IT just seemed to me that Felix was missing his spots a lot, but that hitters didn’t want to take a chance on the ball being out of the strikezone.

And I go with Guidry ’78.
Plus the whole team in ’98

As for the ARod/Chavez gold glove question, I think ARod might take it. All things equal, I think Chavez is better than ARod, but Chavez has been playing with an injured shoulder all year, making his throws weak at times, and inaccurate at others. As a result, this hasn’t been a vintage season for Chavez defensively.

I think ’01 Clemens was one of my favorite because, for most of the season, he only had one loss. It was just an event getting ready to watch every game to see if he could actually keep it up. Did he actually attain 20-1 at one point? I don’t recall, but I know he was close.

Strangely, two of his losses came against TB.

Also, his bid for his 20th win was delayed due to the terrorist attacks.

Guidry in ’78, Henderson and Mattingly in ’85, Reggie in ’80. Rivera’s 96 season was phenomenal but I’d be willing to bet that Goose had a few comperable years. The seaosn isn’t over yet, so I don’t want to rank Rodriguez’s season yet, but it’d be up there. Jeter’s 99 was great. I wouldn’t put Clemens 2001 in the top ten. I think Mussina was the better pitcher that year despite Clemens’ record (and if the writers are consistent, Clemens won’t win the award this year when he truly deserves it because his won-loss record isn’t outstanding).

In his second at-bat Jeter was called out on strikes. The third strike was a fastball on the outside corner, an absolutely perfect pitch. Jeter bitched to the home plate ump a little but it was a strike, which reminded me of the famous story about Bob Feller told by Lefty Gomez I believe. Gomez came up and after two quick strikes he did not see Feller struck him out with another pitch he did not pick up. At which point he turned to the ump and said, “Didn’t that one sound a little low?”

Watching Jeter last night he should have said, “Didn’t that sound a little outside?”

Say goodnight Gracie.

Nick, I remember the ’85 Yanks, and I remember being amazed. That was the season that got me hooked on baseball. I remember feeling that Mattingly was the best ballplayer alive – to me, he just gave off this dominating aura . . .

I have a hard time choosing between Mattingly that year and A-Rod this year. The objective adult I am now says A-Rod, but the kid in me can’t forgot Donnie Baseball in ’85. Good question, indeed.

1) ’78 Guidry.
2) ’85 Henderson.
3) ’85 Mattingly.
4) ’01 Clemens.
5) ’97 Tino.
6) ’96 Rivera.
7) ’94 Gallego. Kidding! I’m just kidding!

But also don’t forget:

1) ’94 O’Neill, where he batted about .500 for the first month.
2) Prime Bernie any year late ’90s.
3) Jeter’s ’99. While still in his prime, ’99 was his peak.
4) ’80 Reggie.

’05 ARod is unranked because it’s not completed. I once wrote on this board that I dreamed about ARod hitting 50 and 150. I’ll take 48 and 135. When all is said and done, it will be fourth-best at worst.

As for Rickey ’85, it’s a whole other story. Somebody should write a book. 146 runs, 80 stolen bases, 24 hrs and no MVP.

In 1985, this was my life:

Benny Hill at 7:30.
Yankee game starts at 8:00.
Rickey on first base at 8:01.
Rickey on second base at 8:02.
Rickey on third base as 8:03.
Mattingly drive him in at 8:04.

I believe Mattingly set the record for sac flies that season. Rickey was the MVP.

Sorry to be so longwinded. But a good question, Nick.

The game last night was about the best that baseball has to offer. A classic pitcher’s duel. It would have been exciting had the names been Small and Franklin. But RANDY JOHNSON and FELIX HERNANDEZ? C’mon. It doesn’t get any better than that.

A 41-year-old with FIVE Cy Young Awards–a guy who is undoubtedly one of the best ten pitchers ever–and a 19-year-old kid who is THE best prospect in baseball and perhaps one of the best teenage pitchers of all time? Add in the fact that the Big Unit was returning to the city where he made his fame? Man oh man, you couldn’t write a better script.

I watched nearly every pitch and, mind you, this was during the A’s – Angels game. I live in Southern California and such a game is not to be taken lightly, especially when the two teams are battling it out for first place. To show you how closely I follow the Angels, I’m going to the game tonight.

But last night was all about Johnson and Hernandez. I had my reserve ticket on the couch in front of my TV with the MLB Extra Innings package bringing it live to me. An impossibility just a few years ago.

Boy, did I make the right choice. Johnson was vintage Johnson. 95-mph heaters, pinpoint control, and a fire in his belly not quite seen of late–at least not to that magnitude. I absolutely loved the confrontation with Torrealba that Cliff mentioned. Flaherty did a great job in moving his body and the target at the last split second and Johnson was busting fastballs inside on the RHB’s hands all night. He was jacked, let me tell ya.

As for Hernandez, what can you say? Has anyone seen better stuff than that before. I don’t mean from a 19-year-old. I’m talking 29-year-olds and 39-year-olds. His four-seam fastball that sits at 97-98 mph is in the top 1% velocity-wise and his two-seam fastball is a nasty cutter that enables him to get 3.5 groundballs for every flyball (which puts him in the top 1% there, too). Throw in a hard-breaking curve and an effective changeup and this guy’s stuff is as good as anybody’s I’ve ever seen.

A night I’ll remember for a long, long time.

More call-up news, from today’s Times:

“(C Wil) Nieves will join the team in Seattle on Thursday, along with relievers (Ramiro) Mendoza and Wayne Franklin and designated hitter Ruben Sierra . . .

(OF Mike) Vento, reliever Scott Proctor and infielder Felix Escalona will probably arrive during the Yankees’ next home stand . . .

Hideo Nomo (will) not be called up. . .

Starter Chien-Ming Wang could be back, possibly as a reliever, if he is healthy after his next rehab start for Columbus.”

Vento’s rate stats look good (.294/.365/.453 in Columbus) – does anyone know what positions he can play in the OF?

Who was Johnson screaming the F word at in the sixth? Was it Tino for dropping the foul, the batter for daring the stand in against him, himself, or none of the above?