Archive for the 'Postseason' Category

I'm getting geared up for tonight's game and was curious to see who the oldest Game 6 starters are in World Series history:

  Cnt AgeY.D                   Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+------+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 40.167 Dennis Martinez   1995-10-28    WS     6 CLE @ATL L  0-1  GS-5       4.2  4  0  0  5  2  0  82  44   53       21 16  1  0   1   0  0  0   1  0  1  0  0  0   0.00
    2 39.275 Early Wynn        1959-10-08    WS     6 CHW  LAD L  3-9  GS-4  ,L   3.1  5  5  5  3  2  1           29       18 14  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0  13.50
    3 39.225 Pete Alexander    1926-10-09    WS     6 STL @NYY W 10-2  CG 9  ,W   9    8  2  2  2  6  0           67       38 36  2  1   0   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  0   2.00
    4 38.159 Tommy John        1981-10-28    WS     6 NYY  LAD L  2-9  GS-4       4    6  1  1  0  2  0  48  33   48       18 18  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   2.25
    5 38.054 Randy Johnson     2001-11-03    WS     6 ARI  NYY W 15-2  GS-7  ,W   7    6  2  2  2  7  0 104  66   62       29 27  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   2.57
    6 37.200 Don Sutton        1982-10-19    WS     6 MIL @STL L  1-13 GS-5  ,L   4.1  7  7  5  0  2  2  67  45   27       21 20  2  1   0   0  1  0   0  1  1  0  1  0  10.38
    7 37.168 Warren Spahn      1958-10-08    WS     6 MLN  NYY L  3-4  GS-10 ,L   9.2  9  4  4  2  5  2           58       42 39  0  0   0   0  0  1   0  0  1  0  0  0   3.72
    8 36.246 Dave Stewart      1993-10-23    WS     6 TOR  PHI W  8-6  GS-6       6    4  4  4  4  2  1 120  68   46       28 24  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   6.00
    9 36.182 Claude Passeau    1945-10-08    WS     6 CHC  DET W  8-7  GS-7       6.2  5  3  3  6  2  0           48       32 26  1  0   2   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  0   4.05
   10 35.309 Bob Shawkey       1926-10-09    WS     6 NYY  STL L  2-10 GS-7  ,L   6.1  8  7  6  2  4  0           33       29 24  3  0   0   0  3  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   8.53

After tonight, Pedro Martinez is going to be #6 on this list and Andy Pettitte will be the new #8, slotting between Spahn and Stewart (who slide down one spot after Pedro goes in at #6.)

Among the top 10 games above, we don't see a lot of great performances. Only 3 of the starters went at least 7 innings and half the guys gave up at least 4 ER. The starters earned a cumulative 2-4 record and the teams went 4-6 in the 10 games. We know that after tonight, the top 10 record will still be 4-6, as the current #9 and #10 are 1 win and 1 loss, and the same game will slot on the new list with a win for one team and a loss for the other.

It was noted by an Arkansan on SABR-L that Lee and Burnett were both from Arkansas and were born within a year of each other, Burnett from North Little Rock and Lee from Benton. This was the 38th time that the two WS starters from the same state in the Union. The most recent was Kevin Appier and Russ Ortiz, both from California, faced each other twice in the 2002 World Series.

Surprisingly, at least to me, no foreign country has boasted two native sons starting in a World Series game.

Full List after the jump

Here is the full list.
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Chase Utley did it again last night, hitting two homers in a World Series game.

Check out the most recent multi-homer games in the playoffs:

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt PA AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP SB CS BOr Positions
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+---------+
    1 Chase Utley       2009-11-02    WS     5 PHI  NYY W  8-6   4  3  3  2  0  0  2   4  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  1  0 3rd 2B
    2 Jayson Werth      2009-10-31    WS     3 PHI  NYY L  5-8   4  4  2  2  0  0  2   2  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th RF
    3 Chase Utley       2009-10-28    WS     1 PHI @NYY W  6-1   5  4  2  2  0  0  2   2  1   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd 2B
    4 Jayson Werth      2009-10-21    NLCS   5 PHI  LAD W 10-4   4  4  3  3  0  0  2   4  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th RF

