Interesting Things about the 2011 MLB Season

• Curtis Granderson leads the league in home runs and triples but not in total bases.  Adrian Gonzalez holds that lead.  The only other player in baseball history to lead the league in triples and home runs but not total bases is another former Yankee centerfielder.  Mickey Mantle, in 1955, led the league with 11 triples and 37 home runs, but his 316 total bases were second to Al Kaline’s 321.  Granderson is the first player to lead the league in triples and home runs since Jim Rice did so in 1978.

• Adrian Gonzalez is on pace to hit 28 home runs and drive in 125 runs.  If he continues at this pace, he will be only the 4^th player since 1982 to drive in that many runs with no more than 28 home runs.  In 2008, Justin Morneau and in 2007 Vladimir Guerrero and Magglio Ordonez did so.  Before 2007, it had not happened since Hal McRae in 1982.

• James Shields currently has 10 complete games and 10 losses.  The last pitcher to throw at least 10 complete games and have the same or more losses than CGs was Phil Niekro in 1979 who threw 23 complete games but lost 20 games.  Before that, it was Niekro again, who in 1977, had exactly 20 CGs and 20 losses.

• Jose Bautista leads the league in home runs and walks, a feat not done often.  In the last 50 years, the only players to do that were David Ortiz (2006), Barry Bonds (2001), Mark McGwire (1998), Mike Schmidt (1983), Frank Howard (1970), and Harmon Killebrew (1969 and 1967).

• Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver are dominating American League batters.  The last time two AL pitchers had ERAs lower than 2.40 with at least 200 IP each was 1997 when Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens were lights out.   Before that it was Clemens again, this time with Chuck Finley in 1990.

• Paul Konerko hit 39 home runs last season and already has 28 in 2011, at the age of 35, projected to have 34 by season’s end.  That 73 home run total in his age 34 and 35 seasons would be tied for 10^th most all-time with Hank Aaron.  Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, Andres Galarraga, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Willie Mays, Johnny Mize, Babe Ruth, and the leader Mark McGwire (135 HRs) are ahead of Konerko.

• Michael Young is hitting above .300 for another year, his seventh of his career.  Since 2001, only four players have more seasons of .300 or better  – Ichiro Suzuki, Albert Pujols, Todd Helton and Vladimir Guerrero.  Matt Holliday and Derek Jeter each have seven as well.

• The Phillies pitching staff, as expected, is dominating.  Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels all have ERAs under 2.75 and are all on pace to throw at least 200 innings.  The last team to have three pitchers do that was the 1972 Baltimore Orioles staff consisting of Mike Cueller, Pat Dobson, and Jim Palmer.

• On the flip side, the Atlanta Braves bullpen may be one of the greatest of all time.  Craig Kimbrel,  Jonny Venters, and Eric O’Flaherty all have an ERA+ over 200, with at least 50 innings pitched already.  Only four other bullpens in history have done that – 2005 White Sox (Neal Cotts, Dustin Hermanson, and Cliff Politte), 2003 Dodgers (Eric Gagne, Guillermo Mota, and Paul Quantrill), the 2002 Braves (Chris Hammond, Darren Holmes, and Mike Remlinger), and the 1992 Brewers (Jim Austin, Cal Eldred, Mike Fetters).

• Ryan Braun is on pace to hit 30 home runs, drive in 105, score 110, hit .331, and steal 36 bases.  The only members of the 30/100/100/.330/30 club include Vladimir Guerrero (2002), Larry Walker (1997), Ellis Burks (1996), and Ken Williams (1922).

• At the age of 35, Lance Berkman is currently leading the league in OPS+ with 170.  Only Barry Bonds, Chipper Jones, Rogers Hornsby, Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Ted Williams, Mike Schmidt, Hank Aaron, Bob Johnson, Ty Cobb, and Cy Williams have ever led the league in OPS+ at age 35 or older.