Apologies for the long wait between updates! Been a bit busy. Let’s just get into it—

First, in addition to Andy HHS and RJ Jackson (who both made their debuts for the Mariners in 2014), I missed a few other big league debuts. I apologize for that. They were:

• Dalton Mack (6 games and 7.2 innings for the Cubs with an 8.22 ERA)
• David Horwich (1 game, 3.2 scoreless innings for Kansas City)
• Hal Ensrud (2 games and 2.2 scoreless frames as a Brewer)
• Duke Sims (0.1 inning and 2 earned runs as a Phillie)

New Major League debuts:

• Whitey Chevrolet
• Nick Pain
• Brandon Robitaille
• Ryan Hennesy

Traded:

• Dan Smith (from the White Sox to the Marlins)
• Charles Simone (from the Indians to the Rockies)

Retirements:

• Bryan O’Connor: That’s right, our very own Bryan decided to hang them up before the 2015 season started. As we’re still really early in this thing, I replaced him with a pitcher named Brian O’Connor (aren’t I clever?). Hysterically, this O’Connor opted not to sign when drafted by the Mets. This guy is never going to get his career off the ground. I’ll allow retired players to re-enter for one more season. Then, if you retire, you’re out of luck!

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Most Consecutive Post-Season Games With At Least One Time On Base:
1. Miguel Cabrera 28 games (current streak)
2. Chase Utley 27 games
3. Boog Powell 25 games
T4. Carlos Beltran and Carlos Ruiz 24 games
T6. Lou Gehrig and Lance Berkman 23 games
T8. Joe Morgan and Rickey Henderson 22 games
T10. Derek Jeter and Barry Bonds 21 games

With respect to post-season hit streaks (consecutive post-season games with at least one hit), the record is 17 games, jointly held by Hank Bauer, Derek Jeter and Manny Ramirez.

Yoenis Cespedes has a current post-season hit streak going of 9 games.  If Yoenis gets a hit in tonight’s game, he will match Babe Ruth’s current post-season hit streak of ten games.

Yes, the Babe has hits in each of his ten most recent post-season games, and should he mount an unlikely post-retirement, post-death comeback Ruth could challenge the 17-game record.  The longest currently active post-season hit streak is 12, held by Al Dark, who is still alive, though at age 91 his opportunities to break the 17-game record are probably limited.  After Dark (so to speak), the holder of the next-longest current streak is Billy Martin, with hits in his last 11 post-season games.  As with the Babe, death will probably interfere with Billy’s extending that streak, though with PEDs these days, who knows?  Three actually living, albeit long-retired, guys have, like the Babe, ten-game current streaks: Hall of Famers Barry Larkin and Ryne Sandberg, plus Roy White, the fine Yankee outfielder of the 1960s and 70s.  And there is one guy with a ten-game active post-game hit streak who does have a real chance to extend it someday, Pablo Sandoval.

It’s time for another thrilling installment of “John Isn’t Doug,” in which I attempt to stump you readers long enough for Billy Hamilton to circle the bases!

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A few days ago, an HHS reader noticed that Eddie Collins had a season in 1910 with 81 runs, RBI and steals, and suggested this would be a good idea for one of my quizzes. So, as we wait for the deciding NLDS game tonight, why not?

None of these players had a triple crown season. But, they all had a season with a matched set of counting stats. What were those seasons? For bonus marks, what rookie had a matched set of 3 counting stats this season (min. 20 of each) that has never before been accomplished?

Hint: the matched counting stats are not the same for all these players. But, there is a common link connecting all of them.

Congratulations to aweb and Andrew (and others) who quickly identified that these players all had a season with their extra-base hit total matching two other counting stats. And congrats to Richard Chester for identifying Evan Gattis as the answer to the bonus question with his 21 HR, 2B and BB this season. The seasons are after the jump.

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Last night in St. Pete, the Red Sox trailed the Rays, 4-3 in the top of the ninth.  Fernando Rodney opened the frame with six balls in seven pitches, walking Will Middlebrooks (who gave way to pinch runner Xander Bogaerts), and falling behind Jacoby Ellsbury, who then blooped a single into shallow left.

Read on for more and to weigh in on John Farrell’s strategy.

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With his Dodgers on the brink of advancing to the NLCS, manager Don Mattingly named Clayton Kershaw to start game 4. It will be his first-ever start with less than four days’ rest. Kershaw had one relief outing on three days’ rest back in 2008, at the end of his rookie year, allowing three baserunners in one inning, but no runs.

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@Athletics 1, Tigers 0 (series tied, 1-1) — After winning the opener, Jim Leyland was playing with house money, and it showed. The key play of the game, before Oakland’s walk-off 9th, came in the top of the 5th inning, Tigers on the corners with one out, and leadoff man Austin Jackson at bat. On a full count, Leyland sent the runner from first base — an aggressive, almost devil-may-care stratagem. Jackson swung through a fastball for his third strikeout, and Stephen Vogt’s peg nailed Jose Iglesias to end the inning.

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Pirates 7, @Cardinals 1 — Put that in your RISP pipe, Cardinals — and look out, Tyler Chatwood! Counting today’s go-ahead RBI — the first such by a Bucs postseason pitcher — Gerrit Cole is 4 for 9 with runners in scoring position, 6 RBI. With a 6-1 lead after 6 innings (thanks, Pedro), Cole was lifted at just 86 pitches, perhaps with an eye to a potential Game 5 on Wednesday.

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Bartolo Colon allowed just 10 first-inning runs in 30 starts this year — but a 1.40 WHIP.

Here’s an assortment of notable players, with a common thread connecting them. What is the career accomplishment of which each of these players can boast?

Hint: the career accomplishment includes a particular feat that each player accomplished in his career, plus something else about his career that distinguishes the player from all others with the same feat.

Congratulations to John Autin! He correctly identified (with a little help) that these are the last active players to have homered in the traditional ballparks in use before the 1950s franchise relocations. The particulars are after the jump.

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A few quick notes of mine below the line.

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