Using Baseball-Reference.com's Play Index Pitching Game Finder, for the both the regular season and the post-season, I decided to look at starting pitchers employed by the Steinbrenner family to see which were the most "Jack Morris-like" in both the regular and post-season for the Yankees since 1973. (By, "Jack Morris-like" I mean going at least 7 innings in a start and allowing four earned runs or less while doing it.)

And, here's what I found...first...the regular season stats leaderboard:

From 1973 to 2009, Playing for Yanks, as SP, (requiring IP>=7 and ER<=4),
sorted by greatest number of games matching selected criteria in a regular season

                   Year Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+----+-----+-------------------------+
 Catfish Hunter    1975    32 Ind. Games
 Doc Medich        1974    27 Ind. Games
 Tommy John        1979    27 Ind. Games
 Mel Stottlemyre   1973    25 Ind. Games
 Melido Perez      1992    25 Ind. Games
 Catfish Hunter    1976    25 Ind. Games
 Ron Guidry        1978    25 Ind. Games
 Ron Guidry        1985    24 Ind. Games
 C.C. Sabathia     2009    23 Ind. Games
 Ed Figueroa       1976    23 Ind. Games
 Ed Figueroa       1978    23 Ind. Games
 Pat Dobson        1974    23 Ind. Games
 Mike Mussina      2001    21 Ind. Games
 Doc Medich        1975    21 Ind. Games
 Tommy John        1980    21 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte     1997    20 Ind. Games
 Mike Mussina      2003    20 Ind. Games
 Doc Medich        1973    20 Ind. Games
 Ron Guidry        1979    20 Ind. Games
 Ron Guidry        1983    20 Ind. Games

And, next...the post-season stats leaderboard:

From 1973 to 2009, Playing for Yanks, as SP, (requiring IP>=7 and ER<=4),
sorted by greatest number of games matching selected criteria in a post-season

                   Year Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+----+-----+-------------------------+
 Orlando Hernandez 1999     4 Ind. Games
 David Wells       2003     3 Ind. Games
 David Wells       1998     3 Ind. Games
 C.C. Sabathia     2009     3 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte     2003     3 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte     1996     3 Ind. Games
 Orlando Hernandez 2000     3 Ind. Games
 Mike Torrez       1977     2 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte     2000     2 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte     2001     2 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte     1998     2 Ind. Games
 Andy Pettitte     1999     2 Ind. Games
 Mike Mussina      2001     2 Ind. Games
 Mike Mussina      2003     2 Ind. Games
 Jon Lieber        2004     2 Ind. Games
 Catfish Hunter    1976     2 Ind. Games
 Orlando Hernandez 1998     2 Ind. Games
 Ron Guidry        1981     2 Ind. Games
 Ron Guidry        1978     2 Ind. Games
 Ron Guidry        1977     2 Ind. Games
 David Cone        1995     2 Ind. Games
 David Cone        1999     2 Ind. Games
 Roger Clemens     2003     2 Ind. Games
 Roger Clemens     1999     2 Ind. Games
 Roger Clemens     2000     2 Ind. Games

There's a lot of imports on these lists - as far as the Yankees are concerned. Note: Catfish Hunter, Tommy John, Ed Figueroa, Mike Mussina, Orlando Hernandez, David Wells, Mike Torrez, David Cone and Roger Clemens...and...of course, there's CC Sabathia. (Note that Sabathia's post season numbers, here, are only through Game 4 of the 2009 World Series.)

So, is CC Sabathia the most "Jack Morris-like" pitcher...or, "ace"...that the Yankees have imported, overall, including both the regular season and post-season, since Mike Mussina and, before that, Catfish Hunter?

Looking at these leaderboards, what would you say?

Last week I mentioned the 12 players who won the first game of more than one World Series. Here are the nine pitchers have won the final game of more than one World Series.  Only Bob Gibson appears on both lists:

A-rod's home run was the most talked about play of tonight's game. However, Rodriguez also tied a World Series record by being hit  by 2 pitches. Rodriguez should be happy he escaped with a win. All of the previous 5 players who suffered through this fate also had to deal with their team losing :

