Matt Vierling has been swinging a scorching bat with the Detroit Tigers. Over his final 11 video games, the 27-year-old third baseman/outfielder is 16-for-41 with 4 doubles, a triple, 4 house runs, and 13 RBIs. His slash line over the span is .390/.435/.829 bringing his seasonal mark to a stable .292/.324/.509. While certainly not an offensive pressure, he has nonetheless been an integral a part of the lineup. Since being acquired by Detroit from Philadelphia previous to final season as a part of the five-player Gregory Soto swap. Vierling has the second-most hits (175) on the staff, and a good 106 wRC+.
Defensive versatility provides to Vierling’s worth — his big-league ledger contains video games at 3B, 2B, CF, RF, and LF — and there’s a probability that one other non-DH place might ultimately be added to the checklist. Given the best circumstances, he may even pitch. It can be acquainted territory. Vierling thrived on the mound as a prep, then was a two-way participant on the University of Notre Dame from 2016-2018.
A Perfect Game showcase in Minneapolis is a standout reminiscence for the St. Louis, Missouri native. Vierling remembers Carson Kelly’s brother, Parker, being one in every of his teammates, whereas Ke’Bryan Hayes and Josh Naylor — “I pitched against him if I remember correctly” — had been amongst his notable opponents. Playing nicely in opposition to that sort of expertise garnered him consideration from faculties {and professional} scouts alike, and whereas his bat confirmed promise, it was the arm that stood out essentially the most.
“I was getting more looks to be a pitcher than a position player, so I guess that means I was a better a pitcher,” reasoned Vierling. “I had a big fastball — I was 94-95 [mph] — although I would only hold my velocity for a few innings, then it would drop down. I was also more of a thrower than a command guy, and the other stuff wasn’t really there. When I got to college, I started trying to refine that more.”
The refinement yielded middling outcomes. Vierling put up good offensive numbers over this three collegiate season — a .300 batting common, 25 house runs, and an .849 OPS — however his pitching numbers had been nothing to write down house about. Over 26 reduction appearances comprising 26-and-a-third innings, he allowed 37 hits and logged an 8.89 ERA.
Which isn’t to say he didn’t have his moments.
“I remember getting us out of a big jam against Florida State,” recalled Vierling, who had 4 wins, 4 losses, and two saves throughout his time with the Fighting Irish.”I struck out Cal Raleigh. That was a cool second, although I ended up going out for a second inning and giving up a walk-off hit. Another time I obtained us out of a giant jam in opposition to Miami. It was cool to expertise being a two-way man, however to be sincere, I don’t keep in mind all that many enjoyable pitching moments in faculty. It was a fairly clear that my future was as a place participant.”
One who would get pleasure from taking the mound in professional ball?
“I haven’t done that, but I’d love to go out there and see what I’ve still got,” stated Vierling. “Actually, I’d probably just do the position-player mop-up thing and throw it over the plate. I think that would more effective than if I went out there and threw 85-86 right down the middle, or tried to gas it up. They’d be ready for that.”
Any knuckleballs?
“No knuckleballs,” Vierling stated to my suggestion. “I’ve never been able to figure that one out.”
———
RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Duffy Dyer went 6 for 13 in opposition to Gary Nolan.
Thurman Munson went 9 for 13 in opposition to Dyar Miller.
Stuffy McInnis went 10 for 14 in opposition to Eddie Dyer.
Jermaine Dye went 11 for 17 in opposition to Steve Trachsel.
Jimmy Dykes went 16 for 42 in opposition to Lil Stoner.
———
Yan Gomes was on the receiving finish of a blowout loss at Fenway Park earlier this season. Behind the dish for the Chicago Cubs, the 36-year-old backstop referred to as 187 pitches over eight innings in a 17-0 drubbing by the Boston Red Sox. What is it wish to squat behind the plate in such a debacle? I requested the veteran catcher that query the next day.
“It’s not what you come in expecting, but it’s one of the things that’s going to happen,” replied Gomes, who has caught near 1,000 video games since breaking into the large leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012. “You just try to make sure we attack the zone and get in and out of there healthy.”
Gomes was concerned in a virtually an identical shellacking in 2015, and as probability would have it, it was in opposition to his present membership. Gomes began behind the plate for the Cleveland Indians in a 17-0 loss to the Cubs at Progressive Field on June 17 of that yr. As was the case in Boston, a pair of place gamers took the mound for mop-up responsibility.
