As MLB Opening Day approaches, Baseball Roundtable is looking forward to another season in which – as usual – fans can expect to see something new, different or at least improbable every time they go to the ballpark. After all, in 2002 alone, fans saw six triple plays (including the first-ever MLB CF-to-3B triple play); four no-hitters; four games in which the winning team plated 20 or more runs; a player picking up his tenth win on the mound and his 25th home run at the plate in the same game; a pitcher with only three balks in an eight-season MLB career tying an MLB record by committing all three balks in the same inning … and I could go on and on. With that in mind, and to get in the mood for another season of big-league ball, I would like to use this post to reflect on Baseball Roundtable’s Top Dozen “Improbables” from the 2022 season. I’ll also throw in a few bonus Improbables from seasons past.
Baseball Roundtable Top Dozen MLB Improbables From 2022
Number One … A Beer and a Burger, Please.
This one is kind of a two-fer. April 7 was National Beer Day – and guess what? Diamondbacks’ DH Seth Beer (gotta love that baseball name) hit a walk-off home run to push the Diamondbacks past the Padres 4-2. It was just Beer’s second career homer and first career walk-off long ball – and the only home run he would hit in 2022. Beer ended the 2022 season at .189-1-9 in 38 games.
Then, on May 28 (National Hamburger Day), White Sox’ 3B Jake Burger homered in the Sox 5-1 win over the Cubs. It was Burger’s fourth homer of 2022 and fifth of his career. Burger finished with a .250-8-26 stat line for 20222 (51 games).
A Beer and a Burger. That kind of coincidence in a single season is the kind of Improbable that catches The Roundtable’s eye.
Bonus Improbable from the Past
On September 23, 1969, fans in Cincinnati saw Dodgers’ pinch hitter John Miller hit his second (and final) MLB career home run. They also witnessed Miller becoming just the second MLB player ever to homer in his very first MLB plate appearance (for the Yankees on September 11, 1966) and very last MLB plate appearance. How improbable was that feat? Remember, Miller hit only two home runs in his entire (32-game) MLB career – and, to this date, is still only one of two players to homer in his first and final plate MLB appearances. Miller’s final MLB stat line .164-2-3.
What further makes Miller’s homer an Improbable is how close he came to not homering in his final at bat. Miller almost came to the plate one more time – on September 27, as the Dodgers and Giants faced off at Dodger Stadium. That game was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the eleventh inning. Southpaw Ron Bryant was on the mound for the Giants and, after getting Dodgers’ SS Maury Wills to pop out, he gave up singles to LF Manny Mota and CF Willie Davis. Dodgers’ manager Walt Alston sent the right-handed hitting Miller up to hit for LA pitcher Jim Brewer. Giants’ skipper Clyde King –playing the percentages – brought in veteran righty Don McMahon to pitch. Alston countered by calling Miller back and sending up left-handed swinging Len Gabrielson (who singled in the winning tally.) Without the switch, Miller’s final plate appearance home run could have become just an obscure next-to-last at bat dinger.
Number Two … The Rangers Didn’t have a Prayer.
Now, these days, “Immaculate Innings” (three up, three down, three strikeouts, nine [pitches) are not all that improbable – after all, there were seven of them in 2022 alone. But how improbable is it to see two Immaculate Innings in one game? It’s only been done once – on June 15 of last season. And, the “Improbability Factor” was raised even further by the fact that those two Immaculate frames were thrown by two pitchers on the same team and the same three opposing batters were the strikeout victims.
On June 15, Astros’ pitchers Luis Garcia and Phil Maton pitched their way into the record books. The two Houston hurlers each tossed an “Immaculate Inning.” It was, as noted, the first-ever MLB game in which two pitchers each tossed an Immaculate Inning and, of course, also made them the first and (currently) only teammates to toss an Immaculate Inning in the same game.
Garcia tossed his nine-pitch, three-whiff fame in the bottom of the second, while Maton achieved the feat in the bottom of the seventh. The Astros, by the way, won the game (started by Garcia) 9-2 and four Houston pitchers notched a total of 14 strikeouts. Also of note is that the Rangers’ 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Ezequiel Duran and 3B Brad Miller (the 6-7-8 hitters) were the victims in both Immaculate Innings – making them, of course, the first and currently only three players to be victims in two Immaculate frames in the same game.
Garcia finished the season at 15-8, 3.72 (28 starts) – with 157 whiffs in 157 1/3 innings pitched. Maton was 0-2, 3.84 in 67 appearances – with 73 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings.
