Final Line for [insert name here], 0.0 IP...

We've all seen it happen before: a team's manager plays the percentages and calls on his left-handed specialist to face the other team's lefty slugger. The new pitcher promptly gives up a hit, walk, or otherwise fails in his task and is removed before recording an out. His line in the box score then looks like "0.0......0....1...." and so on. Let's look at the season and career leaders for 0.0 IP appearances. As usual with play by play reliant searches, this spans 1957-2007.

Most 0.0 IP appearances in a season by a lefthanded pitcher:

1. Sean Runyan, 1998, 17
2. George Sherrill, 2006, 15
3. Bob McClure, 1977, 15
4. Mike Myers, 2001, 13
5. Mike Myers, 1997, 13
6. Jason Christiansen, 2004, 13
7. 11 tied with, 12

Most 0.0 IP appearances in a career by a lefthanded pitcher:

1. Mike Myers, 127
2. Jesse Orosco, 80
3. Paul Assenmacher, 76
4. Bob McClure, 65
5. Wedsel "Buddy" Groom, 65
6. Mike Stanton, 61
7. Steve Kline, 59
8. Dan Plesac, 58
9. Tony Fossas, 54
10. Ray King, 51
11. Mike Holtz, 51

Alright, as established, these guys tend to get lifted because they are called upon to face one batter. I would think it's tougher to be taken out without recording at least 1/3 inning if you're righthanded. Let's look at those leaders.

Most 0.0 IP appearances in a season by a righthanded pitcher:

1. Jeff Nelson, 1993, 10
2. Horacio Pina, 1971, 9
3. Turk Lown, 1960, 7
4. Cecilio Guante, 1988, 7
5. Kevin Gryboski, 2003, 7
6. Bob Anderson, 1962, 7

Most 0.0 IP appearances in a career by a righthanded pitcher:

1. Jeff Nelson, 49
2. Paul Quantrill, 28
3. Kent Tekulve, 27
4. Don McMahon, 27
5. Hector Carrasco, 26

Now let's look to see what years featured the most 0.0 IP appearances, regardless of handedness, because we can:

1. 1999 - 487
2. 2000 - 482
3. 2006 - 474
4. 2005 - 473
5. 1998 - 472
6. 1997 - 465
7. 2003 - 456
8. 2004 - 452
9. 2002 - 448
10. 2001 - 447

Surprise, surprise, managers have been more willing to yank guys quickly since bullpens have specialized. For the curious, 2007 has already seen 364 such appearances, through yesterday. The highest appearances total for any season before 1990 was 324 in 1987. The lowest total? 128 in 1958.

Finally, let's see what teams had a manager with a quick hook:

1. 2004 San Francisco Giants, 43
2. 2007 Cincinnati Reds, 29
3. 1995 Chicago Cubs, 29
4. 1971 Washington Senators, 28
5. 2003 Toronto Blue Jays, 28
6. 2002 Texas Rangers, 28
7. 1993 Seattle Mariners, 28
8. 1963 Los Angeles Angels, 28
9. 2000 Colorado Rockies, 28
10. 1998 Chicago Cubs, 28

It's interesting to me that the 2nd and 3rd place teams didn't (yet) get the benefit of a full season. Obviously 2007 is still going on and 1995 had a weird 144-game schedule due to the players' strike of 1994-5.

The pitchers involved in the 2004 Giants record-shattering campaign: Jason Christiansen, David Aardsma, Kevin Walker, Jim Brower, Felix Rodriguez, Wayne Franklin (ha!), Matt Herges, Scott Eyre, Tyler Walker, Dustin Hermanson, and Dave Burba. Eleven, count 'em, eleven guys. That's almost twice the number of relievers on a given team at a given time.