on May 10 (a 12-0 Angels win). Adding the Immaculate Inning made Detmers the first rookie and only the third pitcher in MLB history to throw a no-hitter and an Immaculate Inning in the same season.  The others?    Sandy Koufax (1962, 1963, 1963) and Mike Fiers (2015).

Nice Start, Rook!

On July 31, as the Dodgers faced the Rockies in Colorado, James Outman made is MLB debut in RF for the Dodgers.  The 25-year-old rookie, batting ninth came up against Rockies’ starter German Marquez in the top of third, with one on and no outs and the game tied at 0-0. Outman did not make an out, Man! After taking two pitches for a 1-1 count, Outman took his first major-league swing and popped a home run to right-center.  He finished his first MLB game three-for-four, with two runs scored, three RBI, a double and a homer.

——-Individual Statistical Leaders for July  2022———

AVERAGE (60 July  at bats minimum)

National League – Alec Bohm, Phillies (.434); Austin Riley, Braves (.423); Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (.388)

American League –  Harold Ramirez, Rays (.400); Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., Blue Jays (.382); Matt Carpenter, Yankees (.356)

The lowest July average (among players with at least 60 at bats in the month)  belonged to the Phillies’ Didi Gregorius at .116 (8-for-69).

HOME RUNS

National League – Austin Riley, Braves (11); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (10); Matt Olson, Braves (9)

American League –  Aaron Judge, Yankees  (13);  Matt Carpenter, Yankees (9); Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (9)

The Braves’ Austin Riley had the highest July slugging percentage (among players with at least 60  at bats) at .885.  The AL  leader was the Yankees’ Matt Carpenter  at .822. 

RUNS BATTED IN

National League –Matt Olson, Braves (25); Austin Riley, Braves (25); Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (19); Brandon Drury, Reds (19)

American League –  Aaron Judge, Yankees (32); Matt Carpenter, Yankees (23); Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (22)

HITS

National League – Austin Riley, Braves (44); Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (38); Trea Turner, Dodgers (35)

American League –  Steven Kwan, Guardians (38); Jose Abreu, White Sox (36); Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays (35)

The Nationals’ Juan Soto  led MLB (players (with at least 60 July at bats) in on-base percentage at .495. The AL leader was the Yankees’ D.J. LeMahieu at .462.

DOUBLES

National League –  Austin Riley, Braves (15); Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (11); Trea Turner, Dodgers (9): Randal Grichuk, Rockies (9)

American League –  Yandy Diaz, Rays (11); Leody Taveras, Rangers(10); Vlad Guerrero, Jr., Blue Jays (10)

TRIPLES

National League – Gavin Lux, Dodgers (3); five with 2

American League – Jorge Mateo, Orioles (3); four with 2

The Braves’ Austin Riley  led MLB in July extra-base hits with 26.  He had 18 singles, 15 doubles and 11 home runs.

 STOLEN BASES

National League –  Ronald Acuna, Braves (9); Michael Harris, Braves (7); Jon Berti, Marlins (6); Jonathon Davis, Brewers (6); Josh Rojas, Diamondbacks (6)

American League – Bobby Witt, Royals (8); Marcus Semien, Rangers (7); Cedric Mullins, Orioles (6)

The Braves’ Michael Harris stole the most bases without being caught in July at seven. 

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Nationals (25); Christian Yelich, Brewers (18); Christian Walker, D-backs (15); Daniel Vogelbach, Mets (15)

American League – DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (20): Jorge Polanco, Twins (20); three with 17

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (37); Matt Olson, Braves (36); Ian Happ, Cubs (33)

American League – Kole Calhoun, Rangers (42); Riley Greene, Tigers (39); Adolis Garcia, Rangers (36)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks (4-0); Reiver Sanmartin (4-0), Julio Urias, Dodgers (4-0); Kyle Wright, Braves (4-0)

American League – Dylan Cease, White Sox (5-1); Justin Verlander, Astros (4-0); Cole Irvin, A’s (4-1); Corey Kluber, Rays (4-2)

The Angels’ Patrick Sandoval had the most losses in July (0-5, 6.20 in fie starts).  

 EARNED RUN AVERAGE (at least 20 innings pitched)

National League –  Marcus Stroman, Cubs (0.89);   Carlos Carrasco, Mets (0.90); Tyler Anderson, Dodgers (1.11.)

American League – Dylan Cease, White Sox (0.76); Justin Verlander, Astros (1.01); Reid Detmers, Angels (1.13)

Among pitchers with at least four July starts or 20 July innings, the Red Sox’ Nick Pivetta had the highest ERA at 9.38 (25 earned runs in 24 innings.)

