The last time two perfect games were thrown in Major League Baseball before the flip of a calendar page, Rutherford B. Hayes was President of the United States of America.
The Civil War wasn't a topic taught in History Class, it was a conflict most folks had lived through.
On Saturday, June 12, 1880, Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Legs stifled the Cleveland Blues pitching the first perfect game in MLB history.
By Thursday of the following week, June 17, 1880, Richmond had company. Providence Grays' hurler Monte Ward shut down the Buffalo Bisons for the second perfecto in the Majors.
Sixteen other gems would be tossed before Dallas Braden would set down all 27 Rays batters he faced on Mother's Day, May 9 of this year.
On Saturday, less than three weeks hence Braden's masterpiece, Roy Halladay became the 20th member of the Perfect Game Club by disposing of every Marlins hitter he faced -- 27 up, 27 down.
Adding in Mark Buehrle's perfect performance on July 23 of last year, there have been three no-base-runner exhibitions in fewer than 12 months.
Excluding the first two perfect games, which took place prior to what most historians consider the modern era of baseball, there has never been perfection tossed twice in a dozen months prior to Braden's performance.
Tom Singer of MLB.com puts it this way: "What had been a once-in-a-generation phenomenon has turned into twice-in-a-month lightning."
Braden and Halladay are about as similar as Beethoven and Elvis.
The left-handed Braden first appeared on most baseball fans' radar when he scolded Alex Rodriguez for crossing "my mound" back in April.
Braden's career numbers are less than stellar, 18-25 with 4.47 ERA over four seasons. A-Rod referred to Dallas as "a guy with a handful of wins in his career."
A fringe major leaguer at the moment, Braden's career is in it's infancy. The 26-year-old's career high in starts, 22, and innings pitched, 136.2, both came last season.
The Stockton, California-raised Braden may wind up with a decent career, but can just as easily fall off the major league map and live on simply as the answer to the trivia question regarding the pitcher with the least wins to throw a perfect game.
Halladay, meanwhile, is Cooperstown bound and the premier pitcher of his era.
With a 155-79 record to go with a 3.37 career ERA, Docs perfect game merely solidifies his standing as one of the best pitchers of all-time.
The right-hander's hardware includes: The 2003 AL Cy Young Award and six All-Star selections.
Yet, somehow, these two disparate men made history together a mere 20 days apart. Somehow two perfect games were thrown -- not only in the same season but -- in the same month.
For some reason perfection isn't quite as rare as it once was.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
From Amazin' To Cyclones
The Mets' single A affiliate in Brooklyn shares the name of the roller coaster just beyond the left field wall at its home ballpark -- The Cyclone.
But, for at least this season, it would suit the big league club to adopt the moniker of their Minor League organization.
No, that's not a knock on the overall play of the Flushing Nine, although for much of last season many Triple A clubs would have given the Mets a run for their money.
The adoption of the name Cyclones for the 2010 Mets would be appropriate due to the twisting journey the Mets have taken through the first 48 games.
Currently two games above .500 at 25 up and 23 down and a mere two games out of a playoff spot in both the NL East and Wild Card, the Flushing Cyclones have twice gone on awful runs that had the faithful concluding that the season was kaput, then followed up those putrid drops with equally as impressive climbs that had many at Citi Field dreaming of the playoffs.
Is it too early to be discussing the playoffs? Yes, but at the moment the possibility of serious October baseball is the only way to gauge fan and media interest in Queens.
After mauling the Marlins, 7-1, on Opening Day, the Mets dropped eight of the next 11 contests. Losing the opening four series of the season to Florida, Washington, Colorado and St. Louis left Jerry Manuel's club at 4-8.
When the drop hit bottom the Mets were last in the NL Eastern Division with only the Astros, who started the season 1-7, having a worse record in the entire National League.
Manuel's job was as secure as a $20 bill on a Times Square sidewalk.
April 18 was the start of a sudden jolt upward, a ten-game homestand during which the Mets would drop just a single contest. Finishing April with a win in Philadelphia, the once-forsaken club sat atop the Division at 14-9.
