Tag Archives: Tigers

Aug 11

The Art of the Second No-Hitter

In over a century of Major League Baseball, you have had 277 chances to witness a no-hitter. Actually, unless you were born in the late 1800s, you’ve probably had closer to 88 chances, even less if your baseball fandom, like mine, began just a few years ago.

Of those 277 no-hitters, 39 have happened in the same ballpark in the same season. It’s kind of like a do-over. If you missed Philip Humber’s perfecto on April 21, 2012, you had the chance to return to Safeco Field on June 8 for the Mariners’ first combined no-hitter in club history.

Limiting the pool of ballparks to those still in use, you might’ve seen as many as 71 no-hitters in 21 parks, 12 of which have recorded more than one. Only four, however, have hosted multiple no-hitters in a single season: Fenway Park (1916, 1917), Wrigley Field (1972), Tropicana Field (2010), and Safeco Field (2012).

Aside from upping your chances of witnessing one, ballpark atmosphere may seem inconsequential in the construction of a no-hitter. However, of the 19 seasons with multiple no-nos in a single park, 25 of 39 games have gone to the home team. From 2001-2012, seasonal park factors indicate a strong tendency towards the most pitcher-friendly parks, with allowed runs ranging from 0.625-0.819 per game and allowed hits from 0.745-0.906.

Back to you for a second. Had you been a fan of the visiting team and missed their first no-hitter, you might’ve had a chance to attend a rematch. Six times, a no-hitter was replayed between the same two teams in the same year: Reds-Phillies in 1971, Reds-Astros in 1969, Giants-Cardinals in 1968, Braves-Phillies in 1960, Browns-White Sox in 1917, and Tigers-Browns in 1912. Most impressively, the St. Louis Browns hosted three no-hitters against the Chicago White Sox in 1917. While the Sox came away with their first win on April 14, the Browns retaliated with back-to-back no-nos on May 5 and 6.

Since then, the only no-hitter to be repeated in the same year was a Braves-Phillies match-up in 1960. The Braves, then situated in Milwaukee County Stadium, took two no-nos against the Phillies on August 18 and September 16. Both were caught by Del Crandall—who, I might add, went 2-for-4 in both games with four base hits—and both featured complete game performances from the losing pitchers, Gene Conley and John Buzhardt.

Given the rarity of no-hitters, it is impossible to project a repeat of, say, the Giants-Astros meeting earlier this season. But, stranger things have happened. Allie Reynolds tossed two no-nos in 1951. Candlestick Park saw consecutive no-hitters between the Giants and Cardinals on September 17 and 18, 1968. Fenway Park has 13 no-hitters notched on its 100-year-old belt.

Hang onto your rally caps, Twins, Cardinals, and Astros fans. Your second no-hitter may be just around the corner.

Follow the jump for the complete list of ballparks that have hosted multiple no-hitters in a single season (mid-June, on partially cloudy Thursdays, during games boasting an attendance of 22,640 or higher):

Continue reading »

Mar 15

The One-Hit Wonders of MLB

On Baseball-Reference, you can find a list of “Cup of Coffee Batters and Pitchers,” or the statistics for 972 players who have only made one appearance in a major league game. It’s an intriguing but overwhelming page, so I narrowed it down to the players who debuted on my birthday. With eleven results, here is my considerably smaller collection of one-day wonders who made their mark on September 19th.

John Ward, 1885 Providence Grays
John was 23 years old when he broke into the major leagues. He pitched 8.0 innings, struck out three batters and gave up ten hits, seven runs, and one walk. In his three at-bats, John struck out twice. This is his only recorded game.

Harry Fuller, 1891 St. Louis Browns
A 29-year-old third baseman, Harry struck out once in his two at-bats. The year prior to his debut, he played for the 1 ½ season Texas League Waco Babies.

Frank Kelliher, 1919 Washington Senators
Frank lasted for a single at-bat in the majors. Even worse, he was listed as a pinch-hitter that day.

Russ Ennis, 1926 Washington Senators
Russ may have made it as a 29-year-old catcher, but he never stood at the plate to bat.

Frank Trechock, 1937 Washington Senators
Finally, a player with a hit to his name. A 22-year-old shortstop, Frank finished the game with four at-bats, two hits, and one strikeout.

Jerry Lynn, 1937 Washington Senators
Frank’s teammate, 21-year-old second baseman Jerry Lynn, reached the majors on the same day. He was even luckier at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a single and a double.

Fred Marolewski, 1953 St. Louis Cardinals
Unfortunately, Fred also falls under the category of players who reached the majors but not the batter’s box.

