Today’s Sportstat: May 13, 2019
Brewers run producers in extra-inning games
On the last two Saturdays, the Brewers have played an 18-inning game and a 15-inning game.
It got me thinking about which Brewers hitters in their history have statistically been the best when the game goes into extra inning. I looked at three stats: home runs, RBI and batting average.
Here are the Brewers with the most home runs and RBI in extra-inning games played by the Brew Crew, and the players with the highest batting average in those extra-inning contests.
Most career extra-inning home runs for the Brewers in extra-inning games
5-Robin Yount, Geoff Jenkins
4-Prince Fielder, Gorman Thomas, Bill Hall
3-Ben Oglivie, Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun, Dave May, Rob Deer, Greg Vaughn
Most career Runs Batted In for the Brewers in extra-inning games
20-Robin Yount
17-B.J. Surhoff
15: Ryan Braun, Gorman Thomas
14-Jim Gantner
12-John Jaha
11-Geoff Jenkins, Jeromy Burnitz
10-Ben Oglivie, Ted Simmons
Highest career batting average for the Brewers in extra-inning games
(Minimum of 25 plate appearances in extra-inning games with Brewers)
.464 Tommy Harper
.448 Jose Hernandez
.440 Casey McGehee
.419 Darryl Hamilton
.382 J.J. Hardy
.368 Fernando Vina
.355 Rick Manning
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MLB Stats: 60-40 teammates
If you are a Brewers fan, you already know that Jonathan Villar led the majors last season with 62 stolen bases and that Chris Carter tied for the National League home run title with 41 homers. But what you may not know is that these (now-former) Brewers teammates in 2016 became the fifth set of MLB teammates to have a 60-40 season… one player with 60 or more steals and a teammate with 40 or more HRs.
Here’s a look at the five sets of teammates who had a 60-40 season in the same year:
Milwaukee Brewers, 2016: Chris Carter, 41 HRs, Jonathan Villar, 62 stolen bases.
New York Mets, 2006: Carlos Beltran, 41 HRs, Jose Reyes, 64 stolen bases.
New York Mets, 1999: Mike Piazza, 40 HRs, Roger Cedeno, 66 stolen bases.
Cleveland Indians, 1996: Albert Belle, 48 HRs, Kenny Lofton, 75 stolen bases.
New York Yankees, 1931: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, 46 HRs each, Ben Chapman, 61 stolen bases.
The combined stats of HRs and stolen bases has always been a way to evaluate those players who have that rare, much-desired combination of speed and power. The most common stat has been the “30-30” players, those who get 30 or more HRs and 30 or more steals in the same season. The Brewers franchise has had two 30-30 players in its history: Ryan Braun has done it twice (in 2011 and 2012), and Tommy Harper did it in 1970. In fact, Braun and Mike Trout are the last two players to have a 30-30 season, both accomplishing this feat in 2012. Braun is one of 13 MLB players in history to have two or more 30-30 seasons… father and son Barry and Bobby Bonds top this list, each with five 30-30 seasons in their careers.
In addition to Braun’s two 30-30 seasons and Harper’s lone 30-30 campaign, the Brewers team has had nine other seasons where teammates accomplished a 30-30 season… one player with 30 or more HRs and a teammate with 30 or more stolen bases. Here’s a look at those seasons:
2016: HRs-Chris Carter (41) and Ryan Braun (30)/Stolen Bases-Jonathan Villar (62) and Hernan Perez (34)
2012: HRs-Corey Hart (30) and Ryan Braun (41)/Stolen Bases-Nori Aoki (30), Carlos Gomez (37) and Ryan Braun (30)
2011: HRs-Prince Fielder (38) and Ryan Braun (33)/Stolen Bases-Ryan Braun (33)
2003: HRs-Richie Sexson (45)/Stolen Bases-Scott Podsednik (43)
1983: HRs-Cecil Cooper (30)/Stolen Bases-Paul Molitor (41)
1982: HRs-Ben Oglivie (34) and Gorman Thomas (39)/Stolen Bases-Paul Molitor (41)
1980: HRs-Ben Oglivie (41) and Gorman Thomas (38)/Stolen Bases-Paul Molitor (34)
1979: HRs-Gorman Thomas (45)/Stolen Bases-Paul Molitor (33)
1978:HRs-Gorman Thomas (32) and Larry Hisle (34)/Stolen Bases-Paul Molitor (30)
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Brewers All-Stars: Players with short stints in Milwaukee
Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a sports statistics blog published daily that focuses on stats that go beyond the numbers.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Fans of the Milwaukee Brewers have watched many of their favorite players on the All-Star Game stage since the team came to Milwaukee in 1970. Players like Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount and Ryan Braun have made multiple appearances in the mid-season classic over the past 40-plus years.
But there have also been a handful of players who have worn the Brewers uniform who had short careers in Milwaukee; for some, their stay in the Brew City was only one season. But in that season they represented the Brewers in the All-Star Game.
Following is a look at the 10 players who represented the Brewers in the All-Star Game yet played in Milwaukee for only three seasons or less.
Tommy Harper, infielder, 1970 all-star: Harper came to Milwaukee in 1970 as a member of the Seattle Pilots. He played for the Brewers two seasons before he was traded to Boston after the 1971 season. He played 454 games as a Pilot/Brewer hitting .264 with 54 home runs.
Marty Pattin, pitcher, 1971 all-star: Another member of the Seattle Pilot contingent. Won 14 games in each of two seasons in Milwaukee. Pitched in 106 games as Pilot/Brewer compiling a 35-38 record with a 3.82 ERA. Was part of the trade that sent Harper to the Red Sox.
