Monday game notes: Cash Money crashes the race

Padres 2, @Pirates 0Andrew Cashner went the route and faced the minimum 27 batters, a franchise first, and his one-hitter briefly knocked the Pirates off their perch.

 

Jose Tabata slashed a single inside first to start the 7th, just past Tommy Medica’s laid-out glove — the first Buc on board, and also the last. Andrew McCutchen’s GDP ended that frame and reset Cashner’s batter count. He’d never gone past 8 innings before, but with no 3-ball counts, he took just 97 pitches to finish off the 19th one-hitter in Padres history, and the third with just one baserunner.

  • A.J. Burnett gave up both runs in the 7th on 3 singles, as his record fell to 8-11.
  • Cashner also swiped a base and scored, joining Zack Greinke as the only pitchers with 2 steals in a year since 2007.
  • Cashner’s turned in a quality start in 9 of his last 10 outings, with a 2.36 ERA, and allowed just 3 runs over his last 4 games (all 7+ IP).
  • The other Padres CGs with one baserunner: Mat Latos, 2010 (6th-inning single); Jimmy Jones, 1986 (3rd-inning triple by the pitcher, in Jones’s MLB debut).
  • MLB’s last 27-batter CG that wasn’t a no-hitter: Roy Oswalt, 2008, against the Pirates.

__________

@Rockies 6, Cardinals 2 — Matt Carpenter had tied it with 2 outs in the 8th, but Colorado banged home 4 in their half, giving Trevor Rosenthal the worst night of his young career. Charlie Blackmon had 3 hits, two driving in runs, including a go-ahead, left-on-left single off Kevin Siegrist in the 7th. Collin McHugh logged a solid start for the first time since his debut last year.

  • Silver lining for St. Louis: Lance Lynn’s 2nd straight good outing.

__________

Reds 6, @Astros 1 — Zack Cozart drove in the first 4 runs with 2-out hits, and Johnny Cueto was effective in his first start since June 28 (1 walk, 5 Ks in 5 IP).

  • After 2 more with Houston, the Reds have 6 of their last 9 against the Pirates, with the Mets in between. If the Cards should falter further, Cincinnati could seize control; they trail the leaders by 2.5 games.
  • Reds and Pirates haven’t met since just after the All-Star Break.
  • Jay Bruce reached 95 RBI. Should he fall short of 100 (again), he would be the 4th player with 3 seasons of 95+ RBI but none with 100 (Arky Vaughan, Donn Clendenon, Kevin McReynolds).

__________

@Rays 6, Rangers 2 — Tampa busted up a 2-2 game in the 5th with 4 runs on 5 straight hits, capped by Wil Myers’s 2-run rocket double, and Alex Cobb picked up steam from there, finishing with 10 strikeouts over 8 innings. The Rays pulled one game up on the Rangers, who’ve lost 7 in a row and 10 out of 11.

  • In the 2nd, Myers homered right down the (opposite) line. He goes the other way only about once per eight trips, but when he does, good things happen.
  • Ian Kinsler hit 2 doubles, but took himself off the bases both times: on 3rd base, with Cobb in the wind-up, he bluffed(?) too far towards home and got caught in the middle on a grounder right to Longoria; then picked off trying to steal 3rd with 2 outs in a tie game.
  • In the 3rd, Yunel Escobar was on his horse, but Leonys Martin caught a non-stop flight and beat him to the barn. The rookie has 14 OF assists (AL-high 11 from CF), and is 4th in dWAR among AL grazers. Escobar had scored from second on 14 of 17 singles, and hadn’t been thrown out at the plate this year. The Rays were tied for fewest outs on bases.
  • But Martin misread Myers’s second big hit, a straightaway shot on a center-cut fastball from Jason Frasor, who had just relieved Matt Garza.
  • Cobb at the Trop, career: 22% strikeouts, .224 BA. On the road, 18% strikeouts, .269 BA.

__________

@Royals 7, Indians 1 — K.C. fluffed out their slim lead with a 3-run 6th, starting with triples by Lorenzo Cain and the smoking Salvador Perez (26 RBI in his last 26 starts, OPS over 1.000). James Shields went 6 innings and fanned 10 for the first time this year, while avoiding the big hit.

  • Indians trailing 2-1 in the 5th, Michael Bourn on 1st with no outs. Shields struck out Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana, while Bourn stayed put. Shields has allowed just 5 steals in 8 tries this year, and has averaged about 8 per season, with 7 either caught stealing or picked off.

