In 1920, Babe Ruth dominated the home run category when it came to MLB statistics. Ruth launched 54 home runs that season, nearly three times the next highest t0tal (19 for the Saint Louis Browns’ George Sisler) and more than all but one of the remaining MLB teams (the Phillies hit 64 home runs as a team).

Yesterday (September 18), Marlins’ right-hander Sandy Alcantara tossed his fifth complete game of the 2022 season – running his record to 13-8, 2.37 and his league-leading innings pitched to 212 2/3.

The Babe Ruth connection? Alcantara’s dominance of the statistical category.  (Keep in mind, Baseball Roundtable “connections” reflect how I look at baseball statistics and may be stretched at times.) Alcantara’s five complete games are more than any other MLB team (the Red Sox, Astros, Phillies and Cardinals have three each … and half of MLB’s 30 teams have yet to record a complete game this season).  The only pitchers with more than one complete game so far this season are Alcantara, the Astros’ Framber Valdez (3) and the  Phillies’ Aaron Nola (2).

A few observations:

• In addition to his five 2022 complete games, Alcantara completed nine shutout innings in a Marlins’ 10-inning, 2-1 loss to the Nationals on June 8.
• The last time we saw an MLB pitcher log as many as five complete games in a season was 2017 (Corey Kluber, Indians).
• Alcantara’s 212 2/3 innings pitched lead MLB by a notable margin (The Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas is second at 187 1/3).
• Alcantara has averaged 7+ inning in his 30 2022 starts.
• Alcantara tied for the 2019 NL complete-game lead with two complete games.
• Thus far in the 2022 season, only 0.6 percent of starts have resulted in a complete game (as opposed to 16.7 percent of Alcantara’s starts.

Here’s a historic perspective on complete games (I chose not to use the shortened 2020 season). Note: This chart, previously published in Baseball Roundtable has been updated to include Negro League records from 1920-48, which have been added to the MLB record book.,

As you might expect, the chart shows a steady decline in complete games.

Now, a few Baseball Roundtable musings on complete games.  (Note: This is not presented as criticism, just a look at how the game has changed.)

It wasn’t until 1955 that we saw an AL/NL leader in complete games with less than 20 finished starts (Whitey Ford, Yankees, 18 CGs).  And, 1980 was the first year that a league leader notched less than 14 complete games.  The last time we saw 20 complete games in a season?  Fernando Valenzuela in 1986.  James Shields, in 2011, became the first pitcher to reach double-digits (11) in complete games in a dozen years – and earned a reputation as an iron man.

Jack Taylor and Will White – Finishing What They Started.

Between 1901 and 1906 (Cubs and Cardinals),  Jack Taylor threw a record 187 consecutive complete games (with 15 relief appearances interspersed).  Then there’s Will White (Cincinnati), who, in 1879, completed a single-season record 75 complete games (in 75 starts).  White went 43-31 that year, with a 1.99 ERA and 680 innings pitched.  For his career, White completed 394 of 401 starts. 

How different is today’s game?  In 2021, the MLB co-leaders in complete games (Adam Wainwright, German Marquez, and Zach Wheeler) each threw three complete games.   In September of 1908, Walter Johnson threw three complete-game shutouts in four days – and might have done it in three days, except for baseball’s sabbath laws.

Cy Young – Library of Congress photo.

The record for career complete games belongs to Cy Young at 749.  Young completed 91.9 percent of his starts. The active leader in career games is Adam Wainwright, with 28 in 387 starts (7.2%) over 17 seasons.   Babe Ruth, by the way (to continue the Babe Ruth connection), tossed 107 complete games in 147 career starts. 

As complete games have dropped, the numbers of pitchers used in each game have risen.  In the 1950’s, when I started watching major-league baseball, you were likely to see four pitchers per game (the average in 1950 was 2.01 pitchers per team/per game).  In 2021, you were more likely to see between eight and nine players take the mound in a game (the average was 4.44 pitcher per team/per game). Through September 18 of this season, the average is 4.29 pitchers per team/per game.  Note: Starting pitchers are included in the count.

Jim Devlin, A Complete-Game Machine

In 1877, Jim Devlin of the National League’s Louisville Grays started and completed all 61 of the team’s games– the only pitcher ever to pitch all of a team’s innings in a season.  This, by the way, came one season after he started all but the final game of the Grays’ season (a record 68 consecutive games pitched in) and finished 66 of them.  Devin logged a total of 1,181 innings. Side Note: Sadly, Devlin’s career was cut short when he was banned after the 1877 season, as the result of a game-fixing scandal. 

—–Baseball Roundtable’s Take on the Decline in Complete Games—–

So, why the dramatic decline in complete games?

Five-man Rotations … and. more recently “openers” and “bullpen games.”

In baseball’s early days, teams got by with two or three primary starters. Even in the 1960’s a four-man rotation was pretty common. As we moved into the 1970s, teams started moving to five-man pitching rotations.  Fewer starts, fewer opportunities for wins, complete games, innings pitched.   (Notably, swifter travel  – trains not planes – contributed somewhat to this.  In the days of train travel, more travel time meant more days between series and fewer pitchers were needed. )

In 1968, when Bob Gibson went 22-9, 1.12 for the Cardinals, he tossed 28 complete games (13 shutouts) in 34 starts. 

 More recently, in a strategy first led by the Rays, teams are going to the use of relief pitchers as “openers,” sometimes followed by a primary pitcher and late-inning relievers – or even entire “bullpen” games, with a series of reliever each taking on one or two innings.

The “Quality” Start

In today’s game, six innings and three or fewer runs is a “Quality Start.”   Starting pitchers, as recently as the 1980’s, would have considered six innings pitched a day off.  The quality start has helped change the way fans (as well as managers and pitchers) look at starting pitchers’ performances. Pitchers simply are no longer  expected to finish what they start.  Consider this statistic. (Note: Negro League stats not yet incorporated.)

Average Innings Pitched Per Start

1920              7.4

1940             6.9

1960              6.4

1980              6.3

2000             5.9

2021              5.0

Through September 18 of this season, starters are averaging 5.2 innings pitched per start.

Brief Baseball Roundtable Rant

A quality start is defined as six innings pitched and three or fewer earned runs allowed. Through September 18, MLB’s average earned run average was 3.98. So, you can pitch below the league ERA average and earn a quality start.  

The Advent of the Save

Years ago, relief pitchers were mostly starters past their prime brought in to “mop up.”   In fact, the “save” was not even established as a statistic until 1969 (saves were awarded retroactively for seasons prior to 1969).  Today, relievers are more valued and respected then ever – which leads us to the next point – the rise of relief specialists.

The Rise of Relief Specialists

Today, not only does the manager look to the closer (primarily for the ninth inning), the bullpen also features key “set up” men, earmarked for the seventh or eighth innings.  And, not only do most teams have their seventh- and eighth-inning specialists, we also see “arms” in the bullpen ready for long- and middle-relief.  Recently, until the recent  change (requiring a pitcher to faced at least three batters or finish an inning), even one-batter (lefty or righty), specialists were stalwarts in MLB bullpens. No wonder managers are so quick with the hook.  They’ve got to keep that well-paid dollar bullpen happy.

The Dreaded Pitch Count

And, of course, there is the “pitch count,” considering the financial investment teams have in pitchers, the thinness of pitching staffs (we do, after all, now have thirty teams), pitchers are treated with great care, often held to pitch counts in the neighborhood of 100 – no matter how well they are throwing.  Pitchers simply are throwing less these days.

Phil Humber threw only one complete game in his eight-season MLB career – and it was a perfect game.  Why is it included in this pitch count section? He needed just 95 pitches to complete the outing. 

Strikeouts

The growing emphasis on strikeouts has also contributed to the decline in complete games (particularly when combined with pitch counts).  The fact is, it most often takes more pitches to rack up strikeouts than to pitch to weak contact.  (In most cases, it also requires an increased focus on velocity, also tougher on the arm.) Consider the record of Warren Spahn, who led the National League in complete games an MLB-record nine times, won 20 or more games in 13 seasons and led the league in strikeouts four times – yet averaged just 4.4 strikeouts per nine innings, never struck out 200 batters nor six batters per nine innings in a season.

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings

1900           2.4

1920            2.9

1940             3.7

1960             5.2

1980            4.8

2000             6.5

2021             8.9

Through September 18, the 2022 average is 8.5 whiffs per nine innings.

Sidebar – Innings Pitched Leaders

From 1950-59, Robin Roberts AVERAGED 301 innings pitched (and 23.7 complete games) per season.  And, if you pick any decade from 1900 through 1979, the average innings pitched for the league leaders was over or very near 300.  However, innings pitched have dropped significantly since Steve Carlton became the most recent pitcher to hurl 300 innings in (1980).  For the last decade, the average for league leaders has been shy of 250.  In 2021, Robbie Ray led the National League with 193.1 innings pitched.  

Here’s the chart of average innings pitched by league leaders (by decade) with major strike-shortened seasons deleted:

Decade                 Average Innings Pitched by League Leaders*

1909-09                                                350

1910-19                                                348

1920-29                                                318

1930-39                                                304

1940-49                                                305

1950-59                                                294

1960-69                                                303

1970-79                                                327

1980-89                                                279

1990-99                                                261

2000-09                                                244

2010-19                                                 231

*Negro Leagues with their short seasons not included.

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One final complete-game tidbit. Between My 14 and June 4, 1969, the Dodgers’ Don Drysdale pitched an MLB-record six consecutive complete-game shutouts,

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So, there are BBRT’s random musings about complete games.   I do kind of miss them, but that’s the way today’s game is played. Guess, I’ll have to take in a Sandy Alcantara start,

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

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Playing in 1,000 MLB games is a major accomplishment.  Pitching in 1,000 MLB games is not only a major accomplishment, but a rare one as well.  In fact, only 16 pitchers in MLB history have made 1,000 or more MLB appearances.  Baseball Roundtable would like to use this post to look at the careers of those 16 mound veterans.  Here’s just a few facts you can pick up along the way.  Among the 1,000+ game hurlers:

• Jesse Orosco and Dennis Eckersley pitched in the most MLB seasons (24); while Kent Tekulve labored in the fewest (16);
• LaTroy Hawkins pitched for the most MLB teams (11); Mariano Rivera for just one;
• Mariano Rivera had the lowest career earned run average (2.21); Jose Mesa the highest (4.36);
• Trevor Hoffman had the highest strikeout ratio (9.4 per nine innings); Kent Tekulve the lowest (4.9);
• Dennis Eckersley had the most wins (197); complete games (100); starts (361); and the fifth-most saves (390);
• H0yt Wilhelm got the  latest start on his journey to 1,000+ games pitched, making his MLB debut less than 100 days shy of his thirtieth birthday (of course, he did pitch until he was just 15 days shy of his fiftieth birthday);
• Four of the 16 1,000+ game pitchers did not start a single MLB game (John Franco, Mike Timlin, Kent Tekulve; Trevor Hoffman).

And, you’ll find out some less stats-oriented facts, like:

• Hoyt Wilhelm earned a Purple Heart and Two Bronze stars at the Battle of the Bulge;
• Trevor Hoffman started his professional career as a shortstop;
• Dennis Eckersley was an All Star as a starter and a closer;
• Hoyt Wilhelm qualified for and won an ERA title as a starter and a reliever;
• After 1991 surgery for blood clots in his arm, doctors gave Roberto Hernandez no better than a 50-50 chance to return to the mound. He not only pitched in the major leagues that season, but for the each of the next 16.

Read on, for fall this and more.  First a chart and then brief bios of the principals.

1. Jesse Orosco, LHP … 1,252 MLB Mound Appearances … Nine MLB Teams

Photo: Barry Colla Photography, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jesse Orosco spent 24 seasons in an MLB uniform … tied for the most among 1,000+ appearance pitchers and  for 11^th all-time, all positions.

California-born, Orosco was selected (out of Santa Barbara City College) by  the Twins in the second round of the 1978 MLB Draft. In 1978, in rookie ball, the 22-year-old established his credentials as a relief specialist –  posting a 1.12 ERA in 20 relief outings.  Before the 1979 season, he was included in a trade (to the Mets) that brought Jerry Koosman to Minnesota.  Orosco split 1979 between the Mets and their Triple-A Tidewater Tides (where he went 4-4, 3.89 in 16 appearances/15 starts). While he spent part of 1981 with the Mets (0-1, 1.56, one save in eight relief appearances), he wasn’t a full-time major leaguer until 1982 (at age 25). He went on to pitch at the MLB level until age 46 (2003) – taking the mound for the Mets, Orioles, Dodgers, Indians, Brewers, Twins, Cardinals, Padres and Yankees.

In  his 24 MLB seasons, Orosco made 1,248 appearances out of the bullpen and four starts. He finished with an 87-80 record, a 3.16 earned run average and 144 saves (averaging 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings). The two-time All Star’s best season was 1983 (Mets), when he went 13-7. 1.47 with 17 saves (in 62 appearances and finished third in the NL Cy Young Award balloting.  He followed up in 1985 with a 10-6, 2.59 record and a career-high 31 saves. In the 17 seasons from 1982-99, Orosco averaged 62.6 appearances a year.

Tea for Two

On July 3, 1983, Jesse Orosco earned the win in both games of a Mets’ doubleheader against the Pirates. In the first game,  he pitched four scoreless frames as the Mets topped the Pirates 7-6 in 12 innings. He came back to pitch the final frame of the second game, as the Mets won 1-0, again in 12 frames.

Orosco pitched in 24 post-season games, going 3-1, 4.15 with two saves. In the 1986 National League Championship Series – won by the Mets (over the Astros) – Orosco appeared in four games and picked up three wins. In Game Three, he came on in the eighth with the Mets down 5-1 and pitched two scoreless innings as the Mets came back to score two in the bottom of the ninth to win it. In Game Five, Orosco came on in the eleventh inning of 1-1 tie, again pitching two scoreless frames, with the Mets scoring in the bottom of the twelfth to win the contest. In the clinching Game Six – won by the Mets 7-6 in 16 innings – Orosco pitched three innings. He came on in the bottom of the fourteenth with the Mets up 4-3, but gave up a home run to Billy Hatcher to blow the save.  He gave up two more tallies in the bottom of the sixteenth, but the Mets had scored three in the top of the inning to give the Mets the win.

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2. Mike Stanton, LHP … 1,178 MLB Mound Appearances … Eight Teams

Mike Stanton was a 13^th round  pick in the 1987 MLB Draft (by the Braves), out of Alvin Junior College. He made his MLB debut on August 24, 1989 (22-years-old) – pitching a scoreless ninth inning as the Braves lost to the Cardinals 4-1 in Atlanta. Stanton pitched in the majors (until age 40) from 1989-2007, toiling for the Braves, Yankees, Red  Sox, Mets, Nationals, Giants, Rangers and Reds over those 19 seasons. His final stat line was 68-63, 3.92 (7.2 strikeouts per nine innings) – and his 84 saves are the fewest, by far, of any pitcher on the 1000+ appearance list. (Twenty-seven of Stanton’s 84 saves came for the 1993 Braves). His best season was 1997, when he went 3-1, 2.57 with three saves in 50 appearances for the Yankees. He was a one-time All Star (2002 Yankees – 9-4, 2.58 in 76 appearances).

Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

Mike Stanton made one start in his MLB career. On May  9, 1999, he made a spot start for the Yankees (against the Mariners). He pitched four scoreless innings (two hits, one walk and three whiffs) and left with a 4-0 lead (but did not qualify for the win).

Stanton pitched in 80 or more games three times in his career (1996, 2004 and 2006), the last time in his age-39 season.  While he never led the league in appearances, he was in the top-five six times.

Mike Stanton  made 53 post-season MLB pitching appearances, going 5-2, 2.10 with one save.

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3. John Franco, LHP … 1,119 MLB Mound Appearances … Three Teams

John Franco was a fifth-round draft pick (1981, Dodgers), out of St. John’s University, where he had gone 5-1, 2.22 in his junior year (1981). He was traded to the Reds in 1983 and made his MLB debut April 24, 1983 (at age 23). He went on to pitch in 21 MLB seasons (1984-2001, 2003-2005 … Reds, Mets, Astros) – retiring as an Astro as age 44.

Franco put up a 90-87, 2.89 record, with 424 saves. He never started a major-league game, but did finish 774 of them. Franco was a four-time All Star (all in the five-year span from 1986 through 1990) and three times led the NL in saves, notching 30 or more saves in eight seasons. Over his career, the southpaw  averaged 7.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Franco’s best season was 1988, when he went 6-6, 1.57 with a league-leading 39 saves in an also NL-leading 61 appearances for the Reds. He went 2-0, 1.88 with one save in 15 post-season appearances.

You Can Look It Up

John Franco’s 424 saves are the MLB record for a southpaw.

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4. Mariano Rivera. RHP … 1,115 MLB Mound Appearances… One Team

Photo: Baseball Roundtable

Hall of Famer and all-time MLB saves leader Mariano Rivera was signed (out of Panama) by the Yankees for a $2,000 bonus in 1990. It proved to be money well spent. Rivera made it to the Yankees’ roster (as a 25-year-old) in 1995 – although his role as a premier closer was not yet defined.  That first MLB season he appeared in 19 games – starting ten of them.   He wasn’t particularly effective, going 3-3, 5.94 as a starter and 2-0, 4.24 as a reliever.

Change Can Be Very, Very Good

Mariano Rivera’s first eight MLB appearances were as a starting pitcher.

Still, he had shown chops in the minor leagues, with a  27-18, 2.36  record over six minor-league seasons (102 games, 67 starts). Late in 1995, he moved to the bullpen full-time and, in 1997, he became the Yankees’ closer – and the rest is history.

Rivera pitched in 19 MLB seasons (1995-2013), all for the Yankees. He went 82-60, 2.21 with 652 saves. The right-hander was a 13-time All Star and 15 times had 30 or more saves (topping 40 in nine seasons, with a high of 53 in 2004), leading the league three times.  He recorded an ERA  under 2.00 in 11 campaigns.  In his final season, at age 44, Rivera went 6-2, 2.11, with 44 saves.  He averaged 8.2 whiffs per nine innings in his career.

Rivera also pitched in 96 post-season games and, in 141 innings, put up a 0.70 earned run average and an 8-1, 42-save record.

Lots to choose from, but Baseball Roundtable would pick 2004 as Rivera’s best season.  He went 4-2, 1.94 with a league-leading 53 saves in a league-topping 69 appearances.

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5. Dennis Eckersley. RHP … 1,071 MLB Mound Appearances … Five Teams

Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley is the unicorn on this list. Consider these facts:

• His 1,071 appearances included 361 starts;
• He recorded 390 saves and 100 complete games;
• He recorded a season of 50+ saves and a 20-win season;
• He had a season during which he appeared in 50 games, but threw just 39 2/3 innings … and one in which he appeared in 35 games and tossed 268 1/3 innings.
• He pitched a complete-game no-hitter (May 30, 1977).

The right-hander was drafted by the Indians in the third round of the 1972 draft (out of Washington High School in Fremont,  California). In 1974, after a 14-3, 3.40 season as a starter at Triple-A, the 20-year-old made the Indians’ roster, going 13-7, 2.60 as a rookie (34 games, 24 starts, six complete games, two shutouts).  From 1975 through 1986, working primarily as a starter (Indians, Red Sox, Cubs), Eckersley went 151-128, 3.67 (with 100 complete games and 20 shutouts).

In April of 1987, Eckersley was traded from the Cubs to the Athletics and when A’s closer Jay Howell was injured, manager Tony LaRussa turned to Eckersley to fill the closer’s role. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision. From 1987-1998 (A’s, Cardinals, Red Sox), Eckersley appeared in 695 games (just two starts) and went 46-43, 2.96 with 387 saves.

Nice Set of Bookends

Dennis Eckersley was an All Star as a starting pitcher (twice) and as a closer (four times).  

Eckersley led the league in saves twice and had 30 or more saves in eight seasons (a high of 51 in 1992). His final stat line was 197-191, 3.50, with 390 saves. He fanned 6.6 batters per nine innings over his career.

Eckersley’s best season was 1992, when he went 7-1, 1.91 for the A’s, with a league-leading 51 saves in an also league-leading 65 appearances,  earning the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards.

As a starter, his best season was 1978, when he went 20-8, 2.99 and threw 16 complete games in 33 starts.

Eckersley appeared in 28 post-season games, going 1-3, 3.00 with 15 saves. He was the MVP of the 1988 American League Championship Series, when he saved all four A’s wins over the Red Sox.

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6. Hoyt Wilhelm, RHP …. 1,070 MLB Mound Appearances … Nine Teams

Photo: Public Domain via WikiCommons

Hoyt Wilhelm didn’t make his first MLB appearance until he was just 98 days shy of his 30^th birthday – and the right-handed knuckleballer pitched until just 15 days shy of his 50^th birthday.  He managed to not only “float”  his way through 21 MLB seasons, but also into the Hall of Fame.

Wilhelm made his professional debut as a 19-year-old with the Independent Class-D Mooresville Moors in 1942 – going 10-3, 4.25.  He then lost three years of playing  time serving in the U.S. Army.

A Hero On and Off the Field

Hoyt Wilhelm earned earning a Purple Heart and two Bronze Starts at the Battle of the Bulge.

After returning from the military, Wilhelm rejoined the Moors. Seasons of 21-8, 2.47 in 1946 and 20-7, 3.38 in 1947, earned him a shot in the Giants’ system, where he made it to the major leagues for the 1952 season.

As a rookie , the 29-year-old Wilhelm went 15-3 for the Giants , leading the NL in winning percentage (.833), earned run average (2.43, with his 159 1/3 innings in relief qualifying for the title) and games pitched (71). He also notched 11 saves.  He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting  and fourth in the MVP voting.

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Side note: 1952 NL Rookie of the years winner Joe Black and runner-up Wilhelm had pretty comparable seasons:

• Black with 15-4, with 15 saves, while Wilhelm went 15-3 with 11 saves.
• Wilhelm won the ERA title at 2.43, Black’s ERA was 2.15 (but he was 11 2/3 innings shy of qualifying.
• Wilhelm appeared in 71 games, Black in 56.

