Tag: Cory Gearrin Page 2 of 3

Series preview here.

#Game 1: Bill Steen @ Johnny Marcum

Bill Steen improved to 11-3 on the year with nearly 8 shutout innings as Cleveland rolled to a 9-2 victory.

Cleveland took the lead with 5 runs in the top of the 2nd, led by unexpected sources: 2 RBI’s from Louis Santop and 3 from Sammy Strang. They chased Detroit’s starter, Johnny Marcum, from the game in the top of the 4th with consecutive hits from Lance Berkman, Arky Vaughan, and Jim Gantner. At that point, it was 8-0, and a Tris Speaker pinch-hit homerun made it 9-0 after 8.

Detroit scored twice in the bottom of the 9th, but the game was long decided. Tony Phillips had 3 hits for Detroit in the loss.

CLE 9 (Steen 11-3) @ DET 2 (Marcum 11-4)
HRs: CLE – Speaker (2); DET – none.
Box Score

#Game 2: Pat Malone @ Gene Conley

Game 2 had a shot at being a decent pitching duel between Cleveland’s Pat Malone and Detroit’s Gene Conley.

Cleveland had an early lead as Lance Berkman scored on a Sammy Strang sacrifice fly. And that was it … Detroit loaded the bases in the bottom of the 6th, but Malone escaped without any damage, leaving the score at 1-0.

Both Conley and Malone were pretty much toast at this point, but both bullpens were able to preserve the score, despite some traffic on the bases.

That lasted until the 8th, when John Hiller uncorked a wild pitch with the bases loaded to make it 2-0. The Spiders added another in the 9th, allowing them to send their closer, Terry Adams, out for the bottom of the 9th with a 3-0 lead.

Adams was perfect, and the Spiders had a combined 5-hit shutout between Malone, Chuck Porter, Cory Gearrin, and Adams.

CLE 3 (Malone 15-8; Adams 34 Sv; Porter 13 H; Gearrin 12 H) @ DET 0 (Conley 11-6)
HRs: None.
Box Score

#Game 3: Mel Harder @ Charlie Root

Detroit turns to Charlie Root–3-1 with a 2.29 ERA since his mid-season acquisition from San Francisco–in their attempt to turn the series around. He’ll be opposed by Mel Harder, 5-2 on the year for Cleveland.

Detroit led early, with Bob Bailey tripling and scoring on a single from Al Kaline in the 2nd and Oscar Gamble singling home Hank Greenberg in the 4th.

Root was strong, allowing only 3 hits through 6 innings, but a Louis Santop triple (his league leading 14th) to lead off Cleveland’s 7th and got the Wolverine’s bullpen up and busy. Chuck Knoblauch singled home Santop, closing the score to 2-1 and chasing Root in favor of Justin Verlander … who promptly gave up a dinger to Lance Berkman, putting the Spiders in front, 3-2.

After an Al Kaline single chased Harder, the Spiders turned to Ron Reed, brought in for exactly these kind of situations. It hasn’t gone as planned. Reed, an all-star with Philadelphia, is 0-4 with an ERA near 7 with the Spiders. Here, he walked Jenkins and gave up a single to Robby Thompson to load the bases. Bill Carrigan pinch-hit and delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game once more, but Reed escaped without further damage.

Evan Longoria gave the Spiders the lead again in the top of the 9th with an RBI single. Terry Adams came in for Cleveland to close out the game. Jenkins greeted Adams with a double, and his pinch-runner, Jimmy Collins, scored on a sacrifice fly from George Davis.

That sent us to extra innings, tied at 4.

In the bottom of the 11th, Kaline greeted Yordano Ventura with a leadoff single, and Chili Davis followed with a double. An intentional pass to Thompson loaded the bases, and a single from George Davis won the game for Detroit.

CLE 4 (Ventura 0-2; Reed 2 B Sv; Adams 7 B Sv) @ DET 5 (Henneman 2-6; Verlander 1 B Sv) [11 Innings]
HRs: CLE – Berkman (9); DET – none.
Box Score

#Game 4: Cy Young @ Hal Newhouser

After the extra inning heroics in game 3, the Wolverines would turn to Hal Newhouser to try to even up the series.

Newhouser and Cy Young were both solid through 5, with Cleveland leading 1-0 behind an RBI single from Jim Gantner. That lasted until the bottom of the 7th when Al Kaline scored on a wild pitch from Young, tying the game. At this point, Newhouser was gassed, bringing in John Hiller from Detroit’s bullpen, who surrendered the lead on an RBI double to Jake Stahl with 2 outs.

With Detroit’s closer, Terry Adams, unavailable after 2 innings yesterday, the Wolverines sent Young back out for the bottom of the 9th, clinging to the 2-1 lead. It worked: 3-up / 3-down and the Spiders both took the game and the series.

CLE 2 (Young 11-9) @ DET 1 (Hiller 3-4)
HRs: None.
Box Score

The two teams finished the series with identical 78-64 records, with both teams looking likely for the playoffs.

Series XXXV Preview: Cleveland Spiders @ Detroit Wolverines

By mknn

On July 18, 2023

In Featured Series, Series Previews

We roll into Series XXXV with its two teams barely making the playoffs. So, this could be a big one.

We saw the Cleveland Spiders–currently 1 game behind the New York Black Yankees in the Effa Manley Division–in Series VII, XIX, XXVIII, and XXX. The Detroit Wolverines, featured in Series IV, XXI, and XXVII, are tied with the New York Gothams for first place in the Bill James Division.

#Cleveland Spiders

Cleveland’s offense revolves around the odds-on favorite to finish runner-up in the MPV race, Ron Blomberg. Blomberg is slashing 339/410/655 with 36 2B, 40 HR, 111 RBI, and 101 R, all of which lead the team’s regulars (late season call-up Tris Speaker is slashing 386/426/523 in just under 50 PA’s, and is clearly arguing for more playing time–to the point where he is seeing time at the corner OF positions).

But there is more here than Blomberg. John Ellis and Jake Stahl each have over 20 HRs, over 70 RBI’s, and OPS’ in the .800’s. Add to that excellent production from 2B (Chuck Knoblauch) and C (Louis Santop) and, as importantly, no real weak links, and it’s a strong offense, top to bottom.

4 starters have double-digit wins, led by Pat Malone (14-8, 4.06). Bill Steen (10-3) has the best ERA in that group, but arguably Stan Coveleski (13-5, 3.93) has been better. The rotation is rounded out by Cy Young (10-9, 4.64), whose analytics are better than his raw numbers. Terry Adams has been excellent at closer (33 saves, 2.84), and the combination of Chuck Porter and Cory Gearrin have been great getting him the ball.

Some midseason acquisitions have been question marks: OF/1B Lance Berkman is still hitting far better with the Spiders than he did in Houston, but has hit a cold streak after an incredible start to his time in Cleveland. Reliever Ron Reed was an all-star with Philadelphia; he’s 0-4 with an ERA around 6.50 with Cleveland while SS Arky Vaughan, obtained from Homestead to cement the SS position, has hit so poorly that the team continues to experiment with other options.

