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Miguel Cabrera turns 29 years old today.

It’s hard to believe that he’s so young, given that he’s already had 8 seasons where he’s qualified for the batting title with an OPS+ of at least 129.

Check out who has the most such seasons through their Age 28 season:

These guys all started in the majors at a young age and not a single one of them flamed out early. In fact, as you probably noticed, every player on that list who is eligible for the Hall of Fame is in the Hall of Fame, and it would seem that Griffey, Pujols, and A-Rod are pretty much locks already.

I have no doubt that if we look at raw numbers, Cabrera will rank toward the top in homers and RBI thanks to the era in which he has played. It would be fun, though, to project how Cabrera will end up. Continue reading →

The Rangers clobbered the Red Sox on Tuesday, 18-3, opening a two-game miniseries in Fenway.

• It’s the fourth time since 1991 that a Fenway guest scored 18+ runs; the other three were by the Yankees. The 15-run margin was the second-biggest over homestanding Boston in that span.
• Texas became the first team this year to have all 9 starting batters score at least 1 run.

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The anticipated duel between multiple Cy Young Award winners went off the rails early, as Tim Lincecum yielded 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk before getting the second out. He settled down, but finished by allowing 5 runs in 6 IP, the third straight time this year that he’s allowed 5+ runs (and fourth straight dating to 2011). He has not otherwise been touched for 5+ runs more than two straight starts at any point in his career.

• Does anyone answer the Opening Day bell better than Roy Halladay? Since 2007, his record in his first three starts is 15-1 with a 1.97 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.
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Led by their marquee slugger Matt Kemp, the Dodgers have the best record in baseball 10 games into the season. Kemp’s 6 HR place him among the top 10 seasons all-time for HR in the first 10 team games of the season.

After the jump, I’ll look at what those fast power starts portended for the players’ seasons.

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High Heat Stats contributor Graham Womack has published a wonderful piece on his blog, Baseball Past and Present, called the All-Time Dream Project. He logged more than 600 votes to come up with the top players at each position, and got an excellent team of writers to write something on each of the winners.

What’s that? You want more? Well he also commissioned artwork from Sarah Wiener for each of the winners, and you can even pick up a set of the trading cards.

Check out this wonderful post at the link above.

In the annual Patriots Day game in Fenway, Daniel Bard issued 7 walks (a new game high for this year) in 6.2 innings. His last two walks, to Carlos Peña and Evan Longoria, pushed in the game’s only run.

• Boston’s last 1-0 home loss was to the Yankees in July 2008, when Joba Chamberlain outdueled Josh Beckett for 7 innings.
• Their last 1-0 home loss on Patriots Day was in 2000.
• James Shields got the first out in the 9th, but walked a batter and was lifted. The last CG shutout by a visitor in Fenway was a 2009 3-hitter by Roy Halladay.
• The game ended with Cody Ross looking at 3 strikes from Fernando Rodney with the tying and winning runs on base. It was the second time in the game that Ross took 3 strikes.
• Rodney finally allowed a baserunner — an intentional walk to David Ortiz, who had 2 HRs in 11 prior meetings with Rodney.
• The Rays are 3-0 on Patriots Day in Fenway.
• I love the fact that Joe Maddon has Peña batting #2 in the order. You can have all the Darwin Barneys and Elvis Andruses with their “bat control” and their .320 OBPs; give me a #2 hitter who makes the pitcher sweat.

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Since Derek Jeter reached 3,000 career hits on July 9th, 2011, he has played in 73 games. His numbers over those games are:

334 PAs, 43 RBI, 47 R, 5 HR, .331/.383/.450

Very impressive, especially considering how poorly he hit in 2011 before reaching 3,000 hits (66 games, 312 PAs, 22 RBI, 40 R, 2 HR, .257/.321/.329).

I thought I’d compare Jeter’s post-3000 performance with other recent players to surpass that same total, to see if they, too, hit well when the individual pressure was off.

Craig Biggio played in only 69 more career games after reaching 3,000 hits in 2007. Over those 69 games, his line was a dreadful 249 PAs, 23 RBI, 23 R, 5 HR, .253/.260/.362.

Rafael Palmeiro played in only 22 more career games after reaching 3,000 hits in 2005. Over those 22 games, his line was a fairly horrid 90 PAs, 9 RBI, 7 R, 3 HR, .241/.322/.380.

Rickey Henderson reached 3,000 hits on the final day of the 2001 season, coming on October 7th after the season had been delayed due to the events of 9/11/2001. He played 102 more games in his career, with a line of 306 plate appearances, 21 RBI, 47 R, 7 HR, .219/.356/.339. Rickey could take a walk right up until the end, but that’s about all he could manage.

Cal Ripken reached 3,000 early in the 2000 season and played in 201 additional career games. Over those games he had 811 PAs, 118 RBI, 79 R, 27 HR, .246/.289/.396 (not incredibly bad.)  To compare to Jeter, if we look at just the 85 games right after he reached 3000 hits, Ripken’s line was 337 PAs, 54 RBI, 38 R, 13 HR, .242/.291/.419. Good, but especially coming in a higher offensive environment than Jeter’s playing in right now, not nearly as good.

Wade Boggs appeared in just 10 more games after reaching 3,000 in August of 1999. Over those 10 games, he did quite well, with 33 PAs, 3 RBI, 2 R, 0 HR, .345/.394/.448. Those numbers are comparable to Jeter’s, but over many fewer plate appearances.

Tony Gwynn played in 156 more games after reaching 3,000 hits. Check out this line: 443 PAs, 63 RBI, 51 R, 7 HR, .337/.377/.476. Not too shabby.

Jeter seems intent on playing at least a couple more seasons. If he can stay reasonably healthy and play reasonably well, he has a shot at becoming just the 6th player to reach 3,500 career hits.

Before winning in the last of the 9th today in Los Angeles, the Dodgers turned a crazy triple play in the top half. After squaring to bunt, Jesús Guzmán recoiled from a meat-seeking missile, only to have it hit his bat, bounce behind the plate, and then dribble into fair territory.

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Following up on the Imperfect Trifecta post, thought I’d give Rollins and Pierre a break and let some others share the limelight. The guy on the left was one of our faves back at the B-R Blog, a player with some quite unusual statistical characteristics, although not ones customarily associated with winning.

WARNING: This post is definitely written tongue in cheek. My apologies, in advance, if you are offended by the tone – not my intention, just having a bit of fun.

This post is about players who simply abhor walking. At any cost (and it’s often substantial). Instead, these purists insist on getting on base (or trying, at least) the difficult way, with their bats and their legs. Alas, it is an awfully hard chore for many of them.

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Of all the words of baseball history I’ve come across, I think the most beautiful are these attributed to then-NL President Ford Frick, responding to rumors of a boycott against Jackie Robinson:

I do not care if half the league strikes. Those who do it will encounter quick retribution. All will be suspended and I don’t care if it wrecks the National League for five years. This is the United States of America and one citizen has as much right to play as another.

The National League will go down the line with Robinson whatever the consequences. You will find if you go through with your intention that you have been guilty of complete madness.

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