It kinda takes a perfect storm of events to pitch a complete game these days !
Extremely low pitch count, maybe a severely overworked or just awful bullpen ( I don't know where Cubs rank), a manager that doesn't automatically pull a starter after 7 innings max, a pitcher known for the ability to pitch deep into a game, etc.
At 7 complete games 20% of the way into the season, that suggests about 35 for the season, out of 2,400 + MLB games , well under 2 %. I'm surprised it's that high, actually !
It would be interesting to see the stats at 5 year intervals re: complete games , like 1960,1965,1970 etc.
I can't imagine anyone throwing an 81 pitch complete game anytime soon, or maybe even ever again ?
These complete games will likely continue to dwindle in quantity every year, barring some radical change in the rules/ philosophy of the game.
Currently it is nearly impossible to win 20 games in a season, somewhere around 0-2 guys will do that per year, something like Guidry's 25-3, or something close to that season is not doable any more, maybe it was 25-4 ?, Doesn't matter, that's just semantics !
300 wins in a career, never again !
These complete games will likely continue to dwindle in quantity every year, barring some radical change in the rules/ philosophy of the game.
Currently it is nearly impossible to win 20 games in a season, somewhere around 0-2 guys will do that per year, something like Guidry's 25-3, or something close to that season is not doable any more, maybe it was 25-4 ?, Doesn't matter, that's just semantics !
300 wins in a career, never again !
I do find it to very humorous when he bumps some 15 year old thread, and it goes unnoticed and discussion continues and an 8 post thread from decades ago grows to 30 posts without anybody noticing the time gap !
The birthday stuff for fringe players long retired gets old quick. A little bit of bumping ancient stuff is amusing, 5 a day gets tedious, I'm sure that's why he got a bit of a timeout.
Don't get me wrong, I like the guy very much, and would hate to see him leave !
The birthday stuff for fringe players long retired gets old quick. A little bit of bumping ancient stuff is amusing, 5 a day gets tedious, I'm sure that's why he got a bit of a timeout.
Don't get me wrong, I like the guy very much, and would hate to see him leave !
Why the American League is currently a grind......Horrible overall imbalance
Entering play on Wed, May 29 2019
Past 162 games
HOU 103-59
NYY 99-63
BOS 99-63
OAK 98-64
TB 97-65
These five teams will be most likely to compete for the four playoff slots outside of the Central division
Meanwhile, there could be four, possibly five AL teams who *lose* 100+ games
Entering play on Wed, May 29 2019
Past 162 games
HOU 103-59
NYY 99-63
BOS 99-63
OAK 98-64
TB 97-65
These five teams will be most likely to compete for the four playoff slots outside of the Central division
Meanwhile, there could be four, possibly five AL teams who *lose* 100+ games
53-39
[FONT="]Tampa Bay emerged from the All-Star break by scoring seven runs in the first inning, and the Rays got homers from Tommy Pham and Nate Lowe in a 16-4 rout of the error-prone Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Seeking to reach the post-season for the first time since 2013, second-place Tampa Bay resumed its pursuit of the Yankees in the AL East by reaching season highs in runs and hits (20).[/FONT]
[FONT="]Tampa Bay emerged from the All-Star break by scoring seven runs in the first inning, and the Rays got homers from Tommy Pham and Nate Lowe in a 16-4 rout of the error-prone Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Seeking to reach the post-season for the first time since 2013, second-place Tampa Bay resumed its pursuit of the Yankees in the AL East by reaching season highs in runs and hits (20).[/FONT]
