“Analyzing baseball yields many numbers of interest and value. Yet far and away – far, far and away – the most critical number in all of baseball is 3: the three outs that define an inning. Until the third out, anything is possible; after it, nothing is.”
~ Eric Walker
 
Baseball is a game of numbers. Every game has a scorecard, the local papers print the box score. Every game has an official scorer, and they take their scorecard, transfer the information to the official scoresheets (basically an extended box score) and send it to Elias Sports Bureau to store, compile and break down the data. This is how the games stats are compiled, manipulated and stored.
 
Let’s check out some stats and such that I find interesting, hope you will too!

Ted Kluszewski was a first baseman who played for Cincinnati Reds (1947-1957), Pittsburg Pirates (1958-1959), Chicago White Sox (1959-1960) and the Los Angeles Angels (1961). He debuted on April 18, 1947 and made his last MLB appearance on October 1st, 1961. He was 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighted 225lbs. He threw and batted left-handed.
 
   Amazing Fact: Ted had a 4- year run of 40, 49, 47 and 35 home runs with .300+ batting average between 1953-1956.
 
   Side Note: Ted had arms so big he had to modify his shirts; the 1956 Cincinnati sleeveless jersey was made to accommodate this “guns”.
 
Luke Appling was a shortstop who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox. He made his MLB debut on September 10, 1930 and finished his playing career on October 1, 1950. He was a righted-handed batter and thrower who stood 5 foot 10 inches. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964.
 
   Amazing Fact: Luke has the record for most bunts (1,424) in a career.
 
  Side Note: He also hit a home run in 1982 at the Cracker Jack Old-Timers game at age 75 off Warren Spahn (1942-1965). The game was played at RFK (Robert F. Kennedy) Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C which at the time was configured for the football season, so it traveled about 265 feet into the left field bleachers, but still pretty good for a 75-year-old man.
 
Cecil Fielder made his MLB debut on June 20, 1985 and finished his career on September 13, 1998. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1985-1988), Hanshin Tigers (1989), Detroit Tigers (1990-1996), New York Yankees (1996-1997), Anaheim Angels (1998) and the Cleveland Indians (1998). He was a first baseman and designated hitter who stood 6 foot 3 inches tall and weighted 275lbs. He threw and batted right-handed.
 
Prince Fielder made his MLB debut on June 13, 2005 and finished his career on July 18, 2016. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers (2005-2011), Detroit Tigers (2012-2013) and the Texas Rangers (2014-2016). He was a first baseman and designated hitter who stood 5 foot 11 inches tall and weighted 275lbs. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed.
 
   Amazing Fact: Father and son, each finished their careers with 319 home runs.
 
Joe Sewell who made his MLB debut on September 10, 1920 and his final appearance on September 24, 1933. He played for the Cleveland Indians (1920-1930 and the New York Yankees (1931-1933). Was a 5-foot 6-inch shortstop and third baseman. He threw right-handed and batted left-handed. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.
 
   Amazing Fact: Sewell only struck out 114 times in his whole career with 7,132 At Bats; that is one time for every 62.2 At Bats. He holds the records for least strikeouts in a season with 3 in 1932 with 353 At Bats. And add to that, he also holds the records of going 115 consecutive games without recording a strike out.
 
The numbers are fascinating, the players were great, and we still talk about these players; does it get any better than this. More amazing stats in the future.
 
~ Coach Mike

“Opening day. All you have to do is say the words and you feel the shutters thrown wide, the room air out, the light pours in. In baseball, no other day is so pure with possibility. No scores yet, no losses, no blame or disappointment. No hangover, at least until the game’s over.”
~ Mary Schmich
 
Opening day is magical. The kick-off of the season. I look forward to it from about 5 minutes after the World Series ends. It is a blank slate; the possibilities are limitless. Your team is going to lead their division from the first game all the way to the end, well, at least in your mind and heart. Your favourite player will have a career year. No-hitters and walk-off home runs, game saving catches or game winning singles, the perfectly executed suicide squeeze bunt and the un-assisted triple play; they all lay ahead of us. Being in the sun on a summer afternoons and chilly April and October nights. Rain outs and day / night doubleheaders. Ah, it just does not get much better.
 
So, what happened on Opening Day, April 1, 2021 once the games started and reality took over? Let’s look at the scores and some of the more interesting “highlights”.
 
Blue Jays 3 / Yankees 2 in 10 innings:
13 strikeouts by the Yankee hitters and a fly ball which Randal Grichuk of the Blue Jays hit over Aaron Judge’s head for the RBI. Game goes to the Blue Jays.
 
