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Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Merrifield’s Iron Man streak ends at 553 games

he longest consecutive games-played streak in the Majors came to an end on Monday.

Whit Merrifield, dealing with a bone bruise and ligament swelling in his big toe, will not play on Monday for the first time since June 24, 2018—more than four years ago. His consecutive-games-played streak comes to an end at 553, a franchise record and the longest streak in the Majors since Miguel Tejada played in 1,152 straight games from June 2, 2000-June 21, 2007.

“It’s unfortunate it had to happen this way,” Merrifield said before Monday’s doubleheader against the Tigers. “I’ve been—lucky is a good word for it in some instances, but I’ve put myself in a good position to play every day physically, mentality-wise. I showed up ready to play no matter the circumstance, whether I was going good or bad. It’s been a long run. I’m proud of it.”

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 12, 2022 at 08:43 AM | 14 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: whit merrifield

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1. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: July 12, 2022 at 03:20 PM (#6086374)

So, did Merrifield sleep with Kevin Costner's wife too?

2. Walt Davis Posted: July 12, 2022 at 03:40 PM (#6086379)

Ohhhhhh, so "swollen ligament" is a euphemism.

3. Walt Davis Posted: July 12, 2022 at 03:44 PM (#6086381)

Anyway, I thought Merrifield might have the all-around skills to avoid the late bloomer's curse. Last year, at least by Rfield, he was still quite productive. This year that's fallen off along with the bat and he's below-replacement. There's 1/$7 left on the deal which is too little even for the Royals to care about ... and even if it turns out to be just 7 WAR, can't complain about that for $27 M.

4. Doug Jones threw harder than me Posted: July 13, 2022 at 12:21 PM (#6086504)

It would have been better if this was:

Manfred's W(h)easeling Streak Ends in Minefield, Ironically

5. Tom Nawrocki Posted: July 13, 2022 at 12:37 PM (#6086509)

Who has the longest games-played streak now? I've got Matt Olson with 222 - anybody better than that?

6. kthejoker Posted: July 13, 2022 at 01:47 PM (#6086521)

Yes, Olson is the leader

> Only four players have played in every single one of their team's games this season: Olson, Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman.

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/matt_olson_now_holds_one_of_the_most_impressive_streaks_in_baseball/s1_16493_37669853

7. Walt Davis Posted: July 13, 2022 at 05:25 PM (#6086557)

As I've noted a few times, the number of qualified batters per season has been dropping for some time now -- kinda weird given it overlaps with expanding bullpens. Some of it is probably "maybe it will keep them healthier" in intent but I suspect the nerds have also gotten in there pointing out that there's not really much reason why you need a full-time 2B with an 85 OPS+ and maybe some glove/bat or L/R platoon will squeeze an extra 0.2 WAR out of the position (as long as one of them can play SS/3B or some OF too).

8. JJ1986 Posted: July 13, 2022 at 06:03 PM (#6086565)

Streak was about to end for other reasons anyway.

9. Snowboy Posted: July 13, 2022 at 08:17 PM (#6086588)

Lou Gehrig's Iron Man streak came to an end because of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), soon known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Whit Merrifield's Iron Man streak was about to come to an end because he refuses to get vaccinated against covid.
He stands on his principles, but probably didn't want to take it so far as to have everyone else who makes that choice be labelled as having Whit Merrifield's Disease. Hence "his toe hurted" will be the forever official explanation for the end of his streak.

10. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 14, 2022 at 10:07 AM (#6086662)

This is a ruse so that the headlines don't say he lost his streak due to vaxx misbeliefs.

11. Snowboy Posted: July 14, 2022 at 10:52 AM (#6086670)

Howdy BLB if you check back to this thread. I want to thank you for recommending The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry. It was a little tedious at times, especially at the beginning when he's got chapters+ on the formation and philosophy of 19thC Johns Hopkins, but still a very informative book.

12. Ithaca2323 Posted: July 14, 2022 at 01:13 PM (#6086689)

Hence "his toe hurted" will be the forever official explanation for the end of his streak.

Which will be remembered by almost no one.

13. SoSH U at work Posted: July 14, 2022 at 01:45 PM (#6086696)

Which will be remembered by almost no one.

To be fair, neither will the fact he had a streak.

14. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 14, 2022 at 08:04 PM (#6086757)

Snowboy, glad to hear you enjoyed the book. Tons of great info and background to what we're experiencing now.

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Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Merrifield’s Iron Man streak ends at 553 games

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