Baseball Roundtable

After each season, members of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance (BBA) vote on a series of awards for each league:

Stan Musial Award (top player in each league);

Walter Johnson Award (top starting pitcher);

Willie Mays Award (top rookie)

Goose Gossage Award (top relief pitcher)

Connie Mack Award (top manager)

BBRT will provide a link to the BBA site when the winners are announced (voting ends when the World Series begins).  In this post, I’d like to share BBRT’s votes, as well as some background on my selections and those that were “close” to getting BBRT’s vote.  Your comments on the BBRT selections are welcomed.

STAN MUSIAL AWARD – Top Player

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Mike Trout

Mike Trout, Center Field, Los Angeles Angels

Remember this award says “best” player”, not “most valuable” player.  That said, the 22-year-old Trout wins hands down for his five-tool performance.  Trout boasted a .323 average (AL’s third-best); 190 hits (AL’s fourth-best); A league-leading 109 runs; 97 RBI (AL’s ninth-best); 27 home runs (14th in AL); 33 stolen bases (8th in AL); and a league-topping 110 walks.  Couple that with his sterling defense, and you have BBRT’s choice for the AL Stan Musial Award.  (Note: If I could change on thing about Trout, it would be to see him cut down on his strikeouts – 136 in 2013.  Imagine his numbers then.)

Mike Trout – 2013

G       AB     R        H      2B   3B    HR  RBI   Avg.   SB

157   589   109     190    39     9     27   110  .323     33

A couple of other players merited serious consideration for this recognition. You can’t ignore the Tigers’ third baseman Miguel Cabrera and his .348-44-137 follow-up to his 2012 Triple Crown. Had Miggy not been hampered by a groin injury late in the season, he might have been the first repeat Triple Crown winner.  As it is, he won his third straight batting title and earned BBRT’s respect for playing through pain.  Also near the top, but short of Trout, were the Orioles’ first sacker Chris Davis who led the league in home runs (53) and RBI (138), while hitting .286; and Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano, who played solid middle-infield defense, while chipping in .314-27-107 at the plate. Cano also was still successful on seven of eight steal attempts.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Paul Goldschmidt, First Base, Arizona Diamondbacks.

The smart money seems to be on Andrew McCutchen here, but BBRT is going with the Diamondbacks’ 26-year-old first baseman Paul Goldschmidt – for his combination of power, speed and defense.  Goldschmidt, one of MLB’s top defensive first baseman, came of age in 2013 – leading the NL in home runs (tied at 36) and RBI (125), while finishing eleventh in average at .302 – and he tossed in 15 steals.   Goldschmidt’s emergence should come as no surprise. Before a 2011 call up to the Diamondbacks, he hit .316, with 82 homers and 263 RBI in 313 minor league games (2009-11).

Paul Goldschmidt – 2013

G     AB       R    H    2B   3B   HR  RBI   Avg.   SB

160   602   103 182   36    3     36   125  .302     15

Also in the mix (BBRT was attempted to split this vote), was the Pirates’ center fielder Andrew McCutchen, the likely NL MVP winner, who brought Gold Glove caliber defense, a .317-27-84 line, and 27 steals to the Pittsburgh lineup.  Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina earns BBRT’s third spot for combining game-calling skills, a likely fifth straight Gold Glove and a .319-12-80 offensive line – despite knee and wrist injuries (catchers do take a beating).

WALTER JOHNSON AWARD – Top Starting Pitcher

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Max Scherzer

Max  Scherzer, Detroit Tigers

Being “old school,” BBRT could not ignore MLB’s only twenty-game winner.  So, my AL Walter Johnson Award vote goes to 21-3 Max Scherzer – but the 25-year-old Detroit right-hander did plenty more to win my vote.  His 2.90 ERA was fifth in the AL; his 240 strikeouts (in 214 1/3 innings – AL’s fifth-highest) were second only to K-machine Yu Darvish; he allowed hitters a league second-lowest .198 batting average against; and he was the only AL pitcher to notch a WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of less than one (0.97).

Max Scherzer – 2013

W-L     ERA    GS  CG    ShO       IP       H     ER     BB    SO

21-3     2.90      32    0        0      214.1  152    69       56    240

Two other hurlers who garnered BBRT consideration were: Rangers’ righty Yu Darvish (13-9, 2.83 and a league-topping 277 strikeouts in 209 2/3 innings pitched); and Scherzer’s teammate, right-hander Anibel Sanchez (14-8 with a league-low 2.57 ERA and 202 whiffs in 182 innings). Three hurlers with sub 3.00 ERA, 200+ strikeouts, so twenty wins make the difference.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

First choice in the NL, not too difficult.  The 25-year-old Kershaw was once again masterful on the mound and appears headed for his second Cy Young Award (he won in 2011, finished second in 2012).  Kershaw keeps hitters off balance with a lively mid-90s (four-seam) fastball, a mid-80s slider and a curve in the low 70-mph range. The southpaw’s 16-9 record in 2013 hovers over a MLB-lowest 1.83 ERA (his third straight NL ERA crown). Kershaw also led the NL with 232 strikeouts (in 236 innings – second in the NL).  He had the second-lowest batting average against (.195) and his 0.92 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) was MLB’s lowest.  BBRT anticipates Kershaw will be in the running for the BBA Walter Johnson Award for many years to come.

