Around the majors reports--Sep 23

[nyy26wc]

1) Yesterday's results--

AL
Orioles 11, Yankees 2
Indians 4, Twins 2
A's 11, Mariners 2
BlueJays 8, Devil Rays 7
Tigers 4, Redsox 3
Rangers 5, Angels 4
Whitesox 5, Royals 4 (10)

NL
Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 5 (11)
Expos 3, Rockies 1
Reds 3, Brewers 1
Marlins 3, Phillies 2
Cardinals 4, Pirates 1
Mets 7, Braves 3
Astros 8, Cubs 4
Padres 4, Giants 3 (10)

2) Standings--

AL EAST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Yankees 88 60 .595 - 46-26 42-34 46-19 20-13 12-20 LOST 3
Redsox 75 71 .514 12 40-36 35-35 35-29 15-17 15-17 LOST 1
e--BlueJays 73 75 .493 15 37-40 36-35 34-34 15-11 16-20 WON 1
e--Orioles 58 89 .395 29 1/2 29-43 29-46 26-35 16-16 10-26 WON 3
e--Devil Rays 52 96 .351 36 29-41 23-55 19-43 13-19 10-26 LOST 1

AL CENTRAL WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Indians 85 64 .570 - 41-34 44-30 20-10 43-26 15-17 WON 1
Twins 79 70 .530 6 45-32 34-38 13-19 41-22 16-20 LOST 1
Whitesox 77 72 .517 8 43-34 34-38 16-13 36-30 13-23 WON 3
e--Tigers 59 89 .399 25 1/2 33-39 26-50 14-18 20-46 15-17 WON 1
e--Royals 58 90 .392 26 1/2 30-41 28-49 13-19 23-39 14-22 LOST 2

AL WEST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
x--Mariners 106 43 .711 - 52-22 54-21 33-12 31-10 30-15 LOST 3
A's 91 58 .611 15 47-28 44-30 31-14 27-14 21-24 WON 3
e--Angels 74 75 .497 32 38-34 36-41 24-17 24-21 16-29 LOST 2
e--Rangers 69 80 .463 37 40-38 29-42 21-20 17-28 23-22 WON 2

NL EAST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Braves 79 69 .534 - 34-38 45-31 33-29 22-14 15-17 LOST 2
Phillies 79 70 .530 1/2 45-32 34-38 38-31 15-15 19-13 LOST 1
Mets 76 73 .510 3 1/2 42-32 34-41 38-28 14-19 14-18 WON 5
Marlins 69 79 .466 10 40-30 29-49 27-35 19-17 11-21 WON 1
e--Expos 64 85 .430 15 1/2 34-43 30-42 27-40 13-20 16-15 WON 1

NL CENTRAL WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Astros 88 60 .595 - 42-32 46-28 18-12 45-28 16-14 WON 1
Cardinals 85 64 .570 3 1/2 50-26 35-38 19-11 41-30 17-16 WON 9
Cubs 81 67 .547 7 42-29 39-38 16-14 41-29 15-18 LOST 1
e--Brewers 63 86 .423 25 1/2 32-42 31-44 15-15 35-45 08-16 LOST 7
e--Reds 61 88 .409 27 1/2 25-50 36-38 12-09 31-49 14-19 WON 2
e--Pirates 55 94 .369 33 1/2 35-42 20-52 05-22 31-43 11-22 LOST 7

NL WEST WON LOST PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST CENT WEST STREAK
Diamondbacks 83 66 .557 - 41-31 42-35 18-14 19-14 39-30 LOST 1
Giants 81 68 .544 2 46-29 35-39 18-14 18-18 35-31 LOST 1
Dodgers 80 69 .537 3 43-34 37-35 17-15 23-16 34-29 WON 1
Padres 74 74 .500 8 1/2 33-41 41-33 17-15 24-15 27-35 WON 1
e--Rockies 65 83 .439 17 1/2 36-38 29-45 14-17 21-18 28-38 LOST 1

d--mathematically eliminated from winning the division title
e--mathematically eliminated from the postseason
x--clinched division title

3) Wild card standings--

AL WON LOST PCT GB
A's 91 58 .611 -
Twins 79 70 .530 12

NL WON LOST PCT GB
Cardinals 85 64 .570 -
Cubs 81 67 .547 3 1/2
Giants 81 68 .544 4
Dodgers 80 69 .537 5
Phillies 79 70 .530 6
Mets 76 73 .510 9

4) The A's will clinch the AL wild card if they beat the Mariners and the Twins lose to the Indians.

