Weekend Musings

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       23T2   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   OPSvs. RHP   .323  .383  .603  .986vs. LHP   .154  .207  .269  .476

           AVG   OBP   SLG   OPSRoad      .307  .358  .582  .941Home      .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

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[Source: Baseball Analysts]