Clayton Kershaw – 2013

W-L     ERA    GS  CG    ShO       IP       H     ER     BB    SO

16-9     1.83      33    3        2       236    164    48       52    232

Without a late season shutdown, the Miami Marlins’ rookie right-hander Jose Fernandez might have given Kershaw an even stronger run for the money.  As it is, Fernandez finished 12-6 on a Marlins team that lost 100 games.  His 2.19 ERA was second only to Kershaw and, at .098, he was one of only four major leaguers with a WHIP under 1.00.  Fernandez also struck out 187 hitters in 172 2/3 innings, and his .182 batting average against was the best in MLB.  Also in BBRT’s top four for the NL Walter Johnson Award were: Cardinals’ right-hander Adam Wainwright, 19-9 (NL most wins), 2.94, 219 strikeouts  (third in the NL), and a league-leading 241 2/3 innings pitched, five complete games and two shutouts; Mets’ righty Matt Harvey, who would have challenged Kershaw for BBRT’s vote (9-5, 2.27, 191 Ks in 178 1/3 innings), but for late-season arm injury;  and Phillies’ southpaw Cliff Lee, who quietly put together a 14-8 record, with a 2.87 ERA and 222 strikeouts  in 222 2/3 innings for the under-performing Phils.

WILLIE MAYS AWARD– Top Rookie

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Wil Myers

Wil Myers, Outfielder, Tampa Bay

Myers, the 2012 Minor League Player of the year (.314-37-109 in 134 games), was acquired by the Rays in the James Shields trade. The 22-year-old Myers was called up to Tampa in mid-June.  At the time, he was hitting .286-14-57 at AAA Durham – and once he joined Tampa, he got even better. Myers played in 88 games for the Rays and put up a .293-13-53 line, with 50 runs, 23 doubles and five steals – despite a bit of a slump in August.  A strong September secured BBRT’s vote.

Wil Myers – 2013

G     AB    R       H    2B   3B    HR   RBI  Avg.    SB

88    373   50     98     23    0     13    53   .293      5

Following Myers in BBRT’s consideration was his teammate, Rays’ right-handed pitcher Chris Archer (9-7, 3.22, 101 strikeouts in 128 2/3 innings pitched – including two complete-game shutouts in 22 starts).  Ranking third for BBRT was Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias (who started the year with Boston). Iglesias played highlight-reel defense and put up a .303-3-29 line in 109 games.  Iglesias, however, tailed off in the second half. He hit .330 in 63 games with the Red Sox and .259 in 46 games for the Tigers.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Jose Fernandez, Pitcher, Miami Marlins

My top rookie vote in the NL goes to Miami Marlins’ right-handed pitcher Jose Fernandez.  Let me reaffirm (and add to) what I wrote about the 21-year-old rookie in the Walter Johnson Award section.  Fernandez finished 12-6 on a Marlins team that lost 100 games.  He had the NL’s second-best ERA (2.19 ERA) and MLB’s second-best batting average against (.182).  He was also one of only four major leaguers with a WHIP under 1.00 and struck out 187 hitters in 172 2/3 innings.  If he hadn’t been shut down after passing the 170-inning mark, Fernandez might have put up even better numbers (perhaps three more starts). In his two September starts (facing the Braves and Nationals),  Fernandez went 2-0 – giving up just 6 hits, 5 walks and one run, while striking out 14 in 14 innings. Fernandez produced his 2013 record with a 93/94-mph fastball, a sharp-breaking overhand curve and a change-up that he is still      working on (imagine when he masters that pitch).

Jose Fernandez – 2013

W-L     ERA    GS  CG    ShO      IP        H     ER     BB    SO

12-6     2.19     28   0        0      172.2    111    47       58    187

Also in the running for BBRT’s NL rookie vote was Cardinals’ right-hander Shelby Miller, who put up a 15-9 record with a 3.06 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 173 1/3 innings pitched.  Dodgers’ outfielder Yasiel Puig also deserves mention. Puig played in only 63 minor league games before his June 3, 2013 call up – hitting .328-13-52 with 21 steals. His 2013 line reads .319-14-42 with 11 steals in 104 games for LA, and he played a key role in the Dodgers comeback to win the division.

GOOSE GOSSAGE AWARD – Top Relief  Pitcher

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Greg Holland

Greg Holland, Kansas City

Even though BBRT thinks it may be time to rename this the Mariano Rivera Award, I have to go with Royals right-handed closer Greg Holland as the AL’s premier reliever.  The 27-year-old Holland notched 47 saves (with two wins and a loss), with just three blown saves, in 2013. With a 95-mph fastball, a wicked bat-missing slider and an occasional splitter, Holland notched a 1.21 ERA, with 103 strikeouts in only 67 innings. For the season, left-handers hit .172 versus Holland, right-handers .168.

