Pedro Martinez of the Boston Red Sox has a 1.46 ERA this season, 3.48 runs better than the AL average of 4.94. This differential, if maintained, would be the largest recorded in the majors since 1920. Martinez set the record over that span last year when he registered an ERA 2.79 runs below the AL average (2.07 to 4.86). The 10 largest differentials since 1920:
PITCHER YEAR LEAGUE ERA PITCHER’S ERA DIFF.
Pedro Martinez 1999 4.86 2.07 2.79
Greg Maddux 1994 4.21 1.56 2.65
Greg Maddux 1995 4.18 1.63 2.55
Roger Clemens 1997 4.56 2.05 2.51
Dazzy Vance 1930 4.97 2.61 2.36
Lefty Grove 1931 4.38 2.06 2.32
Kevin Brown 1996 4.21 1.89 2.32
Pedro Martinez 1997 4.20 1.90 2.30
Lefty Gomez 1937 4.62 2.33 2.29
Randy Johnson 1997 4.56 2.28 2.28
%%
%%
HAVE BAT WILL TRAVEL
Dave Martinez became the eighth major-leaguer since 1900 to play for four different teams in the same season after he was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 4. According to Scott Flatow of the Society for American Baseball Research, here are the eight four-in-one men:
PLAYER YEAR TEAMS
Frank Huelsman 1904 Tigers, White Sox, Browns, Senators
Willis Hudlin 1940 Indians, Senators, Browns, Giants
Paul Lehner 1951 A’s, White Sox, browns, Indians
Ted Gray 1955 White Sox, Indians, Yankees, Orioles
Wes Covington 1961 Braves, White Sox, A’s, Phillies
Mike Kilkenny 1972 Tigers, A’s, Padres, Indians
Dave Kingman 1977 Mets, Padres, Angels, Yankees
Dave Martinez 2000 Devil Rays, Cubs, Rangers, Blue Jays
%%
%%
BREAK TIME
The San Francisco Giants, the Cubs and New York Mets have the majors’ best records since the All-Star break, while the Pittsburgh Pirates have the worst. Below are the post-All Star standings through Thursday:
AL EAST RECORD
N.Y. Yankees 18-10 .643
Tampa Bay 17-12 .586
Boston 15-12 .556
Baltimore 13-15 .464
Toronto 12-17 .414
AL CENTRAL RECORD
Cleveland 16-10 .615
Minnesota 14-14 .500
White Sox 14-14 .500
Detroit 15-16 .484
Kansas City 14-15 .483
AL WEST RECORD
Seattle 17-13 .567
Oakland 13-15 .464
Anaheim 12-16 .429
Texas 11-17 .393
NL EAST RECORD
N.Y. Mets 19-9 .679
Atlanta 17-10 .630
Florida 14-13 .519
Philadelphia 11-16 .407
Montreal 10-17 .370
NL CENTRAL RECORD
Cubs 19-9 .679
Cincinnati 14-13 .519
Houston 14-15 .483
St. Louis 11-17 .392
Milwaukee 10-17 .370
Pittsburgh 10-18 .357
NL WEST RECORD
San Francisco 19-9 .679
Los Angeles 15-13 .535
San Diego 16-13 .552
Arizona 11-16 .407
Colorado 11-18 .379
%%
%%