5) The Tigers passed the Royals into sole possession of 4th place in the AL Central.

6) Mariners watch--they have to go at least 11-2 in their remaining 13 games to break the 1906 Cubs's record of 116 wins

7) Magic numbers--

AL East--Yankees, 4
AL Central--Indians, 8
AL wild card--A's, 2

NL East--Braves, 15
NL Central--Astros, 11
NL West--Diamondbacks, 12
NL wild card--Cardinals, 11

8) Race for postseason seeds--

AL--The Mariners have clinched the top seed. The Yankees have a 3 1/2 game lead over the Indians for the 2nd seed.

NL--The Astros have a 5 1/2 game lead over the Diamondbacks for the top seed. The Diamondbacks have a 3 1/2 game lead over the Braves for the 2nd seed.

9) Today's schedule--

AL
Tigers (Jeff Weaver 11-15) at Redsox (Hideo Nomo 12-8), 1:05 PM
Devil Rays (Joe Kennedy 5-8) at BlueJays (Kelvim Escobar 6-6), 1:05 PM
Royals (Chad Durbin 7-15) at Whitesox (Mark Buehrle 13-8), 2:05 PM
Indians (Chuck Finley 7-6) at Twins (Eric Milton 14-6), 2:05 PM
Angels (Ramon Ortiz 12-9) at Rangers (Rick Helling 11-9), 3:05 PM
Mariners (Freddy Garcia 17-5) at A's (Mark Mulder 19-7), 4:05 PM
Yankees (Orlando Hernandez 3-6) at Orioles (Jason Johnson 10-11), 7:05 PM

NL
Braves (Tom Glavine 14-7) at Mets (Al Leiter 11-10), 1:10 PM
Marlins (Ryan Dempster 15-11) at Phillies (Brandon Duckworth 2-1), 1:35 PM
Rockies (Denny Neagle 9-7) at Expos (Mike Thurman 8-11), 1:35 PM
Cardinals (Dustin Hermanson 13-12) at Pirates (David Williams 2-6), 1:35 PM
Reds (Elmer Dessens 9-12) at Brewers (Jamey Wright 9-12), 2:05 PM
Cubs (Jon Lieber 18-6) at Astros (Tim Redding 3-1), 2:35 PM
Giants (Russ Ortiz 14-9) at Padres (Junior Herndon 2-4), 4:10 PM
Diamondbacks (Curt Schilling 20-6) at Dodgers (Terry Adams 12-7), 5:05 PM

10) Yesterday's HRs--

Jim Thome--#48
Rafael Palmeiro--#43 & #44
Troy Glaus--#39
Rich Aurilia--#34
Andruw Jones--#32
Cliff Floyd--#31
Eric Chavez--#28
Jose Cruz Jr.--#28
Fred McGriff--#27 (#8 in NL)
Trot Nixon--#23
Paul Lo Duca--#22
Ruben Sierra--#21
Robin Ventura--#21
Brian Daubach--#19
John Olerud--#18
Dmitri Young--#18
Todd Walker--#17
Adam Dunn--#15
Mark Grace--#14
Troy O'Leary--#13
Terrence Long--#12
Jose Ortiz--#12
Shane Halter--#11
Craig Wilson--#11
Todd Hundley--#9 & #10
Steve Cox--#10
Chuck Knoblauch--#8 & #9
Calvin Murray--#6
Mark Johnson--#4
Danny Bautista--#4
Timo Perez--#4
Mike Darr--#2
Brian Schneider--#1

11) HR leaders--

AL
1) Jim Thome--48*
2) Alex Rodriguez--47
3) Rafael Palmeiro--44**
4) Manny Ramirez--41
5) Troy Glaus--39*
6) Carlos Delgado--38
T7) Bret Boone--35
T7) Juan Gonzalez--35
T9) Jason Giambi--34
T9) Tino Martinez--34

NL
1) Barry Bonds--64
2) Sammy Sosa--55
3) Luis Gonzalez--53
4) Shawn Green--47
5) Todd Helton--43
6) Jeff Bagwell--37
T7) Richie Sexson--36
T7) Phil Nevin--36
T7) Chipper Jones--36
T7) Albert Pujols--36

**--hit 2 yesterday
*--hit 1 yesterday

11) Rafael Palmeiro passed Dave Kingman and tied Fred McGriff for 25th place on the all time HR list, with 444.

12) Rickey Henderson watch--hit #2989, is 11 ahead from 3000

[nyy26wc]

1) Braves P Greg Maddux had to leave yesterday's game, after just 6 pitches, due to a hyperextended right elbow. But, he is expected to be able to make his next start.

