Diamond Rundown – Edition Twenty Six

Facts, figures and other tidbits from the twenty sixth week of the ’08 major league baseball season.

The Price Is Right : Tampa Bay’s David Pricehad a successful debut start on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles.  Price went 5-1/3 innings, allowed four hits, three walks, two runs — one earned — and struck out three.  Price got a no decision in the Rays 4-2 win over the Orioles.

Slammer : The New York Mets’ pitching staff allowed their second grand slam to a pitcher this season when Jason Marquisof the Cubs hit a grand slam in the fourth inning off of Jon Nieseen route to their 9-5 win over the Mets on Monday and a clinch of home-field advantage in the NLDS and NLCS.

Kings of K : Oakland’s Jack Custstruck out twice in their 4-3 win over the Rangers on Monday.  The two strikeouts extended Cust’s American League record strikeout total to 190 and Oakland’s strikeout total for the ’08 season went to 1,182, a new team record.

Short Success : Arizona’s Stephen Drewhit his 42 ^nd double and 20 ^th home run in Monday’s 4-2 win over the Cardinals.  Drew became the third Major League shortstop in baseball history to hit at least 40 doubles, 10 triples and 20 home runs in a season.  Drew joined Robin Yount(’80 and ’82) and Nomar Garciaparra(’97) as the only three shortstops to accomplish the statistical feat.

Notable Quotable I : “I stunk.  With the year I’ve had, I stunk.  But I’ll tell you what, I’m not the [bleeping] Lone Ranger.”  Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leylandafter they were shut out by the Royals 5-0 on Tuesday.

Stealers : Boston’s Dustin Pedroiastole his 20 ^th base on Tuesday to join Coco Crisp(20) and Jacoby Ellsbury(49) to be the first trio of Red Sox to steal at least 20 bases since 1914.

Danger Dogs : Before the Phillies-Braves game on Wednesday, three suspicious packages were found outside the first-base entrance of the ballpark two hours prior to the game.  Police were called and detonated the packages.  After detonation, the packages were revealed to be props containing hot dogs from a commercial shoot featuring the Phillie Phanatic.

Hit Men : Cleveland’s Grady Sizemorewas hit during their 6-1 loss to the Red Sox on Thursday.  Sizemore was the 101 ^st hit batsmen of the season for the Indians which set a new Major League record previously held by the Houston Astros in 1997.

The Doc Is In : Toronto’s Roy Halladaywon his 20 ^th game on Thursday over the Yankees.  Halladay pitched a complete game and gave up two runs to lower his ERA to 2.78 and raise his record to 20-11.  It was also Halladay’s American League leading ninth complete game.

Major League Effort : September call-up Micah Hoffpauirwent 5-for-5 with two runs scored, five RBI, a double and two homers in the Cubs’ 7-6 losing effort on Thursday.

Notable Quotable II : “That was unbelievable.  The loudest thing I’ve heard in my life.”  Twins manager Rod Gardenhireafter his club completed a sweep of the White Sox with a walk-off single by Alexi Casillato give the Twins a 7-6 win in the final game of their three-game series on Thursday.  The sweep put the Twins a half game ahead of the White Sox in the Central.

Mr. September : Philadelphia’s Ryan Howardhad a four-RBI game in their 8-4 win over the Nationals on Friday.  Howard went 2-for-4 with a double and his 48 ^th home run of the season.  Howard ended the night with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in September with the 32 RBI setting a new team record previously held by Gary Matthewswho had 31 in 1981.

Speed Demon : Houston’s Michael Bournscored from second on a sacrifice fly in the third inning en route to a 5-4 win over the Braves on Friday.

Snapped : Atlanta’s Kelly Johnsonsaw his 22-game hitting streak end in their 5-4 loss to the Astros on Friday.  Johnson’s 22-game hitting streak was the longest in the National League this year.

Gehrig-ish Greatness I : Seattle’s Ichiro Suzukireached 100 runs scored to match with his 200 hits for the eighth consecutive season.  Suzuki’s eight consecutive seasons of 200 hits and 100 runs matched only Lou Gehrigwho had eight seasons of 200 hits and 100 runs but not consecutively.

Cy-gh :  Johan Santanaof the Mets pitched a three-hit shutout on short rest to thrust the Mets past the Marlins 2-0 and keep their playoff hopes alive on Saturday.  Santana improved his record to 16-7 and lowered his ERA to 2.53, the lowest in the National League.

Saving the Saver : Philadelphia’s Brad Lidgeclosed out his 41 ^st consecutive save opportunity and gave the Phillies their clinching win over the Nationals 4-3 on Saturday.  Lidge did not do it without help though thanks to a diving Jimmy Rollins-to- Chase Utley-to- Ryan Howarddouble play with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth to end the game.