__________

AL Wild-Card Upate: Rays 82-67, Rangers 81-68, Indians 81-69 (-0.5), Orioles 79-70 (-2.0), Royals 79-71 (-2.5), Yankees 79-71 (-2.5).

__________

@Tigers 4, Mariners 2 — Rick Porcello followed up his first CG with 10 Ks over 6 innings, as Detroit edged closer to the clincher. A 2-out walk to Miggy touched off a 2-run rally in the 6th, with ribby hits by V-Mart and Omar Infante.

  • Abraham Almonte homered and singled for the M’s, continuing his strong September showing. Acquired last winter from the Yankees for Shawn Kelley, Almonte has suddenly emerged as a hitting prospect, with some power, speed, and a .394 OBP in the high minors.
  • Drew Smyly tried to finish 2 innings for the first time since June, but gave up a run and was lifted one out short. The long season may be catching up to Smyly, in his third pro year and first as a reliever. His last 12.2 innings have brought 8 runs on 17 hits and 3 HRs; through July, he had a 1.77 ERA, .194 BA and just one HR in 61 IP.

__________

@Phillies 12, Marlins 2 — Memo from Cliff Lee: “I’m still damn good.” Lee struck out 14 Marlins (no walks, natch), crossing 200 strikeouts for the 3rd straight year, and added career highs of 4 RBI and 3 hits, including his first triple.

____________________

More musing on the Cardinals’ RISP record

Averages for Cardinals non-pitchers:

  • BA — .241 with Bases empty, .342 with RISP
  • SO% — 18.2% with Bases empty, 14.3% with RISP
  • BAbip — .281 with Bases empty, .381 with RISP

No typos: Their BA and BAbip are both 100 points better with RISP than with bases empty.

The Cardinals don’t strike out much, period, and they cut down even more with men in scoring position. But even that SO% differential translates into just 54 more balls in play, which would produce about 16 more hits, at a typical .300 BAbip. The Cardinals actually have 117 more hits with RISP than if they replicated their bases-empty BA of .241, or 106 more hits than if they matched the NL RISP average of .251.

Also puzzling is that .241 BA with bases empty, next-to-last in the NL — by a team whose overall BA is tied for first.

Let’s put their splits in context with the NL’s other top scoring teams (listing bases empty, then RISP, for non-pitchers):

  • Cards — BA .241/.342 … SO% 18.2%/14.3% … BAbip .281/.381
  • Rockies — BA .270/.270 … SO% 20.5%/17.9% … BAbip .318/.311
  • Reds — BA .255/.259 … SO% 20.7%/17.2% … BAbip .297/.295
  • Braves — BA .254/.256 … SO% 22.3%/20.7% … BAbip .306/.302
  • D-backs — BA .265/.258 … SO% 18.1%/16.3% … BAbip .311/.287

All of these teams cut their K rate with RISP — none quite as much as St. Louis, but the Reds are close — yet none have anything like the Cards’ success.

__________

Among all center fielders in MLB history, Carlos Beltran ranks 10th in total bases, 8th in HRs, 7th in extra-base hits, 9th in offensive WAR, 8th in total WAR, and 7th in WAR per game. Just a thought.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

44 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Daniel Longmire
Daniel Longmire
10 years ago

John, these Game Notes never fail to give me a greater knowledge of the game within the game…always a treat.

Since I do not possess either the subscription or the cognitive tools to master the B-Ref Play Index, would one of the regulars here be so kind as to figure out how many pitchers have ever equalled Lee’s 3-hit, 1-triple (optional), 4 RBI line?

Doug
Editor
10 years ago

Ten pitchers have previously had such a game (or better). Rk Player Date Tm Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SH SF BOP Pos Summary 1 Dan Larson 1976-08-20 HOU PHI W 8-3 4 4 2 3 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 0 9 P 2 Jim Bunning 1959-05-18 DET BOS W 14-2 5 4 2 4 0 1 1 5 0 0 1 0 9 P 3 Johnny Sain 1946-06-09 (1) BSN CIN W 14-3 5 5 0 4 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 9 P 4 Pete Appleton 1937-05-30… Read more »

Daniel Longmire
Daniel Longmire
10 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Wow, only twice in the past 54 years! Much obliged, Doug.