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt PA AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO **HBP** SH SF ROE GDP SB CS BOr Positions
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+-------+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+---------+
    1 Jeff Bagwell      2005-10-22    WS     1 HOU @CHW L  3-5   4  2  0  0  0  0  0   0  0   0  1     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 6th DH
    2 Todd Pratt        2000-10-21    WS     1 NYM @NYY L  3-4   5  2  1  0  0  0  0   0  1   0  2     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 8th C
    3 Frank Robinson    1961-10-08    WS     4 CIN  NYY L  0-7   4  1  0  0  0  0  0   0  1   0  0     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 4th RF
    4 Yogi Berra        1953-10-02    WS     3 NYY @BRO L  2-3   4  1  0  1  0  0  0   0  1   0  0     2    0  0   0   0  0  0 4th C
    5 Max Carey         1925-10-07    WS     1 PIT  WSH L  1-4   4  2  0  0  0  0  0   0  0   0  1     2    0  0   0   0  0  1 2nd CF

Alex Rodriguez has struck out 3 times in both Games 1 and 2 of the 2009 World Series. Via Baseball-Reference.com's Play Index Post-Season Batting Game Finder, here are the "leaders" for most games in the post-season where the games were 9 innings or less with 3+ whiffs in the contest:

                   Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+-----+-------------------------+
 Duke Snider           5 Ind. Games
 Ryan Howard           5 Ind. Games
 Reggie Sanders        4 Ind. Games
 Jim Edmonds           4 Ind. Games
 Willie Wilson         3 Ind. Games
 Dan Wilson            3 Ind. Games
 Chase Utley           3 Ind. Games
 Alfonso Soriano       3 Ind. Games
 John Shelby           3 Ind. Games
 Alex Rodriguez        3 Ind. Games
 Manny Ramirez         3 Ind. Games
 David Ortiz           3 Ind. Games
 John Olerud           3 Ind. Games
 Willie McGee          3 Ind. Games
 Evan Longoria         3 Ind. Games
 Kenny Lofton          3 Ind. Games
 Reggie Jackson        3 Ind. Games
 Chone Figgins         3 Ind. Games

Then again, perhaps it will be Ryan Howard that A-Rod has to "chase" for this title?

Check out this list of most game scores (regular season) of at least 80 during the 2009 season:

This is my second recent post involving the Game Score stat, so in case you're not familiar with it, you can read about how it's calculated right here.

                   Year Games Link to Individual Games
+-----------------+----+-----+-------------------------+
 C.C. Sabathia     2009     4 Ind. Games
 Tim Lincecum      2009     4 Ind. Games
 Roy Halladay      2009     4 Ind. Games
 Zack Greinke      2009     4 Ind. Games
 Joel Pineiro      2009     3 Ind. Games
 Jake Peavy        2009     3 Ind. Games
 Ricky Nolasco     2009     3 Ind. Games
 Jon Lester        2009     3 Ind. Games
 Cliff Lee         2009     3 Ind. Games
 Felix Hernandez   2009     3 Ind. Games
 Danny Haren       2009     3 Ind. Games
 Yovani Gallardo   2009     3 Ind. Games
 Chris Carpenter   2009     3 Ind. Games
 Matt Cain         2009     3 Ind. Games

Lots of expected names on that list although a few stick out. Ricky Nolasco finished the season with a 5.06 ERA but still managed 3 games with game scores of at least 80. Here are those 3 games:

  Cnt Date          Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-------------+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 2009-07-05    FLA  PIT W  5-0  GS-8  ,W   8    3  0  0  2 12  0 112  75   86       28 26  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  1  0  0  0  0   0.00
    2 2009-08-18    FLA @HOU W  6-2  CG 9  ,W   9    3  2  2  0 10  1 115  80   83       30 30  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   2.00
    3 2009-09-30    FLA @ATL W  5-4  GS-8  ,W   7.2  4  2  0  2 16  0 123  83   81       29 27  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   0.00

Indeed--all great games. The thing that must be remembered about the Game Score stat is that it favors high strikeout games as well as low-hit games.

Jake Peavy makes the list too, despite starting only 16 games this past season.

Joel Piniero's name isn't much of a surprise given the great season he had. Looking at his stats, the thing that sticks out from 2009 was his incredibly low walk rate. Among the 102 active pitchers with at least 1000 career IP, Piniero has the 21st best walk-rate. (Keep in mind that getting to 1000 IP means the pitcher must have at least a someone decent walk rate to start off with.)

But check this out...how many active pitchers have thrown at least 200 innings in a season while walking fewer than 1.2 batters per 9 innings? Would you believe just two?

