LEE RICHMOND
While playing for the Worcester Ruby Legs on June 12, 1880, left-hander Lee Richmond spun the first perfect game in baseball history. He accomplished the feat against the Cleveland Blues--a second place club. The ballpark at the Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds is long gone, but a historical marker indicating the site of the game still stands. The match took less than 90 minutes to complete. Richmond had a distinct advantage in that the mound was located just 50 feet from home plate back then. His feat is somewhat remarkable considering that the gloves of the era were poorly designed and errors were quite common. The Ruby Legs got through the afternoon without a single miscue.
The 1880 season was Richmond's finest. The perfect game was his third shutout in nine days and was included in a 42-inning scoreless streak. Four days after his perfecto, Richmond graduated from college. He eventually became a practicing physician. His 74 appearances in 1880 were tops in the NL. The heavy workload took its toll as Richmond lost his effectiveness and lasted just four more seasons in the majors. In 1882, he lost 33 games while posting a 3.74 ERA--horrendous for the era.
JOHN MONTGOMERY WARD
Ward tossed his masterpiece just five days after Richmond. Facing the Buffalo Bisons at the Messer Street Grounds in Rhode Island, he got the best of opposing pitcher Pud Galvin--a Hall of Famer who won 40 games in a season twice during his career. Ward was the ace of the Providence Grays staff in 1880 with 39 wins and a 1.74 ERA. Like Richmond, he benefited from the primitive conventions of the time. Eight "called balls" were required to earn a walk back then and the home team was sometimes determined by a coin toss. Ward made 70 appearances in 1880 and later crumbled under the strain. Reduced to 39 starts the following year, he doubled as an infielder until 1884. After that, he became a full time shortstop. In 1887, he led the NL with 111 stolen bases. He was a lifetime .275 hitter.
CY YOUNG
Young's perfect game on May 5, 1904 was the first to be thrown from a distance of 60 feet, six inches. Pitching for the Boston Americans that afternoon (later known as the Red Sox), he beat the Philadelphia A's--a team that featured three Hall of Famers on their pitching staff. Young squared off against eccentric left-hander Rube Waddell, facing the minimum 27 batters while striking out 8. The loud-mouthed Waddell had taunted Young before the game. When it was over, Young retorted with uncharacteristic brashness: "How do you like that one, you hayseed?" Young's perfect game was part of a 24-inning hitless streak and was included in a stretch of 45 consecutive scoreless frames. He had several more good seasons after 1904, retiring with 511 wins--an all time record. Including the perfect game, Young tossed three no-hitters during his illustrious career.
ADDIE JOSS
On October 8, 1908, Joss tossed the second perfect game in American League history. The Cleveland ace opposed fellow Hall of Famer Ed Walsh of the White Sox that day. The game was tense, prompting one writer to remark in the exaggerated language of the day: "a mouse working his way along the grandstand floor would have sounded like a shovel scraping over concrete." Walsh was good that day, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits, but Joss was even better, using 74 pitches to retire 27 men in order. Joss won 24 games in 1908 and led the AL with a 1.16 ERA. In 1910, he tore a ligament in his elbow. Still nursing a sore arm the following year, he feinted on the field before a spring training game. His personal physician diagnosed him with pleurisy, but the evaluation proved to be way off the mark as he died of tubercular meningitis less than two weeks later. Joss kept his ERA below the 2.00 mark in five of his nine major league seasons. He was elected to the Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee in 1978.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
The Most Dominant World Series Pitching Performances (Part II)
STAN COVELESKI
1920 World Series
The 1920 Fall Classic pitted the Cleveland Indians against the Brooklyn Robins. The Series is best known for an unassisted triple play turned by Indians' second baseman Bill Wambsganss in Game 5--the only play of its kind in the postseason. The performance by Cleveland hurler Stan Coveleski has faded into the mists of time. There were no pitch counts in those days and hurlers were often scheduled to start on short rest. Coveleski made three starts in an eight-day span, winning all of them. He went the distance each time, allowing just 15 hits and 2 runs in 27 innings of work. There was no Series MVP award back then, but he would likely have won it. Among the last legal spitballers, Coveleski averaged 15 wins per year during his 14 major league seasons. He made it to the Hall of Fame in 1969.
LEW BURDETTE
1957 World Series
For one week in October of 1957, Burdette was on the same pedestal as his more heralded staff mate, Warren Spahn. The Braves entered the Series as heavy underdogs and emerged with a surprising seven-game victory over one of the most powerful Yankee squads of all time. Like Coveleski in 1920, Burdette made three starts in an eight-day span and won all of them. His opponents included World Series heroes Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Enos Slaughter. After allowing just 2 earned runs in Game 2, Burdette put the finishing touches on his career-defining performance by throwing two straight shutouts. He retired ten straight batters in Game 7, but nearly faltered at the end. With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, he induced a harmless grounder off the bat of Moose Skowron to end the Series. He was fittingly named MVP.
SANDY KOUFAX
1965 World Series
Koufax, who was once referred to as "The Left Hand of God," was no stranger to dominant postseason performances. After losing to Koufax twice in the '63 World Series, Yankee catcher Yogi Berra said: "I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost 5." Facing the Twins in the '65 Fall Classic, Koufax made waves by refusing to pitch the opener because it fell on Yom Kippur. Penciled in as a second game starter, he suffered a minor sixth inning meltdown and ended up being pulled (though only 1 of the 2 runs he gave up was earned). In Game 5, he was brilliant, scattering 4 hits and striking out 10 in a 7-0 win. With the Series knotted at three games apiece, he took the mound again and didn't disappoint. On three days rest, he tossed a 3-hit shutout. Koufax retired with a lifetime postseason ERA of 0.95.
MICKEY LOLICH
1968 World Series
Lolich once described himself as "the beer drinker's idol" and this is the performance that put him on the map. The good-natured southpaw won 17 games during the so-called "Year of the Pitcher" then outperformed Cardinals' ace Bob Gibson in the '68 Series. The premier pitcher of the era, Gibson struck out 35 batters in three starts but it was Lolich who captured Series MVP honors with 3 victories and a 1.67 ERA. Lolich's strongest outing came in Game 7, when he allowed just 1 run on 5 hits. In his previous two starts, he struck out 17 batters. A perk of being named MVP, he was invited by Vice President Hubert Humphrey to watch the Apollo 8 liftoff at Cape Canaveral.
JACK MORRIS
1991 World Series
The '91 Fall Classic between Minnesota and Atlanta is considered one of the greatest ever played. Five of the seven games were decided by a single run, four were won in the final at-bat and three stretched into extra innings. It was one of the most widely watched World Series with the second largest television audience in history. Morris was right in the thick of the excitement. "I knew everybody was watching," he said years later. "How much fun is that? I mean, I pitched games in Cleveland when there were 250 people in the stands and 200 of them were related to somebody on the field and the rest were only there for the beer...To be on the stage when the whole world is watching, if you don't relish that, you're in the wrong business." Morris fared extremely well against Atlanta's potent lineup, getting a win in Game 1 and a no-decision in Game 4 (while allowing just 1 run in 6 innings). In the deciding contest, he out-dueled John Smoltz for a 1-0 series-clinching victory. In that outing, he faced 38 batters over 10 frames while scattering 7 hits. The Twins have not won a World Series since.