#Detroit Wolverines

Detroit has two elite players on offense: Ty Cobb is slashing 348/391/557 with 20 HR and 45 SB and Hank Greenberg is at 317/376/589 with 27 HR and 102 RBI. Oscar Gamble has 26 HR and 3 other players are in double digits (Chili Davis has 18, Geoff Jenkins 13, and Ernie Lombardi 10, 4 coming since his mid-season acquisition from Indianapolis).

That’s enough for a solid offense. To become elite, Detroit needs 38 year old Tony Phillips–just back from injury–to pick up where he left off, getting on base and generally being a pest at the leadoff spot. Additionally, while both Al Kaline (302/362/667) and Olmedo Sáenz (350/395/525) are likely to revert to form at some point, the longer they can impersonate superstars, the better for the Wolverines.

After some juggling, Detroit’s rotation seems to be coming into shape at the right time. Hal Newhouser has a 3.06 ERA, and has an outside chance at accumulating enough innings to qualify for the ERA lead and Johnny Marcum is 11-3 with a sub 4.00 ERA. Add to them Gene Conley, whose first 28 appearances were from the bullpen but has been fantastic throughout (11-5, 3.63), and Charlie Root, 3-1 with a 2.29 ERA since being acquired at the all-star break.

None of the starters go very deep in games, which makes the performance of Chad Bradford, Buddy Napier, and Justin Verlander in the middle innings quite important to their success. Mike Henneman leads the league in saves with 35, but has been touched for an ERA just under 5.00.

Series XXVIII Preview: Cleveland Spiders @ Kansas City Monarchs

By mknn

On March 7, 2023

In Featured Series, Series Previews

We focused on the Cleveland Spiders in Series VII and Series XIX and on the Kansas City Monarchs way back when in Series VIII and Series X. Since then, a lot has changed: Cleveland sits atop the Effa Manley Division and Kansas City has, effectively, given up on the early promise of their season.

Cleveland Spiders

The Spiders have a 4.5 game lead heading into August, and have gone from “a decent enough team” to a favorite to make the post-season. They’ve retooled their infield, bringing in Arky Vaughan, but will continue to depend on excellent starting pitching and a balanced offense to carry them through.

On the mound, they’ve lost Whit Wyatt, which will hurt, but the trio of Cy Young (8-7, 4.68), Pat Malone (11-5, 3.84), and Stan Coveleski (10-2, 3.55) has been excellent (if, in Young’s case, a bit erratic), and the back of the bullpen–closer Terry Adams (24 saves) and the duo of Cory Gearrin and Chuck Porter–is as good as there is. Ron Reed has struggled some since being brought in at the all-star break, which is something to watch, as is the progress of Bob Feller, recently recalled from AAA.

Offensively, it’s all about Ron Blomberg, who leads the team across the board with a 338/407/649 slash line, 31 homeruns, 80 runs scored, and 87 RBIs. Jake Stahl and John Ellis have been spectacular, and Johnny Bates, Chuck Knoblauch, Louis Santop, and Lance Berkman (slashing 287/439/500 since arriving in Cleveland) excellent. If Vaughan can have a similar impact to Berkman, the Spiders may be spinning a web towards a championship.

Kansas City Monarchs

The Monarchs may have a huge impact on the postseason through the talent they’ve let go: Rogers Hornsby (Portland), Andy Pettitte (Birmingham), and Connie Johnson (Baltimore) all have shot at dramatically impacting their new homes fortune in the postseason.

The team that remains is still solid. The occasionally-brilliant Luke Hamlin leads the starters with 7 wins, and there is literally no ceiling on what Bob Gibson may do now that he’s part of the rotation. Jeff Pfeffer has 15 saves, and the bullpen has been strong getting him the ball.

Stan Musial leads the offense, slashing 332/391/594 with 21 homeruns. Albert Pujols is tied with Musial in RBIs with 77, and second in homeruns with 17. Boog Powell has been quietly spectacular, with an OBP over 400. Throw in Ducky Medwick, Robinson Canó, and Willie McGee, and this offense will continue to score runs.

Projected Starters

Cleveland’s starter listed first.

Pat Malone (11-5, 3.84) @ Bob Gibson (0-1, 3.68)
Bill Steen (8-2, 3.83) @ Luke Hamlin (7-9, 5.04)
Mel Harder (3-1, 3.95) @ Rube Marquard (4-9, 6.12)
Stan Coveleski (10-2, 3.55) @ Adam Wainwright (1-4, 5.70)

Prediction

The strengths of each team collide head-on: Cleveland’s starting pitching against the Monarchs’ bats. But Cleveland can hit a bit, too, so I think they take 3 out of 4.

TWIWBL 32.0: Series XXV Notes

By mknn

On February 1, 2023

In TWIWBL

July 19th

For this TWIWBL we’re going to look at two of my favorite emerging plotlines.

Biggest Surprise

Right now, it’s got to be the Birmingham Black Barons. At the end of May, they were 10 games back, a .400 team, and battling Miami for last place in the Marvin Miller Division. Today, they are 7 games over .500, and only 2.5 games behind division-leading Portland. So, what happened?

Birmingham began to turn it around in late May, but their high level of activity at the all-star break has to be mentioned as well. Ultimately, they lost 2 SPs (Dick Rudolph to Chicago and all-star Tim Hudson to San Francisco), a key bullpen piece (Hoyt Wilhelm in the same trade as Rudolph), and two infielders (all-star 2B Tom Herr to the Black Yankees and U Frank Isbell to Brooklyn). They received 10 players and 4 draft picks in return, with only 1B Adrián González making the big leagues immediately.

González’ OPS with the Black Barons has been in the high 600’s, which isn’t great, but is almost 200 points higher than his struggles with Chicago. He is splitting time at 1B with Frank McCormick, and the combo is outperforming Isbell. Hank Aaron is playing more at 2B with Herr gone, allowing Bob Nieman and Curtis Granderson to be joined by a rotating cast of OFers, but overall strengthening the lineup (even if Aaron isn’t exactly good defensively at 2B). Additionally, Eddie Mathews and Pie Traynor are in the lineup most days, with Mathews becoming the primary DH.

It’s worked: the quartet of Granderson, McCormick, Mathews, and Aaron have all come to life, combining for 27 HRs and 103 RBIs since June 1st. All in all, a team that struggled to score at all is now slowly, very slowly, edging away from the bottom of the pack offensively.

But the real success has been on the mound where, quite surprisingly, the loss of Hudson, Rudolph, and Wilhelm hasn’t really been felt. Alejandro Peña has been solid all year, Greg Maddux is finally living up to his hype, and Vic Willis continues to impress in the rotation. Closer Juan Ríncón has 17 saves despite starting the season buried in the bullpen, and the trio of Bruce Chen, Harley Young, and Steve Bedrosian have been fantastic in getting the ball to Rincón.

Rincón got his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th save of the season in consecutive games in late May, about the same time Bedrosian and Willis joined the big league club, with Chen being recalled from AAA in late June.

Look, the Black Barons are still a longshot to make the playoffs–but just being in the conversation has been an unlikely triumph for Birmingham. And it’s not all luck: yes, they are outperforming their Pythagorean projection by 2 wins, but that would still leave them above .500 even if they weren’t.

