Sergio Romo moved previous Walter Johnson on the all-time pitching appearances record just a few days in the past. Now in his fifteenth season, and his first with the Seattle Mariners, the 39-year-old right-hander has taken the mound 804 instances, a quantity that solely 49 others have reached. Additionally in entrance of Tyler Clippard following yesterday’s outing in Boston, Romo was at 798 video games to start the marketing campaign.
I requested the bearded-and-tattooed reliever when he began turning into conscious of his place in historical past.
“This season, actually,” Romo instructed me on Friday. “Earlier in my profession, it had been extra of a blur. However coming into this 12 months, it was sort of, ‘Hey, man…’ My spouse, too. She was conscious of it. She was, ‘You’re two away from 800,’ so I began paying consideration.”
Requested for his ideas on having simply handed a legendary Corridor of Famer, Romo responded with a smiling, “Take that, Walter!”
Romo is aware of his historical past. “The Massive Practice” pitched lengthy earlier than he was alive — from 1907 by way of 1927 — however his legacy is not any thriller.
“He was an notorious flame-thrower, and a man who commanded loads of respect,” stated Romo. “He pitched loads of innings, and he did it throwing fuel. I really play with Walter Johnson each every so often in MLB: The Present, The’ve obtained loads of greats in that recreation. Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey… loads of these guys.”
Nolan Ryan pitched in 807 video games on his strategy to immortality.R omo will quickly cross “The Ryan Specific” on the all-time appearances, as properly. I requested the proprietor of 137 saves, and a profession 3.09 ERA, what it looks like — apparent caveats apart — to be in such firm.
“What it does is make me really feel sort of cool,” replied Romo, who ranks behind solely Joe Smith amongst lively pitchers. “I’m pleased with myself, as a result of I’m not your prototypical six-foot-and-up, and 200 kilos. I’ve by no means thrown notably laborious. So it’s extra of a proud-of-myself feeling, primarily based on the truth that I’ve crushed the percentages to get thus far.”
Will the 5-foot-11 slider-specialist pitch endlessly?
“No shot,” was Romo’s response to that suggestion. “No shot in any respect. My 10-year-old thinks I can pitch endlessly, however I don’t actually understand how a lot I’ve left. I’ll go away that in God’s fingers. I can say that I’ve been having fun with my days. I’ve seen the final couple years — particularly this season — that I’ve actually began to get pleasure from my days to the max. All the little issues outdoors of simply competing…. I imply, the outcomes, good and unhealthy, are all a bonus now. I’m getting to do that within the huge leagues. I’m not on the sofa.”
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Paul Sewald has been excellent since signing with Seattle previous to final season. In 74 appearances out of the Mariners bullpen, the soon-to-turn-32-year-old right-hander has a dozen saves, the identical variety of aid wins, and a 3.01 ERA. Furthermore, he’s fanned 117 batters in simply 77-and-two-thirds innings.
That Sewald has thrived in Seattle after reconfiguring his pitch traits — this after a tumultuous 4 years with the New York Mets — is simply a part of the story. Together with the Mariners, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros had proven severe curiosity when he was on the open market. The latter of these groups is especially chagrined that Sewald opted to hitch certainly one of their division rivals as a substitute.
“Joe Smith talked to one of many pitching coordinators with Houston final 12 months after we performed them in September,” defined Sewald. “The man had talked about to Joe that they’d wished me, and weren’t precisely excited that I had was the pitcher they’d hoped they have been going to get. I prefer to suppose that I might have turned myself into who I’m right now with both of [Houston or Toronto], however I’m extraordinarily completely satisfied to be with Seattle.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Fletcher Low went 1 for 4 towards Sailor Stroud.
Hugh High went 1 for five towards Mellie Wolfgang.
George Hendrick went 6 for 8 towards Tom Underwood.
Lyle Overbay went 6 for 8 towards Jeff Karstens.
Jim Bottomley went 5 for 9 towards Bob Feller.
