September has rolled into October and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s final 2022 monthly wrap up – a look at The Roundtable’s Players and Pitchers of the month, the Trot Index, September’s leaderboards and the stats and stories that caught Baseball Roundtable’s eye during September. And, there was plenty going on this past month. Here are just a few attention-grabbers (at least for me):
- Two players (Aaron Judge and Bo Bichette) hit over .400 for the month;
- Mike Trout homered in seven straight games;
- We saw 2022’s fifth and sixth triple plays and fifth, sixth and seventh “Immaculate Innings“;
- MLB’s youngest team, the Guardians, responded to the pressure of a tight Division race by playing .700+ ball and walking away with the AL Central;
- Albert Pujols hit his 700th career home run and Aaron Judge hit his 61st dinger of the seasons (tying the AL record);
- We saw three balks committed during a single batter’s plate appearance;
- 32-yer-old Fernando Cruz made his MLB debut in his 16th professional season;
- We witnessed MLB’s first All-Latino batting lineup – on Roberto Clemente Day;
- The Yankees’ Gleyber Torres hit two home runs in one inning.
- Shohei Ohtani played like – well, Shohei Ohtani, becoming the first player to hit 30+ home runs and fan 200+ batters in the same season.
- We saw the fastest and slowest pitches of the season (by pitchers, position-players excluded) in the same game.
More on these and other stories as you read on.
Roundtable Note: Some of these records may change as Negro League statistics are more fully incorporated into MLB record books.
—–Baseball Roundtable Players and Pitchers of the Month—–
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Player of the Month – Eduardo Esc0bar, 3B, Mets
Eduardo Escobar had a .340-8-24 month for the Mets, notching the NL’s third-most home runs, second-most RBI, second-most hits (33), sixth-most run scored (16) and third-highest average (among NL players with at least 60 September at bats). He authored a ten-game hitting streak (September 2-12), during which he hit .500 (18-for-36), with five homers, nine RBI and eight runs scored. He had ten multi-nit games. Over the course of the month, he raised his average from .218 to .242.
Honorable Mentions: Nationals’ 1B Joey Meneses – the 30-year-old MLB rookie put up a .315-6-18 line and led the NL with 34 September hits. Dodgers’ 1B Freddie Freeman recorded a .337-4-16 and led the NL with 22 runs scored.
Pitcher of the Month – Yu Darvish, RHP, Padres
Yu Darvish gets the nod as MLB’s only five–game winner in September. – going 5-1, 1.85 in six starts. He fanned 44 batters (fourth in the NL) in 39 September innings (third in the NL) and had the third-best WHIP (Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched) among NL hurlers with at least 25 September innings. He held batters to a .198 average over his six starts and walked just eight in 39 innings. On September 2, he held the tough Dodgers’ lineup to just two hits (no runs) over seven innings (two walks, nine strikeouts).
Honorable Mentions: The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who went 4-0 with a tidy 1.50 ERA in six starts. The Cardinals’ Jose Quintana, who only went 2-1, but whose 0.89 ERA was the best among NL pitchers with at least 25 September innings,
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Player of the Month – Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
Photo by Keith Allison
This was almost too close to call, as Baseball Roundtable looked at both Aaron Judge and Blue Jays’ SS Bo Bichette. Consider:
- Both hit over .400 for the month. Judge at .417 and Bichette at .403 – the top two September averages in MLB (among players with at least 60 st bats for the month).
- Judge tied for the MLB lead in home runs (10); Bichette was ninth with seven.
- Bichette led MLB in September RBI with 27 (to Judge’s 17), while Judge led MLB in runs scored with 26 (to Bichette’s 22).
- Bichette led MLB with 48 hits for the month, Judge was sixth with 35, while Judge drew an MLB-highest 30 September walks to Bichette’s eight. Conversely, Judge fanned 26 times to 17 for Bichette.
So, why the thinnest of nods to Judge? He did all this while dealing with the pressures of chasing Roger Maris’ single-season American League home run record and inserting himself in the AL batting race (raising the possibility of a Triple Crown season). Need more justification? Judge also led MLB qualifying batters in On-Base Percentage (.565) and Slugging Percentage (.869) – and by wide margins.
Honorable Mentions: Bo Bichette, of course (see above). I also looked at a couple of Angels: RF Taylor Ward, who put up a .370-6-16 line and had 34 September hits (seventh in the AL) and Mike Trout, who went .301-10-20.
Pitcher of the Month – Alek Manoah, RHP Blue Jays
A second tough call this month. This time between Alek Manoah and the Angels’ superstar Shohei Ohtani, who both went 4-0 (Manoah in six starts, Ohtani in five).
