Now that Greg Maddux has earned his 350th major-league victory (without a hint of any kind of implication in any kind of performance-enhancing substance), the sports pundits are saying no one will approach that mark again.
Repeating the feat doesn't seem likely, not in an era when pitchers who make 33 starts and pitch 230 innings are considered iron men. And in the six-plus decades since World War II, only one other hurler, Warren Spahn, has passed the 350 mark … OK, two pitchers, but Spahn is the only one who didn't have to testify before Congress.
With pitchers' 20-win seasons becoming fewer and further between, 15 seems to be the new 20. Let's say a pitcher averages 13 victories per year. He'd have to pitch 27 years to reach 350.
By coincidence, Nolan Ryan pitched 27 years, which is a major-league record. And he didn't come close to winning 350 games.
Talk has been of Maddux retiring after this season. But if he hangs around for a couple of more years, he could challenge the National League mark for victories co-held by Christy Mathewson and Grover Cleveland Alexander. (Mathewson died in 1925, and Alexander's last win was in '29). Now, that's a record I never thought would be approached.
Talk also has been of the possibility of Maddux and his former Atlanta Braves teammates Tom Glavine and John Smoltz all retiring after the season, meaning they all would go into the Hall of Fame at the same time. And that certainly would be appropriate, considering that they constitute the most successful pitching trio for a sustained period in major-league history.
I once assembled a chart of their comparative pitching statistics from 1993-99, the seven years when they dominated the Braves' rotation. Click here to check it out.
It certainly puts the likes of Snell, Gorzelanny and Maholm in their place!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
McLouth not starting
For the first time this season, Nate McLouth is not in the starting lineup for the Pirates.
Manager John Russell said with two day games to finish the series before a six-game road trip beginning Tuesday, he felt that it was best to give McLouth a rest tonight.
"He's played every day, played hard. It was a good time just to let him relax a little bit."
Jason Michaels, the Pirates newest acquistion, is starting in McLouth's place and batting third behind Freddy Sanchez and Jose Bautista.
Though he loves playing every day McLouth, who is battting .315 with nine home runs and 29 RBI, doesn't mind the rest.
"I knew it was going to happen eventually," McLouth said. "It's fine."
Manager John Russell said with two day games to finish the series before a six-game road trip beginning Tuesday, he felt that it was best to give McLouth a rest tonight.
"He's played every day, played hard. It was a good time just to let him relax a little bit."
Jason Michaels, the Pirates newest acquistion, is starting in McLouth's place and batting third behind Freddy Sanchez and Jose Bautista.
Though he loves playing every day McLouth, who is battting .315 with nine home runs and 29 RBI, doesn't mind the rest.
"I knew it was going to happen eventually," McLouth said. "It's fine."
MLB disciplione is a joke
The more Major League Baseball suspends players for on-field actions, the more I realize how much of a joke their system is.
Their latest suspension of Seattle's Richie Sexson is proof of just how meaningless their "discipline" system is. Sexson was suspended six games and fined "for his violent and aggressive actions, which incited the bench-clearing incident" Thursday night against Texas.
To recap, Texas pitcher Kason Gabbard threw a pitch at eye level to Sexson. It wasn't at Sexson's head, as a matter of fact it weas clearly over the plate though it was at the eye level of Sexson, who stands 6-8.
Sexson took offense and charged the mound. Once he got there, he didn't just want to fight Gabbard, but he spiked his batting helmet into Gabbard. It's one thing to go out and fight man-to-man, but the video shows Sexson had clear intent to hit Gabbard with the helmet, which he did.
If that were on the street, that could be classified as assault with a weapon.
For Sexson to only get six games is pathetic. First of all, he's appealing the suspension, therefore he gets to play until he gets a hearing. The MLB discipline council almost always reduces the suspensions they hand out after an appeal hearing. Which means that Sexson is like to get only a three or four-game suspension for assault with a weapon and being not manly enough to fight Gabbard one-on-one without spiking his helmet into him.
