BB Fun Facts Archives - Page 24 of 63

Eddie Rommel – Giving Up a Record 29 Hits; for the Win

July 10, 2019 by David

On this date (July 10) in 1932, Philadelphia Athletics’ righty Edwin Americus (Eddie) Rommel (often terms the “father of the knuckleball”) earned his 171^st and final major league victory – and it was hard-earned to be sure.

Rommel, at age 34 and in his 13^th season with the Athletics, came on in relief of starter Lew Krausse in the bottom of the second, with the Athletics trailing 3-2. Seventeen innings later, Rommel had his final MLB win, as the Athletic prevailed 18-17. That win came after Rommel had surrendered 14 runs (13 earned) on nine walks, while also giving up a single-game recorded 29 hits. Notably, the Athletics had just finished a series in Philadelphia (against the White Sox) and were traveling to Cleveland for a one-game (make-up game) stand before playing in Philadelphia again on July 11. In an apparent cost-saving move, they brought only two pitchers (Krausse and Rommel) to Cleveland. Rommel pitched in only five more MLB games (all in 1932) – going 0-2, 3.86 in those games and 1-2, 5.51 on the season. He finished his MLB pitching career with a 171-119, 3.54 record in 501 appearances (249 starts – 145 complete games.)

If Rommel’s name sounds familiar, not only did he win 171 MLB games, he also spent 22 years (1938-59) as a major league umpire – working a half dozen All Star games and two World Series.

In Eddie Rommel’s 29-hit final victory, Indians’ shortstop and number-two hitter Johnny Burnett collected a single-game MLB record nine hits (11 at bats), with eight of those safeties coming off Rommel. Burnett had seven singles and two doubles, with four runs scored and two RBI.

The 29-outing was not indicative of Rommel’s skills on the mound. In 1922, he led the American League in victories, despite pitching for an under-performing (or under-talented) Athletics team. That season, Rommel went 27-13, 3.29, while the Athletics went 65-89. Then, in 1925, Rommel again led the AL in wins with a 21-10, 3.69 record – pitching for an improved Athletics squad (88-64).

On Opening Day in 1926, Eddie Rommel was involved in what has become a legendary Opening Day match up. It came on April 13, with Rommel and his Athletics facing future Hall of Famer Walter Johnson and the Senators. The game ended in a 1-0 Senators win, with both Rommel and Johnson going the distance Johnson’s effort – his final Opening Day start (at age 38) – gave him the longest Opening Day shutout ever. Over his career, Johnson won a record nine Opening Day games (against five Opening Day losses) and tossed a record seven Opening Day shutouts. Arguably, no one made Johnson work harder for an Opening Day win than Eddie Rommel.

Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; “Eddie Rommel,” by Tim Deal, Society for American Baseball Research.

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.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

A Few All Star Game Tidbits to Ponder While You Await the First Pitch

July 9, 2019 by David

Tonight’s All Star Game is being played on the 73^rd anniversary of what Baseball Roundtable would rate as the best offensive display (by a player) ever in an All Star Game match up. That game was played on June 9, 1946 and the star batsman was Ted Williams – and the cherry on the top of the sundae is that the game was played on Williams’ Fenway Park home field.

http://Embed from Getty Images

Already a home-town hero, the “Splendid Splinter” added to his stature that day – to the joy of the fans and the chagrin of the four National League pitchers he would face. Expectations, I should note, were pretty high. Williams came into the game hitting .347, with 23 home runs, 82 runs scored and 71 RBI in 79 regular season games. Compared to the day he was about to have that would look like a slump. Here’s how Williams’ day went.

In the first inning, batting third and facing the Cubs’ Claude Passeau, Williams drew a walk and then scored on a home run by the Yankees’ Charlie Keller.
In the bottom of the fourth, leading off against new NL hurler Kirby Higbe of the Dodgers, Williams homered to give the AL a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, with Higbe still in the game, Teddy Ballgame came up again – this time with one out the Senators’ Stan Spence on third and the Browns’ Vern Stephens on second. This time, Williams delivered a run-scoring single.
In the bottom of the seventh, this time facing the Reds’ Ewell Blackwell with none on and two out, Williams singled again.
Finally, in the bottom of the eighth – facing the Pirates’ Rip Sewell and his Ephus pitch – with Stephens and the Browns’ Jack Kramer on base, William capped of his day with a three-run homer.

The AL squad prevailed by a 12-0 score – and Williams’ final tally was: four-for-four, plus a walk, two home runs, four runs scored and five runs driven in. In the process, Williams set or tied the following All Star Game single-game records:

Runs Scored (four – Williams still stands alone); total bases (ten – Williams stands alone);
Runs Batted In (five – later, 1954, tied by the Indians’ Al Rosen);
Base Hits (four – tying the Cardinals’ Ducky Medwick, 1937, and later matched by the Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski, 1970);
Home Runs (two – tying Pirates’ Arky Vaughn who did it in 1942; later tied by the Indians’ Al Rosen in 1954, Giants’ Willie McCovey in 1969, and Expos’ Gary Carter in 1981).

#HowThe(All Star)GameHasChanged

The 1967 All Star Game was won by the National League 2-1 in 15 innings (at the time, the longest All Star Game ever, matched by the 2008 All Star contest). Here’s what you might find a little different from today’s game. The following All Stars started the game and played the entire 15 innings. (Don’t think you’ll be seeing that again).

National League

Roberto Clemente, Pirates, RF

Hank Aaron, Braves, started in CF and finished in LF

Orlando Cepeda, Giants, 1B

Gene Alley, Pirates, SS

American League

Brooks Robinson, Orioles, 3B

Tony Oliva, Twins, Twins, CF

Harmon Killebrew, Twins, 1B

Tony Conigliaro, Red Sox, RF

Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox, LF

Bill Freehan, Tigers, C

Side note: In the game, Roberto Clemente set the record for batter’s strikeouts in an All Star Game (four) – the record for a nine-inning game is three.

______________________________________

Best All Star Game Performance Ever – On the Mound

Carl Hubbell, New York Giants, 1934

BBRT should probably give a nod to an arguably best-ever All Star Game pitching performance here. I say arguably, since it’s a bit of a close call. BBRT, however, is going with the 1934 All Star Game performance of Giants’ southpaw Carl Hubbell. King Carl, on his way to a 21-win season (the second of five straight 20+ win campaigns), came into the game with a 12-5, 2.76 ERA regular-season stat line. Hubbell had struck out 58 hitters in 156 1/3 innings pitched to that point (it was, indeed, a difference game back then), but he was about to make the strikeout a much bigger part of his game.

The game was played on July 10, 1934 at New York’s Polo Grounds – with screwball-specialist Hubbell starting for the NL and Yankee Lefty Gomez starting for the AL. Facing an AL line up stacked with some of the game’s greatest hitters, Hubbell got off to a rocky start, giving up a lead-off single to Detroit’s Charlie Gehringer, followed by a walk to the Senators’ Heinie Manusch. Then the fun began, as Hubbell set down five straight future Hall of Famers – all on strikeouts – the Yankees’ Babe Ruth, Yankees’ Lou Gehrig, and Athletics’ Jimmie Foxx to close out the first. Then the White Sox’ Al Simmons and Senators’ Joe Cronin to open the second. Hubbell then gave up a single to Yankees’ Bill Dickey, before whiffing Lefty Gomez (who also made the Hall of Fame) to end the inning. After an uneventful third inning – two fly outs, a ground out and walk – Hubbell left the game credited with three scoreless innings, two hits, two walks and six strikeouts – all six future Hall of Famers (although Gomez made it as a pitcher – not a hitter).

Hubbell’s six strikeouts remain the All Star Game single-game record – tied in 1943 by the Reds’ Johnny Vander Meer (2 2/3 innings pitched); 1950 by the Giants’ Larry Jansen (5 innings pitched); and 1967 by the Cubs’ Fergie Jenkins (3 innings pitched). Given the place in history of Hubbell’s six victims, BBRT considers this the top (or at least most memorable) All Star Game mound performance. Oh yes, the AL won the game 9-7, and how did those strike out victims fare When not facing Hubbell? Against the rest of the NL All Star staff, they went seven-for-sixteen, with four doubles, five runs scored and three RBI.

Remember, I said it was a close call on this one. The runner-up was the Yankees’ Lefty Gomez, who tossed an All Star Game-record six innings in 1935 – giving up just three hits and one run. (Another look at #HowThe(AllStar)GameHasChanged – the American League used just two pitchers in their 4-1 win, Gomez and the Indians’ Mel Harder.

____________________________________________________________

—-Some All Star Game Targets (and tidbits)—-

Here are a few All Star Game targets for today’s stars to shoot for this evening:

Innings pitched in a single AS Game: Yankees’ Lefty Gomez – 6 (1935) Won’t happen under today’s three innings limit, of course.

Strikeouts by a pitcher in a single AS Game – 6 by: Carl Hubbell, Giants, 1934; Johnny Vander Meer, Reds, 1943; Larry Jansen, Giants, 1950; Fergie Jenkins, Cubs, 1967.

Don Drysdale is the only pitcher to start two MLB All Star Games in a single season – in 1959.

Doubles in a single AS Game: two, nine players (Most recently, the Brewers’ Jonathan LeCroy in 2014. No surprise, LeCroy had a league-leading 53 doubles that season.)

Triples in a single AS Game: Rod Carew, Twins – 2 (1978) – leading off the first and third innings, both off the Giants’ Vida Blue.

Babe Ruth, appropriately, smacked the first-ever All Star Game home run.

Stolen Bases in a single AS Game: Two by five players. (Most recently, the Cubs’ Starlin Castro, 2011.)

Stolen bases in a single AS Game Inning: Roberto Alomar, Blue Jays, 1992.

A FEW ALL STAR GAME “FIRSTS” AND STILL “ONLYS”

First and only All Star Game Steal of Home ... 1934 AS game, fifth inning, two out, two on, NL trailing 8-6 – NL 3B Pie Traynor (Pirates) notches the first (and still only) AS Game steal of home. (AL won game 9-7.

First and only All Star Game Grand Slam … 1983 All Star Game, third inning, bases loaded, two outs, AL leading 5-1, AL CF Fred Lynn hits first – and still only – AS Game Grand Slam. (AL wins 13-3)

First and only All Star Game Inside-the-Park Home Run … 2007 All Star Game, fifth inning, one on, one out, AL CF Ichiro Suzuki hits first – and still only – AS Game inside-the-park home run.

—–How about a few CAREER All Star Game records?—–

AS Games Played: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial – tied at 24. Note: There is some confusion here since, in some years (1959-62), there were two All Star Games. Aaron holds the record for seasons on an All Star Game team (21), and total All Star Game rosters made (25). Mays and Musial each played in 24 AS Games in 20 All Star seasons.

AS Game Hits: Willie Mays – 23

AS Game Doubles: Dave Winfield – 7

AS Game Triples: Willie Mays and Brooks Robinson – 3

AS Game Home Runs: Stan Musial – 6

AS Game RBI: Ted Williams – 12

AS Game Walks: Ted Williams – 11

AS Game Stolen Bases: Willie Mays – 6

All Star Game Runs Scored: Willie Mays – 20.

AS Game Pitcher Wins: Lefty Gomez – 3

AS Game Total Pitching Appearances: Roger Clemens – 10

AS Games Started (pitcher): Lefty Gomez, Robin Roberts, Don Drysdale – 5

AS Game Saves: Mariano Rivera – 4

AS Games Innings Pitched: Don Drysdale – 19 1/3

As Game Strikeouts: Don Drysdale – 19

Note: It’s hard to pick AS Game career leaders in such areas as ERA and batting average. (How many at bats or innings pitched do you use to qualify?) However, here are two BBRT nominations. If you use 20 at bats as a standard, your batting average leader is Charlie Gehringer at .500 (ten-for-twenty in six AS games, plus nine walks). If you use ten innings pitched as a qualifier, only Mel Harder can boast a 0.00 ERA (13 innings).

ALL STAR GAME BOOKENDS

Star of the 1998 All Star Game.

The highest scoring All Star Game ever took place in 1998 at (Where Else?) Coors Field – as the teams combined for 21 runs in a 13-8 American League win. Side note: Thirteen is the highest run total ever up by an All Star squad, accomplished by The AL in 1983, 1992 and 1998.

The lowest scoring game (combined) took place in (When else?) in 1968 (The Year of the Pitcher) – as the NL topped the AL 1-0. with the only run scoring on a double play (no RBI in the contest).

The largest margin of victory in an All Star Game is 12 runs. In 1946, the AL topped the NL 12-0 at Fenway Park.

______________________________________________________

Finally, to wrap up, here’s a dozen AS Game firsts from 1933.

First Venue: Comiskey Park 1 (July 6, 1933).

First AS Game Attendance: 47,595

Final Score of First AS Game: AL 4 – NL -2

First Batter/Pitcher Match Up: NL 3B Pepper Martin (Cardinals) versus Lefty Gomez (Yankees). Gomez retired Martin on a grounder to shortstop.

First Starting Pitchers: AL, Lefty Gomez (Yankees) – NL, Bill Hallahan (Cardinals). Gomez got the first All Star win, Hallahan the first loss.

First Hit: Cardinals’ Chick Hafey (leading off second inning – off the Yankees’ Lefty Gomez). Hafey was starting in LF and batting fourth for the NL.

First Run Scored: AL starting 3B Jimmy Dykes (White Sox).

First RBI: AL starting pitcher Lefty Gomez (Yankees) – drove home Jimmy Dykes (White Sox), who had walked, with a single to center field. Take that, DH Rule.

First Double: Pie Traynor (Pirates), NL pinch hitter – top of seventh off Lefty Grove (Yankees).

First Triple: NL pitcher Lon Warneke (Cubs) – top of the sixth inning off Alvin Crowder (Senators). Take that again, DH Rule.

First Home Run: AL RF Babe Ruth (Yankees), two-run home run, bottom of the third, off Bill Hallahan (Cardinals). So, your first All Star Game double, triple and homer were hit by pitchers or former pitchers.

First Stolen Base: Bottom of first, AL 2B Charlie Gehringer (Tigers).

First Strikeout: Final out, top of second. Pitcher – Lefty Gomez (Yankees). Hitter – NL SS Dick Bartell (Phillies).

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

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.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Baseball Roundtable June Wrap Up – From Trots to Tea Cups …and More

July 1, 2019 by David

It’s July 1 and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s traditional previous month wrap up – touching on the statistics, standings and stories that caught BBRT’s eye over the previous month, along with the BBRT Players and Pitchers of the Month and the BBRT Trot index. Here’s a bit of a spoiler – a brief sampler of the kind of things you’ll read about – as always, if you last to the end of the post. Among the things we saw in June:

One six-game winner (Max Scherzer) and one six-game loser (Aaron Sanchez).
One .400+ hitter (Charlie Blackmon).
A batter (Luke Voit) fanning 38 percent of the time, but still managing to hit .333 for the month.
A player (Charlie Blackmon) collecting a record 15 hits in a four-game series.
A record 13 home runs hit in a single game (Phillies/Diamondbacks).
Two cycles in two days (Shohei Ohtani & Jake Bauers).
A three-game hitting streak (Wilkin Castillo) that took just over ten years to complete.
A team (Yankees) homer in every game of the month – and then some.
A pitcher (Louis Castillo) leading MLB in walks for the month (with 20 in just 28 2/3 innings) and managing to go 2-2, with a tidy 2.83 earned run average. (He gave up just 16 hits in those 28+ frames).
A player (Freddie Freeman) drive in 33 runs in 28 games..

Oh yes, and if you read on, you’ll find out why the Yankees versus Red Sox in London was not my cup of tea.

If You aren’t Familiar with …

Jeff McNeil, you probably will be soon. The 27-year-old Met (who has played 2B, 3B, RF and LF this season) ended the month of June as MLB’s leading hitter – with a .348 average. It should be no surprise, McNeil – a 12th round draft pick in 2013 – has hit wherever he has played. In six minor league seasons, he put up a .311 average (.327 at Triple A; .315 at Double A and .296 at A/High A).

In a July 2018 call up, he hit .329 with three homers, 19 RBI and seven stolen bases in 63 games. Thus far, in 2019, he is .348-6-34, with 37 runs scored three steals. Looks like he’s here to stay.

Now, on to …

—-BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE PLAYERS & PITCHERS OF THE MONTH—–

National League Player of the Month – Charlie Blackmon, RF, Rockies

Photo by Minda Haas Kuhlmann

Okay, I’ve admitted in the past that (as was often said of the zany, but talented, Rube Waddell) I can be distracted by bright and shiny things. Well, in June, there were a couple of “bright and shiny” things that caught BBRT’s eye as I considered my National League Player of the Month.

They were the .412 June average (which led all qualifying hitters for June) put up by Rockies’s RF and lead off hitter Charlie Blackmon and the MLB-leading 33 June RBI recorded by Braves’ 1B Freddie Freeman. Blackmon’s .400+ average for the month – coupled with his ten home runs (MLB’s third-best), 25 RBI (sixth in MLB for June) and MLB-leading 30 runs scored took the day; but it was by a razor-thin margin. For the month, Blackmon had MLB’s 38 hits (seven doubles, two triples, nine home runs). In his 22 games played (Blackmon missed the first six games of the month on the Injured List due to a right calf strain), Blackmon had 11 multi-hit games – at one point collecting 15 hits in a single four-game series. (See more on Blackmon’s multi-hit achievement in the “Highlights” section of this post.) As a side note: On June 29, Blackmon became the first left-handed hitter ever to go yard off Clayton Kershaw’s curve ball. (Another case of in baseball we track everything.)

Other contenders: Braves’ 1B Freddie Freeman, who went .322, with nine home runs, 24 runs scored and an MLB-high 33 RBI in June – helping the Braves surge to first place (the Braves started the month three games behind the Phillies and ended it with a 5 ½ game lead); Brewers’ RF Christian Yelich, who did a little bit (a lot, really) of everything – hitting .365 with power (eight home runs), driving in 18, scoring 20 and even swiping eight bases in eight tries.

American League Player of the Month – DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Yankees

Photo by jenniferlinneaphotography

The Yankees, beset by injuries all season, needed players like DJ LeMahieu to step up – and step up he did. In June, LeMahieu hit a robust .395 (second in MLB only to Charlie Blackmon’s .412), with six home runs, an AL-best 26 runs scored and an AL-high 29 RBI. LeMahieu generated this offense while serving primarily as a lead off hitter and spending time at first base, second base and third base.

Other contenders: Blue Jay’s 2B Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., who hit .337 for June, bashed MLB’s third-most home runs (10), drove in 20 and scored 20; Angels’ CF Mike Trout (isn’t he always on this list), who went .320-9-23 and scored 24 times. Just a typical June for Trout.

_____________________________________________________

National League Pitcher of the Month – Max Scherzer, Nationals

Photo by apardavila

Easy call here. The three-time Cy Young Award winner got off to a slow start, going 2-5, 3.26 through May – but made up ground big time in June. He was MLB’s only six-game winner in the month, going 6-0 (in six starts), with a 1.00 ERA (five earned runs in 45 IP), just five walks and an MLB-high 68 June strikeouts. He average 7.5 innings per start and helped lead the Nationals to a 18-8 month. His 1.00 ERA for the month was the lowest among pitchers with at least 25 innings on the mound.

Other contenders: The Rockies’ Jon Gray, who went 5-1, with a 2.65 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings (despite having four of his six June starts at Coors Field); Walker Buehler, Dodgers, who went 3-0 in five starts, with a 2.45 ERA and 46 strikeouts (versus just two walks) in 35 2/3 innings.

American League Pitcher of the Month – Lance Lynn, Rangers

Okay, maybe I could have gone with big names and big swing-and-miss arms like Justin Verlander or Chris Sale, but (from BBRT’s perspective) the Rangers’ Lance Lynn put it all together in June. Lynn tied for the AL lead in June wins – going 4-0 in six starts, with a respectable 2.90 earned run average. He also fanned 48 batters in 40 1/3 innings, while walking only four. (If only Lynn had pitched like this for my Twins. He went 7-8, 5.10 in 20 starts for Minnesota last season.)

Other contenders: Luis Giolito, White Sox, who went 4-1, 2.50 and whiffed 46 batters in 36 innings (six starts); Mike Minor, Rangers, who went 3-0, 1.70 in five starts (30 strikeouts in 37 IP);

TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE

Through June, 36.0 percent of all MLB’s 96,145 2019 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 (22.7%); Walks (8.6%); home runs (3.6%); HBP (1.0%); Catcher’s Interference (less than 1%). Personally, I’d like more action in the field of play.

For the 2018 season, 34.8 percent of all MLB’s 185,139 plate appearances ended in a trot.

________________________________________________

THE BEST OF TEAMS, THE WORST OF TEAMS

We did see some movement in the standings in July. The Braves put up an MLB-best 20 June wins (versus just 8 losses) and went from three games back of the Phillies on June 1 to 5 1/2 games up on Philadelphia on July 1. Two other NL teams with solid June results were the Dodgers (18-10), who extended their lead in the West from 8 1/2 to 12 games – and the Nationals, who used an 18-8 month to move past the Mets (10-18) into third place in the East. The NL Central Division had a “blah” month, with no team playing better than .500 ball.

The Braves offense fueled their 20 June wins, as they led MLB in runs scored (187) and home runs (56) for the month. Key contributors for the Braves were: Freddie Freeman (.322-9-33); Ozzie Albies (.317-6-22); Ronald Acuna, Jr. (.31-9-21); and Nick Markakis (.270-4-20). The Dodgers rode MLB’s best pitching (MLB-lowest 3.08 ERA in June) to continued success. Key mound work was provided by the likes of Rich Hill (3-0, 2.25), Walker Buehler (3-0, 3-0, 2.45), Clayton Kershaw (2-2, 2.93) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-1, 2.70). Their offense also contributed, scoring the NL’s fourth-most runs – led by the likes of Cody Bellinger (.272-7-15) and Max Muncy (.287-8-23)/

IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY – YOUR PLAYOFF TEAMS WOULD BE …

AL: Yankees; Twins; Astros. Wild Cards: Rays; Rangers.

NL: Braves; Dodgers; Cubs or Brewers. Wild Cards: Cubs or Brewers; Phillies or Rockies.

YOU’LL FIND FULL STANDINGS – AS OF JULY 1 – NEAR THE END OF THIS POST.

Over in the junior circuit, the Rangers went 18-11, and gained two games on the Astros (but are still 6 1/2 back)(. In the East, the Yankees went 17-9 and expanded their lead from 1.5 games over the Rays on June 1 to 7 games on July 1. The Indians were the other AL team with 17 June wins (nine losses), gaining 2 1/2 games on the Twins, but still eight back. The Yankees pounded their opponents into submission, leading the AL in runs scored (176) and homering in every June game. By contrast, the Bronx Bombers June earned run average (5.46) was the third-worst in the AL. Lot of contributors to the Yankees’ surge. including: DJ LeMahieu (.395-6-29); Gleyber Torres (.333-5-17); Gary Sanchez (.255-6-21). Overall, power up and down the Yankee lineup.

At the other end of won-lost spectrum, two teams failed to win even ten games in June – The Tigers (5-20) and the Orioles (6-20). Both of those squads had June earned run averages north of 5.00 and the Tigers also finished last in MLB in runs scored. The Orioles had the fourth-fewest runs scored in the AL – even after a pair of late-June games in which they outscored the Indians by a combined 26-0.

_______________________________________

—-LEAGUE LEADERS – TEAMS – MONTH OF JUNE —–

(Stats as of July 1, 2019, a.m.)

RUNS SCORED … MLB Team Average – 134

AL: Yankees (176); Red Sox (159); Mariners (153)

NL: Braves (187); Rockies (167); Padres (153)

The Tigers scored an MLB-low 82 runs in June, while the Cardinals and Reds were at the bottom of the NL with only 92 tallies.

BATTING AVERAGE … MLB Team Average – .255

AL: Red Sox (.291); Yankees (.286); Twins (.266)

NL: Pirates (.288); Rockies (.280); Braves (.277)

The Cardinals were the only team to hit under .230 for the month – at .223.

HOME RUNS … MLB Team Average – 38

AL: Twins (51); Blue Jays (48); Yankees (47); Mariners (47)

NL: Braves (56); Mets (48); Dodgers (47)

The Tigers hit only 20 home runs in June, the fewest of any MLB team.

SLUGGING PERCENTAGE – MLB Team Average – .440

AL: Yankees (.499); Red Sox (.488); Indians (.479)

NL: Braves (.520); Dodgers (.479); Pirates (.478)

STOLEN BASES … MLB Team Average – 13

AL: Rangers (25); Royals (25); Indians (19)

NL: Cardinals (26); Brewers (18); Padres (18); D-backs (18); Nationals (18)

The White Sox, Yankees, Twins and Marlins each stole an MLB-low four bases in June – with the Twins having the worse success rate at 40 percent (four steals, six thrown out stealing).