Gordie Sundin, 1956 Baltimore Orioles
Gordie is the youngest of this bunch, making his pitching debut at just 19 years old. He is credited with 0.0 IP, two walks, and one earned run in two batters faced.

Jesse Hudson, 1969 New York Mets
Another young pitcher, 21-year-old Jesse lasted 2.0 innings with the Mets, facing ten batters for three strikeouts, two walks, two hits, and two earned runs.

John Lickert, 1981 Boston Red Sox
John spent nine innings behind the plate, but failed to record a plate appearance.

Jeff Richardson, 1990 California Angels
Of all these obscure one-time players, Jeff has to be my favorite. First, he made his debut on the day I was born. Secondly, he pitched 0.1 innings, facing two batters, allowing a hit, and somehow escaping with a 0.00 ERA. And lastly, his major league initiation was also the final game of his major and minor league career.

Of course, I don’t mean to be cruel by suggesting that I chose a favorite player because his career ended just as he completed a significant milestone. I simply find it interesting that a 12-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers abruptly terminated his six-year journey to the major leagues.

Should the brief stories of these eleven players inspire you to research the other 961 major league debuts, you can find the complete list here.

Feb 1

MLB Fan Cave 2012

Two posts in two days! Don’t get used to it or anything. I’m just riding out this wave of inspiration until I hit another bout of writer’s block.

Despite the title of this post, this won’t be a plug for my entry into the 2012 MLB Fan Cave. Actually, I didn’t apply for the Fan Cave, if only because I prefer blogging to vlogging and the thought of competing against other fans is more than a little scary (should I choose to apply in 2013, please disregard that sentence).

Instead, I’ve been watching countless YouTube videos to see how far these fans will go to sit on a couch in New York City and watch over 2,000 baseball games. Here are my three favorite submissions so far. You go, MLB fans!

First up, Toronto fan and cap fanatic Pat Doran. He gets my vote if and only if he wears all these caps during his time in the Fan Cave.

Next, Detroit fan Jay Tuohey. He holds doors open for other fans and cries during Field of Dreams and… okay, his video just made me laugh. And the future “Designated Sitters” should make us laugh, right?

Finally, San Francisco diehard Ally Williams. If there’s anyone I want to see in the Fan Cave, it’s a female fan who loves her Giants!

Who gets your vote?

Jan 31

Sportswriters Needed!

If you’re a sports blogger, chances are you know about the myriad of blogging sites available for baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fans alike. There’s SB Nation, filled with insight, snark, and a lot of stats that go over my head. There’s Bleacher Report, which has perfected the art of 10-picture slideshows. There’s FanSided, which has just about every bit of breaking news you could ask for. And then there’s Aerys Sports—the only female-run sports network on the web.

As a writer, I know that personally, the biggest two needs I have to fill are 1) finding topics to write about, and 2) getting people to read those thoughts. However, when it comes to applying for blogging networks, I’m finding that the really successful sites also have tight-knit communities where you can bounce ideas off each other, help promote great work, and improve the quality of your own writing.

Back to the point… this great site I write for called Aerys Sports is gearing up for Spring Training, and it’s their goal to cover all these MLB teams by Opening Day. Check out the openings below and see if your favorite team needs a writer!

National League Teams 

American League Teams

Contributing Writer Openings

You can apply if: You love baseball!

Teams: All MLB teams

Who to contact: Click on the website you’re interested in, and contact the Lead Writers through Aerys.

Lead Writers

You can apply if: You’re a girl who loves baseball! (Sorry, guys…)

Teams: Colorado Rockies (hurry, this one might be filled soon!), Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (this might also be filled soon!)

Who to contact: Reply to us at @AerysSports, @Aerys_MLB, or through Tumblr.

Questions? Leave them in the comments!

Dec 6

Winter Meetings: Mariners Recap

Things are even quieter on the Mariners front with tight-lipped GM Jack Zduriencik. Still, with Prince Fielder on the table, there’s bound to be a trade or two brewing in the next few days.

Trades

December 5 – Nothing to report.

December 6 – None.

December 7 – Zip.

December 8 – Brewers Double-A LHP Lucas Luetge is the Mariners Rule 5 draft pick. From Geoff Baker: “[he] will compete for LH role in M’s pen.”

Trade Rumors

December 5 – Zduriencik plans to play it cool with Prince Fielder, gauging the team’s needs and the dwindling competition as Milwaukee, Washington, and Toronto bow out.

