2016 Team Superlatives – AL Edition

Here’s a rundown of the AL teams, highlighting a statistical quirk to watch for when you see these teams over the rest of the season.

More after the jump.

West Division

The Rangers are on pace to have their first club since 1988 with no players batting .300 or slugging .500 in 300+ PA. Despite that lack of offensive punch, Texas is currently sporting a 29-8 record (.784) in one-run games, a winning percentage more than 150 points higher than the franchise record .629 (22-13) mark in 1974 and a result due in part to a 109 tOPS when behind in a game, tied with the 1969 club for the best mark in franchise history (Tuesday’s game is a perfect example: Texas rallied from two runs down to tie in the 7th, and then came back from a run down in the 9th for a walk-off one-run win to extend their one-run record to 30-8).

Seattle has four players (Adam LindRobinson CanoNelson Cruz and Seth Smith) aged 32 or older who have already played 100 games and four more (Nori AokiFranklin GutierrezChris Iannetta and Dae-ho Lee) with a reasonable shot at doing so. If three of the latter four make it, seven players that old with 100 games played would be the most ever on a Mariners team.

One more home run for Astros‘ shortstop Carlos Correa and he will join teammate Jose Altuve to give Houston its first ever keystone combo to each record 20 home runs and 80 RBI. Only four of the previous 54 Astro teams had even one middle infielder with those totals.

Oakland has eleven pitchers who have already started 5 or more games. One more start for Ross Detwiler will make it twelve to tie the 1997 team for the most such pitchers in franchise history.

The Angels have only Mike Trout with 5 or more stolen bases. Three others (including Albert Pujols) have four thefts but if none of them swipes another base, it would be the fewest players recording 5 steals in franchise history.

Central Division

The Indians have five qualified batters (Mike NapoliJason KipnisFrancisco LindorJose Ramirez and Carlos Santana) with 100 OPS+ but none at the 115 level. If that result holds, it would be first such team in franchise history.

The Royals have a winning record and no qualified batters with 105 OPS+.  If that result holds, it would be the first such team in franchise history.

Detroit has three players (Miguel CabreraIan Kinsler and Victor Martinez) with 20 home runs and three more (Nick CastellanosJustin Upton and J.D. Martinez) just two shy of that mark. If the latter group all reach that milestone, six Tigers with 20 homers would match the 1986 team for the most in franchise history.

The White Sox have two qualified southpaws (Chris SaleJose Quintana) with 100 ERA+ and a third (Carlos Rodon) with a chance to join them. If he does, it would be only the third Chicago team and first since 1950 with three such left-handers on its staff.

The Twins have six pitchers (Ervin SantanaRicky NolascoTyler DuffeyKyle GibsonTommy Milone and Phil Hughes) with 10 starts and a losing record, tied with 9 other Twins/Senators teams for the most in franchise history. One more start for rookie Jose Berrios would make it seven and a new franchise record.

East Division

The Blue Jays have three qualified starters (Marco EstradaJ.A. HappAaron Sanchez) with 125 ERA+. If those three remain above that mark, it would be a new franchise record for the most such pitchers.

Boston has four players (Dustin PedroiaTravis ShawMookie Betts and David Ortiz) with 30 doubles and three more (Hanley RamirezXander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley) on pace to reach that total. Seven players with 30 doubles would be one shy of the Red Sox record but would match or exceed the record for 28 of the other 29 franchises.

The Orioles‘ 5 triples as a team is on pace for a franchise low and also a major league record minimum; the next lowest total for any team is 11 triples, recorded twice before (in 1981 and 1998), both times by … the Orioles. Baltimore could also set a franchise low in stolen bases; its current team total of 15 is two less than the mark set by the 1953 Browns.

The Yankees underwent a major makeover in mid-season that included trading away Carlos Beltran, their only 20 home run man. It’s thus possible that New York will finish the season with no players on its roster having 20 homers (currently Starlin Castro is closest, with 18); if that happens it will be the first time for a Yankees team since 1968.

