TDA Bullpen - Our Writers' Blog

Thursday, September 16, 2004

More on the Ichiro Watch

Forget George Sisler: Ichiro is closing in on Willie Wilson's all-time single season record for most at-bats. The mark is 705, and Ichiro is sitting on 630 with 144 games played. If he keeps up his average of 4.375 AB per game the rest of the way, he'll finish out at 708. Somehow I think it's in the bag as long as Sisler is in his sights: is Ichiro going to take a walk? Will anybody be pitching around him with the rest of the last-place Mariners hardly threatening anything other than another ofer? Ichiro, it should be noted, reached an incredible 692 AB in 2001, and walked only 30 times that year. Wilson walked only 28 times in his record-setting 1980, batting .326 and with an OBP of .357. Ichiro has already walked a whopping (!) 40 BB and a great OBP of .409, thanks to that .370 BA.

Not to bring up the old asterisk debate, but Ichiro would have to get 24 hits in the next ten games to equal Sisler's mark in 154 games. Sisler did play the full 154 that year.

Since we're hearing a pleasant revival of the name of Sisler, let's remember he came up as a part-time pitcher for the Browns. He was pretty decent as a spot starter in eight games and with seven releief appearances, and he contineud to make an occasional pitching appearance over the years. He ended his career with 111 IP and a 2.35 ERA, the second-greatest-hitting-pitching combo after one George Hermann Ruth. (Of course, Dante Bichette might still make it back to the big leagues, so watch out, you Georges.)

How the Giants Have Stayed in the Wild-Card Race

Yesterday, MLB had its annual teleconference of coin flipping to determine home-field advantage among all possible contenders for wild-card and divisional spots, should a playoff game be necessary. In the NL, the flips were held between the Dodgers, Giants, Marlins, Astros, and Padres (not to rain on any Philadelphia Phillies' fan's parade).

Brian Sabean won all five of his coin flips for the Giants. If I'm doing my probabilities correctly, the chances of that are around 3%.

Is it better to be lucky, or good? Or have Barry Bonds?

posted by The Crank 10:43 AM