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Wilhelm pitched in the majors from 1952-1972 (Giants, Cardinals, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers),  going 143-122, 2.52 with 228 saves. Wilhelm fanned 6.4 batters per nine innings. He was an All Star in five seasons and a league-leader in ERA and winning percentage twice each. In the five years from 1964 through 1968, Wilhelm recorded a 1.74 ERA over 539 1/3 innings.

A Two-Way Pitcher

Hoyt Wilhelm won the NL ERA title in 1952 as a reliever and won the AL ERA title in 1959 as a starter.

Wilhelm’s 1,871 inning pitched in relief are the MLB record, as are his 124 career wins in relief.

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7. Dan Plesac, LHP …1,064 MLB Mound Appearances … Six Teams

Dan Plesac was a first-round selection (Brewers) in the 1983 MLB Draft –  out of North Caroline State University. Primarily a starter in the minors (in three minor-league seasons, he made 62 appearances, all but one in a starting role), the Brewers converted the left-hander to a bullpen role after he made the MLB squad in 1986. In his  rookie MLB season, Plesac went 10-7, 2.97 with 14 saves in 51 appearances. Plesac recorded 124 of his 158 saves in his first five MLB seasons.

He pitched in 18 seasons (1986-2003 … Brewers, Cubs, Pirates, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Phillies), going 65-71, 3.64 with 158 saves, fanning 8.7 batters per nine innings. Plesac was a three-time All Star (1987-88-89)  and twice recorded 30 or more saves in a season. Plesac spent most of his career as a left-handed relief specialist, eight times he pitched in 60 or more games in a campaign.

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8. Mike Timlin, RHP … 1,058 MLB Mound Appearances … Six Teams

Mike Timlin was a fifth-round draft pick (Blue Jays, 1987),  out of Southwestern University. He made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in April of 1991 – after a 8-4, 1.53, 30-save season at High-A and Double-A in 1990.

In his inaugural MLB season, Plesac  went 11-6, 3.16 with three saves in 63 games (three starts). Timlin went on to pitch in 18 MLB seasons (1991-2008 … Blue Jays, Mariners, Orioles, Cardinals, Phillies, Red Sox). He had four starts among his 1,058 appearances – going 1-2, 3.32 at a starter. Timlin saved 10 or more games in seven seasons, with a high of 31 saves for the 1996 Blue Jays. In 2005, at the age of 38, he led the AL with 81 appearances – going 7-3, 2.24 with 13 saves for the Red Sox. Over his career Timlin,  was 75-73, 3.63, with 141 saves. He fanned 6.5 batter per nine innings. Timlin appeared in 46 post-season games, going 0-3, 4.26, with one save.   In the 2003-06 seasons (his age-37 to age-40 seasons), Timlin averaged 74.3 appearances per campaign.

Post-Season Thrills

Timlin played on four World Series Champion teams – 1992 Blue Jays, 1993 Blue Jays; 2004 Red Sox; and 2007 Red Sox.

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9. Kent Tekulve, RHP …1.050 MLB Mound Appearances … Three Teams

Photo: George Gojkovich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Submariner Kent Tekulve was a true workhorse on the mound – leading the NL in appearances in four seasons  – and reaching 90 or more appearances three times.

Tekulve played for Marietta College, where the was named to the All-Ohio conferences second team in his senior year. Tekulve, however, went undrafted and was later signed out or a Pirates’ tryout camp.  In his first pro season (1969), at Low-A Geneva, the 22-year-old righty was used primarily as a starter and went 6-2, 1.70 in nine games (seven starts, six complete games and two shutouts). The next season, he moved up to Double-A Sherbrooke, where he was converted to a reliever and began to refine his sidearm delivery. From 1971 through 1974, Tekulve went 32-16, 2.57 with 38 saves, while working his way up to Triple-A.

Tekulve made his MLB debut on May 20, 1974, but spent the bulk of the season at Triple-A, where he went 6-3, 2.25, with seven saves (he had a 6.00 ERA in eight appearances for the Pirates). He finally made the majors to stay in June of 1975, and went on to log a 16-season MLB career (1974-89 … Pirates, Phillies, Reds). From 1977 through 1984, Tekulve averaged 77 appearances a season – leading the league in games pitched three times in that span.

Celebrating 40

In 1987, at age 40, Kent Tekulve led the NL  in appearances (for the Phillies) with 90, pitching 105 innings in relief and putting up a 3.09 ERA.

Over his MLB career, Tekulve was 94-90, 2.85, with 184 saves. He fanned  4.9 batters per nine innings.

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10. LaTroy Hawkins, RHP … 1,042 MLB Mound Appearances … 11 Teams

LaTroy Hawkins was drafted out of West Side High School (Gary , Indiana) by the Twins in the seventh round of the MLB 1991 draft. He opened his career as a starter and from 1991-1996, he made 99 minor-league appearances (96 starts), moving from rookie ball to Triple-A and going 40-17, 2.96. The 22-year-old Hawkins made his MLB debut on April 29, 1995 in a start against Baltimore and gave up seven earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings. By mid-May he was back at Triple-A, where he went 9-7, 3.55 in 22 starts, earning a return to the Twins in September. On the season, his MLB line ended at 2-3, 8.67.

From 1996-99, Hawkins  pitched in 93 games for the Twins (92 starts) and went 24-41, 6.03.  (At this time, his career record, after five MLB seasons was 26-44, 6.16).  In 2000., the Twins moved Hawkins  to the bullpen and he showed notable improvement, going 2-5, 3.89 with 14 saves in 66 games. He made 943 MLB appearances, over 16 more seasons, without another start. Hawkins’ final record, after 21 seasons (Twins, Rockies, Cubs, Astros, Brewers, Mets, Giants, Angels, Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays) was 75-94, 4.31.  He fanned 6.0 batters per nine innings over his MLB career.

A Travelin’ Man

After spending his first nine MLB seasons with the Twins, LaTroy Hawkins pitched for 10 different MLB teams over the next 12 seasons.  His 11 MLB teams pitched for is the  most of any of the 1,000+ game pitchers in this post.

Hawkins’ best season was with the 2004 Cubs, when he went 5-4, 2.63 with 25 saves in 77 appearances.  Hawkins also pitched in 22 post-season games, gong 1-1, 6.75.

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11. Trevor Hoffman, RHP … 1,035 MLB Mound Appearances … Three Teams

Photo: Djh57, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman’s 601 saves are second only to Mariano Rivera in MLB. While he did start 12 games in 94 minor-league appearances, Hoffman never made at start at the major-league level. Hoffman was an eleventh-round pick (Reds), out of the University of Arizona, in the 1989 MLB draft.

Let’s Change Things Up a Bit

Trevor Hoffman was originally signed as a shortstop and, in his first two minor-league seasons, played 122 games at short and 41 at 3B.  The Reds , however, were more impressed with his arm than his bat and, in 1991, he was moved to the mound – where he showed good promise (based on a mid-90s fastball.)

In 1992, Hoffman was taken by the newly minted Marlins with the eighth pick in expansion draft. He started the 1993 season with Florida and was 2-2, 3.28, with two saves and 26 whiffs in 35 2/3 innings, before being traded (in mid-June) to the Padres in a multi-player deal that brought Rich Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield to Florida.  It was a trade that initially did not “sit well” with Padres’ fans, but certainly proved a solid move over the years.

Hoffman went on to pitch for the Padres through the 2008 season; after which the 41-year-old signed as a free agent with the Brewers (where he became an All Star for the seventh time in his career).

Hoffman pitched 18 MLB seasons (1993-2010 … Marlins, Padres, Brewers) going 61-75, 2.87 with 601 saves. He led the NL in saves twice and topped 40 saves in nine seasons. He averaged 9.4 whiffs per nine innings over his career.

Hoffman’s best  season was for the 1998 Padres, when he went 4-2, 1.48 with a league-leading (and career high) 53 saves – finishing second in the Cy Young Award voting to Tom Glavine.

Let’s Change Things Up Again

Trevor Hoffman, known for his mid-90s fastball, suffered a shoulder injury before the 1995 season (he had surgery after the season) and had to find and refine new weapons to get hitters out .  He put the effort in his change up – and it became a devastating out pitch.

After eight straight seasons of 30+ saves, Hoffman missed most of the 2003 season recovering from shoulder surgery. He came back as good as ever, recording six consecutive seasons of 30+ saves after the layoff. (The first four of those were 40+ save campaigns).

Hoffman pitched in 12 post-season games, going 1-2, 3.46 with four saves.

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12. Jose Mesa, RHP …. 1,022 MLB Mound Appearances … Eight Teams

Joe  Mesa was signed out of the Dominican Republic as a 15-year-old in 1981 by the Toronto Blue Jays. (Mesa had tried out as an outfielder, but the Blue Jays were impressed enough with his arm to sign him as a pitching prospect.) In 1982 (as a 16-year-old) Mesa made his professional debut in the Gulf Coast (Rookie) League, going 6-4, 2.70 with six complete games and three shutouts in 12 starts (13 total appearances). From 1982-87, he went 48-52, 4.68 in the Blue Jays’ minor-league system, primarily as a starter (142 starts in 156 appearances).

In September of 1987 (at age 21), Mesa was traded to the Orioles, and he made his MLB debut on September 20, starting against the Red Sox in Fenway and giving up three runs  in six innings (no  decision).  He ended the season 1-3, 6.03 for the Orioles (six appearances five starts) – and spent the bulk of the next three seasons in the minors, where his progress was hampered by a pair of elbow surgeries.

From 1987 through 1993, Mesa ran up a 27-40, 5.03 MLB record (Orioles, Indians) with 95 starts in 98 appearances –  gaining a reputation as a hard-thrower (mid- to high-90s) who needed to harness his control.  Then, in 1994, the Indians moved Mesa and his fastball to the bullpen and his career path changed dramatically.  Working primarily in middle relief, Mesa went 7-5, 3.82 with two saves for Cleveland in 1994.  Then in 1995, he was all All Star closer – going 3-0, 1.13 with an AL-leading 46 saves (in 62 appearances) – finishing second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

From 1994 until his retirement after the 2007 season (at age 41), Mesa pitched for the Indians, Giants, Mariners, Phillies, Pirates, Rockies and Tigers – appearing in another 924 games (all in relief and going 53-69, 3.97 with 321 saves). As noted, he led the league in saves in 1995 and had four seasons of 40+ saves. He finished his career 80-109, 4.36, with 321 saves. Mesa also pitched in 27 post season games, going 3-1, 5.14 with six saves.  He fanned 6.0 batters per nine frames over his MLB career.

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13.  (Actually a tied for 12th) Lee Smith, RHP … 1,022 appearances … Eight Teams

Hall of Famer Lee Smith was signed by the Cubs in the second round of the 1975 MLB Draft (out of Caster, Iowa, High School). He began his professional career as a 17-year-old – going 3-5, 2.32 in ten starts in the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League. Like many of the pitchers on this list, he started out as a starting pitcher.  From 1975-1978, he made 92 appearances (minor-league) of which 71 were starts. He displayed a lights-out fastball, but a lack of command. This led to a decision to move Smith to the bullpen – a move he originally resisted, but one that turned out to put him on the path to the Hall of Fame.

