The numbers aligned, and the Angels set a record

[Sdpm100]

The date was July 7th, 2007 (07/07/07), and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim set a modern day major league record scoring 35 runs on 34 hits against the Minnesota Twins.

Okay, out of character now, but this is the highest score I've seen in an MLB league.

Major League Baseball Box Scores
Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	
Game ID: 1393 - Saturday, July 7th, 2007 - Game Log

	
Saturday, July 7th, 2007
  				1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	R	H	E
Minnesota Twins 		3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	3	7	1
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 	1 	3 	5 	7 	9 	3 	3 	4 	X 	35	34	0
	

Minnesota		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	HR	RBI
E. Chavez CF		4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.325	2	33
S. Drew SS		3	0	1	0	1	1	2	.316	12	61
J. Mauer C		4	1	1	0	0	0	3	.350	7	52
J. Morneau 1B		2	1	1	3	0	1	1	.348	19	77
   a-B. Abernathy PH, 1B2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.242	6	33
J. Jones LF		4	0	1	0	0	2	0	.263	16	64
C. Monroe RF		4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.242	5	23
T. Tiffee 3B		4	0	1	0	0	0	1	.222	2	6
M. Tucker DH		3	0	0	0	1	2	2	.209	4	23
J. Castro 2B		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.297	4	21
   b-E. Marrero 2B	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.165	2	16
Totals			33	3	7	3	2	8	11			

a - B. Abernathy pinch hit for J. Morneau in the 6th
b - E. Marrero substituted for J. Castro in the 6th

BATTING
Home Runs: J. Morneau (19, 1st Inning off K. Escobar, 2 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: J. Mauer, J. Morneau 4, S. Drew, E. Chavez 2, J. Jones, T. Tiffee
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: B. Abernathy
Team LOB: 5

BASERUNNING
CS: M. Tucker (10)

FIELDING
Errors: J. Castro (2)
PB: J. Mauer

	
Los Angeles		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	HR	RBI
C. Figgins CF		6	3	2	3	1	0	5	.255	9	38
   b-R. Prado PH, LF	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.370	0	6
M. Izturis SS		7	2	4	4	0	0	2	.322	3	42
V. Guerrero RF		5	4	5	8	1	0	0	.350	26	84
D. Ward 1B		6	5	3	1	1	1	1	.266	12	53
J. Davanon DH		7	4	5	4	0	0	0	.315	13	48
R. Mackowiak 3B		6	4	6	3	0	0	1	.303	10	40
G. Anderson LF, CF	6	5	3	5	1	0	3	.304	12	46
J. Paul C		5	3	3	3	1	2	3	.311	2	42
J. Vizcaino 2B		1	4	1	0	3	0	0	.205	1	4
   a-M. Cairo PH, 2B	3	1	2	3	0	0	1	.264	6	17
Totals			53	35	34	34	8	4	17			

a - M. Cairo pinch hit for J. Vizcaino in the 6th
b - R. Prado pinch hit for C. Figgins in the 8th

BATTING
Doubles: R. Mackowiak 2 (17, 2nd Inning off J. Towers, 1 on, 0 outs; 5th Inning off M. Guerrier, 0 on, 1 out) J. Paul (24, 4th Inning off D. Hermanson, 1 on, 1 out) C. Figgins 2 (14, 1st Inning off J. Towers, 0 on, 0 outs; 5th Inning off M. Guerrier, 3 on, 2 outs) M. Izturis (16, 5th Inning off M. Guerrier, 2 on, 2 outs) J. Davanon (13, 8th Inning off M. Cuddyer, 2 on, 0 outs) V. Guerrero (21, 3rd Inning off J. Romero, 2 on, 2 outs)
Triples: J. Davanon (6, 4th Inning off D. Hermanson, 1 on, 0 outs) G. Anderson (2, 5th Inning off C. Silva, 3 on, 2 outs)
Home Runs: D. Ward (12, 6th Inning off J. Crain, 0 on, 2 outs) G. Anderson (12, 8th Inning off M. Cuddyer, 1 on, 1 out) V. Guerrero 2 (26, 4th Inning off B. Shouse, 2 on, 2 outs; 6th Inning off J. Crain, 1 on, 2 outs) M. Cairo (6, 7th Inning off J. Crain, 2 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: R. Mackowiak 8, J. Paul 4, D. Ward 6, C. Figgins 4, M. Izturis 5, J. Davanon 8, G. Anderson 8, V. Guerrero 12, J. Vizcaino, M. Cairo 5
2-out RBI: D. Ward, C. Figgins, M. Izturis 3, J. Davanon, G. Anderson, V. Guerrero 4
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: J. Paul, D. Ward, R. Prado
Sac Fly: R. Mackowiak, J. Paul, V. Guerrero
Team LOB: 5

