They'll pitch to him in the right situation(i.e. bases loaded late inning and Rangers are only down a score or 2).
Just 1 HR and 5 RBIs, so he's just a slim front-runner. I like how in the on-field interview, Berkman confirmed that he's just a see ball hit ball batter. He didn't fight off any pitches in the 9th, they clearly pitched around him. Pujols could steal the award if he puts up a monster game, but the Rangers won't pitch to him.
On the other side, Napoli has it locked up if the Rangers win. Not to defend Cruz but was there any video of his break on Freese's clutch line drive? Cruz is built like a lumbering 1st baseman, he shouldn't even be in the outfield late in a game but Washington already used up his defensive OF substitution. (Yeah I'm just ripping on Wash tonight.)
Pujols had doubled with 1 out. Berkman has been the Cards best hitter, so they walked him on no more than 5 pitches with 1st base open. Can't really argue with that to be honest, like you said.
Ryan's beatdown of Ventura in '93
Age 46, walking towards Ventura as Ventura is charging, then pummels him.
casual fans like myself probably remember a spry Ryan rearranging Ventura's noggin more than some of his prolific baseball exploits. I'm sure Ryan has signed reprints of that iconic headlock photo hundreds of times.
Such a disappointing game (as a Rangers fan) So many fuck ups it's unbelievable. I dont even feel like watching game 7 at this point.
Very poorly played. He didn't even know where the fence was. It was no bill buckner, but was a very catchable ball for having played the wall like that.
I came in here to post just this and I'm glad quite a few saw the same thing. But, I think he broke on the ball just fine. He started his run for the ball with a trot, no where near full speed, then when he turned back and saw that it was hit a lot harder than he first thought he went into full speed for his last couple strides. He should have had it.
Oh well, great game.
Game 6 is certainly in the Top 10 of WS games ever. Incredible drama and momentum swings.
I have to hang the loss on Cruz, though. That was an eminently catchable ball by even a below-average RFer given where he was playing and the game situation. Don't know what he was doing but it might end up costing his team the championship.
That was the most incredible game I have ever seen - and I was there! Go CARDS!
No one will remember the Freese dropped fly, the Holliday dropped fly, the Salas throw into the outfield, etc... ONE MORE!
Great game! Lots of talk about Nolan Ryan, so I'll add my several centavos:
First of all, to get this out of the way, of course he belongs in the HOF. Beyond any doubt, ok?
That said, I was never as high on Ryan as a lot of others are, many after the fact of his career. My subjective impression of him was that he threw some spectacular games, but was basically a .500 pitcher. And yes, admittedly, that impression severely understates the career and individual game achievements of "The Express." So, I went to his stats to better understand my subjective impression.
In his 27 year career, he only won 20 games twice. In BOTH of those years, he also lost 16! His last time was in 1974, which means for nearly the last 20 years of his career, he was never a 20 game winner.
It gets worse. In his 27 year career, he only won more than 16 games in a season but 5 times, and his last time was in 1977 (he played until 1993!) In one of those five 16+ win seasons, he won 17 but LOST 18!
In not one season was he ever considered the best pitcher in baseball. He NEVER won the Cy Young award, not once in 27 years. In fact, in 19 of those seasons, he didn't even get one vote for the Cy Young, not one!
Again, I agree he achieved a ton, had an overall career entirely worthy of the HOF, and was one of the stars of baseball for a long, long time. I just see holes in his resume no one else ever seems to bring up.
And, yeah, do I ever know I'm gonna' get flamed for this! D:
That sounds sensible but is absolutely insane. Would it make any difference to you if you knew he had nearly the same ERA as Greg Maddux? (3.16 vs. 3.19)
How can even the greatest pitchers in the game win with no run support? He put up 3.16 over 27 seasons, until he was 46, Maddux 23 seasons. Ryan posted a 3.07 ERA in his limited 9 post season games, Maddux 3.27 in 35.
Ryan gets a bad rap for not winning more, but there's nothing that can be said to suggest he's overrated in any regard imo. (nor Maddux of course.)
