![\"Tape\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Tape-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThen there is the traditional BBRT Trot Index (plate appearances that result in a trot to first base or back to the dugout, rather than action on the field). As you can see, the percentage of overall plate appearances resulting in a “trot” were fairly level across the regular season and post season – with between 37 and 39 percent of plate appearances ending in a trot.\u00a0 Still, we have seen a bit of an uptick in home run frequency in the post-season (perhaps in part due to the Rays’ newly found power).<\/p>\n
Now, a few highlights from the League Championship Series.<\/p>\n Ouch.\u00a0 Hard to Dodge(r) Those Bullets<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In Game Three of the NLCS (October 14), the Dodgers put up 11 runs in the first inning against the Braves. The 11 tallies are the most scored by any team in any inning<\/em> of a post-season contest. That Dodger big inning featured three home runs (Joc Pederson, Edwin Rios, Max Muncy); two doubles; two singles; three walks; and one hit-by-pitch.<\/p>\n Good to the Very Last Out<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Ten of the eleven runs scored in the Dodgers’ big inning versus the Braves came after two outs. Going into the 11-run inning, Braves’ pitchers had given up just 12 runs in 67 2020 post-season frames (1.61 ERA).\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n There\u2019s Always a First Time<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On October 14, in Game Three of the Dodgers\/Braves NLCS, Atlanta\u2019s number-nine hitter, rookie CF Cristian Pache, hit his first major league home run. It came in the bottom of the third inning and, while the Braves were trounced 15-3, Pache did make a little bit of history. He became just the seventh major leaguer to hit his first long ball in the post season. The 21-year-old rookie had just four at bats in the regular season (one hit, two strikeouts). In four minor-league seasons, Pache hit .283 with 21 home runs.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a snapshot of the others on this list.\u00a0 Four of them were pitchers and for three it was the only MLB home run of their careers.<\/p>\n Rosy Ryan, Giants, Pitcher \u2013 October 6, 1924 \u2013 World Series Game Six<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Ryan, who came on in relief in the top of the fourth inning of the 1924 World Series sixth game, took the Senators\u2019 Allen Russell deep (solo shot) in the bottom of the inning \u2013 expanding the Giants’ lead to 4-2 in a game they eventually won 6-4.\u00a0 Ryan played in ten MLB seasons, going 51-47, 4.14. As a hitter, he was .190-1-12 in the regular season and .250-1-2 in four post-season at bats.<\/p>\n Frank Demaree, Cubs, CF \u2013 October 2, 1932 \u2013 World Series Game Four<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Frank Demaree was just 22-years-old, with only 22 regular-season games for the Cubs, when he started in CF, batting fifth, for Chicago in Games Two and Four of the 1932 World Series (against the Yankees). Demaree had an RBI single in four trips in Game Two, then marked his place in post-season history with his first MLB home run (a three-run shot) in the bottom of the first inning of Game Four.\u00a0\u00a0 Demaree went on to play 12 MLB seasons, hitting .299-72-591.<\/p>\n Mickey Lolich, Pitcher, Tigers \u2013 October 3, 1968 \u2013 World Series Game Three<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Mickey Lolich hit his first AND ONLY<\/em> MLB home run in Game Two of the 1968 World Series (Tiger versus Cardinals). The solo shot came in the top of the third inning of a Tigers’ 8-1 win in St. Louis. Lolich also drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning, had a single in the eighth and pitched a complete-game, six-hitter – for a pretty good day at the ballpark. Lolich went 217-191, 3.44 in sixteen MLB seasons \u2013 and hit .110-0-31.<\/p>\n Don Gullett, Pitcher, Reds \u2013 October 4, 1975 \u2013 NLCS Game One<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Gullet\u2019s first MLB home run was a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Reds’ 8-3 win over the Pirates in Game One of the 1975 NLCS.\u00a0 Gullett also had an RBI single in the second inning and tossed a three-run, eight-hit complete game.\u00a0 Like Lolich, Gullet\u2019s post-season dinger was his ONLY<\/em> MLB home run. Gullet pitched in nine MLB seasons, going 109-50, 3.11 and hitting .194-0-36. He was a better post-season hitter, going .292-1-6 in 24 at bats over eleven post-season series.<\/p>\n Melvin Mora, CF, Mets \u2013 October 13, 1999 \u2013 NLCS Game Two<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Melvin Mora, a 27-year-old rookie, replaced Ricky Henderson in the second inning Game Two of the 1999 NLCS, (versus the Braves).\u00a0 In 31 regular-season at bats, Mora had hit .161 with no home runs and just one RBI. In the fifth inning of this game, he hit his first MLB home run, a solo shot off Kevin Millwood that tied the game at one apiece. Mora would play 13 MLB seasons, hitting .277-171-754. His best campaign was 2004, when he hit .340 with 27 home runs, 101 RBI, 111 runs scored and 11 stolen bases for the Orioles.