Until Major League Baseball starts handing dowen some real suspensions, this kind of chicken-(hearted) behavior will continue and be a black eye on the game.
Their latest suspension of Seattle's Richie Sexson is proof of just how meaningless their "discipline" system is. Sexson was suspended six games and fined "for his violent and aggressive actions, which incited the bench-clearing incident" Thursday night against Texas.
To recap, Texas pitcher Kason Gabbard threw a pitch at eye level to Sexson. It wasn't at Sexson's head, as a matter of fact it weas clearly over the plate though it was at the eye level of Sexson, who stands 6-8.
Sexson took offense and charged the mound. Once he got there, he didn't just want to fight Gabbard, but he spiked his batting helmet into Gabbard. It's one thing to go out and fight man-to-man, but the video shows Sexson had clear intent to hit Gabbard with the helmet, which he did.
If that were on the street, that could be classified as assault with a weapon.
For Sexson to only get six games is pathetic. First of all, he's appealing the suspension, therefore he gets to play until he gets a hearing. The MLB discipline council almost always reduces the suspensions they hand out after an appeal hearing. Which means that Sexson is like to get only a three or four-game suspension for assault with a weapon and being not manly enough to fight Gabbard one-on-one without spiking his helmet into him.
Until Major League Baseball starts handing dowen some real suspensions, this kind of chicken-(hearted) behavior will continue and be a black eye on the game.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Wieters already torching Pirates
For those of you who thought that Matt Wieters, the catcher everyone thought ex-Pirates G.M. Dave Littlefield should have drafted instead of pitcher Dan Moskos, wouldn't ever really hurt the Pirates because he's on an American League club, think again.
Wieters, drafted by Baltimore immediately after the Pirates took Moskos, went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI Friday for Frederick, Baltimore's Class A team, against Lynchburg. Wieters hit both home runs off Brian Holliday, a Moon High School product.
In fairness to Moskos, Wieters only went 1-for-3 off Moskos Thursday night.
Wieters, who was deemed a sure-fire major league prospect before he was drafted, is batting .340 in his first full season in the minors with five home runs and 18 RBI in 31 games. While Moskos is off to a nice start (3-1, 3.72 ERA), he isn't the kind of prospect that Wieters is, at least not yet.
Just one more reason why Littlefield left the Pirates, and their minor league system, in dismal shape and why it will take new G.M. Neal Huntington years to fix all of Littlefield's mistakes.
Wieters, drafted by Baltimore immediately after the Pirates took Moskos, went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI Friday for Frederick, Baltimore's Class A team, against Lynchburg. Wieters hit both home runs off Brian Holliday, a Moon High School product.
In fairness to Moskos, Wieters only went 1-for-3 off Moskos Thursday night.
Wieters, who was deemed a sure-fire major league prospect before he was drafted, is batting .340 in his first full season in the minors with five home runs and 18 RBI in 31 games. While Moskos is off to a nice start (3-1, 3.72 ERA), he isn't the kind of prospect that Wieters is, at least not yet.
Just one more reason why Littlefield left the Pirates, and their minor league system, in dismal shape and why it will take new G.M. Neal Huntington years to fix all of Littlefield's mistakes.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Pirates-Braves: Here's what to look for
Here are some trends to keep an eye on this weekend during the Pirates series at home against Atlanta (Hint: Atlanta's Chipper Jones and Brian McCann could have big series.):
Friday: Ian Snell (Pittsburgh) vs. Tom Glavine (Atlanta)
Glavine is still looking for his first win of the season. … Glavine is 12-12 with a 3.12 career ERA against the Pirates. … Pittsburgh first baseman Adam LaRoche is 6-for-10 with a home run against his old teammate Glavine. … Jason Bay (.368, two home runs, four RBI) and Freddy Sanchez (.375) also have had success against the veteran. … McCann is 7-for-12 with three home runs and seven RBI vs. Snell while Jones is batting .333 with a home run.