Nolan Ryan is the most overrated pitcher of all-time. He threw some magnificent games, but those should be viewed on their own. He was an average pitcher.
People forget that he also leads the league in most walks allowed.....by a huge margin. His career K/BB ration is barely above 2. Two strikeouts for every walk.....thats middle of the line.
Randy Johnson who is second on the career strikeout list has almost HALF the number of walks allowed.
Ryan is a product of his longetivity. I don't value that when evaluating a persons pitching ability. It just means he was average for a long time.
the ERA comparison is like comparing apples to oranges because of the different eras that they pitched in. See the following:
Career adjusted ERA (higher is better)
Express: 111
Maddux: 134
Five best full season adjusted ERAs
Express: 194*, 142, 141, 139, 128*.
Maddux: 271*, 262*, 189, 187, 171.
* Strike-shortened season, but a qualifying ERA nonetheless.
Career WHIP
Express: 1.247
Maddux: 1.141
Five best full season WHIPs
Express: 1.006, 1.034, 1.086, 1.121, 1.129
Maddux: 0.811, 0.896, 0.946, 0.980, 1.011
Career K:BB ratio
Express: 5714:2795 == 2.044
Maddux: 3273:969 == 3.378
Great game! Lots of talk about Nolan Ryan, so I'll add my several centavos:
First of all, to get this out of the way, of course he belongs in the HOF. Beyond any doubt, ok?
That said, I was never as high on Ryan as a lot of others are, many after the fact of his career. My subjective impression of him was that he threw some spectacular games, but was basically a .500 pitcher. And yes, admittedly, that impression severely understates the career and individual game achievements of "The Express." So, I went to his stats to better understand my subjective impression.
In his 27 year career, he only won 20 games twice. In BOTH of those years, he also lost 16! His last time was in 1974, which means for nearly the last 20 years of his career, he was never a 20 game winner.
It gets worse. In his 27 year career, he only won more than 16 games in a season but 5 times, and his last time was in 1977 (he played until 1993!) In one of those five 16+ win seasons, he won 17 but LOST 18!
In not one season was he ever considered the best pitcher in baseball. He NEVER won the Cy Young award, not once in 27 years. In fact, in 19 of those seasons, he didn't even get one vote for the Cy Young, not one!
Again, I agree he achieved a ton, had an overall career entirely worthy of the HOF, and was one of the stars of baseball for a long, long time. I just see holes in his resume no one else ever seems to bring up.
And, yeah, do I ever know I'm gonna' get flamed for this! D:
Ryan's beatdown of Ventura in '93
Age 46, walking towards Ventura as Ventura is charging, then pummels him.
Great game! Lots of talk about Nolan Ryan, so I'll add my several centavos:
First of all, to get this out of the way, of course he belongs in the HOF. Beyond any doubt, ok?
That said, I was never as high on Ryan as a lot of others are, many after the fact of his career. My subjective impression of him was that he threw some spectacular games, but was basically a .500 pitcher. And yes, admittedly, that impression severely understates the career and individual game achievements of "The Express." So, I went to his stats to better understand my subjective impression.
In his 27 year career, he only won 20 games twice. In BOTH of those years, he also lost 16! His last time was in 1974, which means for nearly the last 20 years of his career, he was never a 20 game winner.
It gets worse. In his 27 year career, he only won more than 16 games in a season but 5 times, and his last time was in 1977 (he played until 1993!) In one of those five 16+ win seasons, he won 17 but LOST 18!
In not one season was he ever considered the best pitcher in baseball. He NEVER won the Cy Young award, not once in 27 years. In fact, in 19 of those seasons, he didn't even get one vote for the Cy Young, not one!
Again, I agree he achieved a ton, had an overall career entirely worthy of the HOF, and was one of the stars of baseball for a long, long time. I just see holes in his resume no one else ever seems to bring up.
And, yeah, do I ever know I'm gonna' get flamed for this! D:
Tons of sloppy play by both teams on multiple occasions throughout the series. Call me old school, but this is not the kind of ball I like to see from so-called championship teams.