While researching ballplayers of the nineties, I discovered that in 1993, Jeff King of the Pirates drove in 98 runs while hitting only nine home runs and slugging just .406. I then wondered if any player has ever driven in 100 runs with fewer than 10 homers or with a slugging percentage under .400. Upon further investigation, I found that in 1996 – the year he turned 40 during the Dog Days of August – Paul Molitor hit just nine homers but accumulated 113 RBI’s while playing for the Twins. Thanks to his American League-leading 225 hits and batting two hitters behind leadoff man Chuck Knoblauch in the midst of his best season (.448 OBP), Molitor led the Twins in both hitting (.341) and Runs Batted In. I have yet to find a player with a season of 100+ RBI’s despite a slugging percentage under .400 (Molitor’s was a healthy .468), but I will continue searching.
How ‘bout that?
How about Roy Halladay? In a classy move following his trade to the Phillies, Halladay wrote an open letter to Blue Jays fans in a full-page ad in the Toronto Sun, thanking them for their “overwhelming passion and devotion.” Halladay, the longest-tenured member of the Jays, will remain in the team record books for quite some time. He is second to Dave Stieb in wins by a Blue Jays pitcher with 148, and during his big-league career, which began in 1998, he represented the Jays in six All-Star games, came within one out of a no-hitter in his second major league start, and set a single-season franchise record with 22 wins in 2003, when he won the Cy Young Award. He also threw 49 Complete Games, including 15 shutouts, good for third and second, respectively, in Blue Jays history. Halladay’s good-bye makes me feel good as a baseball fan.
How about Milton Bradley? Traded to the Mariners two weeks ago, Bradley will play for his eighth major league team this season. Even with free agency playing the role it does today, it is rare to see any player move around quite so much. What is especially noteworthy, though, is the fact that Bradley has only been a free agent twice, meaning at the age of 31, he’s been traded five times. Since making it to the bigs mid-season in 2000, the outfielder has donned the uniforms of the Expos, Indians, Dodgers, Athletics, Padres, Rangers, and Cubs. At this rate, Bradley should pass Rickey Henderson (nine different teams) and Kenny Lofton (11) before long, and could break the record of 12, held by Mike Morgan and active pitcher Ron Villone. The free agent Villone, however, could further the challenge for Bradley by signing with a new team himself this offseason.
How about the Yankees? Not standing pat after the Curtis Granderson acquisition, the Bronx Bombers first brought back Nick Johnson to replace Hideki Matsui as Designated Hitter and then bolstered their rotation, adding another Cy Young candidate in Javier Vazquez (15-10, 2.87 E.R.A., 1.026 WHIP in 2009) who they took off the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Vazquez’s 238 strikeouts were second only to Tim Lincecum’s 261 among National League pitchers. GM Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office are making a strong statement as they attempt to defend their first World Series championship since 2000.
Pitching tales of 2009
With 2009 behind us, I’d like to share two of the crazy occurrences on the baseball diamond from the past season. Both involve little-known position players who took the hill either to save their team’s bullpen in blowouts, or because their bullpen had been emptied, one pitcher at a time. First, journeyman shortstop Josh Wilson played for three different teams and pitched for two of them, even recording a loss against one of those teams! After scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth before going scoreless for the next eight innings, the Padres gave Wilson the ball in the top of the 18th inning of a game against the Diamondbacks, but saw him surrender a three-run homer to take the loss. If you think that’s the non-pitcher’s pitching line of the year, consider this: Red Sox infielder Nick Green, despite walking three, pitched two scoreless, hitless innings in a game against the White Sox!
Keywords: Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Brian Cashman, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chuck Knoblauch, Cleveland Indians, Curtis Granderson, Dave Stieb, Hideki Matsui, Javier Vazquez, Jeff King, Josh Wilson, Kenny Lofton, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mike Morgan, Milton Bradley, Minnesota Twins, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, Nick Green, Nick Johnson, Oakland Athletics, Paul Molitor, Pittsburgh Pirates, Rickey Henderson, Ron Villone, Roy Halladay, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Tim Lincecum, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Sun