Doug
Editor
10 years ago

Another batting line from tonight’s action that happened for only the 11th time was Caleb Gindl going 3-3-3-3 with a triple and homer for the Brewers. Rk Player Date â–¾ Tm Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BOP Pos Summary 2 Scott Rolen 2002-08-11 STL NYM W 9-0 5 3 3 3 0 1 1 3 2 0 5 3B 3 J.D. Drew 1999-04-19 STL MIL W 6-2 4 3 3 3 0 1 1 3 1 0 7 CF 4 Ellis Burks 1996-08-24 COL PIT W 9-3 4 3 3 3 1 1 1 3… Read more »

mosc
mosc
10 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Doug, don’t know why this just popped into my head but can you generate a list like that for the highest R-H games? What’s the record, 4?

Doug
Editor
10 years ago
Reply to  mosc

There have been five 5-5-5-5 games. Rk Player Date Tm Opp Rslt PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BOP Pos Summary 1 Steve Garvey 1977-08-28 LAD STL W 11-0 5 5 5 5 3 0 2 5 0 0 5 1B 2 Larry Parrish 1977-05-29 MON STL W 14-4 5 5 5 5 0 0 3 5 0 0 8 3B 3 Al Simmons 1930-06-23 (2) PHA CHW W 17-9 5 5 5 5 1 0 2 5 0 0 4 LF 4 Bibb Falk 1930-05-11 CLE PHA W 25-7 6 5 5 5 3 0 0 5… Read more »

Ed
Ed
10 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Doug – I mentioned the 5-5-5-5 games a few days ago.

Bob Forsch was the starter for both the Garvey and the Parrish game. Forsch won 20 games that year.

And Bibb Falk batted behind Sheely in the game where Sheely went 5-5-5-5.

mosc
mosc
10 years ago
Reply to  mosc

Sorry, I phrased that wrong and it was a complete non-sequeter. Actually curious about Runs MINUS HITS.

Doug
Doug
10 years ago

Interesting analysis of the Cardinals batting peculiarities. Sort of a good news, bad news story. The good is they cash in their runners, the bad is they aren’t that good at getting runners aboard.

Probably not a good formula for the playoffs where the competitive teams will have 2 or 3 shutdown starters.

Doug
Editor
10 years ago

The red-hot Athletics cooled off at least momentarily with a 12-1 thrashing at the hands of the Angels. J.B. Shuck bumped his average to .297 and is now at 438 PAs with 12 games left. Will take a minor miracle to have a qualifying season but, if he did, the Angels could have qualified .300 hitting rookies in consecutive seasons, something only 4 teams have had since WWII. Rk Player Year BA Age Tm G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS 10 Chris Singleton (RoY-6th) 1999 .300 26 CHW 133 530 496 72… Read more »

Ed
Ed
10 years ago

Completely unrelated to anything….I just noticed that in 2008 Nick Markakis led the entire AL in WAR. Had no idea. And would have never been able to guess that. And what’s really weird is that he has no other top 10 finishes (either overall or just among position players).

aweb
aweb
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

Zoilo Versalles is one I would guess.

Brent
Brent
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

I would have to guess that Zoilo Versalles’ 1965 season has to be one of them. What a name, he should have received WAR every year just for the name.

aweb
aweb
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

(6) just screamed Mike Greenwell to me, because Boggs never got MVP love, and Greenwell did have one great year I distinctly remember from childhood.

Brent
Brent
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

Of course, as a Royals fan I should be shot for not knowing #2 (with the hint I got him), the dearly departed Darrell Porter and his fantastic 1979 season.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

(8) Bobby Veach?

donburgh
donburgh
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

7 is Marcus Giles. (yes, I checked, but he was the first name that came to mind.)

Bix
Bix
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

(3) might be Will Clark…

Bix
Bix
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

And I would guess Chone Figgins for (1)

Luis Gomez
Luis Gomez
10 years ago
Reply to  Bix

#1 sounds like Gary Mathews Jr to me.

Brent
Brent
10 years ago
Reply to  Bix

@29, Me too, but Bix is right it is Chone Figgins. Sarge, Jr. only put up a 5.2 in his “big” season that got him the contract with the Angels.

Bix
Bix
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

and Roger Maris for (4)?

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

I think I have come up came up with an answer for (4) but I cheated, I used the PI. So I won’t give the answer. Quite frankly I don’t think it can be solved by guesswork. Since he’s unknown how could anyone guess him. For a hint I did mention the name and his WAR in a comment last July.

Brent
Brent
10 years ago

In response to Clue at @32. Terry Turner, Nap LaJoie’s old DP partner. Yeah, I couldn’t have ever got that without lots of clues.

Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
10 years ago

@32/JA,

TERRY TURNER – 1,619 games for the Cleveland Naps/Indians (Lajoie had 1,614 games – also some time with the two Philly teams)

Turner looks like an excellent-fielding SS, and about a league-average hitter for a SS, with the occasional good hitting year. That sort of player can be quite valuable when the defense and offense line up in the same year (1906).

Still, it’s hard to believe he’s the Games Played leader on an original-16 MLB team with Speaker, Averill, Boudreau, Colavito, Thome, Vizquel, Lofton, Ramirez,etc…

Brent
Brent
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

Got beat to my first answer, but I will also guess Pistol Pete Reiser, who never repeated his greatness of 1941, whether it was the War or his penchant for running into walls.

Ed
Ed
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

John – Thanks for turning my random observation into a fun quiz (I didn’t know that about Sizemore either). One of the things I was thinking….Ben Zobrist has been turned into the poster boy for WAR-haters. But shouldn’t it really be Markakis? With Zobrist, you can at least note that he plays multiple position, is a good defensive player, steals bases, etc. But Markakis? There’s really nothing that jumps out about his 2008 season. His 136 OPS+ that year translated into 35 batting runs. His next two best seasons (121 and 120 OPS+) only translated into 19 and 13 batting… Read more »

bstar
bstar
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

Ed, why is 22 fielding runs one year with a next-best mark of 5 odd? Look at Markakis’ yearly spread of batting runs: 3, 19, 35, 9, 13, 6, 13, -9. Isn’t that more up and down than his fielding totals? If we can look at swings in yearly batting totals and not bat an eyelid, why do different yearly fielding totals force us to mistrust them? It’s like you’re expecting single-season fielding scores to truly reflect a player’s defensive true talent every single year. Do we hold offensive numbers to that standard? No, so why do it with fielding… Read more »

Ed
Ed
10 years ago
Reply to  Ed

Bstar – Sorry if I wasn’t clear. I was expressing the point of view of the WAR-haters in that paragraph.

Brent
Brent
10 years ago

Royals struck out a franchise record (for 9 innings) 17 batters last night (Shields 10 in 6 innings, Davis 2 in the 7th, Hochevar struck out the side in the 8th and Collins 2 in the 9th). The bullpen continues to be marvelous. It might have to be tonight, rookie Yordano Ventura makes his ML debut tonight.

John Nacca
John Nacca
10 years ago
Reply to  Brent

Which is odd because the Royals had announced the rookie was starting tonight, before last night’s game. I know Shields was over 100 pitches after 6, but wouldn’t you at least try to get him into the 7th to save a bit of the pen? I know Holland didn’t pitch, but still……ahhhh I am just too old school I guess.

Brent
Brent
10 years ago
Reply to  John Nacca

Yeah, that is odd, although Guthrie went the distance the day before, so I guess he thought he needed to get some of the guys some innings. I would have preferred Davis not been used, as he is the best option for multiple innings if needed tonight. But Louis Coleman, who has a 0.35 ERA for the Royals in 25.2 innings and had a 1.61 ERA in AAA in 44.2 innings this year is rested, as is Herrera, Crow and Holland.

donburgh
donburgh
10 years ago

The Padres are now 29-10 all time AT PNC. They are 24-17 against the Pirates at San Diego during that time. Last night was the tenth time since 2001 SD has shutout Pittsburgh (5 @ PNC)against only one shutout the other direction.

birtelcom
Editor
10 years ago

So, how many season wins do we think it will take to get into the AL wild-card game? 89? 88? Another number?

Brent
Brent
10 years ago
Reply to  birtelcom

At the All Star break, I was telling myself that the Royals had to get to 91-71 to get in the playoffs. That would mean going 12-0 from here on out(for the Royals). I don’t think that will be necessary though. I think it will be 88 wins.

Personally, I would love to see the Royals/Yankees tie for the last spot and play a play-in game to get to the WC and then I am going to party like it is 1980.

birtelcom
Editor
10 years ago
Reply to  Brent

I’m rooting for a Rangers/O’s/Rays/Indians/Royals tie, with the Yankees left behind. No idea how MLB would deal with a five-way tie for two wild card spots.

RJ
RJ
10 years ago

Something funky seems to be going on at Baseball-Reference right now, as their pitching WAR totals for this season are all messed up. Apparently 9 pitchers have over 10 WAR.

Bix
Bix
10 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

This instantly made me think of people who never retired, which led be to the Black Sox. But no, it was someone else whose last season was 1920: Ray Chapman, who died after being hit in the head by a pitch from Carl Mays.