RANDY JOHNSON
2001 World Series
Among the tallest pitchers ever to take the mound at 6-foot 10, Johnson was fast enough and wild enough to scare batters. After winning 21 games and capturing an ERA title in 2001, he effectively derailed the New York Yankee offense in the World Series. The irascible left-hander tossed a 3-hit, complete game shutout in Game 1, striking out 11 batters. In Game 6 he was at it again, punching out 7 pinstriped opponents in a 7-inning stint that ended in a 15-2 Arizona blowout. When the Series went to seven games, "The Big Unit" was called to the mound with two outs in the top of the eighth and the Yankees leading, 2-1. He retired each of the four batters he faced and picked up another win as the Diamondbacks staged a shocking comeback against Mariano Rivera.
MADISON BUMGARNER
2014 World Series
In an era of pampered pitchers, Bumgarner's performance in the 2014 World Series was quite remarkable. After shutting down the Kansas City offense for 7 innings in Game 1, he went the distance in Game 5--allowing just 4-hits while striking out 8. And then, on short rest, he was called to the mound in the fifth inning of Game 7. 68 pitches later, he had preserved a Series victory for the Giants. He was truly deserving of the MVP trophy.
1920 World Series
The 1920 Fall Classic pitted the Cleveland Indians against the Brooklyn Robins. The Series is best known for an unassisted triple play turned by Indians' second baseman Bill Wambsganss in Game 5--the only play of its kind in the postseason. The performance by Cleveland hurler Stan Coveleski has faded into the mists of time. There were no pitch counts in those days and hurlers were often scheduled to start on short rest. Coveleski made three starts in an eight-day span, winning all of them. He went the distance each time, allowing just 15 hits and 2 runs in 27 innings of work. There was no Series MVP award back then, but he would likely have won it. Among the last legal spitballers, Coveleski averaged 15 wins per year during his 14 major league seasons. He made it to the Hall of Fame in 1969.
LEW BURDETTE
1957 World Series
For one week in October of 1957, Burdette was on the same pedestal as his more heralded staff mate, Warren Spahn. The Braves entered the Series as heavy underdogs and emerged with a surprising seven-game victory over one of the most powerful Yankee squads of all time. Like Coveleski in 1920, Burdette made three starts in an eight-day span and won all of them. His opponents included World Series heroes Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Enos Slaughter. After allowing just 2 earned runs in Game 2, Burdette put the finishing touches on his career-defining performance by throwing two straight shutouts. He retired ten straight batters in Game 7, but nearly faltered at the end. With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, he induced a harmless grounder off the bat of Moose Skowron to end the Series. He was fittingly named MVP.
SANDY KOUFAX
1965 World Series
Koufax, who was once referred to as "The Left Hand of God," was no stranger to dominant postseason performances. After losing to Koufax twice in the '63 World Series, Yankee catcher Yogi Berra said: "I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost 5." Facing the Twins in the '65 Fall Classic, Koufax made waves by refusing to pitch the opener because it fell on Yom Kippur. Penciled in as a second game starter, he suffered a minor sixth inning meltdown and ended up being pulled (though only 1 of the 2 runs he gave up was earned). In Game 5, he was brilliant, scattering 4 hits and striking out 10 in a 7-0 win. With the Series knotted at three games apiece, he took the mound again and didn't disappoint. On three days rest, he tossed a 3-hit shutout. Koufax retired with a lifetime postseason ERA of 0.95.
MICKEY LOLICH
1968 World Series
Lolich once described himself as "the beer drinker's idol" and this is the performance that put him on the map. The good-natured southpaw won 17 games during the so-called "Year of the Pitcher" then outperformed Cardinals' ace Bob Gibson in the '68 Series. The premier pitcher of the era, Gibson struck out 35 batters in three starts but it was Lolich who captured Series MVP honors with 3 victories and a 1.67 ERA. Lolich's strongest outing came in Game 7, when he allowed just 1 run on 5 hits. In his previous two starts, he struck out 17 batters. A perk of being named MVP, he was invited by Vice President Hubert Humphrey to watch the Apollo 8 liftoff at Cape Canaveral.
JACK MORRIS
1991 World Series
The '91 Fall Classic between Minnesota and Atlanta is considered one of the greatest ever played. Five of the seven games were decided by a single run, four were won in the final at-bat and three stretched into extra innings. It was one of the most widely watched World Series with the second largest television audience in history. Morris was right in the thick of the excitement. "I knew everybody was watching," he said years later. "How much fun is that? I mean, I pitched games in Cleveland when there were 250 people in the stands and 200 of them were related to somebody on the field and the rest were only there for the beer...To be on the stage when the whole world is watching, if you don't relish that, you're in the wrong business." Morris fared extremely well against Atlanta's potent lineup, getting a win in Game 1 and a no-decision in Game 4 (while allowing just 1 run in 6 innings). In the deciding contest, he out-dueled John Smoltz for a 1-0 series-clinching victory. In that outing, he faced 38 batters over 10 frames while scattering 7 hits. The Twins have not won a World Series since.
RANDY JOHNSON
2001 World Series
Among the tallest pitchers ever to take the mound at 6-foot 10, Johnson was fast enough and wild enough to scare batters. After winning 21 games and capturing an ERA title in 2001, he effectively derailed the New York Yankee offense in the World Series. The irascible left-hander tossed a 3-hit, complete game shutout in Game 1, striking out 11 batters. In Game 6 he was at it again, punching out 7 pinstriped opponents in a 7-inning stint that ended in a 15-2 Arizona blowout. When the Series went to seven games, "The Big Unit" was called to the mound with two outs in the top of the eighth and the Yankees leading, 2-1. He retired each of the four batters he faced and picked up another win as the Diamondbacks staged a shocking comeback against Mariano Rivera.
MADISON BUMGARNER
2014 World Series
In an era of pampered pitchers, Bumgarner's performance in the 2014 World Series was quite remarkable. After shutting down the Kansas City offense for 7 innings in Game 1, he went the distance in Game 5--allowing just 4-hits while striking out 8. And then, on short rest, he was called to the mound in the fifth inning of Game 7. 68 pitches later, he had preserved a Series victory for the Giants. He was truly deserving of the MVP trophy.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
The Most Dominant World Series Pitching Performances (Part I)
DON LARSEN
Game 5 1956 World Series
To date, Larsen's perfect game is still the only one in World Series history. Years after the fact, he remembered: "I was so happy, I felt like crying." In a comical understatement, an Associated Press writer asked him if it was the best game he ever pitched. He used 97 pitches to complete his masterpiece and issued three balls to just one Dodger hitter--Pee Wee Reese. Yogi Berra said that Larsen didn't shake off a single sign that day. Larsen's feat was especially impressive considering the batters he had to face. In addition to aforementioned Reese, he squared off against Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella. Interestingly, Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch before David Cone's perfect game forty-three years later.
