Send us Your Suggestions!
Posted by Neil Paine on December 22, 2010
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December 22nd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I think you should provide a way for people to send feedback/suggestions.
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man, you guys are FAST! 😉
December 22nd, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Time to revisit the blog from 2008, will Jeter approach Pete Rose all time hit record. He has a fresh new contract, will he approach and pass Mr. Rose all time?
December 22nd, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Jeter's decline in 2010 made me believe he doesn't have much of a shot at all. It's not like he can move to 1st base or DH, because he isn't a good enough hitter.
Arod actually has a chance at that record if he sets his mind to it and stays healthy.
In the Willie Mays biography by James Hirsch, it is stated that Mays has a home run in every inning from 1-16. Apparently this is the record, and it said this record was unlikely to ever be broken. I'd like to see who's close and how close, etc. That seems like baseball-reference type info.
December 22nd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I checked the HR logs for the top ten guys. Here are the extra innings in which each of them hit at least one home run:
Bonds: 10, 11
Aaron: 10-12, 14
Ruth: 10-12, 14-16
Mays: 10-16, as Hirsch stated
Griffey: 10-13
A-Rod: 10-12, 15-16
Sosa: 10-13, 15
Thome: 10-13, 15
F. Robinson: 10-11, 13
McGwire: 10-12, 16
December 22nd, 2010 at 4:29 pm
If Jeter gets to 3500 I think that would be great. I agree that I don't think he has 1300 hits left in the tank, wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't finish out the contract. He is an unique player, I was thinking of whom I would compare him too. . . Not really an "batting average" guy like Carew, Boggs, Gwynn - had a little more power and played short stop. Maybe Molitor but not really either. If you add what he did in the postseason, I think he will be looked back upon as a better player than what he is given credit for now.
ARod is also looking like he won't have it in him to get to the record totals, especially without being able to use any PEDs. At one time he was on pace to catch Rose and Aaron/Bonds.
December 22nd, 2010 at 4:46 pm
How's this to prove I have too much wasted time in front of a Mac.
Julio Franco faced Roger Clemens May 15 1984, in Roger’s 1st MLB appearance. Julio was the 6th batter of the game and 6th of Roger’s career.
---------many years-----------
They faced off for the final time, June 15, 2007, 24 years later, in the Rocket’s 693rd game, 19,850th batter.
In between those two contests, they faced off 99 other times.
Roger usually got the best of him.
Only 10 other guys faced Roger more.
I wonder if we can see, not by cheating, but by guessing, which two players had the longest period between first match up to last.
I haven't checked myself. To beat he Roger/Julio match up, you need both pitcher and batter to have played at least 24 years during the same time line, in the same league, although Julio/Roger's last match up was an interleague show down.
I do know that Julio Franco was the last player in baseball to face a pitcher whom threw to Ted Williams...
Anyone want to guess whom that lucky pitcher was?
Another game I was playing, based partially on Steve Lombardi's idea for players with the most hits who career ended before 30. It was such an interesting list, not just for the numbers, but researching why each guy left baseball in their prime was great, sometimes sad. The Bostock-Horton stories really got me.
But my idea was just to list the top 5 leaders in every category for a last season regardless of age. I had to omit many of the 1919 Whitesox to make the list more interesting. I didn't even know, guys from other teams were banned for the Black sox scandal as well.
As far as last seasons go, what jumped out at me was Kingman. He leads the HR list by a few, and not only that, but any of his last three seasons would have led the list; 35, 30, 35.
100 HRs in three years in the mid eighties then he ups and quits. He could of definitely stuck around to chase 500, which would of raised alot of flack about his Hall eligibility.
He obviously didn't/doesn't deserve it, but besides Palmerio, there is no other 500 HR guy not in.
I know Kingman was fruitloops, but does anyone know why he walked away?
December 22nd, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Well I still think Arod will catch Bonds unless he gets hit hard with injuries. He needs 5 seasons averaging 30 homers, and if he's close, I'm sure that'll motivate him. It doesn't hurt that he's averaged about 40 or so over the last 13 years, but it does hurt that he's hit just 30 the last 2 years and has been clearly declining in both performance and health. I'm not an Arod fan, but it's hard to see him not doing it considering how many he has at 34. In any case, I thin kif Arod does surpass Bonds, he won't hold the record for long. I think Pujols (unless his age is untrue) eventually takes that record and then then keeps it for a long time.