Tampa Bay currently has no players with 40 walks (Evan Longoria leads the club with 39), putting the team on pace to become the first in franchise history without a 50 walk man.

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Jimbo
Jimbo
8 years ago

I’ve got an odd one for you.

Brett Cecil has pitched only 27.2 innings this year.

But his 7 losses are still 2nd on the Blue Jays, despite the team having 5 pitchers that have thrown over 144 innings.

Jimbo
Jimbo
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimbo

Stroman/Happ/Sanchez combine for 485 innings but only 11 losses.

Jimbo
Jimbo
8 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Stroman has a small chance too then, if he pitches 33 more innings (which he likely will) and doesn’t pick up a loss.

Jimbo
Jimbo
8 years ago
Reply to  Doug

On July 15th, Cecil was 0-6 despite only pitching 14.2 innings. That had to be the lowest number of innings ever for a pitcher to reach 6 losses, no?

Jimbo
Jimbo
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimbo

And now I notice that during one stretch this year he had 5 losses in 8.1 IP.

no statistician but
no statistician but
8 years ago

Re: Red Sox doubles:

Fenway: Ortiz 32, Betts 27, Shaw 22, Pedroia 18, Bogaerts 17, Bradley 17, Ramirez 18.

Elsewhere: Ortiz 10, Betts 8, Shaw 8, Pedroia 13, Bogaerts 11, Bradley 11, Ramirez 8.

Ortiz, Betts, Shaw, and Ramirez together are doubling at a 74.5%/25.5% rate, Home/Road.

Scary Tuna
Scary Tuna
8 years ago

With Jose Berrios back down at AAA Rochester, it might be Pat Dean who (helps?) the Twins reach a new low of seven pitchers with at least ten starts and a losing record. Dean started his eight game of the season tonight, losing to Cleveland to drop his record to 1-5. This mark should be a cinch for the Twins to reach, as none of the other six who have already logged ten starts is a serious threat to reach .500.

Doug
Doug
8 years ago
Reply to  Scary Tuna

Just a guess, but I’m thinking Berrios gets a September call-up. But, if not, as you say, Dean could be the charm.

Scary Tuna
Scary Tuna
8 years ago
Reply to  Doug

You were right on, Doug. Berrios was back on the mound today for his tenth start, and (naturally) he took the loss. I don’t know if Dean will get a shot to start two more games, as he pitched out of the bullpen today.

Doug
Doug
8 years ago
Reply to  Scary Tuna

Right now, Berrios and Dean have 40 IP and ERA over 7. Another couple of starts for Hector Santiago could make it three at that mark and a new franchise record.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago

Roughned Odor has
27 homers and 13 walks

Fewest bases on balls for a season with at least 25 homers:

13 … Odor (on pace for 16)
16 … Fred Whitfield (1965)
17 … Juan Gone
19 … Dante Bichette
19 … Andres Galarraga
19 … Glenallen Hill
19 … Ivan Rod
19 … Jorge Cantu
19 … Adam Jones
_______________________

Doug
Doug
8 years ago
Reply to  Voomo Zanzibar

Right now, Odor has the unique accomplishment of hitting twice as many home runs as walks in a qualifying season.

You have to drop PAs down to 371 to find another such season, by Mel Hall in 1990 with 12 dingers and 6 walks for the Yankees.

Hartvig
Hartvig
8 years ago

“Houston its first ever keystone combo to each record 20 home runs and 80 RBI. Only four of the previous 54 Astro teams had even one middle infielder with those totals.”

I thought for sure that had to be a mistake with Dickie Thon & Craig Biggio in the mix but Thon’s productive days were so limited because of the injury & Biggio’s RBI chances hitting leadoff

Doug
Doug
8 years ago
Reply to  Hartvig

Yup. Biggio did it just twice and Jeff Kent the other two times, in his only two seasons in Houston.

