Ballpark Tours, based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota, is offering a trio of trips – that can take you everywhere from Chattanooga to Chicago to Havana – in 2016.  If you are looking for a unique baseball experience, it’s time to sign up for the bus (or plane).

There is really nothing like a Ballpark Tours trek (I’ve been on 27 of them). It is the perfect way to enjoy the national pastime – good times with good friends (old and new) who share a passion for baseball and adventure.  It’s would not be an exaggeration to say that once you get on a Ballpark Tours bus, every mile is a memory.

Here’s a brief rundown (details courtesty of Ballpark Tours) of the 2016 trips, for more info and sign-up, click here.

Tennessee Three Step – Ten Games, Seven Cities, Ten Days

Kansas City is the Major League Stop on the Tennesee Three Step – which includes fun times in Nashville and Memphis.

In mid-August Ballpark Tours is departing on what Baseball Roundtable has dubbed “The Baseball Trip of a Lifetime.”  Ballpark Tours calls it Bleacher Bums XXXIV – The Tennessee Three Step. (Yes, Ballpark Tours has been around that long).

Bleacher Bums XXXIV, leaving out of Saint Paul, Minnesota on August 12, will take you to ten games in seven cities in ten days.  And, if you’ve ever wanted to compare the quality of play at various levels (as well as culture of the game and the towns and cities in which it is played), this trip is for you. It includes professional baseball at almost every level – Independent, A, AA, AAA and Major League.

You’ll also be able to enjoy the culture, cuisine (and beverages), history and arts of the cities along the way, including two nights each in Memphis, Nashville and Kansas City (also on the trip: Peoria, Marion, Chattanooga and Des Moines). You can expect BPT’s usual good hotels, well-located – and all the usual high spirits, hi-jinx and BPT hoopla.

September Pennant Run- The Amazing Cubbies

Gotta love Wrigley – and this could be the Cubs’ year.

Want to take in some meaningful September games in an historic ballpark, then Ballpark Tours September Pennant Run (September 22-25) may be just the ticket.  Leaving from Saint Paul, MN, this trip includes a pair of Cubs/Cardinals games in Wrigley and a Brewers/Pirates matchup in Milwaukee – plus three nights at the historic Palmer House in downtown Chicago.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy a weekend of Blues, Brews and (pennant race) Baseball.

Cuba – The Diamonds to our South II

December 1 – 11, 2016

Another great Ballpark Tours trip to Cuba.  You’ll enjoy nine days in Cuba, five cities, three great hotels, Baseball People to People Events – and more.

Enjoy the glory of Cuba and Cuban baseball on a trip that includes:

• 10 nights accommodations including one night in Miami;
• Daily Breakfasts, lunches and six Dinners in Cuba;
• Admissions to ballgames, museums & cultural events;
• Meetings with ballplayers, sports officials and historians;
• Professional Tours of Havana, Vinales, Trinidad and Cienfuegos;
• Rum – Cigars – Music … and, of course BPT HOOPLA!!!!

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Photo by Keith Allison

Yesterday (July 3, 2016), Yankees’ 1B Mark Teixeira got an early start on his Independence Day fireworks – clubbing a pair of home runs as the Bombers topped the Padres 6-3 in San Diego. It was an all-or-nothing kind of day for the New York slugger, who struck out in his first three at bats and homered in his final two.  (Teixeira is hitting just .192 on the season, with seven round trippers and 58 strike outs in 198 at bats.)

Teixeira’s round trippers not only helped the Yankees to a victory, they also had notable historic significance. They were Teixeira’s 400^th and 401^st  career home runs, making Teixeira just the fifth switch hitter to reach the 400 home run mark.  (Teixeira’s fellow Yankee Carlos Beltran reached 400 home runs on May 15 of this season.)

SWITCH HITTERS WITH AT LEAST 400 CAREER HOME RUNS

         Mickey Mantle            536

         Eddie Murray              504

         Chipper Jones              468

         Carlos Beltran             412 (still active)

         Mark Teixeira              401 (still active)

Mickey Mantle – King of the Switch Hitters

BBRT would like to use Teixeira’s accomplishment as a springboard to a look at some switch-hitting power records – which, by the way, provide evidence that, while Beltran and Teixeira moved up the switch-hitting hierarchy this season, Mickey Mantle is still the king.

• The record for home runs in a season by a switch-hitter is 54, by Yankee great Mickey Mantle in 1961. Mantle is, in fact, the only switch-hitter ever to reach 50 homers in a campaign; and he did it twice, with 52 in 1956 and 54 in 1961. (Ironically, the year Mantle set the record, he did not win the HR crown. It went to teammate Roger Maris with 61.)
• The NL record for home runs by a switch hitter belongs to the Braves’ Chipper Jones, with 45 in 1999. Like Mantle, Jones did not win the HR title in his record-setting season. Mark McGwire, then with the Cardinals, swatted 65.
• Mickey Mantle is the only switch-hitter to ever win the Triple Crown (.353-52-130 for the Yankees in 1956).

Mickey Mantle won more HR crowns than any other switch-hitter.  Here are the switching hitting HR champs:

• Walt Wilmot, Cubs, 1890 – 13 HRs
• Ripper Collins, Cardinals, 1934 – 35 HRs
• Mickey Mantle, Yankees, 1955 – 37 HRs
• Mickey Mantle, Yankees, 1956 – 52 HRs
• Mickey Mantle, Yankees, 1958 – 42 HRs
• Mickey Mantle, Yankees, 1960 – 4 0HRs
• Eddie Murray, Orioles, 1981 – 21 HRs (strike shortened)
• Howard Johnson, Mets, 1991 – 38 HRs
• Mark Teixeira, Yankees, 2009 – 39 HRs

Both of Teixeira’s home runs in yesterday’s game came as a left-handed batter – but I’d like to take a look at a more unique accomplishment, players who have hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game.  It’s not as rare a feat as you might think.  It’s been accomplished  291 times (174 in the American League, 117 in the National League).

