BILL CHUCK: Baseball by the numbers
BY BILL CHUCK walkoffs@gmail.com Twitter: @billyball April 13, 2013 1:44AM
White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd throws during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field on April 4, 2013. | Andrew A. Nelles~Sun-Times Media
THE CHICAGO WEEK AHEAD
The Cubs are 4-5 all-time vs. Texas and 118-119 vs. Milwaukee.
TheSox are 169-191 all-time vs. Toronto and 1,097-1,005 vs. Minnesota.
Updated: April 14, 2013 2:37AM
CHICAGO NINE TO KNOW
1The number of double plays a team turns is not as important as the percentage of DP opportunities converted. For example, through Wednesday, the White Sox, Astros and Twins led the majors with 10 DPs. But the Astros turned 10 in 85 opportunities (12%), the Twins 10 in 78 (13%) and the White Sox 10 in 51 (20%, the best in the majors).
2Edwin Jackson is 0-2 this month, making him 7-14 with a 4.73 ERA in his career during the first month of the season. Wait for August, when he has been 18-9 with a 3.15 ERA.
3In his first two starts this season, batters are hitting .125 against Gavin Floyd in his first time through the batting order and .313 in his second time through. Batters are 6-for-12 the third time they face him.
4Cubs starters had 73 quality starts last season (45%). They had four in their first nine games this season (44%).
5The White Sox have set team records in strikeouts per nine innings each of the last three seasons: 7.15 in 2010, 7.52 in 2011 and 7.76 in 2012. So far, they are at 8.75 in 2013.
6The Cubs blew a 5-0 lead Thursday. The largest lead they blew last season was three runs.
7Early-count power by Anthony Rizzo: Of his first 19 career home runs, six came on the first pitch of an at-bat (three this season) and seven on the second.
8Pair of Sox: Through their first two starts, Gavin Floyd and Jake Peavy each allowed eight runs (seven earned) and 13 hits in 111/3 innings.
9Through Wednesday, the Sox were last in the majors in drawing walks with 13. The Cubs had the next-fewest with 15.
THE NATIONAL NINE
1Since 2003, the Reds and Cardinals have played the equivalent of a full season. During that time, the Reds are 70-93 overall and only 3-23-2 in series in St. Louis.
2Jeremy Guthrie is 2-0 for the Royals, and he threw 110 pitches in his victory against the Twins. I mention this because Guthrie was the last Rockies pitcher to throw more than 100 pitches when he tossed 102 in a five-inning loss on June 12, 2012.
3After being swept this week by the Royals, the Twins are 171-172 all-time in Kansas City.
4Jordan Zimmermann is 26-26 in his career — 12-13 on the road and 14-13 at Nationals Park. He has won seven consecutive decisions at home, though.
5Joe Mauer started the season 0-for-14 with two walks with runners on base.
6Mets catchers hit five homers last season. In the first nine games of this season, Mets catcher John Buck hit five homers.
7On Thursday, Miguel Cabrera had a triple and a stolen base in the same game for the first time in his career.
8In Placido Polanco’s first 52 swings, he missed once. In his first 50 swings, Norichika Aoki missed only twice.
9Through their first nine games, Braves relievers didn’t allow any of the 12 runners they inherited to score. Meanwhile, Phillies relievers had allowed 12 of the first 15 runners they inherited to score.
