Edwin Jackson has signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals, his seventh team. The 28-year old pitcher has been with six clubs in his nine-year career.

1. Among pitchers all-time with at least 120 decisions and exactly a .500 record Carlos Silva (70-70) has the worst ERA at 4.68 followed by Edwin Jackson (60-60) 4.46 ERA. Jackson, who has pitched for seven teams, is 43-44 in the AL (with Tampa, White Sox, and Detroit) and 17-16 in the NL (with the Dodgers, D-backs and Cardinals).
2. Jackson had a 1.632 WHIP through 2008. Over the last three seasons his WHIP has been 1.363, however it’s on the rise again going from 1.262 in 2009, 1.395 in 2010, and 1.437 in 2011.
3. Jackson is one of 14 MLB-ers born in West Germany. He was born in Neu-Ulm, the birthplace of Harald Schmidt, the German Johnny Carson.
4. Comparing mediocrity: Aaron Cook has a 1.468 lifetime WHIP and 4.53 ERA, Edwin Jackson has a 1.476 lifetime WHIP and 4.46 ERA, while Zach Duke has a 1.490 lifetime WHIP and 4.56 ERA.
5. In 2009, Jackson pitched for the Tigers and in 2010, he defeated the Tigers twice, once when pitching for the Diamondbacks on June 19 and once when pitching for the White Sox on August 4 (he also lost to them on Sept. 17 as a member of the ChiSox).
6. Since 2007, Jackson has an ERA of 4.34, the same as Bronson Arroyo.
7. Since 2007, Jackson has made 158 starts, the same as Ted Lilly and Jered Weaver, good for 11th among starters (CC Sabathia has started 170 games).
8. When Jackson tossed his no-hitter against the Rays (as a member of the Diamondbacks) on June 25, 2010, he threw 149 pitches. Since 2000, the only pitchers to throw that many in game are Ron Villone (150 on 9/29/2000), Randy Johnson (149 on 7/31/2002) and Livan Hernandez (150 on 6/3/2005). Jackson walked eight in his no-no, topped by A.J. Burnett who had nine walks in his 2001 no-hitter.
9. In 2010, Jackson threw 20 wild pitches, one of 28 pitchers who have thrown 20+ since 2001, led by Red Ames‘ 30 in 1905.

A Prime Number can be divided evenly only by 1 or itself and it must be a whole number greater than 1. While nine is not a prime number as it can be divided by three, three is a prime number as it can only be divided by itself.

Here are nine prime baseball numbers:

1. 7 – Fergie Jenkins and Bob Lemon each had seven 20+-game winning seasons.
2. 19 – Greg Maddux had five (a prime number) 19-win seasons.
3. 107 – Justin Verlander and Dan Haren each have 107 career wins
4. 293 – the number of homers hit by Kent Hrbek.
5. 331 – Ben Zobrist and Daniel Murphy each have 331 career singles.
6. 457 – Nate McLouth and Ronny Cedeno have each struck out 457 times.
7. 587 – Al Smith, who pitched for the Giants, Phillies, and Indians from 1934-45, walked 587 batters and struck out 587 batters.
8. 619 – Keith Foulke and Mitch Williams each pitched in 619 games.
9. 727 – Kevin McReynolds, Bill Doran, and Cristian Guzman each scored 727 runs.

As we await finding out where Johnny Damon will end up this season, my feeling is that five years or so after he retires, Damon will end up in Cooperstown. Here are nine reasons why I think so.

1. Johnny Damon has 4146 total bases and 231 homers making him one of 15 players all-time with over 4100 total bases and less than 250 homers. Of the 15, 13 are in the Hall, Pete Rose and Derek Jeter (4430 TB – 240 homers) are not.

Pat Burrell retires with two World Series rings

Former Phillies, Rays and Giants outfielder Pat Burrell has officially retired, according to MLB Trade Rumors and confirmed by Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports.

Here’s Nine to Know about Pat the Bat (and you’ll be surprised at how many players he can be compared to):