Second Biggest Surprise

The New York Black Yankees were supposed to run away and hide atop the Effa Manley Division. But the Cleveland Spiders have other ideas, and currently sit 3.5 games above New York in the standings, with the second best record in baseball.

Cy Young and Pat Malone have led the rotation all year, with ERA’s right around 4.00 and excellent peripheral numbers, and the bullpen trio of Chuck Porter, Cory Gearrin, and Ron Reed (who has continued to excel since being acquired from Philadelphia) have been able to consistently get the ball to Terry Adams in good situations. Adams has delivered with 23 saves, despite an 0-5 record.

Offensively, Ron Blomberg is in the argument for the MVP, slashing 334/402/638 with 28 homeruns and 76 RBIs, but the key to the team may have been finding a way to get John Ellis in the lineup almost every day, as the C/1B/DH has an OPS over .900, ranking second to Blomberg in most offensive stats. Add in a great season from Louis Santop behind the plate, solid contributions from Jake Stahl, Chuck Knoblauch, and Johnny Bates and the surprising turnaround from midseason acquisition Lance Berkman (whose OPS is over 300 points above where it was for Houston), and the Spiders have a dangerous lineup, top to bottom.

Can they hold off the Black Yankees? If New York’s bullpen continues to be absolutely porous, yes, yes they can. Will they? That’s another question entirely.

Performance

Awards

I feel like I’ve missed these for a little while, so I’m going to list the last few Players of the Week as well as June’s Players of the Month.

Player of the Month

In an unusual occurence for a reliever, Willie Mitchell of the Indianapolis ABC’s was the Pitcher of the Month for June. Mitchell was 4-0 with a 0.95 ERA out of the bullpen, prompting him to be added to the ABC’s rotation.

The Los Angeles Angels‘ Mike Trout took the Batter of the Month award, by hitting .381 for June. Trout is still looking to add some power to his results, but it moved him firmly into the conversation of elite hitters in the game.

Player of the Week

Willie Stargell of the Homestead Grays was the PotW for the week ending 7/17, hitting .565 with 3 HRs and 9RBIs in the span.

Babe Ruth has recovered from a mini-slump with a vengeance, taking home the PotW award for the week ending 7/10, hitting .500 with 3 homeruns and 12 RBI’s.

Before Ruth, the award went to Brooklyn’s Beals Becker, who raised his season average to a cool .300 with a .478, 3 HR showing during the week.

Batters

Top 2 in all categories, with the WBL leader in bold.

It’s been the Babe Ruth show since Reggie Jackson‘s triple crown run fell apart, but we’re seeing some others, most notably Kansas City‘s Stan Musial, edge into the MVP discussion.

Dick Allen (CAG). 307/375/553. 10 3B.
Johnny Bench (IND). 295/411/564. 4.4 WAR.
Ron Blomberg (CLE). 334/402/638. 28 HR.
Rico Carty (PHI). 287/360/461. 34 2B.
Ty Cobb (DET). 350/392/559. 124 H.
Mike Epstein (HOM). 332/432/535.
Mike Fiore (CAG). 249/405/415. 70 BB.
Rickey Henderson (SFS). 252/388/341. 74 BB; 69 SB.
Kent Hrbek (POR). 309/379/591. 28 HR.
Joe Jackson (CAG). 340/422/593. 76 R.
Reggie Jackson (SFS). 327/439/587.
Stan Musial (KCM). 340/396/602. 129 H; 36 2B.
Doug Rader (LAA). 324/382/532. 94 RBI.
Tim Raines (OTT). 290/365/433. 71 SB.
Babe Ruth (NYY). 313/421/643. 30 HR; 91 RBI; 80 R; 5.3 WAR.
Louis Santop (CLE). 312/344/470. 10 3B.

Pitchers

Starters

Top 3 in each category, with the league leader in bold. No fewer than nine hurlers have 10 victories each, so only the top two in wins–Cole and Mathewson–are listed.

Bill Byrd (BAL). 10-2, 3.12. 1.18 WHIP.
Gerrit Cole (LAA). 12-4, 4.10.
Don Drysedale (BRK). 6-3, 3.49. 1 H; 1.17 WHIP.
Ned Garvin (BAL). 9-3, 2.66. 2 H; 1.15 WHIP.
Lefty Grove (SFS). 10-6, 3.72. 150 Ks.
Ron Guidry (NYY). 5-8, 3.99. 144 Ks; 3.4 WAR.
Walter Johnson (POR). 9-3, 3.54. 3.3 WAR.
Frank Knauss (BRK). 10-4, 3.19. 1 Sv.
Christy Mathewson (NYG). 11-6, 3.78. 123 Ks.
Alejandro Peña (BBB). 8-6, 3.65. 3.6 WAR.

Relievers

Detroit‘s Mike Henneman has finally passed the injured Johan Santana for the league lead in saves.

22 IP for rate stats; top 2, leader in bold.

Terry Adams (CLE). 0-5, 3.48. 23 Sv; 1 H.
Watty Clark (BRK). 3-1, 1.20. 17 Sv.
Mike Henneman (DET). 1-4, 3.41. 25 Sv.
AJ Minter (CAG). 1-0, 2.22. 18 Sv, 0.86 WHIP.
Chuck Porter (CLE). 4-3, 2.04. 1 Sv; 10 H; 0.86 WHIP.
Ron Reed (PHI/CLE). 0-3, 2.59. 3 Sv; 16 H.
Ron Robinson (SFS). 4-2, 3.35. 13 H.
Johan Santana (POR). 1-1, 2.78. 23 Sv; 1 H.
Jonny Venters (LAA). 3-3, 3.35. 5 Sv; 13 H.
Brian Wilson (SFS). 1-0, 1.15. 20 Sv.

Streaks

Beals Becker‘s on-bas streak ended at 32 games, but Boog Powell‘s is still alive at 29 and counting. Other active streaks of note include Brian Wilson‘s 18 consecutive saves and Bill Byrd‘s 14 starts without a loss, as well as Harley Young‘s 12 scoreless innings in relief.

Series Results

Series XXV Sweeps

Birmingham over Indianapolis

Taking 3 out of 4 in Series XXV

Chicago over Philadelphia
House of David over Cleveland
Kansas City over New York Black Yankees
San Francisco over Portland

Series XXV Splits

Houston Colt 45’s @ Baltimore Black Sox
Miami Cuban Giants @ Brooklyn
Detroit Wolverines @ New York Gothams
Homestead @ Memphis Red Sox
Ottawa Mounties @ Los Angeles

Series XIX Featured Matchup: Cleveland Spiders @ New York Black Yankees

By mknn

On June 2, 2022

In Featured Series

Series preview here.

#Game One: Whit Wyatt @ Waite Hoyt

The Black Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the first on a three run HR from Mickey Mantle, followed immediately by a solo shot from Eric Davis. The Spiders got one back in the third on a bases loaded groundout from Johnny Bates, but Waite Hoyt induced a double play ball from Chuck Knoblauch, keeping the score 4-1 in favor of New York.

