MLB Topics

[ElRetornodelEspencio]

Earlier this season, I was bemused by the countdown in Ichiro's combined hits total (Japan and ML) to Pete Rose's record.  Maybe we can solve Mr. Ypsi's home run quandary just by putting Oh at the top home run career list with 868.

The NCAA has a HR/game record and this might be the ticket for disparate seasons.

I could live with that!   (Though I'm not entirely certain that Japanese baseball is above AAA.)

It's not. The American players there probably are about that level. Most of the Japanese ones aren't.

This is all ridiculous. Is the sport harder now than it was in the 20s? Of course it is. Does that mean numbers in the 20s shouldn't count? No.

One could just as easily suggest that if Babe Ruth had been around in an era with modern weight training, nutrition regimen, video analysis, swing metrics, etc. that he would have been even better. It's all unanswerable.

[Mr. Ypsi]

1. A career is a career.  If Cobb wanted to keep the record forever, he should have postponed retirement!

That's odd. Why are you only splitting up the single season HR record into 154/162 game records? Didn't Rose get the same advantage Maris did (extra games in the schedule), just more frequently?

I'm trying to understand your logic, but you don't seem to be applying it consistently at all.

I'm not really splitting the record - just recognizing that only the Babe (and a few juiced-up guys) has ever hit 60 HRs in the first 154 games of a season.  If careers had defined time limits I might do the same for Rose and Cobb, but, barring career-ending injury or death, career lengths are open-ended.  (And note the  on my Cobb comment - 'logic' is not necessarily required in such statements! )

[Mr. Ypsi]

In fairness (and 'consistency' ), my commenting on the Babe being the only non-cheater with 60+ HRs in the first 154 games is in conflict with my belief that a 'consecutive games streak' is just that - winter breaks be damned.  It would not surprise me if some non-cheater (Hank Greenberg, perhaps? or Jimmie Foxx?) had a streak of 154 games over a two-year period of 60+ HRs.  But aside from a game-by-game check of box scores, I don't know how to check this - I'm curious, but not THAT curious!   (So, while the Babe is the only non-PED guy with 60 HRs in the first 154 games, he may or may not be the only non-PED player with 60 [or more] HRs in a 154 game stretch!)

This is important to me to salvage my 'Tiger Perfect Game' in bowling.   I've never rolled a 300, but I did have a series where I finished the first game with four strikes, then started the second with eight more (then collapsed and only finished with a 244 ).  (In case anyone missed the reference, the 'Tiger Slam' was the term used for when Tiger Woods possessed all four Majors at the same time, but not in the same year so no 'Grand Slam'.) 

[ElRetornodelEspencio]

Tiger Perfect Game  I like that one. If someone records 27 outs (or 21 in some leagues) without giving up a hit, is that a Tiger No Hitter?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Tiger Perfect Game  I like that one. If someone records 27 outs (or 21 in some leagues) without giving up a hit, is that a Tiger No Hitter?

Well, if I'm already willing to ignore winters, why not?!   Henceforth, if a pitcher records 27 consecutive outs across two games, he's got a Tiger Perfect Game (if there was a walk or error, he's still got a Tiger No Hitter.)

There's already at least a couple of games that in my view should be considered perfect games (no 'Tiger' necessary):  Armando Galarraga's perfecto marred by Jim Joyce's bad call on the 27th batter.  Joyce was more distraught when he saw the replay than Armando appeared to be (he just smiled, shook his head, and promptly got the 28th out).  The next day Joyce was the home plate ump; Galarraga took out the line-up card and they embraced - one of the finest sportsmanship gestures ever.  And, of course, Harvey Haddix's TWELVE perfect innings, before losing in the 13th.  I understand the reasoning (it was not a complete game perfect game - therefore not a 'perfect game'), but come on!  TWELVE perfect innings!

There's also a small category (I think 3 or 4 times, though I'm not coming up with a specific example at the moment - I think Verlander may have done it, but I'm real fuzzy on details) of what I think of a 'quasi-perfect' game - the pitcher allows a runner (whether by hit, walk, or error), but the runner is erased by a pick-off or DP, and the pitcher still faces only the minimum 27 batters.

[Jim Dixon]

There's also a small category (I think 3 or 4 times, though I'm not coming up with a specific example at the moment - I think Verlander may have done it, but I'm real fuzzy on details) of what I think of a 'quasi-perfect' game - the pitcher allows a runner (whether by hit, walk, or error), but the runner is erased by a pick-off or DP, and the pitcher still faces only the minimum 27 batters.