BABE RUTH
Game 2 1916 World Series
Some people forget that Ruth was a pitcher before he became an outfielder. After leading the Red Sox staff with 23 wins, he started Game 2 of the 1916 Fall Classic against the Brooklyn Robins. To accomodate more fans, the game was played at cavernous Braves Field in Boston. The deep dimensioins worked against Ruth in the first inning when Brooklyn's Hi Myers found a gap in deep right-center field, circling the bases with an inside-the-park homer. It was the only run Ruth allowed all afternoon. In the bottom of the third, he tied the game with an RBI ground out. He was still on the mound when the game meandered into the fourteenth inning. He faced 48 batters and allowed just 6 hits in a 2-1 Boston win. No pitcher has ever lasted that long in a single series game. The game itself was the longest in history until Game 3 of the 2005 Fall Classic.
BOB GIBSON
Game 1 1968 World Series
The fearsome Gibson was unapproachable even to teammates on the days he started and once referred to himself as "an asshole." He compiled a 7-2 lifetime record in postseason play with a 1.89 ERA. His finest single game effort came in Game 1 of the '68 Fall Classic, when he struck out 17 Tiger batters--an all time record. Interestingly, 3 of the 5 hits he allowed that day came off the bats of infielders Don Wert and Mickey Stanley, who had combined for a .230 average during the regular season. Gibson completed a shutout and went on the win Game 4 by a score of 10-1. The Tigers finally tagged him for 4 runs in Game 7, winning the Series over the Cardinals.
PETE ALEXANDER
Game 6 1926 World Series
Alexander's performance in Game 7 of the '26 Fall Classic gained lasting acclaim. With the Series tied at 3 games apiece and the Cardinals clinging to a 3-2 seventh inning lead over the Yankees, St. Louis player/manager Rogers Hornsby summoned Alexander to replace Hall of Famer Jesse Haines, who had developed a blister on his pitching hand. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Alexander struck out the dangerous Tony Lazzeri to end the threat. He held the Bombers scoreless in the eighth and ninth as well, clinching a Series victory for the Cardinals. But "Old Pete's" performance the day before was even better. With the Cardinals on the brink of elimination, he went the distance in a 10-2 win. What made his appearance especially notable (aside from the fact that he was facing one of the greatest teams of all time) was his age. At 39 years, 7 months, he became the older pitcher in Series history to throw a complete game.
CHRISTY MATHEWSON
1905 World Series
It's hard to determine which game of the '05 Fall Classic Christy Mathewson was most dominant in. Mathewson, who was the face of the Giants franchise in those days, had captured a triple crown (the first of two) during the regular season. His performance in the Series is considered by many to be the greatest of all time. After refusing to face Boston in the 1904 postseason, Giants owner John T. Brush worked out his differences with rival American League magnates. The '05 Fall Classic--just the second official World Series in history--pitted Brush's Giants against Connie Mack's A's. Mathewson disposed of his Philadelphia opponents with uniform precision. In Games 1 and 3, he tossed a pair of 4-hitters while striking out 14 batters. In the fifth game, he clinched the Series for New York with another shutout--this one a five-hitter. By the time the A's scored off Mathewson in Game 1 of the 1911 World Series, he had completed 28.1 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason--a record later broken by Babe Ruth and Whitey Ford.
Game 5 1956 World Series
To date, Larsen's perfect game is still the only one in World Series history. Years after the fact, he remembered: "I was so happy, I felt like crying." In a comical understatement, an Associated Press writer asked him if it was the best game he ever pitched. He used 97 pitches to complete his masterpiece and issued three balls to just one Dodger hitter--Pee Wee Reese. Yogi Berra said that Larsen didn't shake off a single sign that day. Larsen's feat was especially impressive considering the batters he had to face. In addition to aforementioned Reese, he squared off against Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella. Interestingly, Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch before David Cone's perfect game forty-three years later.
BABE RUTH
Game 2 1916 World Series
Some people forget that Ruth was a pitcher before he became an outfielder. After leading the Red Sox staff with 23 wins, he started Game 2 of the 1916 Fall Classic against the Brooklyn Robins. To accomodate more fans, the game was played at cavernous Braves Field in Boston. The deep dimensioins worked against Ruth in the first inning when Brooklyn's Hi Myers found a gap in deep right-center field, circling the bases with an inside-the-park homer. It was the only run Ruth allowed all afternoon. In the bottom of the third, he tied the game with an RBI ground out. He was still on the mound when the game meandered into the fourteenth inning. He faced 48 batters and allowed just 6 hits in a 2-1 Boston win. No pitcher has ever lasted that long in a single series game. The game itself was the longest in history until Game 3 of the 2005 Fall Classic.
BOB GIBSON
Game 1 1968 World Series
The fearsome Gibson was unapproachable even to teammates on the days he started and once referred to himself as "an asshole." He compiled a 7-2 lifetime record in postseason play with a 1.89 ERA. His finest single game effort came in Game 1 of the '68 Fall Classic, when he struck out 17 Tiger batters--an all time record. Interestingly, 3 of the 5 hits he allowed that day came off the bats of infielders Don Wert and Mickey Stanley, who had combined for a .230 average during the regular season. Gibson completed a shutout and went on the win Game 4 by a score of 10-1. The Tigers finally tagged him for 4 runs in Game 7, winning the Series over the Cardinals.
PETE ALEXANDER
Game 6 1926 World Series
Alexander's performance in Game 7 of the '26 Fall Classic gained lasting acclaim. With the Series tied at 3 games apiece and the Cardinals clinging to a 3-2 seventh inning lead over the Yankees, St. Louis player/manager Rogers Hornsby summoned Alexander to replace Hall of Famer Jesse Haines, who had developed a blister on his pitching hand. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Alexander struck out the dangerous Tony Lazzeri to end the threat. He held the Bombers scoreless in the eighth and ninth as well, clinching a Series victory for the Cardinals. But "Old Pete's" performance the day before was even better. With the Cardinals on the brink of elimination, he went the distance in a 10-2 win. What made his appearance especially notable (aside from the fact that he was facing one of the greatest teams of all time) was his age. At 39 years, 7 months, he became the older pitcher in Series history to throw a complete game.
CHRISTY MATHEWSON
1905 World Series
It's hard to determine which game of the '05 Fall Classic Christy Mathewson was most dominant in. Mathewson, who was the face of the Giants franchise in those days, had captured a triple crown (the first of two) during the regular season. His performance in the Series is considered by many to be the greatest of all time. After refusing to face Boston in the 1904 postseason, Giants owner John T. Brush worked out his differences with rival American League magnates. The '05 Fall Classic--just the second official World Series in history--pitted Brush's Giants against Connie Mack's A's. Mathewson disposed of his Philadelphia opponents with uniform precision. In Games 1 and 3, he tossed a pair of 4-hitters while striking out 14 batters. In the fifth game, he clinched the Series for New York with another shutout--this one a five-hitter. By the time the A's scored off Mathewson in Game 1 of the 1911 World Series, he had completed 28.1 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason--a record later broken by Babe Ruth and Whitey Ford.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Baseball's 40/40 Club
Only four players have ever hit 40 homers while stealing 40 bases in the same season. Remarkably, none of them are in the Hall of Fame.