Solo shots from Thurman Munson in the 4th and Davis in the 5th chased Whit Wyatt from the game, with the Black Yankees now up 6-1.

The Spiders put a few runners on base, especially after a rain delay led to Hoyt leaving the game, but nobody else scored.

Davis is now tied with Babe Ruth for the WBL league in homeruns with 24.

CLE 1 (Wyatt 3-5) @ NYY 6 (Hoyt 6-1)
HRs: NYY – Mantle (10), Davis 2 (24), Munson (9)
Box Score

#Game Two: Cy Young @ Ron Guidry

Ron Guidry gave up back-to-back hits to Peanuts Lowery and Jake Stahl to start the game, but a double play and a weak flyball to right got him out of the inning without a score.

Stahl would open the scoring in the top of the fourth with his 14th homerun of the year. The Spiders would add 2 more in the fifth, on a double by Louis Santop, a triple from Jim Gantner, and a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0. Cy Young, meanwhile, had a 2-hit shutout through 5 innings.

The shutout lasted until the bottom of the 9th, when Don Mattingly led off with a pinch-hit homerun. That brought in Terry Adams, who fanned Derek Jeter and Eric Davis before getting Babe Ruth to groundout weakly to 2B to end the game.

CLE 3 (Young 7-3; Adams 17 Sv) @ NYY 1 (Guidry 5-7)
HRs: CLE – Stahl (14); NYY – Mattingly (15)
Box Score

#Game 3: Pat Malone @ Red Ruffing

Cleveland sends Pat Malone to the mound as they try to get ahead in the series against New York’s all-star, Red Ruffing.

The Spiders would strike first, with Ron Blomberg hitting his 20th homerun of the year with a runner on for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. In the bottom of the second, Albert Belle would cut the lead in half with a solo shot, and Babe Ruth would send the Black Yankees in front 3-2 with a a long homerun in the bottom of the third inning.

Ruffing and Malone would trade blanks after that until Goose Gossage took the mound for New York in the top of the 7th. The big righthander continued to struggle: Bill Dahlen walked and stole second, Kenny Lofton singled him to third, and then Chuck Knoblauch sent an 0-1 pitch into the seats for a 5-3 Cleveland lead.

That was it for Gossage, who was replaced by Cole Hamels, who gave up a pinch-hit 2 run shot to Evan Longoria, increasing the lead to 7-3.

Meanwhile, Malone was masterful, allowing only 4 hits over a complete game, 108 pitch performance, putting the Spiders in position to overtake New York in the division if they can win the final game.

Thurman Munson‘s wild 43 game streak of getting base ended in this contest.

CLE 7 (Malone 7-4) @ NYY 3 (Gossage 4-4, 5 B Sv)
HRs: CLE – Blomberg (20), Knoblauch (5), Longoria (6); NYY – Belle (9), Ruth (25)
Box Score

#Game 4: Bill Steen @ Jamie Moyer

If Bill Steen can pull a win out for Cleveland, they will take over first place from the Black Yankees, who will counter with recently acquired Jamie Moyer‘s first start for the club.

Moyer would struggle early, with Cleveland loading the bases twice in the first three innings. But the Spiders were unable to push a run across the plate in either frame. They did score first when John Ellis took Moyer deep in the top of the 5th with a runner on base. Peanuts Lowery added an RBI single, and the Spiders took the lead, 3-0.

Steen was sailing along until the bottom of the 5th, when Mike Schmidt led off with a walk and Tom Herr–who had struggled a bit in his first few days for the Black Yankees–ripped a double to right, putting New York on the board. Herr scored on a single by Derek Jeter. Singles by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig chased Steen from the game in favor of Mel Harder. Harder was greeted by an RBI single by Mickey Mantle, and we exited the 5th inning tied at 3.

It’s not clear which is more surprising, that Cole Hamels would strike out the side in the top of the 6th or that Thurman Munson, after being hit by a pitch, would steal second base. He would score on a double from Jeter, putting the Black Yankees up, 4-3.

Hamels finished with 7 strikeouts in 3 innings before giving way to Ralph Citarella with a runner on first and 2 outs. Citarella–the most dependable arm in New York’s beleaguered bullpen–hit Chuck Knoblauch and gave up a long shot into the left field stands by Ron Blomberg. That made it 6-4, and an RBI double from Ellis made it 7-4.

Cory Gearrin struggled in the bottom of the frame, giving up 3 hits, but retiring Jeter with 2 runners on to close the frame and preserve the lead.

That left Cleveland’s closer, Terry Adams, to close out the victory … if he could get through Don Mattingly, Ruth, and Gehrig. Mattingly led off with a hit, and Ruth got on with an infield squib. Gehrig followed with a double, putting runners on second and third and closing the gap to 7-5. Another infield hit, this one by Mantle, scored the runner from third, but Adams whiffed Albert Belle for the first out. Munson would send a ball deep into the night, but it would stay in the ballpark. Still, it was more than enough to score Gehrig from third.

And Herr would win the game with another infield dribbler. This one hurts the Spiders, who had a solid chance to move into first place and, instead, leave New York in the same position they were when they arrived.

Mantle had 4 hits and Herr 3 for New York while both Blomberg and Ellis drove in 3 for Cleveland.

CLE 7 (Adams 0-4, 5 Bsv; Gearrin 7 H) @ NYY 8 (Baldwin 4-0; Citrarella 2 B Sv)
HRs: CLE – Ellis (17), Blomberg (21)
Box Score

#Series Summary

For Cleveland, Ron Blomberg finished on fire, with 5 hits and 2 homeruns in the final 2 games of the series. Kenny Lofton and Bill Dahlen also had 5 hits, and John Ellis went 6-for-18 in the four games.

Mickey Mantle was 7-for-16 and Don Mattingly continued to push for more time, going 5-for-11 in the four games. Eric Davis only had 2 hits in the series, but both were homeruns.

Series XII Featured Game: Cleveland Spiders @ New York Gothams

By mknn

On September 9, 2021

In Featured Games, Game Recaps

{ Whoops. This never got published from about 10 game days ago. }

The second game between the Cleveland Spiders and the New York Gothams saw the Spiders’ Bob Feller (4-4, 5.09 ERA) facing off against the Gothams’ Sad Sam Jones (3-3, 3.28). Feller’s peripheral numbers aren’t great, although his strikeout rate is impressive, while Jones has been one of the hottest starting pitchers in the league.

Feller struggled more, but neither pitcher did very well.

Cleveland opened the scoring in the top of the first, with Johnny Bates (who reached to lead off the game on an error by New York’s Pinky Higgins at 3B) coming home on an RBI double from John Ellis.

But the bottom of the first saw New York provide a strong response. Feller sandwiched strikeouts of Jimmy Sheckard and Buster Posey around a double by Higgins, but, after Willie Mays walked, Johnny Callison ripped a double scoring two and–after another walk–RBI singles by Joe Adcock and Brandon Crawford gave the Gothams a 4-1 advantage.

Cleveland would claw one back in the top of the 4th, when Jake Stahl led off the inning with a solo homerun. But again Feller would struggle in the bottom of an inning where his team scored in the top of the frame, and New York would add 2 more runs on two hits and two walks, with RBIs from Higgins and Mays extending the lead to 6-2.

