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Elephant Rumblings: Madison Bumgarner throws complete game with no hits, but not officially a no-hitter

MLB news roundup

By Alex Hall

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Arizona Diamondbacks v Atlanta Braves Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Good morning afternoon, Athletics Nation!

Doubleheader games are only seven innings apiece this year in MLB, and the Oakland A’s already saw the effects last week. They blanked the Minnesota Twins in both halves of an abbreviated double-dip, 14 innings total, and it went down as their first twin-bill shutout sweep since Vida and Catfish in 1974. Sean Manaea was credited with a complete game and a shutout despite only working seven frames.

However, there is a limit to what feats are considered official in seven innings, as it was predetermined that no-hitters would not count in short doubleheader games this year. It didn’t even take a month for that bylaw to be tested, as Arizona D’Backs lefty Madison Bumgarner held the Atlanta Braves hitless for the whole nightcap on Sunday. It counts as a shutout, but not technically a no-hitter.

Bumgarner struck out seven batters and didn’t issue any walks or HBPs, and the only runner he allowed came on an error by his shortstop. Both of MLB’s full no-hitters this year (Joe Musgrove and Carlos Rodon) also featured no walks, with only a HBP in each.

Now the question turns to: Should it count as an official no-hitter? After all, it’s an arbitrary record-keeping rule that could be changed at any time if desired, even retroactively. D’Backs manager and former A’s infielder Torey Lovullo knows how he’ll remember it.

MLB’s official historian thinks it should count.

You can probably guess what Bumgarner thinks.

I mean ...

Adding to Arizona’s amazing day, in the first game of the doubleheader, D’Backs starter Zac Gallen threw a complete game one-hitter, before Bumgarner spun his gem. The Braves, who are a title contender this year, played two games over 14 innings and managed just one hit.

Reminder that, two weeks ago, the A’s dropped six runs on Bumgarner. Sounds like they beat a star pitcher who’s still got something left!

Rockies GM steps down

Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich stepped down Monday, the team announced. They will announce an interim replacement for the rest of this year, and then find a permanent new GM over the winter.

Bridich took over the role after the 2014 season, and the Rockies reached the playoffs in ‘17 and ‘18. However, during his tenure the team made routinely poor decisions in free agency and was fraught with internal turmoil, and his most lasting legacy might be driving superstar Nolan Arenado out of town by creating tension with the player and then trading him away.

As for that record in free agency, here are two versions of the same unflattering concept.

Melissa Lockard of The Athletic raises an interesting point regarding potential fallout from this move.

A’s Coverage

A’s injuries (and also their opponents’ health)

Mike Fiers is back, in the bullpen for now.

Meanwhile, at the alternate site, Buddy Reed is back in action after a quad strain ended his exciting spring.

And elsewhere in the AL West

A’s Game Highlights

The win streak is over, at 13 in a row, after a loss to the Orioles on Sunday. Mark Canha had a .464 OBP during the 13 victories, including this two-run single in the final win Saturday.

It’s still sinking in that Jed Lowrie is just fully back, and the A’s got him basically for free.

Laser is heating up, with his second homer in three games in Baltimore.

What a wave!

Bauer vs. Tatis

Fernando Tatis Jr hit two homers off Trevor Bauer on Saturday and celebrated on his way around the bases, and Bauer gave one of my favorite answers in all of baseball history.

Bauer: “Pitchers who have that done to them and react by throwing at people, or getting upset and hitting people or whatever, I think it’s pretty soft. If you give up a homer, a guy should celebrate it. ... I think it’s important that the game moves in that direction and that we stop throwing at people because they celebrated having some success on the field.”

However, Bauer was not supportive of this tactic.

It stayed feisty on Twitter

Tatis Facts

Tatis Facts Jr

Tatis Facts III

Tatis Facts IV

Best of MLB Twitter

High praise!

The new best rivalry in MLB

Heads up!

A’s Fan of the Month right here

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