Strat at Game 62

Time for some more notes and observations:

  • Mariano Rivera finally got scored on. 16.33 innings of shutout over 16 appearances of shutout were ended in game 58.
  • Of all the players with more than 20 plate appearances there is a fascinating race for the worst player. The current candidates are:
    • Ralph Kiner who in 60 trips to the plate is hitting .158 with a .551 OPS,
    • Harmon Killebrew who in 47 trips to the plate is hitting .122 with a .429 OPS,
    • George Foster who in 85 appearances is hitting .171 with a .432 OPS,
    • Derek Jeter hitting .208 with a .471 OPS in 80 trips, and
    • Willie Stargell who with 33 PA has a .097 average and a .345 OPS.
  • Everyday players looking way under potential are:
    • Campanella hitting .216 - (although he has 12 HRs),
    • Eddie Mathews hitting only .234 and a .741 OPS,
    • Rod Carew hitting .260 and a .630 OPS,
    • E. Collins hitting .291 with a .719 OPS,
    • Edd Roush hitting .265 with a .608 OPS,
    • Yogi Berra hitting .238 with a .601 OPS,
    • DiMaggio is hitting just .280 with a .811 OPS, and
    • Bill Terry hitting just .283 and a .697 OPS.
  • Players who are way over their head in a short period of time:
    • Maury Wills with a .395 average
    • Jimmy Collins with a .407 average
    • Billy Herman with a .356 average
    • Ernie Lombardi with a 1.097 OPS
  • Players who are way over their head in a “long” period of time:
    • Reggie Jackson with a .324 average and .996 OPS
    • Cal Ripken hitting .314 and an .871 OPS
    • Ken Boyer hitting .310 and an .875 OPS
    • Zack Wheat at .366 with a .923 OPS
  • The top three teams are over .500 and separated by 5 games. The bottom five are all 5 or more games behind that group and separated by just 3 games from each other.
  • Home teams are winning about 57% of the games. That seems about right, doesn’t it?
  • Tony Gwynn on pace to get 266 hits!
  • Speaker cooled way down on doubles. Now on pace for just 63.
  • HR leader looks to be in the low to mid 40s.
  • Outside chance to see 20 triples. VERY outside.
  • Small chance to see 150 RBIs, but not likely
  • Which is less surprising? Ruth leading in OPS and Slugging, or that Henderson leads in SBs?
  • Or that Hornsby leads in errors?
  • Outside chance to see someone pitch 300 innings - (McGinnity)
  • Good shot at seeing at least one 20 game winner. And a good shot at seeing a 20 game loser as well.
  • 30 saves will likely win that title
  • 12 shutouts on the season. Hurricanes have the most at 3. Trappers and Agents have zero.
  • R. Johnson is striking out over 30% of the hitters he sees! Even for him that’s pretty stout. But even that pace puts him about 20th on the all time list. (On the real list of single season K/9 innings R. Johnson has 7 of the top 11 seasons!)
  • Longest hitting streak is Gwynn’s 21 - (active). On base streak is Gehrig at 36 - (active)