Out Machine Redux – It’s Not Just Rollins and Pierre

How often have Juan Pierre and Jimmy Rollins had outs in a season totalling 75% of their PAs? You might be surprised to know that neither of them has ever done this, though a number of other players have, some more than once. As PAs are, aside from pinch-running, a prerequisite to making an out, let’s see who the players are who do this most frequently.

These are the guys who have Outs Made totaling 75% or more of PAs in a season since 1961 (min. 502 PAs). Notice that only Tony Batista made 500 outs, the “magic” number for which many high-out players are criticized.

Player Out PA Year 6 Tm G AB R H HR RBI BB SO GDP BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
Alex Gonzalez 447 593 2011 ATL 149 564 59 136 15 56 22 126 19 .241 .270 .372 .642 *6
Alex Rios 441 570 2011 CHW 145 537 64 122 13 44 27 68 20 .227 .265 .348 .613 *8/D
Vernon Wells 407 529 2011 LAA 131 505 60 110 25 66 20 86 8 .218 .248 .412 .660 *789/D
Miguel Olivo 382 507 2011 SEA 130 477 54 107 19 62 20 140 7 .224 .253 .388 .641 *2/D
Jose Lopez 473 622 2010 SEA 150 593 49 142 10 58 23 66 20 .239 .270 .339 .609 *5/D
Angel Berroa 385 503 2006 KCR 132 474 45 111 9 54 14 88 21 .234 .259 .333 .592 *6
Tony Batista 506 670 2003 BAL 161 631 76 148 26 99 28 102 20 .235 .270 .393 .663 *5/D
Neifi Perez 443 585 2002 KCR 145 554 65 131 3 37 20 53 11 .236 .260 .303 .564 *6/4
Vinny Castilla 440 578 2002 ATL 143 543 56 126 12 61 22 69 22 .232 .268 .348 .616 *5
Ed Sprague 383 510 1998 TOT 132 469 57 104 20 58 26 90 16 .222 .280 .403 .683 *5/3
Gary Disarcina 440 583 1997 ANA 154 549 52 135 4 47 17 29 18 .246 .271 .326 .597 *6
Scott Brosius 395 526 1997 OAK 129 479 59 97 11 41 34 102 9 .203 .259 .317 .576 *569/87
Ozzie Guillen 471 626 1989 CHW 155 597 63 151 1 54 15 48 8 .253 .270 .318 .588 *6
Andres Thomas 456 571 1989 ATL 141 554 41 118 13 57 12 62 17 .213 .228 .316 .544 *6
Cory Snyder 400 518 1989 CLE 132 489 49 105 18 59 23 134 11 .215 .251 .360 .611 *9/6D
Andres Thomas 473 627 1988 ATL 153 606 54 153 13 68 14 95 17 .252 .268 .360 .628 *6
Jeffrey Leonard 429 569 1988 TOT 138 534 57 129 10 64 25 92 15 .242 .276 .352 .628 *7/D
Billy Ripken 422 559 1988 BAL 150 512 52 106 2 34 33 63 14 .207 .260 .258 .518 *4/5D
Dave Kingman 462 604 1986 OAK 144 561 70 118 35 94 33 126 16 .210 .255 .431 .686 *D/3
Rafael Ramirez 401 530 1986 ATL 134 496 57 119 8 33 21 60 16 .240 .273 .335 .608 *65/79
Terry Pendleton 455 602 1985 STL 149 559 56 134 5 69 37 75 18 .240 .285 .306 .591 *5
