Big time NHL Hockey fans spend a lot of time talking about the league's original six teams. Though the fact that the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadians have this distinction, only the Canadians were around in 1909. The origins of the earliest MLB teams are traced back to the late 1800s, where there are eight National League teams that are still around now. I dropped it to seven because the Brooklyn franchise (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) franchise came into fruition the latest, in 1884. With competitive leagues like the American Association losing their "major league" title, it meant the end to franchises that had runs prior to the turn of the 20th century. The American League started in 1901, with several of the teams still existing today. In the NL, cities like Louisville, Baltimore, Cleveland and Washington had teams that were...
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MLB’s (NL) original seven
May 21, 2013 Big time NHL Hockey fans spend a lot of time talking about the league’s original six teams. Though the fact t...
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baseball Week 6: “Week of the Pitcher”
May 13, 2013It was a week for pitching gems. There may not have been a no-hitter o...
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Baseball Power Report: Week 5
May 6, 2013A month is in the books so here is my early May Power Report. For each...
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a lot of Baseball Craziness on Tuesday Night
May 1, 2013Last night may be one of the nuttiest baseball days I can ever remembe...
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Worst records and winning percentages in MLB history
In the early parts of the 2013 season, a lot of talk has been made about the starts of the Toronto Blue Jays (16-24, .400) and Los Angeles Angels (15-24, .385). In the New York area, talk has been about the struggling Mets, who currently sit at 14-22, .389. Though much was expected from the Jays and Angels, the before mentioned teams have to lose a lot of games to be considered the worst in baseball. Currently, the Houston Astros sit at 10-30, .250 while the Miami Marlins are 11-28, .282. If the two teams keep up the pace, they have a chance to finish amongst the worst in the history of MLB.
To put it in perspective, the Astros are directly on pace to match the 1962 New York Mets in regards to winning percentage. Of course, the Mets of... baseball Week 6: “Week of the Pitcher”
It was a week for pitching gems. There may not have been a no-hitter or perfect game but a whole slew of guys came pretty darn close.
- Cardinals rookie Shelby Miller allowed a leadoff single on Friday, then retired the next 27 batters.
- The next day, his teammate Adam Wainwright pitched another complete game shutout, allowing just two hits
- Also on Friday, Red Sox Jon Lester pitched a one-hit shutout over the Blue Jays.
- Mets Matt Harvey pitched a one-hit shutout on Monday with 12 strikeouts and no walks and didn't even get a win for it (Mets won 1-0 in ten innings, Harvey pitched nine).
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Baseball Power Report: Week 5
A month is in the books so here is my early May Power Report. For each team I have a ranking and a few interesting stats/observations. Enjoy it, because it took a lot of work!
(I do these once a month and prefer little movement. When some "expert" moves a team up 6 spots and then down 5 spots a week later, that says more about the "expert" than the team. That's why some teams with worse records have better rank than "surprise" teams I expect to dip soon.)
30. Astros. Lost 10 out of 11 and outscored by 24 runs the last two. The 198 runs they’ve allowed is 34 more than the next team. On pace for 41-121 record. They’ve also racked up an impressive 323 strikeouts, which will shatter the all time record. Philip Humber not only has the highest ERA but also the lowest run support; that’s how you go 0-7. There’s no question...
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a lot of Baseball Craziness on Tuesday Night
Last night may be one of the nuttiest baseball days I can ever remember! Here are the highlights:
Rough day for relief pitchers...
- Mets' Jeremy Hefner pitches 8.1 shutout innings, leaves leading 1-0 with a man on third. His reliever Brandon Lyon gives up a single for a run, then the Marlins walk-off with a wild pitch.
- Trevor Cahill of the Diamondbacks also pitched a shutout into the ninth inning. After he was removed (after throwing just 88 pitches), J.J. Putz gave up a two-run homer to lose the game 2-1.
So two starting pitchers were removed in the ninth inning leading 1-0 and both teams lost.
- Poor Robin Ventura, all he needs is a reliever he can count on. He brought in a new White Sox pitcher for the sixth inning in a tie game. The pitcher walked a batter and was taken out. The new pitcher gave up a double to his only batter and was removed. The...