BATTERS’ STRIKEOUTS … MLB Team Average – 233

AL: Rangers (288); Mariners (273); Rays (273)

NL: Rockies (260); Marlins (253); three with 250

The Braves led MLB in June extra-base hits with 126, while the Cardinals were at the bottom of the list with only 62 extra-base knocks. Teams with at least 100 XBH for the month (after the Cardinals) were the: Red Sox (112); Dodgers (108); Pirates (107); A’s (106); Twins (104); and Rockies (100).

WALKS DRAWN … MLB Average – 84

AL: Mariners (120); Astros (107); Yankees (106)

NL: Brewers (103); Braves (100); Padres (98)

_______________________________________

EARNED RUN AVERAGE … MLB Average – 4.60

AL: Rays (3.92); Twins (3.95); A’s (3.99)

NL: Dodgers (3.08); Cardinals (3.65); Reds (3.78)

June was a tough month for pitching staffs, as ten teams put up earned run averages north of 5.00 – with the Orioles at the bottom (or top, depending how how you look at it) at 5.81. The Orioles were a close second at 5.80. Together, these teams produced 16 wins and 37 losses during June.

BATTING AVERAGE AGAINST … MLB Average – .256

AL: Indians (.231); Astros (.236); Rays (.239)

NL: Dodgers (.217); Reds (.223); Nationals (.228)

STRIKEOUTS … MLB Average – 223

AL: Red Sox (304); Astros (282); Rangers (266)

NL: Brewers (257); Dodgers (256); Mets (254)

The Red Sox and Angels were the only teams to average ten or more strikeouts per nine innings – 10.80 and 10.01, respectively. A total of 11 teams averaged at least one K per frame for the month.

SAVES … MLB Average – 6

AL: Twins (9); Yankees (9); Royals (9)

NL: Braves (10); Nationals (10); Brewers (9)

The Reds had June’s best save percentage at 100 percent (six saves in six opportunities).

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED … MLB Average – 84

AL: Rangers (74); Yankees (75); three with 77

NL: Dodgers (60); Nationals (70); Padres (74); Cardinals (74)

Only three mound staff surrendered 50 or more home runs in June: Astros (56); Phillies (54); Yankees (50). The A’s surrendered the fewest June long balls (27).

___________________________________________

—–JUNE HIGHLIGHTS … THE STORIES —–

Sale’s Immaculate Innings – Keeping Company with Lefty Grove

Photo by Keith Allison

On June 5, Boston southpaw Chris Sale was truly dominant versus the Royals, picking up his second win of the season with a complete game, three-hit shutout. In the contest, he did not yield a single walk and fanned a dozen. In the eighth, he tossed an “immaculate inning” – fanning the three batters he faced (Kelvin Gutierrez, Nicky Lopez and Martin Maldonado) on nine pitches. It was Sale’s second immaculate inning of the season (the first came May 8 against the Orioles), making him just the second major leaguer with two immaculate frames in a season. The other was Lefty Grove in 1928. As June closed, Sale’s record on the season was 3-7, 3.82 – and he had fanned 148 batters in 101 1/3 innings.

It’s Raining Baseballs

On June 9, the Nationals loaded up on the Padres in San Diego – bashing back – to back– to back – to back home runs in the eighth inning of a 5-2 win. All the long balls – which broke open a 1-1 contest – came off reliever Craig Stammen. The homers were hit by PH Howie Kendrick, SS Trea Turner, RF Adam Eaton and 3B Anthony Rendon. It was only the ninth time in MLB history that a team had cracked four consecutive home runs.

On June 10, it was raining baseballs again. This time In Philadelphia – as the Diamondbacks and Phillies combined to hit an MLB record 13 home runs in a game. The teams got off to a rolling start, as the D-backs first three batters in the top of the first inning (CF Jarrod Dyson, SS Ketel Marte and LF David Peralta) homered off Phillies’ starter Jerad Eickhoff) and Phillies’ SS Jean Segura homered in the bottom of the frame off Taylor Clarke. Here are the homer hitters for the contest, won by the visiting D-backs 13-8:

Diamondbacks: Eduardo Escobar (2); Ildemaro Vargas (2); Alex Avila; Jarrod Dyson; Ketel Marte; David Peralta.

Phillies: Scott Kingery (2); Jean Segura; Rhys Hoskins; Jay Bruce.

That Was Fun, Let’s Do it Again

Before the Phillies-Diamondbacks 13-home run game on June 10, the previous record for combined home runs in a game was 12 – accomplished twice – both times by the Tigers/White Sox (once in each team’s home park) on May 28, 1995 and July 2, 2002.

Verlander Likes Swing Music- As Long as It’s Swing and Miss

On June 12, the Astros’ Justin Verlander was truly in the wing of things. – striking out a career high 15 batters in seven innings of work. What may be of interest is that fact that all 15 were swinging strikeouts. Still when, the Brewers swung and didn’t miss, they made it count. Verlander allowed only four hits (no walks) in his seven innings, but three of the four hits were homers (Ryan Braun – first inning; Yasmani Grandal – second inning; and Eric Thames – seventh inning). As a result, Verlander left with the game tied at three and the Astros eventually lost to the Brewers 6-3 in fourteen innings. Back to the “in baseball we count everything” trend, MLB.com reported that Verlander is the first pitcher (since 1908) to record 15 strikeouts and give up at least three home runs in a game.

No, the Speed Game Does not Belong Exclusively to the NL

On June 14, the Rangers’ Elvis Andrus stole home with two outs in the top of the first inning of a game against the Reds. It was Andrus’ second steal of home this season and the sixth of his career. It was the Rangers’ third steal of home this season – and second in June. On June 9, Rangers’ 2B Rougned Odor stole home against the A’s. For those who are interested, the record for most steals of home in a season belongs to Ty Cobb (eight in 1912). Cobb also holds the career record for steals of the plate (54).

As the month of June came to a close, four of the top five teams (on the season) in stolen bases were in the American League. The top five were the Royals (79); Rangers (65); Indians (58); Mariners (58); Cardinals (57).

Two Days – Two Cycles

In June, two players hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and homer in one game) – the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani on June 13 and the Indians’ Jack Bauers on June 14. Both, by the way, were in the DH spot for the game.

Ohtani’s cycle came in a 5-3 win over the Ray s in Tampa. He went 4-for-4, with two runs and three RBI, collecting a home run in the first; double in the third; triple in the fifth; and single in the seventh. Bauers’ cycle came in a 13-4 win over the Tiger in Detroit. Bauer was 4-for-5, with two runs and four RBI. He had a double in the second; single and triple in the fourth; strikeout in the sixth; and the home run in the eighth. For more on cycles, click here.

92 Runs in Four Days – Only in Colorado

From June 13 through June 16, the Padres and Rockies played a four-game series (in Colorado) in which the teams combined for a MLB four-game series record 92 runs (44 for the Padres and 48 for the Rockies) – and came away with two wins (and two losses) apiece. The 92 runs broke the old four-game series record of 88 (Dodger and Phillies), which had stood since 1929. The Rox/Padres combined for 131 hits, two short of the all-time record. (They also hit a combined 17 home runs.) The final scores, in order, were Rockies win 9-6; Padres win 16-12; Rockies win 14-8; Padres win 14-13. In the series, Rockies’ OF Charlie Blackmon stroked 15 hits – an MLB record for a four-game set (see more on Blackmon in the next story in this post).

It’s Not Always About the Home Run

Photo by Minda Haas Kuhlmann

From June 13 through June 18 Rockies’ outfielder Charlie Blackmon recorded five straight games of at least three hits – falling one game short of the record set by the Royals’ George Brett in 1976 (May 8-13). Blackmon began his streak with three consecutive four-hit games (June 13-14-15 versus the Padres) and add a pair of three-hit contests (June 16 versus the Padres and June 18 versus the D-backs). During the streak, Blackmon went 18-for-29 (.621), with ten singles, three doubles, one triple, four home runs, 11 runs scored and 10 RBI. Surprisingly, despite his hot bat, he did not walk once over the five games. The streak raised his season batting average from .305 to .341. Blackmon’s 18 hits, by the way, fell just one hit shy of the most hits in a five-game span – set by Brooklyn’s Jimmy Johnston (June 25-30, 1923).

Yankees Homer Happy from May Right Into June

On June 25, the Yankees set a new MLB record – homering in their 28th consecutive contest (breaking a tie with the 2002 Rangers) – and wasted no time doing it. DJ LeMahieu homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning in a 4-3 Yankee win over the Blue Jays. The Yankees put an exclamation point on the record by scoring all four of their runs on solo homers – LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnacion. The Yankees continued the homer happy streak, which began on Mays 26 right to the end of June – stretching the streak to 31 games.

Updating the tale of the tape, the Yankees, in their streak (through June 30):

Hit 57 home runs;
Averaged .282;
Won 20 and lost 11;
Outscored their opponents 195 to 164;
Had 14 different players go yard; eight of those at least four times.

Homering for the Yankees in the streak were Gary Sanchez (8 homers); DJ LeMahieu (8); Gleyber Torres (7); Brett Gardner (5); Aaron Hicks (5); Luke Voit (4); Gio Urshela (4); Cameron Maybin (4); Didi Gregorius (3); Edwin Encarnacion (3); Clint Frazier (2); Aaron Judge (2); Austin Romine; Giancarlo Stanton .

250 for C.C.

On June 19, C.C. Sabathia picked up his fourth win of the season (4-4. 4.14 ERA). All those four may be lucky, as it was also Sabathia’s 250^th MLB win. Sabathia went six innings in the game (leaving with a 6-1 lead), won by the Bombers 12-1 over Tampa Bay. He gave up three hits and one run, walking three and fanning seven. As June closed out Sabathia was 5-4, 4.04 on the season and 251-157, 3.71 for his career.

C.C. Sabathia led the AL in victories in 2009 and 2010.

Its’s Not Likely Even Ali Could have Stopped Scherzer

On June 19, Max Scherzer took the mound looking like he’d just dropped a heavyweight fight – black and swollen eye and broken nose. His start, against the Phillies, came just a day after he fouled a batting practice bunt attempt off his face. How did he do? He threw seven shutout innings, giving u just four hits and two walks, while fanning ten – picking up the win as the Nationals topped the Phillies 2-0.

Weekends Belong to the Young

On Friday night, June 21, Dodgers’ 26-year-old rookie LF Matt Beaty got the weekend rolling with a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth (as the Dodgers topped Colorado 4-2). It was Beaty’s second MLB round tripper. On Saturday, June 22, it was rookie CF Alex Verdugo’s turn – as he popped a walk-off, solo long ball in the bottom of the eleventh to give the Dodgers a 5-4 win over the Rox. Note: the 23-year-old Verdugo in his third MLB season, still has his rookie status. Then, on Sunday, 24-year-old rookie Will Smith hit a three-run, walk-off dinger in the bottom of the ninth to put the Dodgers over the Rockies 6-3. It was Smith’s seventh major league game and third MLB home run.

The string of finishes marked the first time in MLB history that rookie batters provided walk-off homer victories for their team in three consecutive games. More proof that in baseball we track everything.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

On June 22, Reds’ 2B Derek Dietrich got “nailed” by a 71-mph change up from Brewers’ reliever Alex Claudio – marking an MLB-record six HBP’s in a single series (of any length). Notably, Dietrich had tied an MLB record getting hit by three pitches (in a single game) on Friday (June 21). More on this story, click here.

A FEEL GOOD STORY FOR JUNE – AND A TRIBUTE TO PERSISTENCE

On June 22, 35-year-old Wilkin Castillo started at catcher for the Miami Marlins (versus the Phillies) and produced a two-run double in the seventh that helped the Marlins top the Phils 5-3. It was Castillo’s first MLB game, first hit and first RBI in ten years and two days. Castillo had last played in an MLB game on June 20, 2009, when (as a member of the Reds) he hit a pinch-hit, seventh-inning RBI-single versus the White Sox in a 10-8 Reds loss. He tore his labrum and had to leave the game – and hadn’t played in an MLB game since. (At the time of the injury, the 25-year-old Castillo had played in 22 MLB games – going 11-for-35, with two RBI.)

Since coming back from the 2009 injury (before his recent call up), Castillo played in more than 800 minor league, Dominican League, Mexican League and independent league ball games. Side note: After his first game with the Marlins, Castillo could boast of a three-game major league hitting streak that spanned more than ten year (June 1, 2009 to June 22, 2019). In his second game for Miami (June 25), he went zero-for-three, ending the streak.