JOSE CANSECO
1988
Though Canseco became a pariah in later years, he left a lasting impression on the sport in 1988 when he clubbed a league-leading 42 homers and swiped 40 bags for the A's. His 40th homer came on September 18 while facing Bret Saberhagen of the Royals. He recorded his 40th stolen base five days later against the Brewers at County Stadium in Milwaukee. When Mickey Mantle learned of Canseco's feat, he commented: "Hell--If I'd known 40-40 was going to be a big deal, I'd have done it every year." Mantle collected 40 or more homers four times and finished in double digits for stolen bases in six consecutive seasons. His lifetime success rate as a base-stealer was 80 percent compared to Canseco's 69 percent. Canseco vastly overestimated his own running abilities. In his 2005 tell-all book, Juiced, he claimed to have run a 40-yard dash in 3.9 seconds. For the record, no athlete in any of the four major sports has ever recorded a time that fast.
BARRY BONDS
1996
The first National League member of the 40/40 club, Bonds accomplished the feat before he was linked to steroids, which makes 1996 the most remarkable season of his career in some respects. His 40th homer came on September 16 off of Padres right-hander Scott Sanders. His 40th steal came more than a week later in a game at Coors Field. Though he ended up winning seven MVP awards, he finished fifth in MVP voting during the '96 slate in spite of his league-leading 129 RBIs and lofty .461 on-base percentage. That same season, he became the fourth member of baseball's 300-300 club, joining his father (Bobby) along with Willie Mays and Andre Dawson.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ
1998
A-Rod's big moment came on September 19, 1998, when he blasted a solo homer (his 40th of the season) off of aging Angels right-hander Jack McDowell. His 40th stolen base had come two weeks earlier in a game against the Orioles. An indication that the feat was little more than a bucket list item for A-Rod, he never stole more than 28 bases in a season during his remaining seventeen years in the majors. In fact, his 46 steals in '98 represented fourteen percent of his lifetime totals. On the other hand, the homers kept piling up for A-Rod over the years. He reached the 50 homer plateau three times and retired with 696 long balls--currently fourth on the all time list behind Aaron, Ruth and fellow steroid user Barry Bonds.
ALFONSO SORIANO
2006
Perhaps the most unlikely member of the 40/40 club, Soriano had narrowly missed in 2002 with the Yankees, gathering 41 steals and 39 homers. He eventually broke through in 2006 while playing for the Washington Nationals. When he clubbed his 40th homer that year, he was 10 stolen bases short of inclusion. After swiping his 40th bag on September 17, he was somewhat surprised himself, commenting: "That's very amazing for me because there's a lot of players that can play this game. That's an amazing number." Over the next eight seasons, Soriano reached the 30 homer threshold twice, peaking at 34. His highest stolen base total in that same span was 19. An enduring claim to fame, he is currently the only steroid-free 40-40 man.
JOSE CANSECO
1988
Though Canseco became a pariah in later years, he left a lasting impression on the sport in 1988 when he clubbed a league-leading 42 homers and swiped 40 bags for the A's. His 40th homer came on September 18 while facing Bret Saberhagen of the Royals. He recorded his 40th stolen base five days later against the Brewers at County Stadium in Milwaukee. When Mickey Mantle learned of Canseco's feat, he commented: "Hell--If I'd known 40-40 was going to be a big deal, I'd have done it every year." Mantle collected 40 or more homers four times and finished in double digits for stolen bases in six consecutive seasons. His lifetime success rate as a base-stealer was 80 percent compared to Canseco's 69 percent. Canseco vastly overestimated his own running abilities. In his 2005 tell-all book, Juiced, he claimed to have run a 40-yard dash in 3.9 seconds. For the record, no athlete in any of the four major sports has ever recorded a time that fast.
BARRY BONDS
1996
The first National League member of the 40/40 club, Bonds accomplished the feat before he was linked to steroids, which makes 1996 the most remarkable season of his career in some respects. His 40th homer came on September 16 off of Padres right-hander Scott Sanders. His 40th steal came more than a week later in a game at Coors Field. Though he ended up winning seven MVP awards, he finished fifth in MVP voting during the '96 slate in spite of his league-leading 129 RBIs and lofty .461 on-base percentage. That same season, he became the fourth member of baseball's 300-300 club, joining his father (Bobby) along with Willie Mays and Andre Dawson.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ
1998
A-Rod's big moment came on September 19, 1998, when he blasted a solo homer (his 40th of the season) off of aging Angels right-hander Jack McDowell. His 40th stolen base had come two weeks earlier in a game against the Orioles. An indication that the feat was little more than a bucket list item for A-Rod, he never stole more than 28 bases in a season during his remaining seventeen years in the majors. In fact, his 46 steals in '98 represented fourteen percent of his lifetime totals. On the other hand, the homers kept piling up for A-Rod over the years. He reached the 50 homer plateau three times and retired with 696 long balls--currently fourth on the all time list behind Aaron, Ruth and fellow steroid user Barry Bonds.
ALFONSO SORIANO
2006
Perhaps the most unlikely member of the 40/40 club, Soriano had narrowly missed in 2002 with the Yankees, gathering 41 steals and 39 homers. He eventually broke through in 2006 while playing for the Washington Nationals. When he clubbed his 40th homer that year, he was 10 stolen bases short of inclusion. After swiping his 40th bag on September 17, he was somewhat surprised himself, commenting: "That's very amazing for me because there's a lot of players that can play this game. That's an amazing number." Over the next eight seasons, Soriano reached the 30 homer threshold twice, peaking at 34. His highest stolen base total in that same span was 19. An enduring claim to fame, he is currently the only steroid-free 40-40 man.
Monday, August 29, 2016
The Greatest Japanese Exports (Part II--Pitchers)
HIDEO NOMO
Nicknamed "The Tornado," Nomo is the leader among Japanese pitchers in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and complete games. He was a major star with the Kintetsu Buffaloes before exploiting a loophole in his contract and defecting to the majors. He became immensely popular in his '95 Los Angeles debut, capturing Rookie of the Year honors with a 13-6 record and a league-leading 236 strikeouts. His windup included a series of quirky stops and starts that resembled stretching exercises. The right-handed Nomo won 123 games for seven teams during his career, which spanned portions of twelve seasons. He is one of a handful of pitchers to toss multiple no-hitters. They were the only no-hitters thrown at Coors Field and Camden Yards. Nomo has been widely credited for opening the door for dozens of Japanese players who followed.
TAKASHI SAITO
Saito has the lowest ERA among Japanese pitchers with at least 100 appearances. He enjoyed his peak seasons with the Dodgers between 2006 and 2008, when he saved 81 games and averaged 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Had he not been thirty-six years old when he arrived in the majors, he might have had a longer, more fruitful career. His finest season came in 2007, when he posted a 1.40 ERA while allowing just 33 hits in 64.1 innings primarily as a closer. He picked up a career-high 39 saves and made the NL All-Star team. After falling from the major league ranks at the age of forty-two, he returned to Japan, where he had two more decent seasons with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
HIROKI KURODA
The right-handed Kuroda established himself as one of Japan's best pitchers before he signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2008 campaign. A frequent victim of poor run support, he spent four seasons in Los Angeles and compiled a 41-46 record despite a cumulative ERA of 3.45. In 2011, he posted the best mark of his career at 3.07, but ended up losing 16 games. Traded to the Yankees in 2012, he spent the final three seasons of his big league career in the Bronx--going 38-33. Kuroda appeared in five postseason series with New York. Four of his five outings were quality starts. With a highly effective splitter and sinker, he induced a lot of ground ball outs during his career. In 2015, he returned to Japan for one more season with the team he had left--the Hiroshima Carp.
