Comments on: Observations From Cooperstown–”Big” Pitchers, Flash Gordon, and Tony Kubek http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2008/12/12/observations-from-cooperstown-big-pitchers-flash-gordon-and-tony-kubek/ Development site for Bronx Banter Blog's upcoming look and feel Sun, 19 May 2013 22:08:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: footballstu http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2008/12/12/observations-from-cooperstown-big-pitchers-flash-gordon-and-tony-kubek/#comment-65422 footballstu Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:52:49 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=5744#comment-65422 The big pitchers who you list as aging poorly: Wilbur Wood: 6'0" Mickey Lolich: 6'0" Bartolo Colon: 5'11" Sid Fernandez: 6'1" The big pitchers you list as aging well: David Wells: 6'4" Rick Reuschel: 6'3" Freddie Fitzsimmons: 5'11" And of course, CC Sabathia is 6'7". Now, this isn't to say that we know how he'll do, but he's the tallest of these guys, and the taller of the guys you list tended to do better. It's easier to carry that much weight at that height. We'll see what happens! The big pitchers who you list as aging poorly:

Wilbur Wood: 6’0″
Mickey Lolich: 6’0″
Bartolo Colon: 5’11″
Sid Fernandez: 6’1″

The big pitchers you list as aging well:

David Wells: 6’4″
Rick Reuschel: 6’3″
Freddie Fitzsimmons: 5’11″

And of course, CC Sabathia is 6’7″. Now, this isn’t to say that we know how he’ll do, but he’s the tallest of these guys, and the taller of the guys you list tended to do better. It’s easier to carry that much weight at that height.

We’ll see what happens!

]]> By: Bruce Markusen http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2008/12/12/observations-from-cooperstown-big-pitchers-flash-gordon-and-tony-kubek/#comment-65421 Bruce Markusen Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:15:01 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=5744#comment-65421 Shaun, I'd vote for Whitaker. His case is another example of the BBWAA failing to do its job properly in Hall of Fame votes. It's incredible that he could drop off the ballot after one year, having received less than five per cent of the vote. Like Whitaker, Trammell suffers from the fact that he's not remembered for any one thing. He wasn't a perennial Gold Glover like Ozzie Smith, didn't hit with the kind of power that Ripken did, but he did so many things well that he belongs in the Hall, too. Shaun, I’d vote for Whitaker. His case is another example of the BBWAA failing to do its job properly in Hall of Fame votes. It’s incredible that he could drop off the ballot after one year, having received less than five per cent of the vote.

Like Whitaker, Trammell suffers from the fact that he’s not remembered for any one thing. He wasn’t a perennial Gold Glover like Ozzie Smith, didn’t hit with the kind of power that Ripken did, but he did so many things well that he belongs in the Hall, too.

]]> By: tommyl http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2008/12/12/observations-from-cooperstown-big-pitchers-flash-gordon-and-tony-kubek/#comment-65420 tommyl Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:09:50 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=5744#comment-65420 I just threw up in my mouth: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3765754 I just threw up in my mouth:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3765754

]]> By: Shaun P. http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2008/12/12/observations-from-cooperstown-big-pitchers-flash-gordon-and-tony-kubek/#comment-65419 Shaun P. Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:23:50 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=5744#comment-65419 Unfortunately, my only memories of Kubek from his MSG days were that he and Al Trautwig always had these quasi-inside jokes. I don't remember being very impressed by his analysis, but then again, at the time I was just learning that batting average and RBIs were not the end-all be-all in how you look at hitters . . . I remember the article about him from the Times (?) this past summer, how he hasn't watched a baseball game since the '94 strike (or thereabouts). It will be interesting to hear his induction speech next summer. [0] Bruce, what do you think about another under-appreciated (by the Hall of Fame voters at least) second baseman, Lou Whitaker? I still can't believe that he fell off the ballot so quickly, and that Trammell has received such little support. But Jim Rice of all people is on the verge of being selected! Crazy. Unfortunately, my only memories of Kubek from his MSG days were that he and Al Trautwig always had these quasi-inside jokes. I don’t remember being very impressed by his analysis, but then again, at the time I was just learning that batting average and RBIs were not the end-all be-all in how you look at hitters . . .

I remember the article about him from the Times (?) this past summer, how he hasn’t watched a baseball game since the ’94 strike (or thereabouts). It will be interesting to hear his induction speech next summer.

[0] Bruce, what do you think about another under-appreciated (by the Hall of Fame voters at least) second baseman, Lou Whitaker? I still can’t believe that he fell off the ballot so quickly, and that Trammell has received such little support. But Jim Rice of all people is on the verge of being selected! Crazy.

]]> By: Cliff Corcoran http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2008/12/12/observations-from-cooperstown-big-pitchers-flash-gordon-and-tony-kubek/#comment-65418 Cliff Corcoran Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:10:04 +0000 http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=5744#comment-65418 And Kubek accomplished all of that with a voice that sounded like screeching tires . . . Seriously, though, congrats to Kubek and, posthumously, to the original Flash Gordon. Also props for the Grich plug, Bruce. I'm not quite sure he's a Hall of Famer, but he should be in the discussion more often. Gold Glove second baseman with a career .371 OBP? Yes, please. And Kubek accomplished all of that with a voice that sounded like screeching tires . . . Seriously, though, congrats to Kubek and, posthumously, to the original Flash Gordon.

Also props for the Grich plug, Bruce. I’m not quite sure he’s a Hall of Famer, but he should be in the discussion more often. Gold Glove second baseman with a career .371 OBP? Yes, please.

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