Comments on: Another walk through ESPN’s stats

By: GoSox

GoSox — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:18:58 +0000

Bocock, Hernandez, Hu and Bixler are all now in the minors.

Ensberg was released by the MFY and is now on the Indians’ AAA team.

So Robb Quinlan, Bloomquist and Cairo are the only guys on that list that are still in the majors.

By: dingdangdo

dingdangdo — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:12:44 +0000

Joe D. had ‘The Streak’, so I guess this is ‘the steak’. When he breaks the record, I hope the game ball and cleats go in the Hall. It’s a funny/sad string, sad in how the Willy stuff is a commentary on the season. Also, I’m pretty sure Willy isn’t tooting his own horn, it’s just the media people blowing it for him, but I don’t follow every source that covers the M’s. Willy is the feel good spot of happy sunshine in a crappy season. Run Willy Run! Plus it’s fun to yank the chain of the reality based community, you get some great stat analysis that way, whole new ways of looking at the game. You get educated. Another win for Willy!

By: north

north — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:13:07 +0000

I must be in the minority, but I don’t even think Bloomquist is worth having as a utility player. In my opinion, a well constructed bench does not include Bloomquist (and certainly not Cairo).

By: planB

planB — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:10:15 +0000

If people said “Willie’s an adequate, versatile utility guy”, no one here would ever mention his name. But you DON’T hear that; you hear “Willie’s been on fire lately”.

Nailed it.

By: DEO

DEO — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:57:27 +0000

Baseball Reference can run reports for “longest streak”, but they give the result in games, rather than AB or Plate Appearances. That’s how I got the info on Tollesen and Valdivielso.

Without a premium subscription, it shows you results with the first and then skips a bunch and then shows you some more.

With a premium subscription, you could see more data and get a better answer.

By: Jack Howland

Jack Howland — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:04:16 +0000

Excellent point. His streak started on 7/15 of last year putting him at 143 at bats by my rough calculations.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:26:31 +0000

So, Willie has some work to do before he can claim The Record. But, we’re all pulling for him!

If we do multiple years, his streak started in July of last year. So we could add some AB’s to his total from this year.

I wonder if there is any way to figure out what the actual streak records are (most consecutive ABs without an XBH, which is a different question from the most ABs in a complete season without an XBH.)

By: Jack Howland

Jack Howland — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:58:49 +0000

We need to rein in our enthusiasm for a pending “major league record”. The Baseball Reference list (linked from #51 above) only covers “full season without an XBH”. WFB would have to make it all the way through Sept to claim the record.

Yes, I tried to make that clear, but apparently didn’t. But I think it only adds to the intrigue as the season wears on. This will not be an easy record to break, especially if he stays healthy and continues to play everyday.

By: DEO

DEO — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:46:45 +0000

We need to rein in our enthusiasm for a pending “major league record”. The Baseball Reference list (linked from #51 above) only covers “full season without an XBH”. WFB would have to make it all the way through Sept to claim the record.

Some quick searching on Baseball Reference (without a premium account):

Wayne Tolleson, 1987 – ended the season with 201 ab, 24 bb, 0 XBH
Jose Valdivielso, 1960 – ended with 72 g, 195 ab, 15 bb, 0 XBH

If we allow multi-year streaks, Valdivielso continued into ‘61, getting to 221 ab + 17 bb + some hbp and sac = more than 240 plate appearances.

There are probably others that are even longer.

So, Willie has some work to do before he can claim The Record. But, we’re all pulling for him!

By: edgar for mayor

edgar for mayor — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:29:37 +0000

Who was it that asked Dan Wilson: “So, how much development does Willie have left and how do you think he’d do as an everyday player?”

Its was Angie, and she asked: So Where is Willie at in his development? Is this guy ready to be aeveryday player.”

Dan kinda works his way around the question by saying Bloomquist is certainly playing well at the moment. He didn’t want to say yes it was funny.