On June 23, 1917, Babe Ruth, then a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, walked the Washington Senators' first batter, Ray Morgan, on four straight pitches. Ruth, who had already been shouting at umpire Brick Owens about the quality of his calls, became even angrier and, in short order, was ejected. Enraged, Ruth charged Owens, swung at him, and had to be led off the field by a policeman. Ernie Shore came in to replace Ruth, while catcher Sam Agnew took over behind the plate for Pinch Thomas. Morgan was caught stealing by Agnew on the first pitch by Shore, who proceeded to retire the next 26 batters. All 27 outs were made while Shore was on the mound. Once recognized as a perfect game by Major League Baseball, this still counts as a combined no-hitter.

[Jim Dixon]

There have been fifteen occasions in Major League Baseball history when a pitcher—or, in one case, multiple pitchers—recorded at least 27 consecutive outs after one or more runners reached base. In four instances, the game went into extra innings and the pitcher(s) recorded more than 27 consecutive outs

Check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_perfect_games


The closest I have seen a perfect game was an out, double and 26 consecutive outs to end the game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

There's also a small category (I think 3 or 4 times, though I'm not coming up with a specific example at the moment - I think Verlander may have done it, but I'm real fuzzy on details) of what I think of a 'quasi-perfect' game - the pitcher allows a runner (whether by hit, walk, or error), but the runner is erased by a pick-off or DP, and the pitcher still faces only the minimum 27 batters.

On June 23, 1917, Babe Ruth, then a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, walked the Washington Senators' first batter, Ray Morgan, on four straight pitches. Ruth, who had already been shouting at umpire Brick Owens about the quality of his calls, became even angrier and, in short order, was ejected. Enraged, Ruth charged Owens, swung at him, and had to be led off the field by a policeman. Ernie Shore came in to replace Ruth, while catcher Sam Agnew took over behind the plate for Pinch Thomas. Morgan was caught stealing by Agnew on the first pitch by Shore, who proceeded to retire the next 26 batters. All 27 outs were made while Shore was on the mound. Once recognized as a perfect game by Major League Baseball, this still counts as a combined no-hitter.

Thanks, Jim.  I vaguely remembered such a game (and almost included it as a third game that should be considered a perfect game), but I would have messed it up!  I thought it included Babe Ruth, but thought he was the pitcher who came in and did that remarkable pitching feat (also, I couldn't recall if the original starter had been injured or ejected).

Thanks also for that Wikipedia link.  I just got around to reading it - brought back some memories, and taught me some new stuff.

[Ralph Turner]

From the article...

CHICAGO -- In an effort to discourage those within the organization from selling their World Series rings, the Chicago Cubs are asking non-players to sign an agreement giving the team the right to buy back the ring for $1.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19189422/chicago-cubs-ask-non-players-sign-agreement-discouraging-sale-world-series-rings

[Mr. Ypsi]

From the Department of REALLY Obscure Records:

Ian Kinsler did something tonight that must be vanishingly rare if not unprecedented.  He was the third out in three consecutive innings!   Add in that he led off the game with a home run, and I'd be willing to bet serious money that no one has EVER had that particular sequence of outcomes!

[Jim Dixon]

From the Department of REALLY Obscure Records:

Ian Kinsler did something tonight that must be vanishingly rare if not unprecedented.  He was the third out in three consecutive innings!   Add in that he led off the game with a home run, and I'd be willing to bet serious money that no one has EVER had that particular sequence of outcomes!

It is hard enough to get three ABs in three consecutive innings

[Mr. Ypsi]

From the Department of REALLY Obscure Records:

Ian Kinsler did something tonight that must be vanishingly rare if not unprecedented.  He was the third out in three consecutive innings!   Add in that he led off the game with a home run, and I'd be willing to bet serious money that no one has EVER had that particular sequence of outcomes!

It is hard enough to get three ABs in three consecutive innings

Yeah, how it came about is kinda interesting.  After Kinsler led off with a HR, the Tampa pitcher suddenly became Cy Young temporarily, getting the next nine outs in order (meaning Kinsler was the third out of inning three).  The Tigers' then decided he was NOT Cy Young, and sent nine men to the plate in both the fourth and fifth innings, scoring 5 runs each inning, but leaving poor Ian as the ninth batter in each inning.  Since they now led 11-2, Ausmus decided to give Ian the rest of the game off.

[Ralph Turner]

So, his line was 4-1-1-1 with a BA of .250 and a Slg Pct of 1.000?

[Mr. Ypsi]

So, his line was 4-1-1-1 with a BA of .250 and a Slg Pct of 1.000?

Yeah, but nothing that unusual about that.  Several Tigers seem to make a habit of hitting a homer but otherwise producing nothing.

[Ralph Turner]

Appropriate baseball reading for the Fourth of July

http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-day-lou-gehrig-proclaimed-himself-the-luckiest-man-on-the-face-of-the-earth