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Two weeks in the past, this column included Chicago White Sox broadcast analyst Darrin Jackson’s response to the query, “Which pitcher did you face in your profession who was higher than lots of people keep in mind?’ The erstwhile outfielder named Darryl Kile. On Tuesday, I requested that very same query to Geoff Blum.
“John Leiber,” replied Blum, who performed from 1999-2012 and is now a broadcaster for the Houston Astros. “I couldn’t determine that dude out. It drove me nuts. He was probably the most comfy at bat I by no means obtained a success towards. He would throw me sinkers on the surface nook, and I simply couldn’t work out how one can hold it elevated. I simply couldn’t work out how one can discover a gap with that rattling factor. And the second I hit a sinker laborious, he would throw me somewhat little bit of a changeup, or somewhat little bit of a slider, and I’d swing excessive of it. Each time. Then he’d return to the sinker, and I’d simply pound it into the bottom. He was solely throwing 88-89, however the man simply tore me up.”
Jackson had described Kile as somebody who “was going to do the intimidating.” In baseball jargon “a cushty at bat” is a pitcher who is precisely the other. As Blum is aware of all too properly, that doesn’t imply he’s straightforward to sq. up.
“He had a superb fast supply, and that was about it,” stated Blum. “I didn’t ever step within the field pondering I used to be intimidated, however on the finish of the day, I used to be 0-for-3. I simply couldn’t determine that man out. I confronted him possibly 15 instances, and by no means obtained a success off him.”
Blum appropriately guessed having confronted Leiber 15 instances, however he did really log a base knock towards him. Blum went 1-for-13, plus a stroll and a sacrifice, versus the right-hander who went 131-124 with a 4.27 ERA over 14 big-league seasons. It wasn’t a rocket. The lone hit was of the infield selection.
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A quiz:
Who has the best on-base proportion in San Diego Padres franchise historical past (minimal 2,000 plate appearances)?
The reply might be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
Joe Panik introduced his retirement earlier this week. The 31-year-old infielder will go away the sport having recorded 733 hits in a big-league profession that spanned the 2014-2021 seasons. Panik received a World Collection ring with the San Francisco Giants in 2014.
The unbiased Atlantic League’s Lengthy Island Geese activated Lew Ford from the injured record on Friday. The 45-year-old former Minnesota Twins outfielder — now a participant/coach — has 2,491 profession hits, together with 425 on the MLB stage.
SABR’s Jerry Malloy Negro League Convention — the one symposium devoted solely to the examination and promotion of Black baseball historical past — shall be held from June 2-4, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. Info might be discovered here.
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The reply to the quiz is Gene Tenace, who had a .403 OBP in 2,094 plate appearances with the Padres. Tony Gwynn ranks second, with a .388 OBP.
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Julia Morales was a visitor on Friday’s episode of FanGraphs Audio, and one of many subjects the Astros reporter/broadcaster touched upon was the deal that introduced Zack Greinke to Houston on the July 2019 commerce deadline.
“The door opened, and at that second the clubhouse completely erupted,” Morales stated on the pod. “[The players were] shedding their minds. We have been like,’ Who did they simply get, who did they simply get?’ We get to come back in seconds later, and discover out it’s Greinke. Individuals have been like, Greinke, Greinke, Greinke. Everybody was so excited. And Gerrit Cole was in all probability probably the most excited. He’s leaping round, like, ‘I can’t imagine we obtained this man.’”
Greinke received eight of 9 choices down the stretch, serving to the Astros win the NL West and finally attain the World Collection. Alongside the best way, the enigmatic right-hander was a problem to cowl.
“As soon as he obtained into the clubhouse, he was all the pieces that everybody defined to me,” stated Morales, who has been on the Astros beat for 10 years. “It was ‘OK, it’s going to be powerful, the best way you ask questions, the best way you work together…. You simply sort of need to get used to it. You’ll be able to’t take it personally. however man, he would make it awkward on us. However he pitched his you-know-what off for the Astros.”