What does a catcher do when a non-pitcher is handed the ball in these conditions?
“Tell him to throw strikes,” Gomes stated with fun. “You’re not calling pitches, you’re just letting him throw.”
———
A quiz:
The New York Yankees have hit essentially the most house runs of any franchise within the trendy period (since 1901). Which franchise has allowed essentially the most house runs?
The reply might be discovered beneath.
———
NEWS NOTES
Riley Feltner, the youthful brother of Colorado Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner is becoming a member of the Cleveland Guardians as a Baseball Operations and Development Analyst. He not too long ago earned a masters in Business Analytics from Miami University the place he served as an assistant baseball coach.
Tony Scott, a speedy outfielder who performed for the Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, and Houston Astros in a profession that spanned the 1973-1984 seasons, died final Sunday at age 72. The Cincinnati native swiped 125 bases, together with 37 with St. Louis in 1979.
Danny Fife, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in 14 video games for the Minnesota Twins throughout the 1973-1974 seasons, died this previous week at age 74 (per Baseball Player Passings). Drafted out of the University of Michigan by the Detroit Tigers and subsequently traded to the Twins in alternate for Jim Perry, Fife went 3-2, 5.43 over his transient MLB profession.
SABR’s Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference will likely be held on the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, in Cooperstown, New York, this coming week, from June 6-9. Information on the occasion, which features a digital registration choice, might be discovered right here.
——-
The reply to the quiz is the Detroit Tigers, with 14,450 house runs allowed. The Baltimore Orioles — shaped because the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901 earlier than changing into the St. Louis Browns from 1902-1953, after which the Orioles in 1954 — have allowed the second-most as a franchise, 14,390.
———
The Tigers confronted Jared Jones and Paul Skenes in a double-header this previous Wednesday, and never surprisingly A.J. Hinch got here away impressed with each. I requested Detroit’s supervisor for his ideas on Pittsburgh’s dynamic, rookie duo previous to Thursday’s recreation at Fenway Park.
“They’re elite arms, both in ingredients and their composure,” replied Hinch. “I was more impressed by their composure on the mound. We hit Jones pretty well. We did not hit Skenes. But for young pitchers at this level, they held it together, competitively, very well. Their stuff is off the charts. Jones has a chance to be really, really good. His pitch mix, his velocity, his athleticism. And then Skenes came as advertised with some of the more dominant combinations that you’ll face from a young pitcher. Fastball-split was good. Slider was solid. He doesn’t really change expression. He’s as even-keeled a competitor as you’ll find. They’re going to be a problem for the NL Central.”
———-
Four enjoyable Lou Gehrig details:
Gehrig each drove in and scored 100 or extra runs yearly from 1926-1938.
Gehrig batted .350 or increased in six seasons, but one only one batting title.
Gehrig had 102 stolen bases and was caught stealing 102 occasions.
Gehrig began at 4 completely different positions throughout his consecutive video games (2,130) streak. Along along with his common first base place the Iron Horse began one recreation every in left area, proper area, and shortstop. His recreation at brief, on July 14, 1934, comes with a caveat. Gehrig was on the lineup card at that place in a recreation performed in Detroit, and after he singled within the high half of the primary inning he was changed by a pinch runner.
———
EARLY-JUNE STATISTICAL SNAPSHOTS
New York Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodón has allowed 10 house runs this season, the entire solo selection.
Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani got here into this weekend with 221 at-bats apiece. Soto had 41 singles, 15 house runs, and 41 runs scored. Ohtani had 40 singles, 14 house runs, and 41 runs scored.
San Diego Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada has fanned 18 of the final 24 batters he’s confronted. The 25-year-old right-hander has a forty five.9% strikeout charge to go along with a 0.53 ERA and a 1.48 FIP over 17 innings on the season.
Seth Lugo is 9-1 with a 1.72 ERA.
Ranger Suârez is 9-1 with a 1.75 ERA.
Tanner Houck is 5-5 with a 1.85 ERA.
The Padres have 12 bunt hits, essentially the most of any staff. The Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and Oakland Athletics are the one groups and not using a bunt hit.
The Atlanta Braves are the one staff and not using a sacrifice hit. The Chicago White Sox have 10 sacrifice hits.
The Boston Red Sox have gone 9-0 on Sundays.
