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Tracking the #NOTSCMLBJinx (a.k.a we hate your pitcher)

notscmlbjinx

Superstition is a baseball tradition as old as wood bats, bleacher seats and Lance Berkman.  Invariably, when a potentially historic event like a no-hitter or perfect game gets past the 5th inning, people start to take notice….but no one is supposed to talk about it.  Twitter users will be quick to point out how you ruined a masterpiece by talking explicitly about what is happening.  It’s one of sports’ great unwritten rules: DO NOT TALK ABOUT NO-HITTERS.
Well, screw that.  If we have that much power over this game, then we are damn well going to abuse it.  That was the thinking behind the #NOTSCMLBJinx hashtag.  Don’t get us wrong.  We love great baseball.  We love perfect games and no-hitters.  However, we love the idea of manipulating the future like baseball’s Prince of Persia just a little bit more.  So far, the sands of time have been very kind.

April 14, 2013 – Victim: Clay Buchholz, Red Sox

It began innocently enough as we tested our “jinxly powers” (copyright pending) on the Red Sox’ Clay Buchholz:

The hashtag was born shortly thereafter as the #NOTSCMLBJinx claimed it’s first victim just one batter into the 8th inning:

April 17, 2013 – Victim: A.J. Burnett, Pirates

Burnett did retire the first two batters in the 7th, but succumbed to the jinx to the 3rd.

May 3, 2013 – Victim: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Kershaw retired the first batter in the 6th, but was touched for a triple by the next.

May 4, 2013 – Victim: Freddy Garcia, Orioles

This one was an interesting decision.  We were alerted to the no-hitter after the 5th inning, but the timing didn’t feel right.  We chose to strike after the 6th.

Sure enough, and for the second time in four attempts, the #NOTSCMLBJinx delivered on the very first batter, prompting the following Star Wars Day-related post

May 11, 2013 – Victim: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals

An ominous foe emerged to challenge the jinx on this day.  No, it wasn’t Adam Wainwright, but the inept Colorado offense.  Prior to the jinx, the Rockies had gone 46 consecutive batter without a hit.

Wainwright would become the first pitcher to get through a full inning unscathed, but the no-hitter fell in the 8th.

May 21, 2013 – Victim: Jose Quintana, White Sox

With the legend of the jinx growing – evidenced by more and more followers calling attention to no-hitters in progress, we stepped up our game after a 10-day layoff.

We not only released the jinx, but called our shot with David Ortiz….and Big Papi, the second batter of the inning, delivered:

The power of the NOTSCMLBJinx continues to grow, but it’s greatest test would come just days later….

May 24, 2013 – Victim: Anibal Sanchez, Tigers

The jinx has had a strong start to the 2013 season.  Most pitchers failed to get out of a single inning once the jinx claimed his game.  Of course, most pitchers aren’t Anibal Sanchez, who already had one no-hitter and two one-hitters in his brief career.  There would be no greater challenge this far.

Morneau slice a line drive towards center, but it was snagged by the shortstop to hold off the jinx.  Sanchez then became the first pitcher to survive two innings against the NOTSCMLBJinx.  As weak as the Twins lineup was on this night, however, our ace in the hole came to the plate in the 9th.

CURRENT #NOTSCMLBJinx STATS (@NOTSCMLB)

  • 7 jinx attempts
  • 7 no hitters/perfect games broken up
  • Pre-jinx batting stats: 0-for-125, 13 BB (1 intentional), 1 HBP
  • Post-jinx batting stats of those trying to break up no-hitter: 7-for-22 (.318), 1 BB, 1 2B, 1 3B
  • 22 batters required (7 hits vs 15 outs)
  • 3 innings escaped without a hit

The fun does not end there, however.  Our followers are taking notice and stepping up when needed….

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