Maddux has a 2.96 ERA and 41 RSAA in 32 starts. For almost everyone else, this is a career year. For Maddux, it ranks in the bottom half of his seasons--only the 8th best RSAA of his 15 year career.

2) Miguel Tejada reached 100 RBI for the 2nd time and 2nd consecutive year.

Tejada is hitting .461 SLG, .318 OBA, .779 OPS, 0 RCAA, 7 RCAP, .498 OWP, 5.50 RC/G, 89 RC in 138 games. Tejada came into the season with a .754 career OPS, compared to a league average of .786 and a SS average of .750, along with -21 career RCAA and 4 RCAP.

He was working on a streak of improving his OPS, RCAA and RCAP every year since his career started in 1997 (except for his RCAA remaining -6 in both 1997-98). But, barring an incredible final 2 weeks, improving of his 2000 marks of .828 OPS, 11 RCAA, 16 RCAP won't occur.

3) Eric Chavez reached 100 RBI for the 1st time in his career. His previous career high was 86, in 2000.

Chavez is hitting .518 SLG, .330 OBA, .848 OPS, 15 RCAA, .580 OWP, 6.59 RC/G, 91 RC in 138 games. He came into the season with a .812 career OPS, compared to his league average of .790 and 3B average of .761, 12 career RCAA and 27 RCAP.

Tejada and Chavez became the first set of SS/3B teammates to reach 100 RBI in a season since Lou Boudreau and Ken Keltner, of the 1948 Indians.

4) Cliff Floyd reached 100 RBI for the 1st time in his career. His previous high was 91, in 2000.

Floyd is having the best year of his career, hitting .590 SLG, .387 OBA, .977 OPS, 53 RCAA, .727 OWP, 9.55 RC/G, 127 RC in 136 games. He came into the year with a .807 career OPS, compared to a league average of .775 and OF average of .799, 38 RCAA and 14 RCAP. Floyd is having career highs in SLG, OBA, OPS, RCAA, OWP, RC/G and RC.

5) The Royals called up P Mike MacDougal and placed P Paul Byrd on the 60 day DL.

6) With Josh Towers out for the rest of the season, Orioles MGR Mike Hargrove says Jose Mercedes is the leading candidate to move back into the rotation.

Mercedes is having a terrible season, with a 6.11 ERA and -26 RSAA in 30 games (28 starts). His -26 RSAA is the 2nd worst figure in the AL, ahead of only Ryan Rupe's -27. Mercedes came into the season with a 4.34 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.71, and 14 career RSAA.

With a 7-17 record, Mercedes has a chance to become the first 20 game loser since Brian Kingman lost 20 with the A's. Meanwhile, Bobby Jones (18 L) and Jimmy Anderson (17 L) are also candidates to do it.

7) The Reds called up C Tim Spehr.

Spehr has a .657 career OPS, compared to his league average of .764 and C average of .718, -22 career RCAA and -9 RCAP in 656 PA.

8) Padres MGR Bruce Bochy says it's unlikely that Tony Gwynn will be able to play any more RF during the rest of his farewell tour, due to his sore right knee.

In his final season, Gwynn is hitting .478 SLG, .390 OBA, .868 OPS, 6 RCAA, .667 OWP, 7.97 RC/G, 18 RC in 59 games.

9) Orioles OF Brady Anderson was scratched from yesterday's lineup, due to an upset stomach.

Anderson's having a terrible year, hitting just .295 SLG, .307 OBA, .602 OPS, -23 RCAA, .308 OWP, 3.50 RC/G, 42 RC in 121 games.

Anderson has the worst OPS in the league and the .061 gap between him and runner-up Carlos Guillen is the biggest gap between any 2 players who are right next to each other on the list.

10) Mets RF Matt Lawton had to leave yesterday's game, due to a mild strain in his left hamstring, and is day to day.

In 40 games since the trade, Lawton's hitting .383 SLG, .360 OBA, .743 OPS, 0 RCAA, .506 OWP, 5.68 RC/G, 24 RC.

[nyy26wc]

1) Brewers MGR Davey Lopes gets a stupidity award for this report, from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel--"Because Hernandez has exceeded all expectations defensively at shortstop and ranks second in the NL to Rich Aurilia with 23 home runs and 74 RBI, Lopes says he can live with the high strikeout total. Lopes is even willing to ignore Hernandez's low walk total (36) and on-base percentage (.305).

"'I think he has put himself in an elite status among shortstops,' Lopes said. 'Day in and day out, he's showing he can be as good as anybody in the league.'"