Greg Holland – 2013

W-L    SV    ERA   G       IP       H     ER     BB    SO

2-1     47    1.21     68     67      40      9       18     103

Close behind Holland is the Rangers’ veteran righty Joe Nathan, who went 6-2, 1.39, with 43 saves and just three blown saves.  Nathan doesn’t miss as many bats as Holland, but he still struck out better than one per inning (73 whiffs in 64 2/3 innings).  Lefties hit .171 versus Nathan and righties a miniscule .152.  Also in the mix, but trailing both Holland and Nathan, were: retiring Yankee legend, right-hander Mariano Rivera, who rode his cutter to a 6-2 record, with 44 saves and a 2.11 ERA; and Orioles’ righty Jim Johnson, who went 3-8, 2.94, with an AL-leading 50 saves. Both Rivera and Johnson dropped down due to the number of blown saves (nine for Johnson, seven for Rivera) and higher ERAs and lower strikeout rates than the top two.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Craig Kimbrel

Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves

When you look at the whole package, the 25-year-old Kimbrel had little competition for the 2013 NL Goose Gossage crown.  Kimbrel used a 96-97 mph fastball (that occasionally tops 100 mph) and a power curve to run up a 4-3 record, with an NL-leading 50 saves (only four blown saves) and a 1.21 ERA.  Kimbrel has led the NL in saves the past three years (46-42-50).  In 2013, He whiffed 98 hitters in 67 innings, with twenty walks. Overall, lefties hit .211 against him, while he dominated right-handers (.116).

Craig Kimbrel – 2013

W-L    SV    ERA   G       IP       H     ER     BB    SO

4-3      50     1.21    68     67        39      9       20    98

BBRT also considered (but it was really no contest) Reds’ lefty Aroldis Chapman, who went 4-5, 2.54 with 38 saves (versus five blown saves).  Chapman throws a fastball consistently in the high 90s (and has reached 105 mph), as well as a devastating slider.  In 2013, he struck out 112 hitters in just 63 2/3 innings (29 walks).  Lefties hit .137 against him, while right-handers averaged .172.

(BBRT obseervation – Greg and Craig – my two Goose Gossage Award voter getters – had remarkably similar stats.  Both pitched in 68 games, threw 67 innings and gave up nine earned runs for a 1.21 ERA.  Holland gave up 40 hits, one more than Kimbrel; while Kimbrel gave up 20 walks, two more than Holland.  Holland struck out 103 to Kimbrel’s 98.)

CONNIE MACK AWARD – Top Manager

AMERICAN LEAGUE

John Farrell

John Farrell – Boston Red Sox

Farrell leads a strong set of candidates for top AL manager.  Farrell took a team that finished last (under Bobby Valentine) in 2012 to the top of the AL East in 2013.  This last-to-first surge included a 28-game won-lost improvement (from 69-93 to 97-65).

Farrell also “righted” what seemed to be a sinking club house culture. In doing so, he effectively brought together a lot of new faces (Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Kuji Uehara, Stephen Drew, Ryan Dempster) with some long-time Red Sox veterans (David Ortiz, John Lester, Dustin Pedroia).

Very Simply, Farrell led a turnaround on and off the field.  That earns him BBRT’s Connie Mack Award vote.

Others in the running:  Terry Francona (led the unheralded Indians to a 24-game improvement and an AL Wild Card spot); Bob Melvin (led the A’s, with the AL’s fourth-lowest payroll, to another West Division title);  Joe Girardi (led the Yankees to an  85-77 finish, overcoming age, injuries and the A-Rod controversy). BBRT also gives a shout out to Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire.  A manager who can turn a third consecutive 90+ loss season into a two-year contract extension must be doing something right.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Don Mattingly

Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers

Okay, Mattingly did have the “horses” and the payroll, but he wins for keeping the Dodgers from disintegrating in the first half, and launching a ferocious second-half comeback.  The Dodgers were in last place in the West Division on  July 1 – and, just 80 days later, were the first MLB team to clinch a 2013 division title.  In fact, on June 21, the Dodgers were 12 games under .500 (30-42), in last place and 9 ½ back of the Diamondbacks.  Under Mattingly’s leadership, they kept grinding and went 62-28 the rest of the way.  A steady hand during a stormy first half, coupled with a dramatic comeback, wins Mattingly BBRT’s NL Connie Mack Award vote.

Also deserving recognition is Pirates’ skipper Clint Hurdle, who ended the Pittsburgh’s streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons and brought post-season baseball to Pittsburgh – and who may very well win MLB’s 2013 Manager of the Year Award.

So there are BBRT’s votes for the Baseball Bloggers Alliance (BBA) 2013 season awards.  Watch for a link to the BBA announcement of this year’s winners once voting is complete.  And you call follow BBRT on Twitter at @DavidBBRT.  For more on the BBA, click the link on the lower right hand side of the BBRT home page. 

