Random recap for Saturday, 9/10/11
Posted by John Autin on September 11, 2011
[A couple of playoff races heated up tonight. I'd hoped to post this at 12:13 a.m., but tennis and the Michigan-Notre Dame thriller kept me away too long....]
-- Rays 6, Red Sox 5 (11): Tampa has cut 5 games off Boston's wild-card lead in a span of 10 games, going 7-3 to Boston's 2-8. After blowing a 2-run lead in the 9th, Tampa won in the 11th on a Desmond Jennings leadoff triple and a 1-out single by Evan Longoria. The gap is now just 4 in the loss column.
- Both hits came off Daniel Bard, in his first game since a 5-run meltdown that cost Boston Wednesday's game in Toronto. Bard did not allow a run in June or July, but has yielded 11 runs in 14.2 IP since August 1.
- Is Kyle Farnsworth reverting to form? From 2000-09, Farnsworth allowed 1.2 HRs per 9 innings, a main reason he never held a closer job for long. He had cut that by more than half over the last 2 years; he'd allowed just 2 HRs in 53 IP this year through September 3. But he's blown his last 2 save tries on HRs, including back-to-backers by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jacoby Ellsbury to tie tonight's game.
- It's the first time all year that Farnsworth was charged with more than 1 run in a game.
- Boston SP Kyle Weiland allowed 3 runs in 4 IP in his 4th big-league appearance. Sunday's matchup is Jon Lester vs. James Shields; Lester beat Shields on August 16, both allowing just 3 hits; Shields is 1-2 against Boston this year, but shut them out on June 14.
-- In a game pitting the top 2 in IP since 2005, Dan Haren bested CC Sabathia, shutting out the Yankees on 4 hits and no walks for the 1st CG shutout against NYY since Felix Hernandez tossed a 2-hitter in the Stadium in June 2010. Haren is now 5-1 in 10 career starts against New York.
- In his first try at win #20, Sabathia allowed 1 run in 6 IP, but reached his pitch limit, and the bullpen faltered.
- Three of the previous 5 CG shutouts against the Yanks were thrown by Roy Halladay.
- The Angels are within 1 game of Texas in the loss column, because....
-- Oakland built a 5-run lead on Scott Sizemore's PH grand slam -- the 1st slam of his career -- off Yoshinori Tateyama, then held on to beat the Rangers, 8-7.
- Tateyama had excellent numbers until 2 weeks ago, but has been roughed up in 4 of his last 5 games, including a slam in 2 straight.
- The Rangers and Angels will meet in Anaheim for the last 3 games of the season.
-- The Phillies won their 6th in a row, 3-2 in 10 innings in Milwaukee. The go-ahead run scored on LaTroy Hawkins's throwing error on a Carlos Ruiz bunt. The Brewers threatened in their half, but Ryan Madson intentionally walked Prince Fielder as the winning run and lived to tell the tale, retiring Casey McGehee on a groundout.
- Cliff Lee's latest scoreless streak ended at 30.2 IP; he got no decision, allowing 2 runs (1 ER) in 7 IP.
- Hunter lived up to recent praise, reaching in all 5 trips, including his 19th HR.
- Fielder walked 3 times, 2 IBBs, but McGehee went 0 for 5 behind him.
- Rickie Weeks made his first appearance since July 27, drawing a walk as a PH; he was immediately lifted for a pinch runner.
-- Meanwhile, the latest episode of "IBBs Gone Wrong": With the winning run on 2nd and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, Cleveland's Chris Perez intentionally passed Paul Konerko to face catcher Tyler Flowers with the DP in order. After getting ahead 1-2, Perez put the next 3 out of the strike zone, loading the bases. Alexis Rios hit the next pitch for a game-ending grand slam -- his first walk-off moment since last April.
-- Detroit maintained a 9.5-game lead with their own walk-off HR by 8th-inning defensive replacement Brandon Inge, who handled no chances in 2 defensive innings but still managed an impact by belting a 2-out, 2-1 pitch out to LF.
- The win went to Al Alburquerque, who worked a perfect 9th with 2 Ks. He has not allowed a run since returning from his 1st DL stint back in July; this was his 2nd game since missing 4 weeks with a concussion. In 38.2 IP this year, Alburquerque has fanned 61 and allowed just 19 hits, though with 29 walks. He has still allowed just 1 extra-base hit, a double back on May 11; his .153 SLG would be the 2nd-lowest ever in a season of 30+ IP (Mike Adams, .151, 2009). He has let score just 2 of 27 inherited runners, 2nd-best of any pitcher with at least 10 inherited runners this year (Greg Holland, 1 of 29).
-- Anibal Sanchez tied a career high with 11 Ks in a 1-hit shutout in Pittsburgh. His 93 Game Score was a personal best and tied for the 5th-best in the majors this year.