• The first player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game was Wally Schange of the Philadelphia Athletics on September 8, 1916.
• The most recent player to homer from both sides of the pate in the same game was Nick Swisher (for the Braves on August 22, 2015).
• The career record for homering from both sides of the plate in the same games is 14 – shared by Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher. Leaders among players homering from both side of the plate in the same game:
  • Mark Teixeira – 14 times
  • Nick Swisher – 14
  • Carlos Beltran – 12
  • Chili Davis – 11
  • Eddie Murray – 11
  • Tony Clark- 10
  • Ken Caminiti – 10
  • Mickey Mantle – 10
• In 1996, the Padres’ Ken Caminiti hit a home run for both sides of the plate in the same game a record four times in a single season – three times in the month of August alone. Note: Caminiti also achieved the feat three times in a single month in September of 1995.

From 1955-1965, a game in which a player homered from both sides of the plate occurred in the AL 14 times, with 13 of those being Yankees (Mickey Mantle 10, Tom Tresh 3). 

The only non-Yankee to achieve the feat in the AL during that time span was the Red Sox’ Pumpsie Green (August 15, 1961). Green hit a total of just 13 home runs in his five-season MLB career.  BBRT Note: Green achieved historic significance as the first African-American player for the Boston Red Sox – the last MLB team to break the color line (1959). In the 1955-65 time span, there were only three NL games which saw a player homer from both sides of the plate – two by the Cubs’ Ellis Burton, one by the Dodgers’ Maury Wills.

• Only three players have hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning: Carlos Baerga, Indians (April 9, 1993); Mark Bellhorn, Cubs (August 29, 2002); Kendrys Morales, Angels (July 30, 2012).
• In the post season, a game with a home run from both sides of the plate has been achieved just four times: Twice by the Yankees’ Bernie Williams (Game Three of the 1995 ALDS and Game Four of the 1996 ALDS); the Braves Chipper Jones (Game Four of the 2003 NLDS); and the A’s Milton Bradley  (Game Two of the 2006 ALCS).

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance

Photo by Keith Allison

Photo by theseanster93

Yesterday, the Cleveland Indians won their 14th straight game in spectacular fashion – 2-1 over the Blue Jays in 19 innings (on a Carlos Santana home run). The contest took six hours and 13 minutes and the two teams sent 19 pitchers (well, there were a couple of position players in that mix) to the mound.

All of that brought to mind just HOW MUCH THE GAME HAS CHANGED … and the fact that, back on May 1, 1920, Boston (NL) and Brooklyn  played 26 innings to a 1-1 tie (called on account of darkness) … and BOTH STARTERS WENT THE DISTANCE.

May 1, 1920

Brooklyn              000 010 000 000 000 000 000 000 00           1   9   2

Boston                  000 001 000 000 000 000 000 000 00           1 15  2

Starting pitchers Leon Cadore of Brooklyn and Joe Oeschger of Boston (NL) each threw more than 300 pitches (analysts estimate Cardore at 345 and Oeschger at 319) in completing their 26-inning, record-setting starts. Cadore gave up 15 hits and five walks, while fanning 7; while Oeschger allowed only nine hit and four walks, while also striking out seven batters.   Oh, and here’s another sign of how the game has changed, the time of the 26-inning contest was only 3 hours and 50 minutes.

For BBRT’s look at what has happened to the complete game in MLB, click here. 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member:  Society for American Baseball Research; The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance. 

Happy Fathers Day Baseball Fans!  Griffey Senior and Junior go back-to-back … now that’s father and son bonding at the old ball game.

Yesterday (May 9), as the Marlins topped the Brewers 4-1 in Miami, Marlins’ catcher J.T. Realmuto had what would have been his third home run of the season turned into an out on the base paths and an RBI single. It came in the second inning, after Realmuto hit what appeared to be a two-run homer (Marlins’ CF Marcell Ozuna was on first base). Ozuna, however, thought Brewers’ CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis had a chance to track the ball down at the wall. So, Ozuna was returning to first base, in case he had to tag up – just as Realmuto was rounding the bag.  For a brief couple of seconds, Realmuto passed Ozuna on the base paths and, in accordance with the rules, was called out – resulting in a 409-foot, RBI single.

Land of the Lost – Let’s Look at Some “Lost” Long Balls

BBRT brings this play up not because it is so rare (there have been dozens of “lost’ home runs) or even because it had an impact on the outcome of the game (the Marlins still won 4-1).   Rather, I am using it as a segue into a look at my own very subjective list of the five most significant or interesting lost round trippers.

Now, for purposes of this post, I am eliminating unavoidably lost (from the players’ and coaches’ points of view) home runs.  This includes those lost under such circumstances as rain outs, bad calls by umpires, forfeited games, unusual ground rules (catwalks, speaker wires, etc.). I’ll focus on those home runs lost due to what I would consider avoidable circumstances –  such as players’ base running errors, coaches’ mistakes, batting out of order, etc.   So, here are BBRT’s five most significant or interesting lost home runs.

1. Number-one on the list is pretty easy. It was not only a lost home run, but a lost “extra-inning, walk-off Grand Slam – IN THE POST SEASON. In fact, had it not been lost, it would have been the first walk-off, Grand Slam in MLB post-season history.

Robin Ventura – hit the true GRAND-daddy of lost home runs.

