Get That Weak Stuff Outta Here
By Blake VandeBunte • Apr 29th, 2009 • Category: Eddie Miller, Hiram Bocachica, Jake Wood, John Moses, Les Fleming, Matt TreanorNew Tigers catcher, Matt Treanor is currently on the disabled list. However, before he went on the DL, Treanor was able to get plenty of attention from us fans for his impressive ineptitude at the dish. Treanor wasn’t brought in for his bat, he’s a pitcher’s catcher. He plays sound defense and calls a good game. I mean, the guy is only a career .232 hitter. What did you really expect?
No matter what you expected at the plate from Treanor, you probably expected more than he contributed. Treanor has 14 official at-bats this season and has ZERO hits. He was able to walk once, pumping that on-base percentage up to a comical .071.
I did a little research to find out just how bad Treanor has been compared to others in the Tigers rich history. Assuming, Treanor doesn’t play again this season (semi-likely) or doesn’t get another it (only a bit less likely) he will become one of six Tigers in history to finish a season with a batting average of .050 or lower with a minimum of 14 at-bats. Here’s the list of the weak:
- Jake Wood: In 1967, the 30-year-old Wood went 1-20 to finish the season with an average of .050.
- John Moses: In 1991, Moses went 1-21 (.048). He must have been used as a pinch runner though, as he stole 4 bases before the Tigers released him.
- Hiram Bocachica: Even though he has one of the greatest names in baseball history, Hiram could not get it going in 2003. Bocachica went 1-22 to finish the season with an average of .045. He did not draw a single walk.
- Eddie Miller: Miller was an outfielder for the Tigers in 1982 and went 1-25 to post a batting average of .040. The Tigers were actually able to trade him in 1983. Why would another team, in this case the Phillies, trade for a guy who has the ability to go 1-25? Interesting sidenote: Earlier in his career Miller was involved in the rare four-team trade. The trade invovled Bert Blyleven and Al Oliver.
- Matt Treanor: Treanor is currenly 0-14. He has drawn that single walk but has also hit into 3 doubleplays, more than anyone on this list.
- Les Fleming: Fleming is the gold standard here. In 1939, Fleming went 0-16 and never got himself on base. No walks and he couldn’t even get himself hit by a pitch. This is what Treanor is shooting for.
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[...] At Spotstarters, Blake compares some of the Tigers’ worst batting seasons in history with the .000 average Tigers backup catcher Matt Treanor had before being placed on the disabled list with a previously undisclosed re-injury of his hip. (Spotstarters) [...]
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