KAZUHIRO SASAKI
Sasaki is the all-time leader in saves and closing appearances among Japanese-born players. His nickname "Daimajin," was derived from a series of 1960s movies in which a giant statue bearing that name repeatedly saves a village in response to the prayers of inhabitants. Injured often during his career, Sasaki picked up 252 saves in Nippon pro baseball and 129 more in major league play. His brief big league career lasted just four seasons and ended in 2004, when he decided to stay in Japan. He was Rookie of the Year in 2000 and an All-Star in the next two campaigns.
SHIGETOSHI HASEGAWA
Nicknamed "Shiggy," Hasegwa spent five seasons with the Angels and four more with Seattle. He served in nearly every capacity during his career--as a spot starter, middle reliever, closer and set-up man. He had compiled a cumulative 30-27 record in the majors before injuring his rotator cuff in 2001. He bounced right back with Seattle in 2002 then posted a career-best 1.48 ERA the following year, earning his only All-Star selection. His appearance in the Midsummer Classic was a disaster as he was charged with 4 runs and a blown save. To date, no Japanese pitcher has matched Hasegawa's total of 517 appearances.
DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
Matsuzaka was one of the most acclaimed players in Japan. Before the 2007 season, several major league teams engaged in a bidding war for his services. In the end, the Red Sox won out with a $51.1 million offer. Matsuzaka got off to a strong start in his major league debut with a 15-12 record. He went 2-1 in the postseason, helping the Red Sox win the World Series. In 2008, Matsuzaka enjoyed his finest campaign, going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA. His won-loss percentage was second to Cliff Lee of the Indians. Only two AL pitchers posted a lower ERA that year as Matsuzaka placed fourth in Cy Young voting. The rest of his career was marred by injuries and ineffectiveness. The Red Sox finally gave up on him in 2012, when he went 1-7 with an 8.28 ERA. He finished his big league career in the Mets bullpen.
ACTIVE PLAYERS
There are at least five active Japanese pitchers who are making a name for themselves in the majors. Since the Major League season is much longer, most of them are beginning to show signs of wear. Rangers' right-hander Yu Darvish was off to a 39-25 start in his career before injuries shut him down for the entire 2015 campaign. He has made just 11 appearances so far in 2016. Highly priced Yankee hurler Masahiro Tanaka had a lifetime record of 36-16 at the time of this writing, but has been struck by injuries multiple times. Dodger rookie Kenta Maeda is 13-7 so far this year with a 3.37 ERA for the Dodgers. To preserve his effectiveness, manager Dave Roberts has given him additional rest between starts on several occasions. Koji Uehara--a right-handed reliever--is serving in his eighth major league season. Uehara was 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 73 appearances during the 2013 slate. The forty-one year old hurler averages close to 11 strikeouts per 9 innings and is currently second among Japanese-born players in saves. Hisashi Iwakuma of the Mariners, currently in his fifth season, is poised to win 15 games for the second time in his career. He is on a short list of Japanese hurlers to toss more than 200 innings in a single campaign.
Nicknamed "The Tornado," Nomo is the leader among Japanese pitchers in wins, strikeouts, shutouts and complete games. He was a major star with the Kintetsu Buffaloes before exploiting a loophole in his contract and defecting to the majors. He became immensely popular in his '95 Los Angeles debut, capturing Rookie of the Year honors with a 13-6 record and a league-leading 236 strikeouts. His windup included a series of quirky stops and starts that resembled stretching exercises. The right-handed Nomo won 123 games for seven teams during his career, which spanned portions of twelve seasons. He is one of a handful of pitchers to toss multiple no-hitters. They were the only no-hitters thrown at Coors Field and Camden Yards. Nomo has been widely credited for opening the door for dozens of Japanese players who followed.
TAKASHI SAITO
Saito has the lowest ERA among Japanese pitchers with at least 100 appearances. He enjoyed his peak seasons with the Dodgers between 2006 and 2008, when he saved 81 games and averaged 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Had he not been thirty-six years old when he arrived in the majors, he might have had a longer, more fruitful career. His finest season came in 2007, when he posted a 1.40 ERA while allowing just 33 hits in 64.1 innings primarily as a closer. He picked up a career-high 39 saves and made the NL All-Star team. After falling from the major league ranks at the age of forty-two, he returned to Japan, where he had two more decent seasons with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
HIROKI KURODA
The right-handed Kuroda established himself as one of Japan's best pitchers before he signed with the Dodgers prior to the 2008 campaign. A frequent victim of poor run support, he spent four seasons in Los Angeles and compiled a 41-46 record despite a cumulative ERA of 3.45. In 2011, he posted the best mark of his career at 3.07, but ended up losing 16 games. Traded to the Yankees in 2012, he spent the final three seasons of his big league career in the Bronx--going 38-33. Kuroda appeared in five postseason series with New York. Four of his five outings were quality starts. With a highly effective splitter and sinker, he induced a lot of ground ball outs during his career. In 2015, he returned to Japan for one more season with the team he had left--the Hiroshima Carp.
KAZUHIRO SASAKI
Sasaki is the all-time leader in saves and closing appearances among Japanese-born players. His nickname "Daimajin," was derived from a series of 1960s movies in which a giant statue bearing that name repeatedly saves a village in response to the prayers of inhabitants. Injured often during his career, Sasaki picked up 252 saves in Nippon pro baseball and 129 more in major league play. His brief big league career lasted just four seasons and ended in 2004, when he decided to stay in Japan. He was Rookie of the Year in 2000 and an All-Star in the next two campaigns.
SHIGETOSHI HASEGAWA
Nicknamed "Shiggy," Hasegwa spent five seasons with the Angels and four more with Seattle. He served in nearly every capacity during his career--as a spot starter, middle reliever, closer and set-up man. He had compiled a cumulative 30-27 record in the majors before injuring his rotator cuff in 2001. He bounced right back with Seattle in 2002 then posted a career-best 1.48 ERA the following year, earning his only All-Star selection. His appearance in the Midsummer Classic was a disaster as he was charged with 4 runs and a blown save. To date, no Japanese pitcher has matched Hasegawa's total of 517 appearances.
DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
Matsuzaka was one of the most acclaimed players in Japan. Before the 2007 season, several major league teams engaged in a bidding war for his services. In the end, the Red Sox won out with a $51.1 million offer. Matsuzaka got off to a strong start in his major league debut with a 15-12 record. He went 2-1 in the postseason, helping the Red Sox win the World Series. In 2008, Matsuzaka enjoyed his finest campaign, going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA. His won-loss percentage was second to Cliff Lee of the Indians. Only two AL pitchers posted a lower ERA that year as Matsuzaka placed fourth in Cy Young voting. The rest of his career was marred by injuries and ineffectiveness. The Red Sox finally gave up on him in 2012, when he went 1-7 with an 8.28 ERA. He finished his big league career in the Mets bullpen.
