15 Responses to “Cantu’s H + RBI streak”

1. Zachary Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 9:05 am

   I like how Cantu is one of the precious few not to have an OPS over 1.000. He's gotten his hits in good spots, not just been on a monster hot streak.

2. Dave Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 9:18 am

   Here's what I don't like about this list:
   Upon checking the Pirates list for 1952-2010 (start of season only) I see a player named Adam Hyzdu in 2001 whose streak started in June.
   Since when does the baseball season start in June in a non-strike year?
   This is a thing that needs to be separated, eh?

   Also, what's up with Hyzdu as a name? a "Y" a "Z" and a "U" in the name! The family must not have been aware of the first half of the alphabet.

3. Andy Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 9:32 am

   What's happening there is that Hyzdu's season with the Pirates started in June, so the streak finder is counting HIS first games of the season, not the Pirates'. Sean had to make decision about how to handle such things, because in some cases you might like to be able to start for season-beginning streaks for players who came up later due to injury or just being a minor-leaguer who gets a call.

4. --bill Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 10:36 am

   What happened to Ray Grimes? OPS+ of 158 in 1922, and then his playing time in 1923 and 1924 was drastically reduced. Did he have some sort of injury?

5. Andy Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 10:38 am

   According to Wikipedia he suffered a slipped disk in 1923 that significantly limited him.

6. edward almada Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 12:56 pm

   Checking on the record of 8 games at the start of the season, in which a hitter as driven at least one run in each, it is incorrect that George "Hightops" Kelly did it in 1924. I have the boxscore on the 4th and 5th game of that season, published in the NY Times. Each game ended 2-1 and Kelly did not drive in any runs. So Jorge Cantu has the record for himself and can improve tonight.

7. Andy Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 1:00 pm

   Edward, there must be a discrepancy between the box scores you have access to and what Retrosheet has on file. Does Elias Sports Bureau also use box scores provided by Retrosheet? If not, then it seems unlikely there is an error since Elias and the PI agree on Kelly's performance.

8. edward almada Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 1:13 pm

   RECHECKING, THERE IS A CONFUSION IN THE REPORT GIVEN IN MEXICO. ONE RECORD OF GEORGE "HIGHPOCKETS" KELLY IS HAVING DRIVEN ALL THE RUNS (8) FOR HIS TEAM ON APRIL 14, 1924 WHEN THE GIANTS WON 8-6. ANOTHER IS FROM 1921, WHEN HE STARTED THE FIRST 8 GAMES OF THE GIANTS SEASON DRIVING IN A RUN AT LEAST IN EACH, BUT GETTING A HIT AN SCORING ALSO IN THE FIRST SEVEN. HE WENT SCORELESS IN THE 8TH GAME BUT DID GET A TRIPLE TO DRIVE IN FRANKIE FRISCH, OF ALL PEOPLE. THAT WAS THE ONLY RUN OF THE GAME VS THE PHILLIES. SORRY ABOUT THE PREVIOUS NOTATION.

9. Djibouti Says:
   April 14th, 2010 at 1:35 pm

   Man, High Pockets was tearing it up in 1921. Streak of 8 to start the season and another streak of 10 later in June.

   Side note: according to Bill James, High Pockets Kelly is the worst player in the Hall of Fame

10. DoubleDiamond Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 7:19 pm

    Yes, I knew about Marv Throneberry's brother, enough so that when Mr. Vincent came along as commissioner, I wasn't too surprised to see Fay as a man's name (although spelled differently). Actually, Faye Throneberry's name was Maynard Faye Throneberry. And I believe that Fay Vincent's real first name is Francis, with the "i" that usually denotes the masculine spelling.

11. Gerry Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    Gene Baker, tied for the lead for 1952-75, was the first black player on the Cubs roster. He would have been the first black player to appear for the Cubs, but he was injured, so that honor fell to Ernie Banks. See http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Gene_Baker for this and more.

    Oh, and I bet you didn't know that Ray Grimes had a (twin) brother (Roy) who played major league baseball, and a son, Oscar, who played major league baseball.

12. DavidRF Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    Cantu breaks the record the hard way -- with a solo homer in the 5th inning.

13. Jim Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    Depends on the way you look at it, DavidRF, whats an easier way to get a hit and an RBI than to just knock yourself in

14. DavidRF Says:
    April 14th, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    Sure. Easy in that its the most efficient way. All I meant was that he earned it and that it wasn't a weak grounder with a guy on third type of deal. Its a good way to break the record.

15. Tim Says:
    April 15th, 2010 at 11:29 pm

    He's extended it now to 10 to start the year, but what's not showing is that he also did it in 4 straight games to end 2009, meaning he's now just 3 shy of Grimes, as well. Thought that was worth noting.