Can Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura reach rare, historic numbers in 2013?
(Photo credit: Steve Paluch)
Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a sports statistics blog published with a focus on stats that go beyond the numbers.
Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura are enjoying breakout seasons with the Brewers. But is it possible that one (or both) of these players could reach numbers that have only been seen a handful of times in baseball history?
Gomez and Segura are currently tied for the National League (and MLB) lead in triples with eight. Both are already in double-figures with home runs, Gomez with 12, Segura with 10. Is it possible that one (or both of them) will end the season with 20-plus triples and 20-plus home runs?
As it stands right now, both players are on a pace to reach 19 triples for the season. Gomez is on a 29-homer pace for the year, while Segura is on a pace to hit 24 four-baggers. Looking back in baseball history, there have only been seven players since the beginning of the national pastime who have hit 20 or more home runs and 20 or more triples in the same season. The last to do so? Curtis Granderson (Detroit) and Jimmy Rollins (Phillies) both accomplished this rare feat in 2007.
Here’s a look at the seven players who had 20-plus HRs and 20-plus triples in a season.
Year: Player (team), triples/HRs
2007: Curtis Granderson (Detroit) 23/23
2007: Jimmy Rollins (Philadelphia) 20/30
1979: George Brett (Kansas City) 20/23
1957: Willie Mays (N.Y. Giants) 20/35
1941: Jeff Heath (Cleveland) 20/24
1928: Jim Bottomley (St/ Louis) 20/31
1911: Frank Schulte (Chicago Cubs) 21/21
Getting back to Gomez and Segura, there is not much history for these players to indicate whether or not the possibility of being a 20-20 (triple-HR) player will become a reality. Gomez has already reached his career-high in triples with eight; his career-high in home runs was last year when he hit 19. For Segura, this is his first full season in the majors after 45 games in the bigs last year.
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99 Stats Until Kickoff: (#21) Philip Rivers passing accuracy can’t lead Chargers to victory
Philip Rivers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
From May 30 and every day until September 5… the start of the 2013 NFL season… Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ will publish “99 Stats Until Kickoff” a daily dose of NFL stats that will get you ready for the 2013 NFL season.)
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers in a game on November 11 threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s 34-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rivers completed 29 of 37 passes in the contest, a completion percentage of 78.4 percent.
With that performance, Rivers became the 48th QB since 1966 to have a completion percentage at 75 percent or above with 35 or more passes in a game that his team lost.
Rivers was the fourth such quarterback to reach these numbers this past season. The others: Christian Ponder, Matthew Stafford and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Five QB’s reaching these numbers in a season is the league mark, which was set in 2007.
Here’s a look at the five quarterbacks who have had the highest completion percentage (minimum of 35 passes attempted) in a game in which his team lost.
1. Drew Brees, New Orleans: Brees was 32-for-37 (86.5 percent) on Dec. 12, 2009 in a game where the Saints lost 20-17 to Tampa Bay.
2. Jim Kelly, Buffalo: Kelly was 29-for-35 (82.9 percent) on Nov. 24, 1994 in a game where the Bills lost 35-21 to Detroit.
3. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay: Garcia was 37-for-45 (82.2 percent) on Oct. 21, 2007 in a game where Bucs lost 23-16 to Detroit.
4. Chad Pennington, New York Jets: Pennington was 32-for-39 (82.1 percent) on Sept. 30, 2007 in a game where the Jets lost 17-14 to Buffalo.
5. Drew Brees, New Orleans: Brees was 39-for-48 (81.3 percent) on Sept. 21, 2008 in a game where the Saints lost 34-32 to Denver.
Rivers also became the fifth quarterback since 1966 to have multiple games with a passing completion mark above 75 percent with a minimum of 35 passing attempts in a loss. Brees and Brett Favre top the list with three. John Elway and Jeff Garcia join Rivers with two such games.
* Oakland Raiders QB Greg Gatson in 2011 became the youngest QB to reach these numbers in a Dec. 18 game when he was 32-for-40 (80 percent) in the Raiders’ 28-27 loss to the Lions. He was 22 years of age.
* Doug Flutie was the oldest QB to reach these numbers. He accomplished this feat on Nov. 25, 2001 in the Chargers 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Flutie was 33-for-44 (75 percent) in the game. Flutie was 39 years old.
* Warren Moon is the only QB to reach these numbers in a playoff game. Moon was 27-for-36 (75.0 percent) in Houston’s 36-27 loss to Denver in a January 4, 1992 postseason game.
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