More Homer Happy History

On June 22, Mets’ rookie first baseman Pete Alonso slugged his 26^th home run of the season – setting a new NL record for home runs by a rookie before the All Star Game (set by Cody Bellinger in 2017). (The MLB record of 33 belongs to Mark McGwire.) Alonso ended June with 28 round trippers – just a hot streak away from the overall pre-ASG rookie record – but with just a handful of games left before the break. Beyond that is Bellinger’s NL rookie full season record of 39 and McGwire’s overall rookie record of 49 dingers.

Only One Chance to Make a First Impression

On June 25, an MLB-record was tied when five batters opened their team’s games with lead-off home runs. Here’s look at the three times we’ve seen five lead-off long balls in a single MLB day.

A Minor Shout Out

On June 26, the Rangers’ Mike Minor pitched his second complete game of the season – a one-run, five-hitter (two walks/seven whiffs) – as the Rangers topped the Tigers 4-1 in Detroit. Why a shout out? Because complete games have gone from the mundane to the sublime in major league baseball. Minor’s two complete games are enough to tie him with Zach Elfin (Phillies) and Lucas Giolito (White Sox) for the MLB lead. On the season, Minor is 8-4, 2.40.

STOP THE INSANITY PART ONE

It was reported this past month that MLB’s Executive Committee has given the Tampa Rays permission to explore the possibility of being a two-town team – splitting their season between Tampa and Montreal. Heck, they wouldn’t just be a two-city team, they’d be a two-country team. Hats and jersey sales? Stop the insanity.

Suitcase Simpson Step Aside

On June 28, 42-year-old Fernando Rodney pitched a clean, two-strikeout ninth in for the Nationals – picking up a save as Washington topped the Tigers 3-1. It was the record ninth MLB team for which Rodney had recorded a save. Here’s a breakdown of his 326 MLB saves: Rays (85); Tigers (70); Mariners (64); Diamondbacks (39); Twins (25); Angels (17); Padres (17); Marlins (8); Nationals (1).

On Any Given Day

The Baltimore Orioles went into their June 28 game against the Cleveland Indians with the worst record in the major leagues (22-58) – and having given up the most 2019 runs in MLB and scored the fourth fewest. They had reached double-digit in runs scored in just two times (12 each time), given up double-digit runs 16 times, shut out only one opponent and been shutout four times.

So, how did they fare against the second-place Indians? They topped the Indians 13-0 on Friday (June 28th) AND Saturday (June 29) – becoming the first MLB team to win back-to-back shutouts while scoring at least 13 runs in each game.

STOP THE INSANITY – PART TWO

Photo by 小卡

MLB scheduled a pair of mid-season contests in London (You all saw it, Yankees/Red Sox, June 29-30). My thoughts as the day(s) approached, shared over brews with baseball “buds,” were that the combination of disrupting the scheduling and routine for players, tiring travel, squeezing a baseball field into a football pitch and playing on temporary artificial turf could result in baseball that more resembled pinball. In addition, I had (still have) some concern regarding how this “overseas” series might affect the Yankees and Red Sox in the first few games after their return to the regular schedule.

Turns out, the enthusiastic crowds, in two games, saw 50 runs scored on 65 hits (nine home runs). It was, I believe, a marketing success. I may be old school, but I’d still prefer to see these marketing efforts come in the form of exhibitions (as opposed to mid-season games “that count.”) If exhibitions don’t meet MLB needs, I’d prefer to see the uniquely located games at the opening of the season, when I believe they would be less disruptive (but still showcase MLB abroad). (That’s just my take, others I’ve talked to found the Yankees/Red Sox match up quite exciting.) It remains to be seen what impact the London series will have on the Yankees and Red Sox. I am sure, however, that the fans (for the most part) went home both pleased and entertained. It was just not my cup of tea.

—-INDIVIDUAL LEADERS For THE MONTH OF JUNE 2019—–

BATTING AVERAGE (at least 75 June at bats)

AL: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (.395); Eric Sogard, Blue Jays (.374); Hanser Alberto, Orioles (.354)

NL: Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (.412); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (.383); Ketel Marte, D-backs (.374)

The lowest average among players with at least 75 June at bats belonged to the Cardinals’ Stephen Piscotty at .169 (14-for-83).

HITS

AL: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (45); Elvis Andrus, Rangers (37); Whit Merrifield, Royals (36)

NL: Ronald Acuna, Jr. Braves (41); Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (40); Ketel Marte, D-backs (40)

When it came to extra-base hits, your June leader was the Braves’ Freddie Freeman with 20 … ten doubles, one triple and nine round trippers.

HOME RUNS

AL: Edwin Encarnacion, Yankees (11); Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., Blue Jays (10); five with nine

NL: Manny Machado, Padres (11); Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (10); five with nine

RUNS BATTED IN

AL: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (29); Nelson Cruz, Twins (24); Mike Trout, Angels (23)

NL: Freddie Freeman, Braves (33); David Dahl, Rockies (32); Manny Machado, Padres (29)

RUNS SCORED

AL: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (26); Mike Trout, Angels (24); three with 22

NL: Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (30); Dansby Swanson, Braves (28); Ronald Acuna, Jr, Braves (28)

STOLEN BASES

AL: Alberto Mondesi, Royals (7); Mallex Smith, Mariners (7); three with six

NL: Trea Turner, Nationals (9); Christian Yelich, Brewers (8); Jarrod Dyson, D-backs (7)

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

AL: Michael Chavis, Red Sox (45); Miguel Sano, Twins (39); Domingo Santana, Mariners (38)

NL: Austin Riley, Braves (37); Trea Turner, Nationals (35); two with 33

All or Nothing

The Yankees’ Luke Voit fanned 33 times in just 87 at bats (38 percent), yet still managed to hit .333 for the month (29-for-87), with three home runs and 12 RBI.

WALKS

AL: Dan Vogelbach, Mariners (23); Mookie Betts, Red Sox (23); Alex Bregman, Astros (22)

NL: Brandon Belt, Giants (24); Rhys Hoskins, Phillies (21); Max Muncy, Dodgers (19); Bryce Harper, Phillies (19)

Brandon Belt’s ability to draw walks resulted in a .387 on-base percentage for June, despite a .213 batting average.

ON-BASE PERCENTAGE (Minimum 75 June at bats)

AL: Luke Voit, Yankees (442); Mike Trout, Angels (.446); DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (.434)

NL: Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (.457); Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (.441); Bryan Reynolds, Pirates (.438)

_________________________________

PITCHING VICTORIES

AL: Mike Fiers, A’s (4-0); Lance Lynn, Rangers (4-0); Brandon Workman, Red Sox (4-0); Marcus Gonzales, Mariners (4-1); Lucas Giolito (4-1)

NL: Max Scherzer, Nationals (6-0); Jon Gray, Rockies (5-1); five with four

The Blue Jays’ Aaron Sanchez was the only pitcher to lose six games in June. Sanchez went 0-6, with a 12.00 ERA in six starts – giving up 44 hits and 19 walks (36 earned runs) in 27 innings.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 25 May innings)

AL: Andrew Cashner, Orioles (1.44); Mike Minor, Rangers (1.70); Jesse Chavez, Rangers (1.73)

NL: Max Scherzer, Nationals (1.00); Cole Hamels, Cubs (1.22); Dakota Hudson, Cardinals (2.25)

STRIKEOUTS

AL: Justin Verlander, Astros (52 in 40 1/3 IP); Chris Sale, Red Sox (50 in 33 IP); Gerrit Cole, Astros (49 in 38 IP)

NL: Max Scherzer, Nationals (68 in 45 innings pitched); Jacob deGrom (51 in 40 IP); Robbie Ray, D-backs (47 in 36 IP).

Among pitchers with at least 25 innings pitched in June , Red Sox’ starter Chris Sale had the highest rate of strikeouts per nine innings at 13.64. In the NL, the highest rate went to the Nationals Max Scherzer at 13.60.

In the category of strikeouts-to-walks, Walker Buehler of the Dodgers led the way at 23 – with just two walks and 46 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings.

SAVES

AL: Ian Kennedy, Royals (8); Brad Hand, Indians (8); Aroldis Chapman, Yankees (7); Alex Colome, White Sox (7)

NL: Will Smith, Giants (8); Sean Doolittle, Nationals (8); Josh Hader Brewers (7)

—-LEAGUE LEADERS – TEAMS – SEASON-TO-DATE —

(As of end of day, July 31, 2019)

RUNS SCORED … MLB Team Average – 401

AL: Yankees (476); Twins (474); Red Sox (463)

NL: Rockies (475); Braves (461); Dodgers (459)

Only two teams had scored fewer than 300 runs through June: Tigers (274) and Marlins (299).

BATTING AVERAGE … MLB Team Average – .251

AL: Twins (.270); Red Sox (.269); Astros (.267)

NL: Rockies (.269); Dodgers (.267); Pirates (.264); Braves (.264)

The Giants had the lowest team batting mark through June at .226 – and had just three players with at least 100 at bats hitting at least .250 (Pablo Sandoval at .284, Buster Posey at .251 and Kevin Pillar at .250).

HOME RUNS … MLB Team Average – 114

AL: Twins (157); Mariners (150); Yankees (138)

NL: Brewers (141); Dodgers (139); Braves (132)

The Marlins and Tigers are the only teams with less than 75 round trippers through June, at 64 and 68, respectively. Miami’s home run leader was 3B Brian Anderson with 11; the Tigers’ long ball leader also had just 11 round trippers (LF Brandon Dixon). By contrast, the Twins had seven players with more than 11 home runs through June.

SLUGGING PERCENTAGE … MLB Team Average – .430

AL: Twins (.496); Astros (.468); Yankees (.466)

NL: Dodgers (.473); Rockies (.462); Braves (.461)

The Twins finished June with a year-to-date slugging percentage of .496. The MLB season record is .491 (2003 Red Sox.)

STOLEN BASES … MLB Team Average – 40

AL: Royals (79); Rangers (65); Mariners (58)

NL: Cardinals (57); Brewers (51); Nationals (59)

The Twins do not play the speed game. While they lead MLB in home runs, they are last in stolen bases (through June) with just 20 (in 33 attempts).

BATTERS’ STRIKEOUTS … MLB Team Average – 729

AL: Mariners (859); Rangers (828); Rays (799)

NL: Padres (808); Brewers (799); Rockies (795)

The Angels have fanned the fewest times at 565. The only other team under 600 whiffs (under 648, actually) is the Astros (587 through June).

WALKS DRAWN … MLB Average – 275

AL: Mariners (336); Red Sox (327); Astros (316)

NL: Dodgers (332); Brewers (324); Cubs (324)

The least selective batters were found on the White Sox (197 walks) and Marlins (199).

When it comes to pinch hits, the Pirates lead the way with 38 pinch hits in 115 PH at bats for a .330 average. The Red Sox have the best pinch hitting batting average through June at .442 (19-for 43).

_______________________________________

EARNED RUN AVERAGE … MLB Average – 4.46

AL: Rays (3.21); Astros (3.83); Twins (3.91)

NL: Dodgers (3.41); Reds (3.69); Cubs (3.94)

The best starters’ ERA through June belonged to the Dodgers in the NL at 3.01, while the Rays had the best starting ERA in the AL at 3.06.

Bullpen ERAs saw the Rays best in the AL at 3.35 and the Reds lowest in the NL at 3.73.

The worst? Nationals’ bullpen at 6.30 and Orioles’ starters at 5.50. The Orioles also had the worst overall ERA through June at 5.73.

BATTING AVERAGE AGAINST … MLB Average – .251

AL: Astros (.218); Rays (.222); Indians (.240)

NL: Dodgers (.226); Reds (.233); Marlins (.243)

STRIKEOUTS … MLB Average – 729

AL: Red Sox (858); Astros (848); Rays (792)

NL: Brewers (788); Nationals (786); Mets (777)

The Red Sox remained the only team to average ten or more strikeouts per nine innings (10.12), while a total of nine teams averaged at least one K per frame through June.

SAVES … MLB Average – 21

AL: Yankees (29); Twins (24); Indians (24)

NL: Padres (32); Dodgers (26); Brewers (25)

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED … MLB Average – 272

AL: Twins (229); Indians (234); Astros (235)

NL: Dodgers (188); Padres (212); Nationals (261)

No team has shut out the opposition more often (through June) than the Dodgers (10 shutouts). The next best is eight (Indians). The Angels and Mariners have each recorded just one shutout through June.

The following teams have yet to record a complete game this season: Padres; Brewers; Twins; Braves; Cardinals; Tigers; Astros; Angels; Rays; D-backs, Royals; Orioles. The Phillies and Rangers each have an MLB-leading three complete games through June.