  Cnt Player            Year   IP   BB/9 Age Tm  Lg  G   GS CG SHO GF  W  L  W-L% SV  H   R   ER  BB  SO   ERA  ERA+ HR  BF  HBP
+----+-----------------+----+-----+-----+---+---+--+---+---+--+---+--+--+--+-----+--+---+---+---+---+---+------+----+--+----+---+
    1 Joel Pineiro      2009 214    1.14  30 STL NL  32  32  3   2  0 15 12  .556  0 218  94  83  27 105   3.49  119 11  865   8
    2 Roy Halladay      2003 266    1.08  26 TOR AL  36  36  9   2  0 22  7  .759  0 253 111  96  32 204   3.25  145 26 1071   9 

Pretty amazing, huh?

Here are the last 20 such seasons:

  Cnt Player            Year  BB/9   IP  Age Tm  Lg  G   GS CG SHO GF  W  L  W-L% SV  H   R   ER  BB  SO   ERA  ERA+ HR  BF  HBP
+----+-----------------+----+-----+-----+---+---+--+---+---+--+---+--+--+--+-----+--+---+---+---+---+---+------+----+--+----+---+
    1 Joel Pineiro      2009  1.14 214    30 STL NL  32  32  3   2  0 15 12  .556  0 218  94  83  27 105   3.49  119 11  865   8
    2 Brad Radke        2005  1.03 200.2  32 MIN AL  31  31  3   1  0  9 12  .429  0 214  98  90  23 117   4.04  110 33  831   7
    3 Brad Radke        2004  1.07 219.2  31 MIN AL  34  34  1   1  0 11  8  .579  0 229  92  85  26 143   3.48  136 23  901   6
    4 Roy Halladay      2003  1.08 266    26 TOR AL  36  36  9   2  0 22  7  .759  0 253 111  96  32 204   3.25  145 26 1071   9
    5 David Wells       2003  0.85 213    40 NYY AL  31  30  4   1  0 15  7  .682  0 242 101  98  20 101   4.14  106 24  887   8
    6 Brad Radke        2003  1.19 212.1  30 MIN AL  33  33  3   1  0 14 10  .583  0 242 111 106  28 120   4.49  101 32  888   5
    7 Curt Schilling    2002  1.15 259.1  35 ARI NL  36  35  5   1  0 23  7  .767  0 218  95  93  33 316   3.23  142 29 1017   3
    8 Brad Radke        2001  1.04 226    28 MIN AL  33  33  6   2  0 15 11  .577  0 235 105  99  26 137   3.94  116 24  919  10
    9 Greg Maddux       2001  1.04 233    35 ATL NL  34  34  3   3  0 17 11  .607  0 220  86  79  27 173   3.05  146 20  927   7
   10 Brian Anderson    1998  1.04 208    26 ARI NL  32  32  2   1  0 12 13  .480  0 221 100 100  24  95   4.33   97 39  845   4
   11 Greg Maddux       1997  0.77 232.2  31 ATL NL  33  33  5   2  0 19  4  .826  0 200  58  57  20 177   2.20  189  9  893   6
   12 Greg Maddux       1996  1.03 245    30 ATL NL  35  35  5   1  0 15 11  .577  0 225  85  74  28 172   2.72  162 11  978   3
   13 Greg Maddux       1995  0.99 209.2  29 ATL NL  28  28 10   3  0 19  2  .905  0 147  39  38  23 181   1.63  262  8  785   4
   14 Bob Tewksbury     1993  0.84 213.2  32 STL NL  32  32  2   0  0 17 10  .630  0 258  99  91  20  97   3.83  103 15  907   6
   15 Bob Tewksbury     1992  0.77 233    31 STL NL  33  32  5   0  1 16  5  .762  0 217  63  56  20  91   2.16  157 15  915   3
   16 Zane Smith        1991  1.14 228    30 PIT NL  35  35  6   3  0 16 10  .615  0 234  95  81  29 120   3.20  113 15  916   2
   17 Greg Swindell     1991  1.17 238    26 CLE AL  33  33  7   0  0  9 16  .360  0 241 112  92  31 169   3.48  120 21  971   3
   18 Jimmy Key         1989  1.13 216    28 TOR AL  33  33  5   1  0 13 14  .481  0 226  99  93  27 118   3.88   94 18  886   3
   19 La Marr Hoyt      1985  0.86 210.1  30 SDP NL  31  31  8   3  0 16  8  .667  0 210  85  81  20  83   3.47  103 20  839   2
   20 La Marr Hoyt      1983  1.07 260.2  28 CHW AL  36  36 11   1  0 24 10  .706  0 236 115 106  31 148   3.66  115 27 1034   1

Starting pitchers have dominated the  first 2 games of this year's World Series. Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Pedro Martinez have all turned in impressive performances and have a combined game score of    273   . This total is the  highest  total game score for the first 2 games of the World Series since 1967. Overall, it is  12th among the best starting performances in the first 2 games of the World Series.

