Monday game notes (belated edition)

Walks in the 9th with the bases empty Monday:

 

Braves 2, @Marlins 0: While the nation was focused on Hotlanta hoops, the horsehide brigade rolled down I-75 and spoiled Miami’s home opener — not that the fans minded much.

  • Paul Maholm‘s 7 one-hit frames had only 2 spots of bother, both featuring a walk to Giancarlo (get used to it). Maholm is the first Brave since Maddux ’01 to start off with consecutive scoreless wins in the opening month.
  • Craig Kimbrel came in with a 2-run lead, got 0-and-2 on Giancarlo, then walked him. Monkey see, monkey do, I guess … But really, sometimes closers see every at-bat as a pissing contest. Dude, you walk him there, it’s the same as a 500-foot bomb: he beat you. Kimbrel had 2 more full counts, and Miami got the winning run to the plate, before he finally overwhelmed Adeiny Hechavarria.
  • I’m surprised: Searching B-R for “the upton” still brings up B.J. — that might change soon. Through 7 games, big bro is 3 for 25, 1 RBI; “JUS10” is doing a tad better.
  • The Marlins & Astros can both tie the searchable record of being blanked 4 times in the first 8 games; shared by the 1963 Mets (51-111) and 1947 Browns (59-95). Four is also the record for the first N games up to 13. The 1987 Royals suffered their 5th shutout in their 14th game (capping a 4-out-of-5 nightmare), but were in 1st place on July 5 and finished 83-79.

@Mariners 3, Astros 0: A home opener, an early lead and a struggling opponent. It was shaping up as a beautiful night for northwest baseball — but then….

  • “Stop the show!” Eric Wedge just had to make the 8th-inning stroll, with a 3-run lead, 2 outs and none on, to fetch a LOOGY for Rick Ankiel. And you call yourself an action figure? If you can’t help yourself, at least do that junk in the 7th, when fans can still get a beer.
  • Am I nuts, or is this a clean bunt hit? It was scored a sacrifice and fielder’s choice. How were they going to get him at first base? The first baseman, charging full throttle, called off the pitcher to go for the play at the plate; he could not have turned and thrown out Gutierrez. Could the pitcher have made the play? Look where the ball died, and the angle he would have had to throw. That’s a hit all the way. (BTW, the video clip was titled “perfect bunt single” last night, but has now been cleansed.)

@Giants 4, Rockies 2: The reigning MVP finally broke into the RBI column, but he still has more GDPs than [runs+ribbies].

  • The Rox had just 6 hits as their win streak ended, but they still have a higher BA on the road than at home.
  • Brandon Belt: the latest evidence that spring stats mean next to nothing.

Pirates 5, @Diamondbacks 3: Still just 5 hits for the Bucs, their 6th time in 7 games at or below that number. But they bunched ’em early, and exploited Trevor Cahill’s 2-out walks to Russell Martin (0 for 17) and Pedro Alvarez (2 for 25) when Travis Snider got his first hit of the year, good for a pair.

  • Justifyin’ Justin Wilson (you’d get it if you were a Cajun) faced the minimum in his 3 innings after the Pirates edged ahead, and has gotten 13 outs from as many batters over 2 games. A starter by trade, he led the I.L. in H/9 and was 2nd in strikeouts last year; he might be in the rotation before long.

Reds 13, @Cardinals 4: Your basic 9-run 9th in a tied home opener, and it started with a you-know-what to the leadoff man. (Hint: It took 4 pitches.) 

  • Maybe the game was already lost at 5-4, but after the balls Mitchell Boggs had thrown so far that inning, how can you intentionally walk the bases loaded and leave him in?

Brewers 7, @Cubs 4: Marco Estrada gives up a lot of home runs, and with his medium velocity and consistent strike-throwing, he probably always will. Here’s one I don’t mind: Up 5-0 in the 2nd, 1 on and 1 out, full count to Welington Castillo. Better to put the ball on a tee than walk him. So Welington got to trot, but Marco got the next two outs and avoided a big inning. He went to 3 balls 7 times in his 7 IP (all full counts), but gave no walks until his final frame.