Bonus Improbable from the Past
On September 12, 1962, fans in Baltimore saw the Senators’ Tom Cheney throw a sixteen-inning complete game, as the Senators topped the Orioles 2-1. Now, a sixteen-inning complete game was much more probable back then, what was improbable was Cheney’s 21 strikeouts, the highest total ever for a pitcher in an MLB game. What makes it even more improbable is that, in 1962, Cheney averaged 7.6 whiffs per nine (for his career, he averaged 6.7 whiffs per nine innings). In 1962, Cheney went 7-9, 3.17 in 37 games (23 starts). His career mark (eight seasons) was 19-29, 3.77.
Number Three … You Balkin’ to Me?
On September 27 of last season, in the eighth inning of a Marlins/Mets game (in New York), Mets’ 1B Pete Alonso came to the plate with two outs and Mets’ 2B Jeff McNeil on first base. McNeil scored during Alonso’s at bat, but no RBI was awarded. Had an RBI been assigned it could have gone to Mets’ pitcher Richard Bleier who – during Alonso’s plate appearance – was charged with three balks (sending McNeil, to second, third and, finally, home). Hence a Baseball Roundtable RBI – Run Balked In. (Bleier and Marlins’ skipper Don Mattingly would argue – and did – so, maybe, the RBI should go to the umpires.) The Marlins won the contest 6-4, but neither Bleier nor Mattingly were around to see it. Both were ejected.
This one comes up high on the Improbables list since the three balks (which tied the MLB mark for balks in an inning) are the only balks Bleier has been charged with in seven MLB seasons (308 appearances – 299 2/3 innings pitched). Bleier finished 2022 with a 2-2, 3.55 record (with one save) in 55 appearances.
Number Four … Twenty-One Equals Luck in more than Black Jack.
In 2002, MLB established September 15 as Roberto Clemente Day. This past season, Roberto Clemente Day saw an expanded list of players, coaches and manager wearing Clemente’s’ number 21 on Clemente Day – all the players, coaches and managers in the Pirates/Mets game; along with all Puerto Rican born players. In addition, the 2022 Clemente Award Nominees, past Clemente Award Winners and players who wore number 21 during the 2021 recognition had the opportunity to wear 21.
Among the players donning number 21 in the September 15 Royals-Twins game (at Target Field), were Twins’ SS Carlos Correa (usually number four) and Royals’ C Salvador Perez (usually number 13). I single these two players out because, on that day, each of these one-day number 21’s went yard – and it was the 21st home run of the season for each of them. It’s the kind of cosmic numerical coincidence that catches The Roundtable’s attention. Oh, and the Twins prevailed 3-2.
Number Five … Won’t Somebody Put the Ball in Play?
Okay, how’s this for improbable – an inning that featured six batters, three base runners, 28 pitches, no runs scored and not a single ball put in play? Yep, it happened (and without the aid of an extra-inning Ghost Runner).
On June 17, Evan Lee was on the mound for the Nationals, who were trailing the Phillies 5-3 in the top of the seventh innings. Here’s what happened:
- Nationals’ DH Bryce Harper walked on four pitches.
- RF Nick Castellanos walked on four pitches – two of which were wild pitches – sending Harper to third base.
Carl Edwards replaced Lee on the mound.
- SS Didi Gregorius walked on four pitches, loading the bases. (So far, no balls in play and not even one strike thrown).
- CF Odubel Herrera struck out looking at a 2-2 pitch.
- 3B Alec Bohm fanned looking at a 3-2 pitch.
- 2B Bryson Stott struck out on an 0-2 pitch.
The Phillies, by the way, own the game 5-3.
Number Six …. Lucky Seven? Maybe Not So Much.
Seeing a team bash seven or more home runs in a game. A bit improbable, but not overly so. It’s been done 116 times in MLB history. Seeing the home team accomplish the feat? 53 times. All those home runs being solo shots? Just six times. The team with seven or more long balls losing losing the game? Just six times. Having seven or more solo home runs account for all of the teams runs? Just once. That was on August 4 of last season, when the Angels hammered seven solo home runs in an 8-7 loss to the A’s. Here’s the count down:
First Inning – DH Shohei Ohtani
Second Inning – C Kurt Suzuki
Third Inning – RF Taylor Ward
Fourth Inning – LF Jo Adell
Sixth Inning – 1B Jared Walsh
Seventh Inning – Ohtani
Ninth Inning – CF Mickey Moniak
Number Seven … Three’s Company.
