50 highlights from the 2009 regular season

With the 2009 season over and the playoffs set to begin, it’s time to take a look back at some of this season’s highlights. Feel free to add your own highlights.

1. After clinching the AL West title for the third straight year, the Los Angeles Angels honored their fallen teammate Nick Adenhart by holding part of their celebration in center field by his in-park memorial. The Phillies did the same for longtime broadcaster Harry Kalas when they clinched their third straight NL East title.

2. “The Captain” Derek Jeter passing the “Iron Horse” Lou Gehrig to become the all-time Yankees hits leader. No player has gathered 3,000 hits for the Yankees. Jeter has 2,747.

3. Ichiro’s 9th consecutive 200 hit season. He eclipsed Willie Keeler, who set the record in 1901. He has over 2,000 hits in his Major League career and over 3,000 when his Japanese career is factored in.

4. Zack Greinke emerging as a dominant pitcher and Cy Young Award candidate.

5. Jonathan Sanchez’s no-hitter.  

6. Mark Buehrle’s perfect game.

 7. Eight cycles were hit this season: Orlando Hudson (April 13), Ian Kinsler (April 15), Jason Kubel (April 17), Michael Cuddyer (May 22), Melky Cabrera (August 2), Troy Tulowitzki (August 10), Felix Pie (August 14), and B.J. Upton (October 2).

8. Lou Piniella vs. Milton Bradley.

9. Steroids. Steroids. Steroids. Alex Rodriguez admitting he used steroids.

10. David Ortiz’s steroid issues and resurgence.

11. Manny Ramirez’s suspension.

12. Ramirez’s teammate Andre Ethier introducing himself to the baseball world.

13. The Dodgers winning their first 13 games at home.

14. Albert Pujols.

15. Cliff Lee being traded from Cleveland to Philadelphia. 

16. Roy Halladay not being traded from Toronto. J.P. Ricciardi losing his job from it.  

17. Jake Peavy rejecting, then accepting, a trade to the Chicago White Sox.

18. The return of the Kid, Ken Griffey, Jr., to Seattle. He homered in his first game back.

19. Detroit honoring former pitcher Mark Fidrych and former broadcaster Ernie Harwell.

20. Kendry Morales proving the Angels didn’t need to keep Mark Teixeira.

21. Ryan Franklin reinventing himself as a closer in St. Louis.

22. Eric Bruntlett’s game-ending, unassisted triple play. It was the 15th unassisted triple play in Major League history and the first one that ended a game since 1927.

23. Josh Willingham’s two grand slam game in July against Milwaukee.

24. Colorado taking off after Jim Tracy took over as manager from Clint Hurdle in May. Tracy would become the first manager in the history of baseball to take over a team that was 10 games under .500 (18-28 at Hurdle’s dismissal) and lead the same team to a record of more than 20 games over .500.

25. The debut of MLB Network. Finally, the national pastime went full time. The first season of the network went well. Expect the second season to be even better.

Rewind: 8/3 – 8/8

Here’s a look at what’s been going on at MLB Notebook this past week.

Monday (8/3)

• A special roundtable discussion on trade deadline winners.
• Jonathan gives us his pitching all-stars from July.
• Daniel B. profiled Gordon Beckham.

Tuesday (8/4)

• Ricky looked at Mark Reynolds’ strikeout rate.
• Sanders Says debuted.

Wednesday (8/5)

• Daniel M looked back at trades from 2003, using the Gut-Wang trade model.
• Jonathan profiled Garrett Atkins.
• Robert was back with his weekly power rankings.

Thursday (8/6)

• I took a look at who should be closing for the Cubs.
• Jonathan said the Phillies are lucky to have too many starters.

Friday (8/7)

• Charlie asked if the Mets’ season surprised anyone.
• Jonathan said the Pirates have problems. Understatement of the century?

Saturday (8/8)

• Our roundtable on what we expect from Clay Buchholz.
• Ricky looked at Ichiro’s ability to hit balls outside the zone.
• Daniel M delved into a pitcher’s success when he isn’t striking out batters.

Zach’s Work, Elsewhere:

• Young Guns: Norris, Tillman, Latos (BDD, 8/3)
• M’s Deal for Mike Koplove (StatSpeak, 8/4)
• Quick F/x: Jorge Sosa is back (StatSpeak, 8/6) – debut of new flight paths
• Quick F/x: Tazawa’s Debut (BDD, 8/8)

Rewind: 7/27 – 8/1

Something I’ve been meaning to get started for awhile now, is the Rewind post. This will be a simple links posts that goes through the best stuff of the week on the site.

Monday (7/27)

• Ricky introduces the Danny Herrera Screwball.
• Daniel B. explains Rick Porcello’s growing pains.
• Jonathan breaks down Josh Hamilton’s problematic 2009 campaign.

Tuesday (7/28)

• Daniel B. makes it known that Curtis Granderson is not the best leadoff hitter for a team.
• Jonathan says that the Padres cannot wait for July to be over and done with.

Wednesday (7/29)

• Cliff Lee was traded to Philly, and I had some thoughts.
• Robert gives us his weekly power rankings. Make sure to give it a read, it’s good stuff.
• In part 2, Ricky shows us the movement of Danny Herrera’s screwball.

Thursday (7/30)

• Robert believes the Phillies should trade for Roy Halladay, even after dealing for Cliff Lee.
• I broke the news that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were reportedly on the ’03 steroid list.

Friday (7/31)

• On a busy deadline day, I covered the Victor Martinez, Orlando Cabrera and Jarrod Washburn deals as they went down.
• Jonathan takes a look at Pablo Sandoval, and how he has established himself at thirdbase.
• Daniel B. breaks down Phil Hughes, and how he gave up his first earned run in almost two months.

Saturday (8/1)

• Jonathan gives us his All-Star team from July.
• In Daniel M.’s first post, he takes a look at the relationship of Pi/PA and swing percentages.

Zach’s Work, Elsewhere

• An update of the Mariners call-ups from the week (ITM, 7/27)
• A breakdown of Wandy Rodriguez (BDD, 7/29)
• A look at the Mariners acquiring Ian Snell and Jack Wilson from the Pirates (ITM, 7/29)
• Some Pitch F/x from Chris Tillman’s MLB debut (StatSpeak, 7/30)
• More in-depth on the Jarrod Washburn deal (ITM, 8/1)
• A look at the differences in defense behind some traded pitchers (BDD, 8/1)