Ellie Rodriguez, catcher, 1972 all-star: Came to the Brewers in a 1971 trade with the Kansas City Royals. Hit .255 in 325 games (three seasons) with the team. Hit .285 in his ’72 all-star season. Traded to the California Angels after the 1973 campaign.
Hank Aaron, designated hitter, 1975 all-star: Made 11 All-Star Game appearances as a Milwaukee Brave. Spent the last two years of his career as a Brewer serving primarily as DH. Hit 22 home runs as a Brewer, retiring after the 1976 season.
Jim Sundberg, catcher, 1984 all-star: Spent only one season with the Brewers, coming to the team in a trade with the Texas Rangers. Made the ’84 all-star team in his only season with Milwaukee. Hit .261 with seven HRs and 43 RBIs. Was traded after the ’84 season to the Royals.
Dave Parker, designated hitter, 1990 all-star: Another one-year stop player with the Brewers. Parker, a mainstay of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1970’s, was signed as a free agent by the Brewers. He hit .289 with 21 homers and 92 RBI in his only season with the club. Was traded to the Angels prior to the start of the 1991 season for Dante Bichette.
Danny Kolb, relief pitcher, 2004 all-star: One of the many short-term relievers that have had success with the Brewers. Pitched in 154 games with the team in three seasons. He had 61 saves and a 3.31 ERA with the team. Had 39 saves in his all-star season. Had two stints with the Brewers, 2003-04 and 2006.
Carlos Lee, outfielder, 2005, 2006 all-star: Played 264 games with the Brewers in two seasons, making the N.L. all-star team as a Brewer both years. Had 60 home runs as a Brewer. Was traded to Texas shortly after the 2006 All-Star Game.
Francisco Cordero, relief pitcher, 2007 all-star: Had 60 saves in two seasons with the Brewers, including 44 in 2007. Left the Brewers after the 2007 season to sign as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.
Trevor Hoffman, relief pitcher, 2009 all-star: Played two years with the Brewers and then retired after the 2010 season. Signed as a free agent by the club prior to the ’09 season. Had 47 saves with the team, including 37 in 2009.
While the above players may have only had short careers in Milwaukee, here’s a look at the Brewers players who have the most All-Star Game appearances in a Brewers uniform.
All-Star Game appearances (as a Brewer), Players
5: Cecil Cooper, Paul Molitor
4: Ryan Braun, Don Money, Ben Sheets
3: Prince Fielder, Ben Oglivie, Dan Plesac, Robin Yount
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Milwaukee Brewers all-time “stolen base” team… by position
Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a sports statistics blog published multiple times weekly focusing on stats that go beyond the numbers.
Milwaukee Brewers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Milwaukee Brewers have 21 stolen bases this season which is right at the National League average. Carlos Gomez leads the team with five steals.
Over the course of the Brewers 43-plus year history, the team has not really been known as a base-stealing team. There were, however, pockets of time in their history when stolen bases were a major part of their offensive arsenal. They led the league in steals in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots and then did not lead the league in stolen bases until 1987. It was that period from 1987-92 where the Brewers led the league five out of six seasons in stolen bases.
Since their move to the National League in 1998, stolen bases have not been a significant focus for the team. They did lead the N.L. in steals in 2004 led by outfielder Scott Podsednik’s 70 swipes. That year and a third-place spot in steals in 2003 are the only times the Brewers have finished in the top three in the N.L. in steals since 1998.
Here’s a look at what an all-time Brewers stolen bases team might look like… by position.
First Base: Cecil Cooper (77 stolen bases). Cooper had only 12 stolen bases in his first six seasons with the Red Sox. As a Brewer, “Coop” stole 48 bases in his first four seasons with the team. His career-high was 17 steals in 1980. Reserve: George Scott (40 stolen bases)
Second Base: Jim Gantner (137 stolen bases). Gantner will likely be supplanted by Weeks in the next couple of years in this category. Gantner averaged nearly 15 steals per season from 1985-90. His year-high was 20 in both 1988 and ’89. Reserve: Rickie Weeks (102 stolen bases)
Shortstop: Pat Listach (112 stolen bases). A.L. Rookie of the Year in 1992 stole 54 bases in his award-winning season. Reserve: Jose Valentin (78 stolen bases)
Third Base: Paul Molitor (412 stolen bases). The Brewers career leader in stolen bases. He finished his career with 504 steals. He has four of the top 10 best single-seasons for steals in team history. Reserve: Don Money (66 stolen bases)
Outfield: Robin Yount (271 stolen bases). Had 10 or more steals in 16 of his 20 seasons with the Brewers. The only Brewers player in history to have over 200 career home runs and over 200 career steals.
Tommy Harper (136 stolen bases). More than half of his steals as a Brewer came in 1969 when he led the league with 73 bases with the Seattle Pilots. His 73 steals is the Brewers single-season record.
Scott Podsednik (113 stolen bases). Spent only two seasons with the Brewers. Had 70 steals in 2004 that led the National League. He and Harper are the only two Brewers to have 70-plus steals in a season.
Outfield Reserves: Darryl Hamilton (109 stolen bases); Mike Felder (108 stolen bases); Ryan Braun (100 stolen bases).
Catcher: B.J. Surhoff (102 stolen bases). Had a career-high 21 steals in 1988 with the Brewers. Reserve: Charlie Moore (51 stolen bases)
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