The M’s are eying a number of players: IF Carlos Guillen, RHP Andrew Bailey, and Japanese SS Munenori Kawasaki. A meeting has been scheduled with Carlos Guillen’s agent, Wil Polidor. Geoff Baker thinks that Bailey can be acquired with a top prospect and several others. The trade might also allow the M’s to move Brandon League if necessary.

Chone Figgins may have snagged a deal with the Rockies, according to Greg Johns. Colorado is interested in moving outfielder Seth Smith, provided the Mariners eat a substantial amount of Figgins’ contract. If not, Zduriencik plans to invite Figgins to compete for third base during Spring Training.

December 6 – ESPN Insider Jim Bowden tweeted that the Mariners are front runners for Fielder, since the Brewers, Cubs, and Blue Jays are after shorter contracts. Before you try to pre-order a new Fielder jersey, however, Zduriencik debunked this claim. Nothing has changed since yesterday, or if it has, the M’s are keeping it under lock and key.

December 7 – Rumors were even vaguer today, as Zduriencik is in talks with various teams for veteran pitchers and outfield/infield help. No offers have been extended, and none will be for a while.

Fielder’s agent, Scott Boras, had some positive things to say about Seattle when he met with the media this afternoon. From Greg Johns: “They’re a franchise that, if they are successful, the fans really, really support the team. Frankly, it’s that iconic dynamic we talk about with those franchise players, where a competitive team can mean an additional million fans.” It’s nice to be singled out, especially with the range of interest Fielder has sparked so far. Hopefully he feels the same way about the M’s when he sits down with Boras in the next few weeks.

In a live chat earlier today, Shannon Drayer mentioned possible trade targets other than Fielder (shocking, I know), from Cincinnati LF/1B Yonder Alonso to Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury and Miami SS Hanley Ramirez. Of course, this is pure speculation so far, but it doesn’t hurt to have other players in mind in case Fielder’s price tag gets too high.

2012 Updates

December 6 – Mustache-less manager Eric Wedge met with the media to field questions about the lineup in 2012. Ichiro and the leadoff spot are no longer exclusive, after the star outfielder’s down year in 2011. Where he ends up is yet to be determined, depending on offseason developments. In a nutshell: nothing new.

Franklin Gutierrez is bouncing back from his injuries, and is on his way to filling the No. 2 slot. To quote Wedge (via Greg Johns’ article for Mariners.com): “I would love for him to really come in and fight for that and do that, because I think he’s capable of doing some things up there.”

Wedge is also looking to move some players around; again, depending on how things shape up in the offseason. Greg Johns reported that designated hitter Mike Carp may see more time in left field, while third baseman Chone Figgins could play a utility role.

December 8 – More Rule 5 draft activity: the Rangers picked up the M’s double-A outfielder Efrain Nunez.

Division rivals and “mystery team” for the last few days, the Angels nabbed LHP C.J. Wilson and superstar first baseman Albert Pujols for a whopping $325M. Now, more than ever, the M’s need to jump into the free agent pool for Fielder.

Nov 16

Offseason Moves: Seattle Mariners

The Hot Stove won’t really heat up until the 2011 Winter Meetings this December, but rumors are surfacing around Seattle as the Mariners look to strengthen their infield and catch a few bats this offseason.

Major Moves — None yet, but word has it Seattle plans to shop Chone Figgins around the league, eying Cincinnati, Detroit, and San Francisco as possible trade targets. The Mariners are reportedly prepared to absorb a large chunk of Chone’s salary as part of the deal.

The 33-year-old third baseman saw 242 games, 210 hits, 86 runs, and 50 RBIs in two years, all while sitting on $17M. He batted .188/.241/.243, significantly lower numbers than he posted in 2010, as his WAR dipped from 1.1 to -1.2. With Bill James’ predictions (over at Fangraphs), Figgins may see 94 games, 38 runs, 22 RBIs, and a batting average of .261 in 2012.

In 2011, Chone ate 12.10% of the team’s payroll, according to BaseballPlayerSalaries.com. If you break it down by games played, he averages $111,111 per game and $28,753 per at bat. After 54 hits, 24 runs, and only 15 RBIs this season, the question bears repeating: is he worth the price? You decide.

Other trade rumors floating around the blogosphere: Jamie Moyer’s return to Seattle from Tommy John surgery; Prince Fielder a possibility, but not a must-have; M’s keeping tabs on Cuban defector and CF Yoennis Cespedes and Japanese RHP Yu Darvish.