    5 Ryan Howard       2008-10-26    WS     4 PHI  TBR W 10-2   5  4  2  3  0  0  2   5  1   1  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th 1B
    6 Dustin Pedroia    2008-10-11    ALCS   2 BOS @TBR L  8-9   6  5  4  3  0  0  2   2  1   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd 2B
    7 B.J. Upton        2008-10-06    ALDS   4 TBR @CHW W  6-2   5  4  2  2  0  0  2   2  1   1  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd CF
    8 Pat Burrell       2008-10-05    NLDS   4 PHI @MIL W  6-2   4  4  2  3  0  0  2   4  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th LF
    9 Mike Napoli       2008-10-05    ALDS   3 LAA @BOS W  5-4   6  5  3  3  0  0  2   3  0   0  0   1  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th C
   10 Evan Longoria     2008-10-02    ALDS   1 TBR  CHW W  6-4   4  3  2  3  0  0  2   3  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  1  0 4th 3B

   11 Carlos Beltran    2006-10-15    NLCS   4 NYM @STL W 12-5   5  3  4  3  0  0  2   2  2   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd CF
   12 Magglio Ordonez   2006-10-14    ALCS   4 DET  OAK W  6-3   5  4  2  2  0  0  2   4  1   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th RF
   13 Carlos Delgado    2006-10-13    NLCS   2 NYM  STL L  6-9   5  5  2  2  0  0  2   4  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th 1B
   14 Milton Bradley    2006-10-11    ALCS   2 OAK  DET L  5-8   5  5  2  4  0  0  2   4  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd RF
   15 Frank Thomas      2006-10-03    ALDS   1 OAK @MIN W  3-2   4  4  2  3  0  0  2   2  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th DH

   16 Manny Ramirez     2005-10-07    ALDS   3 BOS  CHW L  3-5   4  3  2  2  0  0  2   2  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th LF
   17 A.J. Pierzynski   2005-10-04    ALDS   1 CHW  BOS W 14-2   4  3  4  3  1  0  2   4  0   0  0   1  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th C

   18 Johnny Damon      2004-10-20    ALCS   7 BOS @NYY W 10-3   6  6  2  3  0  0  2   6  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   1  1  0 1st CF
   19 Hideki Matsui     2004-10-16    ALCS   3 NYY @BOS W 19-8   6  6  5  5  2  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th LF
   20 Scott Rolen       2004-10-14    NLCS   2 STL  HOU W  6-4   4  4  2  2  0  0  2   3  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th 3B
   21 Carlos Beltran    2004-10-11    NLDS   5 HOU @ATL W 12-3   5  5  3  4  0  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd CF
   22 Shawn Green       2004-10-09    NLDS   3 LAD  STL W  4-0   4  4  2  3  0  0  2   2  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th 1B
   23 Larry Walker      2004-10-05    NLDS   1 STL  LAD W  8-3   4  4  2  2  0  0  2   2  0   0  2   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd RF

Players for the Phillies have the last 5 such games, which is pretty amazing. They're players have done it a total of 6 times in the last 2 seasons. (Keep in mind I'm talking about a single player having at least 2 homers in a game, not the team hitting at least 2 homers, which of course happens quite frequently.)

This year, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth have joined this pretty exclusive club of players with at least 2 multi-homer playoff games.

                   Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+-----+-------------------------+
 Babe Ruth             4 Ind. Games
 Manny Ramirez         3 Ind. Games
 Bernie Williams       2 Ind. Games
 Jayson Werth          2 Ind. Games
 Chase Utley           2 Ind. Games
 Jim Thome             2 Ind. Games
 Duke Snider           2 Ind. Games
 Mickey Mantle         2 Ind. Games
 Jeff Kent             2 Ind. Games
 Eric Karros           2 Ind. Games
 Chipper Jones         2 Ind. Games
 Reggie Jackson        2 Ind. Games
 Troy Glaus            2 Ind. Games
 Lou Gehrig            2 Ind. Games
 Steve Garvey          2 Ind. Games
 George Brett          2 Ind. Games
 Carlos Beltran        2 Ind. Games
 Willie Aikens         2 Ind. Games

Those two guys are half of the total group to have at least 2 multi-homer playoff games in the same post-season:

                   Year Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+----+-----+-------------------------+
 Jayson Werth      2009     2 Ind. Games
 Chase Utley       2009     2 Ind. Games
 Troy Glaus        2002     2 Ind. Games
 Willie Aikens     1980     2 Ind. Games

Finally, here's a nice piece of playoff trivia. Can you recall the last guy to hit THREE homers in a single playoff game? I couldn't. It's been done a total of six times in history (by five different players)...how many of those guys can you name? The full list is after the jump.