It came on October 17, 1999, in the fifteenth inning of Game Five of the National League Championship Series between the Braves and Mets (in New York). The Braves had a three games-to-one lead in the NLCS, and Game Five had been tied at 2-2 since the fourth inning. In the top of the fifteenth, Atlanta had taken a 3-2 lead on a single by SS Walt Weiss and a triple by 2B Keith Lockhart. The Mets, however, came right back in the bottom of the inning. It started with a single and stolen base by CF Shawon Dunston, followed by a walk to pinch hitter Matt Franco, a successful sacrifice by 2B Edgardo Alfonzo and an intentional walk to 1B John Olerud.  Catcher Todd Pratt then drew a walk to force in the tying run.  This brought 3B Robin Ventura to the plate with the game tied and the bases loaded – and that’s when the fun began.

Ventura launched a ball over the right field fence (off right-hander Kevin McGlinchy) for what appeared to be a game-winning, walk-off Grand Slam.  However, once the winning run crossed the plate, Pratt turned and ran back to Ventura to give him a celebratory hug. At about the same time, a cadre of Mets poured out of the dugout and onto the field to celebrate the victory. Since, in the chaos, each runner advanced only one base before Ventura passed Pratt on the base paths, the Mets’ 3B was credited not with a Grand Slam, but with an RBI-single.

The lost home run would have been the first game-ending, walk-off Grand Slam in MLB post-season history. Instead, that honor went to the Rangers’ Nelson Cruz, in Game Two of the 2011 American League Championship Series.

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2.   Number-two on my list of lost long balls, is significant for putting a dismal exclamation point on one of the best games ever pitched. Like number-one, it put an end to an extra-inning contest – this time in the thirteenth inning.  More significant, it put an end to a game in which the starting, and losing, pitcher had been perfect for 12 innings.  That’s right 36 up and 36 down going into the unlucky 13^th.

Joe Adcock – spoiled Harvey Haddix’ day.

On May 26, 1959, the Pirates’ Harvey Haddix took the mound against the powerhouse Milwaukee Braves (who had won the National League pennant the previous two seasons and came into the game again leading the league).  Haddix retired the first 36 hitters in order (eight strikeouts), carrying a perfect game into the bottom of the 13th.  Unfortunately, the Braves’ Lew Burdette, despite giving up 12 hits and fanning only two, had held the Pirates scoreless. Braves 2B Felix Mantilla led off the Braves’ half off the 13th by reaching on error by Pirates’ 3B Don Hoak. Slugging Milwaukee 3B Eddie Mathews bunted Mantilla over to second, which led to an intentional walk to RF Hank Aaron, bringing up 1B Joe Adcock.  Adcock rapped a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence for what appeared to be a three-run home run.  However, the Braves, in celebrating the tension-filled victory, forgot how to run the bases. Adcock passed Aaron between second and third and, after some deliberation, Adcock was called out – changing his three-run homer to a one-run double. So, despite 12 perfect innings, Haddix lost the no-hitter, the shutout and the game itself.  Consolation for Adcock – all he lost was a home run and a couple RBI.

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3. Third place on this list goes to a lost home run that would have been the only home run in a player’s career.

On April 17, 1914, the Federal League Buffalo Blues were facing off against the Baltimore Terrapins in Baltimore. In that contest, Blues’ RF and cleanup hitter Luther Bonin bashed what he thought was his first major league home run.  As Bonin rounded third base, Blues’ manager Larry Schlafy, coaching third, patted him on the back. Now, the rules prohibit such contact (touching or holding a runner) if, in the judgment of the umpire, the contact “assists” the runner.  The umpire made that judgment and Bonin was called out on coach’s interference and credited with a triple.  The faux pas did not affect the outcome of the game– the Blues topped the Terrapins 4-3. It did affect Bonin’s line in the record books; robbing him of the only home run he hit in his 21-game MLB career.  On the bright side, it did earn him his only career three-bagger.

Honorable Mention. A lost home run that escaped Tigers’ SS Frank Sigafoos (had to get the name in here) on April 21, 1929 gets an honorable mention here. In a game in which the Tigers topped the Saint Louis Browns 16-9, Sigafoos hit what he thought was his first MLB home run. However, the umpire had called a balk on the pitch (which is why it doesn’t exactly fit the criteria for a spot on the list)– negating Sigafoos’ long ball.  While it didn’t affect the outcomes of the game, it did cost Sigafoos the only round tripper in his three-year, 55-game MLB career.

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4. Number four on this list is significant in that it gave Babe Ruth a share of the 1931 home run title – which sets the record for HR titles in a career at 12, rather than 11.

It happened on April 26, 1931, with the Yankees facing the Senators in Washington. In the top of the first, with Yankee SS Lyn Lary on first base and two out, New York 1B Lou Gehrig hit a home run to center field (off Senators’ starter Firpo Marberry – not significant, just like the name).  The hard hit ball however, bounced back out of the bleachers to Senators’ CF Harry Rice.  Lary thinking the ball was caught, headed to the dugout – without touching the plate. Gehrig was declared out for passing Lary and credited with a triple.  This one did affect the game – which the Yankees lost 9-7 (after losing Gehrig’s two-run blast). Further, it cost Gehrig the outright AL home run crown, he ended the season tied with Ruth at 46. Gehrig also set the AL single-season RBI record at 185 in 1931, Had he not lost that home run, the record would be 187.

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5. No one likes to “lose” a home run – particularly a Grand Slam and, even more particularly, a pinch-hit Grand Slam.  And that combination takes the five-spot on the list.