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Shugo Maki is slashing .325/.414/.658 with 10 house runs for NPB’s Yokohama BayStars. The 24-year-old second baseman tops the Central League in OPS.
Joe McCarthy hit his first NPB house run on Friday because the Orix Buffaloes beat the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 6-0 behind the pitching of Yoshi Yamamoto. The 28-year-old outfielder got here up by way of the Tampa Bay Rays system and has 10 MLB plate appearances, all with the San Francisco Giants in 2020. Yamamoto, as 23-year-old right-hander, ran his file to 5-2 with a 1.79 ERA.
DJ Peters 피터스 is slashing .215/.272/.405 with seven house runs for the KBO’s Lotte Giants. The 26-year-old outfielder performed in 52 video games with the Texas Rangers, and 18 video games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, final season.
Jung-hoo Lee 이정후 is slashing .327/.387/.473 with a 145 wRC+ for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes. The 23-year-old outfielder has struck out 3 times in 163 plate appearances.
Si-hwan Roh 노시환 is slashing .308/.416/.438 with a 154 wRC+ for the Hanwha Eagles. The 21-year-old third baseman was the third-overall decide within the 2019 KBO draft.
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Dusty Baker managed loads of nice gamers when he was on the helm of the San Francisco Giants from 1993-2002. Earlier this week, I requested Baker which gamers on these groups weren’t thought-about stars, but have been particularly essential contributors to the Giants’ success.
“I’d say Robby Thompson, Darren Lewis, and Kirt Manwaring” answered the 72-year-old Astros supervisor. “Cash-man was our catcher. We referred to as [Manwaring] cash, as a result of nothing obtained previous him. He referred to as a fantastic recreation and received a Gold Glove. So did Robby. One other man was Willie McGee. Robby and Willie have been the leaders. You understand the celebs. There was Barry Bonds, Will Clark, Matt Williams. I had some high quality bats.”
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FARM REPORT
Nomar Mazara is slashing .343/.448/.602 with 5 house runs in 125 plate appearances for San Diego’s Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas. The 27-year-old outfielder was signed by the Padres in March.
Max Ferguson leads the minors with 30 stolen bases. The 22-year-old infielder within the Padres system additionally has a novel stat profile. Ferguson has drawn 41 walks, recorded simply 25 hits, and has a .212/.414/.263 slash line.
Zac Cook has a .182/.363/.398 slash line with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. A 24-year-old outfielder within the Toronto Blue Jays system, Cook dinner has drawn 10 walks and recorded 16 hits. He’s reached base by way of a HBP a most-in-the-minors 15 instances.
Matthew Swain has surrendered three hits in 11 aid outings comprising 15 innings for the Low-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. The 24-year-old right-hander within the Minnesota Twins system has seven saves, 22 strikeouts, and hasn’t allowed an earned run.
Karl Kauffmann is 3-1 with a 2.61 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 41-and-third innings for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats. A 24-year-old right-hander who was taken within the second spherical of the 2019 draft out of the College of Michigan by the Colorado Rockies, Kauffmann was featured here at FanGraphs in April 2021.
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It’s no seemingly longer the case, however for generations on finish, groups have been typically reluctant to pitch left-handers at Fenway Park. On Thursday, I requested Seattle Mariners supervisor Scott Servais if not doing so has ever made sense.
“No,” replied Servais, a former big-league catcher. “I can perceive why that may play into the minds of individuals, due to the Inexperienced Monster, however in the event you make pitches and management the strike zone, you must be capable of pitch anyplace. You’ve obtained to sort of take that wall out of play. Does it at all times present up within the recreation? Sure. I don’t suppose I’ve ever performed a recreation right here when the wall doesn’t play an element, in some way. You simply know that entering into. We get to hit the wall, identical to they get to hit the wall.”
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Many gamers have signed their title contained in the Inexperienced Monster over time. Jeremy Peña is among the many newest, having achieved so when the Astros visited Fenway Park earlier this week. Requested in regards to the expertise, Houston’s rookie shortstop offered a enjoyable reply.