<\/p>\n J<\/strong>oe Blanton, Pitcher, Phillies \u2013 October 26, 2008 \u2013 World Series Game Four<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Joe Blanton\u2019s home run in Game Four of the 2008 World Series was his first AND ONLY<\/em>\u00a0 MLB long ball. The solo shot came against the Rays\u2019 Edwin Jackson in the top of the fifth with the Phillies leading 5-2.\u00a0 Blanton would pitch 13 MLB seasons going 101-97, 4.38 and hitting .106-0-6 (216 at bats).\u00a0 The home run off Jackson was Blanton’s only hit in 15 post-season plate appearances (one hit, one walk, ten strikeouts).<\/p>\n Bookends, Indeed<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On October 15, as the Astros topped the Rays in Game Five of the ALCS. Astros’ leadoff hitter George Springer hit the very first pitch in the bottom of the first inning for a home run to deep LF. Eight innings later, in the bottom of the ninth, with the game knotted at 3-3, Astros; SS Carlos Correa hit the last pitch of the game (a 1-1 offering from reliever Nick \u201cAnderson) out of the park to CF for a walk-off game winner. To prove that \u201cin baseball we track everything,\u201d it was noted that this was the first instance of a team hitting the first and last pitch it saw in a post-season game for a pair of home runs.<\/p>\n What a Relief to Start<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On October 16, in Game Five of the NLCS, southpaw A.J. Minter of the Braves made his first-ever MLB start \u2013 holding the Dodgers to one hit and no runs, while walking none and fanning seven (over three innings).\u00a0 \u00a0The Dodgers, by the way, won the Game 7-3. Up until that game, the 26-year-old Minter had made 139 regular-season and five post-season appearances \u2013 all in relief.\u00a0 While he came away with a no-decision, he did make a mark as the first MLB pitcher to make his very first start in the post season.<\/p>\n K-Rod … Post-Season Decision-Maker<\/strong><\/p>\n Francisco Rodriguez made his MLB debut (with the Angels) on September 18, 2002 and\u00a0 went on to appear in five 2002 regular-season games (5 2\/3 innings pitched and 13 strikeouts) \u2013 with no decisions (wins, losses or saves). In the 2002 post-season, he appeared in 11 games and picked up five wins and one loss (18 2\/3 innings pitched, 28 strikeouts). Thus, Rodriguez tied (Randy Johnson, 2001) for the record for the most wins in a single post-season (five) before having a single regular-season decision.<\/em> (Stephen Strasburg joined Johnson and Rodriguez with five wins in the 2019 post season.)<\/strong><\/p>\n Rodriguez went on to pitch 16 MLB seasons (2002-2017), was a six-time All Star, and led the AL in saves three times.\u00a0 He holds the MLB record for saves in a season, with 62 in 2008.\u00a0 His final career stat line was 52-53, 2.86, with 437 saves and 1,142 strikeouts in 976 innings.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Which Mr. Smith was That?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On October 16, as the Dodgers topped the Braves 7-3 in Game Five of the NLCS, Dodgers’ catcher Will Smith was a hero, hitting a go ahead three-run home in the top of the sixth inning.\u00a0 But it was not all celebration for the game\u2019s Wil Smith(s). Dodger Will Smith hit his homer off Braves’ reliever Will Smith \u2013 who earned a blown save and a loss.<\/p>\n Not in the Post Season, but in the Same Vein as the Two Will Smiths<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On August 15, 1962, the Phillies topped the Mets 9-3 in the first game of a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds.\u00a0 No big surprise there, as the Mets’ record going into the game was 30-88. What was more surprising was that Phillies\u2019 outfielder Don Demeter hit his 19th and 20th home runs of the season in the game \u2013 off a right-handed and a left-handed “Bob Miller.” Oh yes, and he did it while playing two different defensive positions.<\/strong><\/p>\n In the third inning, with the Phillies\u2019 up 2-0, Demeter (who had started the game in left field and in the five-spot in the order) smacked a solo shot off starter (right-hander) Robert Lane Miller. Then in the ninth inning, Demeter – who had moved to center field in the seventh \u2013 hit a three-run homer (extending the Phillies’ lead to 9-2) off southpaw reliever Robert Gerald Miller. Two homers, in one game, off two Bob Millers, a right-hander and a port-sider.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Demeter, notably, was on the way to his best-ever major league season. In 1962 (his sixth of eleven MLB seasons), he achieved his career highs for average (.307), home runs (29), RBI (107), runs scored (85), hits (169) and doubles (24). The two Millers?\u00a0 Starter Bob Miller went 1-12, 4.89 in 1962 (69-81, 3.37 with 52 saves in 17 MLB seasons). Reliever Bob Miller went 2-2, 7.08 in 1961, the last of his five MLB seasons (6-8, 4.72).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Another There\u2019s Always a First Time<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n On October 17, Braves\u2019 starter Max Fried took a loss for the first time in 2020. Fried had gone 7-0. 2.25 in 11 regular-season starts and had three no-decisions in his three 2020 post-season assignments. (He had gone 0-0, 2.65, with 18 whiffs in 17 innings in those three starts.) In the October 17 start versus the Dodgers, Fried gave up three runs in the first inning of a 3-1 loss. Then pitched 5 2\/3 scoreless frames.