Starter Aaron Sele of the Texas Rangers is receiving marvelous run support from his teammates. Sele has gone 4-0 while his mates put up run totals of 22, 11, 11 and four in his first four starts for an average of 12 runs per game. According to Mat Olkin of Stats Inc., no pitcher who has qualified for an ERA title since 1989 has received an average of more than nine runs per game in support for the season. The five pitchers who have enjoyed the most support since 1989 are: %% %%
%% Pitcher Team Year Support per game
Charles Nagy Indians 1995 8.14
Jamie Moyer Mariners 1997 7.73
Tom Gordon Red Sox 1996 7.34
Kevin Ritz Rockies 1996 7.23
Mark Langston Angels 1995 7.19
(All statistics through Thursday)
%%
AROUND THE HORN
Mariners ace Randy Johnson is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA at the Kingdome; last season he was 9-1 with 1.89 ERA there. Mark Grudzielanek of the Expos was the last regular leadoff man in the majors to record a walk this season when he drew his first free pass on April 16 … On Tuesday, A’s outfielder Rickey Henderson became the 52nd major-leaguer to accumulate 9,000 career at-bats.
RIGHT OFF
Since Seattle right-fielder Jay Buhner went on the disabled list April 12, the Mariners have used six players in right field. Buhner was batting .333 with two home runs and five RBIs when he went on the DL; his replacements are batting .175 with three homers and 10 RBIs.
SWITCHED ON
Atlanta Brave Chipper Jones shares the major-league home run lead with St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire. Each has nine. Yes, it’s only April, but if Jones goes on to win the National League home run crown, he would be only the seventh switch-hitter since 1876 to do it. According to David Vincent of the Home Run Encyclopedia, six homer-happy switchers accomplished the feat nine times. By comparison, there have been 147 right-handed homer champs and 110 lefties since 1876. The nine homer crowns won by switch-hitters were: %%
Player Year HR
Walt Wilmot 1890 NL 13
Duke Farrell 1891 AA 12
Ripper Collins 1934 NL 35
Mickey Mantle 1955 AL 37
Mickey Mantle 1956 AL 52
Mickey Mantle 1958 AL 42
Mickey Mantle 1960 AL 40
Eddie Murray 1981 AL 22
Howard Johnson 1991 NL 38
(* — American Association)
%%
TWO-IN-ONE
Mark McLemore of the Texas Rangers had his first career multihomer game on April 19. The second baseman and 13-year veteran popped two homers against the Baltimore Orioles. He immediately fell off the list of players with most career homers without a multi-homer game. McLemore began the season with 23 career long balls. The batters who have hit the most career homers one game at a time are: %%
Player Career HRs
Lou Piniella 102
Marquis Grissom* 102
Sam Crawford 97
Grady Hatton 91
Dom DiMaggio 87
Del Unser 87
Johnny Edwards 81
Tom Brookens 71
Glenn Hubbard 70
Edd Roush 68
Mike Scioscia 68
Mike Shannon 68
(* active)
%%
OH, DOCTOR
Minnesota Twins pitcher Mike Morgan has been placed on the disabled list 13 times in his 17-year career. That leads all active players.
