BD Hot Stove: No No-No No No No | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove: No No-No No No No | Baseball Digest

This morning’s local paper had its daily “What do these three things have common?” sports trivia. In this case it was the names Hideo Nomo, Ramon Martinez and Kevin Gross. I correctly guessed that they were last three Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers to throw a no-hitter. It then got me thinking about the New York Mets.

It is remarkable, especially given the great pitchers the team has employed over the years, that the franchise has never had a no-hitter in their 49 year history. Among the greats and “very goods” that have donned the Mets uniform are Hall of Fame member Tom Seaver, Cy Young winners Doc Gooden, David Cone, Pedro Martinez, Johan Santana, Tom Glavine, Frank Viola, and Bret Saberhagen (albeit all but Gooden won the Cy Young with other teams), and steady throwers like Ron Darling, Al Leiter, Jon Matlack, Jerry Koosman, and Sid Fernandez.

Especially frustrating to Mets fans has to be the fact that several of their hurlers threw no-hitters once they left the Mets (Seaver, Cone (Perfect), and Gooden come to mind immediately). But although the Mets have gone the longest without ever recording a no-hitter, they are not alone in the goose egg department. The San Diego Padres have yet to record a hit-less ball game as well. Meanwhile, the Brewers, Blue Jays, and Rockies (in 2010) have just one apiece in their history.

There’s no rhyme or reason to who will throw a no-hitter either. Some of the greatest pitchers in baseball history have never thrown one, yet sub-par throwers like Joe Cowley have tossed, with a lot of walks, a no-no. Bobo Holloman threw a no-hitter in his first major league start and only had two more wins in his entire one year career.

So we present you with a list of the last no-hitter thrown by each team in major league baseball. The longest stretch? The Cleveland Indians who haven’t blanked a team’s hit column since Len Barker threw a perfect game in 1981.

National League

Arizona – Edwin Jackson 6/25/10 vs. Tampa

Atlanta – Kent Mercker 4/8/94 vs. LAD

Chicago – Carlos Zambrano 9/14/08 vs. Houston

Cincinnati – Tom Browning 9/16/88 vs. LAD

Colorado – Ubaldo Jimenez 4/17/10 vs. Atlanta

Florida – Anibal Sanchez 9/6/06 vs. Arizona

Houston – Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel, Billy Wagner 6/11/03 vs. NYY

Los Angeles – Hideo Nomo 9/17/96 vs. Colorado

Milwaukee (while in AL) – Juan Nieves 4/15/87 vs. Baltimore

Philadelphia – Roy Halladay (ALDS) 10/6/10 vs. Cincannati; reg season – Halladay 5/29/10 vs. Florida

Pittsburgh – Francisco Cordova, Ricardo Rincon (1o IP) 7/12/97 vs. Houston

St. Louis – Bud Smith 9/3/01 vs. San Diego

San Francisco – Jonathan Sanchez 7/10/09 vs. San Diego

Washington (as Montreal) – Dennis Martinez (perfect) 7/28/91 vs. LAD

American League

Baltimore – Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, Greg Olson 7/13/91 vs. Oakland

Boston – Jon Lester 5/19/08 vs. Kansas City

Chicago – Mark Buehrle (perfect) 7/23/09 vs. Tampa Bay

Cleveland – Len Barker (perfect) 5/15/81 vs. Toronto

Detroit – Justin Verlander 6/12/07 vs. Milwaukee

Kansas City – Bret Saberhagen 8/26/91 vs. CHW

Los Angeles – Mark Langston, Mike Witt 4/11/90 vs. Seattle

Minnesota – Eric Milton 9/11/99 vs LAA

New York – David Cone (perfect) 7/18/99 vs. Montreal (WAS)

Oakland – Dallas Braden (perfect) 5/9/10 vs. Tampa Bay

Seattle – Chris Bosio 4/22/93 vs. Boston

Tampa Bay – Matt Garza 7/26/10 vs. Detroit

Texas – Kenny Rogers 7/28/94 vs. LAA

Toronto – Dave Stieb 9/2/90 vs. Cleveland

Oh, and why the multiple “No” in today’s title? What better way to pay homage to no-hitters then with George Thorogood and the Destroyers version of “Nobody But Me”? Enjoy and be sure to check out the latest hot stove news below the video.

Rumors, News, Transactions

SI's Jon Heyman has just reported that the Yankees and Andruw Jones have agreed to a one year, $2M deal with $1.2M in incentives.

The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that the Giants and Jeff Suppan are close to agreeing on a minor league deal.

The Hairston brothers are once again employed. The Mets made a nice signing by inking Scott Hairston and the Washington Nationals have added utility man Jerry Hairston Jr.

Eric Chavez isn’t calling it a career yet despite a series of back and shoulder issues. He reportedly worked out for the Dodgers.

The Royals have brought back Bruce Chen with a one year, $2M deal.

With Carl Pavano back in the fold, the final two spots in the Twins rotation will come down to a spring training battle between Brian Duensing, Kevin Slowey, and Nick Blackburn. My money is on the Duensing and Slowey.

The Diamondbacks have signed utility man Cody Ransom to a minor league deal.

Milestone Memories

This is the first in a series of recalling memorable moments we witnessed inside the hallowed halls of Yankee Stadium.

The date was Sunday, August 4, 1985 and the Chicago White Sox were in town. Ironically it was one year to the day, that Dale Berra and Bobby Meacham were tagged out at home plate by the Chisox Carlton Fisk. That August 4th was remembered for the bizarre; this one would be remembered for a big step in a Hall of Fame career.

