After the jump is a test morph of two Dave Parker cards. Might take a minute to load. Let me know what you think. Continue reading →

Since 1919, what single-game result was achieved only by Kevin Appier, Bob Sebra and Ken Johnson?

(I can never keep you folks down for long. Congratulations to CursedClevelander. For the answer, click “Read the rest of this entry.”)

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Here’s a little more on team streaks of complete game losses. It demonstrates just how rare they’ve become. Continue reading →

I hope you really enjoy this totally made-up holiday.

Jim Hearty

Chocolate Calderon

Domanic Roses

Slim Love

Ellis Valentine

and if things go well:

Ed Hug

Bill Kissinger

Joe Stripp (note his full name—amazing!!)

Buy this and open to page 15 to read my article on the 2012 Angels:

It’s available in your local bookstore.

Bob Gibson finished his career with 255 complete games and 251 wins / Icon SMI

Back in the old days of baseball, pitchers complete most games that they started. In 1904, for example, 88% of games started ended up as complete games. That means that lots of pitchers registered plenty of complete game losses.

As a result, there are lost of pitchers who ended up with more career complete games than wins (thanks to all those complete games losses.) Continue reading →

Who were the top relievers of the 1970s?

If you ask the average fan, you’d likely hear Rollie Fingers, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Mike Marshall, Tug McGraw, Kent Tekulve and others before John Hiller. Hell, I’m a Tigers fan, and even I would have named a few guys ahead of my hometown hero.

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On February 11, 1982, the St. Louis Cardinals sent Garry Templeton to the San Diego Padres for Ozzie Smith.

Smith became a key member of the Cardinals right away,  as they went on to win the World Series that year. From 1982 on, Smith posted 39.7 oWAR and 18.6 dWAR with the Cardinals, good for a total of 58.3 Wins Above Replacement in St. Louis.

Templeton, meanwhile, played 10 seasons with the Padres and totaled 8.4 oWAR and 0.2 dWAR. San Diego then traded Templeton to the Mets for Tim Teufel, who gave them 2.5 oWAR and -0.5 dWAR in 3 seasons.

Ozzie Smith, Jennie Finch, and Gary Carter / Icon SMI

Here’s a plot showing the average pitches per plate appearance across all of MLB going back to 1988:

Click through for discussion.
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