On July 4 of last season, the Twins celebrated with MLB first-ever 8-5 triple play. In the bottom of the seventh, the White Sox had runners on second (Adam Engel, pinch runner) and first (Yoan Moncada, single) and in , with the score knotted at two apiece. Twins’ CF Byron Buxton made an impressive (and improbable … Okay, perhaps not for Buxton) running catch in deep centerfield on a fly ball by AJ Pollock. The runners were going (more evidence that the catch was improbable) and when Buxton throw came in to 3B Gio Urshela (between second and third), Engel (who had started on second) had already rounded third and was headed toward home, while, Moncada (who had started on first had rounded second. Urshela who chased down and tagged Moncada (for out number two) as he reversed direction and retreat toward second base. Urshela then continued toward second, tagging the keystone sac to retired Engel for out number three – and the first-ever 8-5 Triple Play in MLB history. Improbable? Well, Baseball Almanac show a total of 733 MLB Triple plays since 1876. This one was number 731 and the first started by a centerfielder since 2010 – as well as the first-ever MLB triple killing involving only a centerfielder and third baseman. The Twins, by the way, own the game 6-3 and triple play hero Buxton had contributed a two-run home run.
Bonus Improbable from the past.
On July 17, 1990, 34,113 fans at Boston’s Fenway Park not only got to see a tense 1-0 Red Sox win. They were witness to the Improbable – one team returning two triple plays in one game – an improbable feat that still has happened just once in MLB history. The triple killings in the fourth and eighth innings were both were of what The Roundtable see as the “purest” variety (ground ball leading to outs at third, second and first). In the fourth, with the bases loaded, former Twin (then Boston right fielder) Tom Brunansky hit a ground ball to Twins’ third sacker Gary Gaetti, who stepped on the bag and threw to second baseman Al Newman (for out number-two), who relayed to first baseman Kent Hrbek to complete the triple play. In the eighth, with runners on first and second, Red Sox second baseman Jody Reed grounded to Gaetti at third, and the around-the-horn triple play was duplicated.
Number Eight … Swing and a Miss, Now, that’s Rare.
Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
On April 13, Guardians’ rookie outfielder Steven Kwan did something he hadn’t done in his entire MLB career (to that point), he swung and missed a pitch. It came in his sixth MLB game, in his 25th MLB plate appearance, his sixteenth at bat, 117th pitch and 40th swing. An eventual miss probably was probable (I apologize, couldn’t resit the word twist), going an entire career without a swing and miss seems unlikely. Still, it caught my attention. (And actually, Kwan did make some contact, foul tipping the pitch into the catcher’s glove – which counts and a swing and miss.) For those who like to know such things, the first MLB pitcher to get a ball past Kwan was Nick Lodolo of the Reds, the pitch was a low-80s curveball and Kwan ended up striking out in a six-pitch at bat. In those first six MLB games, Kwan collected ten hits (two doubles, one triple), eight walks and one hit-by-pitch (a .526 batting average and .655 on-base percentage). He finished his rookie campaign at .298-5-52, with 19 steals.
Kwan was a fifth round draft choice (2018) out of Oregon State University, where he hit .329 over three seasons (156 games). In three minor-league seasons (217 games), he stroked the ball at a .301 pace – including .328-12-44 in 77 games at Double- and Triple-A last season.
Number Nine … First All Latino Lineup.
On September 15 – MLB Roberto Clemente Day 2022 – Rays’ manager Kevin Cash made a bit of history sending the first all-Latino lineup to the plate (against the Blue Jays in Toronto)
It went like this:
3B Yandy Diaz (born in Sagua le Grande, Cuba)
RF Randy Arozarena (La Habana, Cuba)
SS Wander Franco (Bani, Dominican Republic)
1B Harold Ramirez (Cartagena, Colombia)
DH Manuel Margot (San Cristobal, Dominican Republic)
LF David Peralta (Valencia, Venezuela)
2B Isaac Parades (Hermosillo, Mexico)
C – Rene Pinto (Maracay, Venezuela)
CF Jose Siri (Sabana Grande de Boya, Dominican Republic)
The Rays, by the way, prevailed 11-0 over the Blue Jays. For those who like to know such things, the Rays’ starting and winning pitcher was Shane McClanahan.
Baseball Roundtable Side Note:
After the close of the 1963 season, MLB had it first (and what proved to be only) All Hispanic All Star Game – featuring such stars as Tony Oliva, Minnie Minoso, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente, Luis Aparicio, Juan Marichal and others. One of The Roundtable’s favorite trivia questions is “Who was the inning pitcher in the only MLB All Hispanic All Star Game? The answer: A Latino All Star with an improbable name … Alvin O’Neal McBean. McBean was born in the Virgin Island to Inger Emanuel and O’Neal Alfredo McBean.
