Image: Scanton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Check out the other 2022 Gallardo Award awards here.
The M-SABR Gallardo Awards, originally conceived by alumni Cam Cain and Sahil Shah, are given to the worst players in baseball. The previous editions in 2018 (AL/NL) and 2019 didn’t mimic every MLB award. This changes in 2022.
This is the fifth article in the series, honoring the worst individual single game performances in MLB for the 2022 season. The award is given to one hitter and one pitcher from each league.
AL Worst Performance by a Hitter: Ronald Guzmán – September 7, MIN at NYY
In his only start of the 2022 season, 1B Ronald Guzmán of the New York Yankees delivered an atrocious performance in the first half of a doubleheader against the Twins. As the teams traded blows for the first 9 innings, Guzmán came up with the bases empty 4 times, and struck out each time. The game was tied 3-3 after 9 and headed to extras. It remained tied until the bottom of the 11th, when the Yankees got something going.
The automatic runner Oswaldo Cabrera started at second base, so the Twins intentionally walked Aaron Judge. Following Judge, Michael Fulmer missed the 3-2 pitch to Gleyber Torres and allowed him to walk, which loaded the bases for Guzmán with nobody out. In the 7th pitch of his first meaningful at-bat of the game, Guzmán grounded into a home-to-first double play.
After stranding Judge at third, the Yankees would eventually rally to win the game in the 12th, but that probably didn’t cheer up Guzmán much. He finished the game 0-5 with 4 strikeouts and a -0.420 win probability added, which would eventually mean more time spent outside of the majors.
NL Worst Performance by a Hitter: Jonathan India – September 11, CIN at MIL
Last season’s Rookie of the Year Jonathon India delivered a less than patriotic performance on 9/11 this season in Milwaukee. He faced off against Brandon Woodruff for his first 3 plate appearances, which did not bode well for India, who struck out in all 3.
Over the course of these ABs, the Reds fell behind 2-7 after a pair of Rowdy Tellez blasts. After the Reds fought back to make the game 4-7 on an Alejo Lopez HR, Taylor Rodgers punched out India to hand him his golden sombrero, but his night was not yet over. In the top of the 9th inning, a pair of hits and an error brought the Reds to within a run, and India stepped to the plate in a 6-7 game with a runner on second.
Just one hit here could make up for his entire performance so far and tie the game. Instead, a high Devin Williams fastball did him in for his 5th strikeout of the game and stranded the runner to end it. India was benched the next day after this 0-5, 5 strikeout performance.
AL Worst Performance by a Pitcher: Dallas Keuchel – April 20, CWS at CLE
Dallas Keuchel started the 4/20 game in Cleveland with a solid first inning, but received no help from his defense. The first 2 hitters of the game reached on infield errors. Keuchel was able to work through traffic and only allow 1 unearned run in the inning, and looked to be settling in. This did not last, however.
The second inning began with ANOTHER infield error, and this caused Keuchel to spiral into what was likely the worst inning of his career. He allowed four straight singles, a grand slam to Jose Ramirez, four more singles, and a fielder’s choice. This amounted to 9 runs allowed, 7 earned, and 0 outs in the inning.
Keuchel was pulled with a final line of 1 IP, 10 R, 7 ER, 1 HR allowed, and eventually the loss. This goes to show how having an inconsistent defense can frustrate a pitcher despite attempts to bounce back.
NL Worst Performance by a Pitcher: Wil Crowe – September 20, PIT at NYY
Pittsburgh reliever Wil Crowe entered the September 20th game with an 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th inning. The first hitter he faced was Aaron Judge, who ended up hitting his milestone 60th HR of the season. 8-5. All he did was give up a meaningless homer to the MVP, right? Wrong.
The Yankees followed it up with a Rizzo double, a Torres walk, and a Donaldson single. Before Crowe could even process it, the game was on the line and Stanton was coming to the plate. Crowe left the 2-2 pitch low and in the zone, and Stanton did not miss it, cranking a walk-off grand slam to left. Crowe left with 0 outs recorded, 5 ER, 2 HR allowed, and the loss.
Categories: 2022 Gallardo Awards, Articles, Season Analysis
M-SABR 
Dallas Keuchel has an argument for the worst outing in the NL too. On July 12, he gave up 8 runs(7 earned) in 2.1 innings on 3 Home Runs, 2 Doubles, and a triple.