Saturday: Tom Gorzelanny (Pittsburgh) vs. Chuck James (Atlanta)
James is expected to be recalled from Class AAA in time for Saturday's game. He has been battling a weak shoulder all season that also hampered him last year. … Gorzelanny returns to the Pirates' rotation after missing a start with stiffness in his lower back. … Gorzelanny also has to work out control issues. He has walked 16 batters in his last 12 2/3 innings.
Sunday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Jair Jurrjens (Atlanta)
Duke has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last two starts. … Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur is 6-for-11 with a home run while Jones is 5-for-13 against Duke. … Jurrjens is one of the top rookie pitchers in the majors. He was nearly traded to Pittsburgh last year by Detroit for shortstop Jack Wilson but then-general manager Dave Littlefield pulled out at the last minute and instead traded for Matt Morris.
Monday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Tim Hudson (Atlanta)
Hudosn has allowed only three runs and nine hits in his last 16 innings. … Chris Gomez is 9-for-22, Bay is 5-for-11 with a home run and Jose Bautista is 3-for-8 with two doubles lifetime against Hudson. … Dumatrait won his first major-league game Wednesday. … Mark Teixeria has a three-run homer in his only at bat against Dumatrait and McCann had a grand slam the only time he faced Dumatrait.
Friday: Ian Snell (Pittsburgh) vs. Tom Glavine (Atlanta)
Glavine is still looking for his first win of the season. … Glavine is 12-12 with a 3.12 career ERA against the Pirates. … Pittsburgh first baseman Adam LaRoche is 6-for-10 with a home run against his old teammate Glavine. … Jason Bay (.368, two home runs, four RBI) and Freddy Sanchez (.375) also have had success against the veteran. … McCann is 7-for-12 with three home runs and seven RBI vs. Snell while Jones is batting .333 with a home run.
Saturday: Tom Gorzelanny (Pittsburgh) vs. Chuck James (Atlanta)
James is expected to be recalled from Class AAA in time for Saturday's game. He has been battling a weak shoulder all season that also hampered him last year. … Gorzelanny returns to the Pirates' rotation after missing a start with stiffness in his lower back. … Gorzelanny also has to work out control issues. He has walked 16 batters in his last 12 2/3 innings.
Sunday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Jair Jurrjens (Atlanta)
Duke has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last two starts. … Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur is 6-for-11 with a home run while Jones is 5-for-13 against Duke. … Jurrjens is one of the top rookie pitchers in the majors. He was nearly traded to Pittsburgh last year by Detroit for shortstop Jack Wilson but then-general manager Dave Littlefield pulled out at the last minute and instead traded for Matt Morris.
Monday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Tim Hudson (Atlanta)
Hudosn has allowed only three runs and nine hits in his last 16 innings. … Chris Gomez is 9-for-22, Bay is 5-for-11 with a home run and Jose Bautista is 3-for-8 with two doubles lifetime against Hudson. … Dumatrait won his first major-league game Wednesday. … Mark Teixeria has a three-run homer in his only at bat against Dumatrait and McCann had a grand slam the only time he faced Dumatrait.
Pirates acquire Michaels, send Morgan down
After Thursday's game with San Francisco, the Pirates acquired outfielder Jason Michaels and cash considerations from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later.
Michaels was designated for assignment by Cleveland earlier this week. He is batting .207 with no home runs and nine RBI this season.
"We had a chance to get an established major-league player, albeit one that's struggling a little bit this year," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "He's a guy that brings a quality, veteran presence to the clubhouse. He can play right (field), he can play left (field) and he can spell Nate (McLouth) in center. He's a guy that (bench coach) Gary Varsho and (manager) John Russell have a lot of familiarity with and he's an established major-league player."
Though Michaels has a $2.2 million salary, Cleveland is taking part of the salary. Though Pirates general manager Neal Huntington wouldn't say how much, he did say it was enough that "made it a very easy decision to bring Jason aboard."
