As they say in France, if you are une personne d’un certain âge – someone of a certain age – you will recall ABC’s Wide World of Sports and the phrase:
“The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat…”
The NBA’s Detroit Pistons have known nothing but the agony of defeat since October 28, 2023; that is 60 days ago for those of you keeping score at home. In that span, the Pistons have lost 27 consecutive basketball games setting a new single-season record for futility. To put a bit of perspective on that “dry spell”, consider that the Texas Rangers had not yet won the World Series when the Pistons last won an NBA game.
The previous NBA record for single-season futility belonged jointly to the Sixers and the Cavs; as of this morning, the Pistons own that record outright. Note that I have repeatedly referred to this current losing streak as the “single-season record”; that is because the record for most consecutive losses stands at 28 games and that one belongs to the Sixers across the boundaries of the 2014/15 and the 2015/16 seasons. You should recall that was a time when the Sixers were in the throes of “The Process” where losing carried a cachet and not a stigma.
The Pistons can claim part ownership of that ultimate losing streak with a loss in their next game. Here is a look at the Pistons’ schedule for the next two weeks:
- Dec 28: AT Boston – – current record 23-6 (best record in the NBA)
- Dec 30: VS Toronto – – current record 11-18 (would set the new record)
- Jan 1: AT Houston – – current record 15-13
- Jan 3: AT Utah – – current record 13-18
- Jan 5: AT Golden State – – current record 15-15
- Jan 7: AT Denver – – current record 22-10
- Jan 9: VS Kings – – current record 17-12
- Jan 10: VS Spurs – – current record 4-25
Things look bleak for the Pistons and their fans. [Aside: It would seem that Pistons’ fans have stood by the team in these dark days. The Pistons have averaged 17,882 fans per game over 15 home games so far this season.] If the Pistons do set a new record by losing at home to the Raptors, the fact that they would go on the road for their next 4 games is not a good sign at all.
It is too early to make full season projections, but consider this as a metric:
- Back in the 1970s when the Sixers set the full season mark for futility with a 9-73 record, that was a winning percentage of .110.
- Here in the 2023-203-24 season the Pistons have a winning percentage of .067.
- Moreover, the Spurs have a winning percentage of only .138.
- And the Wizards have a winning percentage of only .172.
When the Sixers set that mark back in the 70s, they had a new coach at the start of the season; he lasted 48 games; the team replaced him when the team record was 4-44. The Pistons are not likely to replace their coach this year. They just signed Coach Monty Williams to a 6-year contract with $78.5 M guaranteed; that would be huge buyout for the owners to swallow and that is far too much money for Williams to “leave on the table” by resigning.
Moving on … This is the time of year when eligible voters for baseball’s Hall of Fame are preparing their ballots. CBSSports.com had a piece recently that ran under this headline:
“Is Chase Utley a Hall of Famer? Why glorious peak could get former Phillies star into Cooperstown”
I think the answer is “Yes, Chase Utley belongs in the Hall of Fame” and I believe that matter was settled in 2001 when the Veterans’ Committee voted to include Bill Mazeroski in the Hall of Fame. Both Utley and Mazeroski played second base for more than 90% of their careers; so, comparisons of their stats are far more like apples-to-apples than they are apples-to-oranges.
- Mazeroski was the better fielder; he won a Gold Glove Award seven times in his career. Utley never won a Gold Glove.
- Utley won the Silver Slugger Award four times in his career. Mazeroski could not have won the award because it did not exist when he was playing MLB.
At the plate, Utley was clearly superior to Mazeroski with these career stats:
- Tenure in MLB: Mazeroski = 17 years Utley = 16 years
- Career Batting Average: Mazeroski – .260 Utley = .275
- Career OBP: Mazeroski = .299 Utley = .358
- Career OPS: Mazeroski = .667 Utley = .823
- Bill Mazeroski never led the NL in any offensive category in his 17 years in the major leagues and his best season in runs scored was 71.
- Chase Utley never led the NL in any offensive category – – except hit by pitch – – in his 16 years in the major leagues but he scored more than 71 runs in 9 seasons.
My conclusion is simple. If Bill Mazeroski is a member of the baseball Hall of Fame, then Chase Utley should also be a member of the baseball Hall of Fame.
Finally, since today involved a deep dive into some MLB stats, let me close with some words from Casey Stengel:
“A lot of people my age are dead at the present time.”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………
Mazeroski is in the hall because of one plate appearance.
Doug:
You are absolutely correct. I have argued that point with two friends from Pittsburgh for about 10 years now.
Best definition for the Hall of FAME (note caps) is is you are having a discussion of baseball of the era, will his name always come up?
I have always heard that name, for almost 60 years, and for many years, just for that one homer. Utley may even be a better player than Maz, but Maz is far more Famous
Ed Kelly:
Welcome aboard!
My problem with using the “famous criterion” is that there are too many players who are famous for only one thing. In Maz’ case, it was the World Series Walk-off. but how about Eddie Gaedel – – been talked about for decades. Or certainly Pete Rose and Barry Bonds and Shoeless Joe – – many discussions of their exploits. Don Larsen had a “World Series Moment” that is even more “famous” than Maz’ homerun. Johnny Vander Meer has a unique place in baseball history. Etc.
oops! autofill used my last name too – I’ve been here as just Ed since time began…
was it Yahoo’s “Web after dark”?
Ed:
I have learned by “new thing” for the day
Fame is not the SOLE criterion, but it is one of them. playing ability, duration of career, not being a BAD character (Rose, Jackson, Joey/Albert/Tinker Belle) and one where Maz definitely trumps Utley. And Maz doesn’t get in without that key homer.
A Detroit Pistons story–kinda.
On June 3, 1990, the Chicago Bulls visited the Detroit Pistons for game seven of the Eastern Conference finals. Detroit won easily, 93 – 74. After the game, Michael Jordan climbed into the chartered bus–and he cried.
And Michael Jordan never lost again.