RockieBill
04-07-2002, 01:16 PM
From The Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,96%257E511716,00.html)
No one seemed to notice Jeff Cirillo didn't break the major-league fielding record during the first week.
As Colorado Rockies fans might recall, Cirillo finished last season with 85 consecutive errorless games. While Cirillo's flawless streak obliterated the 34-year-old National League record set by Jim Davenport, the major-league record belonged to Don Money, who had 86 consecutive flawless games in 1974. "That to me is the best feat I've had," Cirillo said. "That's where the game is changed. It was like, 'Cirillo had a bad year.' If I hit 30 homers and made 30 errors, it would have been, "Cirillo had a great year.' "
Which begs the question: Will Todd Zeile become the Rockies' next 30-30 player?
Cirillo's fielding prowess didn't keep him in Colorado, nor did the .320 batting average, 14 homers and 99 RBIs he averaged in his two seasons here. He was dealt to Seattle, where he finished the season-opening, three-game series against the Chicago White Sox with his fielding streak intact. Yet, no one credited him with breaking Money's record.
Why? It seems as Cirillo was pursuing Money last year, statisticians dug deeper and discovered that seldom-used Jon Wehner had played 99 consecutive errorless games at third base over a span of nine seasons, from 1992-2000. So because Cirillo didn't break Money's record in the same season, he must now go after Wehner's mark.
"No offense to Jon Wehner, but to me that's not the record," Cirillo said. "The record is Money's. Wehner played one or two innings, 10, 11 games a year. My record was 85-9 (innings)."
Here's hoping Cirillo can stay errorless for two more weeks so the record can be indisputably passed on. Meanwhile, Cirillo has more pressing issues: He entered the first weekend with one hit, a single, in 11 at-bats, and manager Lou Piniella quickly demoted him from second to seventh in the batting order.
No one seemed to notice Jeff Cirillo didn't break the major-league fielding record during the first week.
As Colorado Rockies fans might recall, Cirillo finished last season with 85 consecutive errorless games. While Cirillo's flawless streak obliterated the 34-year-old National League record set by Jim Davenport, the major-league record belonged to Don Money, who had 86 consecutive flawless games in 1974. "That to me is the best feat I've had," Cirillo said. "That's where the game is changed. It was like, 'Cirillo had a bad year.' If I hit 30 homers and made 30 errors, it would have been, "Cirillo had a great year.' "
Which begs the question: Will Todd Zeile become the Rockies' next 30-30 player?
Cirillo's fielding prowess didn't keep him in Colorado, nor did the .320 batting average, 14 homers and 99 RBIs he averaged in his two seasons here. He was dealt to Seattle, where he finished the season-opening, three-game series against the Chicago White Sox with his fielding streak intact. Yet, no one credited him with breaking Money's record.
Why? It seems as Cirillo was pursuing Money last year, statisticians dug deeper and discovered that seldom-used Jon Wehner had played 99 consecutive errorless games at third base over a span of nine seasons, from 1992-2000. So because Cirillo didn't break Money's record in the same season, he must now go after Wehner's mark.
"No offense to Jon Wehner, but to me that's not the record," Cirillo said. "The record is Money's. Wehner played one or two innings, 10, 11 games a year. My record was 85-9 (innings)."
Here's hoping Cirillo can stay errorless for two more weeks so the record can be indisputably passed on. Meanwhile, Cirillo has more pressing issues: He entered the first weekend with one hit, a single, in 11 at-bats, and manager Lou Piniella quickly demoted him from second to seventh in the batting order.