That would be it for Feller, as Mel Harder replaced him in the bottom of the 5th. It wasn’t much better, as Adcock, Cookie Rojas, and Sheckard each hit doubles, making the score 8-2 and seeming to send the Gothams on their way to a comfortable victory.

The Spiders finally got to Jones again in the top of the 7th, with an RBI from Louis Santop and Stahl’s second homerun of the game (moving him into double digits on the year) chasing him from the game in favor of Al Mays. That made the score 8-5, and New York added another run in the bottom of the frame, extending it to a four run lead heading to the 8th inning.

Mays retired Rowland Office to start the inning, but then gave up 3 walks and 2 singles, exiting with the bases loaded and the score 9-7. New York turned to Mike Norris, one of their more reliable bullpen arms so far this season. Norris had one of his worst outings of the year, giving up an RBI single to Ellis, walking Stahl to drive in another run, and hitting Evan Longoria to give Cleveland a 10-9 lead in an inning where the Spiders sent 10 batters to the plate.

We weren’t done, though: Cleveland turned to Cory Gearrin in relief of Stan Coveleski with Gearrin entering the contest with one out and a runner on first. He struck out McCovey for the second out, but then walked two batters to load the bases. Rojas sent a ball to center that Office seemed to lose sight of, turning to see it sail over his head for a bases-clearing double. Higgins would add an RBI single, and we headed to the 9th with the Gothams back in front, 13-10.

Despite surrendering a double to Santop, New York’s closer, Brian Wilson, was able to slam the door, earning his fifth save of the year. Norris picked up both his third blown save and his second win and Mays–despite giving up 5 runs, 3 walks, and 2 hits in under an inning–picked up a hold.

Gearrin took the loss, but in the end, the poor outings from Feller and Harder just dug too deep of a hole.

Santop went 3-for-6 with 2 RBI’s, and Stahl had 3 hits and 4 RBIs for Cleveland. If there was any offensive blame for the Spiders, it went to shortstop Bill Dahlen, who stranded seven runners.

For New York, the offensive star was Rojas, who scored 3 times and drove in 4 with his 3 hits. Higgins also had 3 hits and 3 RBIs. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Gothams’ best player, Buster Posey, went 0-for-5 on the day.

The pitching staffs combined to allow 28 hits and 17 walks. Ouch.

CLE 10 (Gearrin 0-4, 3 BSv) @ NYG 13 (Norris 2-1, 3 BSv; Wilson 5 Sv; Mays 1 H)
HRs: CLE – Stahl 2 (10)
Box Score

#Other Games of Note

Birmingham and Portland combined for 7 homeruns in an 8-7 victory for the Black Barons. For Birmingham, Eddie Mathews, Curtis Granderson, and Frank McCormick all went deep; for the Sea Dogs, Bobby Murcer, Buddy Bell, Fred Dunlap, and Ivan Rodriguez all found the seats.

BBB 7 (Spahn 2-5) @ POR 8 (Munoz 2-1, 1 BSv; Myers 1 H; Santana 16 Sv)
HRs: BBB – Mathews (9), McCormick (5), Granderson (4); POR – Murcer (8), Bell (9), Dunlap (2), Rodriguez (2)
Box Score

Philadelphia edged Brooklyn with a walk-off single by Gavvy Cravath scoring Chase Utley in the bottom of the 11th inning. The game was notable for the very strong starts by both the Stars’ Steve Carlton (6.1 IP, 1 run) and the Royal Giants’ Don Sutton (8 IP, 2 runs). Brooklyn’s Dick Redding took the loss, despite pitching well enough in relief while Bob Howry–Philadelphia’s usual closer–got the win with 2 scoreless innings to close out the game.

BRK 2 (Redding 0-1) @ PHI 3 (Howry 1-2; Reed 4 BSv) [11 Innings]
HRs: none
Box Score

Indianapolis carried a 4-1 lead into the 9th, with closer Rob Dibble on the mound against Chicago. They got there largely on a key double by Davey Concepcion and 6 stolen bases in support of just shy of 8 innings of 1-run pitching from a commanding David Price. But Dibble imploded after Luke Appling reach on an error by Ed Charles (who was in the game as a defensive replacement) to start the inning. After getting an out, Dibble hit a batter and gave up 2 hits, including an RBI single by Eddie Collins that left the bases loaded. Joe Jackson walked, forcing in another run, Frank Thomas hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and Duffy Lewis singled to right, scoring Collins for the Chicago win.

IND 4 (Dibble 2-2, 3 BSv; Carroll 2 H) @ CHI 5 (Dixon 2-1)
HRs: none
Box Score

TWIWBL 12.4: Series X Notes – Marvin Miller Division

By mknn

On July 25, 2021

In TWIWBL

#Birmingham Black Barons

Tim Hudson‘s first start was a good one: five innings, five hits, and 2 earned runs. Hudson improved to 2-0, and the Black Barons used good days from Eddie Mathews (2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored) and Bob Nieman (3-for-4 with 2 RBI’s) to beat the Grays, 7-3.

#Miami Cuban Giants

With 17-year old Martin Dihigo healthy again, the Cuban Giants were faced with a difficult roster choice, given Alexei Ramirez‘ strong performance (333/385/542 in 9 games). Wanting to give Gary Sheffield, who has only played in 1 game, a longer look, Miami sent Paul Molitor, who had been scuffling along at 254/289/338, to AAA to make room for Dihigo.

#Portland Sea Dogs

In a highly anticipated matchup with Cleveland’s Cy Young, Walter Johnson was denied in his attempt to become the WBL’s first 7-game winner. Johnson gave up 5 runs–3 earned–in 6 innings. The win went to Elmer Brown, now 2-2, who pitched 3.2 innings of hitless relief as, in the bottom of the 11th, Jeff Burroughs, who has raised his OPS about 100 points since being recalled from AAA, sent a pitch from Cory Gearrin over the right-centerfield wall for the walk-off 7-6 victory.

#San Francisco Sea Lions

Lefty Grove was delivering one of the better stars of the season–a 3 hit shutout through 7 innings. Then a double from Alejandro Oms and a 2-run homerun from Jose Canseco tied the game against Miami at 3. But Jack Clark hit his second homerun of the game in the bottom of the 9th for a walk-off, 4-3 victory for the Sea Lions. The win went to Ken Howell, who allowed 1 hit in 1.1 innings in relief of Grove.

It’s very hard to win a game when you commit 5 errors. But that’s what the Sea Lions did, topping Miami 6-3 behind homeruns by Bob Cerv (his first since his recent recall) and Pedro Guerrero. Cerv was 2-for-4 on the day with 3 RBIs. Diego Segui continued his stellar string of performances, allowing only 4 hits and 1 run in 6 innings. Rick Langford and Howell each earned their 2nd holds of the season, giving up 1 unearned run each, and Rod Beck picked up his 9th save.

Series VII Featured Matchup: Ottawa Mounties @ Cleveland Spiders

By mknn

On June 13, 2021

In Featured Series, Game Recaps

Series preview here.