Pitching out of the pen, Smith earned his way to the Cubs’ staff by September of 1980 and, by 1983, was an All Star closer for Chicago – leading the NL with 56 appearances and 29 saves (and putting up a 1.65 ERA in 103 1/3 relief innings). Smith went on to pitch at the MLB level until 1997 (Cubs, Cardinals, Red Sox, Angels, Expos, Reds, Yankees, Orioles). He made just six starts in 1,022 appearances. Smith was a seven-time All Star, led the NL in saves three times and the AL once – and saved 30 or more games in 11 seasons (four times exceeding forty saves). His final MLB stat line was 71-92, 3.03, with 478 saves (third all-time). He fanned 8.7 batters per nine innings over his MLB career.

Smith’s  best season was 1991 (Cardinals), when he went 6-3, 2.64, with a league-leading 47 saves.  That season, he finished second in the Cy Young balloting  (to Tom Glavine) and eighth in the MVP voting. In his six MLB starts, Lee Smith was 0-5, 4.62.

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14. Roberto Hernandez, RHP … 1,010 MLB Mound Appearances … Ten Teams

Roberto Hernandez was a first-round pick (Angels) in the 1986 MLB Draft. From 1986-1992, pitching in the Angels’ and  White Sox’ minor-league systems, Hernandez went 34-41, 3.92 in 107 appearances (106 starts).

The Comeback Kid

Roberto Hernandez’ 1991 season was interrupted by surgery for blood clots in his pitching arm (for which doctors gave him no better than a 50-50 chance of ever returning to the pitching ranks). Hernandez , however, made a remarkable recovery and a 6-2, 2.58 record in 12 minor-league starts earned him a September call up to the White Sox – where he made his MLB debut on September 2 – getting a win over the Royals and going  seven one-hit/one-run innings. Hernandez got bounced around in his next two 1991 starts and was moved to the bullpen. Little did he know, he would never start again, but would pitch for 16 more MLB seasons.

Hernandez pitched in the majors from 1991-2007 (White Sox, Devil Rays, Royals, Mets, Pirates, Giants, Phillies, Braves, Dodgers, Indians). He was a two-time All Star and recorded 30 or more saves in six seasons. His best season was 1996 (White Sox), when he went 6-5, 1.91, with 38 saves in a league-leading 61 appearances.  His final stat line was 67-71, 3.45, with 326 saves. He pitched in 11 post-season games, going 0-1, 3.12, with one save.

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15. Michael Jackson, RHP …. 1005 MLB Mound Appearances … Eight Teams

Michael Jackson was a Philllies’ second-round pick in the 1984 MLB Draft (out of Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas).

A Pretty Good Start

As a 19-year-old professional rookie, with the 1984 Class-A Spartanburg Suns, Michael Jackson went 7-2, 2.68 on the mound (14 starts) and .368-0-7 at the plate (7-for-19, with three doubles.

Jackson made his MLB debut with the Phillies in August of 1986. He went on to pitch in 17 MLB seasons (1986-2004 … missing 2000  and 2003), taking the mound for the Mariners, Giants, Indians, Phillies, Twins, Reds, Astros and White Sox.  His final MLB  stat line was 62-67, 3.42, with 142 saves. His best season was 1998 (Indians), when he went 1-1, 1.55, with 40 saves in 69 appearances. He made a total of nine MLB starts, going 1-4, 6.68. (His ERA as a reliever, in 998 appearances, was 3.33. ) He fanned 7.6 batters per nine innings over his MLB career.

16. Rich Gossage, RHP … 1,002 Mound Appearances …. Nine Teams

Hall of Famer Rich “Goose” Gossage was selected by the White Sox in the ninth round of the 1970 MLB Draft (out of Wasson High School in Colorado Springs).  As an 18-year-old (1970),  he went 0-3 4.94 in Rookie and A-Level ball.  The following year, Gossage showed his true potential, going 18-2, 1.83 in 25 games (24 starts, 15 complete games and seven shutouts) for the A-Level Appleton Foxes.

By 1972 (at age 20), Gossage was pitching for  the White Sox – going 7-1, 4.28 (with two saves) in 36 games (one start).  Over his first four MLB seasons (1972-75), Gossage went 20-19, 3.72, with 29 saves in 157 games (eight starts). He was an All Star for the White Sox in 1975, when he went 9-8, 1.84 and led the AL with 26 saves. In 1976, Gossage made the AL All Star squad again, this time as a starting pitcher.  The White Sox had brought in Paul Richards to manage the squad and he moved Gossage into a starting role. Gossage  was 5-7, 2.91 at the All Star break, but slumped to 4-10, 5.08 in the second half. Notably, he tossed 15 complete games in 29 starts for a woeful (64-97) Chicago team.

After the 1977 season, Gossage was traded to the Pirates, where, he was again an All Star, going 11-9, 1.62, with 26 saves in 72 appearances (no starts).  From 1977 through his final season (1994), Gossage made 601 appearances without a start – picking up 95 wins and 280 saves.

Gossage’s final MLB stat line 124-107, 3.01, with 310 saves.  He pitched in 22 MLB seasons (Yankees, White Sox, Padres, A’s, Giants, Rangers, Pirates, Cubs, Mariners). Gossage was a nine-time All Star and led the league in saves three times. He fanned 7.5 batters per nine innings over his MLB career.  He also pitched in 19 post-season games, going 2.1, 2.87, with eight saves.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball Almanac.com; SABR Bios on Hoyt Wilhelm (by Mark Armour), Trevor Hoffman (by Max Mannis) and  Roberto Hernandez (by Mark Merullo and Alan Cohen).

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In yesterday’s (June 22) Orioles/Nationals contest (at Camden Yards) – won by the Orioles 7-0 – Baltimore leadoff hitter and CF Austin Hays completed the fourth MLB cycle in 2022 and the third this month.  And, he did it in a game shortened to six innings by weather (one hour and 46 minutes of rain delays).

Hays singled and scored leading off the first inning; homered leading off the third; tripled in the fourth; and hit a two-run double in the sixth and final inning. Hays saw a total of nine pitches in his four at bats, ending the rainy evening four-for-four, with three runs, three RBI and ten total bases.  Not a bad night’s work.  The cycle balanced out Hays’ previous night’s performance, when he went zero-for-four with four strikeouts as the Orioles lost to the Nationals 3-0. On the season, Hays is .287-10-40.

Fastest Cycle Ever

Now, for those who like to know such things, Hays’ six-inning cycle is not the fastest ever,  The yellow Jersey for MLB cycles belongs to the Rockies’ Mike Lansing, who – on June 18, 2000 – completed a cycle in just four innings.   Notably, Lansing was consistently behind in the counts and three of his four hits came with two strikes.

Lansing, hitting second in the order, hit an RBI triple to right in the first inning (getting the most difficult leg of the cycle out of the way ) on a 1-2 pitch; added a two-run home run (0-1 pitch) in the bottom of the second; hit a two-run double (2-2 pitch) in the bottom of the third (as the Rockies scored nine times to take a 14-1 lead); and then completed the cycle with a single (another 1-2 offering) to right in the fourth. Lansing then struck out in the sixth, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth. Lansing ended the day four-for-five, with three runs scored and five RBI, as the Rockies torched the Diamondbacks 19-2 in Denver.

In addition to his fastest-ever cycle, Lansing shares the record for the most home runs in an inning (two). On May 7, 1997, he hit a two-run and three-run homer in a 13-run sixth inning as the Expos topped the Giants 19-3 in San Francisco.  That was his best season in the majors, as he hit .281 and recorded his career highs in home runs (20), RBI (70) and doubles (45).

It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night … Longest Cycle Ever

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 Cubbies 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.)

Hot Damon … Nearly a Cycle … in the First Inning

One of my favorite stories to share focuses on the night Johnny Damon almost completed a cycle – in the first inning of a 25-8 Red Sox win over the Marlins.  On June 27, 2003, 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 14-run Boston first inning was over.  Damon’s performance also made him just one of five MLB players to collect three hits in an inning.   If this kind of fact interests you, each of the four other players to achieve a three-hit frame did it in the seventh inning of their contests.

Damon ended his game five-for-seven, with three runs scored, three RBI, a double, a triple and three singles.  He, unfortunately, did not get the cycle despite his fast start.

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

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It’s June 1, and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s monthly Wrap Up – outlining the stats and stories that caught Baseball Roundtable’s attention in May, plus the standings, Players and Pitchers of the Month and the year-to-date Trot Index.   This month is a little more challenging, as I am putting this post together while on Ballpark Tours’ 40th Anniversary baseball journey. So, I’m writing from the Intercontinental Hotel in Chicago, while waiting to head out to the Brewers-Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Given that, there may a typo to be discovered here and there.  Those on the tour bus will know who I’m talking about.

There was, as always, plenty to take note of over the past month:

• Miguel Cabrera’s ever-growing Hall of Fame resume;
• Angels’ rookie Reid Detmers’ no-hitter;
• A record-tying five-homer inning by the Astros;
• Two  qualifying players who hit .400+ for the month and three who hit at least 10 home run;
• Max Scherzer’s first loss in nearly a year;
• Two players who ended the month with active 20+ game hitting streaks;
• The season’s first triple play;
• Christian Yelich’s record-tying (and, in some ways, record-setting) third cycle;
• And more.

History Repeats Itself – Kind Of

In the April Wrap Up, Baseball Roundtable noted that on April 7 – National Beer Day – the Diamondbacks’ DH Seth Beer hit a walk-off home run to put the Diamondbacks past the Padres 4-1.  It was his second career homer and first career walk-off long ball.  I also voiced my wish that Beer be traded to the White Sox, who have 3B Jake Burger on the roster, so we could have a Beer and a Burger in the lineup together. (A trade taking Burger to the Diamondbacks would, of  course, achieve the same end. ) Well, I didn’t get that, but on May 28 – National Hamburger Day –  Burger homered in the White Sox 5-1 win over the Cubs. 

—–Baseball Roundtable Players/Pitchers  of the Month—–

National League Player of the Month – Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Cardinals

Goldschmidt lit it up in May – to the tune of 42 hits (most in the NL) and a .404 average – both tops in the National League.  His 33 RBI led MLB and his ten homers were second in the NL to the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts (12)   Goldschmidt ended the month with an  active  22-game hitting streak, during which he hit a robust .438. During the month, he had 12 multi-hit games and ten multi–RBI contests.  There were some other solid performances, but that .40o  average gave Goldschmidt the edge.

Honorable Mentions: Mookie Betts, RF, Dodgers, put up a .342 May average, led the NL with 12 May homers and was fourth in the NL with 26 RBI for the month, while leading  MLB with 31 May runs scored. It was a close call.   Philllies’ RF Bryce Harper went .47-7-18 and Mets’ 1B Pete Alonso went .315-9-30. A shout out also goes to Dodgers’ SS  Trea Turner, who hit  .314-4-24 month and ended with his 23-game hitting streak still active. He also swiped six bases.

