Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Poor Donnie Moore, Part 1

Dave Henderson dug in, fouled off pitch after pitch. Then hit a two-run home run to put Boston up 6-5 in the fifth contest of the 1986 ALCS. Don Moore retired the next batter, but it was off to the bottom of the ninth and California trailed by a run. They had led 5-2 only a few moments earlier, three outs away from their first trip to the Fall Classic. Moore nonetheless got Ed Romero out. The Angels were down in the game, but ahead 3-1 in the series. However, the obviously wanted to close it out at The Big A, rather than at Fenway!

Cal came back with a run in the last of the ninth. Then loaded the bases and there was just one out. A flyball could very well end it. Doug DeCinces did fly out, but it was to short right, for the second out. Bobby Grich lined back to the pitcher.

Moore got through the tenth without Boston scoring on him. He induced the dangerous Jim Rice to hit into an inning-ending DP. California had the right guy up in the bottom of the frame. Reggie Jackson. Mr. October. But all Reggie could do, leading off, was ground out. Devon White fanned. However, the inning continued when Jerry Narron walked on four straight balls from Steve Crawford.

Gary Pettis, the next batter, was known for more his glove (He won five gold glove awards in center field) than his bat. However, Gary would end the 1986 American League Championship Series with a batting average of .346, 4 runs scored, 1 HR, and 4 RBIs. Soon, he smacked one to left and Jim Rice had to make a terrific catch to keep Cal from advancing to the World Series.



It seemed to come apart for Donnie in the top of the eleventh, however. He hit the first Red Sox batter, Don Baylor. Dwight Evans singled. So did Rich Gedman. Bases loaded. No outs. Henderson back up.

This time, Moore got him on a fly to centre on the first pitch. But Baylor tagged from third and scored. Boston was back up 7-6. Then the visitors appeared to add some insurance. Ed Romero was back up. As Donnie Moore had done in the fateful ninth, he retired him. Or should I say, Brian Downing got him out.

Romero sent a fly to left. There were still two on with just one out, and the ball appeared to be out of Downing's reach. It looked like it would get past him for extra bases. 9-6, Red Sox? No, the Angels' left fielder caught it! A great catch. Better than Rice's! The crowd went wild. Their team was still in it.

However, Moore was taken out. Wade Boggs was next up. Because he was a left-hander, California manager Gene Mauch, brought in a bit of a legend to face him. That by the name of Chuck Finley, the tall lefty.

Chuck was a rookie that year, and not a starter since all of his 25 regular season appearances were out of the bullpen. Finley was 3-1 that year. But within two seasons he'd be a starter, going 197-172 (Although just 2-7 in 1987, starting just 3 games and making 35 appearances) the rest of his career.

Boggs and Finley battled to a full count. But on the sixth pitch of the at bat, Wade grounded out to second. It was still a one-run game. Any hope of a comeback was extinguished in the bottom of the frame, alas. Boston's Calvin Schiraldi got 'em 1-2-3.



The Angels dropped the next two contest at Fenway and the Red Sox had a miracle comeback. Moore took a lot of the blame. And while he went 2-2 with a fine 2.70 ERA in 1987, Donnie just wasn't the same. In '88, he was 5-2, but his ERA was 4.91. After saving 21 games in 1986, Moore saved just five in '87 and four in '88. The Angels released him in August of 1988. Kansas signed him the next year. But Donnie would not pitch for the Royals. He spent his last year in professional baseball with the AAA Omaha Royals. Donnie was 1-2 with a 6.39 ERA and not even the closer (He appeared in seven games, finishing just three of them while Rick Luecken finished the year with sixteen saves). And Donnie would not finish the year, getting the pink slip in June. One month later, he committed suicide.

Moore is certainly a tragic story, because he was also one fine closer. And Donnie had been around. His career started way back in 1975 with the Chicago Cubs. Four games only. The next year, Donnie was back in the minors, and not pitching well. In 1977, back in the bigs, he was 4-2 with a high ERA (4.07) 27 appearances, all but one in relief. The following season was Moore's best in a Chicago uniform. He went 9-7, but with an ERA over four again. He'd drift to St. Louis after 1979, but pitched no better. In fact, his ERA was above six in St. Louis in 1980, and in Atlanta the next season.

Atlanta got him in 1982, and Donnie Moore lasted three seasons there. But there, his pitching really improved. No doubt the Braves would miss him when he left! Moore was 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in '82, but things sure got better. Although only 2-3 the next season, Donnie lowered his ERA under four, 3.67. And then, in 1984, under three, 2.94. His W-L record those two seasons wasn't anything great, 2-3 and 4-5, but Moore saved six of seven games in 1983, and then sixteen of nineteen games in '84. This guy had potential as a closer. But Atlanta had Gene Garber and Steve Bedrosian, each of whom saved eleven games themselves that season for the Braves. Donnie was the odd man out.

But then California came calling.

Acquired via a free agent compensation, Moore had his year in 1985. The Angels used him sixty-five times, and Donnie delivered! The new sensation pitched 103 innings, his career high. Of his 65 appearances, Donnie Moore finished 57 of them. His 8-8 record is deceiving!


