Running 2017 MLB regular season thread

LOL. Actually it's easier than the arguing W-L for pitchers.

This isn't tennis or golf.

 

C.J. Wilson would have had a much more noteworthy career if either Nellie Cruz had run down that shot to right field or lefty specialist Darren Oliver had gotten out three bottom-of-the-order lefties. #stillbitter

 

In a way unlike the other major team sports, a pitcher can control a game. Kershaw has failed to do that in the post-season. I'm not impugning his regular season stats, just that he's not all that in the playoffs. If you can't get your head around that it's your problem.

 

We can. Just use better measurements.

 

I'm pretty sure MLB pitcher doesn't head that list with NHL goalie, NFL QB and NBA superstar. He might even be last.

 

I can't imagine a scenario in which it happened, but I suppose the absolute maximum number of post-season appearances a starter could make would be six. "The ring" comes to the team that wins 11 (maybe 12) games in the post-season. Could you kindly explain how a starter is answerable for the entirety of his teams' post-season performance?

 

This is when I miss Devil. He'd be all over this.

 

I agree with this as much as possible. The closest thing I have seen in a long time of watching sports to a pitcher being as decisive a postseason player as many instances of the other three you cited was Koufax in the '65 Series pitching a complete game two-hitter in game seven on two days rest. And that's just one series for the deal. The winter sports had longer playoffs even then, the NFL since 1967. Pedro against Cleveland in '99 was pretty amazing, but then he could only pitch once against the Yanks in the next series. By contrast, just off the top of my head, there's Iverson dragging a bunch of stiffs to the NBA Finals, and Ken Dryden winning the Cup for the '71 Canadiens pretty much by himself, with the biggest upset, beating the Bruins, in the first round.

 

Tim Thomas in 11. The list of goalies is long.

 

Jonathan Quick one year, too.

 

I'd argue Bob Gibson in 67, Mickey Lolich in 68 and Orel Hershiser in 88 too. Especially Orel. The 1988 Dodgers had no business winning even one playoff series.