———
Which of Francisco Lindor and José Ramírez has had the higher profession to this point? I requested that query in a Twitter ballot on Friday, and the end result was a rout. The Cleveland Guardians third baseman garnered 85.3% of the votes forged, whereas the New York Mets shortstop obtained simply 14.7%.
Let’s examine a number of of their numbers, with Ramírez listed first:
5,654 PAs, 1,390 hits, 232 HR, 211 SB, 129 wRC+, 47.4 fWAR.
5,686 PAs, 1,377 hits, 224 HR, 164 SB, 118 wRC+, 48.4 fWAR.
Ramírez profitable the ballot is completely affordable — he would have gotten my very own vote — however on the identical time, 12.6% for Lindor is strikingly low. Moreover, it’s considerably ironic. Ramírez was underrated for years, whereas Lindor — Ramírez’s teammate in Cleveland from 2015-2020 — was seen as a shining star. Is it now Lindor who’s underrated?
———
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have NPB’s greatest report at 33-15-2. The Seibu Lions have NPB’s worst report at 18-33-0.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows catcher Yuhei Nakamura has 17 sacrifice hits this season, essentially the most in NPB. The Swallows have 51 as a staff (in 50 video games), additionally essentially the most in NPB.
The Kia Tigers have the KBO’s greatest report at 35-21-1, The Lotte Giants have the KBO’s worst report at 21-32-2.
Kia’s Hai Young Jung has a KBO-best 16 saves to go along with a 2.63 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 24 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander had 89 saves over the earlier three seasons.
Jack O’Loughlin turned the thirty eighth Australian-born participant in MLB historical past when he debuted with the Oakland Athletics final Sunday. The 24-year-old left-hander is from Adelaide, South Australia.
———
A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Jo-Jo White isn’t as well-known because the late NBA star with the identical moniker, however his profession was nonetheless notable. Born Joyner Clifford White in Red Oak, Georgia, the speedy centerfielder performed for the Detroit Tigers from 1932-1938, and later for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds in 1943-1944. Known as a hard-nosed aggressive baserunner, he had his greatest season in 1934 when he batted .313 and stole 28 bases, serving to lead the Tigers to the primary of back-to-back pennants. The following yr, Detroit received the World Series for the primary time. White’s ultimate skilled season got here in 1949 with the Pacific Coast League’s Hollywood Stars. His son, Mike White, performed for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros from 1963-1965.
———
FARM NOTES
Dylan Crews is slashing .271/.349/.459 with 4 house runs in 153 plate appearances for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. The 22-year-old outfielder was drafted second total final yr by the Washington Nationals out LSU.
Max Clark is slashing .275/.385/.369 with two house runs in 192 plate appearances for the Low-A Lakeland Flying Tigers. The 19-year-old outfielder was drafted third total final yr by the Detroit Tigers out of Franklin (IN) Community High School.
Kyle Karros is slashing .299/.391/.437 with three house runs in 192 plate appearances for the High-A Spokane Indians. Drafted within the fifth spherical final yr out of UCLA by the Colorado Rockies, the 21-year-old this baseman is the son of former big-league slugger Eric Karros.
Nikau Pouaka-Grego is slashing .293/.404/.439 in 100 plate appearances for the Low-A Clearwater Threshers. The 19-year-old infielder from Christchurch, New Zealand was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in January 2022, He missed final season because of a knee damage.
Samuel Aldegheri is 3-3 with a 2.51 ERA and a 2.76 with 55 strikeouts in 43 innings for the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws. The 22-year-old left-hander from Verona, Italy was signed by the Phillies in July 2019. The final Italian-born pitcher to look in a big-league recreation was Marino Pieretti, in 1950.
———
The Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 in 14 innings on Friday evening, and never solely was it MLB’s second-longest recreation by innings for the reason that zombie runner was launched (the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres performed a 16-inning marathon in 2021), it included a first-time-in-over-a-century offensive dearth for the dropping facet. Listening on Pirates radio, I discovered that Pittsburgh batters had been with out an extra-base hit and had drawn only one stroll. That hadn’t occurred to them in a recreation this lengthy for the reason that dead-ball period.
Checking the report books, I later discovered that the bygone recreation in query was performed on July 28, 1910. Sans an extra-base hit, nor drawing a stroll, the Pirates outscored the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in 14 innings. The Reds additionally didn’t have an extra-base hit that day.
