No-Hitters Are Becoming Much Less Special in Today's Game

Pitching a no-hitter has always been one of the most ionic achievements in baseball, and the no-hit club is a group that every pitcher wants to be apart of. More than any other sport, baseball is a numbers game and it cherishes its past history and stats. There is no other club in sports, like the no-hit club, where a player from 1876 will always have a connection to a player in today's modern game. Another component that makes a no-hitter so special is the fact that it can happen on any given day that a pitcher steps to the mound, and history has shown that no-hitters can come from the most unlikely of places. In 1999 for example, Jose Jimenez threw a no-hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Arizona Diamondbacks, despite the fact that entering the game Jimenez had just 5 career wins and was 3-7 during the year with a 6.69 ERA. Finally, the atmosphere around a park with a no-hitter in progress is a unique electric nervousness, and an amazing sight to see.

Although no-hitters have always been treasured, they are becoming less and less valued today because of their increase in frequency. With more and more no-hitters being thrown, no-hit outings are becoming less special by the month.

We all remember the power surge that took place in the MLB during the 1990's and much of the 2000's. Who can forget Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's home run battles during the 1998 and 1999 seasons when McGwire knocked out 65 and 70 homers in the two years respectively, while Sosa was not far behind with 63 home runs of his own in 1998 and 66 the following year in 1999. How bout 2001 when Barry Bonds hit an MLB record 73 home runs, and Sosa hit 64 in the same year, while Rafael Palmeiro's 47 home runs were only the 8th most in the league. To put that in perspective, last year Jose Bautista led the league with 43 home runs, and in 2009 the most home runs by any AL player was 39 by Carlos Pena and Mark Teixeira.

But that era was tainted by steroid usage, and now that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has made it his personal mission to have the toughest drug testing in all of sports in order to attempt to ensure that steroids will no longer be present in baseball, run scoring has gone way down.

In 1999, the Cleveland Indians led the MLB with 1,009 runs scored, while in 2010 the Yankees led the league but their run total was all the way down to 859 over the course of the year. Also, in 1999, the Twins were dead last in the MLB in runs scored as they produced just 686 runs over the 162 game season, while two years ago 12 teams scored less than 686 runs and last year 14 teams scored less than 686 runs including 9 of the 16 teams from the National League. In fact, in 1999, every team in the playoffs scored at least 820 runs, while the Giants made the playoffs in 2010 after scoring just 697 runs over the course of the year.

Times have obviously changed since the early 2000's and the league has totally shifted from being dominated by big time power hitters like Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez to pitchers such as Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia. With the increasing effectiveness of pitchers, there has be a rapid rise in no-hitters, which are making no-no's much more common and therefore they are losing a little bit of their luster.

Just this year alone, we have already seen 5 no-hitters and there is still almost a month until the All-Star Game. The 5 no-hitters before the All-Star break are the most no-no's before the Midsummer's Classic since 22 years ago in 1990. And the scary part is, we could be in store for a few more no-hitters even before we get to the All-Star Game, as in the last 13 days alone we have witnessed a no-hitter by Johan Santana, a combined no-hitter by 6 Seattle Mariners pitchers, and a perfect game by Matt Cain.

Pitchers throwing no-hitters right after each other has been a trend for the past couple of years. In 2009, Jonathan Sanchez threw a no-hitter for the Giants on July 10th and thirteen days later Mark Buehrle threw a perfect game for the White Sox. Last year, Francisco Liriano threw a no-hitter for the Twins on May 3rd and four days later Justin Verlander threw a no-no for the Tigers.

A perfect game, were a pitcher doesn't allow a base runner all outing, is obviously admired by all baseball fans. But often times after a pitcher has allowed a base runner in some form other than a hit and the perfect game is shattered, the no-hitter doesn't always look as pretty. Many detractors think that numerous walks and base runners take away from a no-hitter.

For example, the beauty of a no-hitter is lost when A.J. Burnett doesn't allow a hit for the Marlins, but still walks 9 Padres batters. The elegance is no longer present when Erving Santana no-hits the Cleveland Indians but the Indians still manage to score a run.

However, the bigger problem has to do with the pure rise in no-hitters in today's game. In the last three years dating back to 2010, there have been a total of 14 no-hitters thrown. The 14 no-no's are the most over a three year span since there were 15 no-hitters thrown from 1990 to 1992. In fact, in the last 6 years since 2007, pitchers have thrown 21 no-hitters. To put in perspective the extreme increase in no-no's, in a 6 year span from 1984 to 1989, there was a total of just 5 no-hitters.