It happened on July 9, 1970, with the Red Sox facing the Tigers in Detroit. In the bottom of the seventh inning of a 3-3 game – with two outs and the bases loaded – the Tigers called on Dalton Jones (who had been traded from the Red Sox to the Tigers in the off season) to pinch hit for catcher Jim Price.  Jones launched a long ball into the right field upper deck for an apparent Grand Slam. For some reason (Remember, this ball was in the upper deck.), the base runner at first (Don Wert) decided to tag up – and was passed on the base paths by Jones. Jones was called out and credited with a three-run single. Dalton’s three RBI did help the Tigers win the contest by a 7-3 score. Note: It would have Jones first MLB Grand Slam.

Honorable Mention:  As I’ve noted, no one likes to lose a Grand slam – especially a pitcher. On September 20, 1972, Steve Busby started on the mound for the Royals against the Angels (in Anaheim). Rudy May started for California – and it was a rocky beginning. In fact, Busby – hitting in the nine-spot – came to bat in the top of the first with the bases loaded, four runs in (thanks to a Grand Slam by 1B John Mayberry) and just one out. Busby hit a Grand Slam off reliever Lloyd Allen – at least he thought he did. However, first base umpire had called time out before the pitch – negating the blast – which would have made Busby part of a record-tying two Grand slam inning. Busby did eventually touch Allen for a two-run single to center in his extended at bat, but I’m sure he would rather have had the Grand Slam.  (By the way, the Royals won 9-2, Busby pitched a complete-game seven-hitter – and collected three hits and three RBI of his own.

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Well, April is behind us and – if you are from Minnesota, you are banking on the old “April showers bring May flowers” adage, because it’s been plenty wet here.  April not only brought showers to Minnesota, but also plenty of action to major league baseball – from the Dodgers opening the season with three straight shutouts to a no-hitter by the Cubs’ Jake Arietta (his second) to Rockies’ rookie Trevor Story’s ten April home runs (tying the MLB rookie record) to A.J. Pierzynski becoming just the ninth catcher to reach 2,000 hits.  It was an eventful month – and it’s time for BBRT’s traditional look at the past month of the MLB season. I hope you enjoy this look back at April – and come across a highlight or two you may have missed.  (Note:  April is always the easiest month to “wrap,” since monthly and year-to-date leaders are the same.) Before we get into detailed highlights and statistics, here are a few quick observations.

First a few quick observations:

• MLB had only one qualifying .400 hitter through April 30 – the Cardinals’ 25-year-old rookie SS Aledmys Diaz at .423. (with four home runs and 13 RBI).
• The NL West finished April with zero – yes, zero – teams playing .500 ball. The Dodgers, Giants and Rockies share the Division lead – all with losing records (one game under.500).
• Two players were tied for the MLB lead in home runs at 10 – and they both played for the Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado (Last season’s NL home run leader) and 23-year-old rookie SS Trevor Story. For those who track such things, the most HR’s ever hit in April is 14 – a record shared by Albert Pujols (Cardinals 2006) and Alex Rodriguez (Yankees, 2007). The most home runs in any month goes to Sammy Sosa, who hit 20 for the Cubs in June of 1998.
• The Cubs’ Jake Arietta tied for the MLB lead in wins this April (5-0, 1.00 ERA) – and threw the season’s first no-hitter.
• Jordan Zimmermann moved smoothly from the NL (Nationals) to the AL (Tigers), putting up MLB’s lowest ERA for the month (among qualifiers), going 5-0, with a 0.55 ERA. The Cubs’ Jason Hammel was the only other pitcher to finish the month with an ERA under 1.00 (3-0, 0.75).
• Despite the presence of the DH in the AL, the top three scoring teams (and six of the top seven) in April were from the NL.
• Cubs’ pitchers held batters to a .199 average, while the opposition hit over .300 (.301) against the Brewers’ staff.
• Twenty-three individual players out-homered the Braves, who had just five long balls for the month.
• In the “How the Game has Changed” department, April saw only seven complete games in MLB – and no team had more than one.
• We saw two triple plays: one of the traditional third-to second-to first (5-4-3) variety and another which started in right field and ended up involving the first baseman, catcher, shortstop and third baseman. (More on that later).
• As noted earlier, we saw one April no-hitter – and we also witnessed 17 Grand Slams.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS – BEFORE THE STATISTICS

A Two-Edged Sword.

The Dodgers and Padres tied and broke a couple records in their opening series.  The Dodgers tied a record by opening a season with three straight shutouts, while the Padres set a record by failing to score in their first three games of the season.

• On Opening Day (April 4) in San Diego, the Dodgers (behind Clayton Kershaw and two relievers) trounced the Padres 15-0, in the worst opening day shutout lost in MLB history.
• The April 5 game, started by Dodger Scott Kazmir, was more competitive, as LA sTopped San Diego 3-0. Kazmir and a trio of relievers gave up just two hits, no walks and recorded 11 strikeouts.
• Then, on April 6, LA’S Kenta Maeda and three relievers topped the Padres 7-0.

The only other team to open a season with three shutouts was the 1963 Cardinals (April 9, 10 and 13) – whose three-game opening shutouts stretch included two games on the road against the Mets (7-0, 4-0) and the home opener against the Phillies (7-0). Another illustration of “How the Game Has Changed” – The Cardinals string of three shutouts to open the season included three complete games (a two-hitter by Ernie Broglio; a four-hitter by Ray Washburn; and a 5-hitter by Curt Simmons).

