He Came So Close to Getting Dropped...

[kenhutchings]

After Game 42, Mel Stottlemyre had a record of 3-6 with an E.R.A. of 4.95. I was giving some very serious consideration to dropping him at that time. Then, in Game 46, he pitches a complete game, allowing just one unearned run, and pitches shutouts in Games 50, 54, and 62, and his E.R.A. has been reduced to a more respectable 3.21. I think I'll keep him... :)

Last 10 games
Game Opp Role W L S IP H ER BB SO
Game 62 PYR starter 1 0 0 9.0 9 0 1 5
Game 58 TUM starter 1 0 0 9.0 10 3 2 0
Game 54 CAB starter 1 0 0 9.0 5 0 5 5
Game 50 BOM starter 1 0 0 9.0 5 0 5 2
Game 46 CON starter 1 0 0 9.0 5 0 1 3
Game 42 SUL starter 0 1 0 6.0 8 6 1 3
Game 38 REA starter 1 0 0 9.0 6 3 3 3
Game 34 BOM starter 0 1 0 7.0 11 3 1 1
Game 30 NOS starter 1 0 0 5.0 8 3 0 2
Game 25 INC starter 0 1 0 5.0 7 2 1 1

I realize, of course, that by bringing this to everyone's attention on this forum, Stottlemyre is now doomed to suffer the wrath of HAL.

[ROBERTLATORRE]

I can see it now, injury on a GB vs RHB!!!!

[kenhutchings]

Not in this league. It's a no DH league. In fact, Stottlemyre already has hit a homerun in this league.

Looks like I'll have to wait for the end of the league to find out which card I have. If I were to make an educated guess, I'd say I have his '72 card, and that I've just been extremely fortunate during the last five games.

[pkwmati]

Other than the 6 IP, 6 ER game, none of them look that bad before the CG.

5 IP, 2 ER
5 IP, 3 ER
7 IP, 3 ER
9 IP, 3 ER

And given thats its a No DH league, those 5 IPers may have been pulled for a PH.

I think theres a pretty good chance you have a good Stottlemyre card.

Then again, I am probably the worst person in the world to give mystery card analysis. I am usually way too optimistic and let guys kill me for far too long.

"Hey, Blass only walked 3 in 6 IP.....I must have one of his good cards!" :D

[kenhutchings]

In his third start of the season (Game 9), MS allowed 7 ERs in an outing which lasted only 1 1/3 inning. Early in the season, that kind of outing skews an E.R.A. and makes his overall performance look bad.

I looked up MS on Baseball Reference a moment ago, and learned that he clubbed an inside the park grand slam homerun against the Red Sox in a game on July 20, 1965. Back in my younger days, I remember Rick Reichardt on the California Angels doing that against the old K.C. Athletics (inside the park grand slam home run). I'm sure it is an infrequent occurrence; I wonder how many pitchers have done it? :?:

I found a link with the info (chart prepared in 2002, so it is out of date):

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?3641-Inside-The-Park-Grand-Slams

[coyote303]

[quote:bd2274ec2d="kenhutchings"]...

I realize, of course, that by bringing this to everyone's attention on this forum, Stottlemyre is now doomed to suffer the wrath of HAL.[/quote:bd2274ec2d]

I was going to say that's worse than the <well-known sports magazine>'s jinx, but I thought that might get me in trouble posting that in on a TSN forum!

[kenhutchings]

[quote:d01c407e2d="PM770"]I think theres a pretty good chance you have a good Stottlemyre card.

:D[/quote:d01c407e2d]

It ended up being his '69 season. He was tied for the league lead with four shutouts, but because of my team's anemic offense, he ended up with a W/L record of 13-17.

[The Senators]

Makes sense to me. He often had those kinds of seasons as a pitcher on many lousy teams.