This was Michaels' third season in Cleveland. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1998 draft by Philadelphia and played parts of five seasons with the Phillies. In 632 major-league games Michaels has a .277 average with 37 home runs and 203 RBI. He is expected to join the club in time for Friday's game at home against Atlanta.
To make room on the roster, the Pirates optioned outfielder Nyjer Morgan to Class AAA Indianapolis.
Morgan wasn't getting much playing time due to the hot starts of McLouth and Xavier Nady. In 22 games, Morgan batted .161 (5-for-31) with no home runs or RBI and one stolen base. Huntington said the move was made in part so that Morgan can play every day instead of sitting on the bench.
"I'm not hurt, it's just part of the process," Morgan said. "I just get to work on my game a little more. I'll be back. This isn't the end of Nyjer."
Michaels was designated for assignment by Cleveland earlier this week. He is batting .207 with no home runs and nine RBI this season.
"We had a chance to get an established major-league player, albeit one that's struggling a little bit this year," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "He's a guy that brings a quality, veteran presence to the clubhouse. He can play right (field), he can play left (field) and he can spell Nate (McLouth) in center. He's a guy that (bench coach) Gary Varsho and (manager) John Russell have a lot of familiarity with and he's an established major-league player."
Though Michaels has a $2.2 million salary, Cleveland is taking part of the salary. Though Pirates general manager Neal Huntington wouldn't say how much, he did say it was enough that "made it a very easy decision to bring Jason aboard."
This was Michaels' third season in Cleveland. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1998 draft by Philadelphia and played parts of five seasons with the Phillies. In 632 major-league games Michaels has a .277 average with 37 home runs and 203 RBI. He is expected to join the club in time for Friday's game at home against Atlanta.
To make room on the roster, the Pirates optioned outfielder Nyjer Morgan to Class AAA Indianapolis.
Morgan wasn't getting much playing time due to the hot starts of McLouth and Xavier Nady. In 22 games, Morgan batted .161 (5-for-31) with no home runs or RBI and one stolen base. Huntington said the move was made in part so that Morgan can play every day instead of sitting on the bench.
"I'm not hurt, it's just part of the process," Morgan said. "I just get to work on my game a little more. I'll be back. This isn't the end of Nyjer."
What's your number?
A friend of mine came up this week from Princeton, W.Va. to watch two games of the Pirates-Giants series and, sadly, he left with an empty feeling.
No, it wasn't because of the sub-par baseball he was watching. It was, as he told me after Wednesday's game, "Doug, I lost a little bit of my childhood tonight."
When I asked why, he said it was when he heard the P.A. announcer say in the top of the sixth inning: "Now pitching for the Giants, number 22 Keiichi Yabu."
It's not that my friend, Norm Vaughan, has anything against Yabu personally, but it's the number he's wearing. Norm grew up a huge Will Clark fan and that's what made him a Giants fan, even in Princeton, W.Va., was because of Clark. He also compared it to the Pirates giving Willie Stargell's number to Masumi Kuwata. Though Stargell's number is retired, the point was well taken.
So it got me to thinking: Is there a player that you associate with one number for one team and that team has given his number to a lesser player. Send me your suggestions.
No, it wasn't because of the sub-par baseball he was watching. It was, as he told me after Wednesday's game, "Doug, I lost a little bit of my childhood tonight."
When I asked why, he said it was when he heard the P.A. announcer say in the top of the sixth inning: "Now pitching for the Giants, number 22 Keiichi Yabu."
It's not that my friend, Norm Vaughan, has anything against Yabu personally, but it's the number he's wearing. Norm grew up a huge Will Clark fan and that's what made him a Giants fan, even in Princeton, W.Va., was because of Clark. He also compared it to the Pirates giving Willie Stargell's number to Masumi Kuwata. Though Stargell's number is retired, the point was well taken.
So it got me to thinking: Is there a player that you associate with one number for one team and that team has given his number to a lesser player. Send me your suggestions.
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