Comments on: The Last of a Dying Breed?

By: Rey

Rey — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:14:53 +0000

One problem with Santana getting to 300 wins – he plays for the New York Mets.

By: Wally

Wally — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:54:36 +0000

Casey –
Clemens didn’t need to make the bad decisions he apparently made. Same story as Bonds. Without the banned substances, he woulda been HOF caliber. He naturally had all the tools he needed, but he got way too greedy.

So to answer your Q … no, lately Clemens has been an idiot. And he’s probably been an idiot for the past several years.

By: Chas

Chas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:14:26 +0000

I noticed it after I asked the question. I actually didn’t do all that well at this one. I only got 15 out of 20. I drew a blank on Ryan Howard, Luis Gonzalez, Alex Rodriguez and Hack Wilson. I didn’t realize Kiner was on the list, but I should have got the other four. Actually, Ortiz tied Kiner and Mantle, but I guess yardbarker gave him an asterisk.

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:21:17 +0000

Wally – are you saying that Clemens has a good head?

yardbarker quiz is above – just to the right of the title for this article. Try it without doing any prior research.

By: Wally

Wally — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:28:10 +0000

Chas –
No … I don’t know who it is, but every generation there’s one or two “freak of natures” that come through … kinda the way Nolan Ryan was for us. Some kid who just turns out to be a horse and blessed with a great arm, a good head, great work ethic, and some luck. It’s got to be somebody who’s not doing it just for the money … it’s got to be a kid who is reading blogs like this or SI and says “I’m gonna be that guy!” … “I’m gonna be the next Randy Johnson”.

I’d like to say the next 300 game winner will be my son, but I was instead blessed with 5 daughters Two of them are currently playing fast pitch softball (8th and 5th grade) … maybe one of them will pitch in college … who knows? But it’s fun to speculate.

By: Chas

Chas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:26:07 +0000

Do you have somebody in mind Wally?

One point that I didn’t make, that Wally sort of did, is that guys seem to be pitching older than they used to…or at least did in the earlier parts of my life. Nolan Ryan seemed like a freak when he lasted until his mid-40s, but recently two HOF caliber pitchers have done it, and Moyer’s no slouch either.

Sabathia’s kind of an enigma to me. On the one hand, you’re right that his weight could be a concern, but on the other hand, he’s the biggest innings horse in the majors right now. He could go the way of Bartolo Colon, or he could turn out to be more like David Wells, except more talented.

Casey, what’s a yardbarker quiz?

By: Wally

Wally — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:03:24 +0000

Chas –
I agree that nobody in that Top 5 current wins list (Moyer-Hernandez) has a chance … unless Moyer pitches until he’s 51!!!! I don’t think any of the 3 younger guys you mention will do it. Santana is awfully talented, but I think he’s gonna be injury prone throughout his career …. he’s kind of a slight guy and there’s something I don’t like about his motion … too much stress on the shoulder. Sabathia will have a fat attack and be done at 34. I actually like Halladay’s chances more than the other 2 because of how good a pitcher he is, but as you point out those chances aren’t real good from looking at his current wins and age. But I think he’ll possibly surpass averaging 18 wins over the next 5 seasons, but he’ll still be short. Maybe he can pitch to age 42?

Anyway, do I think we’ve seen the last of the 300 game winners? Nope … someone’s gonna do it before we die … he’s just not in the big leagues yet. Some middle schooler out there today is gonna debut at age 19 in the majors six years from now throwing consistently at 95 mph with movement and a smooth, fundamentally sound motion … and be blessed like Ryan or Clemens with a great body and hardly any injuries. This pitcher will retire at age 40 with 308 wins and 5 Cy Youngs.

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:59:41 +0000

Did you try the yardbarker quiz yet?

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:59:01 +0000

Since you put it that way – none of the above.

Yeah, playing for the Yanks should help Sabbathia if he doesn’t get whiplash watching balls leaving the launching pad.

Friggin’ Mussina had to go and retire 30 wins short.

Cole Hamels will win 15 per year for the next ten seasons. That will put him in range.