1. Burrell had 6520 plate appearances and a .253 batting average. Amongst batters with at least 6520 plate appearances, his BA was the same as Jeremy Burnitz and Terry Turner.
2. Burrell had 6520 plate appearances and a .361 OBP. Amongst batters with at least 6520 plate appearances, his OBP was the same as Billy Williams, Boog Powell, Darrell Evans, Carlos Beltran, Rick Monday, Eddie Joost, and Max Carey.
3. Burrell had 6520 plate appearances and a .472 slugging percentage. Amongst batters with at least 6520 plate appearances, his slugging percentage was the same as Del Ennis and Bobby Bonilla.
4. Burrell had 6520 plate appearances and a .834 OPS. Amongst batters with at least 6520 plate appearances, his OPS was the same as Roberto Clemente and Enos Slaughter.
5. Burrell had 1393 hits, the same number as Luke Sewall.
6. Pat hit 292 homers, the same number as Rusty Staub.
7. Pat had 976 RBI, the same number as Andy Pafko and Cesar Cedeno.
8. Pat had 299 doubles, the same as Wally Berger, Larry Doyle, Phil Garner, and Billy Goodman.
9. In Pat’s first at bat on 5/24/2000 he popped out against Octavio Dotel. In Burrell’s last at bat on 9/28/2011, Burrell recorded the 1564 strikeout of his career whiffing against the Rockies. Earlier in the game he recorded his last single, the 786th of his career. His last homer was on 6/28/2012. His first homer was on 5/25/2000 against Scott Elarton.

For more, read David Golebiewski’s column on BaseballAnalytics.org: http://www.baseballanalytics.org/baseball-analytics-blog/2012/1/30/pat-the-bat-calls-it-a-career.html

1. Arizona Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks enter the season just 10 games under .500 with a record of 1129-1139.
2. Atlanta Braves – Since the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, they have a 243-243 record against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Also since the Braves were formed in 1876, their record is 10,034 wins and 10,027 losses.
3. Baltimore Orioles – The O’s and the Rays are 120-120 all-time.
4. Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox have won 90+ games 28 times in their existence, but last year they had a 90-72 record for the first time.
5. Chicago Cubs – The only NL teams that the Cubs are over .500 all-time are the Padres (242-198 .550), Brewers (113-105 .518), Rockies (79-75 .513) and the Mets (347-345 .501), all expansion teams.
6. Chicago White Sox – The team the White Sox have done worst against in their history is the NY Yankees 323-415 (.438).
7. Cincinnati Reds – Since 1901, the Reds have played 2028 games against the Cubs and need four more wins to each 1000 wins, all-time they are 996-1016. All-time the Reds are six wins shy of 10,000.
8. Cleveland Indians – The Tribe and the Blue Jays are 186-186 all-time and in 374 games Cleveland has outscored Toronto by just eight runs (1770-1762).
9. Colorado Rockies – All-time the Rockies are 833-774 at home and 604-905 on the road. The only NL team they have a winning record against on the road is the San Diego Padres, 78-75.
10. Detroit Tigers – Manager Jim Leyland moved his 20-year lifetime managerial record over .500 last season and is now 1588-1585. The Tigers are his only team over .500 with a 519-454 record over the last six seasons.
11. Florida Marlins -The Marlins have won two pennants, and two World Championships, in their two playoff appearances but have never finished the regular season higher than second.
12. Houston Astros – The Houstonians have scored 2331 runs against both the Padres and the Mets despite playing the Padres 12 more times.
13. Kansas City Royals – The Royals and the Red Sox have split 430 games with the Royals going 118-96 at home and 97-199 at Fenway.
14. Los Angeles Angels – The Angels are 311-287 against the Indians and 287-311 against the Tigers.
15. Los Angeles Dodgers -Since 1884, the Dodgers and the Cubs have played evenly over 1897 games with an all-time record of 943-943-1.
16. Milwaukee Brewers – For those of you who may have forgotten, the Brewers started off as the Seattle Pilots and then played two more seasons as the Milwaukee Brewers in the AL West. The Brewers then spent the next 22 years in the AL East before spending 1994-97 in the AL Central. Since 1998, they have been in the NL Central.
17. Minnesota Twins – The Twins (nee Washington Senators) are 4072-4051 since moving to Minnesota in 1961. Their 2011 .389 wining percentage was their worst since they went 56-88 (.389) in 1995.
18. New York Mets – The only team the Mets have beaten over 200 times at home are the Phillies, then again the Phils are the only team that have beaten the Mets over 200 times at home. all-time the Mets are 205-223 against the Phils in New York.
19. New York Yankees – Can you name the only team that the Yanks don’t have an above .500 regular season mark since 1901? The Cincinnati Reds are 5-4 against the New Yorkers.
20. Oakland A’s – All-time the Athletics franchise has hit 11,747 homers, just four more than the Indians.
21. Philadelphia Phillies – Check out the Phils progressive win totals since 2006 when they won 85 games, 2007 89 wins, 2008 92 wins, 2009 93 wins, 2010 97 wins, and 2011 102 wins. Bravo!
22. Pittsburgh Pirates – We all know that the last time the Pirates finished over .500 was 1993, but who has beaten them the most since then? From 1993 on, the Bucs are 109-167 against both the Cardinals and the Astros.
23. San Diego Padres – The Padres finished at 35-46 at home last season pulling their all-time home record down to 1704-1718. BTW: The Friars are 14 games under .500 at home but 488 games under .500 on the road (1465-1953).
24. San Francisco Giants – Since 1901, the Giants have a 1098-1083 record against their rivals, the Dodgers. During that time they have one more win against against the Braves (1099), but 167 fewer losses (916). BTW: With 13,646 homers, the Giants have hit more four-baggers than any NL team and more than any team other than the Yankees who have hit 14,527.
25. Seattle Mariners – The M’s and the other Washingtonians, the Nationals, are the only two teams who have not won a pennant. Last season was their third in 35 years with a 67-95 record (1979 and 1986 were the other years), that’s their most common record.
26. St. Louis Cardinals – The Cards have played just two more games than the Reds (19,837-19,835) all-time but have 112 more wins (9,994 to 9,882).
27. Tampa Bay Rays – The Devil is in the details. As the Devil Rays, Tampa went 645-972 (.399), but at as the Rays they have gone 368-280 (.568).
28. Texas Rangers – The AL Champs have played fewer regular season against the Cardinals than any other team. They have played the World Champs seven games in the Series and three games in the regular season.
29. Toronto Blue Jays – The Blue Jays finished at 81-81 last season and if that .500 mark feels familiar to their fans it would be because since 2000, the team is 971-972.
30. Washington Nationals – Can you name the two NL teams the Nationals (2005- ) have a better than .500 record against? The Nats are 26-21 against the Pirates (.553) and 24-22 against the Diamondbacks (.522). The biggest surprise is that against the Atlanta Braves, they are 63-64 (.496).