Now let’s move on to the individual leaders through June.

—-INDIVIDUAL LEADERS THROUGH JUNE 2019—–

BATTING AVERAGE (QUALIFIERS)

AL: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (.345); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (.322); Jorge Polanco, Twins (.320)

NL: Jeff McNeil, Mets (.348); Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (.346); Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (.337)

The lowest average among qualifying players through June belonged to the Rangers Rougned Odor at .187 (46-for-246).

HITS

AL: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (108); Whit Merrifield, Royals (106); Jorge Polanco, Twins (105)

NL: Freddie Freeman, Braves (104); Nolan Arenado, Rockies (103); Ketel Marte, D-backs (103)

When it comes to on-base percentage, your leaders through June are:

Mike Trout of the Angels (.452);

Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers (.442).

Other players at .400 or better were: Christian Yelich, Brewers (.425); Jeff McNeil, Mets (.412); Carlos Santana, Indians (.411); Juan Soto, Nationals (.402)

HOME RUNS

AL: Edwin Encarnacion, Mariners/Yankees (24); Gary Sanchez, Yankees (23); Mike Trout, Angels (22); Jorge Soler, Royals (22); Alex Bregman, Astros (22)

NL: Christian Yelich, Brewers (29); Pete Alonso, Mets (28); Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (27)

The player with the most 2019 at bats without going yard is the Marlins’ Miguel Rojas, who stands at .287-0-23 after 279 at bats.

RUNS BATTED IN

AL: Domingo Santana, Mariners (62); DJ LeMahieu, Yankees (61); Eddie Rosario, Twins (60); Jose Abreu, White Sox (60)

NL: Josh Bell, Pirates (70); Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (67); Freddie Freeman, Braves (65); Nolan Arenado, Rockies (65)

RUNS SCORED

AL: Mookie Betts, Red Sox (66); Mike Trout, Angels (63); Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox (63)

NL: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (67); Charlie Blackmon, Rockies (65); Trevor Story, Rockies (65)

STOLEN BASES

AL: Adalberto Mondesi, Royals (27); Mallex Smith, Mariners (21); Jose Ramirez, Indians (18)

NL: Jarrod Dyson, D-backs (19); Christian Yelich, Brewers (18); Trea Turner, Nationals (17)

Kolten Wong has the most 2019 stolen bases without being tossed out (14). Whit Merrifield of the Royals leads in times caught stealing (seven in 18 attempts).

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

AL: Domingo Santana, Mariners (110); Jorge Soler, Royals (104); Brandon Lowe, Rays (103)

NL: Bryce Harper, Phillies (101); Javier Baez, Cubs (101); Wil Myers, Padres (99)

WALKS

AL: Mike Trout, Angels (70); Mookie Betts, Red Sox (62); Alex Bregman, Astros (61)

NL: Rhys Hoskins, Phillies (61); Bryce Harper, Phillies (56); Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (52)

Nobody had drawn more intentional passes through June than the Phillies’ Maikel Franco (15). This despite a .227 average (12 home runs).

PITCHING VICTORIES

AL: Lucas Giolito, White Sox (11-2); Justin Verlander, Astros (10-3); Jake Odorizzi, Twins (10-3); Lance Lynn, Rangers (10-4)

NL: Brian Woodruff, Brewers (10-2); Mike Soroka, Braves (9-1); Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers (9-2); Max Fried, Braves (9-3); Zack Greinke, D-backs (9-3); Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (9-4); Jon Gray, Rockies (9-5)

No one has lost more games through June than the Blue Jays’ Aaron Sanchez (3-11, 6.31). What is a bit surprising is that Sanchez got off to a good start. He was 3-1, 2.32 at the end of April.

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (qualifying)

AL: Max Minor, Rangers (2.40); Charlie Morton, Rays (2.43); Frankie Montas, A’s (2.70)

NL: Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers (1.83); Max Scherzer, Nationals (2.43); Luis Castillo, Reds (2.47)

Among qualifiers, the Astros’ Justin Verlander has held opposing hitters to the lowest average through June (.162). In the NL, the top dog in this category is the Reds’ Luis Castillo (.178).

STRIKEOUTS

AL: Gerrit Cole, Astros (161); Chris Sale, Red Sox (148); Justin Verlander, Astros (147)

NL: Max Scherzer, Nationals (170); Robbie Ray, D-backs (129); Jacob deGrom, Mets (128)

Only four qualifying pitchers average 12 or more strikeouts per nine innings through June:

Gerrit Cole, Astros (13.21);

Chris Sale, Red Sox (13.14);

Max Scherzer, Nationals (12.51); and

Blake Snell, Rays (12.39).

SAVES

AL: Aroldis Chapman, Yankees (23); Brad Hand, Indians (23); Shane Greene, Tigers (22)

NL: Kirby Yates, Padres (27); Kenley Jansen, Dodgers (23); Will Smith, Giants (21)

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

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.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Johnnie B. (really) Good That Day – When Dusty Baker Ran His Way Into the Record Books.

June 27, 2019 by David

On this date June 27 in 1984 Johnnie B. “Dusty” Baker had a really good day on the base paths – a day that was as unexpected as it was historic.

Baker, at 35-years-old, was in his 17^th major league season. He had 131 stolen bases on his MLB resume, but was no longer considered a base-stealing threat. In fact, going into that day’s contest against the Reds, Baker had played in 38 (of the Giants’ 76) games on the season and had yet to even attempt a steal. In the third inning of that game, however, Baker gave the fans, his teammates and the Reds an historic surprise.

After hitting a run-scoring single off Red starter Frank Pastore (to put San Francisco up 4-0), Baker stole second base. 3B Joel Youngblood then grounded out short-to-first (for the second out of the inning), with Baker holding at second. After C Bob Brenly walked, Bob Owchinko came on to pitch and the Giants executed a double steal (Baker swiping third and Brenly taking second). Then, with 2B Brad Wellman at the plate, Baker swiped home – bec0ming just the 36^th player in MLB history to swipe second, third and home in one inning. (To date it has been accomplished 53 timers by 43 different players.)

For those who like to know such things, Baker went on to appear in a total of 100 games that season. He attempted two more steals (caught once). So, for the 1984 season, Baker had a total of four stolen bases – three in one inning. Baker played two more seasons (194 games), attempting four more steals (successful twice). But on this date in 1984, he ran wild against the Reds.

In a 19-season MLB playing career, Baker hit .278 (1,981 hits), with 242 home runs (a high of 30 in 1977) and 1,013 RBI (a high of 99 in 1973). He also stole 137 bases, with a high of 24 in 1973. Since retiring as a player, he has managed in the major leagues 22 seasons (most recently in 2017) for the Giants, Cubs, Reds and Nationals.

A side note on how the game has changed. MLB saw 39 steals of second, third and home in one inning prior to 1940 – only 14 since them.

__________________________________________________

Players to Steal Second, Third and Home in an Inning

More Than Once

Ty Cobb (4X), Tigers 1909, 1911, 1912, 1924

Honus Wagner (4X), Colonels, Pirates 1899, 1902, 1907. 1909

Max Carey ( 2X), Pirates 1923, 1925

Jackie Tavener (2X), Tigers 1927, 1928

_________________________________________

John McGraw, Orioles 1899

Dave Fultz, Athletics 1902

Bill Donovan, Tigers 1906

Bill Coughlin, Tigers 1906

Sherry Magee, Phillies 1906

Hans Lobert, Reds 1908

Bill O’Hara, Giants 1909

Dode Paskert, Reds 1910

Bobby Byrne, Pirates 1911

Joe Jackson, Indians 1912

Eddie Collins, Athletics 1912

Eddie Ainsmith, Senators 1913

Ivey Wingo, Cardinals 1913

Red Smith, Dodgers 1914

Fritz Maisel, Yankees 1915

Red Faber, White Sox 1915

Danny Moeller, Senators 1915

Wilbur Good, Cubs 1915

Art Fletcher, Giants 1916

Jimmy Johnston, Dodgers 1916

Rogers Hornsby Cardinals 1917

Greasy Neal, Reds 1919

Buck Weaver, White Sox 1919

Braggo Roth, Senators 1920

Kiki Cuyler, Pirates 1925

Bob Meusel, Yankees 1927

Harvey Hendrick, Dodgers 1928

Don Kolloway, White Sox 1941

Rod Carew, Twins 1969

Dave Nelson, Rangers 1974

Pete Rose, Phillies 1980

Dusty Baker, Giants 1984

Paul Molitor, Brewers 1987

Devon White, Angels 1989

Chris Stynes, Royals 1996

Eric Young, Rockies 1996

Jayson Werth, Phillies 2009

Dee Gordon, Dodgers 2011

Wil Myers, Padres 2017

Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays 2018

Mallex Smith, Mariners 2019

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

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.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Yankees Tie Record for Consecutive Games Going Yard – The Tale of the Tape

June 25, 2019 by David

YANKEE HOMER STREAK UPDATE – SINCE THIS POST WAS WRITTEN

On June 25, the Yankees set a new MLB record – homering in their 28th consecutive contest (breaking a tie with the 2002 Rangers) – and wasted no time doing it. DJ LeMahieu homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning in a 4-3 Yankee win over the Blue Jays. The Yankees put an exclamation point on the record by scoring all four of their runs on solo homers – LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnacion.

Updating the tale of the tape (see below). The Yankees, in their streak:

Hit 51 home runs;

Averaged .269;

Won 17 and lost 11;

Outscored their opponents 158 to 136;

Had 12 players hit HRs; eight contributing at least four long balls.

The top Yankee long-ball bashers during the streak were Gary Sanchez, who hit .269, with 8 home runs and 21 RBI; DJ LeMahieu, who put up a .348-7-26 line; and Gleyber Torres, who went .291-7-21.

Others homering for the Yankees in the streak were: Brett Gardner (4 HR); Luke Voit (4 HR); Gio Urshela (4 HR); Aaron Hicks (4 HR); Cameron Maybin (4 HR); Edwin Encarnacion (3 HR); Clint Frazier (2 HR); Didi Gregorius; Austin Romine; Giancarlo Stanton; Aaron Judge.

Next streak update in the June wrap up – July 1.

Want a good reason to watch the Yankees tonight? How about their chance to set a new record for consecutive games with a home run? Yesterday the Yankees tied the Texas Rangers for an MLB-high 27 straight games going deep (Yankees, May 26-June 24 … Rangers August 11-September 9, 2002). So, who were the bashers for these record-bashing clubs and how do they compare?

To put you up-to-date, here’s the tale of the tape so far.

The Yankees have spread the wealth over their 27-game “HomerFest,” with no player hitting more than eight long balls during the streak, but eight players hitting at least four. For the 2019 Yankees, the top HR hitters during the ongoing streak have been:

C Gary Sanchez with eight long balls, a .269 average and 21 RBI.
2B/SS Gleyber Torres, who launched six long balls during the streak, averaging .291 and driving in 20 runs,
DJ LeMahieu, with six home runs, 25 RBI and a .348 average.

GARY SANCHEZ Photo by apardavila

Other going deep for the Yankees during the streak have been: Brett Gardner (4 HR); Luke Voit (4 HR); Gio Urshela (4 HR); Aaron Hicks (4 HR); Cameron Maybin ( 4 HR); Edwin Encarnacion (2 HR); Clint Frazier (2 HR); Didi Gregorius; Austin Romine; and Giancarlo Stanton.

The Rangers’ streak included not only more home runs, but a higher concentration of power. Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro and Herbert Perry combined for 35 of the Rangers’ 55 round trippers. Here’s a look at the sluggers who powered the Rangers’ surge.

SS Alex Rodriguez, who hit 16 home runs, drove in 33 runs and hit for a .333 average.
DH/1B Rafael Palmeiro, who hit ten home runs, drove in 18 and put up a .316 average.
3B Herbert Perry, who launched nine round trippers, drove in 22 and hit .296.

Others going deep during the streak included: Ivan Rodriguez (6 HR); Todd Hollandsworth (4 HR); Carl Everett (3 HR); Todd Greene (2 HR); Mike Lamb (2 HR); Travis Hafner; Kevin Mench: and Michael Young.

The Yankees have had ten games in their streak in which they hit only one dinger; The streak savers were: Brett Gardner (3 times); Gary Sanchez (twice); DJ LeMahieu (twice); Luke Voit (twice); Gleyber Torres; Aaron Hicks; Didi Gregorius; and Cameron Maybin.

There were ten games in which the Rangers’ hit only one home run and the players who notched those single streak-continuing shots were: Herbert Perry (three times); Alex Rodriguez (twice); Ivan Rodriguez (twice); Kevin Mench; Todd Greene; and Todd Hollandsworth.