Indians 2 / Tigers 3:
Miquel Cabrera hits his 350th home run as a Tiger. Due to the snowy conditions, he does not see that the ball went over the wall and slides into second base. He is informed that the ball went out and gets up to finish rounding the bases, with a smile on his face.
 
Twins 5 / Brewers 6 in 10 innings:
I caught the last couple innings on AM 620 WTMJ on my way home from training clients. The legendary Bob Uecker, entering his 51st year as broadcaster for his hometown team was in mid-season form. Bob is talking about how tailgating will be allowed in a few weeks in the parking lots prior to the home games and says if you don’t personally tailgate, just walk through the parking lot, grab a hotdog off someone’s grill and run. He said this in his usual deadpan voice. He is a true treasure! When the Brewers tied it in the bottom of the nineth his voice rose with emotion and excitement; even more so when they won in the home-half of the tenth. I could listen to Ueck for hours.
 
An aside, I absolutely HATE the runner (the last out of the previous inning) starting the extra innings on second base rule. Of all the idiotic things. It’s like neighborhood sandlot ball when you don’t have enough players to field all the positions you play “right field out”, “pitchers hand out” and you sub the last out for the runner on base that is next in the batting order. Just ridiculous at the professional level. I’ll discuss some of the new rules (and some old ones) in an upcoming post.   
 
Pirates 5 / Cubs 3
 
Braves 2 / Phillies 3:
Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius makes an outstanding over the shoulder with his back to the infield sliding catch while fighting the wind to end the top of the ninth inning.
 
Diamondbacks 7 / Padres 8
 
Dodgers 5 / Rockies 8:
With Dodger Justin Turner on first base, Cody Bellinger homered for what turned out to be an RBI single and an out. Scratching your heads? Here’s how it occurred. Turner runs on the fly ball, rounds second as the ball appears to be caught by outfielder Raimel Tapia, but it bounced out of his glove and over the fence. Turner turns around re-touches second on his way back to first, which is the correct thing to do in catch situations, however, Bellinger stops as he approaches second to get clarification if it was an out or a homer, Turner on his way back to first to tag up ends up being passed by Bellinger. By rule Bellinger is called out and is awarded a single and Turner is sent home to score the run. It happens occasionally but for the life of me, I don’t understand how it does; these are professional players who should be aware of their surroundings and the rules of the game. Just saying.
 
Cardinals 11 / Reds 6
 
Rays 1 / Marlins 0
 
Rangers 10 / Royals 14:
A rather dubious record is set, neither starting pitcher lasted two innings.
Brad Keller, the Kansas City starter went an inning and a third, giving up 9-hits, 6-runs, and 2-walks. His ERA is at 40.50 Kyle Gibson, the Texas starter went one third of an inning, giving up 4-hits, 5-runs, with 3-walks and one strike out. His ERA is at 135.00
 
White Sox 3 / Angels 4:
Luis Robert of the Sox hits a leg double, steals third with two out (not necessarily a good idea) and scores on a subsequent wild pitch. Speed beyond belief from this young man. Lucas Giolito went 5 and a third innings, giving up 2-hits, 2-runs, 2-walks and 8-strikeouts. Solid performance, perhaps taken out too soon. While I hate the “replay challenges” I think La Russa, the Sox manager should have asked for a review of Nick Madrigal being called out at second, sure looked like he was safe on the slide with his leg hitting the base prior to the tag.
 
Orioles / Red Sox:
Postponed COVID
 
Mets / Nationals:
Postponed COVID
 
Astros 8 / Athletics 1
 
Giants 7 / Mariners 8
 
We had sunshine and snow. Close games and a blow-out. Errors and defensive gems. Plus, unbelievably, three pitchers from the same high school were the opening day starters for their respective teams. Lucas Giolito of the White Sox, Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves and Jack Flaherty of the Saint Louis Cardinals were all pitchers under now White Pitching Coach Ethan Katz, who was the pitching coach of Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angelis, California. This has never occurred before. What are the odds of that? You tell me.
 
And I’d be derelict in my duties if I didn’t mention the games brought back fond (beyond belief) memories of Chicago’s own Ed Farmer, the White Sox radio man and former relief pitcher who passed away last April 1st. You truly did “hang a star on it” your whole life and career. Miss you dearly sir.
 
A little something for everyone yesterday with another 161 games to come; can’t wait.
 
~ Coach Mike