Minor Match-ups — As mentioned in an earlier post, the Mariners have seven players in the Arizona Fall League and another 30+ in the Caribbean leagues. Big-league players look to sharpen their skills, while notable minor-league prospects include outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang, shortstop Nick Franklin, LHP Danny Hultzen, LHP Brian Moran, and RHP Forrest Snow.

Both Franklin and Hultzen made headlines in the AFL Rising Stars Game earlier this month, where Franklin went 4-for-5 with his first AFL home run, and Hultzen posted a 0.00 ERA and nabbed the win. MLB.com reporter Greg Johns speculates that Hultzen may even be a midseason call-up for the Mariners next year.

Medals of Honor — Looks like the M’s won’t be taking home any Gold Gloves or Silver Sluggers this year, but rookie pitcher Michael Pineda and infielder Dustin Ackley both received nominations and votes for American League Rookie of the Year.

Don’t worry, though–there’s still time to vote for the Mariners in the 2011 GIBBYS. Felix Hernandez is up for the Starting Pitcher of the Year, while Ackley and Pineda get another shot at Rookie(s) of the Year.

Oct 19

Jumping Off the Bandwagon

It’s been a fun ride, but I’m done.

In a few hours, Game 1 of the Rangers-Cardinals World Series will begin, and I will do my best to watch without a hint of bias toward either team. It’s not just that I’m torn between the pros and cons of rooting for the Rangers: they’ve never won a World Series title; they effectively beat the Mariners in the NL West; they made it to the WS one more time than the Giants; they play flashy, offense-driven baseball (I’m looking at you, Nelson Cruz). It’s not because these teams have more or less flown under my radar until the past month.

Mostly, it’s because I picked the Rays, Tigers, Phillies, and Brewers to go far in this year’s postseason. Sure, the Tigers battled in the Division Series and hit for the cycle in one inning against the Rangers. The Rays didn’t do much of anything, and the unbeatable Phillies fell by one run in Game 5 of the NLDS. My hopes were pinned to the Brewers, with their tacky but catchy “Beast Mode,” until the Cardinals had a 12-6 slugfest at their expense.

I played the part–donning the rally caps, cheering for players I still can’t name, even acting sad when each of those teams lost. Which brings me to my point: each of those teams lost. Superstitious as it may be, I’m afraid that by picking a favorite team to win the championship title, I will somehow jinx their chances of succeeding.

So in the spirit of fairness: Good luck, Texas. Good luck, St. Louis. I’m looking forward to seven exciting games, and promise to give you equal amounts of grief for flashing the “claw” sign and chanting “Happy flight!”. And I can already tell that the best moment of the 2011 World Series will be the moment Jeremy Affeldt receives the Roberto Clemente Award in Game 2. Because you all remembered to vote for him, right? Right?

Oct 7

A Guide to Bandwagon Jumping

So your team didn’t make it to the postseason either, huh? Join the club. No, really. There are about six clubs you can join to relieve that offseason ache when you start thinking about the long, cold months until spring training begins.

I’m fairly new to the whole idea of bandwagon jumping, and while I’ve settled on the Tigers and Brewers as my seasonal favorites, you may want to test the waters a bit before rooting for just any home team.

American League Contenders

Last World Series Win: Never. Can we still call the Rangers a “Cinderella” team after they made it to the postseason twice in a row? Perhaps not, and though I am happy to see Texas get another chance to prove themselves in the Championship Series, I wish the Rays (the “Cinderella-est” of AL teams) could’ve stuck it out a little longer.

Last World Series Win: 1984. Any team that beats the Yankees is a team to root for, in my book. Plus, they have former Mariners pitcher and Giants draft pick Doug Fister, who held New York to one run and a handful of hits during the final game of the Division Series. Now that the flashy team is out of the race, however, it comes down to two underdogs in the ALCS. Who gets your vote?

National League Contenders (a bit more skewed since there are two Game Fives left to play today)

Last World Series Win: 2008. Let’s face it, these are the top dogs of the NL. The only reason to root for their success tonight is to see the Brewers take them down in the next round. Though I have to admit, I’m a sucker for good pitching backed by a solid offense. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to see a Tigers-Phillies World Series after all…

Last World Series Win: 2006. The favored underdog in this match-up, St. Louis has been battling hard to even out this series. I really don’t know much about the Cardinals, but I’ve caught rumors that upon winning, fans chant “Happy birds!” (or “Happy flight!” depending on who you ask). Nothing would entertain me more than watching the fans start yelling, “Angry birds!” following a loss tonight.