Dickie Thon was one RBI short in 1983, and Carlos Correa last year has the only other 20 HR season (with 68 RBI) by an Astro shortstop.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago

Mike Trout is on pace for 11.04 WAR 10.2 oWAR Both career highs ___________________ Pujols is on pace for 127 RBI 280 Total Bases Fewest Total Bases with at least 125 RBI: 264 … Alex Rod 267 … Luke Appling 268 … Rudy York 271 … Honus Wagner 279 … Larry Doby 280 … Del Ennis 283 … Zeke Bonura 283 … Enos Slaughter 283 … Vic Wertz 284 … Irish Meusel ___________________ He is also on pace for 1.44 WAR Lowest WAR with 125+ RBI: -2.3 .. Dante Bichette 0.6 … Dante Bichette 1.0 … Moose Solters 1.1 …… Read more »

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago
Reply to  Voomo Zanzibar

Fun with Dante:

Using the neutralizing tool, here is his 1995 season if he were a member of the 1968 Dodgers:

.340 / .364 / .620 / .984
.262 / .283 / .479 / .762

no statistician but
no statistician but
8 years ago
Reply to  Voomo Zanzibar

Voomo:

Yeah, but among qualifying batters he would have been second in BA on the team behind Haller and first in SLG and OPS by big margins. True, that team was pretty terrible at the plate. Last in runs scored and third in runs allowed.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago

Alex Bregman started his career
1-32
.031 / .088 / .031 / .119

and 2-38
.053 / .143 / .053 / .195

He didn’t let it get to him.
Since then:

.328 / .373 / .586 / .959
in 126 PA

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago

Matt Shoemaker’s skull was fractured on a line drive today. Successful surgery, thankfully, but his season is likely over. That will perhaps give Tim Lincecum another opportunity. He’s got good numbers in three starts at AAA. Right now, his 2016 is historically bad. 9 Starts 9.16 ERA 2.374 WHIP -1.5 WAR ___________________ He currently has the worst WHIP since 1901 with at least 9 starts. And it isn’t close. 2.374 … Timmy Jim 2.317 … Ryan Bowen 2.255 … Micah Bowie 2.202 … Roy Halladay 2.196 … Mike Kekich 2.192 … Dana Eveland 2.177 … Steve Blass 2.172 … Aaron… Read more »

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago

Brandon Guyer has 313 PA 29 HBP 18 BB _________________ Seasons with more HBP than BB, min 250 PA: 29/18 … Guyer 23/16 … Dan McGann (1901) 14/6 … Whitey Alperman (1906) 14/6 … Art Fletcher (1915) 14/13 … Art Fletcher (1916) 13/11 … Ryan Doumit (2005) 11/5 … Reed Johnson (2011) 10/7 … Ollie O’Mara (1918) 10/9 … Einar Diaz (2003) ____________________________________ Most HBP, less than 400 PA: 29 … Guyer* 24 … Guyer (2015) 22 … Derek Deitrich* (2016… 369 PA) 18 … Bert Daniels 18 … Mike McFarlane 18 … Kelly Shoppach …(they all led the league)… Read more »

Doug
Doug
8 years ago
Reply to  Voomo Zanzibar

You can add highest career HBP%, min. 1000 career PA. Guyer’s 6.1% is the only mark above 5%, with another active player (Derek Dietrich) second at 4.8%. Highest rate for a retired player is 4% exactly for F.P. Santangelo in 2075 PA.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago

Move over George…

WAR for 3rd basemen since 1893:

106.5 . Mike Schmidt
96.4 … Eddie Mathews
91.1 … Wade Boggs
88.6 … Adrian Beltre*
88.4 … George Brett
85.0 … Larry Jones
78.4 … Brooks Robinson
70.4 … Ron Santo
70.0 … Scott Rolen
68.0 … Graig Nettles
66.1 … Buddy Bell
_____________________________

Hartvig
Hartvig
8 years ago
Reply to  Voomo Zanzibar

I hope you’re happy about causing a great deal of confusion for my not-yet-fully-engaged brain this morning with that Larry.

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
8 years ago
Reply to  Hartvig

Hope you got some good coffee in you to get chipper.

Doug
Doug
8 years ago

Starlin Castro hit his 20th home run tonight to make it 48 years in a row for the Yankees to finish the season with a 20 home run man on the roster.