BASERUNNING
SB: J. Davanon (13)

Minnesota		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PI	PS	ERA
J. Towers L (4-4)	2.1	6	6	6	3	1	0	58	32	6.58
J. Romero 		0.2	4	3	3	1	0	0	20	10	4.58
D. Hermanson 		0.1	4	4	4	0	0	0	18	11	5.74
B. Shouse 		0.2	3	3	3	0	0	1	23	16	5.36
M. Guerrier 		0.2	3	5	4	2	1	0	34	18	8.63
C. Silva 		0.0	4	4	0	0	0	0	11	9	6.50
J. Crain 		2.0	5	6	6	1	1	3	63	37	6.54
M. Cuddyer 		1.1	5	4	4	1	1	1	34	22	27.01

PITCHING
Game Score: J. Towers 15
Batters Faced: J. Towers 15, J. Romero 6, D. Hermanson 5, B. Shouse 5, M. Guerrier 7, C. Silva 5, J. Crain 12, M. Cuddyer 9
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: J. Towers 2-3, J. Romero 1-0, D. Hermanson 1-0, B. Shouse 0-2, M. Guerrier 1-0, C. Silva 0-0, J. Crain 2-3, M. Cuddyer 1-1
Pitches - Strikes: J. Towers 58-32, J. Romero 20-10, D. Hermanson 18-11, B. Shouse 23-16, M. Guerrier 34-18, C. Silva 11-9, J. Crain 63-37, M. Cuddyer 34-22
Inherited Runners - Scored: J. Romero 1-1, B. Shouse 1-1, C. Silva 1-1, J. Crain 1-0
Balk: M. Cuddyer
	
Los Angeles		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PI	PS	ERA
K. Escobar W (8-5)	7.0	5	3	3	2	8	1	101	68	4.96
B. Wickman 		2.0	2	0	0	0	0	0	23	17	4.18

PITCHING
Game Score: K. Escobar 61
Batters Faced: K. Escobar 27, B. Wickman 8
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: K. Escobar 7-5, B. Wickman 1-5
Pitches - Strikes: K. Escobar 101-68, B. Wickman 23-17
WP: B. Wickman

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: V. Guerrero
Ballpark: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Weather: Partly Cloudy (59 degrees), wind blowing left to right at 8 mph
Start Time: 7:05 pm
Time: 4:23
Attendance: 44803
Special Notes: J. Castro was injured in a collision at a base.

Whilst the box score shows all the carnage in the offensive department, there are a few nuanced things I liked. First Jose Vizcaino going 1-for-1 and scoring four runs, and Michael Cuddyer having to go on the mound to get the final four outs for the Twins.
It also was only weeks before the real record setter from last year (in terms of sim date, of course), and also saw the losers going up 3-0, but unlike the Baltimore/Texas game, or the all-time record of the Chicago Colts and Louisville Colts in the real world, this was between two teams playing above .500. The Angels were 50-38, and the Twins 46-40.

One final note. This was the Saturday before the All-Star Game. The Angels sent two players (Vlad and K-Rod) there, the Twins sent five (Liriano, Santana, Stephen Drew, Mauer, and Morneau).

[Cryomaniac]

What's the most you've seen in a non-mlb league?

Also, if I was playing out a game like this as the winning team, I'd have pulled the starter after 6 innings, and got a save out of it

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

What's the most you've seen in a non-mlb league?

Also, if I was playing out a game like this as the winning team, I'd have pulled the starter after 6 innings, and got a save out of it

I haven't got a very good memory, but I seem to remember a fictional league game with a team scoring either 37 or 38, but that was also back in OOTP6.

And no I wasn't managing the game, but I like the thinking you have regarding the three inning save.

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

And no I wasn't managing the game, but I like the thinking you have regarding the three inning save.

I always do it in blowouts, unless it's a shoutout/no-hitter attempt.

[kckid4u]

When you're up 25-3, the reliever can't pick up a save.

[JWay]

Originally Posted by kckid4u

When you're up 25-3, the reliever can't pick up a save.

if he closes the last 3 innings, he can.

[Renner]

Originally Posted by kckid4u

When you're up 25-3, the reliever can't pick up a save.

Incorrect. Example - June 29, 1995. Angels beat the Rangers 20-4. Springer gets the save for CAL.
Retrosheet

Link doesn't work...you can look it up.

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by Renner

Incorrect. Example - June 29, 1995. Angels beat the Rangers 20-4. Springer gets the save for CAL.
Retrosheet

Link doesn't work...you can look it up.

Here you go:
Retrosheet Boxscore: California Angels 20, Texas Rangers 4

There was also a save in the Texas 30, Baltimore 3 game last year.
I believe off hand that the three inning save rule says something like "if the pitcher holds the lead and in the scorer's opinion pitched effectively, a save will be awarded". Something like that anyway, it's in the Official Rules.

