clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jett Bandy will hit for the cycle this season

League trends, historical stats and confirmation bias all indicate a memorable day for Jett Bandy and the Brewers coming in 2018.

Jett Bandy Brewers Catcher Who Will Hit for Cycle
Backup catcher? Check. Brewer? Check. Yup - odds’re in his favor.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The trick to nailing the bold prediction: niche down to forgettability with meme potential. Best case scenario: the prediction comes true and you are heralded as a savant and etched into blogosphere lore. Worst case scenario: the prediction is forgotten completely or you are exposed as an innocent huckster with a knack for starting a jag.

Bold predictions adorn early April baseball chatter. This one: Jett Bandy will hit for the cycle for the Brewers in 2018.

In the 47-year history of the Milwaukee Brewers, 7 of its players have completed the cycle. Comes out to about a cycle every 7 years. The last was George Kottaras’ cycle in 2011 vs. the Astros.

Brewers cycles

Player Year Position Stats
Player Year Position Stats
Mike Hegan 1976 LF, 1B 4/5, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, 6 RBI
Charlie Moore 1980 C 4/5, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI
Robin Yount 1988 DH 4/4, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, 2 RBI
Paul Molitor 1991 DH 4/5, 2B, 3B, HR, 1 RBI
Chad Moeller 2004 C 4/5, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI
Jody Gerut 2010 CF, RF 4/6, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI
George Kottaras 2011 C 4/5, 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI

Notice the abundance of catchers. Three of the seven Brewers cycles were achieved by catchers, two of which completed by backups. No other team in the history of the game has had more catchers complete the cycle.

Catcher Cycles by Team
The Brewers reign supreme in catcher cycles.

The 21st century has been the millennium of the cycle. From 1908 through 1999 there were approximately 2 cycles per season. Since 2000, 4 per season.

MLB cycles per season all time
Cycles are on the rise. The Brewers are due.

Dare to argue with these facts:

  1. The Brewers are due for a cycle in 2018
  2. Most Brewers cycles have been completed by catchers, the majority of which were backups
  3. The Brewers are the most adept in league history in catcher cycles
  4. Cycles are on the rise league-wide
  5. Jett Bandy is a backup catcher
  6. Jett Bandy plays for the Brewers
  7. Miller Park was Built for Triples

Where there’s smoke there’s fire. And where there’s fire, there’s a cycle by a Brewers backup catcher. Keep an eye on the box score.