This Day in Baseball: April 30th

[The Nac]

April 30th

• • 1887 - In front of nearly 10,000 at Recreation Park, the Alleghenies (later to be known as the Pirates) defeat the defending league-champion Chicago White Stockings, 6-2.
• • 1939 - At Yankee Stadium, Lou Gehrig's streak and career comes to end as the 'Iron Horse' plays his final game going 0-for-4 against the Senators. The Yankees first baseman played in 2,130 consecutive games and compiled a .340 batting average with 490 home runs during his 17 seasons with the Yankees.
• • 1944 - In the first game of a doubleheader split, first baseman Phil Weintraub gets 11 RBIs, and player-manager Mel Ott scores six runs drawing five walks in the Giants' 26-8 rout of the Dodgers. Brooklyn wins the nightcap 5-4 in a game shorten due to darkness.
• • 1952 - In his final at-bat before leaving to fight in the Korean War, Ted Williams hits a game-winning, two-run home run to beat the Dizzy Trout and the Tigers, 5-3. Fittingly, the Fenway faithful was there to celebrate Ted Williams' Day.
• • 1969 - Jim Maloney strikes out 13 batters en route to no-hitting the Astros at Crosley Field. The 10-0 victory is the Reds hurler's no-hitter is the third of his career.
• • 1997 - The Jacobs Field scoreboard is dented by a Mark McGwire blast. A scientist determines the ball hit by the A's slugger would have traveled a distance of 533 feet if unimpeded.
• • 1999 - During a game against the Yankees, a group of Kansas City Royals fans, frustrated with the economic disparity in baseball, throw fake dollar bills onto the field, and turn away from the field each time the opponents take their at-bats. The Kauffman Stadium faithful, carrying signs which clearly blame the problem on the Bronx Bombers, walkout en masse after the fifth inning.
• • You can find more fun facts at http://www.nationalpastime.com/

After it was made clear he was the #3 closing option coming out of Spring Training, Blue Jays RP Kevin Gregg quickly forced the powers that be to reconsider when he was pitching shutout ball night after night while then-CP Jason Frasor kept blowing saves. He's been lights out, going 6/6 in save opportunities, tossing a 0.93 ERA, while striking out 14 and walking only 1 batter in 11.0 IP. Needless to say, in one of the shakiest bullpens in baseball lately, this is a much needed bright spot. Gregg earned his 6th save Thursday night when Toronto beat Oakland 6-3.

Don't look now, but your MLB leader in saves thus far isn't Rivera (he's T-8th with 6), or Papelbon (he's T-4th with 7), or Soria (T-12th with 5)...it's Nationals CP Matt Capps. This once Pittsburgh Pirate has stepped into the closer's role in Washington and been little short of perfect. In 13.1 IP, he's thrown up 6BB, 15K and a 0.68 ERA. While Washington's solid start has to be surprising to so many of us, the consistency of their closer is something else that catches my eye as well. Capps earned his 10th save of the year Wednesday night when Washington won 3-2 over the Cubs.

Another closer deserving of some attention is Minnesota Twins CP Jon Rauch, who has stepped in to fill the void left by Joe Nathan missing the season due to surgery. In his absence, Rauch is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA, and 7/8 in save opportunities. In 10.0 IP, he's walked 2 and struck out 7. Coming out of Spring Training, there was some deliberation as to who would replace Nathan, and there had even been mention of SP Francisco Liriano taking the spot. Needless to say, the decisions made have paid off thus far and the club has been rewarded with a 14-8 start (losing 3-0 to Detroit yesterday). Rauch earned save #7 Tuesday night when Minnesota won 2-0 over the Tigers.

Coming in as one of the highest ranked closers in regards to fantasy stats, Dodgers CP Jonathan Broxton has seemingly diappeared to start the season. He's pitched 8.0 innings, grabbing just 1 save in only 2 opportunities and holds a 1-0 record. He's thrown 1 BB and 12K, so with an arm like this waiting to shutdown the opposition, the Dodgers squad overall has to do a better job of getting the game into this hands. For anyone panicking (and even I fell into this category because he was my 3rd round pick), Broxton is not a fantasy flop. He has done nothing wrong, and the problem for him is out of his hands. His team is not playing nearly as well as they should, and his numbers are suffering for it. Be patient, because due to a turnaround in the Dodgers success or a trade, Broxton will find success this season. Broxton's only save came April 18th against the Giants.

Leading all closers with 19 K's is Cubs CP Carlos Marmol. The fireball is 3/4 in save opportunities, compiling a 1-0 record with a 0.84 ERA. He's only given up 4 BB and 6 H in 10.2 IP, so the Cubs can certainly feel good about getting the ball into his hands with a lead. The problem has been getting the ball into his hands with a lead, as is usually the case with the Chicago Cubs. Marmol earned #3 on April 14th vs the Brewers.

The all-time saves leader, and Milwaukee CP Trevor Hoffman reacting after giving up a grand slam to Pittsburgh's Ryan Doumit recently. "The Hoff" has given up 6 HR in 9.0 IP, so it's not surprising to see his record is 1-2 with a 13.00 ERA, and that he's 3/7 in save opportunities. There are 12 other pitchers who have given up at least 6 HR so far this season, but they're all starting pitchers. Needless to say, it appears this someday legend of the game's time may be done closing out ballgames for the Brew Crew. Hoffman's last successful save was April 15th vs the Cubs, and he is sitting at 594 all-time.

Thank you for joining me today, gentlemen. Let's hope today is a profitable day for all of us and we'll see you tomorrow for another edition of TDiB!

[steel69]

BOL Nac

• 1969 - Jim Maloney strikes out 13 batters en route to no-hitting the Astros at Crosley Field. The 10-0 victory is the Reds hurler's no-hitter is the third of his career.

Hopefully the Maloney (Matt) the Reds have in the AAA farm system is a reincarnation of Jim. Can only wish. But hey...He is 3-0 with a 2.16era this year.

[WAGERGLOBE]

Nice job Nac!!! I take a look everyday!!