White Sox pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to camp today, so that means it is time for our annual look at the pitching leaders in the now 1,149 games I’ve attended, and identified, between 1984 and 2025. Very few changes from last year, although I did do some data quality cleanups last summer. So, without further ado, let’s get things started with our first category, the always popular:
Last week, we took our first look at the offensive leaders per season since 2019. Today, we do the same with the pitchers for all of the games I’ve attended from 1984 through the 2025 season. As with the hitters, there is little change from our first look after the 2011 season, but the time was right for another perusal of the stats. We start with that most maligned pitching stat:
White Sox pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to camp today, so that means it is time for our annual look at the pitching leaders in the now 1,110 games I’ve attended, and identified, between 1984 and 2024. Very, very few changes from last year, with just the appearances leader board impacted. So, without further ado, let’s get things started with our first category, the always popular:
Welcome to the first installment of what should become a recurring feature, taking a look back at some occurrence in the world, mostly sports, and trying to ascertain what the outcome would have been if just one thing, a decision or an outcome, went a different way. We start in October 2003, with game six of the NLCS where one particular play, debated for years, may have turned the tide.
On October 14, 2003, the Cubs were five outs away from winning their first National League pennant since 1945. Mark Prior was on the mound for the Cubs and had retired eight straight batters into the eighth inning when Juan Pierre doubled, bringing Luis Castillo to the plate. On the eighth pitch of the at bat, Castillo hit a high foul ball down the left field line, heading towards the stands. Moises Alou tracked the ball and reached, when the ball was touched by a fan. A visibly upset Alou, along with Prior and Cub manager Dusty Baker, pleaded for a call of fan interference, but the umpires ruled that the ball had left the field of play. Castillo returned to the plate and, on the next pitch, walked on a wild pitch, allowing Pierre to advance to third.
Ivan Rodriguez then hit an 0-2 pitch for a single, knocking in Pierre and making the score 3-1. When the next batter, Miguel Cabrera, hit a shard ground ball to shortstop Alex Gonzalez, it looked like the rally was over, but, instead of turning the ready-made double play, Gonzalez booted the ball, loading the bases. Derrek Lee then drilled the next pitch for a double, knocking in Castillo and Rodriguez and tying the score 3-3. At this point, Baker emerged from the Cub dugout to remove Prior, but the damage had been done. The Marlins scored five more times, winning the game 8-3 and forcing a Game 7.
The following night, the Marlins completed the unlikely comeback, beating the Cubs 9-6 and going on the face the Yankees in the World Series. They would wind up winning that as well, defeating the Yankees in six games to take home their second title.
But what if Alou had made that catch? How would the rest of history play out? Let’s take a trip through the multiverse to see what the outcome would have been.
OK, so Alou makes the catch for the second out of the inning. Let us assume Rodriguez still singles, scoring the speedy Pierre from second to make it a 3-1 game. Let us also assume Cabrera hits the same grounder to Alex Gonzalez, but, without the pressure of trying to make up for the missed out, he fields it cleanly, retiring Cabrera and ending the inning. Continue reading →
White Sox pitchers and catchers are scheduled to have their first workout in camp today, so that means it is time for our annual look at the pitching leaders in the now 1,083 games I’ve attended, and identified, between 1984 and 2023. Very few changes from last year, but 2023’s performances have updated the ERA leader board. So, without further ado, let’s get things started with our first category, the always popular:
White Sox pitchers and catchers are scheduled to arrive in camp today, so that means it is time for our annual look at the pitching leaders in the now 1,040 games I’ve attended, and identified, between 1984 and 2022. Not a whole lot of difference from last year, but a few categories have seen new faces join the leader board. So, without further ado, let’s get things started with our first category, the always popular:
Our Throwback Thursday feature concludes, as we take one final trip in the wayback machine, going back to the 2000s, finally putting our focus on the defensive leaders of that decade. As a reminder, I’ve identified 518 games that I attended during this time period, when I would have been ages 25 through 34.
This week I attended my 21st consecutive (except for the pandemic year of 2020 that had no fans) Opening Day at Comiskey Park II/US Cellular Field/Guaranteed Rate Field, and my 38th overall. From my first, at old Comiskey Park in 1985, to my first as a Cubs season ticket holder at Wrigley Field in 2002, to road trips to Shea Stadium, in 2003, and Great American Ballpark, in 2004 and 2006, Opening Day remains a spring holiday proclaiming the theoretical beginning of summer. This seemed like a good time to see who the best performers were on both sides of the ball from those 38 contests.
With the lockout finally over, today is the mandatory reporting date for spring training as teams across Florida and Arizona finally hold their first spring workouts as they prepare for a postponed 2022 season. I guess that means it is time for our annual look at the pitching leaders in the now 1007 games I’ve attended, and identified, between 1984 and 2021. A big difference from last year, as I passed the 1000 game plateau in late August thanks to a crosstown matchup between the Cubs and the White Sox. So, without further ado, let’s get things started with our first category, the always popular:
In the past, we’ve looked at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. This offseason, we will take our first ever look at those leaders against all 30 clubs. We continue today with the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds began life in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association, joining the National League in 1890. I’ve seen them play 40 times against 5 different teams at 4 separate stadiums.
White Sox pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to camp today, so that means it is time for our annual look at the pitching leaders in the now 1,149 games I’ve attended, and identified, between 1984 and 2025. Very few changes from last year, although I did do some data quality cleanups last summer. So, without further ado, let’s get things started with our first category, the always popular:
