Friday, April 29, 2016

World Series: Did You Know?

There was a two-hitter thrown in the opening tilt three straight years: 1948, 1949, 1950!

It was the strong Cleveland Indians vs. the upstart Boston Braves in 1948. And it was no surprise to see Bob Feller starting for the Indians. The Braves countered with Johnny Sain. The game is best remembered for a controversial call at second on a pickoff play.

Feller, pitching great on the road, battled Sain to a scoreless deadlock through 7 1/2 innings. Bob was working on a fine one-hitter. However, in the bottom of the eighth, catcher Bill Salkeld drew a leadoff walk. Phil Masi ran for him. Feller then pitched to Mike McCormick, who got the bunt down and moved Masi into scoring position. That should have been as far as Masi got. Eddie Stanky was walked intentionally. He, too, left for a pinch runner as Sibby Sisti came in to run. But it was the other pinch runner that had Feller's attention. Bob whirled around and fired a perfect strike to Lou Boudreau to catch 'em napping at second. However, Bill Stewart, the umpire at second, said that Masi made it back safely. There has been much debate. But there was no debate that Tommy Holmes later knocked home the game's only run with a single later that inning. Feller completed the two-hitter, and lost 1-0 to Sain.

In 1949, it was a classic Yankees / Dodgers duel. And while the series only lasted five games, the first two contests were 1-0. Allie Reynolds needed the two-hitter, as Don Newcombe matched him all the way. All Newk had was a four-hitter and eleven strikeouts through eight innings in this brilliant scoreless game at Yankee Stadium. Newk though, fell behind 3-0 to Tommy Henrich in the bottom of the ninth. Needing to throw a strike to Old Reliable, Newk ended up throwin his last pitch. Henrich hit a home run to right. Reynolds finally was rewarded. Only Pee Wee Reese and Spider Jorgensen could brag about hitting safely against Superchief!

The next year saw Vic Raschi join Allie with a two-hitter of his own in game one. Reynolds would have to the second contest to pitch. Raschi made sure it was the mighty Bronx Bombers with a win at Shibe Park. The upstart Philadelphia Phillies sent their top relief pitcher, Jim Konstanty out to the mound in this game. And amazingly, Jim didn't pitch like someone making his first start of the season. He matched Vic all the way. When the smoke had cleared however, big Jim found himself in the same boat as Don Newcombe the year before at this very same stage: a 1-0 loser!

But Jim had allowed just five hits, like Don. However, the Phillies could only get two hits, both in the bottom of the fifth. Neither of them led to any scoring, of course. The Yankees went on to a sweep of The Whiz Kids.


References


Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, 2005. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 29 Apr. 2016.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

NHL Playoff Predictions: Washington vs. Pittsburgh

2016 NHL Playoff Predictions: Metropolitan Division Finals

Washington (1) vs. Pittsburgh (2)

Washington Will In If: Bradon Holtby continues his strong playoff. He could have cracked after seeing the Flyers come back win amazing shutout wins in games four and five, but Bradon held his nerve. That shutout in game six, right there in Philadelphia shows me he's ready. Oh, and there's a guy named Ovie on this team. Look for him to continue to weave his magic.

Pittsburgh Will Win If: Matt Murray can somehow continue his excellence. But personally speaking, I doubt he can. Based on everything I've read, it seems unlikely that Marc Andre Fleury can return for this round, as he's still dealing with concussion problems. It really is too bad. This has all the makings of a classic, and Fleury could have been the difference maker. Yes, I know about Crosby, Malkin, Letang and now Kessel, plus Patric Hornqvist and Carl Hagelin. However, with an obvious weakness in goal, the Pens are finally up against a Capitals team that is destined to beat the Penguins for the first time since 1994.

My Pick: Washington in six.


References

Official Site of the National Hockey League | NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.  <https://www.nhl.com>.

Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

2016 Playoff Predictions

Atlantic Division Finals

Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs. New York Islanders (WC1)

The Story So Far: Tampa Bay beat Detroit for the second straight year, this time in just five games. However, it was no cakewalk, as a break or two and this series might still be playing. The Islanders pulled off an upset as they needed six games to finish off the Florida Panthers. However that, too, could have gone seven.

