All of these players could spark an offense, but in a variety of different ways. So, what is the unusual batting feat that only they have achieved since 1914?

Congratulations to Voomo Zanzibar (mostly) and RJ! They teamed up to identify that the quiz players are the only AL batters since 1914 to have homered in four consecutive games at the top of the batting order. Those streaks and more are after the jump.

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Brewers 3, @Pirates 2 (14 inn.) — Deja blew all over again. For the second day in a row, Ryan Braun homered off Jason Grilli with one out in the 9th, this time sending the game to bonus rounds after the Bucs had scratched out a lead in the 8th. Khris Davis, who averaged one home run per 14 trips last year, finally khonnected on his first this year, in his 69th time up. And Francisco Rodriguez capped a strong bullpen showing with his MLB-high 7th save, fanning Starling Marte for the handshakes.

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A recent SweetSpot post by David Schoenfield informally named Jeff Reboulet as “The best utility infielder of all time!” I’m sure it wasn’t meant to be a scientific choice, but since I questioned part of the premise, I set out to waste a little time on it myself.

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Good night to revisit the concept of “Mulligan ERA”….

@Rangers 12, White Sox 0 — Slightly contrasting starts: Seven in the 2nd off Felipe Paulino, all with two outs; 10 runs, 13 hits in 3.2 IP, his third straight disaster (13 IP, 28 hits, 22 ER, 10 walks, 8 whiffs, 6 HRs). Meanwhile, Martin Perez: first career CG, a 3-hitter. His last go was 8 scoreless in a 1-0 win.

• Was it just yesterday I said Chicago was the last team not involved in a shutout yet?

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Just the facts tonight.

@Phillies 1, Braves 0 —  Revenge is a dish best served cold, so the brisk chill in Philly was perfect for A.J. Burnett to return serve. After Julio Teheran stoned them in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss, the Phils had no better luck with Alex Wood through seven. But Burnett, who came in 5-12 lifetime against Atlanta, held the Braves to 3 singles in that span, letting just one man past first base. And with two gone in the 8th, Ben Revere capped his up-and-down day by waiting on Wood’s hook and chipping an RBI hit into center.

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This post is for voting and discussion in the 55th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG).  This round adds to the ballot those players born in 1926.  Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

For the fourth round in a row, an infielder has edged out Juan Marichal and Sandy Koufax.  This time Ernie Banks, who played more games for the Cubs franchise than anyone else, earned induction into the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats, as our 54th inductee.  More on Banks and the voting after the jump. Continue reading →

Athletics 10, @Angels 9 (11 inn.) — Oakland blew a late 3-run lead even without Jim Johnson’s involvement, but they still came out smiling. Josh Donaldson yanked a tie-breaking double inside third base, and the deposed $10-million closer made that enough for the win. Mike Trout had tied the game in the 9th, then got himself halfway home in the 11th with his first stolen base. Johnson used the open sack to pass the lately-potent Pujols and pursue a personal demon named Raul Ibanez; this time, the pitcher prevailed.

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What career feat distinguishes these sluggers from among all players to play their entire careers since 1901?

Congratulations to David P and Insert Name Here! They teamed up to identify that only these quiz players have had 5 consecutive seasons since 1901 (excluding seasons lost entirely to military service, in the case of Ted Williams) with 25 home runs, 30 doubles and 100 RBI, while playing at the same primary position (at least 50% of games) in each of those seasons.

More on these most consistent sluggers after the jump.

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Going free-form this time, starting with Sunday:

Miami’s 7-game skid is the first more than four this year. Chase Utley’s game-winning homer raised his BA to .500, with a hit in all 10 games played. He had a 35-gamer back in 2006; the longest in one season since 1987 is 36 by his DP mate Jimmy Rollins, whose HR won the game Saturday.

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