Manoah put up the MLB-best ERA among pitchers with at least 25 September innings at a minuscule 0.88. He was second in the AL in innings pitched (41), second in WHIP among pitchers with at least 25 September innings (0.85). He was eighth in strikeouts with 33. He gave up no more than two runs in any start (and that only once). The Blue Jays won five of his six starts and, in the one game the Jays lost, Manoah gave up just one run over six innings.
Honorable Mentions: The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, who went 4-0. 1.09 in five starts, with 37 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched and a 0.91 WHIP. Guardian Shane Bieber, who went 4-1, 2.51 with 42 strikeouts (second in the AL) and 43 innings pitched (first).
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Surprise Player of the Month – Bryan De La Cruz, OF, Marlins
Bryan De La Cruz signed with the Astros as an International Free Agent – at the age of 16 – in 2013. From 2014 through 2021, he worked his way up through the Astros’ system, reaching Triple-A (Sugar Land Skeeters) in 2012 – where he hit .324-12-50 in 66 games before being traded to the Marlins in late July. The Marlins brought him right to the big-league roster and he made his MLB debut on July 31, 2012. He hit .296-5-19 in 58 games for the Marlins and seemed set to be a fixture in the outfield for 2022.
De La Cruz got off to a rocky start in 2022, hitting just .205-7-21 in 90 games before being sent back down to the minors in mid-August – where the demotion appeared to wake up his bat. De La Cruz was called back up when the rosters expanded in September – and went .375-5-17 in 20 September games. From September 18-28, he ran off a nine-game hitting streak, in which he hit .514 (18-for-35), with three home runs and 11 RBI. For Baseball Roundtable, it was a surprising late-season turnaround.
Honorable Mention: Joey Meneses (1B/OF) made his debut for the Nationals in August – at age 30 and in his 12th professional season. He hit .333-6-11 in 24 August games and followed up with a .330-7-22 September. Meneses was a .281 hitter in ten minor-league seasons – and also played in Mexico and Japan.
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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE
Through September 34.6 percent of the MLB season’s 176,344 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 (22.4%); walks (8.2%); home runs (2.9%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits by an even 1,000 – 39,465 to 38,465.
The 34.6 percent figure is down from 2021’s full season 36.3 percent. Other recent seasons: 2020 – 37.3 percent; 2019 – 36.2 percent; and 2018 – 34.8 percent. By further comparison, in 1990, the Trot Index was 26.1 percent.
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Among the notable developments in September was that the Guardians, with MLB’s youngest 2022 roster, did not fold under the pressure of a tight pennant race. Instead, they played .700+ ball and turned a tight race into a walk-away. During the month, the Guardians scored the AL’s third-most runs (behind only the Yankees and Blue Jays) and recorded the League’s second-lowest ERA (behind the Astros). Among the key contributors were 25-year-old LF Steven Kwan (.325 with 25 runs scored for the month); 24-year-old RF Oscar Gonzalez .298-6-20); 24-year-old 2B Andres Gimenez (.305 with 16 runs scored); 27-year-old RHP Shane Bieber (4-1, 2.51); 27-year-old RHP Cal Quantrill (3-0, 3.06); and 24-year-old closer Emmanuel Clase (10 saves).
The Mets and Braves kept things interesting, with the Braves gaining three games on the Mets in September and the two squads going into October tied for the Division lead. This is really the only race left to be decided.
The Dodgers continued to roll, scoring the NL’s most runs in September and putting up the league’s lowest ERA. On the season, they have scored MLB’s most runs 831 and given up MLB’s fewest tallies (497). Full-year (through September ) team stat leaders later i this post.
——-Team Statistical Leaders for September ———-
RUNS SCORED
National League – Dodgers (140); Mets (134); Giants (126)
American League – Blue Jays (145); Yankees (134): Guardians (131)
The Cubs scored the fewest runs in September (86); The lowest tally in the AL was the Tigers at 98.
AVERAGE
National League – Mets (.263); Nationals (.257); Phillies (.253)
American League – Blue Jays (.266); Guardians (.264); Red Sox (.260)
The lowest team average in September belonged to the Reds at .211.
HOME RUNS
National League – Braves (43); Dodgers (37); Giants (33)
American League – Yankees (39); Mariners (39); Astros (37); Angels (37)
The Rays had the fewest September home runs at 17. The only other team under 20 was the Cubs (19).