Tom Seaver, whether you liked him or not (we fell into the latter category), was a great pitcher. He would take the mound on that Sunday with 299 career wins in his pocket. But before he would get to face off against Joe Cowley, a Yankees great was to be honored.

Phil Rizzuto had a number of Stadium honors in his day, but this one may have been the most memorable because of the game that followed. Or perhaps it would be for the holy cow that stepped on the Scooter's foot and knocked him over.

For a while it looked like a lack of run support would keep Seaver in search of his 300th win. The Yankees put together a run in the 3rd on singles by Mike Pagliarulo, Rickey Henderson, and Ken Griffey Sr., and despite his usual control problems, Cowley was tossing a shut out as the game entered the 6th inning.

Cowley issued his 5th free pass of the day to lead off man Greg Walker (he would be erased on a ground out by Fisk) and 1-out later Oscar Gamble singled to right, to put runners on the corners. Tim Hullet's RBI double tied the game and sent Cowley to the showers.

Rookie Brian Fisher, who was having an outstanding season, was brought on, but he didn't come through on this day. Ozzie Guillen's infield single gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead before Fisher recorded the 2nd out of the inning. But with a chance to escape further trouble, Fisher walked Rudy Law to load the bases, and Bryan Little made him pay with a 2-run single. The inning finally ended when Law was thrown out at the plate by Dan Pasqua on Harold Baines' single. Then White Sox manager Tony LaRussa was tossed for arguing the call.

With a 4-1 lead, Seaver really bore down in the 6th and 7th innings, retiring the Yankees in order. The Yankees put two men on in the 8th on singles by Meacham and Don Mattingly, but Dave Winfield struck out to end the frame. Then it all came down to the 9th inning. The crowd was torn between seeing a 300th game and getting a come from behind win.

Pasqua lead off the 9th with a single, but Seaver quickly retired Ron Hassey and Willie Randolph for the first two outs of the inning. Pagliarulo then worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Meacham was due up, but Billy Martin sent up slugger Don Baylor to try to tie the game with one swing. And he nearly did just that.

Baylor crushed a ball to left, bringing everyone who wasn't already standing to their feet. But Baylor had just gotten under it, and Law made the put out for the final out. A jubilant Seaver jumped into Fisk's arms and was joined by his teammates.

Seaver would join the Yankees' broadcasting crew following his retirement and the Scooter would never let him forget how he had ruined his day. When the game ended, Scooter was probably already over the GWB on his way to his home in Hillside, NJ. We miss ya, Scooter!

Milestone Memories

This is the first in a series of recalling memorable moments we witnessed inside the hallowed halls of Yankee Stadium.

The date was Sunday, August 4, 1985 and the Chicago White Sox were in town. Ironically it was one year to the day, that Dale Berra and Bobby Meacham were tagged out at home plate by the Chisox Carlton Fisk. That August 4th was remembered for the bizarre; this one would be remembered for a big step in a Hall of Fame career.

Tom Seaver, whether you liked him or not (we fell into the latter category), was a great pitcher. He would take the mound on that Sunday with 299 career wins in his pocket. But before he would get to face off against Joe Cowley, a Yankees great was to be honored.

Phil Rizzuto had a number of Stadium honors in his day, but this one may have been the most memorable because of the game that followed. Or perhaps it would be for the holy cow that stepped on the Scooter's foot and knocked him over.

For a while it looked like a lack of run support would keep Seaver in search of his 300th win. The Yankees put together a run in the 3rd on singles by Mike Pagliarulo, Rickey Henderson, and Ken Griffey Sr., and despite his usual control problems, Cowley was tossing a shut out as the game entered the 6th inning.

Cowley issued his 5th free pass of the day to lead off man Greg Walker (he would be erased on a ground out by Fisk) and 1-out later Oscar Gamble singled to right, to put runners on the corners. Tim Hullet's RBI double tied the game and sent Cowley to the showers.

Rookie Brian Fisher, who was having an outstanding season, was brought on, but he didn't come through on this day. Ozzie Guillen's infield single gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead before Fisher recorded the 2nd out of the inning. But with a chance to escape further trouble, Fisher walked Rudy Law to load the bases, and Bryan Little made him pay with a 2-run single. The inning finally ended when Law was thrown out at the plate by Dan Pasqua on Harold Baines' single. Then White Sox manager Tony LaRussa was tossed for arguing the call.

With a 4-1 lead, Seaver really bore down in the 6th and 7th innings, retiring the Yankees in order. The Yankees put two men on in the 8th on singles by Meacham and Don Mattingly, but Dave Winfield struck out to end the frame. Then it all came down to the 9th inning. The crowd was torn between seeing a 300th game and getting a come from behind win.

Pasqua lead off the 9th with a single, but Seaver quickly retired Ron Hassey and Willie Randolph for the first two outs of the inning. Pagliarulo then worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Meacham was due up, but Billy Martin sent up slugger Don Baylor to try to tie the game with one swing. And he nearly did just that.

Baylor crushed a ball to left, bringing everyone who wasn't already standing to their feet. But Baylor had just gotten under it, and Law made the put out for the final out. A jubilant Seaver jumped into Fisk's arms and was joined by his teammates.

Seaver would join the Yankees' broadcasting crew following his retirement and the Scooter would never let him forget how he had ruined his day. When the game ended, Scooter was probably already over the GWB on his way to his home in Hillside, NJ. We miss ya, Scooter!