@Red Sox 3, Orioles 1: Seeing them scoreless in the 7th prompted a search: The last time the O’s beat the BoSox 1-0 in extra innings was 1930, when the Browns’ Red Kress drove in Lu Blue in the 11th — a game that took one hour and 19 minutes. Sure enough, I couldn’t get the period on the sentence before Daniel Nava launched a 3-ball from outside the gym.

Yankees 11, @Indians 6: Before you could unwrap your first Cleveland Steak Sandwich, Ubaldo got Pronked on a 2-and-0 meatball. Thanks a bunch, Travis … from the team that paid you almost $1 million per HR over the past 5 years.

  • Why Tribe fans feel cursed, chapter 1,001: Off to a blistering start, Carlos Santana got his thumb jammed on an apparent cross-up. Diagnosed as a bruise, thank goodness — but if it’s anything like the jammed finger this scribe suffered playing “running bases” with kids in the Shea parking lot on Opening Day, Carlos won’t be squeezing the bat well for a week or so.

@Royals 3, Twins 1: You’re thinking, Ervin Santana’s an unlucky draw for KC’s home opener — then he goes 8 strong, scattering 8 singles with just 1 walk. From 2006-12, only Bronson Arroyo gave up more gophers than Ervin. When he gives up none, he’s 50-17, 2.42. One HR, 38-32, 4.97. Two or more taters, 9-32, 7.22. Last year he served 2 or more a dozen times.

Mets 7, @Phillies 2: An expected mismatch. The Mets hadn’t beaten Halladay in 9 starts since 2001. But the good Doctor’s not in, and Matt Harvey‘s for real. This was a big-league lineup, not the Padres he toyed with last week, but Harvey dictated. The Phils threatened early, with a walk and steal by Revere, to 3rd on a groundout. But no ride home — Utley pop-up, Howard 3-point U-turn. The Mets struck quickly after Halladay hit Duda with his 3rd straight inside breaking ball. John Buck, the million-dollar throw-in, read a lazy 2-0 cutter away and drilled it into the RF seats. Doc passed 2 in the 3rd — hadn’t walked 2 in a game in those last 9 starts vs. NYM — and Duda cashed one with a 2-out hit. Harvey got away with one danger pitch to Ryan Howard, 2 on; the old Howard would’ve creamed it, but this year’s model just flied to right, bringing the only run Harvey would suffer. Three hits in the 5th chased the Doctor away, with no help from his relief. After the long inning, Harvey started his 5th with a 4-pitch walk, but fanned the next 3 on 11 pitches, and breezed through his last two stanzas.

  • Harvey’s flummoxed the Phils in both chances: 14 IP, 16 Ks, 4 hits, 2 runs, combined.
  • Other Mets to start a year with two 9-K games: Pedro, 2005 (3 games, 30 Ks, 22 IP, 8 hits, 4 walks), and David Cone, ’92.
  • Best first-12-starts ERA by a Met: Jim McAndrew, 2.28 ERA, 1968; Matt Harvey, 2.33 ERA, 2012-13; Tom Seaver, 2.39 ERA, 1967. Most strikeouts in that span: Gooden, 93, 1984; Harvey, 89; Nolan Ryan, 85, 1966-68.

 

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Tim Pea
Tim Pea
10 years ago

Lance Berkman has continued his hot start. I think even as age catches up with hitters, those with good plate discipline and a good eye can continue to produce at the plate. Although not off to as good a start, Anthony Rizzo might be a budding superstar. I watched last year, and for team Italy in the WBC, and so far this year he has been patient at the plate.

Brooklyn MIck
Brooklyn MIck
10 years ago
Reply to  Tim Pea

And he always had good plate discipline, as evidenced by his lifetime OBP of .409. The key is for him to stay healthy, and as the new DH in his home state of Texas let’s hope he does (stay healthy), because not only does he have the plate discipline, he still has the bat speed and pop.