Obviously in a literal sense, there is no difference between Eddie Cicotte's no-hitter for the White Sox in 1917 and Jered Weaver's no-no last year for the Angels, as both pitchers didn't surround a hit all game. However, with the barrage of no-hitters in today's game, the significance of Weaver's no-hitter was much different than what it would have be if no-hitters were still a very rare feat.

Throwing a no-hitter will always be a great accomplishment, but no-no's lack the meaning and specialness that they one had in the past.

Early Season American League Storylines To Keep An Eye On As The Year Progresses

I understand that we are still in the opening month of baseball and that it was just over three weeks ago when the Athletics and Mariners were playing overseas in Japan to kick off the MLB season. I also recognize the fact that the season is tremendously young, as the Cleveland Indians for example have played just 11 games thus far.

However, my excitement for the MLB season is shared by millions of other fans and it is never too early to start to look at some of the biggest storylines of the young season and predict how they may affect the outcome of divisional races and playoff seedings in October.

Mark Teixeira's Struggles On The Left Side Of The Plate: 

Before Mark Teixeira signed his lucrative 8-year, 180 million dollar contract with the Yankees in 2009, he was just as effective batting lefty as he was batting righty. In his 6 previous years in the league with the Texas Rangers (2003-2007), Atlanta Braves (2007-2008), and Los Angeles Angels (2008), Teixeira was such a lethal hitter because of his switch hitting ability on both sides of the plate.

In 2005 with the Rangers, Tex had 37 home runs and batted .304 when he hit lefty and he added 6 homers and a .293 batting average when he swung the bat righty. In 2008 with the Braves and Angels, Teixeira hit 26 home runs and batted .311 from the left side of the plate, while also adding 7 homers and a .303 average from the right side.

However, since Teixeira has come to New York, things have changed. Although his power numbers on the left side have remained impressive over the past three years, his batting average is way down. Two years ago, although he hit 23 home runs lefty, he batted .244 from that side of the plate. Last year, he hit 24 home runs from the left side, but batted an awful .224 when he swung the bat lefty. To put that in comparison, aside from his rookie year, his previous career low batting average from the left side was .266, which was his average in 2004 with Texas. The short porch in right field has become a home run heaven for hitters at Yankee Stadium (just ask Curtis Granderson). However, Teixeira's average from the left side has dropped so dramatically because he is constantly swinging for the fences by trying to pull the ball to right field. Through the Yankees first 14 games, Teixeira is batting .273 from the left side and he has already struck out 5 times batting lefty, compared to just once batting righty.

Injuries Are Severely Hurting The Red Sox: 

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who had Tommy John Surgery last year due to a right elbow injury, is still recovering from the surgery and he will be unable to enter the starting rotation until June. Without Daisuke, the Sox four and five starters, Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard, haven't look great as of yet. Doubront has only lasted five innings in both of his starts, while Bard, who pitched very poorly this spring, was rocked in his first start for five runs in five innings against the Rays.

Also, Carl Crawford, who received off-season surgery on his left wrist, will be unable to return to the Sox lineup until late May. The Sox outfield injury concerns multiplied exponentially after last year's AL MVP runner-up, Jacoby Ellsbury, was put on the 15-day DL due to a right shoulder injury, which he sustained while sliding into second base against the Rays. Without Crawford and Ellsbury, two of the best outfielders in the entire league, the Sox have struggled to find a productive outfield combination. They have been forced to play Jason Repko in center-field due to the injuries, and Repko has just 1 hit in 9 at-bats.

As if matters weren't worse enough for the Sox, Andrew Bailey, who was expected to become the Sox new closer to replace Jonathan Papelbon, injured his thumb during the spring and will be out until after the All-Star game. With Daniel Bard, last year's setup man in the rotation, and Alfredo Aceves having to move to the closer role, the Sox bullpen has let up a ton of runs. Mark Meancon, who had 20 saves last year with the Houston Astros, has let up five home runs and 10 earned runs, while recording just 6 outs in 4 appearances this season. In his last appearance, he let up 6 runs, 3 home runs, and didn't record an out in the 8th inning vs the Rangers, and his 49.50 ERA got him sent down to Triple A-Pawtucket.

The bullpen struggles of the Red Sox were evident in their implosion against the Yankees on April 21st. After Felix Doubront pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball, the bullpen blew a lead that apperared to be insurmountable. Vicente Padilla got just one out in the 7th inning and let up a grand slam to Nick Swisher, which cut the Sox lead from 9-1 to 9-5. When Matt Albers came in to relieve Padilla, he let up a three run home run to Mark Teixeira and the Yanks got to within one run of the Sox after a 7 run 8th inning. The Bo Sox didn't fare much better in the 8th inning. Alfredo Aceves, the Sox closer, was lit up by the Yanks. He was unable to record an out and let up 5 earned runs before being pulled for Justin Thomas, who came in and allowed a two run double off the center-field wall to Russell Martin. Once everything was said and done, the Sox had allowed 7 runs in the 8th inning. After leading by 8 runs entering the top of the 7th, the Red Sox bullpen had allowed 14 runs in two innings and they trailed by 6 runs by the bottom of the 8th.

