Big shoutout to the Mariners for being within 22 games of going wire to wire leading all MLB in team strikeouts (1,422) while also finishing dead last in batting average (.217).
The Seamen have 1,422 strikeouts, 45 more than the 2nd-to-worst Rockies. They have struck out 500 more times than the Padres (923 in 141 games).
They are hitting 3 points less than the White Sox, who have lost 40,000 games this year.
On the individual front, Elly de la Cruz has taken over the strikeout lead for individuals with 179 in 138 games played. That is a pace of 207. He's 3 ahead of Ezeuquiel Tovar from Colorado at 176. Both guys are shortstops.
As far as I can tell, Javier Baez is the only other shortstop to ever lead the league in whiffs.
Two-time defending champion Kyle Schwarber is third with 169 in jut 128 games. Schwarber was injured from 6/28 - 7/8 and that might cost him a threepeat unless he can turn it on late. Last player to lead the majors in whiffs 3 straight years was our Patron Saint, Mark Reynolds, who did it from 2008-2010, then also led the AL in 2011 when he switched leagues.
It's real kick in the nads seeing Joey with fewer than 100 strikeouts when we're already in September. 82 strikeouts in 58 games is a pace for 230. he just needs to find the situation that is going to let him thrive and he will elevate to all-time legend.
The fear of course is that you wonder how many chances El Donko has left to be truly great. He'll be 31 in November. What if teams sour on what Maximum Donkey can provide? What if the next Billy Beane isn't out there, willing to be the visionary who puts Joey leadoff 154 games a year?
Despite all the setbacks, Joey is 17th among active players in strikeouts and can easily pass the likes of Manny Machado and Brandon Crawford this month if he gets his turn at bat. Considering the Nationals have had nothing to play for since the beginning of the 2020 season, this should be Donk's time to shine. In case you ever doubt his greatness, he has just 8 fewer strikeouts than Manny Machado, who has 4,085 more plate appearances.
Ultimately, the big loser in a year where Joey is hurt and misused is baseball itself. Think how many pitchers are missing out on incentives because they didn't get an extra 10-15 strikeouts this year by facing Joey Gallo.
Imagine the looks of dismay on legends of young Gallonaut fans when they got to the ballpark for their one special trip with their Pop this summer, looked at the lineup card, and didn't see Donkey's name. Imagine being a dad having to explain to your son that his favorite player isn't in the starting lineup today because he's injured or because he is incredibly bad and does not help the team in any way. How do you dash a kid's dreams like that?
A silent prayer then, for a healthy September, in which Joey strikes out 40 times and hits 17 solo home runs to push his value as a free agent next year. For I dream of a day, when Joey plays 157 games as a Colorado Rockie or a New York Met or dare I even speak it into existence - the hometown hero of the Las Vegas A's. I dream of a chase of a record, with the media tripling at every homestead, where the stress starts to hang so heavy that Joey's nose hair starts to fall out. I dream of Mark Reynolds showing up during the final weekend of the year in a wheelchair - even though he's only 41 years old - and speaking into the mike in a creaky voice, whispering, "I was a great strikeout artist. But today, Joey Gallo is the greatest strikeout artist of all time." The crowd rises as one, people wearing their Donkey ears, braying JO-EY, JO-EY, JO-EY until he takes the top stair, tripping and falling and hyperextending his knee, then rising again and doffing his cap to the crowd after strikeout #224.