ACTIVE PLAYERS
There are at least five active Japanese pitchers who are making a name for themselves in the majors. Since the Major League season is much longer, most of them are beginning to show signs of wear. Rangers' right-hander Yu Darvish was off to a 39-25 start in his career before injuries shut him down for the entire 2015 campaign. He has made just 11 appearances so far in 2016. Highly priced Yankee hurler Masahiro Tanaka had a lifetime record of 36-16 at the time of this writing, but has been struck by injuries multiple times. Dodger rookie Kenta Maeda is 13-7 so far this year with a 3.37 ERA for the Dodgers. To preserve his effectiveness, manager Dave Roberts has given him additional rest between starts on several occasions. Koji Uehara--a right-handed reliever--is serving in his eighth major league season. Uehara was 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 73 appearances during the 2013 slate. The forty-one year old hurler averages close to 11 strikeouts per 9 innings and is currently second among Japanese-born players in saves. Hisashi Iwakuma of the Mariners, currently in his fifth season, is poised to win 15 games for the second time in his career. He is on a short list of Japanese hurlers to toss more than 200 innings in a single campaign.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
The Greatest Japanese Exports (Part I--Positional Players)
Contrary to what many casual fans might believe, Hideo Nomo was not the first Japanese-born player in the major leagues. Left-handed pitcher Masanori Murakami was twenty years old when he made his debut with the San Francisco Giants in 1964. After injuring his arm with the Nankai Hawks, Murakami was sent to the Giants with a pair of other non-prospects. The Giants and Hawks had signed a development deal prior to Murakami's arrival. To the astonishment of nearly everyone in the Nankai front office, Murakami went 11-7 with a 1.78 ERA in the San Francisco farm system. Called to San Francisco in September, he became a hero and cultural icon when he logged eight consecutive scoreless appearances. Commenting on his success, Murakami said: "In Japan, players only swing at strikes. Here, they try to hit everything out and don't care if you throw a strike or not." The Hawks wanted Murakami back for the '65 slate, but the Giants retained him after a contract dispute. Murakami's second season was not as successful, though he did average 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Murakami's experiences didn't open the floodgates for Japanese players right away. In fact, there wouldn't be another Japanese prospect in the majors until Bobby Fenwick arrived in 1972. Fenwick, who was born in Okinawa, was of mixed Asian ancestry. He lasted through portions of two seasons with Houston and St. Louis. Since then, Japan has sent more than fifty players to "The Show." The best of them will be discussed in my next two posts. Let's start with positional players.
ICHIRO SUZUKI
There is little doubt that Ichiro is the greatest Japanese-born player the major leagues have ever seen. Including his nine-year stint with the Orix Blue Wave of Japan's Pacific League, he collected well over 4,000 hits. More than 3,000 came in major league action, putting him on a trajectory for the Hall of Fame. If a combination of 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases doesn't justify his enshrinement at Cooperstown, his ten consecutive Gold Gloves will serve as a definitive argument settler. Ichiro was know to literally climb walls to rob opposing hitters of home runs. Only Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente were more decorated in the outfield. As of this writing, Ichiro was padding his lifetime hit totals with the Marlins at the age of forty-two.
HIDEKI MATSUI
In Japan, Matsui carried the nickname "Godzilla" for his prodigious home run power. When he played for the Yomiuri Giants, he was given the #55 representing Sadaharu Oh's single-season record for homers. Matsui never broke that record, but he did hit 50 in 2002--his final season in Japan. He was so popular in his native country that his likeness actually appeared on commercial airline jets. The Yankees paid big money to acquire Matsui and, though his home run output dropped considerably in major league play, his RBI production did not. When Matsui fractured his wrist diving for a ball in left field during the 2006 slate, he ended streak of 1,768 consecutive games that had begun in Japan. He reached the century mark in RBIs during each of his first four full seasons and helped the Yankees to six playoff appearances. His performance in the 2009 Fall Classic netted him Series MVP honors. He was a lifetime .312 hitter in postseason action. Among Japanese-born players who have reached the majors, he is the all time leader in doubles, homers, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
SO TAGUCHI
Taguchi is probably best remembered for his clutch ninth inning homer against the Mets in Game 2 of the 2006 NLCS, which broke a 6-6 tie and held up as the game winner for the Cardinals. In three plate appearances during that series, he was 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Like so many of his fellow countrymen, Taguchi was in his thirties when he reached the majors and his career was relatively brief. In Japan, he was an All-Star, Gold-Glover and Best Nine Award recipient (a prestigious honor given to the top players at each position). In the majors, he hit his peak between 2004 and 2007, appearing as one of St. Louis's regular outfielders. His batting averages ranged from .266 to .291 in that span and he spent more than 100 games at each outfield station. He captured a World Series ring with Cardinals in 2006.
KOSUKE FUKUDOME
Fukudome was one of the Japan Central League's most powerful hitters, winning the MVP Award in 2006. Injured the following year, the Cubs decided to take a chance on him, shelling out $48 million to obtain his contract. Great things were expected of Fukudome and, though he didn't exactly tear up the National League, he was one of Chicago's more reliable hitters for three-plus seasons. After finishing among the top ten in Rookie of the Year voting, he had his best season in 2009, reaching career-high (major league) marks in extra-base hits (54) and on-base percentage (.375). Fukudome was a patient hitter, drawing 60 or more walks in four straight seasons. He was solid in right field as well, posting the third highest fielding percentage during the 2010 slate. After a .171 showing at the plate in 2012, he returned to Japan.
TADAHITO IGUCHI
Iguchi was thirty years old when he made his debut with the White Sox in 2005. Before then, he was a reliable infielder with moderate power for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of Japan's Pacific League. Iguchi had three decent offensive campaigns in the majors before suffering a statistical collapse in 2008. He was a key member of Chicago's World Series winning squad in 2005. He contributed 9 postseason hits to the White Sox cause that year, scoring 7 runs while driving in 5. He returned to Japan in 2009 and became the fifth player to get 2,000 hits in combined Japanese and major league play.
KENJI JOHJIMA
For two seasons, Johjima was among the best catchers in the American League. After spending eleven seasons in the Japan Pacific League, he signed with the Mariners. He was the first Japanese catcher in the majors. In his 2006 debut, he slugged 18 homers and drove-in 76 runs while hitting .291. The performance earned him Rookie of the Year consideration. After another highly successful season in 2007, he slumped both offensively and defensively. He opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Mariners before the 2010 campaign and returned to Japan. He had one more great season with the Hanshin Tigers before his inability to hit limited him to second string status.
AKINORI IWAMURA
Another short-lived Japanese success story, Iwamura left Japan's Central League after the 2006 campaign to join the Devil Rays. He was coming off of his third consecutive season with 30 or more homers before making his major league debut. He hit just 7 long balls with Tampa Bay in 2007, but his 10 triples were second in the league to Curtis Granderson of the Tigers. Iwamura also led AL third basemen in fielding percentage that year. In his 2008 follow-up, he finished third in triples. He also placed among the top ten in putouts, double plays and assists. A knee injury in 2009 limited him to 69 games, but he posted a highly respectable .290 batting average. Traded to Pittsburgh before the 2010 slate, he became the Pirates' highest paid player. He fared poorly that year and never returned to the majors. He continued playing in Japan through 2014.