The Lightning Will Win If: They continue to get superb goaltending from Ben Bishop. Slowly but surely, Ben is building up a strong playoff reputation. So far these playoffs, he's 4-1, 1.61 and .950. Combine that with taking the Lightning to within two games of the Stanley Cup last year, and he could be on his way to a terrific career in the playoffs. Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Alex Killborn have picked up the slack from Steven Stamkos' absence. If they keep this up, watch out on the island.

The Islanders Will Win If: Jonathan Tavares keeps up what he's doing. So far, he's tops in the 16-team tournament in goals with five (Not to mention his nine points!). And Thomas Greiss is playing some amazing goal in Jaroslav Halak's absence. He's just back of Bishop with a 4-2 record, 1.79 GAA, and a save percentage of .944. He'll need to match Bishop save-for-save in this series. The Islanders got a nice performance from Kyle Okposo. Look for him to make a contribution in this second round matchup. And they'll need to.

My Pick: Lightning in six games!


References

Official Site of the National Hockey League | NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <https://www.nhl.com>.

Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Looks Like I Found A "Guy" From 1921

Well, finding some great relief pitchers from the 1920s is no easy task. But I found a guy. That would be Guy Morton of the Cleveland Indians in 1921. He posted a fine ERA, won eight games and lost only three, although he failed to register a save. Still, Guy appeared 23 times in relief, finishing 15 games. His nickname was the "Alabama Blossom!"


Stat Set 1



Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Crandall 1913 35 27 0.771 97.2 4 4
               
Wolfgang 1914 24 12 0.500 119.1 9 5
               
Mays 1915 38 27 0.711 131.2 6 5
               
Danforth 1917 50 26 0.520 173.0 11 6
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Morton 1921 30 15 0.500 107.2 8 3
               
Baumgartner 1925 37 9 0.243 113.1 6 3
               
Marberry 1926 64 47 0.734 138.0 12 7
               
Haid 1928 27 14 0.519 47.0 2 2
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Quinn 1932 39 29 0.744 64.1 5 4
               
Russell 1933 50 31 0.620 124.0 12 6
               
Brown 1938 51 32 0.627 132.2 15 9
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Beggs 1940 37 27 0.730 76.2 12 3
               
Murphy 1941 35 31 0.886 77.1 8 3
               
Adams 1943 70 52 0.743 140.1 11 7
               
Heving 1944 63 38 0.603 119.2 8 3
               
Maltzberger 1944 46 41 0.891 91.1 10 5
               
Page 1949 60 48 0.800 135.1 13 8
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Konstanty 1950 74 62 0.838 152.0 16 7
               
Wilhelm 1952 71 32 0.451 159.1 15 3
               
Paige 1952 46 35 0.761 138.0 12 10
               
Kinder 1953 69 52 0.754 107.0 10 6
               
Mossi 1954 40 18 0.450 93.0 6 1
               
Narleski 1955 60 36 0.600 111.2 9 1
               
Freeman 1956 64 47 0.734 108.2 14 5
               
Farrell 1957 52 32 0.615 83.1 10 2
               
Zuverink 1957 56 37 0.661 112.2 10 6
               
Hyde 1958 53 44 0.830 103.0 10 3
               
Duren 1959 41 29 0.707 76.2 3 6
               
Staley 1959 67 37 0.552 116.1 8 5
               
Face 1959 57 47 0.825 93.1 18 1
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
McDaniel 1960 63 47 0.746 104.1 12 4
               
Arroyo 1961 65 54 0.831 119.0 15 5
               
Fox 1961 39 25 0.641 57.1 5 2
               
Radatz 1963 66 58 0.879 131.1 15 6
               
Perranoski 1963 69 47 0.681 129.0 16 3
               
Lee 1964 64 39 0.609 137.0 6 5
               
Ellis 1964 52 32 0.615 122.1 10 3
               
Miller 1965 67 55 0.821 112.1 14 7
               
Regan 1966 65 48 0.738 116.2 14 1
               
Abernathy 1967 70 61 0.871 106.1 6 3
               
Wood 1968 88 46 0.523 159.0 13 12
               
Tatum 1969 45 33 0.733 86.1 7 2
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Williams 1970 68 36 0.529 113.1 10 1
               
