You may have noticed it, but Brandon Morrow thoroughly dominated the Las Vegas Rat Pack in yesterday's 7-0 win. But what you may have missed is that Morrow pitched 8 innings of no-hit ball, only to exit in the 9th inning with the no-hitter still intact! The Vegas crowd loudly booed when Takashi Saito emerged on the mound to start the 9th inning. The game had long been out of hand and the few remaining in the crowd had hung around to witness history. In true karmic fashion, Joe Mauer led off the inning with the first hit of the game for the Rats. Although Saito did manage to complete the game and preserve the shutout, Morrow had been robbed of his place among such DMBL luminaries as Juan Guzman, Brett Myers, and A.J. Burnett. Manager Joe Torre declined to speak to the press after the game. So why was Morrow removed? Morrow did manage to throw 115 pitches, though that doesn't seem like an especially high number, particularly when chasing a historic achievement. Morrow walked five in his 8 innings, suggesting that maybe he was losing it but Morrow struck out all three batters he faced in the 8th and had retired the last 7 batters. Morrow did not appear to have any kind of injury either. Whatever the reason, Torre may need armed protection when the Straphangers return home to host the Rat Packs on Sunday.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Morrow - no hitter? not quite...
You may have noticed it, but Brandon Morrow thoroughly dominated the Las Vegas Rat Pack in yesterday's 7-0 win. But what you may have missed is that Morrow pitched 8 innings of no-hit ball, only to exit in the 9th inning with the no-hitter still intact! The Vegas crowd loudly booed when Takashi Saito emerged on the mound to start the 9th inning. The game had long been out of hand and the few remaining in the crowd had hung around to witness history. In true karmic fashion, Joe Mauer led off the inning with the first hit of the game for the Rats. Although Saito did manage to complete the game and preserve the shutout, Morrow had been robbed of his place among such DMBL luminaries as Juan Guzman, Brett Myers, and A.J. Burnett. Manager Joe Torre declined to speak to the press after the game. So why was Morrow removed? Morrow did manage to throw 115 pitches, though that doesn't seem like an especially high number, particularly when chasing a historic achievement. Morrow walked five in his 8 innings, suggesting that maybe he was losing it but Morrow struck out all three batters he faced in the 8th and had retired the last 7 batters. Morrow did not appear to have any kind of injury either. Whatever the reason, Torre may need armed protection when the Straphangers return home to host the Rat Packs on Sunday.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Chasing Bonds
Marietta's Derek Jeter and Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero of New Jersey and Newark's Chipper Jones are the active leaders in hits, ranking second through fifth. Going into the season, Jeter looked like the surest shot, as the only other player above the 2,500 mark (2,507). But the majority of playing time as the Marietta shortstop this year has gone to Cezar Izturis, leaving Jeter with just 40 starts, 78 games in all, and a measly 45 hits, putting him at 2,553 -- 22 hits from Bonds with 31 games to play.
The other three players all went over 2,500 career hits within the past few weeks but the numbers don't seem to add up for a legitimate run at Bonds in 2011. Ramirez has no more than 31 games remaining in his DMBL career and entered the week with 2,517 hits -- 58 behind Bonds. Guerrero and Jones currently are separated by just five hits, 2,516 for Vlad (trailing Bonds by 59), 2,511 for Chipper (64 behind Bonds). Guerrero's Team Buddah has 29 games to play while Chipper's Sugar Bears has the fewest of the quartet -- 27.For 2012, only Jeter currently stands a shot at finding some playing time, and that's likely only against lefties. Ramirez already has announced his retirement at the conclusion of 2011 while Guerrero and Jones need to get hot if they don't want to avoid hoping for sentimentality to find a roster spot in 2012.
As long as we're looking toward 2012, it might be safe to say that another player might reach Bonds at some point next year. Alex Rodriguez of Las Vegas has 103 hits so far this season, 6th all time with 2,414 hits -- 161 behind Bonds. Ivan Rodriguez, getting some playing time with Amityville of late, is the only other active player in the all-time top 10, at 2,367.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Pujols the 10th player to reach 400 home runs
Philly's Albert Pujols became the 10th player in DMBL history with 400 home runs, the second to reach the milestone this season. Chipper Jones of Newark hit No. 400 earlier this season.