-- In Phoenix, Heath Bell gave up 2 HRs for the first time in 347 games as a Padre, the 2nd one a game-tying opposite-field shot by Lyle Overbay on an 0-2 count, and Arizona won in the 10th on Overbay's bases-loaded walk.
- With men on the corners and 1 out in the bottom of the 10th, the Padres IBB'd Geoff Blum to load the bases for Chris Young, who struck out on a full count. In came lefty specialist Joe Thatcher to face Overbay; 4 balls later, the game was over.
- Bell had allowed just 3 HRs over the past 2 seasons before tonight.
- The D-backs have won 16 of 18 and lead the division by 9.5 games; they're 36-18 since the Break, the Giants 23-30.
-- In Colorado, Bronson Arroyo reached 40 HRs with a flourish, serving taters to 3 of the first 10 batters, a double to 2 others (including the pitcher), and departing with no outs in the 2nd to match the shortest start of his career.
- Cincinnati answered with 2 HRs in the 3rd and 3 in a row in the 5th, by Chris Heisey, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. All 5 HRs came off rookie Alex White, who came over in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade; he's now yielded 12 HRs in 36 IP this year.
- White became the 10th pitcher ever to allow 5 HRs and get the win; it's an interesting list.
- The Reds' 5 HRs matched the club record for a loss, done 9 times previously; I'd have to call this one my favorite -- 5 solo HRs and 3 doubles in a 9-5 loss to Lew Burdette. (And if anyone can explain Cincinnati's schedule in the 1st week of 1955, I'd love to hear it!)
- Jason Giambi pushed his part-time OPS over 1.000, with 13 HRs in 119 ABs.
- Jordan Pacheco, your typical C/3B/SS/2B, hit his first big-league HR, a go-ahead shot in the 5th.
- Dontrelle Willis grounded out as a PH, dropping his season average to .385 with .654 slugging.
-- Joey Bautista hit his 41st HR; Bobby Parnell spit the bit again; Mike Morse mashed his 27th; the Giants were shut out for the 14th time; and KC won in Seattle.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:27 am
RE: Reds weird schedule to start the '55 season.
Don't know why, but the Reds had the same kind of schedule in '53 and '54, and always involving the Braves and Cubs.
In '53, it was one game at home (of course) to Braves, one game away to Cubs, then back at home to Braves. In '54, it was one game at home to Braves, one game away to Cubs, then away to Braves for a series. In '55, it was one game at home to Cubs, one game away to Braves, then back at home to Cubs for one game, and then home to Braves for a series.
Perhaps rain was a factor, and those single games weren't what was originally scheduled? Especially in '53, when the Reds played only one game in 6 days from Apr 15-20. But, it seems unlikely that would be the explanation three years running.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:48 am
Barring a late-season swoon, Jose Bautitsta should join a select group of players with seasons of 40+ HR, 100+ RBI and 1+ OPS.
Quiz time: only 9 players have ever had this trifecta in 3 straight seasons. Babe Ruth (1926-32) was the the first, and Albert Pujols (2003-06) the most recent. Who are the other 7?
September 11th, 2011 at 4:44 am
Jorge Posada caught his first game of the season last night after Russell Martin took a foul tip to the thumb.
Cervelli was navailable and Montero was in the game as DH so after Martin couldn't handle the warm-ups in the top of the 3rd, Girardi brought Posada in.
He threw out Howie Kendrick on a busted hit and run.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:24 am
That trend in is both leagues. It's how they squeezed in home openers for all the teams in 4 days. You'll notice that the first two games played by almost every team is a home and away with different teams. Within that you see clusters. The 4 home openers in the eastern parts of the 2 leagues involving the 4 eastern teams. (BOS, NYY, BAL, WSH), (BRO, NYG, PIT, PHI). The western teams are clustered (DET, CHW, CLE, KCA), (MLN, CHC, CIN, STL). Doug pointed out that this had been done in other seasons.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:44 am
@2
I thought this question was going to be super easy, so I've just been hunting around for like 20 minutes. A LOT of guys have come close, but it's pretty rare. I didn't get them all, but here are 6 of the 7.
Jimmie Foxx (1932-1934)
Duke Snider (1953-1955)
Mark McGwire (1996-1999)
Sammy Sosa (1998-2001)
Barry Bonds (2000-2002)
Alex Rodriguez (2000-2002)
Honorable mention to Ralph Kiner, who, from 1949-1951 would make it, except that he missed the OPS qualifier by .002 in 1950.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:47 am
Eddie Mathews 1953-55 is vthe one you missed
September 11th, 2011 at 9:51 am
Hit the button before I edited, oops. Notice the 1996-2002 cluster--which didn't surprise me. The Duke and Mathews had the same 3 years, and both were in the NL--(as if no one knew that). I was surprised Griffey Jr. did not make the cut
September 11th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Inge was not pinch-hitting Saturday. He had come into the game in the 8th inning as a defensive replacement.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:29 am
@8, David -- Thanks for the correction on Inge. Serves me right for repeating something I heard on the tube, and not looking more closely at the box score even as I contemplated the rarity of Inge's PH appearances. 🙁
September 11th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Konerko scores after getting on base, but it takes a HR by Rios.
