Dept. of Bizarre Information: When doing nothing is doing something
The Dodgers' press notes for tonight's game includes this fact:
-- In Randy Wolf’s last start on Friday, Nomar Garciaparra did not record a single putout in a complete nine-inning game.
He is the 24th first baseman in Major League history ,and first player in Dodger franchise history, to accomplish that feat.
(Question: Is it an accomplishment when you don't do anything?)
The last big leaguer this happened to was Raul Ibañez on April 18, 2005, who played eight innings in the field that day, as did eight others on the list.
But Garciaparra is one of just 16 first basemen to play nine full innings without recording a putout in a big league game.
Other former Dodgers to share the record: Dolph Camilli, Bud Clancy, Gary Thomasson, Bill Skowron, Frank Robinson, Len Matuszek, Franklin Stubbs, Fred McGriff and Greg Brock, though none actually did it in a Dodger uniform.
(Point in fact: I believe I saw Olmedo Saenz play one full inning without recording a putout, despite the fact there were three ground balls hit to infielders. Their throws, maybe an inch wide of first base in each instant, pulled Saenz off the bag, resulting in a throwing error. The result, of course, is Saenz didn't record the putout...
OK, we're making that up... Sorta)
It helped that Wolf, not known for inducing ground balls, struck out 11 in his seven innings, plus two more by two relievers. That made for 14 other outs to be made. Six were flyballs to the outfield. Five were popouts to the infield. Three were fielder's choice outs made at second instead of throws to first. And the team gave up only five hits. Imagine how many outs were made at first in a game like the 20-strike out performance Roger Clemens had way back wiith the Red Sox, when there was the opportunity for only seven outs to be made elsewhere.
Just for those (like us) who are curious, here's how the 27 outs that the Dodgers recorded Friday against the Cincinnati Reds were made:
First inning: Strikeout; flyout to center; fielder's choice (grounder to short, flip to second to get the runner).
Second inning: Strikeout; flyout to center; strikeout.
Third inning: Strikeout; flyout to right; flyout to left.
Fourth inning: 3 strikeouts
Fifth inning: 2 strikeouts, lineout to left.
Sixth inning: Strikeout; two popouts to second.
Seventh inning: Flyout to left, strikeout; popout to short.
Eighth inning (Broxton pitching): Popout to second; strikeout; fielder's choice (grounder to third, flip to second to get the force)
Ninth inning (Saito pitching): Bunt popped out to the catcher (after first two runners got aboard); fielder's choice (grounder to third, throw to second for the force); strikeout.