Here are the top 5:

1949: Yankees vs. Dodgers  : 314

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Don Newcombe      1949-10-05    WS     1 BRO @NYY L  0-1  CG 9  ,L   8    5  1  1  0 11  1           79       29 29  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Allie Reynolds    1949-10-05    WS     1 NYY  BRO W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  4  9  0           88       33 28  1  0   0   0  1  0   1  1  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Vic Raschi        1949-10-06    WS     2 NYY  BRO L  0-1  GS-8  ,L   8    6  1  1  1  4  0           69       29 28  2  1   1   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    4 Preacher Roe      1949-10-06    WS     2 BRO @NYY W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    6  0  0  0  3  0           78       34 33  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00
 

1905: Giants vs. Athletics: 296

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Eddie Plank       1905-10-09    WS     1 PHA  NYG L  0-3  CG 9  ,L   9   10  3  3  2  5  0           58       39 35  2  0   1   1  1  0   0  4  1  0  0  0   3.00
    2 Christy Mathewson 1905-10-09    WS     1 NYG @PHA W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  0  6  0           85       31 31  3  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  1   0.00
    3 Joe McGinnity     1905-10-10    WS     2 NYG  PHA L  0-3  GS-8  ,L   8    5  3  0  0  2  0           68       30 29  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Chief Bender      1905-10-10    WS     2 PHA @NYG W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  3  9  0           85       34 31  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  1  0  0  0   0.00
 

1950: Phillies vs. Yankees: 295

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Jim Konstanty     1950-10-04    WS     1 PHI  NYY L  0-1  GS-8  ,L   8    4  1  1  4  0  0           66       33 28  1  0   1   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Vic Raschi        1950-10-04    WS     1 NYY @PHI W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1  5  0           87       30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Allie Reynolds    1950-10-05    WS     2 NYY @PHI W  2-1  CG 10 ,W  10    7  1  1  4  6  0           76       39 33  3  1   1   0  2  0   2  1  0  0  0  0   0.90
    4 Robin Roberts     1950-10-05    WS     2 PHI  NYY L  1-2  CG 10 ,L  10   10  2  2  3  5  1           66       43 40  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.80
 

1911: Athletics vs. Giants: 292

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Chief Bender      1911-10-14    WS     1 PHA @NYG L  1-2  CG 8  ,L   8    5  2  1  4 11  0           73       34 28  2  0   0   1  1  0   0  1  2  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Christy Mathewson 1911-10-14    WS     1 NYG  PHA W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  1  1  5  0           75       33 31  2  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.00
    3 Eddie Plank       1911-10-16    WS     2 PHA  NYG W  3-1  CG 9  ,W   9    5  1  1  0  8  0           81       31 30  1  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0  0   1.00
    4 Rube Marquard     1911-10-16    WS     2 NYG @PHA L  1-3  GS-7  ,L   7    4  3  2  0  4  1           63       26 25  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   2.57
 

1939: Yankees vs. Reds: 290

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Paul Derringer    1939-10-04    WS     1 CIN @NYY L  1-2  CG 9  ,L   8.1  6  2  2  1  7  0           69       32 31  1  1   1   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   2.16
    2 Red Ruffing       1939-10-04    WS     1 NYY  CIN W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    4  1  1  1  4  0           78       29 28  0  0   0   0  0  0   3  1  0  0  0  0   1.00
    3 Monte Pearson     1939-10-05    WS     2 NYY  CIN W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1  8  0           90       29 28  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Bucky Walters     1939-10-05    WS     2 CIN @NYY L  0-4  CG 8  ,L   8    9  4  4  0  5  1           53       31 30  2  0   0   0  1  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   4.50
 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recently, there haven't been many back to back pitching duels to start the Series.  Even the best recent performances include dominant games mixed in with some stinkers. Here are the top 5 since 1990:

2009: Phillies vs. Yankees: 273

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Cliff Lee         2009-10-28    WS     1 PHI @NYY W  6-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  0  0 10  0 122  80   83       32 32  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    2 C.C. Sabathia     2009-10-28    WS     1 NYY  PHI L  1-6  GS-7  ,L   7    4  2  2  3  6  2 113  70   64       27 24  1  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   2.57
    3 Pedro Martinez    2009-10-29    WS     2 PHI @NYY L  1-3  GS-7  ,L   6    6  3  3  2  8  2 107  72   54       26 24  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   4.50
    4 A.J. Burnett      2009-10-29    WS     2 NYY  PHI W  3-1  GS-7  ,W   7    4  1  1  2  9  0 108  68   72       26 24  2  0   1   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.29

2001: Diamondbacks vs. Yankees: 258

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Curt Schilling    2001-10-27    WS     1 ARI  NYY W  9-1  GS-7  ,W   7    3  1  1  1  8  0 102  68   74       26 24  2  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.29
    2 Mike Mussina      2001-10-27    WS     1 NYY @ARI L  1-9  GS-3  ,L   3    6  5  3  1  4  2  68  47   34       18 14  1  0   1   1  1  1   0  0  0  0  0  0   9.00
    3 Randy Johnson     2001-10-28    WS     2 ARI  NYY W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1 11  0 110  76   91       30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Andy Pettitte     2001-10-28    WS     2 NYY @ARI L  0-4  GS-7  ,L   7    5  4  4  0  8  1  80  64   59       26 25  1  0   0   1  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   5.14
 

2000: Yankees vs. Mets: 238

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Andy Pettitte     2000-10-21    WS     1 NYY  NYM W  4-3  GS-7       6.2  8  3  3  1  4  0  96  66   49       28 25  2  0   0   1  1  0   0  0  1  1  0  0   4.05
    2 Al Leiter         2000-10-21    WS     1 NYM @NYY L  3-4  GS-7       7    5  2  2  3  7  0 126  76   63       28 25  1  0   1   0  0  0   0  0  1  1  0  0   2.57
    3 Mike Hampton      2000-10-22    WS     2 NYM @NYY L  5-6  GS-6  ,L   6    8  4  4  5  4  1 124  65   39       31 25  2  0   1   1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   6.00
    4 Roger Clemens     2000-10-22    WS     2 NYY  NYM W  6-5  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  0  9  0 112  78   87       28 27  0  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   0.00

1995: Braves vs. Indians: 236

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Orel Hershiser    1995-10-21    WS     1 CLE @ATL L  2-3  GS-7  ,L   6    3  3  3  3  7  1 101  61   58       23 20  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   4.50
    2 Greg Maddux       1995-10-21    WS     1 ATL  CLE W  3-2  CG 9  ,W   9    2  2  0  0  4  0  95  63   83       30 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Tom Glavine       1995-10-22    WS     2 ATL  CLE W  4-3  GS-6  ,W   6    3  2  2  3  3  1  99  54   58       25 22  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  1   3.00
    4 Dennis Martinez   1995-10-22    WS     2 CLE @ATL L  3-4  GS-6  ,L   5.2  8  4  4  3  3  1  98  57   37       28 23  1  0   0   1  0  1   1  0  0  0  0  0   6.35

1999: Yankees vs. Braves: 232

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Greg Maddux       1999-10-23    WS     1 ATL  NYY L  1-4  GS-7  ,L   7    5  4  2  3  5  0           57       29 24  0  0   0   0  2  0   1  2  0  0  0  0   2.57
    2 Orlando Hernandez 1999-10-23    WS     1 NYY @ATL W  4-1  GS-7  ,W   7    1  1  1  2 10  1           79       23 21  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.29
    3 Kevin Millwood    1999-10-24    WS     2 ATL  NYY L  2-7  GS-2  ,L   2    8  5  4  2  2  0           22       15 13  1  0   0   0  0  0   1  1  0  0  0  0  18.00
    4 David Cone        1999-10-24    WS     2 NYY @ATL W  7-2  GS-7  ,W   7    1  0  0  5  4  0           74       26 21  0  0   0   0  0  0   2  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can imagine, the worst total ever consists of some pretty putrid performances:

2002: Angels vs. Giants: 123

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Jarrod Washburn   2002-10-19    WS     1 ANA  SFG L  3-4  GS-6  ,L   5.2  6  4  4  2  5  3 106  63   44       25 22  0  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   6.35
    2 Jason Schmidt     2002-10-19    WS     1 SFG @ANA W  4-3  GS-6  ,W   5.2  9  3  3  1  6  2  91  66   44       27 26  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  0   4.76
    3 Kevin Appier      2002-10-20    WS     2 ANA  SFG W 11-10 GS-2       2    5  5  5  2  2  3  48  28   26       13 11  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0  22.50
    4 Russ Ortiz        2002-10-20    WS     2 SFG @ANA L 10-11 GS-2       1.2  9  7  7  0  0  1  46  29    9       14 14  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0  37.80

Wow...what an inaugural post-season for Cliff Lee. He has already placed two starts in the top 80 of all-time post-season starts, as determined by game score. See the full list here.