Rafael Ramirez 454 595 1985 ATL 138 568 54 141 5 58 20 63 21 .248 .272 .333 .604 *6
Jeffrey Leonard 410 531 1985 SFG 133 507 49 122 17 62 21 107 19 .241 .272 .393 .664 *7/8
Ted Simmons 410 532 1984 MIL 132 497 44 110 4 52 30 40 23 .221 .269 .300 .569 *D35
Tony Armas 481 613 1983 BOS 145 574 77 125 36 107 29 131 31 .218 .254 .453 .707 *8D
Garry Templeton 459 601 1982 SDP 141 563 76 139 6 64 26 82 19 .247 .279 .352 .631 *6
Todd Cruz 407 519 1982 SEA 136 492 44 113 16 57 12 95 18 .230 .246 .376 .622 *6
Glenn Hoffman 390 513 1982 BOS 150 469 53 98 7 49 30 69 15 .209 .262 .311 .573 *6
Enos Cabell 475 630 1979 HOU 155 603 60 164 6 67 21 68 18 .272 .299 .368 .668 *53
Doug Flynn 438 580 1979 NYM 157 555 35 135 4 61 17 46 15 .243 .265 .317 .582 *46
Jeff Newman 415 552 1979 OAK 143 516 53 119 22 71 27 88 17 .231 .267 .399 .666 *23/D5
Dave McKay 405 537 1978 TOR 145 504 59 120 7 45 20 91 17 .238 .268 .351 .619 *4/65D
Aurelio Rodriguez 388 514 1976 DET 128 480 40 115 8 50 19 61 19 .240 .267 .325 .592 *5
Dan Meyer 378 503 1975 DET 122 470 56 111 8 47 26 25 16 .236 .277 .336 .614 *73
Aurelio Rodriguez 460 609 1974 DET 159 571 54 127 5 49 26 70 16 .222 .255 .306 .562 *5
Rick Auerbach 455 605 1972 MIL 153 554 50 121 2 30 43 62 14 .218 .277 .269 .546 *6
Marty Perez 394 518 1972 ATL 141 479 33 109 1 28 30 55 21 .228 .276 .265 .541 *6
Paul Blair 390 514 1972 BAL 142 477 47 111 8 49 25 78 16 .233 .267 .358 .626 *8
John Bateman 400 526 1971 MON 139 492 34 119 10 56 19 87 27 .242 .273 .350 .623 *2
George Foster 386 514 1971 TOT 140 473 50 114 13 58 29 120 20 .241 .292 .389 .681 *87/9
Tommy Helms 459 607 1970 CIN 150 575 42 136 1 45 21 33 18 .237 .262 .282 .543 *46
Cookie Rojas 498 650 1968 PHI 152 621 53 144 9 48 16 55 13 .232 .248 .306 .554 *4/2
Horace Clarke 461 607 1968 NYY 148 579 52 133 2 26 23 46 8 .230 .258 .254 .512 *4
Don Wert 444 589 1968 DET 150 536 44 107 12 37 37 79 12 .200 .258 .299 .556 *5/6
Hal Lanier 405 518 1968 SFG 151 486 37 100 0 27 12 57 17 .206 .222 .239 .461 *6
Zoilo Versalles 483 626 1967 MIN 160 581 63 116 6 50 33 113 15 .200 .249 .282 .531 *6
Hal Lanier 432 557 1967 SFG 151 525 37 112 0 42 16 61 17 .213 .239 .255 .494 *64
Paul Casanova 417 551 1967 WSA 141 528 47 131 9 53 17 65 19 .248 .273 .339 .612 *2
Ed Brinkman 475 625 1966 WSA 158 582 42 133 7 48 29 105 17 .229 .263 .326 .589 *6
Hal Lanier 426 556 1965 SFG 159 522 41 118 0 39 21 67 21 .226 .256 .289 .545 *4/6
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/27/2012.

