Weekend BlogAugust 25, 2007
Weekend Musings
By The Baseball Analysts Staff

  • Is the Friday night game (or should I say the Saturday morning game) between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers over yet?

  • Micah Owings hit his fourth home run of the season last night, tying Clint Hartung for the most HR by a first-year pitcher ever. Hartung also played seven games in left field for the New York Giants during his rookie season.

          Player            HR Year Age
+----+-----------------+--+----+---+
    1 Micah Owings       4 2007  24 
    2 Clint Hartung      4 1947  24 
    3 Don Larsen         3 1953  23 
    4 Ernie Wingard      3 1924  23 
    5 Kerry Wood         2 1998  21 
    6 John Montefusco    2 1974  24 
    7 Don Durham         2 1972  23 
    8 Tom Griffin        2 1969  21 
    9 Ken Tatum          2 1969  25 
   10 Eddie Watt         2 1966  25 
   11 Sonny Siebert      2 1964  27 
   12 Jack Curtis        2 1961  24 
   13 Gary Blaylock      2 1959  27 
   14 Babe Birrer        2 1955  25 
   15 Arnold Carter      2 1944  26 
   16 Clise Dudley       2 1929  25 
   17 Chad Kimsey        2 1929  22 
   18 Jess Doyle         2 1925  27 
   19 Wayland Dean       2 1924  22 
   20 Leo Dickerman      2 1923  26 
   21 Doc Crandall       2 1908  20 
   22 Tom Fisher         2 1904  23

    Source: Baseball-Reference.com Play Index

    Owings, who went yard twice in his last start vs. Atlanta on August 18, has now slugged four homers in the last month. He went 4-for-5 vs. the Braves while driving in six runs, scoring four times, and pitching three-hit ball through seven innings in a 12-6 victory.

    The 6-foot-5, 220-pound RHP/RHB was a terrific two-way player for Tulane and Georgia Tech. Arizona drafted him in the third round in 2005. He went a combined 21-for-55 (.382) with a home run and 13 RBI with Tucson (AAA) and Tennessee (AA) in 2006. In his senior season in high school in 2002, Owings hit a single-season Georgia state record 25 home runs.

    - Posted by Rich Lederer on 8/25/07 at 10:31 a.m. PT

  • Curtis Granderson hit two triples against the Yankees in that Friday night/Saturday morning game and now has 21 three baggers on the season. He is on pace to hit 26 triples, which would tie him for second in the modern baseball era.

    SINGLE-SEASON LEADERS IN TRIPLES
    MODERN ERA (1900-PRESENT)

                                  YEAR       3B     
1    Chief Wilson             1912       36   
T2   Sam Crawford             1914       26   
T2   Joe Jackson              1912       26   
T2   Kiki Cuyler              1925       26   
T5   Tom Long                 1915       25   
T5   Sam Crawford             1903       25   
T5   Larry Doyle              1911       25   
T8   Ty Cobb                  1917       24   
T8   Ty Cobb                  1911       24   
T10  Ty Cobb                  1912       23   
T10  Adam Comorosky           1930       23   
T10  Earle Combs              1927       23   
T10  Sam Crawford             1913       23   
T10  Dale Mitchell            1949       23

    Granderson has already tied for second in the post-World War II/Jackie Robinson era.

                                  YEAR       3B     
1    Dale Mitchell            1949       23
T2   Curtis Granderson        2007       21        
T2   Lance Johnson            1996       21   
T2   Willie Wilson            1985       21   
T4   Stan Musial              1946       20   
T4   Willie Mays              1957       20   
T4   George Brett             1979       20   
T4   Cristian Guzman          2000       20   
T8   Garry Templeton          1979       19   
T8   Ryne Sandberg            1984       19   
T8   Juan Samuel              1984       19   
T8   Carl Crawford            2004       19

    The Detroit Tigers lead-off hitter is putting up some remarkable stats this year. With 32 doubles, 21 triples, and 16 home runs through Saturday's action, he is projected to produce 87 extra-base hits over the full season. Moreover, he has an outside shot at a 40-20-20 campaign. Here are the players who have accomplished this feat:

    SINGLE SEASON
    2B >= 40, 3B >= 20, HR >= 20

                                  YEAR    XBH     2B      3B      HR     
1    Jim Bottomley            1928     93     42      20      31   
2    George Brett             1979     85     42      20      23

    Source: Complete Baseball Encyclopedia

    Granderson's splits are noteworthy. He is blistering righthanders but hasn't hit a lick against southpaws. He is also performing better on the road than at home.

               AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
vs. RHP   .323  .383  .603  .986
vs. LHP   .154  .207  .269  .476

               AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
Road      .307  .358  .582  .941
Home      .267  .336  .479  .815

    Interestingly, while I was putting up this post, Granderson led off the NYY@DET game with an inside-the-park home run. He sliced a ball down the left field line that Hideki Matsui couldn't reach and the ball got past him and trickled into the corner, allowing the speedy Granderson to circle the bases for his 17th HR of the season.

    - Posted by Rich Lederer, 8/26/07, 10:24 a.m. PT

  • Speaking of unusual statistical achievements, Jose Reyes leads the major leagues with 70 stolen bases and is tied for 50th on the single-season list. He is likely to become the first player to steal 75 since Kenny Lofton in 1996 and 80 since Rickey Henderson (93) and Vince Coleman (81) pulled that trick in 1988.

    Twenty-eight of the top 50 seasons took place during the 1980s. Six of the eight 100 SB marks (led by Henderson's 130 in 1982) also happened during the "Elusive Eighties."

    - Posted by Rich Lederer, 8/26/07, 6:45 p.m. PT

    • Comments

    Owings sounds like the next Brooks Kieschnick - a pitcher who also sees frequent action as a pinch hitter.

    Posted by: Al Doyle at August 25, 2007 10:47 AM

    I remember reading an article about Granderson.

    They said he could become the 3rd player to reach 20 HR, 20 triples, 20 doubles, and 20 steals, joining Frank Schulte in 1911 and Willie Mays in 1957.

    (He's on pace right now to just get 20 steals. Rollins could join that group, he's on pace for 19 triples.)

    Posted by: Francois at August 26, 2007 5:34 PM

    That's a good one, too. The triples are obviously the key to the 20-20-20 and 20-20-20-20 clubs. I wouldn't make too much of either but think they are fun.

    FWIW, George Brett stole 17 bases in 1979 so fell fell three SB short of the quadruple 20 club. Jim Bottomley only stole 10 bags in 1928.

    Posted by: Rich Lederer at August 26, 2007 6:05 PM

    Also interestingly, Curtis Granderson has an outside chance to be the third 20-20-20-20 player all time and first since 1957.
    20-20-20-20 is 20 homers, 20 triples, 20 doubles, and 20 steals. The other two to get to those totals are Willie Mays in '57 and Frank Schulte in 1911.

    That's one of those interesting stats that I like to follow, the whole 20-20-20-20 thing.

    Posted by: TwentySeven at August 26, 2007 11:17 PM

    And wow, I should really read other people's comments before I post. *smacks self on head*

    Posted by: TwentySeven at August 26, 2007 11:18 PM