April 26: Game 1 – Roy Halladay v Cy Young

A topsy-turvy game featuring two hurlers struggling to live up to their high expectations.

Things started rough for Cy Young, as he allowed 2 runs with 2 outs in the top of the first on consecutive doubles by Larry Walker and Phil Bradley, and an RBI single by Emil Gross.

Cleveland’s Rowland Office–just back from a stint on the DL–tied it up in the bottom of the 2nd with a 2-run HR off Halladay, and the Spiders took the lead an inning later on an RBI triple from Louis Santop, who scored on a groundout by John Ellis giving Cleveland a 4-2 edge.

But Young was far from his best, giving up a double to Gross and a single to Freddy Parent to start the 4th inning. Gross would score when Santop’s throw to 2B on Parent’s steal attempt sailed into the OF.

In the top of the 5th, Anthony Rendon led off against Young with a double, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to third. That seemed to settle Young down for a few innings, and the game remained 4-3 in favor of Cleveland until the bottom of the 6th, when Halladay surrendered another HR to Office, this one a 3-run shot to extend the Spiders’ advantage to 7-3.

Young would give up a 2-run HR to Walker in the top of the 7th, making it 7-5, and would finally be chased from the contest after walking Gross with 1 out in the 8th. Chuck Porter relieved Young, and promptly walked Parent and gave up a 2-run triple to Terry Puhl, tying the game at 7.

Cleveland would respond in the bottom of the 8th when, with 2 outs, Chuck Knoblauch singled and stole second. Larry Doby, mired in a horrible slump, delivered a pinch-hit single to score Knoblauch, and Terry Adams got the final 3 outs, preserving the win for the Spiders.

The Spiders were led by Office, who ended the game 3-for-4 with 5 RBI’s and Santop, who raised his BA to an even .300 with a 4-for-4 performance.

For Ottawa, Walker, Gross, and Parent had 2 hits each.

OTT 7 (M. Dubiel 1-2) @ CLE 8 (C. Porter 2-2, 2 BS; T. Adams 5 Sv)
HRs: OTT – L. Walker (4); CLE – R. Office 2 (2)
Box Score

April 27: Game Two – Rained Out

Game two of the series was rained out, rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on April 28th.

April 28: Game Two – Old Hoss Radbourn @ Whit Wyatt

Whit Wyatt rolled into the early game of the doubleheader with an ERA under 2 and looking like a contender for the Brock Rutherford Award. Then Ottawa sent 8 batters to the plate, scoring 3 runs with RBIs from Carlos Delgado, Freddy Parent, and Gary Carter.

John Ellis would get one back for Cleveland, doubling home Johnny Bates in the bottom of the first, but Ottawa’s Old Hoss Radbourn had his full repertoire working.

Wyatt, in contrast, continued to struggle: an RBI single by Parent added a run in the top of the 2nd and Tim Raines added a 2-run HR in the top of the 3rd, pushing the lead to 6-1.

Radbourn couldn’t solve Ellis, who lashed a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 3rd, halving Ottawa’s lead to 6-3, and, in the bottom of the 5th, a sacrifice fly from Ron Blomberg made it a 2 run game, 6-4.

Larry Walker had to leave the game after Blomberg’s sac fly–if he is forced back to the DL, that’s a major hit to the Mounties.

Radbourn hit his stride, and Wyatt’s replacement, Stan Coveleski, matched him frame for frame–a great job, given how wrecked the Spiders’ bullpen could have been with another game to play on the day. But Ottawa jumped on Chad Qualls, who replaced Coveleski in the top of the 9th, for 2 more runs on an Anthony Rendon double and a sacrifice fly from Delgado.

So we went to the bottom of the 9th with Ottawa holding what looked like a comfortable 4 run lead, 8-4.

An error by Delgado let pinch-hitter Peanuts Lowrey reach first base to start the inning, and after a groundout by Chuck Knoblauch, Jake Stahl tripled to right field, scoring Lowery.

That brought in Ottawa’s closer, Tom Henke, who had been perfect on the season. He gave up a deep flyball to Louis Santop, scoring Stahl, and then a homerun to Kenny Lofton for his first earned run of the year. This was Lofton’s first WBL start, making it even more surprising. Henke retired Bates to end the game, and the Mounties took the first game of the doubleheader, 8-7.

For Ottawa, Raines stole 3 bases and scored 4 runs, going 3-for-4 on the day, and Parent added 3 hits.

The Spiders were led by Blomberg’s 3 hits and Ellis’ 3 RBIs.

OTT 8 (Radbourn 2-2; Henke 8 Sv) @ CLE 7 (Wyatt 1-1)
HRs: OTT – Raines (4); CLE – Ellis (6), Lofton (1)
Box Score

April 28: Game Three – Bob Brown @ Pat Malone

It’s really hard to sweep a doubleheader … but that’s what Ottawa’s Bob Brown would attempt as he took the mound to face Cleveland’s Pat Malone.

Brown suffered from control issues, and the Spiders opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd, when a single by Louis Santop was followed by walks to Rowland Office and Jake Stahl to load the bases. Struggling Larry Doby followed with a double-play ball that Ottawa SS Alex Rodriguez booted, allowing a run to score. Chuck Knoblauch added a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead for the Spiders.

They would add another run in the 3rd on consecutive groundouts following a double by Ron Blomberg, with Office’s out scoring the run.

Three 2-out singles in the top of the 4th put the Mounties on the board, with Emil Gross driving in Rodriguez and, an inning later, Tim Raines would hit a solo homerun to close the lead to 3-2.

Recently recalled P Jamie Moyer took over from Brown in the 6th, and was greeted by a double by Knoblauch. Moyer then plunked Sammy Strang, and Blomberg plated both of them with a single, extending the lead to 5-2. Moyer survived the inning, but was replaced by Monk Dubiel who closed out the game strong for the Mounties.

It was never a comfortable lead, as Ottawa had opportunities, but Mel Harder and Terry Adams were solid in relief of Malone. The game ended when Kenny Lofton–he of the walkoff HR in the first game and inserted as a defensive substitute in this one–made a diving catch in right-center field to end the game.

Phil Bradley and Ken Griffey, Jr (who may be emerging from his season-long slump) had two hits for Ottawa; Blomberg had 3 hits and 2 RBIs for Cleveland.

OTT 2 (Brown 0-2) @ CLE 5 (Malone 3-1; Harder 1 H; Adams 6 Sv)
HRs: OTT – Raines (5)
Box Score

April 29: Game Four – Randy Johnson @ Bill Steen

Bill Steen has exceeded expectations so far, coming into the game with a 1-0 record and a 2.30 ERA. Ottawa will try to bring him back to Earth much as they did Whit Wyatt, and will hope that the erratic Randy Johnson (1-3, 7.27) can deliver a solid performance. The Big Unit has either been quite good or horrid, with his worst starts hinging on an inability to locate his fastball.

This was not one of his good starts. But Steen wasn’t great, either giving up 11 hits in 5.2 IP. Somehow, though, the 12 baserunners (Steen walked one) only added up to 2 earned runs (3, total).