Primary Resource: Baseball-Reference.com

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.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts, News

Derek Dietrich – and the Hits Just Keep on Coming

June 23, 2019 by David

Reds’ second baseman Derek Dietrich, yesterday (Saturday, June 22) was hit by a 71-m.p.h. change-up thrown by Brewers’ pitcher Alex Claudio. It was one in a half dozen recent “hits” for the left-handed batter, who set a new major-league record for most HBP taken in a single series – with six. (Taking one for the team appears to be part of Dietrich’s MLB repertoire.)

It all started Thursday night when Dietrich was hit by pitches from Jimmy Nelson (first inning; on an 0-2 pitch) and Matt Albers (ninth inning; on a 1-1 pitch), book-ending a one-for-three night. (The Reds won 7-1 in a game that saw six HBP – three to each squad. Payback?)

Friday night, Dietrich – now playing left field – proved to be an even more popular target. He was plunked an MLB single-game record-tying three times in five plate appearances. He also had a walk and scored four runs (without ever putting the ball in play). He was hit in the first inning by Chase Anderson (0-1 pitch); again by Anderson in the third inning (1-2 pitch); and by Junior Guerra in the seventh (1-0 pitch). The Reds won this one 11-7. There were four hit batters in the game.

Saturday was the final game of the series and, as noted earlier, Dietrich was hit one more time – for six HBP in a three-game set.

By the way, Dietrich getting pasted is not an unusual occurrence. As I write this, he’s been nailed an MLB-leading 15 times (hitting .234 with 18 home runs). He has, in fact, been hit by a pitch 108 times in seven seasons (608 games), including an NL-topping 24 times for Miami in 2016.

Hit BY PITCH RECORDS

Career Highs

MLB – Hugh Jennings (287)

NL – Craig Biggio (285)

AL – Don Baylor (267)

Single Season

NL – Hugh Jennings, Baltimore, 1896 (51)

AL – Don Baylor, Boston, 1986 (35)

Most Seasons Leading His League

Minnie Minoso, White Sox (10)

Most times hit in a game

Three (30 times by 26 different players). Only Reed Johnson of the Blue Jays was hit three times in a game three times in his career (once in 2005, twice in 2006).

Dietrich’s six HBP in a series led me to think about what’s happening in terms of hit-by-pitch, bases on balls and wild pitches in this “throw as hard as you can for as long as you can” era. For you stat freaks, here are a few tidbits.

First, we all know what happening with strikeouts in this era. They have been up for 13 consecutive seasons – from 30,644 in 2005 to 41, 2017 in 2018. As I key this post, we are on a pace to see 2019 whiffs increase to 42,344.

So, how about those hit-by-pitch numbers? Ouch. Hit batsmen have been up in three of the past five seasons – going from 1,652 in 2014 to 1,922 in 2018. This season, we are on a pace to top 2018 at 1,981.

The chart below, give you a look at Hit By Pitch per game over the course of MLB history.

Then there are wild pitches, which have been up in each of the past five seasons – going from 1,696 n 2015 to 1,847 in 2018. This season, we are on a pace to drop down t0 1,757.

Looking historically, the trend has skewed up – particularly in recent years. In 1920, the number of wild pitchers per team per game was 0.17 (it was the same in 1950). In 1970, it was 0.32 (and the same in 1990). In 2005, it was actually down slightly to 0.30; while this past season, it was up to 0.38.

From BBRT’s viewpoint, it appears there clearly has been a sacrifice in control for the sake of velocity. (Thank goodness for batting helmets.) Note: This is an observation and speculation – I don’t really have the answers. Notably, as the chart below shows, walks per game have not followed a decidedly upward trend – which lead BBRT to speculate that once pitchers get to that three-ball count, they may actually take a little “something off the pitch” – adding control at the price of velocity. For now, I’ll just file all of this under the general category of how the game has changed.

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

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.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Fastest-Ever Cycle – Completed in Just Four Innings

June 18, 2019 by David

Jorge Polanco, hit 2019’s first “cycle.”

This season has seen three MLB players hit for the cycle – two this month. Those hitters were the Twins’ Jorge Polanco (April 5); Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (June 13); and Indians’ Jake Bauers (June 14).

If you are wondering about the record for cycles in an MLB season, it’s eight (1933 and 2009). In 1933, the hitters were: Pepper Martin (Cardinals); Chuck Klein (Phillies); Arky Vaughn (Pirates); Mickey Cochrane (Athletics); Pinky Higgins (Athletics); Jimmie Foxx (Athletics); Earl Averill (Indians); Babe Herman (Cubs). In 2009, the following hitters achieved the feat: Orlando Hudson (Dodgers); Ian Kinsler (Rangers); Jason Kubel (Twins); Michael Cuddyer (Twins); Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies); Felix Pie (Orioles); and B.J. Upton (Rays).

Why do I bring this up here? A couple of reasons. First, this month’s two cycles occurred while I was on my annual Ballpark Tours excursion (eight games in ten days in five cities) and I was busy posting about the trip. Second, because today is the 19^th anniversary of the day (June 18, 200) that Colorado Rockies’ second baseman Mike Lansing completed the fastest cycle (single, double, triple, home run in one game) in major league history – collecting the necessary hits in the first four innings of the game.

Lansing, hitting second in the order, laced an RBI triple to right in the first inning, added a two-run home run in the bottom of the second, hit a two-run double in the bottom of the third (as the Rockies scored nine times to take a 14-1 lead), and completed the cycle with a single to right in the fourth. Lansing then struck out in the sixth, before being pinch hit for in the eighth. Lansing’s day? Four-for-five, three runs, five RBI and MLB’s quickest-ever cycle, as the Rockies topper Arizona 19-2.

The longest time to complete a cycle? By some measures, that would be two days. The Expos’ Tim Foli is the only player to start a cycle one day and complete it the next. On April 21, 1976, Foli collected a single, double and triple in a contest against the Cubs that was suspended (pre-Wrigley lights) in the top of the seventh due to darkness. When play resumed the following day, Foli added an eighth-inning home run. (The Expos prevailed 12-6.)

How about a few other cycle tidbits:

Among current franchises, only the Marlins have never had a player hit for the cycle.
The leader in cycles among current franchises is the Boston Red Sox with 23. (If you go back to the 1880s and the American Association Pittsburgh/Allegheny franchise (now the NL Pirates), the record stands at 24.
The most cycles ever in any calendar month is four (in August, 1933); Mickey Cochrane (Athletics, August 2); Pinky Higgins (Athletics, August 6); Jimmie Foxx (Athletics, August 14); Earl Averill (Indians – against the Athletics – August 17).

No American League player has ever hit for the cycle twice in a season.

Four players have hit for the cycle a record three times in a career: Adrian Beltre (Mariners-2008, Rangers-2012 and 2015); Bob Meusel (Yankees-1921, 1922 and 1928); Babe Herman (Brooklyn Robins-1931 twice and Cubs-1933); John Reilly (Red Stockings-1883 twice and Reds 1890).
Only five players have hit two cycles in a season: Christian Yelich (Brewers, 2018); Aaron Hill (Diamondbacks, 2012); Babe Herman (Dodgers 1931); Tip O’Neill (St. Louis Browns, American Association 1887): and John Reilly (Cincinnati Red Stockings, American Association, 1883).

A Most Unique Way to Record A Cycle

Photo by rchdj10

The Yankees’ 1B Lou Gehrig “earned” a cycle by being tossed out at the plate. On June 25, 1934, as New York topped Chicago 13-2 at Yankee Stadium, Gehrig hit two-run home run in the first inning; a single in the third; and a double in the sixth. Gehrig came up needing just the triple for the cycle in the seventh and hit a smash to deep center (scoring Yankees’ CF Ben Chapman). Gehrig wasn’t satisfied with a three-bagger and was thrown out at home (8-6-2) trying for an inside-the-park home run – thus getting credit for the triple he needed to complete the cycle.

Minnesota Twins’ outfielder Gary Ward hit for the cycle in just his 14th MLB game (September 18, 1980 against the Brewers) – the earliest in an MLB career anyone has ever accomplished the feat.

Like Father – Like Son

When Twins outfielder Gary Ward hit for the cycle on September 18, 1980, he set the stage for a yet to be matched father-son achievement. On May 26, 2004, Ward’s son Daryle Ward – playing 1B and batting third for the Pirates as they took on the Cardinals in St. Louis – also hit for the cycle. Gary and Daryle Ward are the only father-son combination (to date) to hit for the cycle.

Three players have hit for the cycle in both the NL and AL: Bob Watson (NL Astros-1977 and AL Red Sox-1979); John Olerud (NL Mets-1997 and AL Mariners-2001); Michael Cuddyer (AL Twins-2009 and NL Rockies-2014).

Johnny on the Spot – Nearly a Cycle – in the First Inning

Photo by Keith Allison

On June 27, 2003, Johnny Damon was playing CF and leading off for the Red Sox – as they took on the Marlins in Boston. In a start that brought Boston fans up out of their seats, Damon was three-fourths of the way to the cycle before the first inning was over. (He also hit the ball on which the final out of the frame was made – so, he went three-for-four in one inning.)

On that day, Damon became just the fifth player to collect three hits in an inning. He accomplished the feat in the first inning of a 25-8 Red Sox win over the Marlins.

Damon who collected a single, double and triple in the bottom of the first, ended the game five-for-seven, with three runs scored, three RBI, a double, a triple and three singles. He, unfortunately, did not get the cycle. For the game, Lansing was four-for-five, with three runs and five RBI.

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.

Filed Under: BB Fun Facts

Ballpark Tours Kentucky Bourbon Tour – Days Nine and Ten – End of the Road

June 17, 2019 by David

Well, here is the final report from Ballpark Tours 2019 Kentucky Bourbon Tour. If you want to track the whole excursion, for Days One & Two, click here. Days Three & Four, click here. Days Five & Six, click here. Day Seven, click here. Day Eight, click here.

DAYS NINE AND TEN – AN OLD SCHOOL BALL GAME, FIREWORKS. A FATHERS’ DAY OOPS AND THE AMAZING TYLER.

Back home now, having completed our ten-day, whirlwind Ballpark Tours baseball excursion. Before looking at Days Nine and Ten, here are a few tidbits about the trip. Note: Once this post is published, Baseball Roundtable will go back to our regularly (and usually) scheduled programming.

Approximately 1,600 bus miles.
Eight games in five cities.
The opportunity to enjoy Chicago’s 36^th Annual Blues Fest (and more live music along the way).
The opportunity to visit museums ranging from the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory to The Mary Todd Lincoln House to The Chicago Art Institute (and more – even a hotel with an art museum right inside of it).
Touring and tasting at one of the nation’s oldest distilleries.
Two nights of fireworks – and the appearance of The Amazing Tyler.
Whiskey Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday and 25-cent Hot Dog Night.
Bloody Mary, Moscow Mule and Long Bottom Stretch Bars on the bus.
Tequila, not just for breakfast anymore (and, now, neither is bourbon).
A winery, distillery, restaurant/bar, ice cream parlor and fruit/vegetable sales all on the same (Huber Family) farm.
The Kane County Beer Cave; The Cubby Bear (Wrigleyville); The Slippery Noodle Inn (oldest bar in Indiana) and the Big Daddy Caddy Band; The (bustling) Mussel & Burger Bar (Louisville); and Mike’s amazing driving skills.

While We Were Away

Photo by thatlostdog–

While we were on the road, The Astros’ Charlie Blackmon played in nine games – collecting 22 hits (44 at bats – a .500 average), scoring 14 runs, driving in 16 and bashing in six home runs. Surprisingly, despite the hot bat, he drew only one walk while we traveled.

In short, as Ballpark Tours traveled across baseball country – everyone (including Charlie Blackmon) had a good time. Now back to the trip.

DAY NINE – A RAINY DAY AN OLD SCHOOL BALLGAME AND THE AMAZING TYLER

Day nine saw a rainy bus ride from Indianapolis to Charles, Illinois in anticipation of the final game of the journey, a Midwest League (Class A) match between the Kane County Cougars (Diamondbacks) and the Beloit Snappers (A’s). A fairly uneventful ride, fueled by speculation (and weather report updates) as to whether (no pun intended) we might have a rain out. We arrived in St. Charles early enough to take in lunch and the happy hour at the Spotted Fox Ale House – and to happily judge the weather playable. (In a Ballpark Tours “veteran move,” one of our happy travelers attempted to convince the waiter that, since our day started in a different time zone, Happy Hour should start an hour early for our group.)