STOLEN BASES
National League – Diamondbacks (31); Pirates (22); Cubs (20)
American League – Guardians (31); Rangers (25); Yankees (20)
The Giants stole the fewest bags in September with four in eight attempts. The Angels were 11-for-12 in steal attempts.
WALKS DRAWN
National League – Dodgers (103); Mets (98); Brewers (88); Giants (88)
American League – Mariners (111); Red Sox (107); Blue Jays (97)
The Met led MLB in on-base percentage in September at .349. The Red Sox led the AL at .348. In slugging percentage, the Braves were on top at .446, while the Blue Jays led the AL at .441.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
National League – Giants (282); Pirates (264); Brewers (259)
American League – Rangers (262); Twins (254); A’s (251)
Astros’ batters went down on strikes the fewest times in September (174).
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Bonus Stat
The leaders in September hit by pitch were the Mets (23) and the Guardians (22). No other team had more than 15 HBP in the month. Angles’ batter were plunked the fewest times (4).
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EARNED RUN AVERAGE
National League – Dodgers (2.65); Braves (2.88); Cubs (3.03)
American League – Astros (2.53); Guardians (2.75); White Sox (3.29)
One team had an ERA at 5.00 or higher in September – the A’s at 6.22.
STRIKEOUTS
National League – Mets (281); Braves (266); Brewers (261)
American League – Astros (281); Guardians (267); White Sox (250)
FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED
National League – Mets (64); Giants (71); Padres (73)
American League – Astros (66); Mariners (67); Rays (69)
The Guardians walked an MLB-stingiest 2.42 batters per nine frames in September. The Reds walked an MLB-high 4.10 batters per nine frames during the month.
SAVES
National League – Giants (12); Cubs (11); three with 8
American League – Guardians (15); Astros (9); Blue Jays (9)
STRIKEOUTS PER NINE INNINGS
National League – Mets (11.00); Braves (10.35); Brewers (9.50)
American League – Astros (10.60) Yankees (9.31); White Sox (9.23)
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Bonus Stat
The Mets led MLB in September strikeout-to-walk ratio at 4.39. The only other team over 4.00 was the Astros at 4.26.
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—–SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS —–
Feel Good Tale
Fernando Cruz started his professional career as an infielder in the Royals organization as a 17-year-old in 2007 – hitting .210 in the Arizona Rookie League. On September 2, Cruz made his MLB debut (as a 32-year-old pitcher) for the Reds, coming on in relief (versus Colorado) and pitching a 1-2-3, two-strikeout inning. He made 12 appearances in September, fanning 16 and putting up a 0.75 ERA. On his long path to the majors, Cruz played for teams in the Arizona Rookie League, Appalachian League, Puerto Rican Winter League, Midwest League, Pioneer League, Pacific Coast League, Southern League, Carolina League, Canadian-American Association, Venezuelan Winter League, Mexican League, Dominican Winter League, Mexican Pacific Winter League and International League.
Unlucky 13. Lucky Seven?
Photo by A.Rutledge
On September 13, Angels’ CF Mike Trout went zero-for-three (with one walk), as the Angels lost to the Guardians 3-1 in Cleveland. I have a hunch at least a few Cleveland fans were hoping for more from Trout. Trout came into the game having hit a home run in seven straight games – one game shy- of the record shared by: Dale Long (May 19-28, 1956); Don Mattingly (July 8-18, 19877); Ken Griffey Jr. (July 20-28, 1993).
During his seven-game homer streak, Trout hit .393 (11-for-28), with seven home runs and 11 RBI. For more on home run streaks, click here.,
He Ain’t Heavy … He’s My Brother
On September 14, Adam Wainwright took the mound against the Brewers in St. Louis – and he saw a familiar face (mask?) behind the plate in catcher Yadier Molina. It was the 325th time, the two were together as a regular-season starting battery, breaking the all-time MLB record of 324 such starts, held by Bill Freehan and Mickey Lolich. It worked out pretty well, as the 41-year-old Wainwright picked up the win with five innings of eight-hit, one-run ball, while the 40-year-old Molina went one-for-four with an RBI. Side note: Molina was the catcher for Wainwright’s first MLB start (April 6, 2006) – a 4-2 Cardinals’ win over the Astros. Wainwright got the victory with seven one-run innings. By the way, when Wainwright and Molina have started together, the Cardinals are 213-112.