If we look just in the latest high-offense era (i.e. the Steroids Era), Lee's two great games this playoff season rank in the top 23:

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str **GmSc** IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--------+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Roger Clemens     2000-10-14    ALCS   4 NYY @SEA W  5-0  SHO9  ,W   9    1  0  0  2 15  0 138  87     98         30 28  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00

    2 Josh Beckett      2003-10-12    NLCS   5 FLA  CHC W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1 11  0 115  80     93         30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00

    3 Kevin Brown       1998-09-29    NLDS   1 SDP @HOU W  2-1  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  2 16  0 119  77     92         28 25  0  0   0   1  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00

    4 Randy Johnson     2001-10-28    WS     2 ARI  NYY W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1 11  0 110  76     91         30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    5 Randy Johnson     2001-10-16    NLCS   1 ARI  ATL W  2-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1 11  0 125  87     91         31 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00

    6 Livan Hernandez   1997-10-12    NLCS   5 FLA  ATL W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    3  1  1  2 15  1 143  88     90         31 29  0  1   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.00

    7 Curt Schilling    2001-10-09    NLDS   1 ARI  STL W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1  9  0 101  74     89         32 30  2  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    8 Kevin Millwood    1999-10-06    NLDS   2 ATL  HOU W  5-1  CG 9  ,W   9    1  1  1  0  8  1             89         29 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.00
    9 Kevin Brown       1998-10-08    NLCS   2 SDP @ATL W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  3 11  0 122  78     89         32 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  1   0.00

   10 Mike Hampton      2000-10-16    NLCS   5 NYM  STL W  7-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1  8  0 120  74     88         31 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
   11 Bobby Jones       2000-10-08    NLDS   4 NYM  SFG W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    1  0  0  2  5  0 116  73     88         30 28  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
   12 Mike Mussina      1997-10-15    ALCS   6 BAL  CLE L  0-1  GS-8       8    1  0  0  2 10  0 107  73     88         27 25  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00

   13 Josh Beckett      2007-10-03    ALDS   1 BOS  LAA W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  0  8  0 108  83     87         31 31  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   0.00
   14 Roger Clemens     2000-10-22    WS     2 NYY  NYM W  6-5  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  0  9  0 112  78     87         28 27  0  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   0.00
   15 John Smoltz       1997-10-03    NLDS   3 ATL @HOU W  4-1  CG 9  ,W   9    3  1  1  1 11  1 103  76     87         32 31  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   1.00

   16 Cliff Lee         2009-10-18    NLCS   3 PHI  LAD W 11-0  GS-8  ,W   8    3  0  0  0 10  0 114  76     86         26 26  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
   17 Cole Hamels       2008-10-01    NLDS   1 PHI  MIL W  3-1  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  1  9  0 101  67     86         27 26  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
   18 Jason Schmidt     2003-09-30    NLDS   1 SFG  FLA W  2-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  0  5  0 111  82     86         31 30  0  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00

   19 Curt Schilling    2001-10-19    NLCS   3 ARI @ATL W  5-1  CG 9  ,W   9    4  1  1  2 12  0 127  83     85         32 30  2  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  1  1  0  0   1.00
   20 Denny Neagle      1997-10-11    NLCS   4 ATL @FLA W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  1  7  0 107  75     85         32 31  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
   21 Tom Glavine       1995-10-28    WS     6 ATL  CLE W  1-0  GS-8  ,W   8    1  0  0  3  8  0 109  67     85         27 24  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  1  0  0  0   0.00

   22 Josh Beckett      2003-10-25    WS     6 FLA @NYY W  2-0  SHO9  ,W   9    5  0  0  2  9  0 107  71     84         32 29  2  0   0   0  1  0   2  0  0  0  0  0   0.00