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Last week I mentioned the 12 players who won the first game of more than one World Series. Here are the nine pitchers have won the final game of more than one World Series.  Only Bob Gibson appears on both lists:

Chase Utley's World Series Career has been relatively brief. Utley's 9 career World Series games tie him for 37th among  second baseman. Yet, no second baseman has hit more World Series home runs. Utley's Game 4, 7th inning blast was his 5th, tying him with Billy Martin for most ever by a second baseman. It should be noted that it took Martin 27 games at second to reach that total. Here are the leaders:

If 5 home runs doesn't sound like enough to be the all-time leader in a category, check out the leaders at third base and shortstop. Here are the  World Series Home Run leaders at the other positions:

Pitcher: Dave McNally , Bob Gibson 2

Catcher: Yogi Berra 9

1st Base: Lou Gehrig 10

Shortstop: Derek Jeter 3

3rd Base: Gil McDougald , Scott Brosius 4

Left Field: Babe Ruth 9

Center Field: Mickey Mantle 15

Right Field: Frank Robinson 8

DH: Ryan Klesko 3

Pinch hitter: Chuck Essegian ,  Bernie Carbo 2

A-rod's home run was the most talked about play of tonight's game. However, Rodriguez also tied a World Series record by being hit  by 2 pitches. Rodriguez should be happy he escaped with a win. All of the previous 5 players who suffered through this fate also had to deal with their team losing :

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt PA AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO **HBP** SH SF ROE GDP SB CS BOr Positions
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+-------+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+---------+
    1 Jeff Bagwell      2005-10-22    WS     1 HOU @CHW L  3-5   4  2  0  0  0  0  0   0  0   0  1     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 6th DH
    2 Todd Pratt        2000-10-21    WS     1 NYM @NYY L  3-4   5  2  1  0  0  0  0   0  1   0  2     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 8th C
    3 Frank Robinson    1961-10-08    WS     4 CIN  NYY L  0-7   4  1  0  0  0  0  0   0  1   0  0     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 4th RF
    4 Yogi Berra        1953-10-02    WS     3 NYY @BRO L  2-3   4  1  0  1  0  0  0   0  1   0  0     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 4th C
    5 Max Carey         1925-10-07    WS     1 PIT  WSH L  1-4   4  2  0  0  0  0  0   0  0   0  1     2    0  0   0   0  0  1 2nd CF

The Yankees and Phillies combined to hit 6 home runs tonight. According to the PI Postseason Event Finder it was the 7th time that 2 teams have combined to hit at least 6 home runs in a World Series game.  Here are the previous occasions: (The search was done from the pitcher's perspective)

7 Home Runs

Oct. 27,  1989 A's 13  Giants 7 (The game after the earthquake)

   
  Car#  G# Date          Series G Pitcher           Tm   Opp Batter            Score       Inn RoB Out Cnt Pit  R Play Desc.
+-----+---+-------------+------+-+-----------------+---+----+-----------------+-----------+---+---+---+---+---+--+-------------------------+
 623   1 1989-10-27    WS 3 Dave Stewart            OAK @SFG Matt Williams     ahead  2-0  b 2 --- 2 1-1   3 1 Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF)
 624   2               WS 3 Scott Garrelts          SFG OAK Dave Henderson     down   1-2  t 4 --- 0 2-0   3 1 Home Run (Line Drive to Deep CF-RF)
 625   3               WS 3 Scott Garrelts          SFG OAK Tony Phillips      down   1-3  t 4 --- 1 0-0   1 1 Home Run (Line Drive to Deep RF)
 626   4               WS 3 Kelly Downs             SFG OAK Jose Canseco       down   3-4  t 5 12- 0 2-2   5 3 Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF-CF); Henderson Scores; Lansford Scores
 627   5               WS 3 Kelly Downs             SFG OAK Dave Henderson     down   3-7  t 5 --- 1 0-1   2 1 Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF-CF)
 628   6               WS 3 Jeff Brantley           SFG OAK Carney Lansford    down   3-8  t 6 --- 2 0-0   1 1 Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF)
 629   7               WS 3 Gene Nelson             OAK @SFG Bill Bathe        ahead 13-3  b 9 -23 1 1-0   2 3 Home Run (Fly Ball to Deep LF); Oberkfell Scores; Manwaring Scores
 