The weather cooperated (the College of Cardinals may have an in) and the game proved to be one of the best on the trip – with Kane County earning a walk-off (run-off) win as the Cougars’ catcher and number-nine hitter doubled to open the bottom of the ninth (in a 3-3 tie) and slid across the plate, barely avoiding the tag, on a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

In this one, the pitching was dominant early, the Cougars starter – 22-year-old southpaw Michel Gelabert – was perfect after three innings, with four strikeouts. His counterpart, 23-year-old Snappers’ right-hander Aiden McIntyre gave up just a walk in the first two frames (fanning four) before being touched for an unearned run in the third (an error and a pair of two-out singles.) For the game, Gelabert went six innings, giving up just three hits, one run and one walk, while fanning five. McIntyre went four frames and fanned seven batters, while surrendering three hits, three walks and the unearned run.

After the Cougars scored in the bottom of the third, Beloit came back with a run in the top of the inning – on a couple of singles and a sacrifice fly. The Cougars took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth – walk, hit-by-pitch, strikeout, fielder’s choice (6-4), single, single. Beloit came right back with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh – walk, fielder’s choice (1-6), single, sacrifice fly and a run-scoring passed ball. As you can read, lots of small ball – as the game saw a total of 11 hits (nine singles and two doubles), two sacrifice flies, three stolen bases and a sacrifice bunt.

Here, by the way, is how the decisive bottom of the ninth went. Cougar’s number-nine hitter Zachery Almond doubled to left off of Snappers’ reliever Michael Danielak (who had come on in the sixth). LF Keshawn Lynch then laid down a nice sacrifice bunt (thrown out pitcher to first) with Almond going to third. After an intentional walk to CF Alex Thomas, RF Eduardo Diaz hit a (sacrifice) fly to medium center. Beloit CF Lester Madden made a strong throw (that appeared to beat the runner), but Almond slid home avoiding the tag. It was an exciting finish to a well-played, old school ball game.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Zachery Almond … catcher and number-nine in the Cougars’ line up. Almond, who scored the winning run had the game’s only extra base hits (a pair of doubles). He also had a single in his four trips – scoring twice and driving in one. As I write this, the 23-year-old, 6’3”210 pound backstop is hitting .237 on the season, with two homers and 24 RBI. Almond was a 35^th round draft pick (out of Catawba College) in 2017. He’s hit .294 over three minor league seasons.

Will the real Zachery Almond please stand up! In this page from the Cougars’ program, the real Z. Almond is on the left. On the right is #10 … catcher Jose Herrera. Or are these the Almond Brothers?

Eduardo Diaz. … RF and number-three in the Cougars’ batting order. The 21-year-old Diaz went one-for-four and drove in two of the Cougars’ four runs on a single and the game-winning sacrifice fly. On the season, he is hitting .281-3-23 and he’s a .287 hitter over four minor league campaigns. He signed with the Diamondback as an international free-agent in September of 2015.

Michel Gelabert … LHP and Cougars’ starter. Gelabert, as noted earlier, went six innings and gave up just three hits and one run, while walking one and fanning five. On the season, the 22-year-old, 6’3”, 200-pounder is 2-1, 2.70. In two minor-league seasons, he is 6-2, 2.09. The Cuban was signed as an international free agent in May of 2018.

The food at Kane County was solid, with the customer-grilled (outside. behind first base) rib-eyes and pork chop sandwiches drawing rave reviews – as did our seats, just five rows above the third base dugout. The (craft) Beer Cave – a chilly, walk-in (yes, the fans walk in and select their beer) was also popular. It is stocked pregame with about 1,200 bottles and cans (60-70 different beers). Jimmy Buffet would probably eat a cheeseburger in there. One bit of sad news – no Bloody Marys in the ball park.

It was carnival night at the ball park and the Amazing Tyler entertained the crowd through the game by balancing pretty much anything on his face (nose and chin, primarily). You know, full beers, foam fingers, baseball bats, umbrellas, etc. – culminating with a six-foot folding ladder. Great stuff, except that, at one point, with the game tied 1-1 and the Cougars with two on and two out, he stood right in front of me, asking fans to provide him with personal items that he could balance. Still, a pretty impressive showing.

After the game, it was another round of fireworks.

DAY TEN – NO GAME, JUST A BUS RIDE

Pretty quiet group on the way home – but all happy and looking forward to next year. One slight glitch, we were headed for the Vintage (craft) Brewery Sauk City, WI for our lunch stop. Someone – nameless except for Larry (inside joke) – forgot to factor in that it was Fathers’ Day. An hour wait for a table, we were told. Most of the group scattered to other local establishment About six of us headed to the Gym Bar & Grill – where we found lots of locals, great food and service (I had the French Dip) craft beers and even $1 Jell-O shots. Ah, another Ballpark Tours “find.”

The Gym Bar and Grill. Great spot in Sauk City. Sorry, Marty! Bad photographer.

And that’s pretty much it for this year’s tour. Like I said, Baseball Roundtable now returns to its regularly scheduled programming.

Photo by Nina Manzi. Notice the jacket, Jeanne.

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.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, BB Fun Facts

Ballpark Tours – Kentucky Bourbon Tour – Day Seven

June 14, 2019 by David

DAY SEVEN – CULTURE AND CUISINE … It’s all about the food, Baby.

Breakfast AND a show.

Day Seven was also Day Two in Louisville, with an evening Pawtucket/Louisville match up leaving us with time to explore the city – after the Holiday Inn and Suite’s excellent “multiple choice” and free breakfast (biscuits and gravy, four kinds of omelets, bacon, sausage, bagels and much more.) And, no veteran readers and travelers, I am not going to wax poetic about the pancake machine. But, for nostalgia’s sake, I will include a picture from the first time I referred to this baby as “breakfast and a show.”

Note: For Days One and Two, click here. Days Three and Four, click here. Days Five and Six, click here. Day Eight, click here. Days Nine and Ten, click here.

As we hit the town, the most popular stop was probably the Louisville Slugger (factory and) Museum. The tour provides a great look at how baseball bats are made (and tailored to the players who order them), as well as the history of this weapon of the game. In addition, there are opportunities to swing game-used bats of the stars. Of you are a baseball fan, the tour is well worth the $14 charge. The gift shop there also has a great range of offerings –from the usual trinkets like t-shirts and beer “coozies” to autographed game-used bats. (One of our group noted that the Kirby Puckett bat – at about $900 – was twice as pricey as the Stan Musial stick. A bat signed by my favorite all-time player, HOFer, Eddie Mathews, went for only $245.00. Ouch!)

My choices for the day were the KMAC Modern Art Gallery, with its “In the Hot Seat” exhibition of artist-designed chairs and the Muhammad Ali Center. I’d recommend them both. First, the KMAC is a free exhibit, with three floors of interesting, non –traditional art.

The Muhammad Ali Center features lots of film/video and deals as much with Ali from civil/human rights, political and humanitarian perspectives as from an in-the-ring point of view. You can also do some shadow boxing, punch the speed bag and watch of TV coverage of key Ali fights. I spent a very informative, entertaining and, in some way, inspiring 2 ½ hours there. Well worth the $13. The man was a master in the ring, but actually for bigger battles in the cultural arena.

Found the photo at the top of Ali throwing out the first pitch at the dedication of a youth ball field. The catcher is his son.

AT THE BALLPARK … IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD, BABY

Good seats once again.

The game – a Pawtucket Greenjackets/Louisville Bats rematch started at seven. A few easy observations:

The game started at 7:00, not 7:05 or 7:10 like most MLB games (which accommodate TV coverage).
The announced attendance was 6,153 – and it appeared to be an honest count.
Great seats, just to the first-base side of home plate.
The National Anthem was again “old school,” live organ music and an, appropriately, brisk tempo.
The game, like yesterday’s contest, illustrated the gap between the majors and (even) the high minors. In the first two innings, we witnessed:
- Seven runs scored;
- Eight hits;
- Four walks;
- Two errors;
- A wild pitch; and
- A Balk.
It was “Thirsty Thursday” (following “Whiskey Wednesday” – these Kentuckians know their baseball), with 16-ounce Bud and Bud Lights available for $2. There was extra security around the center field Overlook Grill and Bar.
Maybe, it’s me, but I found it strange that the sixth-inning scoreboard “Turbo Trivia” questions focused on basketball.

A WEIRD BALLPARK –WHERE THE MASCOT IS A BAT

There was one strange (to me) incident at the bat-themed ball park. First, let me note that there were three additional trekkers, within eye shot of me, who were keeping score. In the top of the sixth, three of the four of us (Bob, Joe and I) apparently had a simultaneous hallucination. We all three scored Bats’ lead off hitter Alex Blandino with a strikeout, followed by a Christian Colon ground out to third. The only problem was that, after the ground out, Colon seemed to again stroll to the plate. Only the fourth scorekeeper in our group, Nina, had it right. Blandino never struck out, he was the one who grounded to third. PS: Neither alcohol nor cannabis was involved in this simultaneous divergence from reality.

Ultimately, Pawtucket prevailed in the see-saw battle 10-8. Here’s a bit of the back-and-forth. After one inning, Louisville was up 2-0. Pawtucket tied it in the top of the second, but Louisville added three tallies in the bottom of the inning. Pawtucket came right back with three in the top of the third to tie the game at five apiece. Then Louisville plated three in the bottom of the fifth, to jump out 8-5. In the top of the sixth, Pawtucket scored a game-tying three runs. Pawtucket added single runs in the top of the eighth and ninth to complete the 10-8 scoring.

Overall, we ten pitchers, 25 hits (17 by Pawtucket); three home runs (all Pawtucket); 17 strikeouts; two errors (and a third that should have been charged); two wild pitches; one hit batter; and two balks. We also heard plenty of cheering, as the score went back-and-forth. For the purists, we did see both a 6-4-3 and 4-6-3 double play (the 6-4-3 to squelch a Pawtucket rally in the fifth, included leaping tosses by the shortstop, who went into the hole for the play, and the second baseman on the pivot); a catcher throwing out a base runner who strayed too far off first; and a nice tag-avoiding slide on a play at the plate.

OBLIGATORY BLOODY MARY REVIEW

Skip this one. Tried the Bloody Mary ($8.25) and was reminded that this is Bourbon Country. Nothing wrong with the pour, but the mix was pretty much thick tomato juice (not spicy at all) and the garnish a small wedge of lime. When in Louisville, stick to whiskey-based libations or craft beers

The food was once again All Star quality. Yesterday, I noted that the Rib-Eye Sandwich, Fried Bologna Sandwich, Gyros, and Black Angus Hot Dog all got rave reviews. Today, it was the Smoked Turkey Leg ($8.50); Buddy Bat Hot Browns ($5.50); and the $5 craft ice cream (both peach and mint-chocolate chip were reviewed) drew raves.

Jerry, who noted that he’s a turkey-leg regular at the Renaissance Festival and State Fair declared the Louisville Slugger Field turkey limb the best he’d ever had. The Buddy Bats (pretzel bites with turkey, bacon, tomatoes and mornay sauce) were described as “ball park rich.” I had the peach ice cream. The flavor was great and there were plenty of large peach chunks. Another BPT trekker (Joe) said the mint chocolate chip was well worth going back for more. In addition, another trekker (The Rev) was offered to test taste (free) a new organic all beef hot-dog. Thumbs up to the slightly spicy dog from Rev.

Really, the food (of all types) was a hit and we had just one criticism. While at the second Bats game, Casey (at the Bats) indicated that the offering of onions and peppers on the fried bologna sandwich bucked tradition. She noted that the old school fried bologna is simply bologna, cheese and mayo on white bread.

BBRT PLAYER OF THE GAME

Bryce Brentz 2012 card.

Today’s star was Bryce Brentz of Pawtucket (LF, batting in the three spot) – and his story shows just how hard it is to make (and stay) in the big leagues. In yesterday’s game, Brentz went two-for-four, with two home runs, a walk, three runs scored. On the season, Brentz is now .248-11-32 in fifty games.

Now for the background (and a lesson in how difficult it is to have an MLB career). Brentz is not one of those 21-year-old prospects (although he once was). He’s thirty-years-old and has 34 games of MLB experience (2014 and 2016), with a .287-1-9 stat line. He was All-State baseball player in at South-Doyle High School in Knoxville (hitting over .400 for his H.S. years). In college (Middle Tennessee State), he was a consensus All American (2009). In those college years, he went .329-17-68; .465-28-79; and .348-15-63 … and was the Sunbelt Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore. He was drafted in the first round (36^th overall, a supplemental pick) of the 2010 MLB draft,

Once a top-ten prospect in the Red Sox system, Brentz now has ten minor league seasons under his belt – .262-152-539 in 822 games. He was a 2017 International League All Star and topped Dan Vogelbach in the IL Home Run Derby that season. He has played in the Red Sox and Mets minor league system, as well as in the Mexican Pacific, Dominican and Puerto Rican Winter leagues.

