Comments on: Relief Appearances Of 3+ IP In Postseason Deciding Games

By: Dvd Avins

Dvd Avins — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 01:40:00 +0000

Randy Johnson's September and October in 1995 was one of the greatest impacts one pitcher has had on a team's year since the advent of rotations. Certainly of pitchers who weren't as dominant all year but clicked during the stretch drive.

By: Howard

Howard — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:51:39 +0000

Why isn't anyone talking about Nolan Ryan ? Not only did he take over for Gary Gentry in the 3rd inning with the Mets down 2-0, he finished the game. At 22, he had only gone 7 IP or more three times that whole season and his appearance in Game 3 of the NLCS was a coming out party at the Mets' first postseason home game in team history. Also, he went 2-for-4 at the plate.

By: Joe D'Aniello

Joe D'Aniello — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:58:06 +0000

Regarding post #7...Ogden was removed after 1/3 inning because Bucky Harris, the Senators manager, wanted to bring in a lefty against Bill Terry. John McGraw was platooning Terry and this pitching change would remove Terry, who wore out the Senators pitching, from the game.

By: Tmckelv

Tmckelv — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:37:28 +0000

@16, Another huge relief pitching performance by a "closer"...

1977 ALCS Game 4 - The Yankees were down 2 games to 1 in the series with the Royals.

With the Yanks winning 5-4 in the bottom of the 4th inning (men on 1st and 2nd - 2 outs), Billy Martin brought in Sparky Lyle (the Cy Young Award winning closer). Lyle retired the last batter in the 4th, and then went on to pitch the final 5 (five!!!!) scoreless innings (official scorer gave him the Win) extending the series.

Notes: Lyle also got the Win in the sudden-death Game 5. After the Yankees won that World Series, they rewarded Lyle's Cy Young/Posteason heroics by signing Goose Gossage as their closer.

By: Nash Bruce

Nash Bruce — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:09:03 +0000

@#9- I'd consider that game, one of the greatest postseason games, ever.

By: John Autin

John Autin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:57:08 +0000

However, I would not necessarily count Pedro's gem as the most dominant postseason relief stint. On 10/5/66, game 1 of the WS, Moe Drabowsky relieved with 1 out in the 3rd inning, after Dave McNally had walked the bases loaded. Drabowsky got out of that inning with just 1 run scoring (preserving a 4-2 lead), then finished out the game, allowing 1 hit and 2 walks, fanning 11 of the 23 batters he faced, including 6 in a row. No one could have guessed that the run L.A. scored in the 3rd inning would be their last of the Series; Drabowsky kicked off an Oriole streak of 33 straight scoreless innings. BTW, Drabowsky came to the Orioles the previous fall as a Rule 5 draftee from the Cardinals, carrying a career 4.15 ERA over 10 seasons. In 3 years with the Orioles, Drabowsky posted a 2.14 ERA and fanned almost a batter per inning. After '68, they let him go in the expansion draft to K.C. They got him back in a deadline deal in 1970, and he pitched twice in that year's WS win. Then they traded him to St. Louis. So ... Drabowsky managed to be part of the Orioles' 1966 and '70 World Champs, yet missed their WS losses in 1969 & '71 -- neat trick.

By: GTB

GTB — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:41:18 +0000

@#8 / James

The other unsung hero for NYY in the 2003 Game 7 was Giambi. Everyone remembers Boone, Rivera, Pedro, Wakefield and Grady Little but Giambi hit 2 HRs (both off Pedro).

By: John Autin

John Autin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:32:25 +0000

Pedro's relief gem is the longest hitless relief outing in postseason history

By: John Autin

John Autin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:18:08 +0000

Another “twofer” (#60 & #94 on the list above):

-- 10/8/39: Trying to avert a sweep, Reds manager Bill McKechnie summons Bucky Walters -- winner of 27 games and the MVP -- on 2 days’ rest to protect a 3-2 lead in the 8th inning. Walters handles the soft part of the Yankee order and the Reds tack on a run in their 8th, but the big boys nick Walters for 2 in the 9th and 3 in the 10th, with a damaging error by SS Billy Myers in each inning. Johnny Murphy closes it out, retiring HR threats Ernie Lombardi, Al Simmons and Wally Berger, each representing the tying run, and the Yanks win their 4th straight championship (and 9th straight WS game).

What I like best about this is the redemption earned by Walters and Myers in 1940. Walters has another MVP-caliber season, leading the NL again in Wins, IP, ERA, ERA+ and WHIP, then caps it with 2 CG wins over Detroit in the WS, including a shutout in game 6 when the Reds faced elimination; he also homered and drove in two in that 4-0 win.

The Reds won game 7 with a 2-run rally off Bobo Newsom, who started on ONE day’s rest after a game-5 shutout and threw 6 more blanks at the Reds. A pair of leadoff doubles tied the game in the 7th; a sac bunt and an intentional walk to Ernie Lombardi brought up Billy Myers with 1 out and the go-ahead run on 3rd base. It had been a long year for Myers; he hit just .202 in the regular season, and is 3 for 23 in the WS; a lot of fans probably would have rather seen a pinch-hitter. But McKechnie stuck with Myers, and he lifted a fly ball to CF, plenty deep enough for Jimmy Ripple to trot home with the go-ahead run. Paul Derringer made the lead stand up, and Cincinnati had their 2nd WS championship.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:04:25 +0000

The Pedro game was amazing. Until he came in the game, nobody was making an out and it was 8-7 for the Indians after 3 innings. Then he comes in and doesn't give up a hit for 6 innings and the Red Sox take the lead and hold it.