With the regular season over and playoffs on everyone’s minds, BBRT is taking a break from post-season tension to reflect on just a few regular season occurrences that grabbed my attention.

Payroll Didn’t Drive Placement

Looking at the teams that made it into the post-season three of the top five opening day payrolls were there (#2 Dodgers, #4 Boston and #5 Detroit), but so were three of the bottom five payrolls (#26 Pittsburgh, # 27 Oakland, # 28 Tampa).  Of note, the Dodgers’ $220 million payroll exceeded the combined opening day payrolls of playoff bound Oakland ($61 million), Pittsburgh ($80 million) and Tampa Bay ($58 million). (Figures from CBSsports.com.)

Tough to be YU!

Two guys named YU – The Rangers’ Yu Darvish and Giants’ Yusmiel Petit – both came with one batter of perfect games this season.

Yu Darvish – one of two YUs to lose a perfect game after 26 outs.

On April 2, Darvish was on the mound with two-out in the bottom of the ninth inning, holding a 7-0 lead over the Astros, having retired the first 26 hitters he faced (striking out 14). At the plate was Astros’ shortstop Marwin Gonzalez, who had grounded out and struck out in his first two appearances. Darvish started Gonzalez with a fastball – and the result was a low bouncer that skirted between Darvish’s legs and on into center field for a single. After 111 pitches, Darvish’s night was over and Micheal Kirkman came on to get pinch hitter J.D. Martinez to end the game.

On September 6, Yu number-two – Yusmiel Petit of the Giants – went into the top of ninth inning with a 3-0 lead over the Diamondbacks, having retired the first 24 Arizona hitters, striking out six.  He got shortstop Chris Owning with his seventh strikeout, then right fielder Gerardo Parra grounded out second-to-first.  That left just pinch hitter Eric Chavez between Petit and perfection. Petit got with one strike of a perfect game, only to see Chavez single to right field (just out of the reach of a diving Hunter Pence) on a 3-2 pitch. Chavez and was replaced by pinch runner Tony Campana before Petit induced Diamondback center fielder A.J. Pollock to ground out third-to-first to end the game.  The 95-pitch effort was Petit’s first MLB complete game.

Not So Easy To Be An Astro Either

The Houston Astros finished with an MLB-worst record of 51-111 this season, but that’s not what attracted BBRT attention.  Over the course of the season, Astro’s hitters struck out an All Time MLB record 1,535 times – breaking the Diamondbacks’ 2010 record of 1,529.  Here’s what caught BBRT’s eye.  Having moved to the American League, the Astros set the new record without the benefit of their pitchers flailing (and failing) at the plate.  In 2010, 119 of the Diamondbacks’ record-setting whiffs were credited to pitchers at the plate.

The NL Batting Race

Michael Cudyer – NL Batting Champ

The National League batting race was decided in the final eight days of the season – with two somewhat unlikely contenders.  On September 21, Braves’ third baseman Chris Johnson (who came into 2013 with a four-year career average of .276) was leading the NL at .332.  On his heels (at .331) was the Rockies’ Michael Cuddyer (who came into the season with a 12-year career average of .271 and a single-season high of .284).  Over the final eight days, Cuddyer went 7-for-21 to finish at a league leading .331, while Johnson faded to .321 (going 2-for-23.) Cuddyer’s final line was .331-20-84, and he even added ten stolen bases.

Lots Of Great Young Stars To Watch

Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Wil Myers, Manny Machado, Yasiel Puig, Jose Fernandez, Shelby Miller – and the list goes on an on.  There were – and still are – simply a lot of great young stars to watch.  For more – and a look at BBRT 2013 Young Star Team click  https://baseballroundtable.com/bbrts-2013-mlb-young-star-team-born-in-the-90s/

The Pirates are Back!  The Pirates are Back!

The Post Season comes to Pittsburgh.

The unfolding story of the Pirates, going 94-68 and making the playoffs after a twenty consecutive losing seasons. By contrast, the Yankees have not had a losing season since 1992 – and have had only 22 losing seasons in the history of the franchise (1901-2013 in Baltimore and NY).   The Pirates led by such players as MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen, speedy tablesetter Sterling Marte, NL HR co-leader Pedro Alvarez, starting pitcher and Comeback Player of the Year candidate Francisco Liriano and relievers Jason Grilli and Mark Melancon should remain  fun to watch.

The Pirates Are Back!  So Is Francisco Liriano!

Speaking of the Pirates, starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (who won the first Wild Card playoff game) was a great story and an unlikely hero in the Bucs return to the post season.  The Pirates signed Liriano after a 2012 season when he went 6-12, 5.34 (his second consecutive season with an ERA north of 5.00) for the Twins and White Sox. Then Liriano broke his non-pitching arm in the off-season and didn’t make his first start until May 11.  He ended the season as the Pirates’ ace, rediscovering his wicked slider and going 16-8, 3.02, with 163 strikeouts in 161 innings. How important was Liriano the Pirates?  No other Pittsburgh starter won more than ten games.

The Dodgers’ Remarkable Comeback 

Yasiel Puig helped sparked Dodger comeback.