Note that 2011 had a bumper crop of out-makers, the first season since 1968 with four players on this list.

Rather fewer players accomplished the equivalent feat from 1901 to 1960 (min. 477 PAs).

Player Out PA Year 6 Tm G AB R H HR RBI BB SO GDP BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
Sparky Anderson 397 527 1959 PHI 152 477 42 104 0 34 42 53 15 .218 .282 .249 .531 *4
Granny Hamner 412 549 1957 PHI 133 502 59 114 10 62 34 42 23 .227 .274 .345 .618 *4/61
Billy Hunter 456 604 1953 SLB 154 567 50 124 1 37 24 45 12 .219 .253 .259 .512 *6
Virgil Stallcup 430 566 1948 CIN 149 539 40 123 3 65 18 52 14 .228 .253 .315 .569 *6
Skeeter Webb 418 540 1944 CHW 139 513 44 108 0 30 20 39 10 .211 .242 .271 .513 *6/4
Jimmy Bloodworth 396 519 1943 DET 129 474 41 114 6 52 29 59 29 .241 .289 .344 .632 *4
Pete Suder 385 496 1943 PHA 131 475 30 105 3 41 14 40 14 .221 .243 .291 .534 *45/6
Pete Suder 427 558 1941 PHA 139 531 45 130 4 52 19 47 23 .245 .271 .339 .610 *5/6
Bobby Bragan 379 504 1940 PHI 132 474 36 105 7 44 28 34 10 .222 .265 .300 .565 *6/5
Buddy Hassett 365 485 1940 BSN 124 458 59 107 0 27 25 16 14 .234 .273 .293 .566 *39
Leo Durocher 397 520 1937 STL 135 477 46 97 1 47 38 36 17 .203 .262 .245 .507 *6
Jim Levey 432 567 1933 SLB 141 529 43 103 2 36 26 68   .195 .237 .240 .477 *6
Jo-Jo Morrissey 432 567 1933 CIN 148 534 43 123 0 26 20 22 21 .230 .261 .268 .529 *465
Blondy Ryan 415 544 1933 NYG 146 525 47 125 3 48 15 62 15 .238 .259 .293 .553 *6
Buck Weaver 426 553 1912 CHW 147 523 55 117 1 43 9 74 .224 .245 .300 .546 *6
Fred Raymer 393 522 1905 BSN 137 498 26 105 0 31 8 50   .211 .232 .247 .479 *4/37
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/26/2012.

All of the highlighted seasons are among the top 25 lowest OPS+ seasons since 1901 (min. 502 PAs). The guys in Red are all among the top 25 in lowest career OPS+ (non-pitchers, min. 1400 PAs).

Multiple offenders include Pete Suder, Andres Thomas, Aurelio Rodriguez, Jeffrey Leonard and Rafael Ramirez, each with two such seasons, and our “champion” out-maker, Hal Lanier, who did this 3 times in 4 years.

On a percentage basis, the high-water mark of 79.9% belongs to Andres Thomas in 1989. Here are the the seasons above 77%.

Rk Player Out PA Rate Year Tm
1 Andres Thomas 456 571 79.9% 1989 ATL
2 Tony Armas 481 613 78.5% 1983 BOS
3 Todd Cruz 407 519 78.4% 1982 SEA
4 Hal Lanier 405 518 78.2% 1968 SFG
5 Pete Suder 385 496 77.6% 1943 PHA
6 Hal Lanier 432 557 77.6% 1967 SFG
7 Skeeter Webb 418 540 77.4% 1944 CHW
8 Alex Rios 441 570 77.4% 2011 CHW
9 Cory Snyder 400 518 77.2% 1989 CLE
10 Jeffrey Leonard 410 531 77.2% 1985 SFG
11 Zoilo Versalles 483 626 77.2% 1967 MIN
12 Ted Simmons 410 532 77.1% 1984 MIL
13 Buck Weaver 426 553 77.0% 1912 CHW

Some random thoughts on these lists.

  • Only three players batted above .250 while making this list. No player had more than 43 walks. As a group, these  players had a stolen base success rate below 60%. All signs of proficiency in out-making.
  • There are at least three MVPs I can spot at a glance and a number of All-Stars. But, mostly, very poor hitters.
  • In addition to Lanier, there are at least 6 other players on the list who would go on to become major league managers. Not sure what the connection might be, though the old canard about the sort of people who become teachers comes to mind.
  • Skeeter Webb, highlighted on the list for being in the top 25 of both lowest single season and lowest career OPS+ (46) still probably wasn’t the worst hitter named Skeeter (see below to find out who was). Another Skeeter with a famously low career OPS+ of 62 is Skeeter Newsome.