Chicago – the WIN-dy City.

hChris Sale led the White Sox with five April Wins.
Photo by: Keith Allison

No teams won more games this April than the Cubs (17-5) and White Sox (17-8) – and so Chicago stands atop both the AL and NL Central Divisions. (The Cubs were the only team with a .700+ winning percentage at .773.) The White Sox did it with pitching.  At the end of April, they ranked seventh in the AL in runs scored, but had given up the fewest run in the junior circuit (76 runs allowed, tied with the Mariners) and had the AL’s lowest ERA at 2.72 ERA. Over in the NL, the young Cubs did it all – posting the NL’s second-lowest ERA (2.39) and second-most runs scored (136).

Leading the way on the mound for the White Sox?  Pretty much everyone.  The ChiSox closed April with nine pitchers (three starters) with ERA’s under 2.00. Particular Kudos to starters Chris Sale (5-0, 1.66), Mat Latos ( 4-0, 1.84) and Jose Quintana (3-1, 1.47), as well as closer Dave Robertson (eight saves in nine opportunities and a 0.87 ERA).

The Cubs had things going on the mound and in the batter’s box. CF Derek Fowler surprised with a .347-3-15 line; 1B Anthony Rizzo may have hit only .218, but he chipped in eight home runs and 24 RBI; and 3B Kris Bryant went .289-4-15.  On the mound, as expected (on even better), Jake Arietta went 5-0, 1.00 – and he was joined by starters Jon Lester (2-1, 1.83) and Jason Hammel (3-0, 0.75) with ERA’s under 2.00. The Cubs’ starters were so good, closer Hector Rondon got only four saves opportunities, but he converted them all without giving up an earned run.

Windy City World Series anyone?

Braves Powerless to Turn Things Around?

The worst record in MLB through April? That belonged to the Atlanta Braves (5-18, .217 – already 11 games out.)  The Braves were last in the NL in runs scored (75 – only the Yankees scored few April runs at 74); second-to-last in the NL in average (.229); and dead last in MLB in home runs. The Braves closed April with just five home runs. The second-lowest home run total belonged to the Dodgers with 17; and the home run leaders were the Diamondbacks and Rockies with 37 each. On the mound, the Braves were one of only four teams with an ERA over 5.00 (at 5.05). Other teams in that unenviable position were the Brewers (5.64); Rockies (5.50); and Reds (5.42).

Over in the AL, the worst record belonged to the Twins and Astros (7-17, .292). The Twins were 11^th in the AL in runs scored (80), while the Astros were ninth (90). The Astros, however, gave up the most April runs in the AL (123) and had the league’s highest ERA at 4.97. The Twins weren’t far behind (ahead?), giving up the AL’s second-most runs at 110, with the fifth-highest ERA at 3.97.

9-3-2-6-2-5 … Not it’s not a phone number.

On April 22, the White Sox turned a unique triple play against the Rangers. It came in the seventh inning and all started after the Rangers (trailing 5-0) loaded the bases with no outs. Texas’ 1B Mitch Moreland hit a liner into the corner that was caught by White Sox RF Adam Eaton.  Rangers’ LF Ian Desmond (the runner on first) had ventured too far off the bag, then overran the base coming back and was tagged out (in foul territory) by 1B Jose Abreu. Abreu, wanting to ensure no run scored, fired the ball to C Dioner Navarro, who saw that Rangers’ 3B Adrian Beltre (the runner at second) had decided to advance to third base on the play at first. There was one small (well, not so small) problem, DH Prince Fielder (the runner at third) was solidly anchored there.  Seeing Beltre hung up, Navarro threw to shortstop Tyler Saladino and Fielder decided to try to score on the expected rundown. Saladino threw back to Navarro, who threw to 3B Todd Frazier (who tagged Fielder) to complete MLB’s first-ever 9-3-2-6-2-5 triple play,

One Hit – One Win.

The Rangers managed to win their April 4 Opener (in Texas) by a score of 3-2 over Seattle – despite collecting only one hit.  All three Texas tallies came in the fifth inning off Mariners’ starter Felix Hernandez. 2B Rougned Odor led off with a walk; SS Elvis Andrus reached on an error by Seattle 3B Kyle Seager; C Robinson Chirinos sacrificed the runners to second and third; CF Delino DeShields drew a walk, loading the bases; RF Shin-Soo Choo walked, forcing in a run; DH Prince Fielder blooped a single (the Rangers only hit of the day) that fell between the left fielder and shortstop, scoring Andrus; 3B Adrian Beltre was safe on a error by SS Ketel Marte, scoring Deshields; finally, 1B Mitch Moreland and LF Ian Desmond went down swinging to end the brutal half-inning. Seattle outhit the Rangers 4-1 and punched two home runs, but still lost the contest.

Still teams, have won with fewer hits.  See the  box at the end of this post for a look at teams that have managed a victory without the benefit of a single base hit.

Your April Division Leaders

AL Central:  White Sox (17-8), followed by the Tigers, three games back.

AL East:  Orioles (14-9), just ½ game up on the Red Sox.

AL West: Rangers (14-10) in first, with just a ½ game lead on the Mariners.

NL East: A good race brewing with the Nationals (16-7), just a 1/2 up on the Mets.

NL Central:  Cubs (17-5), three games ahead of the second- place Pirates.

NL West: The Dodgers, Giants and Rockies tied for the lead – all one game under .500 – and the Diamondbacks just ½ game back.

If the season ended April 30, your post-season teams:

AL- Orioles, White Sox, Rangers. Wild Cards: Red Sox, with the Tigers and Mariners tied for the final spot.

NL – Nationals, Cubs, with the Dodgers, Giants and D-backs tied for the West title. Wild Cards: Mets, Pirates.

Full Standings can be found at the end of this post.

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BEST AND WORST TEAM STATS FOR APRIL

BEST TEAM OFFENSIVE STATS

Batting average: Pirates (.293); Red Sox (.281).

