Comments on: Jamie Moyer’s America http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/ Curiously Long Posts Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:28:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mikey http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38101 Mikey Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:35:15 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38101 I believe Tommy Herr was also Pennsylvania Dutch. By the way my mother's maiden name is Moyer (no relation... I think). I believe Tommy Herr was also Pennsylvania Dutch. By the way my mother’s maiden name is Moyer (no relation… I think).

]]> By: Cosmic Charlie http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38058 Cosmic Charlie Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:33:53 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38058 I really hate nitpicking after such an entertaining post, but I can't stand this any longer! Sportswriters and announcers from around the country continue to refer to the Rays as "Tampa." This is like writing about the Dallas Rangers or Milwaukee Packers (or the LA Angels, but that's for another day). Is the additional 1-syllable, 3-letter word "Bay" too much effort? During the ALDS, TBS frequently said things like "Tropicana Field in Tampa." So again, I apologize for taking this out on you, Joe, and your highly insightful readers, but once and for all: The Rays play in St. Petersburg which is NOT Tampa and in fact has a bit of a jealous rivalry with its larger, more famous sister city. I really hate nitpicking after such an entertaining post, but I can’t stand this any longer! Sportswriters and announcers from around the country continue to refer to the Rays as “Tampa.” This is like writing about the Dallas Rangers or Milwaukee Packers (or the LA Angels, but that’s for another day). Is the additional 1-syllable, 3-letter word “Bay” too much effort? During the ALDS, TBS frequently said things like “Tropicana Field in Tampa.” So again, I apologize for taking this out on you, Joe, and your highly insightful readers, but once and for all: The Rays play in St. Petersburg which is NOT Tampa and in fact has a bit of a jealous rivalry with its larger, more famous sister city.

]]> By: Richard Aronson http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38053 Richard Aronson Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:05:04 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38053 I was going to mention Frank Tanana, but both he and to a lesser extent Tommy John sort of deserve crafty with an asterisk. Tanana was an awesome strikeout pitcher, arguably with Nolan Ryan part of the best 1-2 KO punch a team ever had (I said arguably, if you want to pick Ryan Seaver, or Koufax Drysdale, or any other combo, be my guest; but Tanana Ryan was awfully good at striking folks out for a short while), until he blew out his arm. Then he came back without the same heat, learned crafty, and was pretty good (but not great). Tommy John wasn't as powerful before his eponymous surgery, and had a much longer career after he became crafty, but was fairly crafty: I think Bill James used that word to describe John in one of his abstracts. But if you want the peak of craftiness, at least for a single season if not a career, I believe Randy Jones was quite the crafty lefty the season he won the Cy Young award. In fact, in 1975-76, when he finished second and then first in CYA voting, he averaged in aggregate less than a K every three innings while still being considered about the best pitcher in the NL. Now that's crafty!* <i>Read it at http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonesra01.shtml and weep. He threw 600 innings those two years and was never close to the same pitcher again. WHIP's both years under 1.05. W:IP ratio just under 6. Tom Verducci should put Jones up as his poster boy for not overusing a young arm. Since you're now at SI, you might want to earn some Verducci brownie points by suggesting it to him. You never know when he might be able to score you some Springsteen tix!</i> I was going to mention Frank Tanana, but both he and to a lesser extent Tommy John sort of deserve crafty with an asterisk. Tanana was an awesome strikeout pitcher, arguably with Nolan Ryan part of the best 1-2 KO punch a team ever had (I said arguably, if you want to pick Ryan Seaver, or Koufax Drysdale, or any other combo, be my guest; but Tanana Ryan was awfully good at striking folks out for a short while), until he blew out his arm. Then he came back without the same heat, learned crafty, and was pretty good (but not great). Tommy John wasn’t as powerful before his eponymous surgery, and had a much longer career after he became crafty, but was fairly crafty: I think Bill James used that word to describe John in one of his abstracts.

But if you want the peak of craftiness, at least for a single season if not a career, I believe Randy Jones was quite the crafty lefty the season he won the Cy Young award. In fact, in 1975-76, when he finished second and then first in CYA voting, he averaged in aggregate less than a K every three innings while still being considered about the best pitcher in the NL. Now that’s crafty!*

Read it at http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonesra01.shtml and weep. He threw 600 innings those two years and was never close to the same pitcher again. WHIP’s both years under 1.05. W:IP ratio just under 6. Tom Verducci should put Jones up as his poster boy for not overusing a young arm. Since you’re now at SI, you might want to earn some Verducci brownie points by suggesting it to him. You never know when he might be able to score you some Springsteen tix!