American League  Player of the Month– Tie: Aaron Judge, RF, Yankees and J.D Martinez, LF Red Sox.

Hard to pick between MLB’s top hitters in May average (Martinez, among qualifiers) and home runs (Judge – tied).

Photo: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

A .400 average is a bright and shiny thing that attracts Baseball Roundtable’s attention – and Martinez hit .406 for the Month of May. His 43 hits were second in MLB  (to teammate 3B Rafael Devers). He also also scored 23 runs,  delivered four home runs and 15 RBI. Martinez collected a safety in all but one of his 26 May games – and he had 13 multi-hit performances.

Photo: DR. Buddie, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

So why the tie?  Well, Judge didn’t hit.400.  But he did drive in and score  more runs than Martinez.   Judge led the AL and tied for the MLB lead  in May home runs with 12 was second  in the AL in RBI (25), while hitting  a healthy .311  He had three multi-homer games and six games with three or more RBI.

Some may ask why Red Sox’ SS Trevor Story and his AL-topping 32 May RBI did not figure into this ranking.  For me it’s that .218 average for the month.  It is Player of the “Month” and from May 1 through May 15, Story was .156-1-10.

Honorable Mentions: More Red Sox and Yankees here.  Red Sox’ 3B Rafael Devers was a mirror-image of  teammate J.D. Martinez for the month – .381-8-17, with 23 runs scored and an MLB-leading 45 May safeties.  The Yankees’ DH Giancarlo Stanton put up a solid .301-7-21 line  (fourth in AL in RBI).  Also have to give  nod to the Twins’ versatile Luis Arraez, who got in only 23 games, but hit .376 with an MLB topping (among qualifiers) .480 on-base percentage.

National League Pitcher of the Month- Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins

Photo: Ryan Casey Aguinaldo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

It was a tough call here. No one really jumped out at me. There were Pirates’ Jose Quintana, Padres’ Joe Musgrove and Phillies’ Zack Wheeler who all pitched at least 25 innings with ERAs under 1.50;  the Phillies’ Aaron Nola with 40 strikeouts and just five walks in 33 innings; and the Mets’ Carlos Carrasco. Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen and  and Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin,  Tyler Anderson and Walker Buehler,  who each went 4-0 for the month.,

I decided to go with the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara, who may have only gone 3-2 in May (keep in mind, he was pitching for the Marlins, who went 7-19 for the month), but put  up a 2.13 ERA, a league-topping 42 1/3 innings pitched (six starts) and 43 strikeouts (second in the NL). In his last four May starts, Alcantara pitched 32 innings (I’ll do the math, that’s eight frames per start) and gave up just three earned runs.

Honorable Mentions; The Padres’ Joe Musgrove went 2-0, 1.64 in five May starts, fanning 33 batters in 33 innings. In his five starts, Musgrove never went less than six full innings and never gave up more than two earned runs. In his three May no-decisions, the Padres scored a total of two runs while Musgrove was in the game.  The Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin went 4-0, with a tidy 1.93 ERA in five starts and whiffed 31 batters in 28 innings

American League Pitcher of the Month – Martin Perez, LHP, Rangers

Photo: mjl816 on Flickr (Original version) UCinternational (Crop), CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Another tough decision. with Jameson Taillon, who went 4-0 for the Yankees; Rays Shane McClanahan, who went 4-0, 1.15; New York’s Gerrit Cole who fanned 45 batters (just five walks) in five starts (33 2/3 innings); and Tigers’ Tarik Skubal, Twins’ Sony Gray, Yankees’ Nestor Cortes, who joined McClanahan with at least 25 innings pitched and ERAs under 2.00.

I went with the only pitcher to put up an ERA not just under 2.00, but under 1.00 in six May starts – and also threw one of just two complete-game shutouts in May.  That would be the Rangers’ Martin Perez, who – on May 20, shutout the vaunted Houston Astros’ offense in a nine-inning, eight-hit, 3-0 win.  In five May starts, Perez went 4-0 and allowed only three earned runs in 42 1/3 innings – a stingy 0.64 ERA  (yes, his ERA started with a zero).

Honorable Mentions: The Rays’ Shane McClanahan could easily have this spot – going 4-0, 1.14 in five starts and fanning 39 in 31 1/3 innings. (I just could not resist Perez’ sub-1.00 ERA.)  White Sox’ closer Liam Hendricks also had a solid month, with an MLB-high ten saves (in 12 opportunities), a 2.03 ERA and 21 whiffs in 13 1/3 innings.  I also looked at the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal (2-0, 1.15 in five starts, with 35 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings) and the Yankees’ Nestor Cortes (3-1, 1.95 with 33 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings).

Surprise Player of the Month – Tyler Anderson, LHP. Dodgers

The 32-year-old Anderson came into the 2022 season with a 29-68, 4.66 record over six MLB seasons (2016-21 … Rockies, Giants, Pirates, Mariners). Anderson had never won more than seven games in a season and had finished above .500 just once – 4-3, 4.37 in 2020. He had, in fact, been granted free agency by the Mariners before the Dodgers signed him in March. This May, Anderson went 4-0, 3.09 in five starts, fanning 33 batters in 32 innings – bringing his record on the year to 6-0, 2.90 in nine appearances, seven starts. In his final three starts of the month, he went 3-0 and gave up just two earned runs in 21 innings – fanning 21 and walking just one.

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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE

Through May, 34.5 percent of the MLB season’s 55,041 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.3%); walks (8.5%); home runs (2.7%); HBP (1.0%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). 

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

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Only two teams won 20 or more games in May – the Astros and Dodgers and, no surprise, they each logged their leagues lowest earned run average.

The Astros 21-8 month was fueled included an 11-game wining streak (May 2-13, during which the Houston staff fashioned five shutouts and  put up a 0.91 earned run average.  During that stretch, they gave up three runs in just one contest.  They outscored their opponents 56-12 over the 11 games, outhit them .237-187 and out homered them 18-2.  They were the only team with a May ERA of under 3.00 – at 2.26.

Only six NL starters picked up four wins in May, and three of those pitchers wore Dodger Blue: Tony Gonsolin (4-0, 1.93); Tyler Anderson (4-0, 3.09) and Walker Buehler 4-0, 3.71).

——Team  Statistical Leaders for May 2022 ———-

RUNS SCORED

National League – Dodgers (174); Mets (168); Cardinals (150)

American League – Red Sox (159); Angels (131); Twins (137)

The fewest May runs were scored by the Tigers (74). The Pirates were last in NL scoring (88). The only other team to score less than 100 May runs was the A’s (93), 

AVERAGE

National League – Mets (.278); Nationals (.268);Rockies (.267)

American League – Red Sox (.282); Twins (.262); Royals (.255)

The lowest team average for May belonged to the As at .214.  The lowest in the NL was the Pirates at .218.

HOME RUNS

National League – Brewers (46); Diamondbacks (39); Dodgers (38)

American League –  Angels (41); Yankees (40); Astros (39)

The Padres and Athletics  had the fewest home runs for  May  at 15. 

Boston led MLB in May slugging percentage at .476.  The Dodgers led the NL at .457.

STOLEN BASES

National League – Cubs (30); Braves (18); Brewers (18); Phillies (18); Cardinals (18)

American League – Rangers (28); Athletics (22); Guardians (21)

The Blue Jays stole the fewest sacks in May  – just five.  

WALKS DRAWN

National League –   Dodgers (126); Giants (115); Brewers (104)

American League – Twins (105); Yankees (97); Astros (96)

The Red Sox  led MLB  in on-base percentage for April at .346. The Dodgers led the NL  at .344.

BATTERS’ STRIKEOUTS

National League – Braves (289); Diamondbacks (273); Cubs (267)

American League – Angels (263); Orioles (250);’ A’s (249)

Guardians’ batters fanned the fewest times in May (148).

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Bonus Stat:

The Mets led all of MLB in May triples (10), while the Red Sox led in doubles (73).

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Earned Run Average

National League – Dodgers (3.08); Padres (3.26); Brewers (3.59)

American League – Astros (2.26); Yankees (3.06); Rangers (3.32)

Five teams had May ERAs of 5.00 or higher: Royals (5.62); Giants (5.44); Nationals (5.36); Rockies (5.35); Reds (5.00). 

STRIKEOUTS

National League –  Brewers (278); Phillies (276); Dodgers (251)

American League – Twins (256); White Sox (250); Yankees (250)

The Phillies averaged an MLB-best 9.86 strikeouts per nine innings in May. The White Sox  averaged an AL-best 9.15.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED

National League Dodgers (79); Brewers (80); Mets (81)

American League –  Yankees (53); Blue Jays (64); Rays (66)

The Yankees walked a stringiest 1.91  batters per nine frames (the only team under 2.00) The Royals  walked an MLB’s highest 4.32 per nine innings for the month.

SAVES

National League – Brewers (12); Padres (11): Brewers (10); Diamondbacks (9); Dodgers (9)

American League – White Sox (12); Twins (10); Blue Jays (10)

The Marlins recorded just one save in May (just six opportunities). They did win only seven of 25 games.

WALKS AND HITS PER INNING PITCHED (WHIP)

National League – Padres (1.14); Dodgers (1.21); ; Brewers (1.21)

American League – Yankees (1.03); Astros (1.07); Rays (1.11)

–——Individual Statistical Leaders for May 2022———

AVERAGE (75  April  at bats minimum)

National League – Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (.404); Luis Gonzalez, Giants (.368) Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks  (.363)

American League –  J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (.406); Tim Anderson, White Sox (.385); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (.381)

The lowest April  average (among players with at least 75 at bats in the month)  belonged to the Rays’ Taylor Walls at .103 (8-for-78).

HOME RUNS

National League – Mookie Betts, Dodgers (12); Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (10); Jorge Soler, Marlins (9); Pete Alonso, Mets (9); Christian Walker, Diamondbacks (9)

American League –  Aaron Judge, Yankees  (12);  Trevor Story, Red Sox (9);  Jose Altuve, Astros (9)

The Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt had the highest May slugging percentage (among players with at least 75 at bats) at .817.  The AL  leader was the Red Sox’ Rafael Devers at .712.

RUNS BATTED IN

National League – Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (33); Pete Alonso, Mets (30);  Francisco Lindor, Mets (28)

American League – Trevor Story, Red Sox (32); Aaron Judge, Yankees (25); Jose Ramirez, Guardians (23)

HITS

National League – Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (42); Mookie Betts, Dodgers (39); Trea Turner, Dodgers (36)

American League –  Rafael Devers, Red Sox (435); J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (43); Ty France (39)

The Twins Luis Arraez led MLB (players (with at least 75 May at bats) in on-base percentage at .480. The NL leader was the Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt at .471.

DOUBLES

National League –  Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (15); Matt Olson, Braves (14); Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (13)

American League –  Rafael Devers, Red Sox (13); Bo Bichette, Blue Jays (11); Jackie Bradley, Red Sox (10)

TRIPLES

National League – Brandon Nimmo, Mets (3); ten  with two

American League – Jose Ramirez, Red Sox (3); ten with two

The Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt led MLB in extra-base hits in May with 23.