Lopes is right about who cares about the SO. Under the rules of baseball are amended, a SO counts no more in the out category than other outs.

But, Hernandez is only hitting .446 SLG, .304 OBA, .750 OPS, -15 RCAA, .414 OWP, 4.87 RC/G, 71 RC in 143 games. Costing your 15 runs a season is not a good way to become an elite player. But, if it is, then the object of building a team will be to avoid elite players.

Costing his team runs is nothing new for Hernandez. This is his 11th year in the majors and he's posting his 11th career negative RCAA, with this being his 4th year with a double digit negative figure. Hernandez came into the year with -88 career RCAA and -51 RCAP.

2) Yankees SS Derek Jeter was given a routine day off yesterday.

Jeter's hitting .479 SLG, .379 OBA, .858 OPS, 33 RCAA, .650 OWP, 7.70 RC/G, 115 RC in 139 games. This is his 4th consecutive year with 30+ RCAA and he came into the year with a .862 career OPS, compared to his league average of .783 and SS average of .735, along with 161 RCAA and 220 RCAP.

Jeter has successfully avoided becoming an "elite" player by Lopes's standard. Counting this season, such an elite player would have cost their team 90 runs over Jeter's 6 years as a starter. The enormous 284 run disparity between a 194 RCAA and a -90 RCAA easily disqualifies Jeter from elite status.

3) Giants C Benito Santiago says he's disappointed the team is only offering him a 1 year, $1.5 million contract, with an option for 2003, instead of a 2 year offer to made to them.

4) The Mariners have a 3 game losing streak for the 1st time this season and they have lost a road series for the 1st time.

5) The Astros called up P Wilfredo Rodriguez.

6) On Friday, Todd Helton reached 500 career RBI.

Over the course of his career, Helton has 307 RBI in Coors Field and 193 on the road.

Helton ranks 6th in the NL with 64 RCAA.

7) Cubs P Tom Gordon and MGR Don Baylor are denying rumors that Gordon will miss the rest of the season. Before Thursday's game, Baylor said Gordon was available and yesterday's Chicago Sun-Times reported Baylor said he didn't see any reason why Gordon couldn't pitch this weekend. Then, yesterday afternoon, Baylor said Gordon told him he'd be available by the middle of the week.

8) Cardinals CF Jim Edmonds had to leave yesterday's game, after tweaking his shoulder, and MGR Tony LaRussa says he doesn't know if Edmonds will play today.

Edmonds is hitting .533 SLG, .390 OBA, .923 OPS, 30 RCAA, .647 OWP, 8.17 RC/G, 105 RC in 138 games. This could be his 3rd year with a .900+ OPS and 30+ RCAA.

9) The Diamondbacks tied the major league record with 9 players with 100+ hits. The AP reports "Three teams have accomplished the feat, the last being St. Louis in 1979." However, my database says it's the 11th time it's been done in the NL.

Also, AP reported they tied the NL record, but they also tied the major league mark. It's also been done 30 times in the AL (coming into this year), with only the 1925 Athletics and 1934 Tigers doing it without the DH.

10) The Rangers set a team record with 231 HR, breaking the mark of 230, in 1999.

[nyy26wc]

100+ RBI BY SS/3B TEAMMATES

1925 Pirates Glenn Wright--121 Pie Traynor--106
1927 Pirates Glenn Wright--105 Pie Traynor--106
1937 Redsox Joe Cronin--110 Mike Higgins--106
1948 Indians Lou Boudreau--106 Ken Keltner--119
2001 A's Miguel Tejada--100 Eric Chavez--101

[nyy26wc]

NL TEAMS WITH 9 PLAYERS WITH 100+ HITS

1893 Phillies
1899 Phillies
1921 Pirates
1922 Phillies
1923 Phillies
1928 Giants
1937 Pirates
1972 Pirates
1976 Pirates
1979 Cardinals
2001 Diamondbacks

[NetShrine]

Lee - have to ask:

"Rickey Henderson watch--hit #2989, is 11 ahead from 3000"

Why not "away"?

[nyy26wc]

Stupid typo.

For the record, I'm claiming innocence here and am blaming my keyboard for allowing the wrong sequence of letters to appear.

No, actually, I have a better excuse. I typed the correct word, but once the message got sent to my lists, the modem took over and changed the word. Then, when it came time to cut and paste the reports here, the incorrect word appeared in the reports.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.:jester:

Either that or :homer: made me do it.

[NetShrine]

I'm a big believer in the power of D'oh!