6 Home Runs

Oct. 01 1932 - Yankees 7  Cubs 5

   111   1 1932-10-01    WS     3 Charley Root      CHC  NYY Babe Ruth         tied   0-0  t 1 12-   0  -       3 Home Run (Deep CF-RF); Combs Scores/unER; Sewell Scores
   112   2               WS     3 Charley Root      CHC  NYY Lou Gehrig        down   1-3  t 3 ---   0  -       1 Home Run (Deep RF)
   113   3               WS     3 George Pipgras    NYY @CHC Kiki Cuyler       ahead  4-1  b 3 ---   1  -       1 Home Run (Deep RF)
   114   4               WS     3 Charley Root      CHC  NYY Babe Ruth         tied   4-4  t 5 ---   1  -       1 Home Run (Deep CF)
   115   5               WS     3 Charley Root      CHC  NYY Lou Gehrig        down   4-5  t 5 ---   1  -       1 Home Run (Deep RF)
   116   6               WS     3 George Pipgras    NYY @CHC Gabby Hartnett    ahead  7-4  b 9 ---   0  -       1 Home Run (Deep LF)
 

Oct. 04, 1953 Yankees 11  Dodgers 7

   250   1 1953-10-04    WS     5 Johnny Podres     BRO  NYY Gene Woodling     tied   0-0  t 1 ---   0  -       1 *LEADOFF GM*:Home Run (Deep LF)
   251   2               WS     5 Russ Meyer        BRO  NYY Mickey Mantle     down   1-2  t 3 123   2  -       4 Home Run (Deep LF); Collins Scores/unER; Bauer Scores/unER; Berra Scores/unER; Mantle Scores/unER
   252   3               WS     5 Russ Meyer        BRO  NYY Billy Martin      down   2-6  t 7 -2-   1  -       2 Home Run (Deep LF); Berra Scores
   253   4               WS     5 Jim McDonald      NYY @BRO Billy Cox         ahead 10-3  b 8 12-   2  -       3 Home Run (Deep LF); Campanella Scores; Furillo Scores
   254   5               WS     5 Joe Black         BRO  NYY Gil McDougald     down   6-10 t 9 ---   1  -       1 Home Run (Deep LF)
   255   6               WS     5 Bob Kuzava        NYY @BRO Jim Gilliam       ahead 11-6  b 9 ---   0  -       1 Home Run (Deep LF)

Oct. 14, 1975 - Reds 6 Red Sox 5

   485   1 1975-10-14    WS     3 Gary Nolan        CIN  BOS Carlton Fisk      tied   0-0  t 2 ---   0 0-1   2  1 Home Run (Deep LF)
   486   2               WS     3 Rick Wise         BOS @CIN Johnny Bench      ahead  1-0  b 4 -2-   2 1-1   3  2 Home Run (Deep LF); Perez Scores
   487   3               WS     3 Rick Wise         BOS @CIN Dave Concepcion   down   1-2  b 5 ---   0 0-1   2  1 Home Run (Deep LF-CF)
   488   4               WS     3 Rick Wise         BOS @CIN Cesar Geronimo    down   1-3  b 5 ---   0 3-1   5  1 Home Run (Deep RF)
   489   5               WS     3 Clay Carroll      CIN  BOS Bernie Carbo      ahead  5-2  t 7 ---   2 0-0   1  1 Home Run (Deep LF)
   490   6               WS     3 Rawly Eastwick    CIN  BOS Dwight Evans      ahead  5-3  t 9 1--   1 1-0   2  2 Home Run (Deep LF); Petrocelli Scores

Oct. 20, 2002 Angels 11 Giants 10

   751   1 2002-10-20    WS     2 Kevin Appier      ANA  SFG Reggie Sanders    ahead  5-0  t 2 1-3   1 0-2   3  3 Home Run; Bonds Scores; Snow Scores
   752   2               WS     2 Kevin Appier      ANA  SFG David Bell        ahead  5-3  t 2 ---   1 3-2   6  1 Home Run
   753   3               WS     2 Russ Ortiz        SFG @ANA Tim Salmon        down   4-5  b 2 1--   1 2-2   5  2 Home Run; Eckstein Scores
   754   4               WS     2 Kevin Appier      ANA  SFG Jeff Kent         ahead  7-4  t 3 ---   0 1-0   2  1 Home Run
   755   5               WS     2 Felix Rodriguez   SFG @ANA Tim Salmon        tied   9-9  b 8 1--   2 0-0   1  2 Home Run (LF-CF); Eckstein Scores
   756   6               WS     2 Troy Percival     ANA  SFG Barry Bonds       ahead 11-9  t 9 ---   2 1-0   2  1 Home Run