Konerko has 97 singles this year, scoring 14 times. Seven were due to homers.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Speaking of Konerko, our "Summer of Paul" continues here:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/14932
September 11th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
@7
If Griffey hadn't been hurt in 1995, he would probably would have done it. He did do it in 1994, 1996, and 1997 - in spite of the strike in 1994.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Interesting note about the ending of the Padres-D'backs game. Padres manager Bud Black filed a protest concerning Arizona's Miguel Montero, who was on second base at the time that Joe Thatcher walked Lyle Overbay to force in the winning run. After ball four was called, Montero took a few steps toward third base but then ran to join his teammates in the celebration at home plate. Black contended that Montero needed to touch third for the run to be forced in.
Black lost the protest because the rule book covers this precise situation. According to Rule 4.09(b), when there's a bases-loaded walk, only the batter and the runner on third need to touch the bases to which the walk has entitled them.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Jordan Pacheco, your typical C/3B/SS/2B
Following in the footsteps of the venerable Ron Brand!
September 11th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Dr. Doom @5 and Mark @6 got the quiz answer.
Nice observation, Dr. Doom @12, on Griffey getting there before the strike ended the 1994 season, But he actually didn't quite make it - got to 40 HR, 90 RBI and a 1.076 OPS.
The other player foiled by the '94 strike was Frank Thomas - he made 40/100 with 1+ OPS in '93, '95 and '96, and had 38/101/1.217 in just 113 games in '94.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@15, Doug -- Your comments are always interesting. But that "1+ OPS" ... I get it, of course, but I'm not diggin' it.
I'm just wondering -- would you write that Ted Williams is the last player to bat .4?
September 11th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
I was at the Mets game yesterday. There was some chatter in the stands that Mets "closer" Bobby Parnell should have IBB'd Aramis Ramirez in the 9th. I mentioned that Parnell doesn't have great control and it would have been risky to let him load the bases. What do people think?
Top 9, Mets up 4-3, Cubs have runners on 2nd and 3rd, 2 outs. RHB Aramis Ramirez at the plate vs RHP Parnell. He clearly seems to be CHC's best hitter. LHB Tony Campana (.262/.297/.311 in 131 MLB PA, .342/.383/.442 in 129 AAA PA, extremely fast) is on deck.
Ramirez hit a single which drove in two runners and gave the Cubs the eventual win. At the game, I thought he had grounded one just out of the reach of 2B Tejada, and Parnell couldn't be blamed too much. Re-watching it on the video, Parnell caught too much plate and Ramirez hit the ball harder than I thought.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19042431&topic_id=8878834&c_id=chc
Anyway, would you walk Ramirez there? If so, do you leave in Parnell? Mets don't have a great lefty reliever. Byrdak is solid but had pitched 2 days in a row and doesn't have great control. Herrera had already pitched (and featured a 66 mph curve which left the crowd ooh-ing).
September 11th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Tampa Bay won yet again today.
O o.
September 12th, 2011 at 1:59 am
@16, John.
1+ OPS was just a way to say "OPS over 1", without using a greater-than sign. I try to to avoid less-than and greater-than signs in these posts, to keep HTML happy.
Now that you mention it, I guess I could have written 1.000+ OPS. We talk about batting a thousand, but somehow it seems strange to me to talk in those terms about OPS - I guess because "a thousand" isn't an upper limit for OPS.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:44 am
re: Parnell and the IBB - I am guessing that Terry Collins was thinking about the meltdown in Washington last week: up 7-6 with one out, second and third, and the Mets give out the free pass, only to surrender the game-winning single to the next batter.
He must feel like the guy who slow-played aces in his last hand, only to see his opponent fill his straight; so this time he bets it hard from the get-go, only the other guy has him the whole way. You know those commemorative DVD highlight deals that teams get when they win a World Series? The Mets ought to do one this year, with Davis and Wright smashing into each other on the cover, and an inset of Mr Met giving a facepalm.
September 12th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@17, JT -- With the game outcome pretty meaningless, I want to see Parnell try to get batters out -- not pitch like K-Rod did.
Anyway, with A-Ram it was righty-righty, whereas the next guy (Tony Campana) was a speedy lefty with a career .303 BA in the minors. I'm not sure that walking Ramirez provided a strategic advantage anyway.
September 13th, 2011 at 12:34 am
With the game outcome pretty meaningless, I want to see Parnell try to get batters out
Good point. I don't know how the Mets fans around me would have received that suggestion.