Murakami's experiences didn't open the floodgates for Japanese players right away. In fact, there wouldn't be another Japanese prospect in the majors until Bobby Fenwick arrived in 1972. Fenwick, who was born in Okinawa, was of mixed Asian ancestry. He lasted through portions of two seasons with Houston and St. Louis. Since then, Japan has sent more than fifty players to "The Show." The best of them will be discussed in my next two posts. Let's start with positional players.
ICHIRO SUZUKI
There is little doubt that Ichiro is the greatest Japanese-born player the major leagues have ever seen. Including his nine-year stint with the Orix Blue Wave of Japan's Pacific League, he collected well over 4,000 hits. More than 3,000 came in major league action, putting him on a trajectory for the Hall of Fame. If a combination of 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases doesn't justify his enshrinement at Cooperstown, his ten consecutive Gold Gloves will serve as a definitive argument settler. Ichiro was know to literally climb walls to rob opposing hitters of home runs. Only Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente were more decorated in the outfield. As of this writing, Ichiro was padding his lifetime hit totals with the Marlins at the age of forty-two.
HIDEKI MATSUI
In Japan, Matsui carried the nickname "Godzilla" for his prodigious home run power. When he played for the Yomiuri Giants, he was given the #55 representing Sadaharu Oh's single-season record for homers. Matsui never broke that record, but he did hit 50 in 2002--his final season in Japan. He was so popular in his native country that his likeness actually appeared on commercial airline jets. The Yankees paid big money to acquire Matsui and, though his home run output dropped considerably in major league play, his RBI production did not. When Matsui fractured his wrist diving for a ball in left field during the 2006 slate, he ended streak of 1,768 consecutive games that had begun in Japan. He reached the century mark in RBIs during each of his first four full seasons and helped the Yankees to six playoff appearances. His performance in the 2009 Fall Classic netted him Series MVP honors. He was a lifetime .312 hitter in postseason action. Among Japanese-born players who have reached the majors, he is the all time leader in doubles, homers, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
SO TAGUCHI
Taguchi is probably best remembered for his clutch ninth inning homer against the Mets in Game 2 of the 2006 NLCS, which broke a 6-6 tie and held up as the game winner for the Cardinals. In three plate appearances during that series, he was 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Like so many of his fellow countrymen, Taguchi was in his thirties when he reached the majors and his career was relatively brief. In Japan, he was an All-Star, Gold-Glover and Best Nine Award recipient (a prestigious honor given to the top players at each position). In the majors, he hit his peak between 2004 and 2007, appearing as one of St. Louis's regular outfielders. His batting averages ranged from .266 to .291 in that span and he spent more than 100 games at each outfield station. He captured a World Series ring with Cardinals in 2006.
KOSUKE FUKUDOME
Fukudome was one of the Japan Central League's most powerful hitters, winning the MVP Award in 2006. Injured the following year, the Cubs decided to take a chance on him, shelling out $48 million to obtain his contract. Great things were expected of Fukudome and, though he didn't exactly tear up the National League, he was one of Chicago's more reliable hitters for three-plus seasons. After finishing among the top ten in Rookie of the Year voting, he had his best season in 2009, reaching career-high (major league) marks in extra-base hits (54) and on-base percentage (.375). Fukudome was a patient hitter, drawing 60 or more walks in four straight seasons. He was solid in right field as well, posting the third highest fielding percentage during the 2010 slate. After a .171 showing at the plate in 2012, he returned to Japan.
TADAHITO IGUCHI
Iguchi was thirty years old when he made his debut with the White Sox in 2005. Before then, he was a reliable infielder with moderate power for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks of Japan's Pacific League. Iguchi had three decent offensive campaigns in the majors before suffering a statistical collapse in 2008. He was a key member of Chicago's World Series winning squad in 2005. He contributed 9 postseason hits to the White Sox cause that year, scoring 7 runs while driving in 5. He returned to Japan in 2009 and became the fifth player to get 2,000 hits in combined Japanese and major league play.
KENJI JOHJIMA
For two seasons, Johjima was among the best catchers in the American League. After spending eleven seasons in the Japan Pacific League, he signed with the Mariners. He was the first Japanese catcher in the majors. In his 2006 debut, he slugged 18 homers and drove-in 76 runs while hitting .291. The performance earned him Rookie of the Year consideration. After another highly successful season in 2007, he slumped both offensively and defensively. He opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Mariners before the 2010 campaign and returned to Japan. He had one more great season with the Hanshin Tigers before his inability to hit limited him to second string status.
AKINORI IWAMURA
Another short-lived Japanese success story, Iwamura left Japan's Central League after the 2006 campaign to join the Devil Rays. He was coming off of his third consecutive season with 30 or more homers before making his major league debut. He hit just 7 long balls with Tampa Bay in 2007, but his 10 triples were second in the league to Curtis Granderson of the Tigers. Iwamura also led AL third basemen in fielding percentage that year. In his 2008 follow-up, he finished third in triples. He also placed among the top ten in putouts, double plays and assists. A knee injury in 2009 limited him to 69 games, but he posted a highly respectable .290 batting average. Traded to Pittsburgh before the 2010 slate, he became the Pirates' highest paid player. He fared poorly that year and never returned to the majors. He continued playing in Japan through 2014.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Is the Yankee Front Office Out of Its Collective Mind?
The Yankees seem determined to break the mold used by George Steinbrenner when he assembled eleven pennant-winning squads over the course of three decades. "The Boss" had a habit of sacrificing his top prospects to bring established stars to the Bronx. At the trade deadline this year, the new Yankee regime did exactly the opposite, parting with four cornerstone veterans to acquire a slew of untested players. GM Brian Cashman claims that the Yankees are trying to assemble an "uber team" resembling the one that attained dynastic status in the late-'90s. He also commented that the flurry of activity at the deadline is not a "white flag" for the 2016 campaign. But with most of the latest acquisitions being so far removed from major league action, it's hard to perceive it as anything else.
A breakdown of the transactions is as follows:
WHO THEY LOST
Thirty-nine year old CARLOS BELTRAN is having one of his best seasons in ages. He was leading the team in multiple offensive categories and was on pace for a 30 homer/ 100 RBI campaign before he was dealt to the Rangers.
A thirty-one year old veteran, ANDREW MILLER has quietly become one of the best relievers in baseball. Versatile and easygoing, he has filled multiple bullpen roles over the course of his career. His 1.39 ERA in 44 appearances with the Yankees earned him his first All-Star selection this year. He was averaging over 15 strikeouts per nine innings when the Yankees sent him to Cleveland.
Personal issues aside, AROLDIS CHAPMAN is one of the premier closers in the majors. Regularly hitting 100 mph on the radar gun, he has been clocked as high as 105. With the Yankees this year, he converted 20 save opportunities and posted an ERA of 2.01 in 31 appearances. He is now property of the Cubs.
Right-hander IVAN NOVA has been an inconsistent and enigmatic performer for the Yankees. When he is good, he is very good. But at times, he has looked flustered and unfocused on the mound. He began the 2016 season in the bullpen, but was promoted to a starting role due to injuries and ineffectiveness in the Yankee rotation. He managed just 4 quality starts in 15 outings. In spite of that fact, he was one of the Yankees' most versatile hurlers. He will presumably finish out the 2016 slate with the Pirates.
