Comments on: The Sweetland Awards

By: Phanatic

Phanatic — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:32:17 +0000

I still can’t believe that Brad Lidge didn’t win this award. I mean, he turned the 9th inning into a roller coaster that left me curled into a ball swearing I was giving up this baseball fan thing for curling or gymnastics or something.

His control problems had control problems and he looked like a wounded deer out on the mound.

Sticking with him as long as the Phillies did was understandable, but mostly stupid and non-logical.

By: DSFC

DSFC — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:42:37 +0000

Losing Pitcher Mulcahy, while not a good pitcher, really wasn’t THAT bad. Not as bad as Sweetland, anyway, if you look at them side by side. Mulcahy just pitched more games for equally bad teams. FWIW, Mulcahy had a 90 career ERA+, Sweetland a 77.

By: Shlomo

Shlomo — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:43:38 +0000

In the October 1949 edition of Baseball Digest, there is a story about Fresco Thompson, Burt Shotton’s coach, bringing the lineup card to the umpires before the game. The umpire asked Thompson what the last name of the pitcher was. He said it was Sweetland.

Klem asked “What’s that say after Sweetland?”

After consultation with Shotton, Thompson explained, “It says Sweetland-and others.”

By: David Coonce

David Coonce — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:33:46 +0000

You know the real interesting thing about Les Sweetland? His career hitting stats. 272/341/338 in 325 at-bats. Perhaps he was miscast as a pitcher.

By: Hobo Hal

Hobo Hal — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:36:20 +0000

Way to snark it up. Have you bought a place on the East coast? Have you come down from the high of watching the Yankees “win” that pennant?

By: ksmyth

ksmyth — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:20:23 +0000

Hmm, I think you overlooked Carlos Silva. The M’s are paying him over $11 million not to pitch. He finished his second season of a mysterious injury that nobody understands. However both seasons he’s gotten six or seven starts, been blown up, and banished to rehab. Not Vernon Wells bad, but one of the worst contracts in baseball.

By: Bryz

Bryz — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:23:16 +0000

I disagree on Liriano. He did pitch similarly to Hochevar (including a game against the Red Sox where he struck out 8 hitters but gave up a ton of hits and runs….FanGraphs did an article on that game) but his ERA was only in the 5s and his BA/OBP/SLG against wasn’t nearly as bad as Berken’s.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:23:15 +0000

How could you not name it after Hugh “Losing Pitcher” Mulcahy? What kid of nickname did Les Sweetland have?

By: Round 'em Up: Friday 11.20.09 - Milwaukee Brewers Blog - Bernie's Crew

Round 'em Up: Friday 11.20.09 - Milwaukee Brewers Blog - Bernie's Crew — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:16:54 +0000

[...] Posnanski unveils his NL Les Sweetland Award, which names the worst starting pitcher in the National League, and it goes to Milwaukee's own, [...]

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:28:40 +0000

Thank you for mentioning Manny Parra…I’ve had to watch the guy all year, and it’s been ridiculously frustrating…he nearly throws a complete game shutout vs. the Dodgers on around 100 pitches, then pitches one of those “the only way I can find the strike zone is to barrel it down the middle” games where he tosses 80 pitches in 3 innings. The guy clearly has the stuff to make it in the majors but he’s a total headcase who breaks down every time someone gets a bloop single on him. I think there should be an award for “pitcher you would least want to have on the mound on a big game”. Parra’s a shoe-in.