You’re probably saying “What? No Bill Bergen?”. Our career reserves don’t show up here as they would not have a full playing season. So, here’s the career Top 20 list for Outs Made of 75% of PAs, ordered by PAs.

Rk Player PA Out From To G AB R H BB SO GDP BA OBP SLG OPS Pos Tm
1 Hal Lanier 3940 3006 1964 1973 1196 3703 297 843 136 436 135 .228 .255 .275 .529 *645/3 SFG-NYY
2 John Bateman 3585 2698 1963 1972 1017 3330 250 765 172 610 123 .230 .271 .350 .621 *2 HOU-MON-TOT
3 Bill Bergen 3228 2512 1901 1911 947 3028 138 516 88 422 .170 .194 .201 .395 *2/3 CIN-BRO
4 Paul Casanova 2929 2243 1965 1974 859 2786 214 627 101 430 74 .225 .252 .319 .571 *2 WSA-ATL
5 Skeeter Webb 2456 1844 1932 1948 700 2274 216 498 132 215 42 .219 .263 .268 .531 *64/5 STL-CLE-CHW-DET-PHA
6 Andres Thomas 2185 1694 1985 1990 577 2103 182 493 59 301 66 .234 .255 .334 .589 *6/5 ATL
7 Virgil Stallcup 2131 1615 1947 1953 587 2059 171 497 51 181 49 .241 .260 .334 .595 *6 CIN-TOT-STL
8 Mike Ryan 2099 1623 1964 1974 636 1920 146 370 152 370 69 .193 .252 .280 .532 *2 BOS-PHI-PIT
9 Hector Torres 1901 1427 1968 1977 622 1738 148 375 104 229 53 .216 .260 .281 .542 *64/5179 HOU-CHC-MON-SDP-TOR
10 Rob Picciolo 1720 1292 1977 1985 731 1628 192 381 25 254 34 .234 .246 .312 .558 *64/53D79 OAK-TOT-MIL-CAL
11 Todd Cruz 1634 1255 1978 1984 544 1526 133 336 59 317 41 .220 .251 .333 .584 *65/41D7 PHI-KCR-TOT-SEA-BAL
12 Ted Martinez 1574 1181 1970 1979 657 1480 165 355 55 213 36 .240 .270 .309 .579 64/5879 NYM-TOT-LAD
13 Mario Mendoza 1456 1096 1974 1982 686 1337 106 287 52 219 38 .215 .245 .262 .507 *6/541 PIT-SEA-TEX
14 Ray Oyler 1445 1092 1965 1970 542 1265 110 221 135 359 42 .175 .258 .251 .508 *6/453 DET-SEP-CAL
15 Ted Kazanski 1443 1084 1953 1958 417 1329 118 288 90 163 35 .217 .269 .299 .568 46/5 PHI
16 Ray Berres 1439 1089 1934 1945 561 1330 96 287 76 134 46 .216 .260 .255 .515 *2 BRO-PIT-TOT-BSN-NYG
17 Darryl Motley 1420 1084 1981 1987 413 1333 156 324 67 186 53 .243 .280 .402 .682 *97/D8 KCR-TOT-ATL
18 Ivan Murrell 1372 1038 1963 1974 564 1306 126 308 44 342 27 .236 .265 .366 .631 78/935 HOU-SDP-ATL
19 Jerry Buchek 1275 966 1961 1968 421 1177 96 259 75 312 37 .220 .269 .325 .593 46/57 STL-NYM
20 Ken Williams 1253 944 1986 1991 451 1154 136 252 56 290 17 .218 .269 .339 .608 89/75D3 CHW-DET-TOT
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/28/2012.

So, there’s Bergen and Mario Mendoza and some other usual suspects. The top rate on this list does in fact belong to Bill Bergen at 77.8%, just edging out Andres Thomas at 77.5%. Mike Ryan, Todd Cruz and Paul Casanova round out the top 5. Mendoza ranks 14th at 75.3%.