Oct. 26, 2008 Phillies 10 Rays 2

   808   1 2008-10-26    WS     4 Joe Blanton       PHI  TBR Carl Crawford     ahead  2-0  t 4 ---   2 1-2   4  1 Home Run (Fly Ball to CF-RF)
   809   2               WS     4 Andy Sonnanstine  TBR @PHI Ryan Howard       down   1-2  b 4 12-   1 2-1   4  3 Home Run (Fly Ball to LF Line); Rollins Scores/unER; Werth Scores
   810   3               WS     4 Joe Blanton       PHI  TBR Eric Hinske       ahead  5-1  t 5 ---   2 2-1   4  1 Home Run (Fly Ball)
   811   4               WS     4 Edwin Jackson     TBR @PHI Joe Blanton       down   2-5  b 5 ---   2 2-1   4  1 Home Run (Fly Ball)
   812   5               WS     4 Dan Wheeler       TBR @PHI Jayson Werth      down   2-6  b 8 -2-   1 3-2   7  2 Home Run (Fly Ball to LF-CF); Rollins Scores
   813   6               WS     4 Trever Miller     TBR @PHI Ryan Howard       down   2-8  b 8 1--   1 1-0   2  2 Home Run (Fly Ball to CF-RF); Utley Scores

Starting pitchers have dominated the  first 2 games of this year's World Series. Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Pedro Martinez have all turned in impressive performances and have a combined game score of    273   . This total is the  highest  total game score for the first 2 games of the World Series since 1967. Overall, it is  12th among the best starting performances in the first 2 games of the World Series.

Here are the top 5:

1949: Yankees vs. Dodgers  : 314

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Don Newcombe      1949-10-05    WS     1 BRO @NYY L  0-1  CG 9  ,L   8    5  1  1  0 11  1           79       29 29  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Allie Reynolds    1949-10-05    WS     1 NYY  BRO W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  4  9  0           88       33 28  1  0   0   0  1  0   1  1  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Vic Raschi        1949-10-06    WS     2 NYY  BRO L  0-1  GS-8  ,L   8    6  1  1  1  4  0           69       29 28  2  1   1   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    4 Preacher Roe      1949-10-06    WS     2 BRO @NYY W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    6  0  0  0  3  0           78       34 33  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00
 

1905: Giants vs. Athletics: 296

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Eddie Plank       1905-10-09    WS     1 PHA  NYG L  0-3  CG 9  ,L   9   10  3  3  2  5  0           58       39 35  2  0   1   1  1  0   0  4  1  0  0  0   3.00
    2 Christy Mathewson 1905-10-09    WS     1 NYG @PHA W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  0  6  0           85       31 31  3  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  1   0.00
    3 Joe McGinnity     1905-10-10    WS     2 NYG  PHA L  0-3  GS-8  ,L   8    5  3  0  0  2  0           68       30 29  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Chief Bender      1905-10-10    WS     2 PHA @NYG W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  3  9  0           85       34 31  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  1  0  0  0   0.00
 

1950: Phillies vs. Yankees: 295

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Jim Konstanty     1950-10-04    WS     1 PHI  NYY L  0-1  GS-8  ,L   8    4  1  1  4  0  0           66       33 28  1  0   1   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Vic Raschi        1950-10-04    WS     1 NYY @PHI W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1  5  0           87       30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Allie Reynolds    1950-10-05    WS     2 NYY @PHI W  2-1  CG 10 ,W  10    7  1  1  4  6  0           76       39 33  3  1   1   0  2  0   2  1  0  0  0  0   0.90
    4 Robin Roberts     1950-10-05    WS     2 PHI  NYY L  1-2  CG 10 ,L  10   10  2  2  3  5  1           66       43 40  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.80
 

