OT: Justin Verlander 3rd No-Hitter

[clydepepper]

Not to under-appreciate Verlander's achievement, but luck and randomness contribute, to some extent, to throwing a no-hitter.

I, my own self (think Dan Jenkins), threw two in the local semi-pro league - but I also threw two (consecutive) one-hitters and there was much more skill involved in those. The no-no's weren't even shutouts...and, in the second one, my team scored in bottom of the ninth to just to win the game.

Now, again, I'll state that Verlander's effort was masterful and one of the very best pitched games - maybe EVER...but lady luck and Roger Random do play too.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

The list of 3+ No hit pitchers doesn't look much like guys who got lucky. While there is luck involved in any individual no-hitter, all the luck in the world won't get you there without a LOT of skill, and the skill factor goes up, probably exponentially, with each subsequent no-no. Especially in the majors.

Larry Corcoran was very much the Sandy Koufax of his day. He didn't struggle at the beginning of his career, but was washed up by 26.

Even the list of two no hitter pitchers only has a couple of "Average" guys on it.

[barrysloate]

Joyce made the bad call on Armando Galarraga in the days before replay was instituted. Today he would have had the call overturned and been credited with the perfect game.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Joyce made the bad call on Armando Galarraga in the days before replay was instituted. Today he would have had the call overturned and been credited with the perfect game.

Remember that travesty of a result for Armando.

Without instant replay at the time, I propose instituting distant replay and review the play today and make necessary corrections.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Not to under-appreciate Verlander's achievement, but luck and randomness contribute, to some extent, to throwing a no-hitter.

I, my own self (think Dan Jenkins), threw two in the local semi-pro league - but I also threw two (consecutive) one-hitters and there was much more skill involved in those. The no-no's weren't even shutouts...and, in the second one, my team scored in bottom of the ninth to just to win the game.

Now, again, I'll state that Verlander's effort was masterful and one of the very best pitched games - maybe EVER...but lady luck and Roger Random do play too.

20 strikeouts, on the other hand, is all on the pitcher. Total dominance.

[pokerplyr80]

Ryan also lost 5 no hitters in the 9th, along with the 7 he finished off. I guess he was the luckiest pitcher of all time?

[Peter_Spaeth]

I think people are missing Raymond's point. Any given no hitter clearly has some luck in it. That's all he is saying.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I think people are missing Raymond's point. Any given no hitter clearly has some luck in it. That's all he is saying.

True, but as Scott mentioned that doesn't really apply here. I'm sure pitchers have gotten lucky, or been in the zone for a night. Most no hitters probably had a couple close calls or great defensive plays. Maybe what could have been a hit was scored an error. But the guys on that short list didn't just get lucky 3 or more times.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

True, but as Scott mentioned that doesn't really apply here. I'm sure pitchers have gotten lucky, or been in the zone for a night. Most no hitters probably had a couple close calls or great defensive plays. Maybe what could have been a hit was scored an error. But the guys on that short list didn't just get lucky 3 or more times.

Agreed. Indeed if any of Ryan's one hitters was broken up by a cheap hit, you could call him unlucky.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Dave Stieb might've been the unluckiest pitcher of all time. He could've quite conceivably been on this list. My brother and I have a phrase we use a lot when talking about pitchers that applies to Stieb...

...and he was a better pitcher than Jack Morris.

Stieb lost back to back no-no's BOTH with 2 outs in the ninth. That's how close someone came to Vander Meer

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I think people are missing Raymond's point. Any given no hitter clearly has some luck in it. That's all he is saying.

Thanks...that is what I was saying...

FYI- I also had a 21K game

- of course, before I became a pitcher, I set what I believe is still the Pony League record for consecutive strikeouts - as a batter...also 21.

[brianp-beme]

I ran across a post on the web from 2016 that MLB was going to award Galarraga the perfect game, yet it still does appear in the listings that I see for perfect games...what gives?


http://www.baseballessential.com/new...ndo-galarraga/

Brian

[Fred]

It was 0-0 for 8 innings. Thank goodness the Stros put across two runs in the top of the ninth for Verlander.

Also, the only walk he gave up came on the second batter of the game. That's a lot of domination for the rest of the game.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

I ran across a post on the web from 2016 that MLB was going to award Galarraga the perfect game, yet it still does appear in the listings that I see for perfect games...what gives?


http://www.baseballessential.com/new...ndo-galarraga/

Brian

Check the date on that post for your answer.