As of July 1, the underachieving Dodgers were in last place in the NL West (38-43, 3 ½ back).  Just 80 days later – on September 19 – with a 7-6 win over the Diamondbacks, LA became the first team to clinch a 2013 playoff berth.  It also made the Dodgers just the fourth team (along with the 1914 Boston Braves, 1973 New York Mets and 1995 Seattle Mariners) to finish in first place after holding last place as of July 1 or later.  The comeback is even more remarkable when you consider that on June 21, the then last-place Dodgers stood at 30-42, 12 games under .500 and 9 ½ back of Arizona.  From that point, they went 62-28 – finishing 22 games over and 11 games ahead of second-place Arizona. Looking for reasons?

Mike Trout Avoids “Sophomore Jinx

Mike Trout’s 2012 Rookie of Year season: .326, 129 runs, 30 homers, 83 RBI, 49 steals.

Mike Trout 2013:  .323, 109 runs, 27 homers, 97 RBI, 33 steals. Next Willie Mays? Enough said.

Old Guys Rule!

Mariano Rivera – making his best last.

Took great pleasure in watching a couple of forty-year olds defy father time.  Mariano Rivera (age 43) goes 6-2, 2.11 with 44 saves.  Bartolo Colon (age 40) goes 18-6, 2.65.

Oh yes, and let’s not forget 41-year-old Raul Ibanez and his 29 home runs, tying Ted Williams for the most ever by a 41-year-old.

Josh Hamilton’s Fall

Josh Hamilton may have been the biggest disappointment on the disappointing Angels. In the three years before signing a five-year/$133 million contract with the Halos, Hamilton hit .313 with 100 home runs and 322 RBI.  In his first year with LA, he dropped to .250-21-79.  Of course, Albert Pujols has also fallen short of his big contract (10 year/$240 million) expectations.  In 11 years with the Cardinals, the average season for the three-time MVP was .327-40-121.  In that time, Pujols played in more than 140 games every season, hit under .300 only once (.299 in 2011), never hit less than 32 home runs in a season, and collected less than 100 RBI only once (99 in 2011).  His 2013 numbers for LA were 99 games (foot injury), .258-17-64.  This follows a first year in LA during which he put up: .285-30-105 in 154 games (decent numbers, but still short of expectations – at the time, they were Pujols’ lowest average, lowest HR total and second-lowest RBI count).

Cabrera Wins Third Batting Title/Davis Tops 50 HR

Chris Davis – newest 50-homer guy.

For much of the season, BBRT was on a Miguel Cabrera Triple Crown repeat watch; with the Oriole’s Chris Davis Cabrera’s main obstacle in two of the three categories.  While abdominal issues slowed Miggy late in the season, Cabrera still won his third consecutive batting crown (the first player to win three straight titles since Wade Boggs won four between 1985-88).  Meanwhile, Davis gave us the pleasure of watching him chase 50 home runs.  At season’s end, Davis led all of MLB with 53 home runs and 138 RBI (Cabrera finished second in both at 44-137). Davis became the 27^th player to reach the 50-homer mark, and his 53 HRs are the 26^th most in an MLB season (for more on the 50 homer club, click https://baseballroundtable.com/chris-davis-newest-member-of-50-homer-club/

The Yankees’ .500+ Record

Joe Girardi for Manager of the Year.  It could happen, considering how he managed the Yankees to a third-place finish, eight games over .500 (85-77) despite age, injuries and the A-Rod controversy.  Girardi did a great job of guiding the Yankees through troubled waters with lots of fill-ins at the oars.

The Blue Jays Disappointing Performance

With a host of off-season acquisitions – Jose Reyes, R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Melky Cabrera, Emilio Bonifacio – the Blue Jays moved into the top ten in payroll and became a popular pick to win the AL East.  They were, however, never a factor – finishing at 74-88, last in the division, 23 games out. Lots of reasons, with 2012 NL CY Young winner R.A. Dickey (20-6, 2.73 for the Mets in 2012) at or near the top of the list.  Dickey was a significant disappointment at 14-13, 4.21 for the Jays.  (Maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise, eliminating 2012, Dickey’s MLB record – ten seasons – would be 55-63, 4.31.) Jose Reyes performed well when he was in the lineup (.293-10-37, with 15 steals), but injuries limited him to 93 games.  Josh Johnson, who came to the Jays with a career line of 56-37, 3.15 was limited by triceps and forearm issues – and turned in 2-8 record with a 6.20 ERA in just 16 starts. And so it went for the Jays – injuries and underperformance derailing what should have been a promising season.

The First Place Boston Red Sox

Lots of excitement at Fenway this year.