Johnson, on the other hand, also gave up 11 hits, but in only 4.2 IP and walked 3, with 9 runs scoring against him. The key hits were a 2-run double from Sammy Strang and a 3-run HR from Chuck Knoblauch that chased Johnson from the game.

Cleveland was led by Knoblauch, who went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored from the leadoff spot and Ron Blomberg, who delivered another 3-hit game. Perhaps as importantly, Evan Longoria showed signs of emerging from his doldrums with a 3-for-5 day.

For Ottawa, Ken Griffey, Jr. isn’t hot yet, but he’s got his average all the way up to .211 with a homerun in 4 at-bats. Phil Bradley added 4 hits and Anthony Rendon 3, but the Mounties left a whopping 13 batters on base. Jim Clancy was OK in relief of Johnson, allowing 1 run in 2 innings, and Gary Lavelle closed the game out with 1.1 IP of scoreless relief.

For Cleveland, Cory Gearrin and Chuck Porter combined for 3.1 IP of 1-run ball behind Steen.

OTT 3 (Johnson 1-4) @ CLE 10 (Steen 2-0)
HRs: OTT – Griffey, Jr. (4); CLE – Knoblauch (2)
Box Score

Series Notes

Cleveland got good performances from Louis Santop, who was 7-for-12 with 4 RBIs and Jake Stahl, who was 6-for-12 with 4 extra-base hits. But the Spiders were led by Ron Blomberg, who had 10 hits in 15 at-bats with 6 RBIs.

For Ottawa, Tim Raines was 5-for-17 with 2 HRs and 4 SBs, Freddy Parent was 5-for-9, and Phil Bradley was 7-for-13 in the series.

TWIWBL 7.1: Series VI Notes – Bill James Division

By mknn

On June 5, 2021

In TWIWBL

{With the day off on April 25th, it was a time of roster moves and lineup and pitching adjustments. As such, there are a few more notes for each team than usual.}

#Detroit Wolverines

Bob Bailey had four hits including a HR and Hank Greenberg added a grand slam, powering the Wolverines over the New York Gothams.

To clear room for Hal Newhouser‘s return from a rehab stint in AAA, Long Tom Hughes was demoted. Justin Verlander was moved into the starting rotation as well, despite some recent struggles.

Ty Cobb‘s 397/453/655 line is demanding more playing time, despite a crowded Detroit lineup.

#Los Angeles Angels

RP Larry Anderson, highly effective in 6 appearances, will miss a couple months with a sprained ankle. Armando Benitez was recalled from AAA to take his roster spot.

Doug Rader had two HRs including a grand slam to lead Los Angeles to a 10-inning 11-6 win over Ottawa. Rader drove in 7 in the game on 3 hits.

The Angels left a dozen runners on base in the final game of their series with Ottawa, losing 5-1 despite 12 hits, 11 of which were singles.

The C platoon of Brian Downing and Jim Stephens is really not working out, but options aren’t terribly available. OF Rusty Staub‘s 151/252/237 start did earn him a trip to AAA Las Vegas with 3B Tim Wallach joining the Angels.

#Memphis Red Sox

The Red Sox turned five double-plays in the final game of their series with Homestead, en route to a 6-2 victory. 2B Dustin Pedroia was part of each one, 3B Wade Boggs had 4 hits, and Ted Williams and Bob Brenly both went deep in support of Dean Chance, who moved to 4-1 on the year.

Tim Wakefield‘s consistent bullpen performances have warranted his move into Memphis’ starting rotation.

OF Freddie Lynn and C Billy Bryan are destroying AAA pitching, but there is no room for them in Memphis as of yet.

#New York Gothams

Both C Buster Posey‘s 14-game and OF Willie Mays‘ 12-game hitting streaks came to an end in the same contest, but–perhaps surprisingly given that–it was a dramatic victory for the Gothams, 12-8 over Detroit in 10 innings. New York scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th to tie it and 4 more in the 10th to win. Johnny Callison had 3 hits, scored 4 times, and drove in 5 only to be outdone by Pinky Higgins who had 6 RBIs on his 3 hits.

RP Marcel Lachemann was sent to AAA to clear room for Carson Smith‘s return from a rehab assignment. SS Art Fletcher was released–he refused to go to AAA, despite hitting 224/250/318–setting up a platoon between Eugenio Suarez and the newly-recalled Brandon Crawford.

#Wandering House of David

When Jerry Mumphrey was sent up to pinch-hit for Sammy Sosa with the bases loaded, the House of David were hoping for a hit to get them back in the ballgame. Instead, Mumphrey wrapped Cory Gearrin‘s pitch around the right field foul pole for a grand slam, and a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the 9th against Cleveland. The lead held, and the House of David emerged victorious.

IF Frank Grant and C Gabby Hartnett are both struggling, but the House of David wants to wait before making any moves. 3B Jung Ho Kang was promoted to take the place of the recently injured George Gore.

WBL Year I Statistics

I needed a place to hold statistics that aren’t easily displayed in OOTP. Most of these are game-level performances.

For complete statistics, poke around on the WBL Stats Page.

Batting Statistics

2+ 3B Games

2. Oscar Charleston (HOM); Rickey Henderson (SFS); Pete Hill (HOU); Gary Pettis (POR); Rick Reichardt (HOM); Manny Sanguillen (NYY); Billy Southworth (BBB); George Stone (HOD)

3+ 2B Games

4. Stan Musial (KCM)
3. Bob Bailey (DET); Curt Blefary (BAL); Pete Browning (HOD); Rico Carty (PHI) x2, Rick Ferrell (HOM); Pinky Higgins (NYG); Baby Doll Jacobson (BAL); Davey Johnson (HOM); Scott Rolen (PHI); Jimmy Sheckard (NYG); Ozzie Smith (KCM); Roy White (BRK)

3+ HR Games

3. Joe Adcock (NYG); Gil Hodges (POR); Reggie Jackson (SFS); Yasiel Puig (NYG); Chase Utley (PHI)

3+ OF Assists

3. Jim Edmonds (HOD); Curtis Granderson (BBB)

4+ BB Games

4. Eddie Collins (CAG); Gavvy Cravath (PHI); Mickey Mantle (NYY); Joe Morgan (IND); Babe Ruth (NYY) x2; Reggie Jackson (SFS); Reggie Smith (MEM); Elmer Valo (LAA); Joe Votto (IND)

4+ Run Games

5. Don Mattingly (NYA)

4. John Briggs (BRK); Johnny Callison (NYG); Robinson Cano (KCM); Cupid Childs (BBB); Will Clark (MIA); Mark Ellis (LAA); Carlton Fisk (CAG); Dan Ford (HOD); Bryce Harper (BAL); Kent Hrbek (POR); Frank Isbell (BBB/BRK) x2; Joe Jackson (CAG); Reggie Jackson (SFS); Geoff Jenkins (DET); Eddie Mathews (BBB); Willie Mays (NYG); Andrew McCutcheon (HOM); Willie McGee (KCM); Boog Powell (KCM); Edd Roush (IND); Pops Stargell (HOM); Mike Trout (LAA) x2; George Wright (LAA)

