Fewest Team HR at a Position in 2009

Nearly two-thirds of the way through the season, Jason Kendall of the Brewers is hitting .239 and slugging .283. As you might guess, he doesn't have many extra base hits. He has twelve, to be exact, eleven doubles and one triple. He has started 86 of the Brewers 101 games and backup Mike Rivera also is homerless on the year, meaning the Brewers haven't had a single round-tripper from their backstops. What other teams have suffered a homer drought at one position on the diamond? I did not include NL DHs or pitchers.

Fewest Team HR at a Position in 2009
(through 7/28)

• Milwaukee Brewers, C - 0
• New York Mets, 2B - 0
• San Diego Padres, 2B - 1
• Baltimore Orioles, SS - 2
  
• Cincinnati Reds, CF - 2
  
• Florida Marlins, 3B - 2
• Kansas City Royals, SS - 2
  
• Minnesota Twins, 2B - 2
• Minnesota Twins, CF - 2
  
• New York Mets, SS - 2
• San Francisco Giants, SS - 2
• Washington Nationals, 2B - 2

Buehrle's Streak

Mark Buehrle retired 45 batters in a row to set a new major league record:

• (July 18 vs. BAL) Markakis flied out to center fielder Wise.
• (July 23 vs TBR) Upton grounded out, second baseman Nix to first baseman Fields.
• Crawford grounded out, pitcher Buehrle to first baseman Fields.
• Longoria struck out.
• Pena fouled out to first baseman Fields.
• Zobrist struck out.
• Burrell flied out to right fielder Dye.
• Kapler flied out to left fielder Quentin.
• Hernandez grounded out, shortstop Ramirez to first baseman Fields.
• Bartlett flied out to left fielder Quentin.
• Upton struck out.
• Crawford flied out to left fielder Quentin.
• Longoria lined out to shortstop Ramirez.
• Pena grounded out, first baseman Fields to pitcher Buehrle.
• Zobrist grounded out, shortstop Ramirez to first baseman Fields.
• Burrell struck out.
• Kapler grounded out, third baseman Beckham to first baseman Fields.
• Hernandez grounded out, third baseman Beckham to first baseman Fields.
• Bartlett grounded out, shortstop Ramirez to first baseman Fields.
• Upton grounded out, shortstop Ramirez to first baseman Fields.
• Crawford grounded out, pitcher Buehrle to first baseman Fields.
• Longoria flied out to right fielder Dye.
• Pena struck out.
• Zobrist fouled out to third baseman Beckham.
• Burrell lined out to third baseman Beckham.
• Kapler flied out to center fielder Wise.
• Hernandez struck out.
• Bartlett grounded out, shortstop Ramirez to first baseman Fields.
• (July 28 vs MIN) D.Span grounded out, first baseman Konerko to pitcher Buehrle.
• Mauer grounded out, second baseman Getz to first baseman Konerko.
• Morneau flied out to right fielder Dye.
• Cuddyer grounded out, third baseman Beckham to first baseman Konerko.
• Crede popped out to second baseman Getz.
• B.Harris grounded out, shortstop Al.Ramirez to first baseman Konerko.
• C.Gomez struck out.
• Punto grounded out, third baseman Beckham to first baseman Konerko.
• A.Casilla grounded out, third baseman Beckham to first baseman Konerko.
• D.Span grounded out, first baseman Konerko to pitcher Buehrle.
• Mauer struck out.
• Morneau grounded out, second baseman Getz to first baseman Konerko.
• Cuddyer struck out.
• Crede grounded out, shortstop Al.Ramirez to first baseman Konerko.
• B.Harris grounded out, shortstop Al.Ramirez to first baseman Konerko.
• C.Gomez fouled out to third baseman Beckham.
• Punto grounded out, second baseman Getz to first baseman Konerko.

Buehrle broke the record of 41 in a row that was shared by Jim Barr, a Giants starter in the 1970's, and Buehrle's teammate Bobby Jenks.

Barr retired 41 batters over two starts in 1972 but didn't get a no-hitter out of the deal: pitcher Bob Moose led off an inning with a walk before Barr retired 21 in a row to finish a shutout against the Pirates. Barr retired the first 20 he faced in St. Louis six days later. Bernie Carbo doubled to left to snap the streak.

Jenks, as a closer, did it over 14 games in the summer of 2007. After Ryan Garko homered on July 17, Jenks mowed through everyone until Joey Gathright snapped his streak with a ground ball single to left on August 20.

Fifteen perfect innings. Good job Mark.

Jamie Moyer's Milestone

Jamie Moyer is slated to take the mound for the Phillies on Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs. It will be the 603rd start of his career, moving him into a tie with Randy Johnson for 20th all-time. Moyer is also knocking on the door of the top ten in career earned runs allowed, 24 behind #10 Bert Blyleven (1830). He's also getting close to 2000 career runs allowed.

However, neither run record will occur in the immediate future. He will, however, soon reach a milestone that may not be reached for a very long time, if ever. The seventh hit he allows Wednesday night (or from this point forward) will be the 4000th hit allowed of his career. He'll be the 39th pitcher in baseball history to reach that mark and the first since Tom Glavine in 2006. Behind Moyer, there's no one even close to 4000.

Randy Johnson is currently at 3339 hits allowed. John Smoltz just passed 3000, 37-year-old Andy Pettitte is at 2990. Always hittable Livan Hernandez is still five seasons of 200+ hits away from the mark. The top pitchers 30 and younger are Mark Buehrle (30) at 2043, Jon Garland (29) at 1850, and CC Sabathia (28) at 1656. It's hard to stay around long enough to give up 4000 hits, especially with the increase in strikeouts these days compared to the past.

Here are the last ten pitchers to reach the 4000 hit plateau:

Name	Date	Hitter (hit)
Tom Glavine	September 19, 2006	Josh Willingham (single)
Roger Clemens	June 22, 2006	Jason Kubel (double)
Greg Maddux	July 31, 2005	Chad Tracy (double)
Frank Tanana	August 8, 1993	Carlos Garcia (single)
Bert Blyleven	July 14, 1988	Ken Gerhart (single)
Don Sutton	April 22, 1985	Bobby Grich (single)
Tommy John	July 21, 1984	Jackie Gutierrez (single)
Steve Carlton	April 8, 1984	Nick Esasky (double)
Fergie Jenkins	May 1, 1983	Mike Scioscia (single)
Phil Niekro	September 22, 1982	Alan Ashby (single)

Even if someone does reach 4000 hits after Moyer, I have to believe Phil Niekro will be the last pitcher to give up 5000 hits in his career.