STOLEN BASES

National League –  Ronald Acuna, Braves (7); Harrison Bader, Cardinals (7); Jean Segura, Phillies (7); Tommy Edman, Cardinals (7)

American League – Cedric Mullins, Orioles (8); Kyle Tucker, Astros (7); Eli White Rangers (6); Jose Ramirez, Guardians (6)

WALKS

National League – Juan Soto, Nationals (21); Mike Yastrzemski, Giants (19); three with 18

American League – Jose Ramirez, Guardians (19); Kyle Tucker, Astros (17); three with 16

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS

National League – Patrick Wisdom, Cubs (40); Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (39); Austin Riley, Braves (38)

American League – Eugenio Suarez, Mariners (40); Trevor Story, Red Sox (39); Mike Trout Angels (36)

No player grounded into more double plays in May than the Nationals Maikel Franc0 (9)

PITCHING VICTORIES

National League – Walker Buehler, Dodgers (4-0); Tyler Anderson, Dodgers (4-0); Carlos Carrasco, Mets (4-0); Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers (4-0); Zac Gallen, Phillies (4-0)Luis Garcia, Padres (4-1)

American League – Martin Perez, Rangers (4-0); Shane McClanahan, Rays (4-0); Jameson Taillon, Yankees (4-0); Justin Verlander, Astros (4-1); Nick Pivetta, Red Sox (4-1); Framber Valdez, Astros (4-1); Drew Rasmussen, Rays  (4-1 ); Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays (4-2)

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (at least 25  May innings pitched)

National League – Jose Quintana, Pirates (1.33); Joe Musgrove, Padres (1.64); Zack Wheeler, Phillies (1.65)

American League – Martin Perez, Rangers (0.64); Shane McClanahan, Rays (1.15); Tarik Skubal, Tigers (1.45)

STRIKEOUTS

National League – Corbin Burnes, Brewers (45); Sandy Alcantara, Marlins (43); Aaron Nola, Phillies (40); Zach Wheeler, Phillies (40).

American League – Dylan Cease, White Sox (48); Gerrit Cole, Yankees (45); Robbie Ray, Mariners (42)

SAVES

National League – Taylor Rogers, Padres (10); Josh Hader Brewers (8); David Bednar, Pirates (7); Edwin Diaz, Mets (7); Craig Kimbrel, Dodgers (7)

American League – Liam Hendricks, White Sox (10); Jeff Barlow, Ranges (8); four with six

WHIP (Walks +  Hits per Inning Pitched) – 25 May innings minimum)

National League – Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers (0.79); Corbin Burnes, Brewers (0.87); Adam Wainwright, Cardinals (1.69)

American League – Triston McKenzie, Guardians (0.74); Shane McClanahan, Rays (0.83); Nick Pivetta, Red Sox (0.83)

BONUS STAT

Among pitchers with 25 May innings, the Dodgers Tony Gonsolin held opponents to the lowest May batting average (.149 )

—–May 2022 Highlights —–

A Veteran Rookie

On May 1, after 11 years and more than 1,000 games in the minor leagues, Giants’ LF Jason Krizan notched his first MLB base hit. The 32-year-old rookie’s wife and two-year-old son were in the stands to share the landmark safety.  Krizan’s April 29 MLB debut came in his twelfth professional season, after 1,132 minor-league games.  Krizan was drafted in the eighth round of the 2011 MLB Draft (Tigers) – out of Dallas Baptist University, where, in 2011,  he hit .413-10-81 in 62 games. Over his 1,000+ minor league games, he hit .275-83-541.  On his lengthy journey to the “show,” Krizan had several solid seasons – including  .293-7-56 at Double-A in 2014; .294-10-65 at Double- and Triple-A in 2016; and .316-16-73 at Triple-A in 2021.

Old Guys Rule

On May 4, the Cardinals starting battery was 40-year-old Adam Wainwright on the mound and 39-year-old Yadier Molina behind the plate. Wainwright got the win, to even his 2022 record at 3-3. It was the 202^nd time the Cardinals had won a game with Wainwright and Molina as the starting battery – tying the pair for the MLB record in that category (tied with the Braves’ Warren Spahn and Del Crandall battery.) Molina and Wainwright captured sole position of the record in Wainwright’s very next start – as the Cardinals topped the Giants 15-6 in St. Louis. They continue to add to their own record. On May 20, Wainwright got the win -with Molina catching, as the Cardinals topped the Pirates 5-3. In that one, Wainwright gave up just one run in seven innings and Molina drove in two runs.  More #InBaseballWeCountEverything.

A Giant, Appropriately

On May 6, as the Giants took on the Cardinals in San Francisco, 25-year old rookie right-hander Sean Hjelle made his MLB debut – and tied a major-league record just by taking the mound. At 6’11” tall, Hjelle tied Jon Rauch – another right-handed pitcher – as the tallest major leaguer ever.   Hjelle pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning (two whiffs and one ground out.). Rauch pitched in 11 MLB seasons (2002, 2004-2013 … White Sox, Expos, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Twins, Blue Jays, Nets, Marlins), going 43-40, 3.90 with 62 saves in 556 games (11 starts).

Miggy Watch goes On

On May 7, in a Tigers 3-2 loss to the Astros, Miguel Cabrera added another line to his Hall of Fame resume. Cabrera hit a two-run double in the top of the third inning.  It was his It was his 600^th career double – making him just one of three players (Hank Aaron & Albert Pujols) with 600 doubles, 500 homers and 3,000 hits (he picked up his 3,000^th hit earlier this season – as he joined the 3,000 hit, 500 home run .300+ average club). Only two MLB players have retired with at least 3,000 hits, 500 homers and a .300 or better average (Hank Aaron and Willie Mays).  Cabrera finished May with 3,030 career hits, 505 home runs, 603 doubles and a .310 average.

The One That Got Away

On May 8, the Phillies handed Max Scherzer a loss, topping the Mets 3-2 and roughing up Scherzer for three runs on ten hits in six innings. (Scherzer did fan seven New York batters.) This unremarkable fact only makes it here because it was Scherzer’s first loss in 22 days short of a full year (since May 30, 2021). Over that time, Scherzer started 24 games, and went 15-0, 2.55.  Roger Clemens holds the record for the most starts between losses at 30 (June 3, 1998-June 1, 1999.  During that time , he went 20-0, 2.68. 

King Carl

Carl Hubbell holds the record for the most consecutive pitching victories at 24 (three of those wins came in relief).  From July 17, 1936 to May 27, 1937, he went 24-0 in 27 games (22 starts).

Looking for a Big Finish

Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On May 9, the Guardians came to bat in the top of the eighth inning trailing the White Sox 5-1. At this point in the game, Guardians’ 1B Josh Naylor had been to the plate three times and was zero-for-two (a walk and two strikeouts). This is how the rest of his game went:

• Batting in the eighth with one on and two out, he delivered an RBI double to  cut the White Sox lead to 5-2.
• Batting in the ninth with the bases loaded, two outs, and the Guardians down 8-4, he launched a Grand Slam home run to tie the contest
• Batting in the eleventh frame, with two on and two out, he hit a three-run home run to provide the final margin in the Guardians’ eventual 12-9, 11-inning win.

The Elias Sports Bureau reported that Naylor was the first  player since 1920 (when RBI became an official statistic) to drive in at least eight runs in the eighth inning and later in a game. The bigger surprise for me is that all eight RBI were two-out RBI.

2022 Second No-Hitter

On  May 10, Angels’ 22-year-old rookie southpaw Reid Detmers tossed the second no-hitter of the 2022 season and the season’s first complete-game no-no. (On April 29, five Mets’ pitchers combined to no-hit the Phillies.) Note: Detmers made five appearances for the Angels in 2021, but his rookie status was still intact. Detmers walked one and fanned two as the Angels topped the Rays 12-0 in Anaheim. He threw 108 pitches (68 strikes). Coming into the game, Detmers was 1-1, 5.32 in five 2022 starts and had not gone more than five innings in any of those appearances. In his first start after the no-hitter, he gave up three runs on three hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. Detmers was signed in the first round (tenth overall) of the 2020 MLB draft out of University of Louisville, where he went 20-6, 3.20 in three seasons. In 2021 he went 3-4, 3.19 at Double- and Triple-A and 1-3, 7.40 with the Angels.

A Walk-Walk-Walk-Off

Photo by Keith Allison

On May 10, the Yankees went into the bottom of the ninth trailing the Blue Jays 5-3 – and facing closer Jordan Romano. Yankees’ SS Isiah Kiner Falefa went down swinging to start the inning, followed by consecutive walks to C Jose Trevino and 3B DJ LeMahieu – setting up CF Aaron Judge for a game-ending, walk-off three-run home run. Which he delivered.  It was the 168^th home run of Judge’s career and his first-ever walk-off game-winning four-bagger (and it took those two walks to put him a position to deliver the 6-5 win).

A Tri-Cycle?

On May 11, Brewers DH Christian Yelich hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and home run in the same game), as Milwaukee topped the Reds 14-11.  In the process, he became just the sixth player to record three cycles in an MLB career and also the first to record three career cycles against the same teams (Reds).  For more on that May 11 game and a host of cycle trivia, click here.

How About a Trophy in the Shape of a Roll of Life Savers?

Brewers’ closer Josh Hader  set a new MLB record on Friday, May 13 – starting the season with saves in 13 straight mound appearances.  He extended that record to 18 straight appearances with a save while saving both games of a May 30 doubleheader versus the Cubs.

The Shohei Sho

On May 14, in a 9-1 Angels’ win over the A’s in Oakland, Angels’ DH Shohei Ohtani popped a two-run homer in the top of the fifth. It was his seventh of the season and 100th of his MLB career – and made him just the  third Japanese player to reach the 100 career mark in MLB (following Hideki Matsui with 175 homers and Ichiro Suzuki with 117).  It also made Ohtani just the second  MLB player with 100 or more home runs as a hitter and 250 or more career strikeouts as a pitch (the other being, of course, Babe Ruth). Just more #InBaseballWeCountEverything.

Alert Pujols Takes the Mound

On May 15, 42-year-old future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols (in his 22nd MLB season) – at the time the owner of 3,312 MLB hits, 681 home runs and 2, 156 RBI – took the mound (for the Cardinals) for the first time in his MLB career. It came in the top of the ninth, with Pujols’ Cardinals leading the Giants 15-2.  Pujols inning of work went:

• LF Darin Ruf, walk.
• CF Austin Slater, line out to center.
• 3B Even Longoria, single.
• SS Thairo Estrada, safe on fielder’s choice (Longoria out at second).
• P Luis Gonzalez, three-run home run. (Note: Gonzalez started in LF, moved to the mound in the bottom of the eighth.)
• C Joey Bart, solo home run.
• RF LaMonte Wade, Jr., ground out third-to-first.

Pujols’ pitches ranged in velocity (if you can use that word) from 46.6 mph-to-66.3 mph. Pujols has now appeared  in the field at the major-league level at every position except catcher and centerfield.