4+ SB Games

4. Bobby Bonds (SFS); Lou Brock (KCM); Eddie Collins (CAG); Billy Southworth (BBB)

5+ Hit Games

5. Pete Browning (HOD); Robinson Cano (KCM); Ty Cobb (DET); Chili Davis (DET); Mark Ellis (LAA); Tom Herr (BBB); Frank Isbell (BBB); Stan Musial (KCM); Ken Singleton (BAL); Jim Stephens (LAA); Mike Trout (LAA); Andy Van Slyke (HOM); Jim Wynn (HOU)

5+ SO Games

5. Phil Bradley (OTT); Mike Piazza (BRK); Bobby Wallace (BAL)

6+ RBI Games

9. Jim Stephens (LAA)
7. Mickey Cochrane (SFS); Eric Davis (NYY) x2; Reggie Jackson (SFS); Doug Rader (LAA); Pete Runnels (MCG)
6. Bob Bailey (DET); Carlos Delgado (LAA); Rogers Hornsby (KCM); Jim Pagliaroni (MEM); Yasiel Puig (NYG); Honus Wagner (HOM)

Longest HRs

526 ft. Jim Thome (MCG)
525 ft. Albert Pujols (KCM)
524 ft. Frank McCormick (BBB)
515 ft. Carlos Correa (HOU)
514 ft. Casey Stengel (HOU)
511 ft. Boog Powell (KCM)
504 ft. Curt Blefary (BAL); Eugenio Suárez (NYG)
503 ft. Ernie Banks (HOD)
502 ft. Wally Moon (SFS)
501 ft. Curt Blefary (BAL)

Pitching Statistics

80+ Game Scores

91. Sandy Koufax (BRK); Christy Mathewson (NYG)
89. Dave Righetti (NYY)
88. Bert Blyleven (POR); Bob Gibson (KCM); Ron Guidry (NYY); Bill Steen (CLE)
87. Pete Donohue (NYG); Jack Taylor (HOD); Jim Whitney (BBB).
86. Luke Hamlin (KCM); Mel Harder (CLE); José Rijo (KCM); Jack Taylor (HOD)
85. Freddie Fitzsimmons (MCG); Waite Hoyt (NYY)
84. Bert Blyleven (POR); Gene Conley (DET); Freddie Fitzsimmons (MCG); Ned Garvin (BAL); Lefty Grove (POR); Luke Hamlin (KCM); Harry Howell (LAA); Greg Maddux (BBB); Stubby Overmire (MEM); David Price (CAG); Frank Smith (CAG).
83. Jamie Moyer (OTT); Toad Ramsey (HOU).
82. Ned Garvin (BAL); Luke Hamlin (KCM); Walter Johnson (POR); Dutch Leonard (BRK); Tricky Nichols (CAG); Bob Rush (HOD); Stephen Strasburg (HOU); Jack Taylor (HOD); Jim Whitney (BBB); Cy Young (HOM)
81. Brett Anderson (LAA); Bert Blyleven (POR); Walter Johnson (POR); Tricky Nichols (CAG); Camilo Pascual (MCG); Whit Wyatt (CLE)
80. Brett Anderson (LAA); Bob Brown (OTT); Steve Carlton (PHI); Gerrit Cole (LAA); Lefty Grove (POR); Waite Hoyt (NYY), Ramón Martínez (MCG); Wade Miley (HOD); Old Hoss Radbourn (OTT); Charlie Root (DET)

10+ Strikeout Games

14. Bert Blyleven (POR)
12. Ed Walsh (CAG)
11. Bob Brown (OTT); Lefty Grove (POR) x2; Ron Guidry (NYY); Luke Hamlin (KCM); Tommy Hanson (BRK); Ramón Martínez (MCG); Christy Mathewson (NYG); Tricky Nichols (CAG); Dave Righetti (NYY); Bret Saberhagen (HOU); Ed Walsh (CAG)
10. Bob Feller (CLE); Lefty Grove (POR); Ron Guidry x2 (NYY) x2; Walter Johnson (POR); Mike Mussina (BAL); Frank Knauss (BRK).

8+ Walk Games

8. Ramon Martínez (MCG); Nolan Ryan (LAA); Carlos Zambrano (HOM)

Shutouts

1 H. Sandy Koufax (BRK); Christy Mathewson (NYG)
2 H. Luke Hamlin (KCM); Waite Hoyt (NYY) [7 Inn]; David Price (CAG); José Rijo (KCM); Frank Smith (CAG); Jack Taylor (HOD)
3 H. Brett Anderson (LAA); Pete Donohue (NYG); Freddie Fitzsimmons (MCG); Ned Garvin (BAL): Bob Gibson (KCM); Luke Hamlin (KCM); Mel Harder (CLE); Ron Guidry (NYY); Greg Maddux (BBB); Tricky Nichols (CAG); Stubby Overmire (MEM); Dave Righetti (NY); Bob Rush (HOD); Jack Taylor (HOD).
4 H. Brett Anderson (LAA); Bert Blyleven (POR); Gerrit Cole (LAA); Gene Conley (DET); Ned Garvin (BAL); Waite Hoyt (NYY); Wade Miley (HOD); Tricky Nichols (CAG); Old Hoss Radbourn (OTT); Toad Ramsey (HOU); Bill Steen (CLE); Jack Taylor (HOD); Cy Young (CLE)
5 H. Bert Blyleven (POR); Steve Carlton (PHI); Harry Howell (LAA); Walter Johnson (POR); Dutch Leonard (BRK); Ramon Martinez (MCG); Jamie Moyer (OTT); Milt Pappas (BAL); José Rijo (KCM); CC Sabathia (HOD); Sam Streeter (BBB)

Shutouts (Combined)

1 H. Luke Hamlin / Frank DiPino / Jeff Pfeffer (KCM)
3 H. Whit Wyatt / Chad Qualls / Chuck Porter (CLE); H. Newhouser / Gene Conley / Kevin Hart (DET); Stephen Strasburg / Billy Wagner (HOU); Mel Harder / Chuck Porter (CLE)
4 H. Hank Aguirre / Mike Henneman (DET); Dizzy Trout / Elmer Brown (POR); Vic Willis / John Malarkey (BBB); Doc Gooden / Mike Smith (LAA); Stubby Overmire / Lance Broadway / Heath Bell / Jonathan Papelbon (MEM); Willie Mitchell / Clay Carroll / Rob Dibble (IND)
5 H. Ray Collins / Rheal Cormier (PHI); Vean Gregg / Stan Bahnsen (HOM); Connie Johnson / Smokey Joe Wood / Jeff Pfeffer (KAN); Bob Rush / Rollie Fingers / Scott Downs / Lee Smith / Bruce Sutter (HOD); Francisco Liriano / Frank Linzy (HOM); Gene Conley / Buddy Napier / John Hiller; Jack Taylor / Scott Downs / Kerry Wood (HOD); Roenis Elías / Phenomenal Smith / Ed Bauta / Aroldis Chapman (MCG); Stephen Strasburg / Chad Qualls / Brad Lidge (HOU) / Eddie Plank / Dave LaRoche / Rob Beck (SFS); Jack Scott / Aroldis Chapman (NYY); Pat Malone / Chuck Porter / Cory Gearrin / Terry Adams (DET)