The historic dinger, a solo shot, came off Cliff Lee in the first inning of a 3-2 win at Arkansas last week. Pujols is in line to pass Mike Piazza soon for 9th all-time in homers, with 406, and Jones, who starts the week in 8th place with 409. New Jersey's Vladimir Guerrero is in sight but likely a target for 2012, with 431 home runs in 7th place.
It was the 34th home run of the season for Pujols. He enters play this week with 35 home runs and 88 RBIs. While his 10th season line totals of .250/.317/.505 are virtually all career lows and way off his annual averages (.307/.366/.574), Pujols has been one of the most consistent and best hitters in the DMBL since being the top overall pick in the 2002 draft.
Pujols has averaged almost 41 home runs and 129 RBIs over his first nine seasons and has driven in at least 108 RBIs every year but his second (99). Last year he put up career highs in SLG (.677), OPS (1.046), HR (64), RBI (160), runs (128) and hits (208), in winning his second straight Kevin Mitchell Award. He's also been remarkably healthy, racking up no fewer than 600 at-bats while playing in an average of 159 games each season (a career low 147 in 2009).
The historic dinger, a solo shot, came off Cliff Lee in the first inning of a 3-2 win at Arkansas last week. Pujols is in line to pass Mike Piazza soon for 9th all-time in homers, with 406, and Jones, who starts the week in 8th place with 409. New Jersey's Vladimir Guerrero is in sight but likely a target for 2012, with 431 home runs in 7th place.It was the 34th home run of the season for Pujols. He enters play this week with 35 home runs and 88 RBIs. While his 10th season line totals of .250/.317/.505 are virtually all career lows and way off his annual averages (.307/.366/.574), Pujols has been one of the most consistent and best hitters in the DMBL since being the top overall pick in the 2002 draft.
Pujols has averaged almost 41 home runs and 129 RBIs over his first nine seasons and has driven in at least 108 RBIs every year but his second (99). Last year he put up career highs in SLG (.677), OPS (1.046), HR (64), RBI (160), runs (128) and hits (208), in winning his second straight Kevin Mitchell Award. He's also been remarkably healthy, racking up no fewer than 600 at-bats while playing in an average of 159 games each season (a career low 147 in 2009).
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Hudson nearly no-hits Hitmen
Rookie Daniel Hudson on Sunday came within two outs of what would have been the third no-hitter in the DMBL this season. It would've been the second by a rookie, and the second for Las Vegas, this season. Hillsborough's Billy Butler singled down the left-field line with one out in the 9th, the second time he reached base in the 4-0 win for Last Vegas.
Hudson, acquired from New Jersey earlier this year, finished with five strikeouts and two walks. Butler led off the 7th reaching on an error before getting wiped out by a double play. Hudson walked Placido Polanco in the 3rd and Aubrey Huff leading off the 8th before plunking Polanco later in the 8th.
The top overall pick in this year's draft, Hudson was dealt to Las Vegas, along with Carlos Marmol, in exchange for five draft picks: a 3rd-rounder and a 5th-rounder in 2012, and 1st-, 5th- and 6th-round picks in 2013. Hudson improved to 13-9 on the season, 6-3 in 10 starts with a 1.93 ERA for the Rat Pack (he was 7-6 with a 4.17 ERA with New Jersey). It was his first shutout with Las Vegas; he had one with New Jersey as well.
Hudson's Rat Pack teammate, Brett Myers, no-hit New Jersey, 1-0, last month while fellow rookie Stephen Strasburg of Carolina no-hit Philly, 5-0, in May.