Giving veterans stars a free trip to the mound may be the Cardinals’ theme this year. On May 22nd ten-time All Star C  Yadier Molina – like Pujols in his 22nd MLB season – made his first MLB mound appearance. It came in the  bottom of the ninth inning of a game against the Pirates, with the  Cardinals leading 18-0.  Like Pujols, Molina gave up four earned runs (and two homers) in his inning of work

How about a Nice Walk-(off) in the Park?

Okay, the Orioles aren’t really going anywhere this year.  As of May 22, they were 17-25, in last place in the AL East, 14 ½ game back.  Why did I pick May 22? Because  on that day the O’s picked up their third  Walk-Off win in  four days. They topped the Rays  7-6 in eleven innings, with DH Adley Rutschman (placed on second to start the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice), scoring on a  groundball dribbler (fielder’s choice) by 2B Rougned Odor. On May 20, the O’s walked-off a 13-inning, 8-6 victory against those same Rays.  This time on a two-run home run by Odor. On May 19, they picked up a 9-6  walk-off win against the Yankees (this time in the ninth inning) on a three-run homer by RF Anthony Santander.   Baseball Roundtable note: Five of the Orioles 17 wins through May 22 were walk-offs and they were 4-0 in extra-inning  games .

Two Shots at One Big Shot

In the first inning of the Cubs’ May 16 game against the Pirates (at Wrigley Field) catcher Willson Contreras found himself at DH and in the leadoff spot. He also happened to be sitting on 99 career round trippers.  Contreras  got into one leading off the game, taking the first pitch he saw from Pirates’ starter Dillon Peters to deep right-center for a double. He got another chance later in the same inning, coming to the plate for a second time, this time with the bases loaded, two outs, the Cubs up 4-0 and Bryse Wilson on the mound.   The Willson (Contreras) versus (Bryse) Wilson matchup went in Contreras’ favor, as he smoked the first pitch he saw from Wilson for a Grand Slam home run … and his 100th career regular-season dinger. So, at that point in the game, he had seen two pitchers, had a double and a home run for six total bases, had scored twice and driven in four – and had become just the tenth major-leaguer in the Modern Era to hit a Grand Slam in the first inning while batting leadoff.  Truthfully, I am surprised it’s happened that many times. The Cubs, by the way, scored eight runs in the first inning of that 9-0 win and Contreras had three more at bats (without a hit.)

Morel’s Career Mushrooming

On May 17, Cubs 22-year-old rookie Christopher Morel made  his first MLB appearance, pinch hitting for Patrick Wisdom in the bottom of the eighth with the Cubs up 6-0 on the Pirates.  Morel quickly fell behind the Pirates’ Chase De Jong no balls-two strikes, before working the count full and then hitting a 3-2 pitch to deep left field – to joint the list of major leagues to homering their first-ever MLB plate appearance. Morel had been hitting .306-7-20 at Double-A when e was called up. At the end of May, the rookies’ MLB stat line was .283-2-5 in 11 games.

Brotherly Love

On May 17, brothers Edwin Diaz (Mets) and Alexis Diaz (Reds) both recorded saves.  They were just the third pair of brothers to record major-league saves on the same day. More proof of #InBaseballWeCountEverything. It was the senior (28-year-old) Diaz’ ninth save of the year and 182^nd career save (he led the AL in 2018 with 57 saves for the Mariners).  It was the first MLB save, coming in his 17th MLB appearance, for 25-year-old Reds’ rookie Alexis Diaz.

The other pairs of brothers to ramrod a save on the same day? Todd (Dodgers) and Tim (Padres) Worrell on June 13 , 1997 and Ravelo (Pirates) and Josias Manzanillo (Mets), on June 30^th 1994.  It was Todd Worrell’s  15 save of the season and 236^th career save and Tim Worrell’s first save of the season and second career save.  Todd pitched 11 seasons  and record 256  saves. Tim pitched 14 years and recorded 71 saves. For the Manzanillo brothers, it was Ravelo’s only save (in three MLB seasons, 53 appearances), while  it was Josias’ second save of the 1994 season and his fourth of six career saves (11 MLB seasons, 267 appearances.)

Five Long Balls in One Frame

On May 17, the Red Sox’  Nathan Eovaldi got off to a good start against the Astros in Boston. He got past 2B Jose Altuve, DH Michael Brantley and 3B Alex Bregman on a total of five pitches (all strikes) – a ground out, line out and pop out. The second inning did not go quite as well, as the Astros tied an MLB single-inning record by bashing five home runs (all off Eovaldi). The homers came off the bats of LF Yordan Alvarez, RF Kyle Tucker, SS Jeremy Pena, Brantley and 1B Yuli Gurriel.  For the complete story and a look at the the eight times an MLB team has gone yard five times in an innings, click here.

An Interesting Comeback

Cubs’ 26-year-old rookie Brandon Hughes made quite a comeback – one that brought him all the way to Wrigley field – and the baseball record book.  At the end of Spring Training in 2019, Hughes – drafted out of Michigan State University, as an outfielder, in the 16^th round of the 2017 major-league draft – was on the verge of being released by the Cubs.  The strong-armed outfielder, who had hit .237-4-35 in 110 games for  A-level South Bend in 2018, was told he would be released unless he was willing to take a shot at finding success as a pitcher (Side note:  Primarily an outfielder over three college seasons, Hughes had made seven relief appearances for Michigan State – as a freshman, in 2015 – putting up a 7.11 earned run average in 6 1/3 innings.  As a hitter, he  hit .304-13-93 in 159 games in three Michigan State seasons.)

Long story short, Hughes persevered and on May 17, found himself on the mound at Wrigley Field. He came on in the top of the sixth, with none on and one out and the Cubs leading the Pirates 6-0 and his outing wen like this.

Sixth Inning

• 2B Josh VanMeter, walk.
• CF Bryan Reynolds, strikeout.
• LF Ben Gamel, inning-ending strikeout.

Seventh inning

• DH Dan Vogelbach, strikeout.
• 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo, strikeout.
• 3B Michael Chavis, walk.
• SS Rodolfo Castro, strikeout.

Hughes was replaced to open  the top of the eighth by Mark Leiter, Jr.

Oh, that record-book thing? STATS reported that Hughes was the first MLB pitcher since 1900 to record at least five outs in their MLB debut with all those outs coming via the strikeout.  Just more #InBaseballWeCountEverything.

At the end of May, Hughes had a 3,72  ERA over seven  appearances. Guess that switch paid off.

1-2-3 and You’re Out at the Old Ball Game

On May 20, The Nationals turned 2022’s first MLB triple play in a 7-0 loss to the Brewers (in Milwaukee).  It came in the bottom of the seventh. The inning started with the Nationals’ Carl Edwards, Jr. walking Brewers’ 3B Jace Peterson and 2B Kolten Wong.  On the first pitch in his at bat, SS Luis Urias hit a groundball to third.  Nationals’ 3B Maikel Franco  snagged it, stepped on the bag and fired to 2B Cesar Hernandez, who made the pivot and got the ball to 1B Josh Bell for the triple-killing. The odds, of course, favor this, but Baseball Roundtable did note that all six involved players (batter, base runners and fielders) were infielders.

More #InBaseballWeCountEverything

On May 21, 27-year-old Rockies’ rookie catcher Brian Serven collected his first major-league hit. It came in his second career game since a call up from Triple-A Albuquerque, where he was hitting .273-5-11 in 23 games.  After going zero-for-two in his first MLB games (May 177), Serven hit a two-run home run in his first May 17 at bat (bottom of the second inning versus the Mets).  He then grounded out in fifth, hit another two-run home run in the sixth and flied out in the seventh. According to MLB.com, that performance made Serven  the only player in MLB history whose first two major-league hits were multi-run homers in the same game.

Reeling in a Nice Round Number

On May 21, as the Angels topped the A’s 5-3 in Anaheim, Mike Trout went zero-for-three with a walk with a run scored.  The run scored was the 1,000^th of his 12-season (including 2022) MLB career – making him just the third player in MLB history to score at least 1,000 runs, hit at least 300 home runs and steal at least 200 bases by his age-30 season. The others? Willie Mays and Alex Rodriguez.  Pretty good company.  or those who like to know such things, Trout has led the AL in runs scored four times.

Time to buy that “Old Guys Rule T-Shirt.”

In May, 39-year-old Astros’ starter Justin Verlander went 4-1, 2.27 in five starts,  – giving him a 6-2, 2.03 record on the season. 

Reds Leave Cubs Red-Faced

On May 26, the Reds pounded the Cubs 20-5 in front of 3,578 delighted (despite a 59-minute rain delay)  home-town fans. It was the first 20-run game for the Reds since a 22-3 win over the Phillies on September 4, 1999.  What struck Baseball Roundtable about the May 26 game is that five Reds’ hitters drove in three or more runs:

• SS Kyle Farmer … 4-for-4, five RBI (two home runs)
• 2B Matt Reynolds … 3-for-3, three RBI (one triple)
• LF Albert Amora, Jr. … 3-for-5, three RBI
• DH Tommy Pham … 2-for-4, three RBI (one double)
• 3B Brandon Drury … 2-for-6, three RBI (one double)

In the September 4, 1999 win over the Phillies (in Philadelphia), six Reds collected at least three RBI:  2B Pokey Reese (3); RF Dmitri Young (4); LF Greg Vaughn (3); C Ed Taubensee (3); 3B Aaron Boone (3); and 3B Mark Lewis, who replaced Boone in the sixth inning (3). In that one, the Reds got home runs from Reese, Young, Vaughn, Taubensee (two homers), Boone, Lewis, CF Jeffrey Hammonds and C Brian Johnson.

Trevor’s Story

On May 15, Trevor Story had appeared in 29 of the Red Sox’ 34 games and was hitting a disappointing .196, with just one home run and 15 RBI. Then, in a ten-game span, between May 16 and May 26, Story went 13-for-39 (.333), with eight home runs and 22 RBI – improving his season line to .232-9-37.  He finished May .220-9-37 on the season. 

Like Father, Like Son – Except on the Other Side of the Pitch

On May 30, the Tigers called up 26-year-old Kody Clemens (Roger Clemens’ youngest son) from Triple-A Toledo. Clemens, a 2018 third-round draft choice out of the University of Texas at Austin, was hitting .283-8-31 (in 45 games) for Toledo. – and had appeared at 1B, 2B, 3B and LF.  Clemens made his MLB  debut May 31, going zero-for three, with one walk.

–——Team  Statistical Leaders  Through May 31  ———-

If the season ended May 31, your post-season teams would be”

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

National League:  Dodgers< Mets, Brewers. Wild Cards: Padres, Cardinals; Giants.

RUNS SCORED (average 209)

National League – Dodgers (270); Mets (266); Giants (244)

American League – Angels (2356; Red Sox (235); Yankees (229)

Through May, the fewest runs were scored by the Tigers at 138. The next fewest was by the Pirates (166).

AVERAGE (average .240)

National League – Mets (.268); Rockies (.265); Nationals (.254)

American League – Red Sox  (.258); Angels (.250); Twins (.248)

The lowest team average through May belonged to the A’s at .213. The Diamondbacks were the lowest in the NL at .220.

HOME RUNS (average 49)

National League – Brewers (70); Braves (62); Diamondbacks (59); Dodgers (59)

American League –  Yankees (69); Angels (68); Astros (64)

The Tigers had the fewest home runs through May at 29.  The Nationals had the fewest in the NL at 32. 

