By Kyle Soppe
This year, we have three pitchers who have won at least 20 games and have a winning percentage of .800 or higher (Clayton Kershaw, Ian Kennedy, and Justin Verlander). We haven’t seen this since 2002, when Pedro Martinez, Barry Zito, and Randy Johnson did it. Prior to 2002, 1910 was the only other season in which three pitchers have had such success.
Very outside chance, but Verlander and Kershaw could both win the pitchers triple crown this year. We haven’t seen it done in both leagues in the same season in over 85 years.
The long and storied history of the BoSox has never seen a season in which three of their players have reached the 40 doubles plateau, that is, until 2011. Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez, and David Ortiz all reached the mark this year, but they could use a few more, to punch their postseason ticket.
The Phillies have recently gone on cruise control, as they have everything locked up. Their 7 straight losses is the longest losing streak by a team with at least 98 wins in MLB history.
We have seen three players this year (Craig Gentry, Tony Campana, Jose Altuve) have their first career homer be an inside the parker. The career inside-the-park HR record is 55 by Jesse Burkett, so they aren’t quite on pace.
Michael Young, officially listed as the DH of the Texas Rangers, is tied with Adrian Gonzalez for the second highest batting average in the MLB. The last time a DH ranked that high was 2005, and it was again Michael Young.
Jose Bautista has been walked 20 more times than any body else in the majors. You have to go back to the years of Barry Bonds (2004) to find a bigger gap between the league leader in walks and the runner up.
Devoted Expo fans will be celebrating (mourning?) the 7 year anniversary of the team’s last game, which was played October 3, 2004. Expo fans had to often deal with seasons ending in early September, as they rarely made appearances in the postseason.
Got any MLB splinters? Share them here.
Kyle …. great stuff! So do the RedSox manage to avoid the monumental collapse? Actually, they have collapsed, there’s no denying that, but do you think they hang on and beat out the Rays?
And what of the Braves vs Cards race? STL has gotta be kicking themselves for losing to the lowly DisAstros last night and of course they blew a 3-4 run 9th inning lead over the weekend for another loss.
Who knows … we might have two playoff games before the real playoffs start. That hasn’t happened before, has it?
Although Ozzie Guillen brought Chicago it’s first WS title since 1917 or so and he is a “WhiteSox legend” … it’s probably time for him to move on, so I’m kinda happy the Sox “traded him” to Florida. It’s time for less show on the Southside and more focus on fundamentals. Thanks for the WS, Ozzie … good luck with FLA.
Wally – check out the picture with this article. Orioles catcher with the happy bird logo: https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2011/09/26/37994_recap.html?sct=hp_t2_a4&eref=sihp
Beckett gives up six runs last night. Lester gives up 8 on Saturday. When your best can’t get the job done…
Love that logo … thanks, Casey. 🙂
NFL podcast tonight at 630, MLB podcast tomorrow at 630. To call in, simply dial (714)364-4701 … to listen to the show, go to Blogtalkradio.com/pickinsplinters … if you are planning to call in, you will need to press “1”, to talk to the host. After you do that, it is up to me to put you on the air. Ideally, you would call in when we are on a topic that you’d like to discuss, that way I can put you on the air as soon as possible, and stay on topic. Feel free to phone in and voice your opinion.
Kyle,
I see that’s an Orange County California prefix (714) Is the podcast coming from Huntington Beach Ca. ? Just curious…
I guess. it goes through a website, so i am not really sure. Its all through the phone, its not like i talk to someone from Orange County. I’d think that that is just were headquarters is located, and so everything is routed through Cally.
Great stuff as always from the MLB, Kyle. Statistically speaking, this sounds like it has been one of the stronger years for baseball in recent history. Matt Kemp was making a run at the Triple Crown very late into the season, but it didn’t seem like we heard much about it from media. What gives?
The Dodgers had Kershaw and Matt Kemp all year, and I couldn’t point these two out from a police lineup. I could find Frank McCourt and his ex-wife pretty easily, though. And they had a winning record. Talk about defining distraction.
I watched Ryan Howard open the floodgates last night for the Phillies. If they hit like that all postseason and with their staff, start the parade down Broad Street in Center City now!
Rey – I was thinking the same way about the Phils. Looked pretty unbeatable yesterday. Of course, didn’t Halladay start the playoffs last year with a no hitter?
As for the Dodgers – we have been discussions in class along these same lines. The media gives the people what they want which is all the scandals one can talk about. Wonder how much of all role that plays into kids making decisions about their careers.