The Tigers and Rangers Look As Good As Expected:

With the difficulties of the American League East, the Detroit Tigers are by far the most popular pick to win their division of any team in the AL, especially after they signed Prince Fielder to a 9-year, 214 million dollar contract this off-season. Despite the huge signing the Angels were able to pull off by getting Albert Pujols to come to LA, the reigning two-time AL Champion Texas Rangers are still considered the favorites to take home the AL West crown. Neither the Tigers or Rangers have disappointed in the early season.

The power of Cabrera and Fielder right in the middle of the Tigers lineup is any pitchers nightmare to have to face (just ask Josh Beckett). They have combined for 6 home runs and 20 RBI's in the team's first 13 games. If Cabrera and Fielder can get some timely hitting from Brennan Boesch, Delmon Young, or Alex Avila, their lineup will be nearly impossible to hold down. Cabrera has also played fairly well in his transition to third base and he will only improve as the season goes along.

Obviously, Justin Verlander, the reigning AL Cy Young and AL MVP, is going to be a workhorse for the Tigers and a dominate ace. Aside from his ninth inning against the Rays in his second start when he let up 4 runs to blow the win, Verlander has looked nearly unhittable. The even more promising sign for the Tigers is that Rick Porcello, who has somewhat struggled since his impressive rookie season in 2009, has looked very good in his first few starts.

The 12-2 Texas Rangers are once again being led by their powerful offense, as their isn't an easy out in the entire Texas lineup. The Rangers lead the AL in nearly every hitting category including average, hits, runs batted in, runs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli have started the year off incredibly hot, as they both have hit 6 home runs and Hamilton has 15 RBI's and Napoli has added 12 RBI's. Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz have started with 2 home runs each and both power hitters are likely going to be around 30 home runs if they can stay healthy. As if that wasn't enough offense firepower, Michael Young and Ian Kinsler are two of the most underrated hitters in the entire league, and their starts to the 2012 season have been business as usual. Michael Young, is hitting .400 and has 12 RBI's, while Kinsler, who is arguably the best power hitting second basemen along with Robinson Cano, has hit 4 early season home runs.

Albert Pujols' Power Drought:

No matter how good Albert Pujols was in his first 11 years in the MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals, questions were obviously going to be risen about his lengthy 10-year, 254 million dollar contract with the Angels. Although I questioned the move to give a 31 year old a contract that will be paying him 30 million dollars 10 years from now when he is the age of 41, I thought it was a sacrifice that had to be taken in the long run because Albert is such a dominant player and is the best hitter in the game.

Although I suspected Albert's struggles to begin during the ladder stages of his contract, his 2012 season has not started as most people in L.A. would have hoped.

Albert hasn't hit a home run through the Angels first 14 games and they have started the season 5-9 after all the hype that was surrounding them this off-season. The Halos are already 7 games behind the Rangers in the AL West. Pujols, who has hit at least 34 home runs in every year of his career, has not hit a home run in 58 at-bats this season.

Although fans in Los Angeles are rightfully concerned, they should not freak out over Albert's slow start. Last year, Albert began the season with just 1 home run over the Cardinals first 12 games. He also went without a home run in a 27 game span last season from April 24th to May 22nd, which was apart of a larger 36 game stretch where he had just two home runs from April 24th to June 2nd. Looking at a month drought like that, you might have expected Albert's power numbers to have been down last year. However, he still had 37 home runs with the Cards, and he could easily hit 35 plus home runs this year once he starts to get it going, which he is destined to do.

Finally, Albert isn't showing any worries over his lack of power early on in the season. He said, "Listen, it's not being cocky, but I know I can hit. I showed that in the spring. I've shown that for 11 years and I don't think it's going to go away.... I think if you watch over my 25 at-bats or 30 at-bats, they've been really quality at-bats. So, if you're watching the game, I think I'm putting good at-bats, and that's all I can ask for myself... I'm not going to change the way I prepare myself just because I want to do a little bit more. I'm still going to get prepared and get my swing. I'm not going to overswing, because I feel good. I'm seeing the ball good. Last year I went through this, and I think if I would've been striking out or rolling over a lot of ball, I would've said something's wrong, I have to stay back. But I'm putting in good swings."