4
2011
A Paean To Pitchers
An article by Former Writers
I realize that most pitchers have checkered careers and most just want to be on the mound for a while and then leave it all to the 7th inning pitcher, the 8th inning pitcher and the Closer – if you’ve got one.
But every once in a while a real Pitcher – shows up and puts the others to shame. Johan Santana is such a pitcher – not quite in the Seaver mode – who could be? – but surely a student of the mound and it’s inhabitants – and a fearless warrior. For these guys it’s usually not the $$$ but the prestige that comes with a pitcher who really pitches.
Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson, come to mind – actually I think Nolan and Bob would pitch til the cows come home, but poor Sandy ended up with physical problems before modern medicine was available. He plays a bit of golf now, I know – I followed him around Hartford CC a couple of years ago.
Pedro Martinez – who danced in the rain on the Mets pitcher’s mound – was a charmer, a fan’s delight, but a hitter’s nemesis. He changed pitching mounds once in a while, but when he left the Mets for his ailing Dad’s bedside, that was it.
So we have Johan Santana now wondering about his arm as he should. It’s August now, and the heatwaves in the East are at their best and hottest. It’s summer time. Surprisingly the pitchers arms will benefit by swimming, but most never try it and I suspect they have their own private methods.
To all of the above and those I’ve forgotten, thanks for the memories you’ve given me all through the years since Louisiana Lightning strode out to the mound at the Stadium and showed us what a farm boy can do. And to Johan, trust your instincts, we’ll all wait for you.
About the Author: Former Writers
6 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- Clayton Collier: on Mets Have Opportunity To Soar To New Heights: Yeah, your right R.J., just look at...
- Christopher: on The 2013 Mets Are Suffering From A Lack Of Accountability: Alderson has been to 3 world series...
- Christopher: on So Where Are All Those Moneyball Players?: Alderson has been to 3 world series...
- taskmaster4450: on Team Source On Wheeler: “He’s Ready”: Dont leave Montero out of the mix....
- Reed: on Team Source On Wheeler: “He’s Ready”: Collins will probably use Wheeler in long...
MMO Mets Chat
Need Tickets To The Mets Game?
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
5392 Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1269 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
“most just want to be on the mound for a while and then leave it all to the 7th inning pitcher,”
zero truth in that statement.
annie, GREAT ARTICLE.. is a shame with johan santana, he’s a horse and a stud, but injuries happen, and they derail your career, few pitchers last long nowadays, they breakdown easier than before, let’s hope he can come back and provide the mets with the kinda year we expect from him
Woah there, hold on. I think there’s a huge difference between wanting to pitch a complete game and being able to. I’d be willing to put down money that there are a ton of pitchers who would pitch into the 9th everytime out there if they could.
Santana is a better pitcher than most, and I idolize his work ethic, but I don’t think you can assume that most pitchers have checkered careers and “most just want to be on the mound for a while” by comparison.
You can tell the pitchers that want to come out by the way they keep looking into the dugout sometime after the sixth inning. Few warriors are left, Halladay is one. Starting pitchers used to be laughed at by teammates, teased and called soft if they came out before the ninth inning. Nowadays, a complete game is rarer than a grand slam. Athletes today are soft and pampered. They spend 3 days a week getting massaged, heaven forbid they pitch on three days rest like they did only 2 decades ago. And yet all they do is complain and have record numbers of injuries. Nolan Ryan talks about that often.
William – When you mentioned Nolan Ryan I knew I had to tell you this story – when he was working with pitchers he really was working – they were not – as you say they complained. Nolan decided that no matter what, when these complainers were in a real game they were going to pitch eight innings. Nolan is a big man with a stellar record and a no-nonsense personality – all those no- hitters etc. he’s an example of a real guy pitcher. Interesting what happened to those kids under his instructions – after a couple tried to get away with laziness, most of the young pitchers turned the apprehension into admiration and did very well. Never mess with the Big Guy
And this is why Hall of Famers usually make bad coaches. You can’t hold everyone to that same standard.
Also, you make it sound like Koufax, Ryan and Gibson were the median for their time. They are Hall of Famers because they were head an shoulders above their contemporaries. It’s completely unfair to look at a pitcher now and tell him he sucks if he isn’t exactly like a Hall of Famer.
Also, back in the imaginary Good Old Days, pitchers didn’t go year round. They played for the summer and went home. Then, they would show up for Spring Training and work off those winter bodies.
These days, guys, even the superstars, are working year round in the Dominican Winter League, Arizona instructional leagues, and all over the world. Plus a lot of them have workouts they do on their “off days” during the season. Pitchers are actually putting more wear and tear on their arms.