McMahon 1970 61 44 0.721 94.1 9 5
               
Sanders 1971 83 77 0.928 136.1 7 12
               
Giusti 1972 54 44 0.815 74.2 7 4
               
Hiller 1973 65 60 0.923 125.1 10 5
               
Borbon 1973 80 36 0.450 121.0 11 4
               
Marshall 1974 106 83 0.783 208.1 15 12
               
Gossage 1975 62 49 0.790 141.2 9 8
               
Eastwick 1976 71 59 0.831 107.2 11 5
               
Lyle 1977 72 60 0.833 137.0 13 5
               
Sutter 1977 62 48 0.774 107.1 7 3
               
Blair 1978 70 56 0.800 100.1 7 6
               
Stanley 1978 52 35 0.673 141.2 15 2
               
Tekulve 1979 94 67 0.713 134.1 10 8
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
McGraw 1980 57 48 0.842 92.1 5 4
               
Fingers 1981 47 41 0.872 78.0 6 3
               
Caudill 1982 70 64 0.914 95.2 12 9
               
Hernandez 1984 80 68 0.850 140.1 9 3
               
Lamp 1985 53 11 0.208 105.2 11 0
               
Eichhorn 1986 69 38 0.551 157.0 14 6
               
Henke 1987 72 62 0.861 94.0 0 6
               
Burke 1987 55 30 0.545 91.0 7 0
               
Henneman 1988 65 51 0.785 91.1 9 6
               
Lancaster 1989 42 15 0.357 72.2 4 2
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Eckersley 1990 63 61 0.968 73.1 4 2
               
Thigpen 1990 77 73 0.948 88.2 4 6
               
Henry 1991 32 25 0.781 36.0 2 1
               
Ward 1992 79 35 0.443 101.1 7 4
               
Rojas 1992 68 26 0.382 100.2 7 1
               
Wetteland 1993 70 58 0.829 85.1 9 3
               
Harvey 1993 59 54 0.915 69.0 1 5
               
Hoffman 1998 66 61 0.924 73.0 4 2
               
Urbina 1998 64 59 0.922 69.1 6 3
               
Williamson 1999 62 40 0.645 93.1 12 7
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Rhodes 2001 71 16 0.225 68.0 8 0
               
Smoltz 2003 62 55 0.887 64.1 0 2
               
Timlin 2005 81 27 0.333 80.1 7 3
               
Nathan 2006 64 61 0.953 68.1 7 0
               
Putz 2007 68 65 0.956 71.2 6 1
               
Rivera 2008 64 60 0.938 70.2 6 5
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Bell 2010 67 57 0.851 70.0 6 1
               
Cook 2012 71 23 0.324 73.1 6 2
               
Chapman 2012 68 52 0.765 71.2 5 5
               
Johnson 2012 71 63 0.887 68.2 2 1
               
Davis 2014 70 11 0.157 72.0 9 2
               
Rondon 2015 72 47 0.653 70.0 6 4
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L


Stat Set 2



Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Crandall 1913 6 ? ? ? 2.86 42 3.9 1.290 0.5
                     
Wolfgang 1914 0 ? ? ? 1.89 50 3.8 1.073 1.8
                     
Mays 1915 7 ? ? ? 2.60 65 4.4 1.063 1.0
                     
Danforth 1917 9 ? ? ? 2.65 79 4.1 1.324 3.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Morton 1921 0 ? ? ? 2.76 45 3.8 1.207 2.3
                     
Baumgartner 1925 3 ? ? ? 3.57 18 1.4 1.368 2.5
                     
Marberry 1926 22 ? ? ? 3.00 43 2.8 1.348 3.1
                     
Haid 1928 5 ? ? ? 2.30 21 4.0 1.064 0.4
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Quinn 1932 13 ? ? ? 2.66 24 3.5 1.383 1.1
                     
Russell 1933 13 ? ? ? 2.69 28 2.0 1.218 3.1
                     
Brown 1938 5 ? ? ? 3.80 55 3.7 1.500 0.4
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Beggs 1940 7 4 0.636 0 2.00 25 2.9 1.161 2.2
                     