In 2012, the Boston Red Sox finished in last place in the AL East, 69-93 and 26 games out.  The Sox dumped first-year manager Bobby Valentine and brought in John Farrell. They also made changes to the team during the off-season – changes that didn’t seem to excite analysts or fans. Joining the Red Sox were not the biggest name free agents, but players like Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Koji Uehara, Stephen Drew, and Ryan Dempster.  The Sox, in fact, were picked to finish at our near the bottom of the division. Unlike the Blue Jays, the Red Sox strategy paid off in the W-L column, as they won the East with a 97-65 record.  Napoli contributed  23 HRs and 92 RBI, Victorino hit .294 with 21 steals, and Uehara notched 21 saves to go with a 1.09 ERA. Red Sox veterans chipped in as well.  David Ortiz went .309-30-103; Dustin Pedroia’s line was .301-9-83 (17 steals); John Lester rebounded with a 15-8 record and 3.75 ERA; and, despite injuries that limited him to 16 starts, Clay Bucholz went 12-1, 1.74.

Oakland Athletics Get High(s) – Win The AL West

The A’s must have been rewatching “Moneyball.”  Despite MLB’s 27^th highest (or fourth lowest) opening day payroll, Oakland topped the AL West, which is also home to the game’s sixth- (Angels) and eighth-highest (Rangers) payrolls.  The A’s went 96-66, driven to success by such “name” players as Brandon Moss, Jed Lowrie, Eric Sogard, Josh Donaldson, Jarrod Parker, A.J. Griffin, and Dan Straily. (There were a lot a “career highs” along the way – like Moss’ career-high 30 HRs, Donaldson’s career-high .301 average, Lowrie’s career-topping 75 RBI, Griffin’s career-best 14 wins; and much more).  There also were some better-known names making contributions: Coco Crisp (with a career-high 22 HRs), Yeonis Cespedes (career-high 26 HRs) and 40-year-old starter Bartolo Colon, who went 18-6, 2.65.

Washington Nationals – A Fade, But Not A Collapse

The Washington Nationals were a popular pick to win the AL East in 2013, after 98 wins and an East Division title in 2012.  The team has taken a lot of heat for falling behind the Atlanta Braves early and failing to make the playoff.  But really, they still finished 10 games over .500 (86-76) and have a solid foundation in place for 2014.  BBRT urges Nats’ fans not to overreact.

“Kinda-Unlikely” No hitters

There were three no-hitters thrown in 2013, all by pitchers who started their no-hitters with a losing record on the season – and also would finish their season with a losing record. Let’s look at these “kinda-unlikely” outcomes.

“Homer” Bailey, unlikely name for no-hitter hurler.

On July 2, Reds’ right-hander Homer Bailey threw the first no-hitter of the 2013 season.  Given that Bailey also threw the last no-hitter of 2012 (September 28, 2012), the no-no is not entirely unlikely.  It just seems to BBRT a bit unexpected that a pitcher with the unfortunate name of “Homer” would toss a no-hitter.  This year’s no-no came in Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark, with Bailey shutting down the Giants 3-0 on 109 pitches, walking just one, striking out nine. With the final out, Bailey became just the 31st pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters.  Bailey, by the way, went into the game with a 4-6 record and a 3.88 ERA.  He finished the season 11-12, 3.49.

On July 13, the Giants’ Tim Lincecum no hit the Padres 9-0 in San Diego.  Why did this seem so unlikely – after all, Lincecum is a two-time Cy Young Award winner?  True, but the Lincecum who took the mound this past July was not the hurler who in 2008-09 went 33-12, with a 2.55 ERA and 526 strikeouts in 452 1/3 innings. This was a Lincecum coming off a 2012 season in which he went 10-15 with a 5.18 ERA.  It was a Lincecum with a 2013 record of 4-9, 4.61. (He would end the season at 10-14, 4.37.)  Ultimately, Lincecum threw an unlikely (career-high) 148 pitches in his no-hit game, striking out 13 batters (while walking four).

On the final day of the season (September 29), the Marlins’ Henderson Álvarez was matched up against Detroit’s Justin Verlander – a pitcher much more likely than Alvarez to toss a no-hitter – in Miami.  Alvarez joined the Marlins after compiling a 9-14 record (4.85 ERA) for the Blue Jays in 2012.  He came into the season finale with a 2013 mark of 4-6, 3.94 (and would finish the season 5-6, 3.59).  Alvarez and Verlander matched zeros across the board and, as the Marlins batted in the bottom of the ninth, Alvarez had completed nine no-hit innings with one walk and four strikeouts.  In the bottom of the ninth, Miami turned two singles and a walk into a bases-loaded/one-out situation.  Then, with Alvarez on deck, the winning run scored (in an unlikely manner) on a wild pitch.

So, there are a few things that caught BBRT’s attention in 2013.  Got any to add?  Feel free to comment.

Never let it be said that BBRT “missed the bandwagon.”  It’s time to share my Mariano Rivera “Mo-Ment.”  No, I wasn’t in the stands for any of the 2013 regular season’s  heartfelt farewells – but I was at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa for a Rivera “first-Last”:  Rivera’s first appearance of his last Spring Training.  (Photos above.)

What can you say about Rivera that hasn’t already been said – the best closer ever and a class act on and off the field.  How good was Mo?  The numbers (as of September 27) speak for themselves.