The thing Arod has going for him that Jeter doesn't have is that Arod can DH until he's 43 or whatever, whereas Jeter might be able to squeeze in a year or 2 at 3rd base, but that's it, his bat doesn't have enough value to keep him in the game once he's too old for shortstop.
Thanks for the info Tuna. Once again it looks like Arod has the only shot at that record. I doubt he's got both a 13th and 14th inning home run in him though. Just statistical oddities for the most part though. I wonder then, does Mays hold the record for most career extra inning homers?
December 22nd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
On a serious note, why did the old PI disappear?
December 22nd, 2010 at 4:57 pm
@6
24 years would be hard to beat. So few players ever play 24 seasons.
Dave Kingman may have hit 35, 30, and 35 home runs to end his career. But the decline was clear, and most likely he was done. His OPS+ for those 3 years was 132, 104, 90. and his OBP was .321, .309, and .255!!! He also had no defensive value, and was only getting older. I doubt he had another acceptable season in him.
I also checked his 1st/2nd half splits for his final year, thinking his second half would be worse than the first, however he was slightly better in the 2nd half, although he missed some games.
His career OBP was .302, and I would guess that's the lowest of any player to ever have an OPS+ over 100 (Kingman's was 115).
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Also, McGwire has 500 and didn't get voted in, while Canseco and McGriff both have more than Kingman but have failed to be voted in.
FWIW, I think McGriff is greatly underrated, and I doubt he did PED's. His numbers and mostly just dwarfed a bit by the players in his era that did them, especially his fellow 1st basemen like McGwire, Palmeiro, and Giambi. Maybe Frank Thomas and possibly Jeff Bagwell too? McGriff seems the least likely of all of them to me anyways. McGriff was very consistent and had a good eye as well, always having a solid OBP.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Kingman didn't quit, he wasn't offered a contract.
Fascinating about Franco and Clemens. It's hard to believe any pair has that beat. My guess has long been that Cobb and W. Johnson faced each other more than any pair, but at most their duels were 22 years apart.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
In the Willie Mays biography by James Hirsch, it is stated that Mays has a home run in every inning from 1-16. . . . [a] record . . . unlikely to ever be broken.
I'd agree with Mr. Hirsch, simply because games lasting 16 or more innings are so uncommon. On average, since 1950 MLB teams have hit between two and three extra-inning homers per team per season (3,817 EIHRs in 1,472 team seasons). Only 90 (less than 2.5%) of those 3,817 EIHRs have come in the 16th inning or later, and only 49 (less than 1.3%) in the 17th inning or later. Once you get to innings past the 17th, entire decades can come and go between individual home runs.
By no means would it be impossible for someone to break Mays's record — just very, very difficult.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Jimbo,
Yeah, I did a quick list of worse X for a 35 HR season. And Kingman came up on virtually every list- him or Armas.
Worst WAR was his '86 swan song; -1.4
Worst OPS.
Second Worse OPS +
But still in 86, Some GMs didn't look at sabermetrics. I'm sure even a noncompetitive team would of strung him along to see him get to 500.
Some bench marks, like 500 HRs can add millions on to future earnings. Just in appearances and autographs, he could of made one appearance a year as a 500 member.
It just strikes me as odd, although I do agree he stunk.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I wonder then, does Mays hold the record for most career extra inning homers?
Yes, with 22. This page will tell you all you want to know about extra-inning homers.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:11 pm
McGriff was definitely underrated and is a great reason why bench marks stink.
If he had 500, He'd be in the Hall. He's not even on the ballot.
And you are right about his appearance of looking 'clean' during the era. He was super consistent, never going above 37 HR in a time when Greg Vaugn & Brady Anderson hit 50.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I see I was wrong about Kingman on one point.
Tony Armas managed a 103 OPS+ with only a .287 OBP for his career. Now does anybody beat that?
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:25 pm
@15
McGriff would've hit 40 homers in the strike year most likely.
And Matt Williams might've hit 62. Gwynn might've hit .400. Kirby Puckett or Jeff Bagwell might've driven in 170 runs. Julio Franco might've driven in 130. Bonds might've gotten another 40/40, and probably gets 3000 hits for his career. The Expos may have won the WS. It was Frank Thomas's best year and he would've have monster numbers all over. Griffey and Lofton and Albert Belle and a number of others were all having career type years. Walker, Biggio, or Knoblauch might've hit 65 doubles, maybe someone gets 70. What a season we lost.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
@ Johnny,
Any idea why Kong turned that down that contract.