Celebrating Clemente Day
Although he said afterward it wasn’t an intentional move, it certainly seemed an appropriate one. On September 15 – Roberto Clemente Day – Tampa Bay Rays’ manager Kevin Cash sent an all-Latino lineup to the plate (Shane McClanahan was the starting pitcher). The lineup – all wearing number 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente – went like this:
Yandy Diaz – 3B (Cuba)
Randy Arozarena – RF (Cuba)
Wander Franco – SS (Dominican Republic)
Harold Ramirez – 1B (Columbia)
Manuel Margot – DH (Dominican Republic)
David Peralta – LF (Venezuela)
Isaac Paredes – 2B (Mexico)
Rene Pinto – C (Venezuela)
Jose Siri – CF (Dominican Republic)
How did it work out? The Rays topped the Blue Jays 11-0, with three RBI apiece from Diaz and Margot.
For a look at MLB’s one and only All-Latino All Star Game, click here.
On Making Great Strides
Braves’ 23-year-old rookie right-hander Spencer Strider took to the mound on September 18 with a 10-5, 2.72 record – not knowing he was about to make history. Strider went six innings in a 5-2 win over the Phillies, giving up one run on one hit and three walks – and, most important, fanning ten.
The eighth strikeout of the game came in the fourth inning, when he fanned three Phillies – and gave Strider 200 whiffs on the season (and for his career). It also gave him 200 strikeouts in 130 MLB innings, making him the fastest ever to reach 200 MLB strikeouts– edging out Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, who reached 200 strikeouts in his first 130 2/3 innings.
Strider finished September with an 11-5, 2.67 record on the season – with 202 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings pitched – relying primarily on a fastball that tops out in the triple-digits and sharp slider. (Note: Striker is currently on the IL with a strained left oblique muscle.)
Strider was a fourth-round draft pick (out of Clemson University) in 2020. In two college seasons, he was 5-2, 4.71 – with 89 strikeouts in 63 innings. In 2021, he was 3-7, 3.64 at four minor-league levels. He started the 2022 season in the Braves’ bullpen, putting up a 2.22 ERA, with 37 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings (11 appearances) before being moved to the rotation – where he has gone 10-4, 2.77 fanning 165 in 107 1/3 innings (34 walks), while holding hitters to a .183 average.
Three for Two – or Maybe Two for Three
September saw the fourth and fifth triple plays of the 2022 season. On September 18, with the score knotted at 0-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Toronto starter Dean Kremer hit the Blue Jays’ DH and leadoff hitter George Springer on a 2-2 pitch, then walked 1B Vlad Guerrero Jr. and gave up a single to SS Bo Bichette to load the bases. Third baseman Matt Chapman was up next and smashed a line drive to Orioles’ SS George Mateo, who snatched it for the out and flipped to 2B Tarrin Vavra to double off Guerrero. Vavra then fired to first to “triple-off” Bichette and end the frame. The Orioles went on to win the game 5-4.
On September 20, as the Rangers turned a triple play in an inning in which the Angels had already plated three runs (to take a 5-3 lead). Angels’ DH Shohei Ohtani led off with a single to right off the Rangers’ Dennis Santana. RF Taylor Ward then doubled Ohtani home and 3B Matt Duffy singled, with Ward moving to third. That was all for Santana, with John King taking the mound. He gave up an RBI-single to 1B Mike Ford, followed by another RBI-single to LF Jo Adell – leaving Adell at first and Ford (replaced by pinch runner Magneuris Sierra) at second. C Max Stassi hit a sharp grounder to third for a triple play – 3B Josh Jung to 2B Marcus Semien to 1B Nathan Lowe. Still, the Angels left the inning with a 5-2 lead and won the game by that score.
A Throwback? Well Kind Of.
On September 18, as the Marlins topped the National 3-1 in Washington D.C., Marlins’ starter Sandy Alcantara threw his fifth complete game of the 2022 season. Eight days later (September 30), he closed out the month with his sixth 2022 complete game – a 1-0 loss to the Brewers. Why does that make the highlights? Because, Alcantara has more complete games than any other team in the major leagues. (The Boston Red Sox are second to Alcantara with four complete games. For a recent post on Alcantara, click here.
For those Who Like To Know …
Between May 14 and June 4 of 1968, the Dodgers’ Don Drysdale threw six consecutive complete-game shutouts.
The Whiff-N-Poof Song
On September 18, Mets’ pitchers tied the MLB record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game (20). It’s been done eight times – seven in the AL and once in the NL. The Mets’ “Whiff Team:”
- Jacob deGrom – 13 strikeouts in five innings.
- Seth Lugo – one strikeout in one inning.
- Joely Rodriguez – five strikeouts in two innings.
- Trevor May – One strikeout in one inning.