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baseball Stats n’ Facts: Week 4
If you saw my previous article written earlier today, you know that the Red Sox have the best record in baseball. After one month, the Red Sox, Royals and Pirates are all alone in first place, and after Colorado lost two to Arizona this weekend, the Rockies and Diamondbacks are now tied for the division lead. Take that for what it's worth, we've seen it before.
With that in mind, here are some notes from the last week of this great baseball season.
- As mentioned in my Red Sox article, Boston is 14-0 in games that Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, and Felix Doubront pitch.
- Boston's schedule through May 30 includes 27 games against the Twins, Blue Jays, White Sox, Indians, Rays and Phillies.
- Red Sox hit 29 doubles in seven games last week (ten more than anyone else).
- After a slow start, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 11-4 against the Cardinals, Reds, Braves and D-Backs.
- The Pirates' pitching staff, statistically...
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Ed Charles: trapped in AAA for four full seasons
Happy 80th birthday to former MLB 3B Ed Charles, who is best known for being part of the 1969 New York Mets World Series Championship. Charles had a successful MLB career that started in 1962, but clearly could have made an impact at an earlier age.
When he made he debut for the Kansas City Athletics, he was 29. Charles had served in the millitary in 1953 and 1954 (age 20-21). Charles was signed by the Boston Braves as an amateur free agent. The next year, the Braves moved to Milwaukee. This co-incided with Charles leaving for millitary service. From 1952-1954, a young 3B named Eddie Matthews established himself as one of the top power hitters in the game. As a 22 year old, Charles returned to professional baseball by playing at the B level minor leagues. He was very productive there, hitting .333 with 34 2B, 15 3B and 19 HRs among...
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Recapping the Rick Camp game in his memory
Two days ago (April 25, 2013), Rick Camp passed away of natural causes at age 60. May he rest in peace. Camp pitched several years for the Atlanta Braves but will always be remembered for his role in the Mets 16-13, 19 inning thriller in which he hit a two out, two strike home run to left field to tie the game in the 18th inning. Camp was not a good hitting pitcher, but had to bat since the Braves had nobody left on their bench to hit. The Braves, just like the Mets, had considered the game over with no thought about a 19th inning. His moment will be talked about forever even though he would give up 5 runs in the top of the 19th to allow the Mets to win.
Camp was the last man... Feats n’ Facts: Week 3
Last week you may recall I expressed my agitation with pitchers who can’t throw strikes. I don’t know if umpires uniformly decided on shrinking the strike zone (besides the one from the Rays/Rangers game a couple weeks back) but there have been more walks than I can ever remember. This week saw some of the same but also some signs of improvement.
- Indians and Red Sox pitchers combined to walk 15 batters in Tuesday’s nine inning game. Seriously, who has time for that?
- With an obviously different home plate ump on Wednesday, Braves and Royals pitchers struck out 19 batters without issuing a single base-on-balls. My kind of game.
- Phillies hitters went four straight complete games this week without taking a walk.
- Athletics collected 22 free passes in the same time period.
- On Monday, Cliff Lee issued his first walk in his last 169 batters faced. On Saturday he walked three batters in five innings.
- Adam Lind, the...
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Cincinnati Reds 3B Todd Frazier Becoming Potential Gold Glover
Cincinnati Reds 3B Todd Frazier's hard work is begining to pay dividends.
Last spring it appeared the Cincinnati Reds future third baseman would be power hitting Juan Francisco. Then on April 1, 2012 the Reds traded Francisco to the Atlanta Braves, relaying on veteran Scott Rolen to handle the hot corner duties.
Rolen unfortunately suffer shoulder problems early into the 2012 season, opening the door for utility player Todd Frazier. Frazier made the best of this opportunity batting .273 with 19 homeruns and 67 RBI to go along with a .498 slugging percent.
Frazier not only performed well at the plate, but did so in the field as well. He committed only five errors at third, resulting in a .968 fielding percentage. Not bad for a "utility player".
Replacing an eight-time Gold Glove third baseman is a big task but Frazier is working hard at not only replacing Rolen, but could be well on his way to becoming a Gold...