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

From Bill Chuck & Billy-Ball.com

We’re playing “Pick One” on Billy-Ball.com this week, where you get to pick one player from each team that you would build your team around.

Here are my picks:

Baltimore: Matt Wieters Yankees: Robinson Cano Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie Rays: Evan Longoria Tigers: Miguel Cabrera White Sox: Adam Dunn – only kidding. Gordon Beckham Indians: Asdrubal Cabrera Twins: Joe Mauer Royals: Eric Hosmer Angels: Jered Weaver Rangers: Neftali Feliz A’s: Jemile Weeks M’s: Felix Hernandez
Phillies: Roy Halladay Marlins: Mike Stanton Braves: Brian McCann Mets: Mr. Met. Okay, David Wright Nats: Stephen Strasburg
Cardinals: Chris Carpenter Reds: Joey Votto Brewers: Yovani Gallardo Cubs: Starlin Castro Pirates: Andrew McCutchen Astros: Brett Wallace Diamondbacks: Justin Upton Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw Giants: Tim Lincecum Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki Padres: Yonder Alonso

Here are some holiday videos from some of your favorite teams and players:

View these videos on Billy-Ball.com.

Here’s a new game to play this week on Billy-Ball.com.

It’s called Pick One.

It’s really very simple to play, for each MLB club you must pick one player to retain. Not one position player and one pitcher. Just one player from the existing 40-man roster. The game here is simply one player who will represent a team.

No emails accepted. You must put your answers in the Comments section on Billy-Ball.com. If you want to include your rationale great, if you don’t that’s fine too. You can choose one team or 30 or any in between.

There are no losers in this game. Other than some other readers may make fun of you. No, there are no winners, you will not get anything free, except perhaps a little fun.

Now, pick one!

The news that we may soon find out about where Yu Darvish is pitching next season immediately got me thinking about one of  the great examples of American comedy writing, Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First.” Here’s the routine in its entirety (with a slight alteration)

Who’s on First

Abbott: Well Costello, I’m going to New York with you. You know Bucky Harris, the Yankee’s manager, gave me a job as coach for as long as you’re on the team.

Costello: Look Abbott, if you’re the coach, you must know all the players.

Abbott: I certainly do.

Costello: Well you know I’ve never met the guys. So you’ll have to tell me their names, and then I’ll know who’s playing on the team.

Abbott: Oh, I’ll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names.

Costello: You mean funny names?

Abbott: Strange names, pet names…like Dizzy Dean…

Costello: His brother Daffy.

Abbott: Daffy Dean…

Costello: And their French cousin.

Abbott: French?

Costello: Goofè.

Abbott: Goofè Dean. Well, let’s see, we have on the bags, Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third…

Costello: That’s what I want to find out.

Abbott: I say Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.

Costello: Are you the manager?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: You gonna be the coach too?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: And you don’t know the fellows’ names?

Abbott: Well I should.

Costello: Well then who’s on first?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: I mean the fellow’s name.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy on first.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The first baseman.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy playing…

Abbott: Who is on first!

Costello: I’m asking YOU who’s on first.

Abbott: That’s the man’s name.

Costello: That’s who’s name?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: That’s who?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: Who’s playing first?