   23 Cliff Lee         2009-10-28    WS     1 PHI @NYY W  6-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  0  0 10  0 122  80     83         32 32  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
   24 Pedro Martinez    1999-10-16    ALCS   3 BOS  NYY W 13-1  GS-7  ,W   7    2  0  0  2 12  0             83         25 23  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
   25 Greg Maddux       1995-10-21    WS     1 ATL  CLE W  3-2  CG 9  ,W   9    2  2  0  0  4  0  95  63     83         30 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00

For a little perspective, from 1992 through yesterday, there have been 512 playoff games, meaning 1,024 starts by pitchers, and two out of Lee's three career playoff starts rank higher than 1,000 other starts. Incidentally, his 3rd start comes in at #55, so that's no slouch either. (That one was a 6-hit complete game with 1 earned run. He struck out only 5 guys, though.)

If the Phillies win the World Series again this year, I'd have to think that the Lee acquisition will go down as one of the best deadline deals in history. It's nice for Ruben Amaro Jr., too, as otherwise many people would claim that the 2009 Phillies were still Pat Gillick's team (which they largely are, but Amaro certainly deserves a lot of credit.)

Last night, Chase Utley became just the 3rd National League batter, ever, to hit 2+ homeruns in Game 1 of a World Series as a visiting player. He joins Greg Vaughn and Andruw Jones. Via Baseball-Reference.com's Play Index Post-Season Batting Game Finder, here's the list of all N.L. batters to hit 2+ homers in a post-season game as a visiting player:

  Cnt Player            Date       Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt PA AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP SB CS BOr Positions
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+---------+
    1 Chase Utley       2009-10-28 WS     1 PHI @NYY W  6-1   5  4  2  2  0  0  2   2  1   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd 2B
    2 Pat Burrell       2008-10-05 NLDS   4 PHI @MIL W  6-2   4  4  2  3  0  0  2   4  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th LF
    3 Carlos Beltran    2006-10-15 NLCS   4 NYM @STL W 12-5   5  3  4  3  0  0  2   2  2   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd CF
    4 Carlos Beltran    2004-10-11 NLDS   5 HOU @ATL W 12-3   5  5  3  4  0  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd CF
    5 Aramis Ramirez    2003-10-11 NLCS   4 CHC @FLA W  8-3   5  4  2  3  0  0  2   6  1   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th 3B
    6 Chipper Jones     2003-10-04 NLDS   4 ATL @CHC W  6-4   5  3  2  2  0  0  2   4  2   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd LF
    7 Rich Aurilia      2002-10-10 NLCS   2 SFG @STL W  4-1   4  3  2  2  0  0  2   3  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd SS
    8 Edgardo Alfonzo   1999-10-05 NLDS   1 NYM @ARI W  8-4   5  5  2  2  0  0  2   5  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd 2B
    9 Greg Vaughn       1998-10-17 WS     1 SDP @NYY L  6-9   4  4  3  2  0  0  2   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   1  0  0 3rd LF
   10 Andruw Jones      1996-10-20 WS     1 ATL @NYY W 12-1   4  4  3  3  0  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th LF
   11 Marquis Grissom   1995-10-04 NLDS   2 ATL @COL W  7-4   6  6  2  2  0  0  2   2  0   0  2   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 1st CF
   12 Chipper Jones     1995-10-03 NLDS   1 ATL @COL W  5-4   5  5  2  2  0  0  2   2  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   2  0  0 3rd 3B
   13 Chris Sabo        1990-10-19 WS     3 CIN @OAK W  8-3   5  4  2  2  0  0  2   3  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 6th 3B
   14 Will Clark        1989-10-04 NLCS   1 SFG @CHC W 11-3   5  4  4  4  1  0  2   6  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd 1B
   15 Gary Carter       1986-10-22 WS     4 NYM @BOS W  6-2   4  4  2  3  1  0  2   3  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th C
   16 Willie McGee      1982-10-15 WS     3 STL @MIL W  6-2   4  3  2  2  0  0  2   4  1   1  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 8th CF
   17 Steve Garvey      1978-10-04 NLCS   1 LAD @PHI W  9-5   5  5  3  3  0  1  2   4  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th 1B
   18 Johnny Bench      1976-10-21 WS     4 CIN @NYY W  7-2   4  4  2  2  0  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th C
   19 Bob Robertson     1971-10-03 NLCS   2 PIT @SFG W  9-4   5  5  4  4  1  0  3   5  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th 1B
   20 Charlie Neal      1959-10-02 WS     2 LAD @CHW W  4-3   5  5  2  2  0  0  2   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd 2B
   21 Bob Elliott       1948-10-10 WS     5 BSN @CLE W 11-5   5  4  3  2  0  0  2   4  1   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th 3B
   
Games found: 21.

Here are a few lists and links to get you prepared for Game 1 of the World Series:

Starting with a Blast

• Chase Utley's 1st inning home run off Scott Kazmir in Game 1 of last year's World Series was the first 1st inning home run by a visiting player in Game 1 of the World Series since Frank and Brooks Robinson did it in 1966. Utley and the Robinsons are joined by Mickey Mantle (1956) and Roger Maris (1960) as the only players to accomplish this feat.
• Home players have been much more successful with a total of 12 1st inning game 1 home runs. However, this is a somewhat "recent" development. When the Robinsons hit their home runs in '66, visiting players had a 4 to 1 edge in this category.
• Teams that hit game 1 first inning home-runs were 12-4 in those games also won the whole series 12 times. In fact, the last 8 teams to hit a game 1 1st inning home run have gone on to win the World Series.

Multiple Home Runs

In World Series history, 8 players have hit 2 home runs in a game 1. Their teams have combined for a 5-3 record. In all other WS games, there have been 38 multiple home run games. Those teams went 35-3. (34-3 if you don't double count the game in which Ruth and Gehrig both did it.) Here are the players who went yard twice in a game 1:

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt PA AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP SB CS BOr Positions
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+---------+
    1 Troy Glaus        2002-10-19    WS     1 ANA  SFG L  3-4   4  4  2  2  0  0  2   2  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th 3B

    2 Greg Vaughn       1998-10-17    WS     1 SDP @NYY L  6-9   4  4  3  2  0  0  2   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   1  0  0 3rd LF

    3 Andruw Jones      1996-10-20    WS     1 ATL @NYY W 12-1   4  4  3  3  0  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th LF

    4 Willie Aikens     1980-10-14    WS     1 KCR @PHI L  6-7   4  4  2  2  0  0  2   4  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th 1B

    5 Davey Lopes       1978-10-10    WS     1 LAD  NYY W 11-5   5  5  2  2  0  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 1st 2B

    6 Gene Tenace       1972-10-14    WS     1 OAK @CIN W  3-2   3  3  2  2  0  0  2   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th C

    7 Ted Kluszewski    1959-10-01    WS     1 CHW  LAD W 11-0   4  4  2  3  0  0  2   5  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th 1B

    8 Joe Collins       1955-09-28    WS     1 NYY  BRO W  6-5   4  3  3  2  0  0  2   3  1   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th 1B

1-0 in Game 1:

The first game of the World Series has been won 1-0 of five occasions. Three of them occurred in consecutive years (1948-1950).:

  Cnt Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt  PA  AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP SB CS LOB Batrs
+----+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+-----+
    1 1986-10-18    WS     1 BOS @NYM W  1-0   36  31  1  5  0  0  0   0  5   2  8   0  0  0   1   1  0  0   8    12

    2 1950-10-04    WS     1 NYY @PHI W  1-0   37  31  1  5  1  0  0   1  4   1  0   0  2  0   1   0  0  0   9    11

    3 1949-10-05    WS     1 NYY  BRO W  1-0   29  29  1  5  2  0  1   1  0   0 11   0  0  0   0   0  0  0   4     9

    4 1948-10-06    WS     1 BSN  CLE W  1-0   29  24  1  2  0  0  0   1  3   1  2   0  2  0   0   0  1  0   4    11

    5 1918-09-05    WS     1 BOS @CHC W  1-0   33  28  1  5  0  0  0   1  3   1  6   0  2  0   0   0  0  1   5     9

Trivia: Winning Game 1 More Than Once

12 pitchers have won game 1 of the World Series more than once. If you would like to test yourself, I have created this Sporcle quiz. Otherwise, you can click here for the information.

Throughout the history of baseball, there have been post season stars. Usually these players grabbed hold of the spotlight with a single huge play, a historically big game, or a series of really good games. However, it occurred to me that there could be another type of star, a player  who  consistently produces when his team wins. How many World Series winning players have scored a run, had a hit or drove in a run in all of their team's postseason wins?  Obviously, the more postseason wins needed, the more difficult this becomes, so we will have to look at this data in stages.

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