The highest WPA-rated hitting performance by a pitcher in 2012 was this game by Anthony Bass, the only pitcher with a game WPA score above 0.3.

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For a frivolous interlude, some random musings on baseball’s connections to presidents.

Of course, presidents have been known to throw out ceremonial first pitches on Opening Day and, more recently, at All-Star games. And, one president has been credited with inadvertently instituting the tradition of the seventh-inning stretch. But, there are more connections than that.

Some musings after the jump.

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Here is a list of all-time greats, plus one player who presumably doesn’t belong with this group. Except that he does belong.

These are the only players since 1901 to accomplish what feat.

Hint: the feat is in multiple parts.

I have managed to stump our esteemed panel here (a pretty rare feat). The answer is that the above players are the only ones with a season since 1901 of 120 runs, .600 slugging, and HRs of less than one-third of extra-base hits.

This past spring, birtelcom wrote a piece about Greg Maddux, looking at his pitching efficiency in terms of pitches thrown per inning. As pitch count data are consistently available only since the late 1980s, his analysis was limited to the period of the past 25 seasons or so. That being said, Maddux was clearly in a class of his own in terms of minimizing pitches thrown per inning pitched.

In this post, I will approach the same topic a bit differently to extend the analysis through the entire history of professional baseball. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the name Greg Maddux again figures very prominently.

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Sad and shocking news today that Pascual Perez was killed during a home invasion robbery in his native Dominican Republic. Here is  a brief tribute to one of the most entertaining players of his (or any other) time.

Perez came up in the Pirates’ organization, getting off to an impressive start in 1981, going 2-0 with 1.38 ERA in his first 3 starts. But, it was all downhill from there, going 0-7, 5.07 the rest of the way. Starting 1982 in the minors, the Pirates dealt Perez to Atlanta in mid-year, where he posted a fine half-season of 123 ERA+ and only 1.9 BB/9. That showing earned Perez a rotation spot in a fine 1983 season that garnered him an All-Star selection in his first year as a full-time regular.

In 1984, his performance started to slide, down to 103 ERA+, although he finished the season on the upside with a 3.00 ERA in August and September. The wheels came off in a dreadful 1985 season of 1-13, 6.14, and the Braves released Perez in the spring of 1986.

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The 2012 World Series has come and gone, with a number of players on both teams (Joaquin Benoit, Jose Valverde, Prince Fielder, Marco Scutaro, among others)  making their World Series debut. Other players, though, have gone their entire careers without ever having a moment on baseball’s biggest stage. This piece is a tribute to those men.

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The Yankees were dismissed by the AL champion Tigers, who not only swept the Bombers, but never allowed them to take a lead at any point in the 4 games.

How unusual is that? Let’s find out.

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Cards 3, Giants 1

The Cardinals’ Señor Octubre (aka Carlos Beltrán) is out of the game with an injury, said to be his knee – will have to wait and see how serious it is. Losing Beltran didn’t hurt too much today as his replacement, Matt Carpenter, provided all the runs the Cards would need with a two-run homer in the 3rd. The two bullpens were stingy again, allowing a combined zero runs on only 2 hits and a walk in 4.2 innings of work. The Giants cranked 9 hits, but only one for extra bases, leaving 11 on base with an oh-fer in 7 RISP opportunities. In comparison, the Cards went 2 for 4 in those situations.

Yanks and Tigers go tonight, and it’s do or die time for the pinstripers. They have their ace on the hill, so they are set up to at least prolong the series, and maybe start a comeback to get the ALCS back to the Bronx.

If you were trying to think of the last left-hander before Phil Coke to save consecutive LCS games, well, it’s been a while. Hasn’t happened since Randy Myers in games 2 and 3 of the 1990 NLCS. Coke is the first to do it in the ALCS. Last time in the World Series – Tippy Martinez of the Orioles in games 3 and 4 of the 1983 classic.

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Tigers 3, Yankees 0

The early game is in the books, and Detroit is heading home up 2 games with their ace, Justin Verlander, to start game 3. The complexion of today’s game turned on a blown umpire’s call at second base with 2 outs in the Tiger 8th inning. The Yankees should have been out of the inning still trailing by just one but, to Detroit’s credit, the Tigers took advantage of their good fortune to add two more tallies in that frame.

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For the second time this post-season, Raoul Ibanez has delivered a 9th inning, game-tying HR, this time a two-run blast with 2 outs. Ibanez joins Joe Morgan (1983), Dave Winfield (1992) and Julio Franco (2001) as the only players aged 40+ with HRs in two games in the same post-season. With three HRs total, Ibanez stands alone among the over-40 crowd for the most HRs in a single post-season. Ibanez also stands alone among all players, with 3 HRs in the 9th inning or later in a single post-season.

For the second time in as many appearances, Tiger closer Jose Valverde failed to protect a 9th inning lead, this time giving up a 4-run advantage on twin two-run HRs by Ibanez and Ichiro. This is the 3rd time in Valverde’s post-season career allowing 3 or more runs in an appearance, tied for second all-time among relievers, trailing only Jeff Nelson with four such games. Valverde’s career post-season ERA now stands at 8.79.

Tigers score two in the twelfth off rookie David Phelps, the last man in the Yankee bullpen. Derek Jeter goes down and has to leave the game with what is now identified as a fractured ankle. No more Yankee magic in the home 12th. Tigers take the opener, with Delmon Young the unlikely hero with a HR and 3 RBI, including the game-winning tally.