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Carlos Rodon, Giants (53/37 IP); Max Scherzer, Mets (45/32 1/3 IP); Yu Darvish, Padres (45/34 IP)

American League – Gerrit Cole, Yankees (51/38 IP); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (44/22 1/3 IP); Brady Singer, Royals (42/30 2/3 IP); Jose Berrios, Blue Jays (42/36 IP)

SAVES

National League – Tanner Scott, Marlins (7); Daniel Bard, Rockies (7); Edwin Diaz, Mets (7)

American League – Jordan Romero, Blue Jays (7); Scott Barlow, Royals (6); Jorge Lopez, Orioles (6); Lou Trivino, A’s (6)

Edwin Diaz of the Mets went seven-for-seven in save opportunities and put up a 0.00 July ERA. Also going seven-for-seven were the Blue Jays’ Jordan Romano (0.84 ERA) and Rockies’ Daniel Bard (1.00 ERA).

WHIP (Walks +  Hits per Inning Pitched – 20 innings minimum)

National League –Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks (0.77); Braxton Garrett, Marlins (0.80); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (0.80); Alex Wood, Giants (0.80)

American League – Cole Irvin, A’s (0.65); Shane McClanahan, Rays (0.82); Triston McKenzie, Guardians (0.83)

BONUS STATS

• The Nationals Josiah Gray gave up the most homer in July – nine in 26 2/3 IP.
• Among pitchers with 20 July innings, the Braves’ Spencer Strider held opponents to the lowest July batting average (.158 )

_______________________________________________

 

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

National League: Dodgers, Mets, Brewers   Wild Cards: Braves, Padres, Phillies

American League:   Yankees, Astros, Twins   Wild Cards:  Blue Jays, Mariners, Rays

 

——-Team  Statistical Leaders Through July   2022 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Dodgers (526); Braves (486); Phillies (476)

American League – Yankees (551); Blue Jays (495); Red Sox (468)

The fewest  runs (through July) were scored by the Tigers – 331. The Pirates tallied the fewest runs in the NL at 363.

AVERAGE

National League – Rockies (.261); Dodgers (.258); Mets (.256)

American League – Blue Jays (.265); White Sox (.257); Red Sox (.255)

The lowest team average through June  belonged to the A’s at .215. The Pirates  were at the bottom of the NL at .219,

HOME RUNS

National League – Braves (158); Brewers (140); Phillies (131)

American League –  Yankees (177); Astros (146); Blue Jays (132)

The Tigers  had the fewest home runs through June  at 63.  The Nationals  trailed the rest of the NL at 79.

The Yankees led MLB in slugging percentage through July at .444.  The Dodgers led the NL at .442.

STOLEN BASES

National League – Marlins (83); Cardinals (67); Cubs (66)

American League – Rangers (80); Yankees (68); Orioles (62)

The Twins stole the fewest sacks through July (16 in 29 attempts).  The Rockies were at the bottom of the NL with 27 in 40 attempts.  The White Sox stole 39 bases through July and were caught just four times.

WALKS DRAWN

National League –   Dodgers (389); Giants (372); Brewers (361)

American League – Yankees (408); Mariners (369); Astros (359)

The Dodgers  led MLB  in on-base percentage through  July at .336. The Yankees led the AL  at .331.  The A’s had MLB’s lowest  OBP through July at .275.  

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Pirates (955); Braves (954); Brewers (899)

American League – Angels (985);  Rays (903); Orioles (898)

Guardians’ batters fanned the fewest times through  July (707).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE  

National League – Dodgers (2.97); Mets (3.54); Braves (3.60)

American League – Astros (3.04); Yankees (3.19); Rays (3.45)

Two teams had  ERAs through June of 5.00  or higher – Nationals (5.14); Reds (5.12). 

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Braves (983); Brewers (970); Mets (960)

American League – Yankees (952);  Astros (920); White Sox (915)

The Brewers  averaged an MLB-best 9.64 strikeouts per nine innings through  July. The White Sox averaged an AL-best 9.09. Eight teams average 9+ whiffs per nine innings.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League  – Dodgers (249); Giants (282); Mets (286)

American League –  Rays (251); Blue Jays (267); Yankees (268)

The Rays and Dodgers each walked an MLB-lowest 2.49 batter per nine innings through July.

SAVES

National League – Brewers (37); Braves (36); Padres (35)

American League – Yankees (34); Astros (31); Blue Jays (30)

Bonus Stats:

• The Nationals gave up an MLB-high 150 home runs through July. By contrast, the Giants gave up an MLB-low 82 homers through July.
• There have been just 17 complete games through July; the Red Sox lead the category with three. Eighteen of the 30 MLB teams have yet to record a complete game.
• The Mariners committed the fewest errors through July (35) and had the top fielding percentage at .990.  The Pirates committed an MLB-high 73 fielding miscues through July.

 

Baseball Roundtable Note: Some of the MLB records noted in this post have the potential to change as Major League Baseball recognizes and further incorporates Negro League records from 1920-48. 

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

 

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