Category: Records

Powerhouse Angels first to clinch

angels_logo Congrats to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for being the first MLB team to clinch a playoff berth.  A special congrats go to my buddy DonS who is an avid Angels fan. 

With a current 87-57 record, the Angels won all season, everywhere, anytime.  Their road record was even slightly better than their home record (.606 to .603).  Not counting their 0-1 March, their worst months were May and August when they had a winning percentage of "only" .536.  Their first half they won 60% of their games.  To follow up, they now have a .612 winning percentage in the second.  Win, win, win.

They have to feel to feel good about the fact that they currently have a 8-1 record against the Red Sox.  Hopefully, that will bode well if they face them in the playoffs.  And oooh, a 3-6 record against the pesky Rays. 

Francisco Rodriguez got his 56th save against the Yanks in today’s important game leaving him one behind Bobby Thigpen’s single-season record for saves.  I’m not a fan of the save stat but count me in a one fan rooting for K-Rod to break Thiggy’s record. 

Nice going, Halos!  Way to get the job done quick!

Sheffield’s milestone homer done in style

Gary Sheffield: 2 for 5, 2 HR, 2 runs, 5 rbis

Gary Sheffield’s two homer, five rbi performance against the A’s had special meaning on Monday.  If it is to believed, it was the 250,000 homerun in major league history. 

Baseball Reference has the complete list of milestone homers complete with Sheffield’s round-tripper.

As if one milestone isn’t enough, Sheff is now four homers away from the coveted 500 mark. 

Sheffield efforts on Monday contributed to Detroit’s 14-8 win over the A’s.

Cliff Lee on his way to a record-breaking season

Teddy Ballgame pointed out to me over the phone the importance of Cliff Lee’s 2008 season.  Here we are just entering September and the Tribe hurler has already hit the 20 win mark with only 2 losses.  Teddy asked me if I knew who the last Cleveland pitcher to get 20 wins was.  I admitted ignorance. 

According to Tedd, it was the ol’ spitballer himself, Gaylord Perry.  I looked it up and Tedd was right (he always is).  The last Indian pitcher with 20+ wins before this year was Perry in 1974 when he had 21. 

As of today, Lee has the highest Win % of all pitchers with 20+ wins.  Here are the Top Five:

  1 Cliff Lee            .909   20-2 2008  CLE*  
  2 Ron Guidry           .893   25-3 1978  NYY            
  3 Lefty Grove          .886   31-4 1931  PHA            
  4 Preacher Roe         .880   22-3 1951  BRO            
  5 Joe Wood             .872   34-5 1912  BOS
*as of Sept 3, 2008

Tedd noted that Cleveland acquired Lee as a prospect which sent Bartolo Colon to the Expos. Oh, the Tribe got one other prospect in the deal.  Who would that be? 

Grady Sizemore. 

As Tedd said, "The Indians did their homework".