• 652 regular-season saves, best ever.
• 42 post-season saves, best ever.  (He also had 8 post-season wins – and only one loss – with a 0.70 post season ERA (lowest ever).
• Thirteen-time All Star, five-time Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, three-time Delivery Man of the Year.
• Three-time AL leader in saves – topped 50 saves twice, topped 40 saves nine times.
• A lifetime ERA of 2.21 (19 seasons, 1,116 games, 1,283 2/3 innings pitched) – ERA below 3.00 every season except 1995 (rookie season, included his only 10 starts, 5.51) and 2007 (3.15).  Eleven seasons with an ERA below 2.00 – lowest was 1.38 in 2005 (71 appearances).

Looking back on a career of consistent achievement, Rivera (in BBRT’s estimation) saved the best for last.  On May 3, 2012, after nine appearances, Rivera tore his ACL in a freak accident (while shagging fly balls in the outfield before the game).   Many thought the injury would mark the end of the 42-year-old hurler’s career.  Rivera vowed he would be back and has delivered on his word.  Through September 7 – at age 43 – Rivera is 6-2, with a 2.11 ERA and 44 saves (third in the AL.)  That is a comeback for the ages  – from a closer for the ages.  Mo will be missed. BBRT is looking forward to the Hall of Fame acceptance speech.

Souvenirs from Mariano Rivera’s FIRST appearance of his LAST (2013) Spring Training.

Photos by D. Karpinski

Chris Davis – newest member of the 50-Homer Club.

Today (September 13, 2013), the Orioless Chris Davis notched MLB’s 43^rd fifty-home run season, becoming the 27^th player to reach that mark.  BBRT did a blog post focused on 50-homer seasons earlier this month (to commemorate Mickey Mantle’s 50^th dinger of the 1961 season.  With Davis now in the Fifty-Homer Club, I’ll update that post, add some new facts about 50-homer seasons (like fewest strikeouts and most stolen bases in a 50-homer campaign) and add the full list of 50+ home run seasons.

• The first 50-homer season belongs, as you might expect, to Babe Ruth (54 homers in 1920).
• In hitting 54 HRs in 1920, Babe Ruth broke his own MLB record of 29 HRs, thus becoming the first player to reach 30 & 40 HRs as well.  Ruth also outhomered every MLB team except the NL’s Phillies, who hit 64 that year.
• Hack Wilson, with 56 HRs in 1930, became the second member (and first NL member) of the 50-homer club.  (Before Wilson’s season, Ruth also topped 50 dingers in 1921, 1927 and 1928).
• Of the 27 players to notch in the Fifty-homer Club, there have been 15 right-handed hitters, 11 left-handers and one switch hitter)
• Mickey Mantle is the only switch-hitter to reach 50-homers in a season.
• The Yankees  have had the most 50-homer players (four):  Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Alex Rodriguez all reached the mark while in pinstripes.
• Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle are the only two teammates to reach 50 home runs in the same season – 1961, Maris 61 and Mantle 54.
• Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire each achieved a record four 50-homer seasons.
• Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire share the record for consecutive 50-homer campaigns at four.
• The record for 50-homer hitters in a single season is four (1998 & 2001):  1998 – Greg  Vaughn (50), Ken Griffey Jr. (56), Sammy Sosa (66), Mark McGwire (70); 2001– Alex Rodriguez (50), Louis Gonzalez (57); Sammy Sosa (64); Barry Bonds (73).

• 

  Mickey Mantle – all over the 50-Homer Club – only switch hitter to reach 50 HRs; only player with 50 homers in Triple Crown year; half of only pair of teammates to reach 50 HRs in same season (with Roger Maris, 1961); one of record four Yankees in 50-Homer Club.

  Willie Mays is the only player to hit 50 homers for the same franchise in two different cities – 51 HRs for the New York Giants in 1955 and 52 for the San Francisco Giants in 1965).