Home Runs: D-backs and Rockies (37); Orioles and Cardinals (34).

Runs: Cardinals (142); Cubs (136); Pirates (128); Red Sox and Rockies (126).

SB: Red Sox (21); Indians (19); D-backs, Astros and Royals (18).

Walks Drawn: Cubs (121); Pirates (105); Giants (102); Note: AL Leader – Blue Jays (90).

Fewest Strikeouts: Angels (123); Giants (155).

WORST TEAM OFFENSIVE STATS

Batting Average: Brewers (.223); Rays (.225); Mariners (.227); Braves (.229).

Fewest HR’s: Braves (5); Dodgers (17); Red Sox, Reds and Padres (19).

Fewest Runs: Yankees (74( Braves (75); Rays (76); Royals (77).

Fewest SB’s: Angels (4); Orioles (4); Mets (5).

Fewest Walks Drawn: Reds (56); Rays and Royals (60).

Most Strikeouts: Astros (238); Blue Jays (232); Padres (230).

BEST TEAM PITCHING STATS

ERA: Nationals (2.36); Cubs (2.39); White Sox (2.72).

Strikeouts: Phillies (245); Red Sox (236)..

Fewest Walks: Yankees (51); Rays and Cubs (54)..

Batting Average Against: Cubs (.199); Nationals (.214); Mariners and Rays (.223).

WORST TEAM PITCHING STATS

ERA: Brewers (5.64); Rockies (5.50); Reds (5.42); Braves (5.05). Worrt in AL: Astros (4.97).

Fewest Strikeouts: Rangers (157); Brewers (158).

Most Walks: Reds (110); Pirates (104); Brewers (103); D-backs (101). Worst in AL: Royals (95).

Batting Average Against: Brewers (.301); Astros (.284).

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Now let’s take a look at individual performances in April.

When looking for a Player and Pitcher of the Month in each league,  BBRT found the choice relatively easy when looking at the mound, less so when considering accomplishments in the batter’s box.

BBRT AL Pitcher of the Month: Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers. Made the transition to the American League look easy, going 5-0, with MLB’s lowest April ERA (0.55). Gave up just two earned runs in 33 innings.

BBRT NL Pitcher of the Month: Jake Arietta, Cubs. Won all five starts; averaged just over seven innings per outing; recorded a 1.00 ERA; tossed 2016’s first no-hitter.

BBRT AL Position Player of the Month:Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays.  Hit .292, with eight home runs (tied for AL lead) and 20 RBI (second in AL).

BBRT NL Position Player of the Month: Bryce Harper, Nationals: Put up a .286 average with nine homers (third in NL) and 24 RBI (tied for tops in MLB).  Added five stolen bases (fourth in NL) and drew 17 walks (versus just 13 strikeouts).

 

A FEW INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS THAT CAUGHT BBRT’S EYE IN APRIL

Home Cooking.

On April 15, Astros’ starter Dallas Keuchel went eight scoreless innings in beating the Tigers 1-0.  It was Keuchel’s 17^th consecutive home victory (20 starts, three no-decisions).  In this continuing home streak, Keuchel’s home ERA is 1.36 (145 1/3 innings).

On April 28, with two outs in the fifth inning of the Cubs’ 7-2 Wrigley Field win over the Brewers, Jake Arrieta gave up a run-scoring double to Alex Presley. Why is that significant? It was the first run Arietta had given up at Wrigley Field since the sixth inning of a 3-1 win over the White Sox on July 12, 2015.   That gave Arietta a streak of 52 2/3 scoreless innings at home – longest-ever home scoreless streak in the NL and second only to White Sox’ Ray Herbert’s 54-inning home scoreless streak in 1962-63.

Double Your Pleasure. Double Your Fun.

On April 15, as the orioles topped the Rangers 11-5 in Texas, Mark Trumbo collected two home runs and five RBI – in the seventh inning.  Trumbo became one of 58 players in MLB history to collect two round trippers in an inning.  A more elite group – those  who have accomplished the feat twice  – includes The Giants’ Willie McCovey (1973 & 1977); Cubs’ Andre Dawson (1978 & 1985); Pirates’ Jeff King (1995 & 1996); and Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez (2007 & 2009).

Off to a Good Start.

On April 4, Rockies’ rookie SS Trevor Story let his bat tell the story – becoming the first rookie to hit two home runs, while making his MLB debut on Opening Day – as the Rockies topped the Diamondbacks 10-5 in Arizona. Story ended his MLB debut two-for-six, with two runs scored and four RBI.  And, the rookie just kept hitting.  As April closed, Story had become:

• just the second rookie to hit 10 HR’s in April (Jose Abreu, White Sox, 2014);
• the first player whose first four MLB hits were home runs;
• the first player to homer in his first four MLB games;
• the first player to hit seven HR’s in his team’s first six games of a season (and the first rookie to hit seven homers in his first six games).

Story also tied an MLB mark by homering (the fifth player to do so) in the first four games of a season; and tied the mark for the fewest games ever to reach 10 career home runs (21, George Scott, Red Sox, 1966).

Arietta – a Smashing No-Hitter.

On April 21st, the Cubs’ Jake Arietta threw 2016’s first no-hitter, as Chicago topped the Reds 16-0 in Cincinnati.  There was plenty to distinguish the no-no. For example, the 16-0 win was the second-worst drubbing ever in a no-hitter – trailing only the August 4, 1884 Pud Galvin no-hitter – when his NL Buffalo Bisons topped the Detroit Wolverines 18-0. (In a “How the Game has Changed” moment, future Hall of Famer Galvin’s record that year was 46-22, with a 1.99 ERA, 636 1/3 innings pitched,  71 complete games in 72 starts and 12 CG shutouts.)