<\/p>\n MVP-MVP<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Photo by apardavila<\/a> The MVPs of the two Championship Series were Rays\u2019 rookie Randy Arozarena \u2013 who became the first rookie position player to win a League Championship Series (or World Series) MVP Award \u2013 and Dodgers’ SS Corey Seager.<\/p>\n Seager came close to literally \u201ctearing the cover off the ball.\u201d\u00a0 In the seven-game NLCS, he hit .310, with five home runs and 11 RBI \u2013 the only National Leaguer to reach those homer and RBI numbers in a single post-season series.<\/p>\n Cruzin\u2019 to a Record<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Nelson Cruz holds the AL and MLB record for the most home runs in a single post-season series. In the 2011 ALCS, Cruz (then with the Rangers) hit six home runs and drove in 13 tallies, as Texas topped Detroit in six games<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n A Winner in Winner-Takes-All<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Photo by jmd41280<\/a> Rays\u2019 Game Seven ALCS starter Charlie Morton picked up his MLB-record fourth victory in a \u201cWinner-Takes-All\u201d contest.\u00a0 In addition to this year\u2019s ALCS Game Seven, he picked up victories in Game Seven of the 2017 ALCS and Game Seven of the 2017 World Series (as a member of the Astros), as well as for the Rays in last season’s Wild Card Game.<\/p>\n In those four contests, he pitched a total of 19 2\/3 innings, giving up 11 hits and just one earned run (two runs), while walking six and fanning 19. In the 2020 post-season, Morton is 3-0, with a 0.57 earned run average in three starts (15 2\/3 innings pitched).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —–Top 2020 Post-Season Hitters Going into the World Series—-<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n AVERAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:\u00a0<\/strong> Mookie Betters (.311); Corey Seager (.298) Cody Bellinger (.250)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Randy Arozarena (.382); Manuel Margot (.256); Joey Wendle (.225)<\/p>\n HOME RUNS<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:<\/strong> Corey Seager, Dodgers (6); Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (3); Enrique Hernandez (2); Max Muncy (2); Edwin Rios (2)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Randy Arozarena (7); Manuel Margot (5); Ji-Man Choi (2); Austin Meadows (2)<\/p>\n RBI<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:<\/strong> Corey Seager (15); Will Smith, Dodgers (11); Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (10)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Manuel Margot (11); Randy Arozarena (10); Mike Zurino, Rays (8)<\/p>\n RUNS SCORED<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:<\/strong> Corey Seager (13); Mookie Betts (10); Justin Turner (10)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Randy Arozarena (14); Manuel Margot (7); Joey Wendle (7)<\/p>\n —–Top 2020 Post-Season Pitchers Going into the World Series—–<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n EARNED RUN AVERAGE<\/strong> (at least ten innings pitched)<\/p>\n Dodgers:\u00a0<\/strong> Julio Urias (0.56); Walker Buehler (1.89); Clayton Kershaw (3.32)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Charlie Morton (0.57); Blake Snell (3.20); Tyler Glasnow (4.66)<\/p>\n WINS<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:<\/strong>\u00a0Julio Urias (4); Clayton Kershaw (2)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Charlie Morton (3); Tyler Glasnow (2); Blake Snell (2)<\/p>\n STRIKEOUTS<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:<\/strong> Walker Buehler (30); Clayton Kershaw (23); Julio Urias (16)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Tyler Glasnow (25); Blake Snell (19); Charlie Morton (17)<\/p>\n APPEARANCES<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:<\/strong> Blake Treinen (8); Brusdar Graterol (6); Kenley Jansen (6)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Nick Anderson (7); Diego Castillo (7); John Curtiss (6); Pete Fairbanks (6); Ryan Thompson (6)<\/p>\n SAVES<\/strong><\/p>\n Dodgers:<\/strong> Kenley Jansen (2); Brusdar Graterol (1); Joe Kelly (1)<\/p>\n Rays:<\/strong> Pete Fairbanks (3); Diego Castillo (2); Nick Anderson (1)<\/p>\n WHO WIN THE WORLD SERIES? I LEAN TOWARD THE DODGERS, BUT THIS SHOULD BE A GREAT ONE TO WATCH.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Primary Resources: MLB.com; Baseball-Reference.com; Stathead.com; ESPN.com<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/small><\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>Arozarena hit .321 in the ALCS (9-for-28), with four home runs, four RBI and six runs scored.\u00a0 Over the first three rounds of the playoffs he hit .382, with seven homers and ten RBI.\u00a0\u00a0 Note:\u00a0 While the 25-year-old outfielder retained his rookie status this season, he did see post-season action in 2019 (after an August call up to the Cardinals); going 0-4 in five NLDS and\u00a0 NLCS games with the Redbirds. His seven homers are an MLB rookie record for a single post-season and he is only one dinger off the overall MLB record of eight (Barry Bonds, 2002; Carlos Beltran, 2004; Nelson Cruz, 2011).\u00a0 He’s got plenty of time to join or surpass that trio of stars.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/small><\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.\u00a0 To see the full list, click\u00a0here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nI tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\n