STOLEN BASES (average 25)

National League – Cardinals (40); Cubs (34); Brewers (31);

American League – Rangers (39); Rays (34); A’s (34)

The Twins and Rockies stole the fewest bass through May at just ten each – in seventeen and eighteen attempts, respectively.  

WALKS DRAWN  (average 156)

National League –   Dodgers (208); Giants (184); Diamondbacks (182)

American League – Twins (181); Mariners (174); Yankees (170)

The Mets led MLB  in on-base percentage through May at .337. The Twins led the AL  at .325. In slugging percentage, the Dodgers were  on top at .430, while the Angels  led the AL at .425.

BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS (average 409)

National League – Braves (487); Diamondbacks (471); Brewers (451)

American League – Angels (451); Orioles (438); A’s (432)

Guardians’ batters went down on strikes the fewest times through May  (324).

EARNED RUN AVERAGE (average 3.93)

National League – Dodgers (2.76); Brewers (3.36); Padres (3.40)

American League – Astros (2.82); Yankees (2.91); Rays (3.36)

Three teams had ERAs through May  of 5.00  or higher – Reds  (5.41); Nationals (5.23); Royals (5.10)

STRIKEOUTS (average 434)

National League – Brewers (500); Mets (463); Phillies (461)

American League – Yankees (449); White Sox (440); Twins (436)

The Brewers  averaged an MLB-best 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings through May. The White Sox averaged an AL-best 9.4.

FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED (average 156)

National League – Dodgers (125); Giants (136); Mets (146)

American League –  Yankees (121); Rays (123); Blue Jays (122)

The Rays and Yankees walked a stringiest 2.5  batters per nine frames through May. The Reds walked an MLB’s highest 4.3 per nine innings.

SAVES (average 13)

National League – Brewers (23); Padres (19); Braves (15); Rockies (15); Diamondbacks (15)

American League – Blue Jays (21); White Sox (18); Yankees (17)

Bonus Stats – In the Field

The  Pirates  made the most errors through May (39); while  the Padres were guilty of the fewest miscues (16).   

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

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Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Yesterday (May 11, 2022),  Brewers’ DH Christian Yelich,  hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and home run all in one game) for the third time in his career.  (Despite, Yelich’s heroics, the Brewers lost to the Reds (in Cincinnati) by a 14-11 scored.  Yelich had a ground-rule double in he first inning; a three-run home run in the third; a single in the fifth; flied out to CF in the seventh; and recorded the often-elusive triple in the top of the ninth.

In the process, Yelich became:

• Just the sixth player to record three cycles in an MLB career; and
• the first player to record three career cycles against the same team (Reds).

Before yesterday’s performance, Yelich was already:

• One of just five MLB players to record two cycles in a season; and
• the only MLB player to record two cycles in a season against the same team (Reds).

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

In celebration of Yelich’s achievement, Baseball Roundtable thought this might be a good time to revisit come cycle trivia.

The Most Cycles Ever

Only six MLB players have hit for the cycle three times in their careers: John Reilly (Red Stockings, twice in 1883 and Reds in 1890); Babe Herman (Brooklyn Robins, twice in 1931 and Cubs in 1933); Bob Meusel (Yankees in 1921, 1922 and 1928); Adrian Beltre (Mariners in 2008, Rangers in 2012 and 2015); Trea Turner (Nationals in 2017, 2019 and 2021); and Christian Yelich (Brewers, twice in 2018, 2022).

The Most Cycles Ever in One Season

Only five players have collected two cycles in one season. Among those, Brewers’ outfielder Christian Yelich is the only one to hit for the cycle against the same team (the Reds) twice in the same campaign. In Yelich’s 2018 MVP season, he hit for the cycle on August 29, as the Brewers topped the Reds 13-12 in ten innings in Cincinnati. He doubled up on cycles on September 17, as the Brewers topped the Reds 8-0 in Milwaukee.

The  Only Pitcher Ever to Record a Win and Hit for the Cycle in the Same Game

On July 28, 1888 – as the Chicago White Stockings topped the Detroit Wolverines, 21-17 –  Jimmy Ryan  started in CF for Chicago with Mark Baldwin on the mound.  In the bottom of the second – with two out, six runs scored in the inning and the bases loaded – Chicago Manager Cap Anson had Baldwin and Ryan change places.  Ryan fanned Detroit pitcher Charles “Lady” Baldwin to end the inning, with the White Stockings trailing 7-4. Chicago tied the game at 8-8 in the top of the fourth and went on to win 21-17.

Ryan got the victory, pitching 7 1/3 innings, allowing ten runs. He also went five-for-six at the plate (a single, double, two triples and a home run), was safe on error, scored three runs, drove in four and stole a pair of bases.  In the process, he became the first (and still only) player to record a pitching victory and a cycle in the same game.  (For the season, Ryan hit .332, leading the National League in hits with 182, doubles with 33 and home runs with 16). On the mound, he was 4-0, 3.05 in eight appearances (two starts).  For his 18-season MLB career (1885-1900, 1902-03), Ryan hit.308-118-1,093, with 419 steals (2,014 games). On the mound he was 6-1, 3.62 in 24 games (five starts).

The Fastest Cycle Ever

On June 18, 2000, Colorado Rockies’ second baseman Mike Lansing completed the cycle in just four innings – making it  the quickest cycle in MLB history. Notably, Lansing was consistently behind in the counts and three of his four hits came with two strikes. Lansing, batting second in the order, hit:

• An RBI triple to right in the first inning, on a 1-2 pitch;
• A two-run home run (0-1 pitch) in the bottom of the second;
• A two-run double (2-2 pitch) in the bottom of the third (as the Rockies scored nine times to take a 14-1 lead); and
• A single (another 1-2 offering) to right in the fourth.

Lansing then struck out in the sixth, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter (Darren Bragg) in the eighth. Lansing ended the day four-for-five, with three runs scored and five RBI, as the Rockies torched the Diamondbacks 19-2 in Denver.

The “Slowest” Cycle Ever

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 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.)

Longest Time Ever Between Cycles

Among players with multiple cycles, George Brett went the longest time between cycles – 11 years & 57 days. He hit for the cycle on May 28, 1979 (his age-26 season) and again on June 24, 1990 (his age-37 season).

Something Old … Something New

The youngest MLB player ever to hit for the cycle is the NY Giants’ Mel Ott (age 20 and 75 days) on May 16, 1929).  The oldest player to hit for the cycle is The Angels’ Dave Winfield (age 39 and 264 days) on June 24, 1991.

Three’s a Crowd

Between August 2 and August 14 1933, three MLB players it for the cycle.  Mickey Cochrane (August 2); Pinky Higgins (August 6); Jimmie Foxx (August 14).  All three were suited up for the Philadelphia Athletics.

Sharing the Wealth

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).

Quote the Raven, “Nevermore”

The Marlins are the only MLB team to never have a batter record a cycle.

The Biggest Seasons for Cycles

MLB a record nine cycles in 1933 and 2009.  Here are the hitters.

1933: Pepper Martin, Cardinals; Chuck Klein, Phillies; Arky Vaughn, Pirates; Mickey Cochrane, Athletics; Pinky Higgins, Athletics; Jimmie Foxx, Athletics; Earl Averill, Indians; Babe Herman, Cubs.

2009:  Orlando Hudson, Dodgers; Ian Kinsler, Rangers; Jason Kubel, Twins; Michael Cuddyer, Twins; Melky Cabrera, Yankees; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies; Felix Pie, Orioles; B.J. Upton, Rays.

Hitting (running) into an Out for the Cycle

Photo by rchdj10

The Yankees’ 1B Lou Gehrig (kind of) 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 for a cycle.

Nearly a Cycle – In One Inning

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 bat the end of the first inning – and had tied an MLB record with three hits in an inning.  (The Red Sox scored 14 runs in the first inning, on their way to a 25-3 win over the Marlins at Fenway.) 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. In his final three at bats Damon: struck out; flied out to center; singled to right; singled past third base.

Here’s how that first inning went:

• Johnny Damon – Double past first base down the line.  (Off starter Carl Pavano.)
• Todd Walker – Single, Damon scores.
• Nomar Garciaparra – Double.
• Manny Ramirez – Home run, scoring three.
• David Ortiz – Double.
• Kevin Millar – Single, Ortiz scores.

Michael Tejera replaces Pavano on the mound.

• Trot Nixon – Single.
• Bill Mueller – Walk, loading the bases.
• Jason Varitek – Single, Millar and Nixon score.
• Damon – Triple to deep right field, Mueller and Varitek score.
• Walker – Single, Damon scores.

Allen Levrault takes over for Tejera – at this point, we’ve seen two pitchers, 11 batters, ten hits, one walk, nine runs and no outs.

• Garciaparra – Foul pop out.
• Ramirez – Single.
• Ortiz – Walk, loading the bases.
• Millar – Sacrifice fly, scoring Walker.
• Nixon – Walk, loading the bases.
• Mueller – Double, scoring Ramirez and Ortiz.
• Varitek – Walk.
• Damon – Line drive single to left, Nixon scores, Mueller is thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Red Sox score 14 runs on 13 hits and four walks; Damon collects a single, double and triple.

The Cycle … From a Family Perspective

Only two father-son combinations have hit for the cycle at the major-league level – and both involved rookies.

Gary Ward hit for the cycle as a rookie (in just his 14th game) for the Twins on September 18, 1980. His son Daryle hit for the cycle for the Pirates (against the Cardinals) on May 26, 2004 (in his seventh MLB season).

In 2018, Blues Jays’ rookie Cavan Biggio – in a September 17 game against the Orioles – hit for the cycle.  Cavan’s father, Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, hit for the cycle (for the Astros versus the Rockies) on April 8, 2002.

The Cycle … Sometimes it Skips a Generation

Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfielder Gus Bell hit for the cycle on June 4, 1951 – as the Pirates topped the Phillies 12-4 in Philadelphia. Fifty-three seasons later – on June 28, 2004 – Phillies’ 3B David Bell (Gus Bell’s grandson) hit for the cycle (also in Philadelphia), as the Phillies topped the Expos 14-6.   Gus and David Bell are the only grandfather-grandson combination to achieve MLB cycles.

Cycles … A Big Stage Perspective

Brock Holt is the only player to record a cycle in the post season. He did it on October 8, 2018, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees 16-1 in Game Three of the American League Division Series. Holt grounded out in the top of the second inning; had a single and a triple in the Yankees seven-run fourth; grounded out in the sixth; hit a ground-rule double in the eighth; and managed to finish his cycle  with a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth. It was Holt’s second career cycle.  He had a regular-season cycle for the Red Sox on June 16, 2015, as Boston topped Atlanta 9-4 at Fenway. He also completed that cycle with two outs in Boston’s last offensive inning – hitting a triple with two down in the bottom of the eighth.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Almanac.com; Baseball-Reference.com; “July 28, 1888: Jimmy Ryan hits for cycle as Chicago White Stockings win 21-17 slugging match, ” by Mike Huber, SABR.

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