]]> By: KM http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38000 KM Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:45:56 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-38000 Buck Showalter picked up his nickname in the minors when his manager noticed he was always hanging around the ballpark. The quote was, "Showalter, you're buck naked at your locker when I get here in the morning and buck naked at night when I leave.'' Buck Showalter picked up his nickname in the minors when his manager noticed he was always hanging around the ballpark. The quote was, “Showalter, you’re buck naked at your locker when I get here in the morning and buck naked at night when I leave.”

]]> By: Mikey http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37906 Mikey Tue, 28 Oct 2008 03:39:07 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37906 Forecast was for light rain throughout the night. I think everybody was caught off guard by the severity of the rain. What an absolutely fascinating scenario. Who will start the bottom of the sixth tomorrow night? TB has Shields on regular rest if they want him. Can they really pass that up in a World Series elimination game? They could also hand it to Price and try to save Shields for a home start. Boy would that be ballsy. Forecast was for light rain throughout the night. I think everybody was caught off guard by the severity of the rain.

What an absolutely fascinating scenario. Who will start the bottom of the sixth tomorrow night? TB has Shields on regular rest if they want him. Can they really pass that up in a World Series elimination game?

They could also hand it to Price and try to save Shields for a home start. Boy would that be ballsy.

]]> By: J http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37905 J Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:57:47 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37905 If Joe is there, or anyone ... why on earth was this game played tonight? If Joe is there, or anyone … why on earth was this game played tonight?

]]> By: Gerry http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37886 Gerry Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:26:31 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37886 Frank Tanana defined crafy lefty for me growing up. As I remember it he started out a fireballer and then crafted his way around the majors for quite awhile post-some kind of injury. Frank Tanana defined crafy lefty for me growing up. As I remember it he started out a fireballer and then crafted his way around the majors for quite awhile post-some kind of injury.

]]> By: JB http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37878 JB Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:31:43 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37878 I was also about to question Joe's failure to mention Buck O'Neill but I see that I was beaten to it. As an aside, I was in KC earlier this month and was able to visit the Negro League Baseball Museum. I would encourage everyone to visit if given the opportunity. Also, I have a relatively new co-worker who mentioned that her uncle (or second-cousin or something) was Larry Gura when she found out I was a baseball fan. Since then, maybe six months, I have seen Gura mentioned in a web-article or blog comment maybe four or five times after not seeing his name in years. Thanks OZ. I was also about to question Joe’s failure to mention Buck O’Neill but I see that I was beaten to it. As an aside, I was in KC earlier this month and was able to visit the Negro League Baseball Museum. I would encourage everyone to visit if given the opportunity.

Also, I have a relatively new co-worker who mentioned that her uncle (or second-cousin or something) was Larry Gura when she found out I was a baseball fan. Since then, maybe six months, I have seen Gura mentioned in a web-article or blog comment maybe four or five times after not seeing his name in years. Thanks OZ.

]]> By: Nick Decker http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37876 Nick Decker Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:27:43 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37876 "A list of famous managers named Buck without mention of Buck O’Neil?" Notice that Joe said "big league manager." I had to go back and check, myself, because I'm sure that O'Neil is Joe's favorite Buck. I think Joe even mentioned writing a book about him... “A list of famous managers named Buck without mention of Buck O’Neil?”

Notice that Joe said “big league manager.” I had to go back and check, myself, because I’m sure that O’Neil is Joe’s favorite Buck. I think Joe even mentioned writing a book about him…

]]> By: James http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37874 James Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:19:02 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/10/26/moyers-america/#comment-37874 I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but I thought I might. Just ask yourself who is Baseballs greatest lefty power pitcher? Randy Johnson. He and Jamie Moyer were once on the same team. What would it bee like to face 100 mph fastballs and 87-92 mph sliders one day and then walk up to see 82-78 mph the next. Or vice versa. I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this but I thought I might. Just ask yourself who is Baseballs greatest lefty power pitcher? Randy Johnson. He and Jamie Moyer were once on the same team. What would it bee like to face 100 mph fastballs and 87-92 mph sliders one day and then walk up to see 82-78 mph the next. Or vice versa.

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