On the lighter side, here are the flukes – guys who made more outs than PAs for their careers.

Rk Player Out PA From To G AB R H BB SO GDP SB CS OPS Pos Tm
1 Allan Lewis 40 31 1967 1973 157 29 47 6 1 4 0 44 17 .578 /D79 KCA-OAK
2 Joe Holden 26 24 1934 1936 17 24 1 2 0 5 4 1 .167 /*2 PHI
3 Miguel Mejia 24 23 1996 1996 45 23 10 2 0 10 0 6 3 .174 /897 STL
5 Mike Moriarty 17 16 2002 2002 8 16 0 3 0 2 3 0 1 .438 /*645 BAL
6 Herb Washington 17 0 1974 1975 105 0 33 0 0 0 0 31 17 /D OAK
7 Josh Labandeira 15 14 2004 2004 7 14 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 .000 /64 MON
8 Don Hopkins 15 8 1975 1976 85 6 25 1 2 0 0 21 10 .542 /D897 OAK
9 Darrell Woodard 13 10 1978 1978 33 9 10 0 1 1 0 3 4 .100 /4D5 OAK
13 Pedro Hernandez 10 9 1979 1982 11 9 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 .000 /D57 TOR
14 Joe Walsh 9 8 1938 1938 4 8 0 0 0 2 1 0 .000 /*6 BSN
19 Tony Scruggs 7 6 1991 1991 5 6 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 .000 /*78 TEX
26 Rusty McNealy 5 4 1983 1983 15 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 /D879 OAK
27 Hank Small 5 4 1978 1978 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 /*3 ATL
31 Ron Wright 4 3 2002 2002 1 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .000 /*D SEA
34 Tom Chism 4 3 1979 1979 6 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 /*362 BAL
35 Cal Ermer 4 3 1947 1947 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 /*4 WSH
37 Charlie Miller 4 2 1912 1912 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 /*6 SLB
43 Gary Cooper 3 2 1980 1980 21 2 3 0 0 1 0 2 1 .000 /*78 ATL
44 Jim Deidel 3 2 1974 1974 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 /*2 NYY
46 Carl Linhart 3 2 1952 1952 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 DET
49 Luis Suarez 3 2 1944 1944 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 /*5 WSH
50 Kenny Hogan 3 2 1921 1924 4 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 /8 CIN-CLE
51 Hap Ward 3 2 1912 1912 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 .000 /*9 DET
53 Rich Thompson 2 1 2004 2004 6 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .000 /9D7 KCR
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/27/2012.

Of course, we have Oakland’s various and mostly unsuccessful attempts in the 1960s and 70s to define a useful role for a “designated runner”, of which track man Herb Washington is the most famous example.  But there are also a few guys who had as many or more GIDPs than hits – ouch!

Finally here’s one player who just missed being on this last list and who I just can’t resist mentioning. Here’s his career line.

Rk Player Out PA Year Tm G AB R H BB SO SH BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
5 Skeeter Shelton 39 43 1915 NYY 10 40 1 1 2 10 1 .025 .071 .025 .096 *8
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/27/2012.

Skeeter Shelton has the lowest non-zero career BA for a non-pitcher. Those 10 games he played were not sporadic appearances throughout the season. Skeeter was called up at the end of August and was the Yankees centerfielder for 10 straight games, the last coming one week after the first. That unfortunate week was apparently the end of the road for Shelton and the Yankees – he had been playing in Columbus for 4 years, but 1915 would be his final year in pro ball, despite being only 27.

 

 

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Doc_Irysch
Doc_Irysch
12 years ago

Herb Washington had more runs than outs, not bad. . .

Tmckelv
Tmckelv
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

I mentioned this in a recent post, but Herb was awful in the post season 1974. 5 G, 0 R, 0 SB In his two appearances in the ALCS, he was caught stealing both times. But the A’s won both games anyway as they shut out the O’s both times. Then in his first appearance of the World Series (Game 2, Top of the 9th inning, 1 out, down by 1 run), he was inserted as the tying run and was promptly picked off first. A’s lost by one run. The Herb Washington experiment was over by May the next… Read more »

MikeD
MikeD
12 years ago
Reply to  Doc_Irysch

Fear not for Herb Washington. He ended up opening or buying more than a dozen McDonald’s restaurants and is a multi-millionaire many times over.

