Thus far in 2014, the recent trend towards lower scoring continues. That trend is now more than 15 years in the making and has resulted in another, that of a higher incidence of shutouts (at least those of the team variety). So far in 2014, more than 15% of games have resulted in a goose egg for the losers, a proportion not seen since 1981, and not seen in a full-length season since 1976.
After the jump, more on declining offense and why it’s been happening.
The players in this quiz are the only live ball era pitchers with an unusual game accomplishment. What is it?
| Rk | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando Hernandez |
| 2 | Bartolo Colon |
| 3 | Kenny Rogers |
| 4 | David Wells |
| 5 | Joe Berry |
| 6 | Diomedes Olivo |
Congratulations to RJ! He knew that these pitchers didn’t finish their careers until after they had stroked their first career extra-base hit, at age 40 or older. Those career first games are after the jump.
As we remember Tony, here’s a quiz that highlights his remarkable talents, sharing with only these elite players a certain batting feat. What is this most unusual career accomplishment?
Congratulations to BryanM (mostly) and to RJ! They teamed up to identify that only these players have never had a season with OPS+ below 100 in a 15 year or longer career. Thanks also to Richard Chester for the idea for this quiz. More on 100 OPS+ seasons after the jump.
Hall of Famer and Circle of Greats inductee Tony Gwynn passed away today after a lengthy battle with cancer. Gwynn retired in 2001 after a 20-year career, all with the Padres. Gwynn’s 3141 hits are the most in the NL since 1970, and his career .338 batting average is second only to Ted Williams’ .344 among players whose careers began after 1923.
More on the career of Mr. Padre after the jump.
The New York Yankees’ proud tradition of excellence has been preserved in this century only at great cost and with decidedly mixed results. Since closing out the last century with 4 WS titles in a 5 year span, New York has had to settle for just three AL titles and one WS crown in the 13 years since. A windfall for some franchises, but not for the Yankees.
As they did last year, the Yankees are again significantly outperforming their Pythagorean projection, a feat of legerdemain that can seldom be preserved for extended periods. It’s likely that the Yankee players will need to perform much better the rest of the way if New York is to avoid its first losing season since 1992. After the jump, more on what ails the Bombers.
The players in this quiz are distinguished by a single-game batting feat that only they have accomplished in regular season play since 1914. What is it?
| Rk | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jayson Nix |
| 2 | Luis Rodriguez |
| 3 | Jose Valentin |
| 4 | Chipper Jones |
| 5 | Tim Teufel |
| 6 | Sal Bando |
| 7 | Jack Hiatt |
| 8 | Bill Mazeroski |
| 9 | Joe Harris |
Hint: there are four criteria that describe this batting feat, three of which were achieved by a player in one of Sunday’s games, an occurrence that John Autin remarked on in his Game Notes post.
Congratulations to Richard Chester (with a big assist from The Goof)! Richard identified that the quiz players found opportunity to drive in runs even when the box score would suggest otherwise. In particular, they are the only infielders (incl. catchers) with a game like David Freese‘s on Sunday of 4+ PA and zero AB but, unlike Freese, also with 2+ RBI. Those games are after the jump.
Felix Hernandez is approaching the 2000 inning milestone. Barring injury, he should get there this season. If he does, he will be just the 21st pitcher of the live ball era to reach that milestone in his age 28 season or younger.
But, what does that portend for the remainder of his career? I’ll consider that question after the jump.
Reds 3, @Dodgers 4 -Dodger left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu flirted with perfection for 7 innings, one day after teammate Josh Beckett had tossed a no-hitter in Philadelphia. Whether it was the 30 minute-plus Dodger ABs in the bottom of the 7th or something else, Ryu was off the mark in the 8th and barely escaped with the lead, much less a no-hit game. Brian Wilson got the second out of the inning but then allowed a two-run double and two walks, leaving the bases loaded for closer Kenley Jansen, who struck out Brandon Phillips to end the threat.
Rangers 12, @Tigers 2, Rangers 12, @Tigers 4 – Texas took the four game set 3-1 with these two weekend shellackings of Rick Porcello and Justin Verlander. It was the just the 9th time since at least 1914 that Detroit has surrendered 12+ runs to the same opponent in consecutive games at home. For Verlander, it was only the second start of his career surrendering 9 runs in under 6 innings. His 14 game score is a career low.
More after the jump.
With apologies to Samuel Beckett, and congratulations to Josh!
Dodger right-hander Josh Beckett has authored the first no-hit, no-run game of his career, and of this season, as the Dodgers took the rubber match of a weekend set in Philadelphia. Beckett walked three and struck out six, including Chase Utley for the game’s final out.
Backett threw 128 pitches, 80 of them for strikes. After going to a 3-0 count on the leadoff hitters in both the first and second innings, Beckett hit his stride and retired 23 Phillies in a row, throwing a first pitch strike to all but two of them. The Phillies helped out by putting 5 first pitches in play, four of them in the last 3 innings.
More after the jump.