Taking Control of the Situation
In MLB history, there have been four instances when a single-pitcher recorded twenty strikeouts in a nine-inning game: Roger Clemens (twice); Kerry Wood; and Max Scherzer. Not a single walk was issued by any of those pitchers in their 20-whiff performances. Randy Johnson once fanned 20 batters in the first nine innings of an 11-inning game (he was relieved after nine). Johnson also did not walk a batter in his nine-inning stint.
It Took You Long Enough or more “#InBaseballWeCountEverything”
On Tuesday, September 20, the Yankees went into the bottom of the ninth innings trailing Pittsburgh 8-5. RF Aaron Judge opened the bottom of the ninth with a home run off reliever Wil Crowe to cut the margin to three. 1B Anthony Rizzo followed with a double, 2B Gleyber Torres walked and 3B Josh Donaldson singled, loading the bases. Then, Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run to deep left, plating four runs and giving the Yankees a 9-8 walk-off win.
The very next day – about 21 hours later – in the bottom of the first inning, the Yankees loaded the bases on a Judge double, Torres walk and Stanton walk) with two outs. Then LF Oswaldo Cabrera hit a Grand Slam off Pirates’ starter Roansy Contreras. Why “counting everything?”
For the answer, we go back to July 6 – Yankees at Pirates. In the eighth inning of that game (an eventual 16-0 Yankee win), Judge hit a grand Slam off Manny Banuelos. Then, one inning later, Aaron Hicks took Josh Van Meter deep to left center for another Grand Slam.
In true #InBaseballWeCountEverything fashion, the Yankees are now the only MLB team to hit Grand Slams in back-to-back innings twice in one season.
More Yankee Power
On September 21, the Yankees routed the Pirates 14-2, largely on the strength of an eight-run eighth inning. That included a pair of home runs by 2B Gleyber Torres (his 22nd and 23rd of the season). Torres led off the frame with a homer to RF off the Pirates Miguel Yajure and, later in the frame, added a three-run blast (with two outs) off Eric Stout. That made Torres the 59th major leaguer to hit two home runs in an inning. A few other two-homer inning facts:
- Fernando Tatis (Cardinals) is the only player to hit two Grand Slams in one inning. He did it on April 23, 1999. – in the third inning of a Redbirds’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers (in LA). Surprisingly, both Grand Slams came off the same pitcher – Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park. Yep, they left Park in to take the thrashing. Park, by the way, finished the season 2-10, with a 7.43 ERA.
- Alex Rodriguez, Edwin Encarnacion, Andre Dawson, Jeff King and Willie McCovey are the only players to hit two home runs in an inning twice in their career.
- Switch hitters Carlos Baerga, Mark Bellhorn and Kendrys Morales all hit home runs from both side of the plate in the same inning.
Baseball Roundtable FlashBack-to -Back
In the top of the first inning of a game (May 2, 2002) between the Mariners and White Sox (in Chicago), White Sox’ starter Jon Rauch hit Mariners’ RF Ichiro Suzuki with the first pitch of the game. Second baseman Bret Boone followed with a home run on the very next pitch, and CF Mike Cameron followed with another dinger on a 1-2 pitch. The Mariners batted around and, by the time Boone came up for a second time that inning, held a 7-0 lead.
In his second at bat of the frame, Boone homered again (another two-run shot), this time on a 1-2 pitch from Jim Parque. Next up was Cameron, who hit the first pitch he saw from Parque for another home run. This remains the only time that two players have homered twice, back-to-back, in the same inning. The Mariners, by the way, won the contest 15-4.
Pujols – Padding the HOF Resume
Photo by Dirk DBQ
On September 23, Cardinals’ DH Albert Pujols went two-for-four, with two home runs and five RBI, as the Cardinals topped the Dodgers 11-0 in LA. The long balls were number 699 and 700 of his career. Side note: Baseball-References’ home run log shows that Pujols has homered off a record 455 different pitchers, in 40 different MLB parks. For those who like to know such things, number 700 came in the top of the fourth on a 1-1 pitch from Phil Bickford.
At the end of September, Pujols was in the top five all-time (in MLB) in total bases (second); doubles (fifth); home runs (fourth); RBI (third); extra-base hits (third) ; and intentional bases on balls (second). Start working on the plaque now.
Business As Usual
As usual, there is more Shohei Ohtani news. On September 23, Ohtani won his 14th game of the season, going five innings (two earned runs) in a 4-2 Angels’ win against the Twins (in Minnesota). Along the way, he fanned seven Twins’ hitters, giving him 203 whiffs on the season – and making him the first player in MLB history with 30 or more home runs as a hitter and 200 or more strikeouts as a pitcher in the same season.
