Last season, Justin Thomas hit the first walk-off home run of his career, a two-run pinch-hit blast against the Orioles on August 3rd that kept the Cubs just two games back of the division-leading Brewers. What the 40 year-old Thomas may not have known was that he had become the oldest Cubs player to hit a pinch home run. After the jump, more on pinch home runs by “experienced” players.
Continue readingThis post is for voting and discussion in the 145th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This is the second of two rounds of balloting adding to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1981. Rules and lists are after the jump.
Continue readingThis post is for voting and discussion in the 144th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This is the first of two rounds of balloting adding to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1981. Rules and lists are after the jump.
Continue readingWe’re through the wild-card round and almost through the division series. A brief snapshot of some of the more notable performances is after the jump.
Continue readingMost players can point to one season in their careers as their “career year”, when everything clicked, most of their luck was good, and their stat line was clearly head and shoulders above every other season of their careers. For this post, I’ll be identifying the most exceptional career years, with the largest improvement over the second best season in a number of offensive categories. And, everyone is eligible, as I’ll be looking at those career years for very short and very long careers, and for all the careers in between. More after the jump.
Continue readingAs we reach the All-Star break, Aaron Judge is having yet another monster season, leading the majors in all three slash categories, plus WAR, Hits and Total Bases, and leading the AL in Runs and Walks. Yet, somehow, Judge’s 35 dingers are only second best this season, trailing nobody’s pre-season pick for home run champ, Seattle’s switch-hitting catcher Cal Raleigh. More on Raleigh’s improbable power surge after the jump.
Continue readingCub centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is the first player this season to reach 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, a feat that was once rare for a full season, never mind half a campaign. More after the jump on players with seasons featuring explosive power/speed spans.
Continue readingThis Circle of Greats (COG) vote is not to induct anyone into the Circle. Instead, this round of voting will select three or more players who will be restored to the secondary ballot after having been previously dropped from eligibility.
This post is for voting and discussion in the 143rd round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This is the last of three rounds of balloting adding to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1980. Rules and lists are after the jump.
Continue readingThis post is for voting and discussion in the 142nd round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This is the second of three rounds of balloting adding to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1980. Rules and lists are after the jump.
Continue reading