Bonus Improbable from the Past
On September 1, 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates fielded the first MLB lineup consisting of all “players of color.”
Rennie Stennett 2B
CF Gene Clines
RF Roberto Clemente
LF Willie Stargell
C Manny Sanguillen
3B Dave Cash
1B Al Oliver
SS Jackie Hernandez
P Dock Ellis
The Pirates prevailed in the contest 10-7 – with six members of the starting lineup enjoying multi-hit games.
Number Ten … Probably Will See This Again, but Don’t Want To.
This one was up close and personal. On April 13, 2022, I braved Minnesota’s uber-chilly spring to take in the Twins-Dodgers at Target Field. Despite the fact that the Twins were down 3-0, there was plenty of drama on the field and plenty of excitement in the crowd, After seven frames, many of us anticipated a chance to see Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw try for MLB’s 24th-ever Perfect Game. At the time, Kershaw had thrown just 80 pitches (53 strikes) and had fanned 13 batters. Only three balls had been hit out of the infield. He was cruising and it was a masterful performance to watch.
Kershaw, however, did not come out to pitch the eighth. Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts instead put in Alex Vesia. I might add the change was met with a chorus of boos, from Twins fans and a large contingent of Dodger Faithful seated behind the third base dugout.
Now, there’s never been a combined Perfect Game, so I had a bit of hope. One out and five pitches after Vesia took the mound, Twins’ catcher Gary Sanchez lined a single to right and the Perfect Game and even the no-hitter were gone. (The Twins, ultimately, lost 7-0 and Sanchez’ single was their only safety.)
Why did this disappointment rate to high on the Improbables list. Later, I learned, via the Elias Sports Bureau, that only twice since 1900 has an MLB pitcher been pulled after the seventh inning with a Perfect Game intact. Both times, Roberts was the manager. (The first was on September 10, 2016, when he pulled Rich Hill – a reported finger issue – after seven innings with Perfect Game intact against the Marlins (and the Dodgers up 5-0). Hill had thrown 89 pitches (62 strikes) and fanned nine. Hill was replaced by Joe Blanton and ten pitches and two outs later, Marlins’ LF Jeff Francoeur collected the first of two Miami hits in the game.
Number Eleven … It’s Nice to be First.
In the April 7, 2022, Angels game, Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to throw his team’s first pitch of the season and also be in the batter’s box to take his team’s first pitch of the season – as he started on the mound and lead off at DH. He also recorded his team’s first strikeout of the season getting the first batter he faced and made his team’s first out of the season, grounding our short-to-first on the first pitch he saw in the first inning (remember, he was batting first.)
Number Twelve – Let’s Get This Party Started.
On August 24 of last season, Mariners’ 24-year-old rookie right-hander George Kirby started against the Nationals in Seattle. And, he got off to quite a “start.” Kirby opened the game by throwing 24 straight strikes (before his first called ball). According to STATS, that represents a record number of strikes to start off a game (at least since the initiation of pitch tracking in 1988). Kirby did not throw a called ball until he was facing his eleventh batter – with two out in the bottom of the third. Over that span, he fanned three batters, and gave up five singles and one run. While the Mariners eventually lost the game 3-1, Kirby had a solid outing – seven innings (eight hits, one run, no walks and nine strikeouts). He threw 85 pitches (69 for strikes).
Kirby, a first-round pick in the 2019 MLB draft (out of Elon University), already had well-earned reputation as a strike thrower. In 30 minor-league outings, he went 7-4, 2.26 and walked just 21 batters in 117 1/3 innings (139 strikeouts). Coming into the August 24 outing, he had walked just 13 in 90 2/3 MLB innings. He finished his rookie MLB season at 8-5, 3.39, with 22 walks and 133 whiffs in 130 innings.
Bonus Improbable from the Past
By the way, should inquiring minds want to know, the generally accepted record for consecutive strikes thrown in a game (at any time) is 38 – by the A’s Bartolo colon on April 18, 2012 (versus the Angels). Overall, the streak lasted from the second pitch of the fifth inning until the seventh pitch of the eighth frame. Surprisingly, Colon struck out just two batters during the streak. He also gave up two hits during the streak of strikes. A few notes:
- 35 of the 38 pitches were fastballs (two change ups and one slider).
- There was only one swing and miss (17 strikes looking).
- There were ten foul fouls and ten balls put in play.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com
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