Tim Pea
Tim Pea
10 years ago
Reply to  Brooklyn MIck

Good points. I also think Berkman did not use PED’s. He sure doesn’t look like a PED user. Also Anthony Rizzo wears number 44. 44 is the highest number associated with a great hitter, that being Hank or Reggie Jackson. Next highest would be Jackie Robinson and Eddie Matthews. Anyway Rizzo wears 44 and that’s nice, he’s got that going for him.

Brooklyn Mick
Brooklyn Mick
10 years ago
Reply to  Tim Pea

You got me looking at Anthony Rizzo. He had a nice Minor League career that showed steady improvement, topping it off with 49 HR, 163 RBI, and a .336/.405/.670 slash line in 163 games at the AAA level.

He had a nice season with the Cubbies in 87 games last year, but if I see one area where he needs improvement, it’s the exact area where you credit much of Lance Berkman’s success — plate discipline. If he can improve on last year’s SO/BB ratio of 62/27.

Tim Pea
Tim Pea
10 years ago
Reply to  Brooklyn Mick

Exactly right on his minor league numbers. Compare his minor league numbers to that of Tyler Colvin, a former Cubs up and comer.

Brooklyn MIck
Brooklyn MIck
10 years ago
Reply to  Brooklyn Mick

The minors numbers are indeed similar, and I think the MLB numbers are even more so. Check out some of these 162 game averages.

RUNS – Rizzo 63 Colvin 64
2B – Rizzo 27 Colvin 24
HR – Rizzo 20 Colvin 20
RBI – Rizzo 72 Colvin 68
BA – Rizzo .242 Colvin .247
OPS+ – Rizzo 100 Colvin 96

Pretty close numbers, but WAR has the per/162 at 3.0 for Rizzo and 1.8 for Colvin.

Colvin’s 2011 season killed his WAR.

Ed
Ed
10 years ago

Between Sunday and Monday’s games, Carlos Santana reached base 8 straight times. Any idea if that’s a record for a catcher?

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

You may want to check me out on this but from 5-23-77 to 5-25-77 Gene Tenace, then of the Padres, reached base 9 straight times.

Ed
Ed
10 years ago

You remain the master Richard! Amazingly Tenace only scored one run in those 9 times on base.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

On 5-5-31 Rick Ferrell had 4 hits and a walk in 5 PA and in his next game on 5-7-31 he had 1 hit and 4 walks in 5 PA, for a total of 10. On 5-3 he reached base once and on 5-9 he reached base twice but there is no play-by-play, so it cannot be determined when he reached base. Check it out, I already have one recent gaffe which I don’t want to repeat.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

Rick Wilkins had some sort of streak in mid-April 1996 but I’m tired now, I’ll check it tomorrow unless someone else wants to track it down.

Ed
Ed
10 years ago

Well I think you’ve already shown that Santana definitely doesn’t hold the record!

Tim Pea
Tim Pea
10 years ago

I have a Rick Wilkins foul ball. It was hit May 1st 1991, off Rick Gubicza. May 1st is commie day.

Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
10 years ago
Reply to  Tim Pea

Tim,

So are the Reds and Red Sox commie teams*?

* I believe the Cincinnati team name was changed to “Redlegs” from 1954-59, so that no one would associate them with the heathen communists in the USSR.

Ah yes, the good ole’ days of the Cold War – makes you wanna stock up on canned goods and run into the nearest fall-out shelter…

Doug
Editor
10 years ago
Reply to  Lawrence Azrin

Makes you want to cry is more like it. I was reading a book called “Arsenals of Folly” (highly recommended) where the author quotes another source as having calculated the total monies spent by the US on research, development, deployment, maintenance, etc. of nuclear weapons as equivalent to the value of everything in the US except the land. The SIOP peaked at 50,000 targets, when 50 would have served just as well (about what those shrewd Chinese have).

tag
tag
10 years ago
Reply to  Lawrence Azrin

Man, Tim, I expected a lot more out of you regarding May Day. Not only does it predate Communism by centuries as a pagan spring festival, its modern incarnation as a labor holiday stems from commemorating the Haymarket killings in Chicago. Yes, it became associated in the postwar years with the Commies, but for most European countries, including Switzerland, it’s our Labor Day.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago

On 4-12-96 Wilkins reached base in his last 5 PA, 3 hits and 2 walks. In his next game on 4-14-96 he had 5 PA, 3 hits and 2 walks. In his next game on 4-16-96 he had a hit and a walk in his first 2 PA giving him a total of reaching base 12 consecutive times. I don’t know if that is a record for a catcher.

