Doctoring The Numbers: The Amazing Mr. Furcal
5/24Raves for Rafael (And the Braves) Barely a month ago, I wrote that the Braves were taking a needless risk in rushing Rafael Furcal straight from A ball to the major leagues. While the financial ramifications are still going to crop up down the road, it is fairly obvious that from a talent standpoint, Bobby...
Doctoring The Numbers: Intentional Walks, Saves, and Raul Mondesi
5/17Taking Their Chances with Lee Stevens Through May 14th, free-swinging superstar Vladimir Guerrero has drawn 16 walks–but 10 of them (62.5%) were intentional. The highest ratio of intentional walks to overall walks since statkeepers started differentiating between them in 1955 (minimum 400 AB): Name Year IBB BB Ratio Manny Sanguillen 1971 13 19 .684 Joe...
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightDoctoring The Numbers: Triples, Colorado, and Cristian Guzman
5/10Come Back, Lance Johnson! All Is Forgiven! Through 33 games, the Chicago Cubs had yet to hit a triple. The teams with the fewest triples in history in seasons with at least 120 games played: Team Year 3B Baltimore 1998 11 New York (AL) 1988 12 Baltimore 1986 13 Oakland 1998 13 Los Angeles (NL)...
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightDoctoring The Numbers: Home Runs, Stolen Bases, and Felipe Alou
5/03And You Thought the Big Story was Home Runs The National League single-season record for walks drawn was set by the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, who worked their opponents for 732 free passes. This season, no less than three NL teams are on pace to shatter that record through the end of April: the Astros (845-walk...
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightDoctoring The Numbers: The Superstar Edition
4/26They’re Similar in Everything but Religion With Randy Johnson‘s torrid start, his career won/lost record is now 164-88. There are those who think that despite his terrific winning percentages and his two Cy Young Awards, Johnson simply hasn’t won enough games to merit Hall of Fame consideration yet. To that, I say, "phooey." Check out...
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightDoctoring The Numbers: Jeter, Vlad and…Valerio?
4/19Yeah, But You Should See Their Outfielders Despite 25 World Championships, the New York Yankees have usually gotten by with mediocre shortstops. Phil Rizzuto is in the Hall of Fame, but only partly on merit, and he was the Yankees’ only great shortstop. Until now. Derek Jeter‘s power is his weak link in comparison to...
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightDoctoring The Numbers: Consistent Relief, Brady Anderson and Gabe White
4/12Consistent Relief John Wetteland‘s name has been dropped from discussions of the game’s best closers, but his consistency in the most capricious role in baseball is still the standard for the new generation of relief aces. Wetteland has amassed 25 or more saves for eight straight seasons, and his low season of 25 saves came...
continue reading chevron_rightchevron_rightDoctoring The Numbers: Royals, Running and Reduction
4/05The Best Young Offense Ever? Despite their 64-97 record last season, the Kansas City Royals set a franchise record with 856 runs, and did so almost entirely with youngsters. Mike Sweeney, who turned 26 last July, was the senior member of a group that included Jermaine Dye, Johnny Damon, Rookie of the Year Carlos Beltran,...
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