A Nice Round Number
On September 23, Brewers’ Andrew McCutchen had a three-RBI game, as Milwaukee topped the Reds 5-3 in Cincinnati. The first of those three RBI was the 14-season MLB veteran’s 1,000th major league run driven in. While McCutchen has never driven in 100 runs in a season, the five-time All Star has collected 80 or more RBI in seven campaigns. As of September 30, his career stat line was .277-287-1,002.
20-20 Vision
On September 25, Braves’ 26-year-old right-hander Kyle Wright became 2022’s first (still only) 20-game winner. The win came in a 5 1/3-innings (two earned runs, two hits, two walks, six whiffs) performance in a 6-3 Braves’ win over the Phillies in Philadelphia. Wright’s record at the end of September was 20-5, 3.18; with 171 strikeouts in 175 1/3 innings. Coming into the 2022 season, Wright – a 2017 first-round draft choice out of Vanderbilt – had a major-league record of 2-8, 6.56 in 50 game (43 starts), with 59 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched. (He did have a 29-19, 3.47 record in four minor-league seasons.) Side Note: On October 1, Wright picked up his 21st 2022 win.
You Balkin’ To Me? A Different Kind of RBI (Run Balked In)
On September 27, in the eighth inning of a Marlins-Mets game (in New York), Mets’ 1B Pete Alonso came to the plate with two outs and Mets’ 2B Jeff McNeil on first base. McNeil scored during Alonso’s at bat, but no RBI was awarded. Had an RBI been assigned it could have gone to Mets’ pitcher Richard Bleier who – during Alonso’s plate appearance – was charged with three balks (sending McNeil, to second, third and, finally, home). Hence an RBI – Run Balked In. (Bleier and Marlins’ skipper Don Mattingly would argue – and did – so, maybe, the RBI should go to the umpires.) Bleier, by the way, had not committed a single balk to that point in his seven MLB seasons. The Marlins won the contest 6-4, but neither Bleier nor Mattingly were around to see it. Both were ejected.
An Immaculate Month – and Season
September saw three pitchers throw Immaculate Innings – bringing the total of nine-pitch/three-whiff 2022 innings to seven. This month’s pitchers (and victims).
September 16, Bottom of the ninth – Ryan Helsley, Cardinals. Victims: The Reds’ SS Kyle Farmer, DH Jake Fraley and 1B Donovan Solano (all swinging). Three, four and five in the lineup.
September 22, Bottom of the Fifth – Hayden Wesneski, Cubs. Victims: The Pirates’ CF Jack Suwinski (looking), 1B Zack Collins (looking) and C Jason Delay (swinging). Seven, eight and nine in the lineup.
September 27, Top of the Seventh – Enyel De Los Santos, Guardians. Victims: The Rays’ C Christian Bethancourt (swinging), CF Jose Siri (looking) and 2B Taylor Walls (swinging). Seven, eight and nine in the lineup.
The Fast and the Slow of It
On September 27, the Cardinals’ 27-year-old closer, Ryan Helsley scorched a 104.2-mile per hour fastball to the Brewers’ 1B Rowdy Tellez – recording the fastest pitch of the 2022 season (which Tellez hit for a ground out, shortstop to first.). It might have been a bit anticlimactic, however, as the pitch Helsley pushed off the top of the list was a 104.0 MPH fastball that he threw five days earlier (September 22) to Padres’ DH Josh Bell (Bell fouled it off).
In the September 27 game, Cardinals’ starter Miles Mikolas did a kind of reverse Helsley – tossing a 60.2-mph curveball (in the fifth frame) to the Brewers’ CF Garrett Mitchell – setting the mark for the slowest pitch this season by a non-position player.
Helsley, by the way, finished September with a 9-1, 1.26 record -with 19 saves – on the year – 94 whiffs in 64 1/3 innings.
Here Comes The Judge
On September 28, in the top of the seventh inning, with the Yankees and Blue Jays tied at 3. Yankees’ DH Aaron Judge hit a 3-2 pitch from the Blue Jays’ Tim Mayza to deep left – for a two-run home run. It was his 61st of the year, tying Roger Maris for the all-time American League single-season record. To date, only three American League players have hit 60 or more home runs and, of course, they were all Yankees: Babe Ruth, Roger Maris and Judge. Judge, by the way, had a bashing September – going .417-10-17.
A Painful Way to Make The Record Books
In September, Mets batter were hit by a pitch 23 times. That brings their total for the season to 111 plunkings (a modern era – post 1900) record. Through September, the MLB team average for HBP was 66. The previous modern-era mark for team HBP belonged to the Reds at 105. Again, for those who like to know such things: The 1889 Orioles hold the overall MLB record with 160 plunkings.