In a trade that was little more than a back story, the Yankees also parted with pitching prospect VICENTE CAMPOS, who was sent to Arizona. A veteran of seven minor league seasons, the big right-hander (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) has played for four clubs so far this year, posting a 10-3 record with a 3.07 ERA. He currently resides at the Double-A level.
WHO THEY ACQUIRED
In exchange for CHAPMAN, the Cubs sent veteran pitcher Adam Warren to New York along with minor league prospects Gleyber Torres (a shortstop), Billy McKinley (an outfielder) and Rashad Crawford (an outfielder). Born in Venezuela, Torres was considered to be the Cubs' hottest prospect with a MLB.com rating of #28. Prior to 2016, McKinley had a rating of #88. He is off to a .186 start at the plate this year. Crawford has some speed and covers a lot of ground defensively, but has a lot of growing to do. Warren compiled a dismal 5.91 ERA in 29 games with the Cubs.
For BELTRAN, the Yankees added a trio of minor league pitching prospects to their farm system. Right-hander Dillon Tate was a first round pick in 2015. He is having a rough year in the South Atlantic League with a 3-3 record and 5.12 ERA. Right-hander Erik Swanson was the Rangers' eighth round pick in 2014. He is progressing nicely in the low-minors so far. Twenty-one year old Nick Green is still several years away from throwing his first major league pitch (assuming he ever gets there).
For MILLER, the Yankees picked up four minor league prospects.One of them, a twenty-one year old outfielder named Clint Frazier, has been described as "an outgoing and fun young man from a good Georgia family." Assigned to Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, he may be ready for a call-up in September. The other three prospects are pitchers. Left-hander Justus Sheffield was the Indians' first round pick in 2014. In three minor league seasons, he has averaged close to 10 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter. Right-hander Ben Heller ascended to the Triple-A level in his fourth professional season. A reliever, he has compiled a 1.64 ERA so far this year. Another right-handed reliever, J.P. Feyereisen has assembled an 8-4 record with a 1.77 earned run average in 95 minor league games so far. He is currently at the Double-A level.
For Nova, the Yankees will receive two players to be named later.
For Campos, the Yankees got reliever Tyler Clippard. Originally drafted by the Yankees in 2003, he has a pair of All-Star appearances on his resume. He has served as a closer, set-up man and middle reliever.
PROGNOSIS
Anyone who follows the careers of minor leaguers knows that most of them don't pan out. A 2013 Baseball America article claimed that only 17 percent of all draft picks make it to the majors. Of those, less than half have long and successful major league careers. Using those numbers as a guide post, the Yankees can reasonably expect two or maybe three of their latest acquisitions to become significant contributors in the Bronx. Neither Clippard nor Warren are high impact players so--on the surface at least--the Yankees' trade deadline moves seem desperate and ill-advised. With a revitalized farm system, however, the Bombers now have the luxury of bartering their top prospects for a crop of marquis veterans in the tradition of George Steinbrenner. Perhaps that's what they had in mind all along.
Only time will tell.
A breakdown of the transactions is as follows:
WHO THEY LOST
Thirty-nine year old CARLOS BELTRAN is having one of his best seasons in ages. He was leading the team in multiple offensive categories and was on pace for a 30 homer/ 100 RBI campaign before he was dealt to the Rangers.
A thirty-one year old veteran, ANDREW MILLER has quietly become one of the best relievers in baseball. Versatile and easygoing, he has filled multiple bullpen roles over the course of his career. His 1.39 ERA in 44 appearances with the Yankees earned him his first All-Star selection this year. He was averaging over 15 strikeouts per nine innings when the Yankees sent him to Cleveland.
Personal issues aside, AROLDIS CHAPMAN is one of the premier closers in the majors. Regularly hitting 100 mph on the radar gun, he has been clocked as high as 105. With the Yankees this year, he converted 20 save opportunities and posted an ERA of 2.01 in 31 appearances. He is now property of the Cubs.
Right-hander IVAN NOVA has been an inconsistent and enigmatic performer for the Yankees. When he is good, he is very good. But at times, he has looked flustered and unfocused on the mound. He began the 2016 season in the bullpen, but was promoted to a starting role due to injuries and ineffectiveness in the Yankee rotation. He managed just 4 quality starts in 15 outings. In spite of that fact, he was one of the Yankees' most versatile hurlers. He will presumably finish out the 2016 slate with the Pirates.
In a trade that was little more than a back story, the Yankees also parted with pitching prospect VICENTE CAMPOS, who was sent to Arizona. A veteran of seven minor league seasons, the big right-hander (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) has played for four clubs so far this year, posting a 10-3 record with a 3.07 ERA. He currently resides at the Double-A level.
WHO THEY ACQUIRED
In exchange for CHAPMAN, the Cubs sent veteran pitcher Adam Warren to New York along with minor league prospects Gleyber Torres (a shortstop), Billy McKinley (an outfielder) and Rashad Crawford (an outfielder). Born in Venezuela, Torres was considered to be the Cubs' hottest prospect with a MLB.com rating of #28. Prior to 2016, McKinley had a rating of #88. He is off to a .186 start at the plate this year. Crawford has some speed and covers a lot of ground defensively, but has a lot of growing to do. Warren compiled a dismal 5.91 ERA in 29 games with the Cubs.
For BELTRAN, the Yankees added a trio of minor league pitching prospects to their farm system. Right-hander Dillon Tate was a first round pick in 2015. He is having a rough year in the South Atlantic League with a 3-3 record and 5.12 ERA. Right-hander Erik Swanson was the Rangers' eighth round pick in 2014. He is progressing nicely in the low-minors so far. Twenty-one year old Nick Green is still several years away from throwing his first major league pitch (assuming he ever gets there).
For MILLER, the Yankees picked up four minor league prospects.One of them, a twenty-one year old outfielder named Clint Frazier, has been described as "an outgoing and fun young man from a good Georgia family." Assigned to Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, he may be ready for a call-up in September. The other three prospects are pitchers. Left-hander Justus Sheffield was the Indians' first round pick in 2014. In three minor league seasons, he has averaged close to 10 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter. Right-hander Ben Heller ascended to the Triple-A level in his fourth professional season. A reliever, he has compiled a 1.64 ERA so far this year. Another right-handed reliever, J.P. Feyereisen has assembled an 8-4 record with a 1.77 earned run average in 95 minor league games so far. He is currently at the Double-A level.
For Nova, the Yankees will receive two players to be named later.
For Campos, the Yankees got reliever Tyler Clippard. Originally drafted by the Yankees in 2003, he has a pair of All-Star appearances on his resume. He has served as a closer, set-up man and middle reliever.
PROGNOSIS
Anyone who follows the careers of minor leaguers knows that most of them don't pan out. A 2013 Baseball America article claimed that only 17 percent of all draft picks make it to the majors. Of those, less than half have long and successful major league careers. Using those numbers as a guide post, the Yankees can reasonably expect two or maybe three of their latest acquisitions to become significant contributors in the Bronx. Neither Clippard nor Warren are high impact players so--on the surface at least--the Yankees' trade deadline moves seem desperate and ill-advised. With a revitalized farm system, however, the Bombers now have the luxury of bartering their top prospects for a crop of marquis veterans in the tradition of George Steinbrenner. Perhaps that's what they had in mind all along.
Only time will tell.
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