Déjà vu All Over Again : The Mets lost to the Marlins 4-2 on Sunday and saw the Brewers beat the Cubs.  Their loss and the Brewers’ win saw the Mets’ playoff hopes dissolve on the last day of the season for the second consecutive season.  Last year, the Mets dropped a seven game lead with 17 games remaining to the Phillies.  This year, the Mets dropped a 3-1/2 game lead with 17 games remaining to the Phillies and also failed to keep pace with the Brewers for the Wild Card.  And for that Omar Minayawas rewarded with a four-year extension.

Moose-umental :  Mike Mussinaof the Yankees finally won 20 games in a season with a six-inning three-hit scoreless performance at Fenway Park in the day game of a day-night doubleheader with the playoff-bound Red Sox.  The Yankees won 6-2 and Mussina finished 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA.

The Great Rivera :  Mariano Riveraclosed out Mussina’s victory with a save for the 49 ^th time.  It is the third most of any win-save combination in baseball history behind Bob Welchand Dennis Eckersley’s 57 and Andy Pettiteand Rivera’s 55.

C-C-Clutch : The Brewers sent midseason acquisition CC Sabathiato the mound on Sunday and the big man delivered with a complete game four-hit, one unearned run win over the Chicago Cubs, 3-1 on Sunday.  Sabathia finished 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA with the Brewers and his win on Sunday put the Brewers into the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

Notable Quotable III : “He’s the best pitcher in baseball.  He’s the best pitcher on the planet.  He’s our MVP this year.  No chance for us to do this without him.”  Milwaukee’s Ryan Braunon teammate CC Sabathiaafter they clinched the Wild Card on Sunday.

Gehrig-ish Greatness II :  Vladimir Guerrerosat out of Sunday’s finale that saw the Angels win their 100 ^th game of the season.  The day off solidified Guerrero’s average at .303 with 27 home runs and he joined only Lou Gehrigas the only players to hit at least .300 with at least 25 home runs in 11 consecutive seasons.

According to Elias : In his Cy Young Award showcase start on Sunday, San Francisco’s Tim Lincecumrecorded nine consecutive strikeout outs to start the game and finished the game with 13 strikeouts in seven innings to register his 18 ^th win of the season as the Giants offed the Dodgers 2-1.  Lincecum led the Majors with 265 strikeouts — the first Giant to do so — and finished with a 2.65 ERA.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Lincecum was the first pitcher since the Mets’ Sid Fernandezon July 30, 1986 to record nine consecutive strikeout outs to start the game.

Numbers Game
20:  Bobby Abreuof the Yankees hit his 20 ^th home run of the season on Wednesday which put Abreu at 20 homers and 20 steals for the eighth straight season.  Only Bobbyand Barry Bondshave more 20-20 seasons than Abreu at 10 each.
100: The Seattle Mariners lost their 100 ^th game on Wednesday and became the first team to ever have a payroll over $100 million to lose 100 games in a season.
295: Arizona’s Randy Johnsonpitched a complete game two-hitter on Sunday to pick up his 295 ^th career win.  Johnson’s Diamondbacks won 2-1 over the Rockies.
355:  Greg Madduxof the Dodgers won his 355 ^th career game on Saturday in the club’s 2-1 win over the Giants.  The win moved Maddux past Roger Clemensinto eighth place on the All-Time Wins list for all pitchers.
1,800: Seattle’s Ichiro Suzukiregistered his 1,800 ^th career hit on Thursday in their 6-4 loss to the Angels.  Suzuki reached 1,800 hits in 1,277 games, the fastest to do so for a player whose career started after 1954.  Previously, the fastest was Wade Boggswho reached 1,800 hits in 1,352 games.
5,000: Milwaukee’s Eric Gagnetook some of his big contract he received this year and gave it back to the fans on Thursday.  Gagne purchased the remaining 5,000 tickets for their game with the Pirates and gave them away on the Brewers’ web site where they were scooped up in 20 minutes.  The Brewers won 5-1 on a walk-off 10 ^th inning grand slam by Ryan Braun.

Grand Slams
Jason Marquis, Chicago Cubsvs. New York Mets (9/22)
Bobby Abreu, New York Yankeesvs. Toronto (9/24)
Carlos Delgado, New York Metsvs. Chicago Cubs (9/24)
Ryan Braun, Milwaukeevs. Pittsburgh (9/25)
Ryan Garko, Clevelandvs. Chicago White Sox (9/26)

Walk-Off Archive
Single:  Carlos Beltran, New York Metsvs. Chicago Cubs (9/25); Alexi Casilla, Minnesotavs. Chicago White Sox (9/25); Dave Roberts, San Franciscovs. Los Angeles Dodgers (9/26); Jonathan Van Every, Bostonvs. New York Yankees (9/28)  
Double:  None 
Triple:  None 
Home Run:  Prince Fielder, Milwaukeevs. Pittsburgh (9/23); Ryan Braun, Milwaukeevs. Pittsburgh (9/25); Darin Erstad, Houstonvs. Atlanta (9/26)
Sacrifice Fly:  Troy Glaus, St. Louisvs. Cincinnati (9/26)