Arietta’s no-hitter also made him the 29th pitcher to throw multiple no-hit games (he threw one on August 30th last season.)

What caught BBRT’s eye, however, was the fact that Arietta also collected two hits and a walk (five plate appearances) in the game. Arietta had a single in the second inning, a single in the fourth, a swinging strikeout in the sixth, a walk in the seventh and a ground out in the ninth.  Just another reason I am not fond of the DH. (In fact, the pitcher has collected a hit in each of the last eight no-hitters thrown under NL rules.)

A Grand Way to get to the Century Mark.

Bryce – BBRT Player of the Month hit a Grand Slam for his 100th career homer.
Photo by: Matthew Straubmuller.

On April 14, last year’s NL MVP Bryce Harper hit his 100th MLB home run – a third-inning Grand Slam off the Braves’ Julio Teheran, as Bryce’s Nationals topped Atlanta 6-2 (in Atlanta).  In the process, Harper became the eighth youngest player to reach 100 home runs. (BBRT reports this so that I can mention my all-time favorite player – Eddie Mathews.) Here are the ten youngest players to reach 100 HR’s:

1. Mel Ott (22 years, 132 days), 1931 Giants
2. Tony Conigliaro (22 years, 197 days), 1967 Red Sox
3. Eddie Mathews (22 years, 293 days), 1954 Braves
4. Alex Rodriguez (23 years, 16 days), 1998 Mariners
5. Andruw Jones (23 years, 62 days), 2000 Braves
6. Miguel Cabrera (23 years, 127 days), 2006 Marlins
7. Johnny Bench (23 years, 161 days), 1971 Reds
8. Bryce Harper (23 years, 181 days), 2016 Nationals
9. Albert Pujols (23 years, 185 days), 2003 Cardinals
10. Hank Aaron (23 years, 191 days), 1957 Braves

A New Name for the Leaderboard.

On April 27, as the Braves lost to the Red Sox 9-4 (at Fenway), Braves’ catcher A.J. Pierzynski made history. In the second inning, Pierzynski (in his 19th MLB season) lined a single to left (off Steven Wright) for his 2,000th MLB hit.  The safety made the 39-year-old Pierzynski one of just nine catchers to achieve 2,000 hits. While Ivan Rodriguez leads the group with 2,844 hits (out of A.J.’s reach), such backstops as Johnny Bench (2,048) and Gary Carter (2,092) seem within reach – and, perhaps, even Mike Piazza (2, 127) and Yogi Berra (2,150) could be considered future targets. Pretty heady company, I’d say.

INDIVIDUAL STATS LEADERS THROUGH APRIL

Batting Average: Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals (.423); Martin Prado, Marlins (.397); Daniel Murphy Nationals (.370).  AL Leader:  Nick Costellanos (.363).

Home Runs: Nolan Arenado, Rockies (10); Trevor Story, Rockies (10); Bryce Harper, Nationals (9); Neil Walker, Mets (9).  AL Leaders: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays (8); Robinson Cano, Mariners (8).

Base Hits: Jean Segura, D-backs (37 with a .333 average); Manny Machado, Orioles (33, with a .344 average).

RBI: Robinson Cano, Mariners (24); Bryce Harper, Nationals (24); Anthony Rizzo, Cubs (24). .

Stolen Bases: Jose Altuve, Astros (9); Starling Marte, Pirates (7). Billy Burns, A’s (7); Rajai Davis, Indians (7).

On the negative side of the coin, the Tigers Justin Upton led all hitters with 38 April strikeouts (in 95 at bats), while carrying a .221 average with two home runs and eight RBI.

ERA (among qualifiers): Jordan Zimmerman, Tigers (0.55); Jason Hammel, Cubs (0.75).

Wins: Jordan Zimmermann, Tigers (5-0, 0.55); Jake Arietta, Cubs (5-0, 1.00); Chris Sale, White Sox (5-0, 1.66); Rick Porcello, Red Sox (5-0, 2.76).

Saves: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers (9); David Robertson, White Sox (8); Jeurys Familia, Mets (8); Jeanmar Gomez, Phillies (8); Ryan Madson, A’s (8); Jonathan Papelbon, Nationals (8); Sean Tolleson, Rangers (8).

Strikeouts: David Price, Red Sox (46); Chris Archer, Rays (43); Drew Smyly, Rays (41); Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (40); Jose Fernandez, Marlins (40); Stephen Strasburg Nationals (40). Note: David Price led in strikeouts per nine innings (13.96), followed by the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard at 12.83.

Batting Average Against: Danny Salazar, Indians (.139); Jake Arietta, Cubs (.151); Drew Smyly, Rays (.151).

On the negative side: Among pitchers with at least four April starts, the Reds Alfredo Simon had the highest April ERA at 13.50 – (20 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings).

Now, a bonus bit of trivia.

Teams Earning A Victory Without the Benefit of a Base Hit

In MLB history, five teams have managed victory without the benefit of a base hit. Twice these winnings teams were victims (or victors) of an officially recognized MLB no-hitter.  In the other three, since the home team didn’t bat in the bottom of the ninth, the games are not recognized as no-hitters (MLB rules require a pitcher – or pitchers – throw at least nine innings to be credited with a no hitter.) Here are the teams that earned a win without a hit.

First, the official no-hitters – in both cases, the winning run scored in the top of the ninth.