1911: Athletics vs. Giants: 292

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Chief Bender      1911-10-14    WS     1 PHA @NYG L  1-2  CG 8  ,L   8    5  2  1  4 11  0           73       34 28  2  0   0   1  1  0   0  1  2  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Christy Mathewson 1911-10-14    WS     1 NYG  PHA W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  1  1  5  0           75       33 31  2  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.00
    3 Eddie Plank       1911-10-16    WS     2 PHA  NYG W  3-1  CG 9  ,W   9    5  1  1  0  8  0           81       31 30  1  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0  0   1.00
    4 Rube Marquard     1911-10-16    WS     2 NYG @PHA L  1-3  GS-7  ,L   7    4  3  2  0  4  1           63       26 25  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   2.57
 

1939: Yankees vs. Reds: 290

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Paul Derringer    1939-10-04    WS     1 CIN @NYY L  1-2  CG 9  ,L   8.1  6  2  2  1  7  0           69       32 31  1  1   1   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   2.16
    2 Red Ruffing       1939-10-04    WS     1 NYY  CIN W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    4  1  1  1  4  0           78       29 28  0  0   0   0  0  0   3  1  0  0  0  0   1.00
    3 Monte Pearson     1939-10-05    WS     2 NYY  CIN W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1  8  0           90       29 28  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Bucky Walters     1939-10-05    WS     2 CIN @NYY L  0-4  CG 8  ,L   8    9  4  4  0  5  1           53       31 30  2  0   0   0  1  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   4.50
 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recently, there haven't been many back to back pitching duels to start the Series.  Even the best recent performances include dominant games mixed in with some stinkers. Here are the top 5 since 1990:

2009: Phillies vs. Yankees: 273

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Cliff Lee         2009-10-28    WS     1 PHI @NYY W  6-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  0  0 10  0 122  80   83       32 32  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
    2 C.C. Sabathia     2009-10-28    WS     1 NYY  PHI L  1-6  GS-7  ,L   7    4  2  2  3  6  2 113  70   64       27 24  1  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   2.57 
    3 Pedro Martinez    2009-10-29    WS     2 PHI @NYY L  1-3  GS-7  ,L   6    6  3  3  2  8  2 107  72   54       26 24  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   4.50 
    4 A.J. Burnett      2009-10-29    WS     2 NYY  PHI W  3-1  GS-7  ,W   7    4  1  1  2  9  0 108  68   72       26 24  2  0   1   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.29 

2001: Diamondbacks vs. Yankees: 258

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Curt Schilling    2001-10-27    WS     1 ARI  NYY W  9-1  GS-7  ,W   7    3  1  1  1  8  0 102  68   74       26 24  2  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.29
    2 Mike Mussina      2001-10-27    WS     1 NYY @ARI L  1-9  GS-3  ,L   3    6  5  3  1  4  2  68  47   34       18 14  1  0   1   1  1  1   0  0  0  0  0  0   9.00
    3 Randy Johnson     2001-10-28    WS     2 ARI  NYY W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1 11  0 110  76   91       30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Andy Pettitte     2001-10-28    WS     2 NYY @ARI L  0-4  GS-7  ,L   7    5  4  4  0  8  1  80  64   59       26 25  1  0   0   1  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   5.14
 

2000: Yankees vs. Mets: 238

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Andy Pettitte     2000-10-21    WS     1 NYY  NYM W  4-3  GS-7       6.2  8  3  3  1  4  0  96  66   49       28 25  2  0   0   1  1  0   0  0  1  1  0  0   4.05
    2 Al Leiter         2000-10-21    WS     1 NYM @NYY L  3-4  GS-7       7    5  2  2  3  7  0 126  76   63       28 25  1  0   1   0  0  0   0  0  1  1  0  0   2.57
    3 Mike Hampton      2000-10-22    WS     2 NYM @NYY L  5-6  GS-6  ,L   6    8  4  4  5  4  1 124  65   39       31 25  2  0   1   1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   6.00
    4 Roger Clemens     2000-10-22    WS     2 NYY  NYM W  6-5  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  0  9  0 112  78   87       28 27  0  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   0.00