Losing the next two to the Phillies and dropping two of three to the Reds had May off to an ominous start. The May malaise continued for 20 days with a 6-13 free fall dropping the Mets, once again, to last in the East and two games below .500.
Heading into series against the defending champions of each league, the Yankees and Phillies receptively, Manuel's head was once again squarely on the chopping block.
But, as with all roller coasters, what goes down must come up and it was the Mets pitching staff that came up big.
Despite dropping the opener of the Subway Series, Hisanori Takahashi's six-shutout innings against the Bombers was a mere precursor of things to come.
Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana started and won the next two games combining for 13.2 innings with each giving up but a solitary run.
And the question mark-riddled staff wasn't done yet throwing three consecutive shutouts against a high-powered Phillies lineup.
Taking five of six from the Yanks and Phills was unthinkable just a week ago. Suggesting that the Mets can hold Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Co. scoreless over 27 innings would have earned a trip to an insane asylum.
Somehow these Mets pulled it off. Somehow the playoffs are a realistic possibility once more.
The one constant this season is an inability to win on the road (6-14), and with The Cyclone continuing tonight in Milwaukee and then San Diego another drop may be on the horizon.
With highs and lows, twists and turn, the 2010 version of the Mets have become -- to paraphrase the popular Dos Equis beer ad -- the most interesting team in the World. To paraphrase the commercial once more: Stay tuned my friends.
But, for at least this season, it would suit the big league club to adopt the moniker of their Minor League organization.
No, that's not a knock on the overall play of the Flushing Nine, although for much of last season many Triple A clubs would have given the Mets a run for their money.
The adoption of the name Cyclones for the 2010 Mets would be appropriate due to the twisting journey the Mets have taken through the first 48 games.
Currently two games above .500 at 25 up and 23 down and a mere two games out of a playoff spot in both the NL East and Wild Card, the Flushing Cyclones have twice gone on awful runs that had the faithful concluding that the season was kaput, then followed up those putrid drops with equally as impressive climbs that had many at Citi Field dreaming of the playoffs.
Is it too early to be discussing the playoffs? Yes, but at the moment the possibility of serious October baseball is the only way to gauge fan and media interest in Queens.
After mauling the Marlins, 7-1, on Opening Day, the Mets dropped eight of the next 11 contests. Losing the opening four series of the season to Florida, Washington, Colorado and St. Louis left Jerry Manuel's club at 4-8.
When the drop hit bottom the Mets were last in the NL Eastern Division with only the Astros, who started the season 1-7, having a worse record in the entire National League.
Manuel's job was as secure as a $20 bill on a Times Square sidewalk.
April 18 was the start of a sudden jolt upward, a ten-game homestand during which the Mets would drop just a single contest. Finishing April with a win in Philadelphia, the once-forsaken club sat atop the Division at 14-9.
Losing the next two to the Phillies and dropping two of three to the Reds had May off to an ominous start. The May malaise continued for 20 days with a 6-13 free fall dropping the Mets, once again, to last in the East and two games below .500.
Heading into series against the defending champions of each league, the Yankees and Phillies receptively, Manuel's head was once again squarely on the chopping block.
But, as with all roller coasters, what goes down must come up and it was the Mets pitching staff that came up big.
Despite dropping the opener of the Subway Series, Hisanori Takahashi's six-shutout innings against the Bombers was a mere precursor of things to come.
Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana started and won the next two games combining for 13.2 innings with each giving up but a solitary run.
And the question mark-riddled staff wasn't done yet throwing three consecutive shutouts against a high-powered Phillies lineup.
Taking five of six from the Yanks and Phills was unthinkable just a week ago. Suggesting that the Mets can hold Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Co. scoreless over 27 innings would have earned a trip to an insane asylum.
Somehow these Mets pulled it off. Somehow the playoffs are a realistic possibility once more.
The one constant this season is an inability to win on the road (6-14), and with The Cyclone continuing tonight in Milwaukee and then San Diego another drop may be on the horizon.
With highs and lows, twists and turn, the 2010 version of the Mets have become -- to paraphrase the popular Dos Equis beer ad -- the most interesting team in the World. To paraphrase the commercial once more: Stay tuned my friends.
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