Here are the top Mets’ HBP contributors:
Mark Canha – 27 HBP.
Brandon Nimmo – 16
Starling Marte – 13
Pete Alonso – 12
Jeff McNeil – 11
Francisco Lindor – 10
——-Individual Statistical Leaders for September 2022———
AVERAGE (60 September at bats minimum)
National League – Bryan De La Cruz, Marlins (.375); Justin Turner, Dodgers (.342); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (.340)
American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (.417); Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (.403); Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (.383)
The lowest September average (among players with at least 60 at bats in the month) belonged to Marlins JJ Bleday at .133 (10-for-75).
HOME RUNS
National League – Pete Alonso, Mets (9); Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks (9; Eduardo Escobar, Mets (8)
American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (10); Anthony Santander, Orioles (10); Mike Trout, Angeles (10)
The Yankees’ Aaron Judge had the highest September slugging percentage (among players with at least 60 at bats) at .869. The NL leader was the Marlins’ Bryan De La Cruz at .734.
RUNS BATTED IN
National League – Pete Alonso, Mets (26); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (24); three with 19
American League – Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (27); Eloy Jimenez, White Sox (23); Gleyber Torres, Yankees (23)
HITS
National League – Joey Meneses, Nationals (34); Eduardo Escobar, Mets (33); Michael Harris, Braves (33); Jeff McNeil, Mets (33)
American League – Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (48); Steven Kwan, Guardians (39); Carlos Correa, Twins (38)
The Yankees’ Aaron Judge led MLB (players (with at least 60 September at bats) in on-base percentage at .565. The NL leader was the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman at .473.
DOUBLES
National League – Willy Adames, Brewers (10); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (10); Garrett Cooper, Marlins (9)
American League – Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (11); Randy Arozarena, Rays (10); Marcus Semien, Rangers (10)
TRIPLES
National League – Joc Pederson, Giants (3); nine with two
American League – Nine with two
The Blue Jays Bo Bichette led MLB in September extra-base hits with 19. He had 11 double, one triple and seven home runs (29 singles).
STOLEN BASES
National League – Jake McCarthy, Diamondbacks (10); Jon Berti, Marlins (6); Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks (6)
American League –Bubba Thompson, Rangers (10); Nate Eaton, Royals (9); Elvis Andrus, White Sox (8)
The White Sox’ Elvis Andrus had the most September steals without getting caught (8).
WALKS
National League – Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (23); Juan Soto, Padres (21); Brandon Nimmo, Mets (18)
American League – Aaron Judge, Yankees (30); Tristan Casas, Red Sox (18); J.P. Crawford, Mariners (18); Jose Ramirez, Guardians (18)
The Mets’ Jeff McNeil led in walks/strikeouts ratio (among batters with at least 60 September at bats) at 1.83 …11 walks versus 6 whiffs in 26 games.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
National League – Oneil Cruz, Pirates (36); Willy Adames, Brewers (34); Michael Toglia, Rockies (34)
American League – Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (37); Matt Chapman, Blue Jays (35); Dermis Garcia, A’s (34)
PITCHING VICTORIES
National League – Yu Darvish, Padres (5-1); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (4-0); Chris Bassitt, Mets (4-1); Logan Webb, Giants (4-1); Brandon Woodruff, Brewers (4-1)
American League – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (4-0); Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (4-0); Shane Bieber, Guardians (4-1)
The Marlins’ Steven Okert (0-4, 8.44); Rockies’ Chad Kohl (0-4, 7.76), and White Sox’ Johnny Cueto (1-4, 5.20) tied for the most September losses.
EARNED RUN AVERAGE (at least 25 September innings pitched)
National League – Jose Quintana, Cardinals (0.89);Julio Urias, Dodgers (1.19); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (1.50)
American League – Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (0.88); Shohei Ohtani, Angels (1.09); Dylan Cease, White Sox (1.13)
Among pitchers with at least four September starts or 20 September innings, the Phillies’ Kyle Gibson had the highest ERA at 9.53 (24 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings in five starts).