1995: Braves vs. Indians: 236

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Orel Hershiser    1995-10-21    WS     1 CLE @ATL L  2-3  GS-7  ,L   6    3  3  3  3  7  1 101  61   58       23 20  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   4.50
    2 Greg Maddux       1995-10-21    WS     1 ATL  CLE W  3-2  CG 9  ,W   9    2  2  0  0  4  0  95  63   83       30 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Tom Glavine       1995-10-22    WS     2 ATL  CLE W  4-3  GS-6  ,W   6    3  2  2  3  3  1  99  54   58       25 22  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  1   3.00
    4 Dennis Martinez   1995-10-22    WS     2 CLE @ATL L  3-4  GS-6  ,L   5.2  8  4  4  3  3  1  98  57   37       28 23  1  0   0   1  0  1   1  0  0  0  0  0   6.35

1999: Yankees vs. Braves: 232

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Greg Maddux       1999-10-23    WS     1 ATL  NYY L  1-4  GS-7  ,L   7    5  4  2  3  5  0           57       29 24  0  0   0   0  2  0   1  2  0  0  0  0   2.57
    2 Orlando Hernandez 1999-10-23    WS     1 NYY @ATL W  4-1  GS-7  ,W   7    1  1  1  2 10  1           79       23 21  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.29
    3 Kevin Millwood    1999-10-24    WS     2 ATL  NYY L  2-7  GS-2  ,L   2    8  5  4  2  2  0           22       15 13  1  0   0   0  0  0   1  1  0  0  0  0  18.00
    4 David Cone        1999-10-24    WS     2 NYY @ATL W  7-2  GS-7  ,W   7    1  0  0  5  4  0           74       26 21  0  0   0   0  0  0   2  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can imagine, the worst total ever consists of some pretty putrid performances:

2002: Angels vs. Giants: 123

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Jarrod Washburn   2002-10-19    WS     1 ANA  SFG L  3-4  GS-6  ,L   5.2  6  4  4  2  5  3 106  63   44       25 22  0  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   6.35
    2 Jason Schmidt     2002-10-19    WS     1 SFG @ANA W  4-3  GS-6  ,W   5.2  9  3  3  1  6  2  91  66   44       27 26  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  0   4.76
    3 Kevin Appier      2002-10-20    WS     2 ANA  SFG W 11-10 GS-2       2    5  5  5  2  2  3  48  28   26       13 11  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0  22.50
    4 Russ Ortiz        2002-10-20    WS     2 SFG @ANA L 10-11 GS-2       1.2  9  7  7  0  0  1  46  29    9       14 14  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0  37.80

Wow...what an inaugural post-season for Cliff Lee. He has already placed two starts in the top 80 of all-time post-season starts, as determined by game score. See the full list here.

If we look just in the latest high-offense era (i.e. the Steroids Era), Lee's two great games this playoff season rank in the top 23:

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str **GmSc** IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--------+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Roger Clemens     2000-10-14    ALCS   4 NYY @SEA W  5-0  SHO9  ,W   9    1  0  0  2 15  0 138  87     98         30 28  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

    2 Josh Beckett      2003-10-12    NLCS   5 FLA  CHC W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1 11  0 115  80     93         30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

    3 Kevin Brown       1998-09-29    NLDS   1 SDP @HOU W  2-1  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  2 16  0 119  77     92         28 25  0  0   0   1  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

    4 Randy Johnson     2001-10-28    WS     2 ARI  NYY W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1 11  0 110  76     91         30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
    5 Randy Johnson     2001-10-16    NLCS   1 ARI  ATL W  2-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1 11  0 125  87     91         31 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

    6 Livan Hernandez   1997-10-12    NLCS   5 FLA  ATL W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    3  1  1  2 15  1 143  88     90         31 29  0  1   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.00 

    7 Curt Schilling    2001-10-09    NLDS   1 ARI  STL W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1  9  0 101  74     89         32 30  2  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
    8 Kevin Millwood    1999-10-06    NLDS   2 ATL  HOU W  5-1  CG 9  ,W   9    1  1  1  0  8  1             89         29 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.00 
    9 Kevin Brown       1998-10-08    NLCS   2 SDP @ATL W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  3 11  0 122  78     89         32 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  1   0.00 

   10 Mike Hampton      2000-10-16    NLCS   5 NYM  STL W  7-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1  8  0 120  74     88         31 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
   11 Bobby Jones       2000-10-08    NLDS   4 NYM  SFG W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    1  0  0  2  5  0 116  73     88         30 28  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
   12 Mike Mussina      1997-10-15    ALCS   6 BAL  CLE L  0-1  GS-8       8    1  0  0  2 10  0 107  73     88         27 25  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