• Willie Mays also holds the mark for seasons (11 including each 50-homer year) between 50-homer campaigns (as well, for the length of time between a first and last 50-homer season.)
• Mark McGwire is the only player to be traded in the course of a 50-homer season.  In 1997, McGwire finished July as an Oakland A, with 34 homers and 81 RBI.  On July 31, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played in 51 more games, rapping another 24 homers and driving in 42.
• The 50-homer club boasts only one father/son combination:  Cecil Fielder (51 HRs for the Tigers in 1990) and Prince Fielder (50 HRs for the Brewers in 2007).
• The youngest player to record a 50-homer club season is Prince Fielder (23), the oldest,  Barry Bonds (37).
• Only one player with fifty-homer seasons has no other season of at least 30 homers.  Brady Anderson’s (50 HRs in 1996) second-highest HR total in his 15-year career was 24 HRs in 1999. Anderson sandwiched his 50-homer campaign between seasons of 16 HRs (1995) and 18 HRs (1997).
• Only three players have hit fifty homers for more than one team:  Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia Athletics 1932, Boston Red Sox 1938); Mark McGwire (Oakland A’s 1996, Oakland A’s/St. Louis Cardinals 1997, St. Louis Cardinals 1998, 1999); Alex Rodriguez (Texas Rangers 2001, 2002 and New York Yankees 2007).
• Mark McGwire is the only player to have a fifty-homer season in both the NL and AL.
• Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds are the only players to reach 70 homers in a season; McGwire 70 in 1998, Bonds 73 in 2001.
• Sammy Sosa is the only player to top 60 home runs in a season three times and, ironically, did not lead his league in any of those seasons: 1998 – Sosa 66 HRs/McGwire 70; 1999 – Sosa 63/McGwire 65; 2001 – Sosa 64/Bonds 73.
• A player has hit fifty or more homers and not led his league ten times: Jimmie Foxx (1938); Mickey Mantle (1961); Brady Anderson (1996); Mark McGwire (1997, McGwire led all of baseball with 58 HRs, but was traded from AL to NL during the season and led neither league); Sammy Sosa (1998, 1999, 2001); Greg Vaughn (1998); Louis Gonzalez (2001); Jim Thome (2002).
• Only one 50-homer season has been part of a Triple Crown year – Mickey Mantle (1956) .353-52-130.
• The most stolen bases in a 50-homer season is 24, by Willie Mays (1955) and Alex Rodriguez (2007).  Only four players have stolen 20 bases in a 50-season: Mays, Rodriguez, Brady Anderson and Ken Griffey, Jr.  (Babe Ruth came close, swiping 17 bags in 1921, when he hit 59 long balls.)
• The most runs scored in a 50-homer season is 177 (Babe Ruth, 1921); the most RBI is 191 (Hack Wilson, 1930 – the all-time, MLB single-season high.)
• The fewest runs scored in a 50-homer season is 86 (Mark McGwire, 1997); the most runs scored is 177  (Babe Ruth, 1921).
• The highest batting average in a 50-homer campaign is .378  (Babe Ruth, 1921); the lowest average is .260 (Jose Bautista, 2010).  Only three hitters have hit under .270 while bashing fifty dingers: Bautista, Roger Maris (.269, 1961) and Andruw Jones (.263, 2005).
• Johnny Mize holds the record for the fewest strikeouts in a 50-homer season, 42 in 1947.
• Since 1920 (first 50-HR season), the longest period without a 50-HR hitter has been 12 seasons (1977-89); the longest streak of consecutive seasons with a 50-HR player was eight (1995-2002)
• In the seventy-six seasons since the first 50-homer season (1920-95), there were a total of nineteen 50-homer seasons. Between 1996-2013 (18 seasons) there were twenty-three 50-homer campaigns; and from 1997-2006 (ten seasons), there were eighteen 50-homer campaigns.

50-Homer Club (Career total in parens- as of Sept. 13, 2013), active players in Bold/Blue

Year    HRs

1920    54        Babe Ruth, Yankees (714)

1921    59        Babe Ruth, Yankees

1927    60        Babe Ruth, Yankees

1928    54        Babe Ruth, Yankees

1930    56        Hack Wilson, Cubs (244)

1932    58        Jimmie Foxx, Athletics, Phil.  (534)

1938    50        Jimmie Foxx, Red Sox

1938    58        Hank Greenberg, Tigers (331)

1947    51        Johnny Mize, Giants, NY (359)

1947    51        Ralph Kiner, Pirates (369)

1949    54        Ralph Kiner, Pirates

1955    51        Willie Mays, Giants, NY (660)

1956    52        Mickey Mantle, Yankees (536)

1961    54        Mickey Mantle, Yankees

1961    61        Roger Maris, Yankees (275)

1965    52        Willie Mays, Giants, SF

1977    52        George Foster, Reds (348)

1990    51        Cecil Fielder, Tigers (319)

1995    50        Albert Belle, Indians (381)

1996    50        Brady Anderson, Orioles (210)

1996    52        Mark McGwire, Athletics, Oak. (583)

1997    56        Ken Griffey, Jr., Mariners (630)

1997    58        Mark McGwire, Athletics, Oak. & Cardinals

1998    50        Greg Vaughn, Padres  (355)

1998    56        Ken Griffey, Jr., Mariners

1998    66        Sammy Sosa, Cubs (609)

1998    70        Mark McGwire, Cardinals

1999    63        Sammy Sosa, Cubs

1999    65        Mark McGwire, Cardinals

2000    50        Sammy Sosa,  Cubs

2001    52        Alex Rodriguez, Rangers (653)

2001    57        Luis Gonzalez, Diamondbacks (354)

2001    64        Sammy Sosa, Cubs

2001    73        Barry Bonds, Giants, SF (762)

2002    52        Jim Thome, Indians (611)

2002    57        Alex Rodriguez, Rangers

2005    51        Andruw Jones, Braves, ATL  (433)*

2006    58        Ryan Howard, Phillies (311)

2006    54        David Ortiz, Red Sox (428)

2007    54        Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

2007    50        Prince Fielder, Brewers (284)

2010    54        José Bautista, Blue Jays (211)

2013    50??    Chris Davis, Orioles (127)

*2013 Playing in Japan