Last World Series Win: Never. I have yet to wrap my mind around “Beast Mode” or air hugs or whatever meaning is behind the ridiculous gestures the players keep making, but I like a team that can play seriously without taking themselves too seriously. Need more reasons to cheer them on? Not only have they never won a World Series, but they also used to be the Seattle Pilots (okay, it was one season in 1969, but it counts!).

Last World Series Win: 2001. While I am more than willing to give credit where credit is due, I am nowhere near generous enough to support the team that took first place in the NL West this year. Still, Arizona has earned their place in the playoffs and fought their way to Game 5 after the Brewers began with a 2-0 lead. I won’t make the mistake of underestimating this team again, and I have the feeling they’re not quite done yet.

And there you have it–six teams vying for your cheers, tears, and half-hearted devotion in the weeks to come. Have a happy (and pain-free) postseason!

Apr 29

Catching Up with Baseball

It’s been a few weeks, but I’ve finally returned from Europe and settled back into the wonderful world of MLB. I tried to be a devoted baseball fan from afar, but stayed at one too many hotels that charged $5 per hour of internet. As excited as I was to watch the Giants play while everyone else in London was sleeping, my wallet wasn’t that obliging.

Surprisingly, I did meet my fair share of baseball fans overseas, from a Seattle girl living in Edinburgh to a pair of cheese shop employees who were Red Sox and Yankees fans. I was really excited when I ran into a guy in England wearing a Giants shirt, but as it turns out, he was from Canada and not nearly as excited about baseball as I had hoped.
Anyway, I wish I could say my teams fared as well during my vacation as I did, but things have been up and down for both the Giants and the Mariners lately. Seattle is climbing back up in the American League, with an 11-15 record thanks to their stellar offense against Detroit this week. I was impressed by the way the whole team has rallied together, from Pineda’s shutout to yesterday’s 10-1 blowout. San Francisco, on the other hand, barely pulled themselves together to take the series in Pittsburgh, relying on Ford’s lightning-fast baserunning and Vogelsong’s strong debut for two nail-biting wins. Next up for the Giants are the Nationals, who themselves are coming off a tough loss to the Mets. Hopefully Lincecum can pull out some magic tomorrow and get our record right side up again!
Dec 14

For Love of the Game

190882.1020.A.jpegYes, the offseason has finally driven me into the arms of classic baseball films. Tonight, it was AMC’s showing of For Love of the Game with Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston. I have to admit, when it comes to baseball movies, I always assume they’ll be geared towards male viewers. After all, men play the game, and for the most part, support the teams who play it. But For Love of the Game isn’t just a love story between a man and his sport.

Rather, it combines what men love most–playing baseball–with what women love most–romance. Kevin Costner is Billy Chapel, a fictional hero of the Detroit Tigers, and an ace of a pitcher that is losing his magic touch. On the cusp of a trade from Detroit to San Francisco, Chapel pitches his last game against the Yankees to spoil their anticipated pennant win over the Red Sox.
When he’s not facing New York’s spry, young hitters, Billy is courting his less-than-baseball-obsessed girlfriend, Jane Aubrey. Jane, played by Kelly Preston, is an intelligent, put-together businesswoman who seems to have life figured out. Through a series of flashbacks, Billy spends his downtime during the game mulling over the course of their relationship, recalling the various ways baseball–okay, and his character flaws–pushed the two lovers apart.
As far as the ratio of baseball to romance goes, this film weighed more towards the latter. Most of the flashbacks center around Preston and Costner’s rendezvous as he visits during away games or in the offseason months. However, the parts that struck me the most were of Chapel’s struggle to hold onto a sport he loves, even as he battles a hand injury, weak arm, and the negativity of those who doubt his pitching ability. It made me think about my favorite pitchers right now, like Lincecum and Hernandez, and where they’d end up in 10 years or so.
Speaking of the love of the game, the Phillies picked up Cliff Lee today for 5 years at $100M. While this was surprising after the incessant pursuit by both Texas and New York, I have the feeling Lee made the right decision. Sure, it would have been nice to see him stick with the team he enjoyed the World Series ride with, and I’m positive a lot of Yankees fans are just a tad disappointed not to see him in blue pinstripes next season. In the end, though, Lee chose a team he loved playing for and, if all the news reports are true, wants to be a part of for years to come. In an age where players switch teams without batting an eye and money talks louder than loyalties, this is a refreshing and welcome change. (However, this doesn’t mean I’m okay with former Giants players wanting to play for L.A. Just saying).
So what’s next on the list of holiday sports films? I’m thinking Field of Dreams, reportedly the only movie that makes men cry. That alone is enough to pique my interest in a film, even if it’s a little weird.