The Worst Stretch Of Hitting… Ever?
Derek’s post on Bloomquist below inspired me to do some digging into longest stretches without an extra base hit, since WFB is a couple of weeks away from the one year mark since the last time he got more than a single (July 15th, 2007). His streak currently stands at an impressive 150 plate appearances, which struck me as a really long time, so using Baseball Reference’s awesome Play Index, I started comparing that to other players in the last twenty years.
At first, I didn’t think I’d find anything that surpassed Juan Pierre’s 2000 campaign, when the Rockies called him up from Triple-A in August of that year to make his major league debut. He got two doubles in his first four career games, and then finished the season without another extra base hit, spanning 203 plate appearances. While playing in Colorado. He even hit .306, but it was all singles. Pretty amazing.
But then, I saw this, and my mouth hit the floor.
From April 25th, 1997 to June 16th, 1998, Mike Mordecai not only didn’t get an extra base hit, but he played in 71 games and went 15 for 127. Fifteen for One Hundred Twenty Seven. He tossed in 3 walks and 25 strikeouts for good measure. That’s a .118/.137/.118 line.
I can’t even fathom keeping a position player around long enough to go 15 for 127 without an extra base hit and three walks. Every time he went to the plate, you’d have been better off with a random pitcher.
That’s the kind of performance you would think would get you drummed out of baseball, but Mordecai went on to play seven more seasons after that stretch of futility and rack up 1,362 major league at-bats over 12 years.
.118/.137/.118. From a position player.
For all of Willie’s faults, he’s no Mike Mordecai.
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Let’s not turn this comment thread into the 2008 Mariners Revamp Plan, please.
Let’s focus on PURE EVIL IN SPIKES. (Yes, I think that article hilariously overstated our position on Willie)
maybe it is time for that Willie B FAQ on a sidebar.
I don’t think he merits a promotion to the sidebar!
The people who always freak out about us being mean to poor Wee Willie won’t read it anyway.
23: I always look to the bench players in 2001:
Stan Javier–switch hitter, could play all three outfield positions and first base
Mark McLemore–switch hitter, could play left field and three infield positions, pinch run and could be a regular in left or second base if needed
Tom Lampkin–left handed backup catcher to go with right handed starter
Charles Gipson–couldn’t really hit much, but could be outfield defense and a pinch runner
By 2002, the switch-hitters had become a fetish: McLemore, Guillen, Sierra, Relaford (essentially replacing McLemore, who was a regular), Ben Davis (ugh), Jose Offerman, Luis Ugueto (whose presence as a Rule 5 guy with no talent drove Lou mad), and Sir Gene Kingsale. Nonetheless, having a switch hitter or two on the bench really screws up the opposing manager’s options.
As to Mike Mordecai, I figure he’s on the short list for a permanent batting coach for this club.
But will Willie ever be drafted into Mr. Burns softball team? I think not. Long lives the legend of “Three Finger” Brown. Also, Honus Wagner.
“In fact, your right fielder has been dead for 130 years.”
I think that part of the article fits a wider pattern of the traditional regional print press seeking to marginalize the one part of the fan base that won’t Drink The Raul-Aid.
Bottom line is, a guy who doesn’t have the talent to belong on a major league roster now has a stat attached to his performance that even the old-schoolers can’t ignore.
39: Man, Bergen would’ve made Dave Valle look like Johnny Bench at the plate by comparison.
The thing is, having a guy like Willie on your bench SHOULD give you hitting versatility, not just defensive versatility. Because you can use your big slow pinch slugger when you need him, late in games, and not have to worry about where you’re going to put him on the field; Willie will play there. In effect, he turns ANY bench hitter into a SS, 3B, 2B, RF, CF, whatever you need. That’s a useful tool.
Unfortunately, the Mariners don’t have any hitters on their bench (or anywhere else). It’s like watching a guy use the blades on his fancy Swiss army knive to dig aimlessly in the ground.
I’m ok with Willie as the 25th man, the utility guy we see once a week. But man am I sick and tired of seeing his face in the line-up everyday. Its getting ridiculous. He should not be platooning with Reed, or anyone. Maybe Miguel Cairo should threaten to go to a National League club as well so they can fins a everyday spot for him as well.
Mike Mordecai had a better peak.
Let it be known that the Bellingham Herald’s sports staff is not responsible for the piece on Willie. It is a McClatchy wire article that they printed.
as mentioned, originally written for the TNT by Ryan Divish.
I still blame them for printing it!
Then tomorrow we can have the joy of waiting to see who writes about how terribly hard we are on consummate strikethrower Silva, even as he loses a head-to-head versus recently DFA’d Cha Seung Baek and the hated SD Fathers!
I saw Larry Lintz play a season of D ball, back in the dark ages before the lowest level was A.
You would never know it from looking at his major league career stats, but I remember him well because at the D level anyone good enough to be a marginal major leaguer is going to stand out so well that a young kid would take notice.
If Baek throws a shutout against us I’m going to weep tears of blood for the irony of it all.
Here are the five unofficial records that I see Willie chasing along with the all time leaders. I gave partial game credit on ABs and PAs on each end of the streak which is why my numbers differ slightly from DEO’s calculations. If somebody wanted to check my math, that would be great:
100 – Consecutive games without an XBH – Greg Gross
223 – Consecutive at bats without an XBH – Jose Valdivielso
266 – Consecutive PAs without an XBH – Larry Lintz
124 – Full season with no XBH in ABs – Dwain Anderson
144 – Full season with no XBH in PAs – Dwain Anderson
This is where Willie Stands:
76 — Consecutive games without an XBH
146 – Consecutive at bats without an XBH
166 – Consecutive PAs without an XBH
77 — 2008 season with no XBH in ABs
90 — 2008 season with no XBH in PAs
67: So if he plays regularly, he could have the first three by the end of July. A consummation devouted NOT to be wished.
Willie gets more playing time than he logically deserves because the Mariners are more interested in making money than winning games. He’s a local Charlie Hustle good guy underdog, “The Igniter” always ready for a quote for the Seattle Times. Mariner fans are diverse, with a substantial number from places like Kent and Renton who are just looking for someone they can identify with, not worrying how many consecutive games he’s gone without an extra base hit.
“PURE EVIL IN SPIKES” is a great nickname.
It’s better than WFB, Willie Ballgame, or Princess Willie!
Rob Neyer has an article on ESPN.com about who’s chasing records and shamefully neglected to mention Willie.
Willie isn’t here for his hitting. He’s here for his Gritting!
Ted Williams may have hit .400 but The WFB grits 1.000!
.400 looks pretty paltry next 1.000.
He may not hit much, but he grits better than anyone!
He’s not much of a hitter, but he’s a HOF gritter!
You don’t have to hit the ball when you can grit the ball.
He gets his uniform dirty.
He doesn’t steal bases, he obtains ‘Moneybags’. So sayeth The Rizzs.
Rickey might have 1400+ SB’s but how many Moneybags does he have? Huh?