Murphy 1941 15 7 0.682 0 1.98 29 3.4 1.397 2.2
                     
Adams 1943 9 2 0.818 0 2.82 46 3.0 1.254 3.0
                     
Heving 1944 10 ? ? 0 1.96 46 3.5 1.228 1.9
                     
Maltzberger 1944 12 ? ? ? 2.96 49 4.8 1.095 1.8
                     
Page 1949 27 11 0.711 0 2.59 99 6.6 1.315 4.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Konstanty 1950 22 4 0.846 0 2.66 56 3.3 1.039 4.7
                     
Wilhelm 1952 11 1 0.917 1 2.43 108 6.1 1.155 2.7
                     
Paige 1952 10 5 0.667 1 3.07 91 5.9 1.254 3.4
                     
Kinder 1953 27 8 0.771 4 1.85 39 3.3 1.140 4.5
                     
Mossi 1954 7 0 1.000 0 1.94 55 5.3 1.022 3.3
                     
Narleski 1955 19 2 0.905 6 3.71 94 7.6 1.281 2.5
                     
Freeman 1956 18 3 0.857 2 3.40 50 4.1 1.344 2.6
                     
Farrell 1957 10 3 0.769 0 2.38 54 5.8 1.320 2.4
                     
Zuverink 1957 9 8 0.529 0 2.48 36 2.9 1.278 2.7
                     
Hyde 1958 18 5 0.783 0 1.75 49 4.3 1.136 4.9
                     
Duren 1959 14 7 0.667 1 1.88 96 11.3 1.200 3.8
                     
Staley 1959 15 4 0.789 2 2.24 54 4.2 1.169 2.5
                     
Face 1959 10 9 0.526 1 2.70 69 6.7 1.243 3.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
McDaniel 1960 26 6 0.813 1 1.29 95 8.2 0.863 6.0
                     
Arroyo 1961 29 10 0.744 1 2.19 87 6.6 1.109 3.3
                     
Fox 1961 12 2 0.857 3 1.41 32 5.0 1.012 2.6
                     
Radatz 1963 25 3 0.893 0 1.97 162 11.0 1.096 5.7
                     
Perranoski 1963 21 8 0.724 0 1.67 75 5.2 1.202 4.5
                     
Lee 1964 19 8 0.704 1 1.51 111 7.3 1.058 4.3
                     
Ellis 1964 14 2 0.875 1 2.57 125 9.2 1.054 3.1
                     
Miller 1965 24 1 0.960 1 1.89 104 7.8 0.997 4.3
                     
Regan 1966 21 7 0.750 1 1.62 88 6.8 0.934 5.0
                     
Abernathy 1967 28 6 0.824 1 1.27 88 7.4 0.978 6.2
                     
Wood 1968 16 5 0.762 7 1.87 74 4.2 1.006 5.4
                     
Tatum 1969 22 1 0.957 2 1.36 65 6.8 1.042 4.3
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Williams 1970 15 4 0.789 7 1.99 76 6.0 1.032 2.8
                     
McMahon 1970 19 5 0.792 0 2.96 74 7.1 1.219 3.0
                     
Sanders 1971 31 4 0.886 0 1.91 80 5.3 1.064 4.1
                     
Giusti 1972 22 5 0.815 0 1.93 54 6.5 1.058 2.3
                     
Hiller 1973 38 0 1.000 0 1.44 124 8.9 1.021 8.1
                     
Borbon 1973 14 5 0.737 6 2.16 60 4.5 1.421 2.5
                     
Marshall 1974 21 12 0.636 9 2.42 143 6.2 1.186 3.1
                     
Gossage 1975 26 5 0.839 1 1.84 130 8.3 1.193 8.2
                     
Eastwick 1976 26 9 0.743 1 2.09 70 5.9 1.115 2.8
                     
Lyle 1977 26 8 0.765 1 2.17 68 4.5 1.197 3.7
                     
Sutter 1977 31 9 0.775 0 1.34 129 10.8 0.857 6.5
                     
Stanley 1978 10 5 0.667 1 2.60 38 2.2 1.242 4.1
                     
Blair 1978 28 5 0.848 2 1.97 91 8.2 1.246 4.1
                     
Tekulve 1979 31 6 0.838 8 2.79 75 5.0 1.176 3.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
McGraw 1980 20 5 0.800 0 1.46 75 7.3 0.921 4.7
                     