STRIKEOUTS
National League – Brian Woodruff, Brewers (51 / 38 2/3 IP); Jacob deGrom, Mets (47 / 28 IP); Carlos Rodon, Giants (46 / 26 2/3 IP)
American League – Gerrit Cole, Yankees (44 / 30 IP); Shane Bieber, Guardians (42 / 43 IP); Logan Gilbert, Mariners (412 / 36 IP)
SAVES
National League – Camilo Doval, Giants (9); Kenley Jansen, Braves (8); Ryan Helsley, Cardinals (7)
American League – Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (10); Jordan Romero, Blue Jays (7); three with six
WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched – 25 innings minimum)
National League – Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks (0.69); Jose Quintana, Cardinals (0.76); Yu Darvish, Padres (0.79)
American League – Shane Bieber, Guardians (0.81); Alex Manoah, Blue Jays (0.88); Triston McKenzie, Guardians (0.89)
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——-Team Statistical Leaders Through Sept 2022 ———-
RUNS SCORED … Average 673
National League – Dodgers (831); Braves (769); Mets (746)
American League – Yankees (786); Blue Jays (745); Astros (719)
The fewest runs (through September) were scored by the Tigers – 529. The Marlins tallied the fewest runs in the NL at 561. Others under 600 were the A’s (547), Pirates (566) and Nationals (583).
AVERAGE … Average .243
National League – Dodgers (.258); Mets (.258); Rockies (.255)
American League – Blue Jays (.261); Red Sox (.258); White Sox (.257)
The lowest team average through September belonged to the A’s at .216. The Pirates were at the bottom of the NL at .221
HOME RUNS … Average 169
National League – Braves (237); Brewers (213); Dodgers (207)
American League – Yankees (244); Astros (209); Blue Jays (193)
The Tigers had the fewest home runs through September at 102. Surprisingly the AL Central Champion Guardians were second lowest at 124. The Nationals were at the bottom of the NL at 131.
The Dodgers led MLB in slugging percentage through September at .445. The Blue Jays led the AL at .429. The average team slugging percentage was .395.
STOLEN BASES … Average 80
National League – Marlins (118); Cubs (106); Phillies (101)
American League – Rangers (126); Guardians (114); Royals (101)
The Twins stole the fewest sacks through September (37 in 54 attempts). The Rockies were at the bottom of the NL with 43 in 63 attempts.
WALKS DRAWN … Average 479
National League – Dodgers (588); Padres (559); Brewers (555)
American League Yankees (595); Astros (520); Twins (498)
The Dodgers led MLB in on-base percentage through September at .335. The Yankees led the AL at .324. The A’s had MLB’s lowest OBP through September at .281.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS … Average 1,316
National League – Pirates (1,469); Braves (1,446); Giants (1,416)
American League – Angels (1,508); Rangers (1,394); Tigers (1.362)
Guardians’ batters fanned the fewest times through September (1,082).
EARNED RUN AVERAGE … Average 3.97
National League – Dodgers (2.78); Braves (3.42); Mets (3.59)
American League – Astros (2.94); Yankees (3.33); Rays (3.38)
Just one team had an ERA through August of 5.00 or higher – Rockies (5.12).
STRIKEOUTS … Average 1,316
National League – Mets (1,516); Braves (1,511); Brewers (1,478)
American League – Astros (1,463); White Sox (1,407); Yankees (1,404)
The Mets averaged an MLB-best 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings through September. The Astros averaged an AL-best 9.4. Nine teams average at least nine whiffs per nine innings.
FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED… Average 479
National League – Dodgers (397); Mets (421);Giants (427)
American League – Rays (373); Blue Jays (415); Orioles (425); Guardians (425)
The Rays walked an MLB-lowest 2.4 batter per nine innings through September. The Dodgers were best in the NL at 2.5. The Reds and Royals walked an MLB-worst 3.8 batters per nine frames.
SAVES … Average 40
National League – Braves (52); Brewers (51); Padres (46)
American League – Astros (50); Guardians (49); White Sox (46)
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Bonus Stats:
- The Nationals gave up an MLB-high 231 home runs through September – an even 100 more than they hit. The Astros gave up an MLB-low 130.
- There were 35 complete games through September. The Marlins had the most complete games at six. Thirteen of the 30 MLB teams have yet to record a complete game.
- There were 333 team shutouts through September (fifteen of those single-pitcher complete-game shutouts). The Mets had the most shutouts with 18.
- The Mariners and Cardinals committed the fewest errors through September (47) and had the top fielding percentage at .989. The Pirates committed an MLB-high 115 fielding miscues through September, contributing to 75 unearned runs. The Cardinals, in contrast, gave up just 32 unearned runs.
- The Nationals grounded into the most double plays through September at 136, the Rangers grounded into the fewest twin killings at 79.
- Rays’ pitchers had the best strikeout-to-walk ratio at 3.62 and the Dodgers had the best WHIP at 1.047.
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Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com
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