So, here he is at 30, ten seasons (and a couple of injuries) into his professional career, still looking for a chance to “stick in the show.” This game ain’t easy, folks.

For our group, here’s final tidbit. Brentz got his first MLB hit (a double) off then-Pirate Francisco Liriano and his first (still only) MLB home run off current Twin Martin Perez.

More posts from the road to come.

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.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, BB Fun Facts

Ballpark Tours’ Kentucky Bourbon Tour – Days Five and Six

June 13, 2019 by David

Welcome to Louisville – Bats Baseball and Whiskey Wednesday.

It’s time to look at Days Five and Six of Ballpark Tours’ Kentucky Bourbon Tour – as well as give you a look at our group’s Lexington, Kentucky hotel. For a look at/read about Days One and Two, click here. Days Three and Four, click here. Day Seven, click here. Day Eight, click here. Days Nine and Ten, click here.

DAYS FOUR AND FIVE

Now that’s some hotel!

Our two nights in Lexington, Kentucky were memorable – and not just because a good portion of them were spent in a ball park. The hotel was also –and as usual – a Ballpark Tours plus. Our esteemed (at least by some) tour operator works to put us in a position to comfortably enjoy the culture, cuisine and nightlife of the communities in which we also enjoy the “blessings of baseball.”

21c Museum Hotel … the fine art of Ballpark Touring.

In selecting Lexington’s historic 21c Museum Hotel, our leader outdid himself. The 21c is in an historic building in downtown Lexington, has a great restaurant and lounge/bar and a contemporary (and free) art gallery right in the hotel. What are we talking about here? The kind of hotel with plush robes in the bathroom, peppermint soaps and shampoos, an urban chic lounge (that makes you feel like you are at a party at Frank Sinatra’s house) and interesting art at every turn.

You know, the kind of place where they deliver chocolates and ice to your room each evening. Also, the kind of hotel that is just a block away from a below-street level bar – with a country flair – called The Stagger Inn. Now, how do you top that? Note: Remember in my last report, I noted the embarrassment of finding a fairly notable contingent of Ballpark Tour trekkers, including the tour operator, in the Whitaker Bank Ball Park Tap Room – watching basketball (on television) during the baseball game. Well, on Day Five, the embarrassment was one of our group ordering a drink called “The Tutti-Frutti” at The Stagger Inn – a basement bar that features benches made the tailgate section of old pick-up trucks and prides itself on being “country.”

Breakfast at the 21c Museum Hotel. Chorizo, eggs, avocado, cheese and spicy jalapeno sauce – with sourdough toast.

DAY FIVE BOURBON, BEER AND BASEBALL – ON THE CHEAP

We started Day Five at about 9:30 a.m., hopping into our trusty coach for a ride to the Buffalo Trace Distillery in nearby Franklin – reportedly the oldest continuously operating distillery in the nation. They teased us with a tour of the facility and its well-landscaped grounds before getting on to the real business of the day bourbon (as well as bourbon cream and vodka) tasting. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. It’s the Ballpark Tours way.

That evening it was back to the ballpark for a second Augusta Greenjackets/Lexington Legends mashup. Let me say first, as in many minor league parks, there were bargains to be had. It was 25-cent hot dog night – and they were tasty all-beef offerings. Then in the sixth inning, the West Sixth craft brewery pours 12-ounce beers for a dollar. Hot dogs and cold beers at a bargain price. Our group was all smiles. I should add that one of our group offered up a very complimentary review of the Hot Brown Egg Rolls (egg rolls stuffed with bacon, turkey, tomatoes and a special sauce – with real cheese for dipping – and $8.50 ball park treat). The pretzel-crusted cheese curds were not as well received, with the most common comment being they were more like pretzel-dusted than pretzel crusted.

BAD CHOICE OF WALK UP MUSIC

Legends’ first baseman Reed Rohlman could, perhaps, have chosen better walk-up music than Garth Brooks’ “I ain’t as good as I once was.” Then again, he was hitting in the .240’s after .286 a year ago.

The Lexington squad suffered another loss, 6-3 this time, but it was a better game. First the pitchers had a little more zip, touching the low- to mid-90s, which we didn’t see much of yesterday (lots of 88 m.p.h. fastballs). Also, we saw only four walks, compared to 14 in yesterday’s game. We did see two errors, a wild pitch, a balk and a hit batsman – but, in the minors, that comes with the territory.

Bonus Photo: Lexington Legends at sunset. Photo: K. Dixon.

All in all, a much crisper game, played in slightly warmer weather, with even less expensive hot dogs and beer. (Place your smiley face here.)

Both BBRT players of the game came from the victorious Greenjackets of Augusta.

RHP Keaton Winn (21-years-old/Fifth round of 2018 draft) was appropriately the WINN-ing pitcher. He went six solid innings, giving up just three hits and no runs, while walking one and fanning six. The 6’4”, 205-pounder improved his 2019 record to 3-4, 3.90. This season, he’s walked just nine, while striking out 44 in 60 innings.

Ismael Munguia, lead off hitter and CF for Augusta. Munguia went two-for-four, with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI. The 24-year-old is hitting.340+ for the season.

After the game, trekkers skipped, marched, swayed or meandered off to their chosen night spots. I joined a group headed for The Stagger Inn, a basement bar with a good juke box and reasonably priced beverages, which was quite lively for being the day before payday (you had to be there to get that reference.)

DAY SIX – ON TO LOUISVILLE

We left on the morning of June 12 for Louisville, where we slated to take in a Pawtucket/Louisville clash. Notably, the Louisville team is called the “Bats” and we drove by Lexington’s Transylvania University on the way out of town. Surprisingly, there was plenty of daylight foot traffic on the campus.

On the (Bourbon) Road Again

On the way to Louisville, our tour operator opened a Manhattan Bar mid-bus; sharing some of his Buffalo Trace Distillery purchases. So, we’ve now had an on-the-bus Bloody Mary Bar; Craft Cocktail Bar; and Manhattan Bar. Seeing a theme here?

We arrived at Louisville Slugger Field at about 11 a.m., parking right in front of the Pee Wee Reese statue. It proved be a great ball park – good sight lines, a walk-around the stadium open concourse, games and even a carousel for the kids and LOTS of good food and drink options. For the bigger kids, it was also “Whiskey Wednesday” – shots of Coopers’ Craft Bourbon for just three dollars. It would be inappropriate to rate a Bloody Mary on Whiskey Wednesday, so let me say here the Coopers’ Craft 100-proof was smooth (and popular). Not as much “bite” as some of the bourbons we tasted yesterday, but enough quality to make “Whiskey Wednesday” a Ballpark Tours hit.

Great seats – $11. Is this heaven? No it’s Louisville Slugger Stadium.

The Pawtucket Red Sox Louisville Bats game was a Triple A match up – so we were expecting a much cleaner contest than we saw an A-Level Lexington. Oops! There were 13 walks, four wild pitches and two hit batsmen in this tilt – won by the Bats 10-8. A few notes:

Despite the 18 runs scored, the two teams went a combined 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position.
It was 7-6 after two innings and we had already seen 10 hits (three home runs); six walks; and one error. (Things calmed down a bit after that with both teams scoreless from the thirds through the sixth inning.)
In the space of two batters in the second inning (when Pawtucket scored six times), Louisville starter Vlad Gutierrez gave up a bases-loaded walk to Pawtucket DH Tzu-Wei Lin and a Grand Slam to SS Chad De La Guerra. At this point, Gutierrez’ day was done
The attendance was 6,728 including several sections of very excited youngsters.

We saw 17 players with some level of major–league experience in the game (from just one game to 364 games to a former American League All Star). Here are the two more notable examples:

Stephen Wright, who pitched three scoreless frames for Pawtucket has a 24-15, 3.77 record in six MLB seasons. He was an All Star in 2016, when he went 13-6, 3.33 for Boston. The 34-year-old is coming of an 80-game substance-related suspension.

Gorkys Hernandez, who started in CF and hit lead off for Pawtucket, had the most MLB experience of any of the players in the game – 364 games in four MLB seasons, including 142 games with the Giants in 2018 (.234-15-40). Hernandez is a well-traveled ballplayer: signed with the Tigers in 2005; traded to the Braves in 2007; traded to the Pirates before the 2008 season; traded to the Marlins in mid-season 2012; traded to the Royals, mid-season 2013; traded to the White Sox early in 2014, released in July; signed a minor league deal with the Pirates in December 2014; signed a minor-league deal with the Giants in 2018; signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox in December 2018.

Other MLB players appearing in the game (with MLB game appearances in parenthesis) were: Tzu-Wei Lin (75 MLB games); Rusney Castillo (99); Oscar Hernandez (22); Bryce Bentz (34); Ryan Weber (30); Dan Runzler (97); Tyler Thornburg (185); Brian Ellington (97); Jenrry Mejia (113);Christian Colon (142); Phillip Ervin (116); Aristides Aquino (1); Sherman Johnson (10); Juan Graterol (61).

A few more observations:

When we moved from A- to AAA-level ball, when went from two umpires to three.
Each team managed to deliver one bases-loaded free pass.
The organist played the National Anthem at the correct brisk tempo (first time this trip).
Members of the senior choir that sang the anthem at one of our Lexington games were sitting behind us in Louisville.
The scorecards had plenty of room for both scoring and adding comments.

The food choices in Louisville were a big hit. All of the following got rave reviews: Specialty Fried Bologna Sandwich (fried bologna, fried onions and peppers, cheese, mustard and ketchup on white bread – $6.50); Greek Gyros ($8); Big Angus Hot Dog ($8); and made-to-order Rib Eye Sandwich ($7.50). I had the rib eye (medium rare) and it literally was one-third bigger than the bun (and delicious).

Everything from rib eyes to Big Angus dogs to fried bologna.

Everything from fried bologna to Big Angus dogs to rib eyes.

A FINAL THOUGHT ON THE GAME/BALL PARK

The Bats hand out a Kidzone magazine (free) with lots of activities for the youngsters (coloring pages, mazes, connect the dots, word finds, etc.). Of interest to BBRT was Page Six – a tutorial to teach kids how to score a ball game. Kudos to the Bats for that.

POST-GAME LOUISVILLE

Plenty to do in Louisville. The live music at Stevie Ray’s was popular with a number of trekkers. However, the most popular was the Mussel and Burger Bar (a real local hot spot). I’d say about three-fourths of our group ended up eating there. I went with a group of eight and we had about an hour wait for a table (no reservations taken), but it was worth it. I had the curry mussels (they had about eight kinds) and Elote (Mexican roasted corn). We had four or five of the mussel offerings at our long table (in the Bourbon Barrel Room) and passed them around. A great meal.

Tomorrow another ball game and most likely some museum action.

More posts from the road to come.

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.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, BB Fun Facts

Eddie Rommel – Giving Up a Record 29 Hits; for the Win

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

A Few All Star Game Tidbits to Ponder While You Await the First Pitch

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Baseball Roundtable June Wrap Up – From Trots to Tea Cups …and More

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Johnnie B. (really) Good That Day – When Dusty Baker Ran His Way Into the Record Books.

Players to Steal Second, Third and Home in an Inning

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Yankees Tie Record for Consecutive Games Going Yard – The Tale of the Tape

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Derek Dietrich – and the Hits Just Keep on Coming

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Fastest-Ever Cycle – Completed in Just Four Innings

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Ballpark Tours Kentucky Bourbon Tour – Days Nine and Ten – End of the Road

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Ballpark Tours – Kentucky Bourbon Tour – Day Seven

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Ballpark Tours’ Kentucky Bourbon Tour – Days Five and Six

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Featured Trivia Question

Featured Post

Why do you love baseball?

Recent Posts

Baseball Roundtable Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday … The Opening Day Record Book & More

Baseball Roundtable Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday – Fast Out of the Blocks … MLB-Debut Strikeout Leaders

Baseball Roundtable Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday – Johnny Burnett and Eddie Rommel … Two Unicorns in the Same Game

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TRIVIA(L) TIDBIT TUESDAY – 1968 The Year of The Pitcher … Some who honored it, a coupled who defied it

BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE TRIVIA(L) TIDBIT TUESDAY – MVPs on losing teams, the Cubs led the way.

Search

Links