Fingers 1981 28 6 0.824 0 1.04 61 7.0 0.872 4.2
                     
Caudill 1982 26 6 0.813 0 2.35 111 10.4 1.045 4.4
                     
Hernandez 1984 32 1 0.970 0 1.92 112 7.2 0.941 4.8
                     
Lamp 1985 2 5 0.286 8 3.32 68 5.8 1.164 1.3
                     
Eichhorn 1986 10 4 0.714 7 1.72 166 9.5 0.955 7.4
                     
Henke 1987 34 8 0.810 1 2.49 128 12.3 0.926 3.3
                     
Burke 1987 18 4 0.818 5 1.19 58 5.7 0.890 4.3
                     
Henneman 1988 22 7 0.759 2 1.87 58 5.7 1.051 3.3
                     
Lancaster 1989 8 3 0.727 7 1.36 56 6.9 1.032 3.9
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Eckersley 1990 48 2 0.960 0 0.61 73 9.0 0.614 3.3
                     
Thigpen 1990 57 8 0.877 0 1.83 70 7.1 1.038 3.4
                     
Henry 1991 15 1 0.938 3 1.00 28 7.0 0.833 2.2
                     
Ward 1992 12 4 0.750 24 1.95 103 9.1 1.135 3.1
                     
Rojas 1992 10 1 0.909 13 1.43 70 6.3 1.043 3.9
                     
Wetteland 1993 43 1 0.977 0 1.37 113 12.0 1.008 4.2
                     
Harvey 1993 45 4 0.918 0 1.70 73 9.5 0.841 4.0
                     
Hoffman 1998 53 1 0.981 0 1.48 86 10.6 0.849 4.1
                     
Urbina 1998 34 4 0.895 0 1.30 94 12.2 1.010 3.2
                     
Williamson 1999 19 7 0.731 5 2.41 107 10.3 1.039 2.8
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Rhodes 2001 3 4 0.429 31 1.72 83 11.0 0.853 2.5
                     
Smoltz 2003 45 4 0.918 0 1.12 73 10.2 0.870 3.3
                     
Timlin 2005 13 7 0.650 24 2.24 59 6.6 1.320 2.9
                     
Nathan 2006 36 2 0.947 0 1.58 95 12.5 0.790 3.3
                     
Putz 2007 40 2 0.952 0 1.38 82 10.3 0.698 4.0
                     
Rivera 2008 39 1 0.975 0 1.40 77 9.8 0.665 4.3
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Bell 2010 47 3 0.940 0 1.93 86 11.1 1.200 1.9
                     
Cook 2012 14 7 0.667 21 2.09 80 9.8 0.941 2.6
                     
Chapman 2012 38 5 0.884 6 1.51 122 15.3 0.809 3.6
                     
Johnson 2012 51 3 0.944 0 2.49 41 5.4 1.019 2.4
                     
Davis 2014 3 3 0.500 33 1.00 109 13.6 0.847 3.7
                     
Rondon 2015 30 4 0.882 8 1.67 69 8.6 1.000 2.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR


Notes

Baumgartner appeared as a starter twelve times

Wolfgang appeared as a starter eleven times.

Danforth appeared as a starter nine times.

Morton appeared as a starter seven times.

Paige and Mays appeared as a starter six times.

Marberry, Mossi, Lee and Ellis appeared as a starter five times.

Russell, Stanley and Adams appeared as a starter three times.

Brown, McDaniel, Wood and Crandall appeared as a starter two times.

Beggs, Quinn, Narleski and McGraw appeared once as a starter.

Maltzberger, Hyde, Konstanty, Duren, Tekulve and Henke all wore glasses.



References

Sports Reference LLC. "Guy Morton Pitching Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mortogu01-pitch.shtml. Web. 26 Apr. 2016