• On April 23, 1964, the Houston Colt .45’s Ken Johnson pitched nine innings of no-hit ball against the Reds – and lost 1-0. The winning run scored in the top of the ninth in an inning that went: ground out by Reds’ P Joe Nuxhall; 2B Pete Rose reaching (and going to second) on an error by Johnson, then advancing to third on a ground out by 3B Chico Ruiz; Rose scoring as Vada Pinson is safe on an error by 2B Nellie Fox. Johnson’s mound opponent (Nuxhall) pitched a complete game, five-hit shutout.

• On April 30, 1967, the Orioles’ Steve Barber (8 2/3 innings) and Stu Miller (1/3 inning) combined to no-hit the Tigers in a 2-1 loss. The Orioles had just two hits in the game and actually scored first in the bottom of the eighth – in an inning in which they did not collect a hit. Detroit starter Earl Wilson was still in the game, having thrown seven innings of two-hit ball, when Orioles’ LF Curt Belfry led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by 2B Woody Held; an intentional walk to PH Charlie Lau and a non-intentional pass to pitcher Steve Barber followed, before SS Luis Aparicio brought Blefary home with a sacrifice fly. End of eight, Orioles up 1-0, Barber three outs from a no-hit victory.  Then came the fateful top of the ninth. Barber walked 1B Norm Cash and weak-hitting SS Ray Oyler to open the inning; the pair were  bunted  to second and third by Tiger P Earl Wilson; pinch-hitter Willie Horton popped out (leaving Barber now just one out from a complete game, no-hitter victory).  With CF Mickey Stanley at the plate, Barber uncorked a wild pitch, with Dick Tracewski (running for Cash) scoring the tying run.  After Barber walked Stanley, Stu Milleer was brought in and a second run scored on a fielder’s choice..The Orioles went down in order in the bottom of the inning – and lost to the Tigers 2-1, despite a combined official no-hitter. .

Now the games not officially recognized as no-hitters, but in which the winning team did not collect a single safety.

• July 1, 1990, the White Sox topped the Yankees (in Chicago, of course) 4-0, without collecting a single hit. All four runs scored in the bottom of the eighth – which began with Yankee starter Andy Hawkins getting the first two hitters on pop-up, putting him just four out away from a no-hit victory (provided the Yankees could score).  Then the wheels came off.  White Sox RF Sammy Sosa reached on an error by 3B Mike Bowers, and promptly stole second; SS Ozzie Guillen and CF Lance Johnson walked (loading the bases). Then, Robin Ventura was safe on a bases-clearing error by Yankee LF Jim Leyritz. The final run came  in on another error – with DH Ivan Calderon benefiting from the Yankees’ third error of the inning (this one by RF Jesse Barfield). Hawkins went eight hitless innings, giving up four unearned runs, while three White Sox hurlers combined for a four-hit shutout. Since the White Sox did not have to bat in the bottom of the ninth, Hawkins not only lost the game, but was denied an “official” nine-inning no-hitter.

• On April 12, 1992, the Indians managed to beat the Reds Sox (in Cleveland) despite being outhit by Boston nine-to-zero. The Indians scored in the bottom of the first, as CF Kenny Lofton led off with a walk and stole second and third while DH Glenallen Hill was striking out. Lofton then scored on a throwing error by Red Sox SS Luis Rivera (on a ground ball by Indians’ 2B Carlos Baerga). The Tribe added a second run in the bottom of the third as SS Mark Lewis and Lofton led off with walks. Then, on a ground ball to shortstop, Lewis went to third, Lofton was forced at second and Hill was safe at first. Lewis went on to score on a fielder’s choice.  Boston scored their only run in on a two-out single by Rivera (after a single and walk). Matt Young pitched eight hitless innings for Boston, but was hurt by seven walks and, of course, that Rivera error. Three Cleveland pitchers gave up nine hits and six walks, but managed to hold the Red Sox to one  run.

• On June 28, 2008, the Dodgers (at home) snuck by the Angels 1-0,without notching a single base hit. As usual, errors played the role in a hitless victory. Dodger s’ CF Matt Kemp led off the fifth inning and was safe on an error by Angels’ pitcher Jered Weaver. Kemp then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Mike Napoli. He then scored on a sacrifice by 3B Blake Dewitt.  And that was the scoring for the day. The Angels’ Jered Weaver (six innings) and Jose Arredondo (two innings) pitched eight innings of no-hit ball (one unearned run), while three Dodgers’ pitchers combined for a five-hit shutout.

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APRIL 30, 2016 (end of day) STANDINGS

AL EAST

Orioles             14-9     .609     …

Red Sox           14-10    .583     0.5

Rays                10-12   .478     3.0

Blue Jays         11-14   .440     4.0

Yankees            8-14    .364     5.5

AL CENTRAL

White Sox       17-8     .680     …

Tigers             13-10     .565     3.0

Royals            12-11     .522     4.0

Indians             10-11   .476     5.0

Twins                7-17   .292     9.5

AL WEST

Rangers           14-10   .583     …

Mariners          13-10   .524     0.5

A’s                   13-12   .520     1.5

Angels             11-13   .458     3.0

Astros               7-17   .292     7.0

NL EAST

Nationals         16-7     .696     …

Mets               15-7     .682     0.5

Phillies            14-10   .583     2.5

Marlins             12-11  .522      5.0

Braves             5-18   .217     10.5

NL CENTRAL          

Cubs                17-5     .773     …

Pirates             15-9     .625     3.0

Cardinals          12-12    .500     6.0

Reds                 9-15    .375     9.0

Brewers            8 -15    .348     9.5

NL WEST
Dodgers         12-13   .480     …

Giants            12-13   .480     …

Rockies          11-12   .478     …

D-backs          12-14   .462     0.5

Padres             9-15    .375     2.5

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