“It was superior,” Peña instructed a gaggle of reporters within the visiting clubhouse. “I’ve at all times wished to signal it. Final 12 months, I had the chance once I was on the taxi squad [for the ALCS] however I instructed myself I used to be going to signal it once I was on the precise membership, once I was really enjoying right here. So I waited a 12 months. I used to be trying round, and noticed ‘Babe Ruth.’ It wasn’t Babe Ruth, however I signed underneath Babe Ruth. Should you go in there, you’ll see.”
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
At Cincinnati Journal, Chad Dotson presented reasons why Joey Votto is likely to be the most effective Reds participant of all time.
MLB.com Miami Marlins beat author Christina De Nicola wrote about how prioritizing the psychological recreation helps Miguel Rojas and Jesús Sánchez succeed.
The New York Yankees lately launched a minor league participant who had allegedly been stealing tools from teammates and promoting it on-line. Brendan Kuty has the story at NJ.com.
Adam Jones wrote about Japan and his next chapter for The Gamers Tribune.
The president of the Finnish Baseball and Softball Federation, and the pinnacle coach of the Finnish Nationwide Baseball workforce, lately visited the Triple-A Rochester Pink Wings for a collection of video games. Benjamin Hill wrote about it for MiLB.com.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
José Iglesias is 11-for-54 in house video games and 22 -for-54 away from Coors Discipline. The Colorado Rockies infielder’s .407 highway batting common is tops amongst gamers with at the least 50 PAs.
Jose Altuve has 1,805 hits, together with 545 extra-base hits. Dustin Pedroia had 1,805 hits, together with 549 extra-base hits.
Aroldis Chapman has 315 saves, 40 wins, and 20.4 fWAR.
Tom Henke had 311 saves, 41 wins, and 20.6 fWAR.
Texas Rangers historical past consists of 9 walk-off house runs with the workforce trailing in additional innings. The primary two have been hit by Richie Zisk and John Lowenstein, each in 1978. The others have been hit by Dave Hostetler (1982), Oddibe McDowell (1987), Juan Gonzalez (1991), Josh Hamilton (2012), Adolis García and Jonah Heim (2021), and Nathaniel Lowe (earlier this week).
A complete of seven pitchers have thrown 5 or extra shutouts in a season since 1993. Ed Walsh threw 5 or extra shutouts in seven consecutive seasons (1906-1912) whereas pitching for the Chicago White Sox. “Massive Ed” had 11 shutouts in 1908 when he went 401-15 with a 1.42 ERA.
On right now’s date in 2013, José Bautista hit a Tenth-inning walk-off single to present the Toronto Blue Jays a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. An inning earlier, Bautista had tied the sport with a house run, his second of the day.
The Boston Pink Sox and Milwaukee Brewers mixed to hit 11 house runs within the first recreation of a Fenway Park double-header on right now’s date in 1977. The house workforce received 14-10, whereas the guests captured the nightcap 6-0 behind an Eduardo Rodriguez two-hitter.
Dave Clark’s Sixteenth-inning single gave the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 walk-off win over the Cincinnati Reds on right now’s date in 1990. Chris Sabo and Luis Salazar had traded solo house runs within the thirteenth inning.
Gamers born on right now’s date embody Otey Clark, who went 4-4 with a 3.07 ERA over 82 innings with the Pink Sox in 1945. It was the Boscobel, Wisconsin native’s solely big-league season.
Additionally born on right now’s date was Babe Ganzel, whose profession comprised two distinctly-different cups of espresso with the Washington Senators. In 1927, Ganzel got here to the plate 58 instances and slashed .438/.509/.667. In 1928, he got here to the plate 28 instances and slashed .077/.111/.115. “Babe” — his given title was Foster Pirie Ganzel — was the son of Charlie Ganzel, who performed within the huge leagues from 1884-1897.
