Starting Aces - Red Sox, Pop Culture, and tasty bits of humor

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Mr. 499















On September 2nd, 1993, Manny Ramirez made his major league debut. The next day, against the New York Yankees, Ramirez hit the first (and second) home run of his career. 15 seasons later Ramirez is poised to hit the 500th homer of his career.

Courtesy of Baseball-Reference is a complete list of every Manny Ramirez home run, including the pitcher that gave it up, the score of the game, and if anyone else scored. The sheer number of pitchers and games involved in this is mindblowing.

Labels: , ,

Thursday, April 03, 2008

It's a Bad Time to Be a Closer

Well, there are a couple exceptions (Papelbon and Rivera seem to be in good shape).

There were a total of 8 opening day blown saves (1 of which fell on Cards reliever Ryan Franklin before the 9th inning, and two other choke-jobs that do not statistically figure as BS's), and even more since then. Some of the victims:

Huston Street - The first to go. Street blew a one-run lead in the 9th inning while most Red Sox fans were rolling into work. Street looked similarly terrible being thrown into the following game in a non-save situation.

Eric Gagne - Eric sure looked like 2007 Gagne, serving up a game-tying homer to Kosuke Fukudome in his first MLB game. The Brew Crew managed to mop up the mess and get him his BS win.

Kerry Wood - On the other end of the Eric Gagne debacle. Wood did not technically blow a save while giving up three runs to the Brewers, but he sure blew the game.

Trevor Hoffman - One of the latest victims. Lance Berkman laced a 3-run homer to put the Astros ahead of the Padres.

Matt Capps - Damaso Marte and Matt Capps blew a 5 run lead to the Braves.

J.J. Putz - Putz sustained a ribcage injury and gave up a home run to new Ranger Josh Hamilton all at the same time. DL time!

Tom Gordon - Gordon surrendered 5 runs while getting just one out. Gordon was pitching in place of the still-rehabbing Brad Lidge.

Brandon Lyon - Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run walkoff home run off of Lyon on Wednesday.

Peter Moylan - Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk off against Braves' sidearm-righty Peter Moylan.

Bad times for many fantasy owners.

Labels: ,