Doug
Doug
10 years ago

Bengie Molina had 9 straight hits (in 9 PA) catching for the Angels against the Red Sox, Aug 20-23, 2001.

Ramon Hernandez started the 2006 season reaching based in his first 9 PA (he also reached base in his final PA of the preceding season).

Charles Johnson reached based in 14 of 15 PAs (incl. 10 straight) catching for the Orioles, Sep 13-19, 1999.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

I know an 8-timer from memory. Francisco Cervelli. He was 2-2 with 6 walks over two games when he came up in the 9th inning of this game: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX201009110.shtml Nunez was on 2nd with zero out and a one run lead. Girardi called for the sacrifice bunt. Ogando couldnt find the strike zone, though. And Cervelli found himself at 3-0. And Girardi called for the sacrifice bunt. On 3-0. End of streak. And they Yankees did not score. And in the bottom half, Mariano Rivera gave up two runs and the game, ending it with a bases loaded HBP… to… Read more »

RJ
RJ
10 years ago

If anyone fancies a laugh I recommend checking out Chris Nelson striking out swinging on a pitch closer to McCovey Cove than home plate:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_08_colmlb_sfnmlb_1&mode=video&content_id=26135551&tcid=vpp_copy_26135551

I’m trying to ignore the present goings on in AT&T Park.

Tim Pea
Tim Pea
10 years ago
Reply to  RJ

Hehe, that was way outside. It was sort of a check swing but still.

Ed
Ed
10 years ago
Reply to  Tim Pea

Fangraphs had a rundown of another bad call that I think was from the same night. The ump later admitted that he got the call wrong.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/anatomy-of-a-really-bad-call/

RJ
RJ
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

Incredible how much worse Pierzynski’s catch made it look. Still a terrible call obviously.

RJ
RJ
10 years ago

Lincecum just walked the pitcher on four pitches (to no ill effect fortunately). I can only hope this is because Timmy is an avid reader of JA’s game notes and wanted to make sure he made the Tuesday edition.

Doug
Editor
10 years ago

Coco Crisp tied a record tonight (Tuesday) with 4 straight games homering from the leadoff spot. He is the 15th player to do so and none of the other 14 are named Rickey Henderson. Here’s the list – hard to picture some of these guys leading off. Rk Strk Start End Games AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI Tm 1 Nolan Reimold 2012-04-13 2012-04-17 4 16 7 8 2 0 4 7 BAL 2 Jose Bautista 2009-09-28 2009-10-02 4 19 5 5 0 0 4 9 TOR 3 Scott Hairston 2008-07-05 2008-07-09 4 16 6 9 3 0 5… Read more »

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Eddie Miksis scored the winning run in game 4 of the 1947 WS when Cookie Lavagetto broke up Bill Bevens’ no-hitter.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago
Reply to  Doug

All of Brady Anderson’s HR were leading off the game, a record. The O’s lost all 4 games.

Doug
Doug
10 years ago
Reply to  Doug

The 2009 streak by Joey Bats came after he had hit all over the lineup that season, in every position except (ironically) 3rd, where he would later become a mainstay. When Toronto, which had had such a promising start to the season (27-14 and 1st place on May 18) hit rock bottom on Sep 20 at the end of a 12-26 slide, Bautista was inserted into the leadoff spot for the rest of the season, slugging .650 with 6 homers, 16 RBI and 13 runs scored. Toronto won 9 of the next 10 before being swept in Baltimore in the… Read more »

Ed
Ed
10 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Fangraphs has an interesting rundown on Crisp’s 5 doubles and 4 homeruns. By speed of bat Crisp has the two weakest, 6th weakest and 42nd weakest homeruns this seasons (out of 251 homeruns).

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/what-a-486-iso-looks-like/