Hudson, acquired from New Jersey earlier this year, finished with five strikeouts and two walks. Butler led off the 7th reaching on an error before getting wiped out by a double play. Hudson walked Placido Polanco in the 3rd and Aubrey Huff leading off the 8th before plunking Polanco later in the 8th.The top overall pick in this year's draft, Hudson was dealt to Las Vegas, along with Carlos Marmol, in exchange for five draft picks: a 3rd-rounder and a 5th-rounder in 2012, and 1st-, 5th- and 6th-round picks in 2013. Hudson improved to 13-9 on the season, 6-3 in 10 starts with a 1.93 ERA for the Rat Pack (he was 7-6 with a 4.17 ERA with New Jersey). It was his first shutout with Las Vegas; he had one with New Jersey as well.
Hudson's Rat Pack teammate, Brett Myers, no-hit New Jersey, 1-0, last month while fellow rookie Stephen Strasburg of Carolina no-hit Philly, 5-0, in May.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Prospects get red tagged
The trading deadline can be a sad day for prospects -- often it's when teams in the pennant race decide they have to dump that once beloved ineligible prospect in order to sign a veteran bat or an extra arm in the bullpen. Former prospect Jack Cust took a break from his duties with the Sardine City Straphangers to recap which prospects survived -- and which ones will be in next year's draft. Check it out in an all new Prospecting With Jack Cust!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Pettitte matches Mussina
Andy Pettitte, the DMBL's active leader in career losses, added another one Friday night, matching Mike Mussina for fourth all-time with 139.
Pettitte, who will retire after this season, potentially could finish his career second all-time in losses to Tom Glavine (172). He stands just a few more Ls away from David Wells (141) and Greg Maddux (142). In 24 starts this season, Pettitte is 5-9 with a 6.79 ERA. If he can stay healthy, you figure he could make as many as nine more starts in 2011.
Pettitte still boasts a better than .500 record (145-139 / .511) and barring some kind of complete collapse, should finish his career above .500. He's currently 10th all-time in wins, 9th in innings pitched (2,382), and 5th in starts (412) -- the active leader in all those categories -- as well as 11th all-time in strikeouts (1,658).
The lefthander from Louisiana will be eligible for the DMBL Hall of Fame starting in 2016.
Pettitte, who will retire after this season, potentially could finish his career second all-time in losses to Tom Glavine (172). He stands just a few more Ls away from David Wells (141) and Greg Maddux (142). In 24 starts this season, Pettitte is 5-9 with a 6.79 ERA. If he can stay healthy, you figure he could make as many as nine more starts in 2011.
Pettitte still boasts a better than .500 record (145-139 / .511) and barring some kind of complete collapse, should finish his career above .500. He's currently 10th all-time in wins, 9th in innings pitched (2,382), and 5th in starts (412) -- the active leader in all those categories -- as well as 11th all-time in strikeouts (1,658).
The lefthander from Louisiana will be eligible for the DMBL Hall of Fame starting in 2016.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Prince stops Halladay streaks
If not for Prince Fielder, Roy Halladay might still have his streaks intact.
After four innings of one-hit ball Saturday night, the Philadelphia ace yielded a double to Carolina's Hideki Matsui to lead off the 5th, before giving up a home run to Prince Fielder, snapping a scoreless stretch of 28 consecutive innings. Fielder later walked in the 7th inning, the first base on balls by Halladay in 27 1/3 innings.
Halladay gave up just one other hit after the Fielder bomb, cruising to his eight complete game of the season, the 60th of his career, a mark matched by only five other pitchers in league history. Phillly handled Carolina 6-2 as Halladay improved to 12-6.
After four innings of one-hit ball Saturday night, the Philadelphia ace yielded a double to Carolina's Hideki Matsui to lead off the 5th, before giving up a home run to Prince Fielder, snapping a scoreless stretch of 28 consecutive innings. Fielder later walked in the 7th inning, the first base on balls by Halladay in 27 1/3 innings.
Halladay gave up just one other hit after the Fielder bomb, cruising to his eight complete game of the season, the 60th of his career, a mark matched by only five other pitchers in league history. Phillly handled Carolina 6-2 as Halladay improved to 12-6.
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