While I used to be listening to Pirates-Blue Jays on Friday — whereas strolling house from a comparatively-nondescript recreation at Fenway Park — a loopy eighth inning was happening in Kansas City. Rallying from a 3-2 deficit, the San Diego Padres tallied 11 hits, together with seven in a row, whereas placing up a nine-spot in opposition to the Royals. I wasn’t tuned in for the onslaught, however I subsequently heard a nearly-as-crazy backside of the ninth inning after switching over to Padres radio when the sport in Pittsburgh ended.
Trailing 11-3, the resilient Royals stroked seven hits, 4 of them with two outs, and pulled inside 11-8. Nelson Velázquez, who was representing the tying run, then drove a ball 385 toes to left-center, a blast that will have left the yard in 21 of MLB’s 30 ballparks. It was caught for the ultimate out.
Baseball is enjoyable.
———
LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
Vince Guerrieri compiled an oral historical past of 10 Cent Beer Night — the notorious June 4, 1974 debacle that resulted within the Indians’ forfeiting a recreation — for Cleveland Magazine.
Zack Meisel wrote about longtime Cleveland Indians/Guardians radio play-play announcer Tom Hamilton for The Athletic (subscription required).
MLB official historian John Thorn gave us a detailed look on the first findings from the Negro Leagues Statistical Review Committee.
MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince wrote about how baseball’s report guide altering is nothing new.
At Andscape, Clinton Yates wrote about how the Negro League stats replace by MLB is a sobering reminder of the problem to keep up Black History.
———
RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson made his skilled debut in 1930 with the Memphis Red Sox, a staff skippered by Candy Jim Taylor, who managed essentially the most video games in Negro League historical past. Taylor additionally performed within the Negro Leagues, as did three of his brothers, together with Steel Arm Johnny Taylor.
Seattle’s Cal Raleigh has 70 profession house runs and is one in every of simply 9 catchers in MLB historical past with 70 or extra in his first 4 seasons. Mike Piazza has essentially the most among the many bunch with 92.
Detroit’s Jack Flaherty’s holding Boston hitless for six-and-a-third innings on Thursday served as a reminder that you need to go all the best way again to June 20, 1958 for the final time the Red Sox had been no-hit at Fenway Park. It was a Tiger who turned the trick. In the primary recreation of a Sunday double-header, Jim Bunning threw the primary of his two profession no-hitters, with Al Kaline catching a Ted Williams fly ball for the ultimate out.
Ty Cobb had 619 hits, 176 walks, and 286 RBIs vs the New York Yankees. He had 615 hits, 175 walks, and 287 RBIs vs the Boston Red Sox.
Willie Stargell had 2,232 hits, 4,190 complete bases, 1,540 RBIs, and a 145 wRC+.
Willie McCovey had 2,211 hits, 4,219 complete bases, 1,555 RBIs, and a 145 wRC+.
On immediately’s date in 1998, the Atlanta Braves beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-0 in a recreation the place every staff had a dozen hits. Forty-four-year-old Dennis Martinez went the space for the 12-hit shutout win.
On immediately’s date in 1925, Ty Cobb hit a walk-off house within the ninth inning to offer the Detroit Tigers a 16-15 win over the Chicago White Sox. Cobb went on to complete the yr with a .378 batting common, the tenth highest of his Hall of Fame profession.
Players born on immediately’s date embrace Lemmie Miller, an outfielder whose transient MLB profession noticed him go 2-for-12 with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1984. His first hit got here off Jerry Koosman. The second was in opposition to Bill Campbell, after which Miller motored across the bases to attain his lone big-league run.
Also born on immediately’s date was Gene “Stick” Michael, who turned a longtime government with the New York Yankees after a taking part in profession that spanned the 1966-1975 seasons. A shortstop who noticed motion with the Pirates, Dodgers, Yankees, and Tigers. “Stick” was signed as a free agent by the Red Sox previous to the 1976 season and was on Boston’s lively roster from April 9-May 4 with out showing in a recreation.
Another participant born on immediately’s date is a pitcher who from 1963-1969 was one of many high starters within the National League. Over that seven-year span, Cincinnati Reds right-hander Jim Maloney went 117-60 with a 2.90 ERA, throwing two no-hitters alongside the best way. Then destiny intervened. With his thirtieth birthday nonetheless in entrance of him, Maloney incurred an damage early within the 1970 season and by no means received one other big-league recreation.
Content Source: blogs.fangraphs.com