More Ramblings
By Tom Grout
August 13, 2008
-I have mentioned before that I think the Save statistic is a little over rated, but there is another pitching statistic that may have been a little bit over rated years ago that is now a little more under rated. I remind you I said LITTLE BIT in each case. That stat is winning 20 games in a season for a pitcher.
It has been a number that starting pitchers have cherished for a long time and it is one of their primary goals. The statistic has always been a big measuring point for a starting pitcher even though it takes a lot of factors to achieve the Holy Grail.
One of the most important things in winning 20 games, according to Denny McLain who was the last pitcher to win 30 games in a season, is to keep going out there every time your turn came to pitch. In other words staying healthy is pretty important. Your team also has to score you enough runs whether it’s on a day that the pitcher is pitching good or on a day that he struggles. Along with the offense comes the defense. Teammates in the field need to make the plays behind their pitcher especially in key situations.
Although it has never been all that easy to win 20 games, in McLain’s era the opportunity to do so was greater. There was a four man rotation then compared to five now which gave the starting pitcher maybe 5 or more starts per season. Pitcher back then also pitched further into the game than they do now which increased their chances or odds of winning the game.
Today’s starters are now on pitch counts and most pitchers are not allowed to pitch more than say 100 to 110 pitches per game. Sometimes this pitch count is used up in just 5 or 6 innings so if the pitcher is ahead at that time he must rely on the bullpen to shut the opponents down for 3 or 4 innings. Like I said before, teams now use a 5 man rotation so the fewer starts a pitcher gets the less likely to win 20.
I have never really accepted the pitch count thing all that much. I understand it is just another tool managers use to manage a game and pitching staff but sometimes it looks like they get a little carried away with it. With a 5 man rotation the starting pitcher pitches once a week which should give the guy plenty of time to recover from say a 125 pitched game. I know there are other factors about pitch counts but I’m not going to take the time here, this is about winning 20 games.
Each year now it becomes more difficult for a starting pitcher to get those 20 wins, so when you see one it is a big deal.
-The other day the Arizona Diamondbacks picked up Adam Dunn through waivers and a trade. It is a little strange that the Major League home run leader got through waivers before it got up to Arizona but I suppose it is because he will become a free agent after the season.
This is when I wonder what kind of deals the Twins couldn’t or wouldn’t make. They really need some bullpen help and there have been a couple of pitchers they passed up on. I would just like to be in the room or on the other line when the Twins are discussing moves or negotiating with other teams for players.
-I understand that Michael Phelps is the story so far at the Olympics; I just wish the media wouldn’t over do it with exposure. I am sorry, but I am tired of looking at Phelps’ face all the time, especially when he is in a team relay. He didn’t win those relays by himself you know. I feel bad I feel that way because Phelps is a great swimmer, if not the greatest, but continued views of him and his mother is just gotten a little over the top.
Speaking of ramblings, Tom. I am currently unemployed, so I was able to watch our Twins this afternoon from my home. These afternoon get-away games were so much more fun when I had a job to get-away from, but without a job it smacks of slothfulness. I successfully supressed all feelings of guilt and had nearly dozed off when Delmon Young hit that bomb to right-center in the fourth inning. I opened one eye to watch him round the bases and remembered an interview with Tommy Lasorda I saw back when he was still managing. The subject of the interview was which offensive baseball play is the most effective for manufacturing a run or two. It was typical National League strategizing about suicide versus the safety squeeze. Or, if a manager should sacrifice bunt or hit-and-run after inserting a pinch-runner for a pitcher in the late innings. I'm sure you have heard that type of conversation before and know that while they can be interesting, they can get old quickly. (I'm thinking about Tim McCarver right now). Anyway, the rambling continued until finally the interviewer asked Lasorda, "So what's your favorite play?"
Lasorda answered, "The three-run homerun."
It's my favorite too. Here's to get-away games and three-homeruns.
Tom --
Your topic is "Rambling", so I'm going to ramble too.
I agree that the save is a little overrated. And winning 20 games -- especially when considering HOF candidates.
Twins added two interesting names to the Rochester roster -- Bobby Kielty and Joe Gaetti. One of them is for sure Gary's son.
Olympic coverage is driving me crazy. We get shown extended interviews with beach volleyballers while somewhere in Bejing guys are wrestling for gold medals.
And Phelps. I have to agree with Tom. Great swimmer, but the media is "Jetering" him. He benefits from being great in a sport that hands out a lot of medals. The talk of him being, maybe, the greatest olympian ever is too much. Tefilio Stevenson, the Cuban heavyweight boxer, may be the greatest olympian of my lifetime. He won the gold in 1972, 1976 and 1980. Or maybe Greg Louganis, the Babe Ruth of olympic diving.
Current home run leader Adam Dunn clears waivers for a post-deadline trade. I bet no current saves leader would clear waivers. But then, they're over-rated.
Middle of August and the Twins are getting serious production from Everett and Lamm, and power from Delmon. Who'd a thunk? I've never been a big rah-rah-guy for Gardenhire, but I gotta say that he's getting a lot from a lot of different guys this year, and it can't all be credited to Vavra and Anderson.
And Tom, whatever drugs they give you for the rehab from your surgery, try to hoard them until you feel well enough to really enjoy them.
TDog-I completely forgot about Stevenson so great recall. He was really something.You are also right about the coverage in the Olympics you never get to see what you want to see. By the way are you in the buying market for any of my drugs?
Tom -
Name your price.
ok, enough of the drug sales....
Teofilo Stevenson was a _great_ olympian....
He just never made it as a pro.... do you ever wonder why?
They can say that Cuba wouldn't let him or whatever that story was, but it was also rumored that he was in his late 30s when he last defended his heavyweight olympic title...
Phelps gets the attention because the media knows that he is the golden boy, and golden boys/girls sell TV ratings...
The Twins are truly a surprise to me.... Gardenhire has to be credited with the teams success this year... now if they can only get past the ghosts of Boston/NY in the playoffs, if they can sustain their position..
What about the Vikes?
No chatter here yet about how "great" they're gonna be this year... (there's some bait for you)
Just got back from ramblin down to Vikes training camp. My impression of Jerod Allen is excellent. He seemed to bring a lot of energy to the team. He and Pat and Kevin Williams seem to be the leaders out there. I was very unimpressed with the receivers. They just don't have that great of hands, even Berrian.
On Phelps, he's way overdone. There are other Americans placing in races with him and they never even show them. Great swimmer though. Another great Olympian was that Russian Greco-Roman wrestler that was undefeated in forever and had opponents even throwing their matches early so he couldn't hurt them. When USA's Gardner broke his run, he was so gracious too.
The Twins? They are getting so much from a decent young team. You have to really love our chances in the next few years. I don't know why they are so reluctant to go after a relief pitcher though.
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