This post is for voting and discussion in the 52nd round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round begins to add those players born in 1928. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading
It took the very last vote cast to break a three-way tie, but Ron Santo, in his 16th ballot appearance, eked out a one-vote victory, over both his longtime teammate Ernie Banks and Juan Marichal. Santo becomes the 51st inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats. More on Ron and the voting after the jump (down the chimney?). Continue reading
In June of 1914, “Hans” Wagner became the second major leaguer to have accumulated 3,000 regular season hits in his career. But when during that June did he reach that milestone? Continue reading
Number 1 and Number 2 in the majors in pitches thrown during each regular season, 2009-2013:
2013 Justin Verlander 3,692, James Shields 3,657
2012 Justin Verlander 3,768, James Shields 3,617
2011 Justin Verlander 3,941, Dan Haren 3,774
2010 Dan Haren 3,749, Justin Verlander 3,745
2009 Justin Verlander 3,937, Felix Hernandez 3,633
This Circle of Greats (COG) vote is not to induct anyone into the Circle, but only to select two players who will be restored back on to the main ballot after having been previously been dropped from eligibility. This fourth “redemption round” (we also held such rounds after the 1960, 1950 and 1940 rounds of voting) gives voters a chance to reconsider past candidates who have been rejected. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading
This post is for voting and discussion in the 51st round of balloting for the Circle of Greats. This round adds to the ballot those players born in 1929. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading
After two rounds of balloting in which he received powerful voting support but fell short of induction, coming in behind first Mickey Mantle and then Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews this week rose to the top to become the 50th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats. More on Eddie and the voting after the jump. Continue reading
Today is Pi Day, March 14, 3/14, which seems to have become a thing. It ‘s kind of odd, really, to rely on a simple three-digit calendar designation to commemorate a mathematical phenomenon the most intriguing aspect of which is its status as an irrational number. But, hey, any occasion that celebrates two of my favorite things, numbers and bakery products, is OK with me.
Pi taken out to the fifth decimal place is 3.14159.
Joey Votto’s current career batting average taken out to the seventh decimal place is .3141509. Joey wins this year’s Archimedes Closest to Pi award.
Other baseball 314’s are after the jump. Continue reading
Roy Halladay, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera had the three highest career pitching WAR numbers among all pitchers who were active in the majors during 2013. (As usual in my posts, WAR here is Wins Above Replacement in the baseball-reference.com version). Halladay, Pettitte and Rivera have all announced their retirements, leaving Tim Hudson as the current leader in career WAR among pitchers expected to be active in 2014. Continue reading
This post is for voting and discussion in the 50th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats. This round adds to the ballot those players born in 1930. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading