Another go-round with the recent format … rushed to press so we can get to chewing on the deadline deals.
Game Notes, for the run-up to Deadline Day
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Circle of Greats: 1918 Balloting
This post is for voting and discussion in the 66th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round adds to the ballot those players born in 1918, a group that includes some guys who were pretty good at baseball. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading
COG Round 65 Results: Jack Be Nimble, and Quick Into the Circle
The most important single figure in American sports history was also one of the greatest ever at playing the game of baseball. “Faster than you can say Jack Robinson” (a phrase dating back to the 18th century), Jackie Robinson becomes the 65th inductee into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats. More on Robinson and the voting, after the jump. Continue reading
Game Notes for the Week’s 2nd Series, July 24-27
I’m sticking with this format for now — a division-based look at series featuring contenders. Once again, mixed matchups are classified by the better team or series winner; and as always, I gloss over my teams’ losses.
Game Notes for July 21-24
A divisional look at this week’s opening series, with mixed matchups classified by best team or who won the set.
Game Notes from Baseball’s Return
A busy back-to-baseball weekend tightened four division races, while the others stood pat. All three NL quintets are tied, while three AL runners-up moved within two games of Seattle’s wild-card seat, and the cellar-dwelling Rays & Red Sox found some reasons to believe. A look at the series that were:
Circle of Greats: 1919 Part 2 Balloting
This post is for voting and discussion in the 65th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round completes the addition of those players born in 1919. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading
COG Round 64 Results: Circle Is Your Home, Stretch
Willie (“Stretch”) McCovey was elected to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame by the baseball writers in his first appearance on their ballot. It took McCovey a bit longer under our COG system, but in this his 27th round on the our ballot, Willie becomes the 64th inductee in the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats. More on McCovey and the voting, after the jump. Continue reading
2014 First Half: More Great Starting Pitchers … or Not?
Most of the first-half reviews that I saw made a point like this one:
“Pitchers continue to dominate. We enter the break with 21 qualified starters holding an ERA under 3.00 … Kershaw (11-2, 1.78 ERA), Adam Wainwright (12-4, 1.83) and Felix Hernandez (11-2, 2.12) highlight a season with many top pitching performers … Kershaw had a 15-strikeout no-hitter with no walks, perfect other than a fielding error behind him. Wainwright hasn’t allowed a run in nine of his 19 starts. Brilliance.”
Quiz – Throwback Players (solved)
The players in this quiz are mostly from yesteryear, with a couple of exceptions. What is the seasonal batting feat that distinguishes this group among players active since 1901?
| Rk | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ty Cobb |
| 2 | Honus Wagner |
| 3 | Max Carey |
| 4 | Eric Young |
| 5 | Tony Gwynn |
| 6 | George Case |
| 7 | George Sisler |
| 8 | Sam Rice |
| 9 | Tris Speaker |
Bonus: name the player who is on pace in 2014 to join this group.
Congratulations to John Autin, with some help from Richard Chester and others. They teamed up to identify the quiz players as those with seasons of 50 stolen bases and 25 doubles, with doubles at least as numerous as strikeouts. That combination of speed, contact hitting and a little pop has become very rare with only two such post-war seasons, though Jose Altuve is currently on pace to join this group if he can keep his doubles total level with his strikeouts. More after the jump.