[Xavier12]

With Josh Towers pitching for the opposing team I believe it.

[Charlie Hough]

The saddest thing is that Escobar was pulled for a reliever with a 28-run lead. Actually, this is probably a realistic reflection of the sheer stupidity that passes for management these days.

I could actually see it happening. "Are you insane?! We can't let him pitch a complete game, even with a 28-run lead! He hit 100 on the pitch count!"

[kckid4u]

Originally Posted by JWay

if he closes the last 3 innings, he can.

I thought you couldn't get credited with a save unless you faced enough batters that could potentially tie the game. My bad. (Should be that way anyway IMO)

[theasfl]

its a shame Davanon didn't homer and Anderson didnt double for the illustrious...double cycle.

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by Cryomaniac

What's the most you've seen in a non-mlb league?

Also, if I was playing out a game like this as the winning team, I'd have pulled the starter after 6 innings, and got a save out of it

the most I've seen is a 33-8 win with 18 runs coming in 1 inning


I'm sad I didn't save the box score online.

[eriqjaffe]

Originally Posted by Charlie Hough

The saddest thing is that Escobar was pulled for a reliever with a 28-run lead. Actually, this is probably a realistic reflection of the sheer stupidity that passes for management these days.

I could actually see it happening. "Are you insane?! We can't let him pitch a complete game, even with a 28-run lead! He hit 100 on the pitch count!"

Really? When you're up by 28, what's the point of letting your regulars risk injury?

btw, I like how the Twins actually were up 3-0 after the top of the first.

[Charlie Hough]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

Really? When you're up by 28, what's the point of letting your regulars risk injury?

This is what the game has become: paranoia, micromanagement, overmanagement, overspecialization, and obsession with sabermetric matchups.

Anyone who has played sports or worked with athletes ought to know that injuries occur when players do not exert full effort. When they're tentative or they ease up, they risk injuries more than when they play a full schedule or in all situations. To me, the best policy is to maximize conditioning and use an iron man approach at every position. As soon as players ease up or start thinking about limiting their play to avoid injuries, then they will end up hurt.

The early decades of baseball prove the entire point. It's funny how position players were expected to play every game and virtually every inning, and pitchers were expected to go nine innings in almost every start. So where were the massive waves of injuries? Why weren't player's dropping dead? Why didn't dozens of pitchers blow up their arms every year? They were not throwing soft tosses out there, and position players weren't prancing around either.

[His Own Bad Self]

Originally Posted by Charlie Hough

This is what the game has become: paranoia, micromanagement, overmanagement, overspecialization, and obsession with sabermetric matchups.

Anyone who has played sports or worked with athletes ought to know that injuries occur when players do not exert full effort. When they're tentative or they ease up, they risk injuries more than when they play a full schedule or in all situations. To me, the best policy is to maximize conditioning and use an iron man approach at every position. As soon as players ease up or start thinking about limiting their play to avoid injuries, then they will end up hurt.

Well, he's not talking about not giving max effort. He's talking about how to manage a game in which the outcome is all but official. In a blowout, why not sit the regulars and get the bench players some playing time?

I've never seen a blowout that large in any OOTP game.

[LAH]

Originally Posted by jdawgsenior

Well, he's not talking about not giving max effort. He's talking about how to manage a game in which the outcome is all but official. In a blowout, why not sit the regulars and get the bench players some playing time?

I've never seen a blowout that large in any OOTP game.

You gotta get the regs out with that sort of score.

[zukes]

Michael Cuddyer pitched 1.1 innings, LOL.

[Renner]

Originally Posted by Charlie Hough

The early decades of baseball prove the entire point. It's funny how position players were expected to play every game and virtually every inning, and pitchers were expected to go nine innings in almost every start. So where were the massive waves of injuries? Why weren't player's dropping dead? Why didn't dozens of pitchers blow up their arms every year? They were not throwing soft tosses out there, and position players weren't prancing around either.

The early decades do not prove your point. For guys like Walter Johnson and 3-Finger Brown who had careers up to or over age 40, there were more guys who flamed out early...Ed Walsh was basically done at age 31 after pitching 368+ IP in 5 of the previous 6 years...Christy Mathewson was basically done at age 33 after having 300+IP in 11 of the previous 14 seasons...Noodles Hahn pitched 296+ IP from age 20-25, then had 119 IP total age age 26 and 27, then was done for good...Chief Bender had 1 IP after age 33...Jack Chesbro (454 IP in 1904 at the age of 30) had 55 IP in his final season at age 35. I'm not an expert in kinesiology by any means, but the myth of iron pitchers who could thrown 300 pitches a game every 2 days is just that; a myth.

[Cryomaniac]

People could pitch 300 pitches every 2 days. For maybe a year. Or perhaps 2 if they are called Pat Venditte.