Yippeeyappee
Yippeeyappee
12 years ago

3 of th e4 players from last year – recent Jays.

Yippeeyappee
Yippeeyappee
12 years ago
Reply to  Yippeeyappee

Technically it’s all 4 – I forgot that Olivo was a Jay for a few hours in 2010.

Tmckelv
Tmckelv
12 years ago

I guess this is why we don’t hear about anyone with the nickname Skeeter anymore. Three of them mentioned in this post, and not for good reasons.

Brandon
12 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Another recent Skeeter, Skeeter Barnes was an interesting player who played nine seasons between ’83 – ’94 for the Reds, Expos, Reds (again), Cards, ad Tigers. He got his most of his playing time late in his career. Out machine manager Sparky Anderson loved Barnes and used him all over the field. Playing in 278 games for the Tigers from ’91 – ’94 he played every position but catcher and pitcher. Although no Ted Wiliams, Barnes puts the other Skeeters to shame with a career line of .281/.319/.420.

Brandon
12 years ago
Reply to  Brandon

Check that, Barnes career line is .259/.306/.389. The other stats refer only to his time in Detroit.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
12 years ago
Reply to  Tmckelv

George Kell had a younger brother Skeeter who spent one year in the majors (1952) with the A’s and hit just .221.
Once again the name Don Hopkins appears on an HHS blog (chart 4, line 8). He was mentioned just recently as having the third greatest number of games played without ever starting a game 85.

wlcmlc
wlcmlc
12 years ago

At least Joe Walsh and Gary Cooper had other jobs to fall back on :).

vivaeljason
vivaeljason
12 years ago
Reply to  wlcmlc

That’s just super duper.

nightfly
12 years ago
Reply to  wlcmlc

Seems to me he don’t want to talk about it… he’ll just turn and walk away.

Steven
Steven
12 years ago
Reply to  nightfly

But it’s hard to leave when he can’t find the door.

Evil Squirrel
12 years ago

Miguel Mejia!!! I still have no idea what possessed Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals to keep him on the roster during the entire 1996 season. Yes, he was a Rule 5 pick, and had to be kept or offered back to his old team, but he seemed to have little promise (justified by the fact that he never played in the Majors again), and was nothing more than a glorified defensive replacement/pinch runner. Look at his game log, he started one game all year, and that was after the Cards clinched the division title in late September. The late summer… Read more »

Hartvig
Hartvig
12 years ago

I notice the second list (1901-1961) has quite a few managers on it: Sparky Anderson, Leo Durocher, Bobby Bragan, and Billy Hunter all managed at the major league level. Granny Hamner managed in the minors. Not a shock I guess. The majority of managers seem to be former catchers or good field/no hit infielders but that’s still an impressive collection from such a short list.

Even the more outs than PA’s list produced at least one: Cal Ermer.

Jeff Allen
Jeff Allen
12 years ago

Oh, Neifi. And after that season, the Giants decided it would be a good idea to pick him up. I was disappointed when he was suspended for a 3rd positive test. He was so horrible that it was funny. Well, when he WASN’T playing for us.

topper009
topper009
12 years ago

The numbers don’t seem to add up? They don’t match bb-ref, which lists Outs as AB-H+SH+SF+CS+GIDP. (but not pickoffs or outs on the bases?) It lists 453 for A Gonzalez in 2011, this list has 447….so what is an out?

It looks like your lists are not counting SH or SFs as outs.

Ed
Ed
12 years ago

Adam Dunn was oh so close to being #5 from 2011. He didn’t qualify in terms of PAs (only 496) and his out rate was “only” 73%. If he had made it, his number of walks (75) would have been by far the highest on the list.