My father told me a horrible story about Kingman's first go round with the Mets, and my Dad doesn't lie;
So it was spring training and some kid my dad is sitting next to has a ball he's kept for like 5 years, with maybe 20-25 Mets' autographs on it.
The field was soaked from rain, with puddles of mud everywhere, and between every inning this kid is begging the Mets returning to the dugout to sign his 'special ball'.
It was spring training, so the kid was pretty close to the players, and they could all hear his speal about the ball and several players indulge the kid, run over and give a quick sign.
By the eighth inning, Kingman motions for the boy to throw the ball over to him. The kid is reasonably scared to throw his most cherished possession onto a muddy field, but Kingman assures him it was ok, and to just toss it.
The kid does, and Kingman just laughs, making no attempt to catch the ball and just walks away as it lands in a puddle.
My dad and the other adults were up in arms, the kid hysterical, Kingman laughing.
Some of the other players try and get the ball to late, then try to replace the ball. I think Seaver gets everyone to sign another 'fresh ball' - but the kid won't take it, and Kingman thought it all was funny.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Jimbo,
About the strike, Dieon Sanders also had an ungodly # of triples in like 230 ABs. 14 or 15.
There were also several players who not only lost time due to the '94 strike and the '95 short season, but there are players who's career's overlap both strikes, like Henderson and Murray, and to some extant Moliter and Winfield.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:58 pm
One last follow-up to my #12 and then I'm done.
Since 1950, there have been 90 home runs hit in the 16th inning or later. Two players have done it twice. First, Alfonso Soriano, in 2003 for the Yankees against the Tigers and then in 2004 for the Rangers against the Mariners. Second, Mark McGwire, for the A's, against Toronto and Cleveland . . . on consecutive days in 1988.
I don't know why this stuff even surprises me anymore.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:49 pm
@6
"Another game I was playing, based partially on Steve Lombardi's idea for players with the most hits who career ended before 30."
Rennie Stennett was close.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Hi guys.
Just thought I would let you know I get a "We're sorry, but your request was not understood by our program" message on some searches but it does give results for the search.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:44 pm
@ 6
Was it Jim Kaat who pitched to Ted Williams and Julio Franco?
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:13 pm
# 23
Yep Jim Kaat.
Just figured this out, quickest way from today to Ruth through a continuous non broken chain of players.
Pudge caught Ryan, who pitched to Eddie Mathews in his Rookie year of '66, who faced Dutch Leonard his rookie year in '52, whom faced Ruth in '35 when Ruth was a Brave... DOH! They missed eachother!
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:00 am
@24
Another connection -- though not as active players -- Ruth's roomie on the road for two seasons was Jimmie Reese. (Reese always joked he roomed with Ruth's suitcase.) Reese was a longtime coach with the Angels, and Ryan named one of his sons after him.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:15 am
Just a question about "Injury prone" players
in this & every other board you see the "what if" stuff (which I like haha) but where do you draw the line between the "injury prone" & a non-injury-prone player?
Griggey Jr always comes up & he's 31st all time in games played. Mantle is 77th, Thomas 97th..
Who isn't considered injury prone in this game?
not looking for a list of players.
December 23rd, 2010 at 3:34 am
@18, Duke -- Nice (sad) story about Kong. Consistent with everything I've read about him. I think his personality was a factor in him not being offered a contract after a 30-HR season, though certainly the poor surrounding stats and zero defensive value played big roles, too. (Canseco suffered a similar fate, though he was a better hitter. May have been one or two other factors, as well.)
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:07 am
@26 "Who isn't considered injury prone in this game?"
Mebbe Cal Ripken Jr. or Lou Gehrig?
December 25th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
A few suggestions for possible lists:
Most home runs in 100 ab's, 200, etc. season.
Most documented tape measure HR's, lifetime. (Perhaps 450' and above)
Most 10k plus SO games, pitcher, without issuing a walk, season and lifetime.
Lowest opposing BA vs left handed pitcher by right handed batters, season (minimum 162 innings) and career. Same for right vs left.