Comments on: Greinke fun facts

By: Jake

Jake — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:21:38 +0000

@David Wintheiser:

If Fernando’s ERA was 0.33 through six starts, then the league ERA would have to be 3.88 for him to have an ERA+ of 1173.

The league average *ended* up at 3.49, as you note. So I’d say it’s possible, but not probable, that his ERA+ was better than 1173.

Very close, though!

By: David in NYC

David in NYC — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:22:54 +0000

Does Greinke have a “be” pitch like Satchel Paige?

As in, “That pitch be where I want it to be.”

By: Nitpicker

Nitpicker — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:50:25 +0000

Joe – I think you need to double check your math on fact #9.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:44:40 +0000

To jump on an emerging meme:
Zack Greinke once struck out the side on seven pitches.

By: Topics about England-places » Greinke fun facts

Topics about England-places » Greinke fun facts — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:01:12 +0000

[...] Shin Densetsu put an intriguing blog post on Greinke fun facts Here’s a quick excerpt2. There have been two complete game shutouts thrown in the American League this year. Greinke threw both of them. [...]

By: David Wintheiser

David Wintheiser — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:48:55 +0000

In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela pitched arguably better than Zack Greinke. He had four shutouts, and in each of his other two starts he allowed just one earned run. One of those was a complete game, the other was a 1-1 tie after 9 where the Dodgers scored five in the top of the 10th off of Bill Gullickson (thus giving Fernando the W). There’s no indication of what Valenzuela’s ERA+ was, but it’s possible that it was lower than 1173, simply because the league ERA was lower back then.

Valenzuela’s seventh start, by the way, was another shutout, then he allowed two runs in his eighth start, also a complete game.

8 GS, 4 SHO, 7 CG, 72 IP, 4 ER, 0.50 ERA

Fernando doesn’t make Joe’s list of nine consecutive wins in starts, because he didn’t start any games in 1980, and his ninth start in 1981 was a loss — he did allow 4 ER, but the Dodgers were shut out by the immortal Marty Bystrom, so it’s possible Fernando would have lost even if he’d only allowed one run.

Good to see Greinke doing so well, but nobody keeps up this kind of pace — for the rest of the 1981 season (including the first loss), Valenzuela was 8-9 with a 3.66 ERA, in a season where the league average ERA was 3.49.

By: Spud

Spud — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:43:24 +0000

The Dodgers would have had to do some fancy maneuvering to get Valenzuela on the 1980 playoff roster as he didn’t make his debut until Sept. 15 (the rule at the time was on the roster or DL as of Aug. 31). Of course, the loophole was discovered around that time or shortly after.

By: Eli

Eli — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:54:49 +0000

When Zack Greinke does push ups he doesn’t push himself up, he pushes the earth down.

By: Brent

Brent — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:33:35 +0000

Erik in NYC:

Webster’s On line disagrees with you on the pronunciation (well, not entirely, it lists your version 2nd, my version 1st and an even different way with a W sound in there somewhere 3rd)

By: Erik in NYC

Erik in NYC — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:25:26 +0000

re:limerick… ‘zounds’ doesn’t rhyme with ‘mound.’ it’s pronounced zoonds… (stands for god’s wounds)…