Abbott: That’s right.

Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?

Abbott: Every dollar of it.

Costello: All I’m trying to find out is the fellow’s name on first base.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy that gets…

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: Who gets the money…

Abbott: He does, every dollar. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.

Costello: Whose wife?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Abbott: What’s wrong with that?

Costello: Look, all I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name?

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: How does he sign…

Abbott: That’s how he signs it.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Costello: All I’m trying to find out is what’s the guy’s name on first base.

Abbott: No. What is on second base.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first.

Costello: One base at a time!

Abbott: Well, don’t change the players around.

Costello: I’m not changing nobody!

Abbott: Take it easy, buddy.

Costello: I’m only asking you, who’s the guy on first base?

Abbott: That’s right.

Costello: Ok.

Abbott: All right.

PAUSE

Costello: What’s the guy’s name on first base?

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott: He’s on third, we’re not talking about him.

Costello: Now how did I get on third base?

Abbott: Why you mentioned his name.

Costello: If I mentioned the third baseman’s name, who did I say is playing third?

Abbott: No. Who’s playing first.

Costello: What’s on first?

Abbott: What’s on second.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott: He’s on third.

Costello: There I go, back on third again!

PAUSE

Costello: Would you just stay on third base and don’t go off it.

Abbott: All right, what do you want to know?

Costello: Now who’s playing third base?

Abbott: Why do you insist on putting Who on third base?

Costello: What am I putting on third.

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: You don’t want who on second?

Abbott: Who is on first.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott & Costello Together:Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta outfield?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The left fielder’s name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: I just thought I’d ask you.

Abbott: Well, I just thought I’d tell ya.

Costello: Then tell me who’s playing left field.

Abbott: Who’s playing first.

Costello: I’m not… stay out of the infield! I want to know what’s the guy’s name in

left field?

Abbott: No, What is on second.

Costello: I’m not asking you who’s on second.

Abbott: Who’s on first!

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: The left fielder’s name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: Because!

Abbott: Oh, he’s centerfield.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, You gotta pitcher on this team?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The pitcher’s name?

Abbott: Yu. 

Costello: What do you mean me, I’m not the pitcher.

Abbott: I know that. Yu is the pitcher.

Costello: That’s bad English. You are the pitcher.

Abbott: I are not the pitcher. Yu is the pitcher.

Costello: I is not the pitcher. Okay, never mind. Every team has more than one pitcher, you have another pitcher right?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The pitcher’s name?

Abbott: Tomorrow.

Costello: You don’t want to tell me today?

Abbott: I’m telling you now.

Costello: Then go ahead.

Abbott: Tomorrow!

Costello: What time?

Abbott: What time what?

Costello: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who’s pitching?

Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching.

Costello: I’ll break your arm, you say who’s on first! I want to know what’s the pitcher’s name?

Abbott: What’s on second.

Costello: I don’t know.

Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: Gotta a catcher?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: The catcher’s name?

Abbott: Today.

Costello: Today, and tomorrow’s pitching.

Abbott: Now you’ve got it.

Costello: All we got is a couple of days on the team.

PAUSE

Costello: You know I’m a catcher too.

Abbott: So they tell me.

Costello: I get behind the plate to do some fancy catching, Tomorrow’s pitching on my team and a heavy hitter gets up. Now the heavy hitter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me, being a good catcher, I’m gonna throw the guy out at first base. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who?

Abbott: Now that’s the first thing you’ve said right.

Costello: I don’t even know what I’m talking about!

PAUSE

Abbott: That’s all you have to do.

Costello: Is to throw the ball to first base.

Abbott: Yes!

Costello: Now who’s got it?

Abbott: Naturally.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, if I throw the ball to first base, somebody’s gotta get it. Now who has it?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Naturally?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.

Abbott: No you don’t, you throw the ball to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s different.

Costello: That’s what I said.

Abbott: You’re not saying it…

Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You throw it to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: That’s what I said!

Abbott: You ask me.

Costello: I throw the ball to who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Now you ask me.

Abbott: You throw the ball to Who?

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That’s it.

Costello: Same as you! Same as YOU! I throw the ball to who. Whoever it is drops the ball and the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don’t Know. I Don’t Know throws it back to Tomorrow, Triple play. Another guy gets up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don’t know! He’s on third and I don’t give a darn!

Abbott: What?

Costello: I said I don’t give a darn!

Abbott: Oh, that’s our shortstop.

Just to let you know this isn’t the first time that the routine has had real life implcations. During the 2007 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers had an infielder named Chin-lung Hu. After Hu singled in his third at bat in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 23, the greatest of all announcers, Vin Scully said, “OK everybody, all together… Hu’s on first!”

VIDEO: