To the delight of Yankee haters everywhere, Cleveland smacked the Bronx Bombers around, 10-2. McCarver blamed middle-relief meltdown for New York's loss, then said it's about time to return to the days when starting pitchers lasted more than five or six innings per game.
The problem, he said, is that pitchers are brought along too gingerly in the minor leagues, and by the time they reach the majors, their arms can't hold up too, say, 200 innings in a season.
He did admit that he'd probably be long gone when (if?) baseball returns to the tradition of pitchers going the distance being the norm again.
McCarver cited Toronto's Roy Halladay as the prime example of the type of pitcher who throws nine innings. Indeed, Halladay led the American League in complete games last year, with nine, a huge total for these days.
During McCarver's playing career (1959-80), the story was much different.
For example, McCarver caught Bob Gibson for several years during the Hall of Famer's heyday. Between 1965 and 1972, Gibson logged 20 or more complete games seven out of eight seasons, including two years with 28 CGs in each. And the only year he missed the 20 mark, he missed a a month and a half after Roberto Clemente lined a ball off Gibson's leg and broke it (July 15, 1967).
For the record, here are the last pitchers to reach the following complete-game milestones:
- 10 – Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks, 1999 (12)
- 15 – Curt Schilling, Phillies, 1998
- 20 – Fernando Valenzuela, Dodgers, 1986
- 25 – Rick Langford, A's, 1980 (28)
- 30 – Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Yankees, 1975
By the way, Zach Duke already has pitched a complete game for the Pirates this season. The team as a whole logged a total of three in 2008.
The investment in starting pitchers is so high GM's and managers won't risk injury. Middle relievers are a poor addition to the modern game.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right, but it was nice to hear someone like McCarver talk about the possibility, no matter how remote.
ReplyDeleteLate in his career, McCarver served as Steve Carlton's "personal catcher." He was in Philadelphia part of 1972, when Carlton tossed 30 complete games and 346 innings. Lefty only pitched another, oh, 16 years!