   13 Josh Beckett      2007-10-03    ALDS   1 BOS  LAA W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  0  8  0 108  83     87         31 31  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   0.00 
   14 Roger Clemens     2000-10-22    WS     2 NYY  NYM W  6-5  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  0  9  0 112  78     87         28 27  0  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   0.00 
   15 John Smoltz       1997-10-03    NLDS   3 ATL @HOU W  4-1  CG 9  ,W   9    3  1  1  1 11  1 103  76     87         32 31  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   1.00 

   16 Cliff Lee         2009-10-18    NLCS   3 PHI  LAD W 11-0  GS-8  ,W   8    3  0  0  0 10  0 114  76     86         26 26  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
   17 Cole Hamels       2008-10-01    NLDS   1 PHI  MIL W  3-1  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  1  9  0 101  67     86         27 26  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
   18 Jason Schmidt     2003-09-30    NLDS   1 SFG  FLA W  2-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  0  5  0 111  82     86         31 30  0  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

   19 Curt Schilling    2001-10-19    NLCS   3 ARI @ATL W  5-1  CG 9  ,W   9    4  1  1  2 12  0 127  83     85         32 30  2  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  1  1  0  0   1.00 
   20 Denny Neagle      1997-10-11    NLCS   4 ATL @FLA W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  1  7  0 107  75     85         32 31  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
   21 Tom Glavine       1995-10-28    WS     6 ATL  CLE W  1-0  GS-8  ,W   8    1  0  0  3  8  0 109  67     85         27 24  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  1  0  0  0   0.00 

   22 Josh Beckett      2003-10-25    WS     6 FLA @NYY W  2-0  SHO9  ,W   9    5  0  0  2  9  0 107  71     84         32 29  2  0   0   0  1  0   2  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

   23 Cliff Lee         2009-10-28    WS     1 PHI @NYY W  6-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  0  0 10  0 122  80     83         32 32  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
   24 Pedro Martinez    1999-10-16    ALCS   3 BOS  NYY W 13-1  GS-7  ,W   7    2  0  0  2 12  0             83         25 23  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
   25 Greg Maddux       1995-10-21    WS     1 ATL  CLE W  3-2  CG 9  ,W   9    2  2  0  0  4  0  95  63     83         30 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00 

For a little perspective, from 1992 through yesterday, there have been 512 playoff games, meaning 1,024 starts by pitchers, and two out of Lee's three career playoff starts rank higher than 1,000 other starts. Incidentally, his 3rd start comes in at #55, so that's no slouch either. (That one was a 6-hit complete game with 1 earned run. He struck out only 5 guys, though.)

If the Phillies win the World Series again this year, I'd have to think that the Lee acquisition will go down as one of the best deadline deals in history. It's nice for Ruben Amaro Jr., too, as otherwise many people would claim that the 2009 Phillies were still Pat Gillick's team (which they largely are, but Amaro certainly deserves a lot of credit.)

The big news yesterday before Game 1 started was that the Yankees added Eric Hinske to their post-season roster. This gives Hinske the chance to take part in something extremely rare: making the last out in two consecutive World Series.

Using the post-season batting event finder, it's easy to create a list of the final play of every World Series. I'm putting the entire list after the jump if you want to see it. Hinske made the last out as a member of the Rays in 2008 and although I wouldn't bet on it, Hinske has at least an outside shot to do it again this season. After all, last year Hinske came in as a pinch-hitter against Brad Lidge and struck out, ending Game 5 and the World Series. The Yankees added Hinske to their roster to serve as a late-inning pinch-hitter, so who kn0ws--if the Phillies win the World Series again we may very well see Hinske make the last out.

Some notes about this list:

• Of the 102 World Series, ten of them ended with one or more runs scoring as a walk-off win. The other 92 ended in defeat for the team at bat.
• Only one player has ever ended two consecutive World Series: Boss Schmidt in 1907 and 1908, as the Tigers lost twice in a row to the Cubs.
• Amazingly, two players have both made the last out in one World Series and drove in the winning run in another: Edgar Renteria made the last out in 2004 and won it in 1997. Before that, Goose Goslin made the last out in 1925 and won it in 1935. Interestingly, Goslin had a much better year in 1925 than he did in 1935--but I bet he was happier at the end of 1935.

Anyway, I'll be watching to see if Hinske can do it too!

Here's the full list (after the jump):

Read the rest of this entry »