Greatest Relief Seasons of All-Time, Part 1


Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Walsh 1904 18 10 0.556 110.2 6 3
               
Griffith 1905 25 17 0.680 101.2 9 6
               
Keefe 1907 19 14 0.737 57.2 3 5
               
Chappelle 1908 13 6 0.462 70.1 2 4
               
Leever 1909 19 12 0.632 70.0 8 1
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Phillipe 1910 31 19 0.613 121.2 14 2
               
Baskette 1912 29 18 0.621 116.0 8 4
               
Crandall 1913 35 27 0.771 97.2 4 4
               
Wolfgang 1914 24 12 0.500 119.1 9 5
               
Bressler 1914 29 15 0.517 147.2 10 4
               
Mays 1915 38 27 0.711 131.2 6 5
               
Danforth 1917 50 26 0.520 173.0 11 6
               
Dubuc 1919 36 22 0.611 132.0 6 4
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Morton 1921 30 15 0.500 107.2 8 3
               
Baumgartner 1925 37 9 0.243 113.1 6 3
               
Marberry 1926 64 47 0.734 138.0 12 7
               
Haid 1928 27 14 0.519 47.0 2 2
               
Rommel 1929 32 15 0.469 113.2 12 2
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Lindsey 1931 35 19 0.543 74.2 6 4
               
Quinn 1932 39 29 0.744 64.1 5 4
               
Russell 1933 50 31 0.620 124.0 12 6
               
Malone 1936 35 25 0.714 134.2 12 4
               
Brown 1938 51 32 0.627 132.2 15 9
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Beggs 1940 37 27 0.730 76.2 12 3
               
Murphy 1941 35 31 0.886 77.1 8 3
               
Adams 1943 70 52 0.743 140.1 11 7
               
Heving 1944 63 38 0.603 119.2 8 3
               
Maltzberger 1944 46 41 0.891 91.1 10 5
               
Berry 1944 53 47 0.887 111.1 10 8
               
Karl 1945 67 41 0.612 180.2 8 8
               
Christopher 1947 44 38 0.864 80.2 10 7
               
Wilks 1948 57 27 0.474 130.2 6 6
               
Page 1949 60 48 0.800 135.1 13 8
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Konstanty 1950 74 62 0.838 152.0 16 7
               
Aloma 1951 25 11 0.440 69.1 6 0
               
Wilhelm 1952 71 32 0.451 159.1 15 3
               
Paige 1952 46 35 0.761 138.0 12 10
               
Kinder 1953 69 52 0.754 107.0 10 6
               
Mossi 1954 40 18 0.450 93.0 6 1
               
Sain 1954 45 39 0.867 77.0 6 6
               
Narleski 1955 60 36 0.600 111.2 9 1
               
Freeman 1956 64 47 0.734 108.2 14 5
               
Farrell 1957 52 32 0.615 83.1 10 2
               
Zuverink 1957 56 37 0.661 112.2 10 6
               
Hyde 1958 53 44 0.830 103.0 10 3
               
Duren 1959 41 29 0.707 76.2 3 6
               
Staley 1959 67 37 0.552 116.1 8 5
               
Face 1959 57 47 0.825 93.1 18 1
               
Henry 1959 65 36 0.554 134.1 9 8
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Brosnan 1960 57 27 0.474 99.0 7 2
               
McDaniel 1960 63 47 0.746 104.1 12 4
               
Arroyo 1961 65 54 0.831 119.0 15 5
               
Fox 1961 39 25 0.641 57.1 5 2
               
Radatz 1963 66 58 0.879 131.1 15 6
               
Perranoski 1963 69 47 0.681 129.0 16 3
               
Lee 1964 64 39 0.609 137.0 6 5
               
Ellis 1964 52 32 0.615 122.1 10 3
               
Schultz 1964 30 22 0.733 49.1 1 3
               
Miller 1965 67 55 0.821 112.1 14 7
               
Regan 1966 65 48 0.738 116.2 14 1
               
Drabowsky 1967 43 26 0.605 95.1 7 5
               
Abernathy 1967 70 61 0.871 106.1 6 3
               
Wood 1968 88 46 0.523 159.0 13 12
               
Tatum 1969 45 33 0.733 86.1 7 2
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Williams 1970 68 36 0.529 113.1 10 1
               
McMahon 1970 61 44 0.721 94.1 9 5
               
Sanders 1971 83 77 0.928 136.1 7 12
               
Giusti 1972 54 44 0.815 74.2 7 4
               
Knowles 1972 54 29 0.537 65.2 5 1
               
Brewer 1972 51 41 0.804 78.1 8 7
               
Hiller 1973 65 60 0.923 125.1 10 5
               
Jackson 1973 43 33 0.767 80.1 8 0
               
Borbon 1973 80 36 0.450 121.0 11 4
               
Marshall 1974 106 83 0.783 208.1 15 12
               
Gossage 1975 62 49 0.790 141.2 9 8
               
Eastwick 1976 71 59 0.831 107.2 11 5
               
Johnson 1977 71 54 0.761 146.2 16 7
               
Lyle 1977 72 60 0.833 137.0 13 5
               
Sutter 1977 62 48 0.774 107.1 7 3
               
Blair 1978 70 56 0.800 100.1 7 6
               
Stanley 1978 52 35 0.673 141.2 15 2
               
Tekulve 1979 94 67 0.713 134.1 10 8
               
Lopez 1979 61 49 0.803 127.0 10 5
               
Davis 1979 44 21 0.477 85.1 14 2
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
McGraw 1980 57 48 0.842 92.1 5 4
               
Fingers 1981 47 41 0.872 78.0 6 3
               
Caudill 1982 70 64 0.914 95.2 12 9
               
Reardon 1982 75 53 0.707 109.0 7 4
               
L. Smith 1983 66 56 0.848 103.1 4 10
               
Stewart 1983 54 25 0.463 135.0 10 4
               
Quisenberry 1983 69 62 0.899 139.0 5 3
               
Orosco 1983 62 42 0.677 110.0 13 7
               
Hernandez 1984 80 68 0.850 140.1 9 3
               
Lamp 1985 53 11 0.208 105.2 11 0
               
D. Smith 1985 64 46 0.719 79.1 9 5
               
Lahti 1985 52 31 0.596 68.1 5 2
               
Moore 1986 65 57 0.877 103.0 8 8
               
Eichhorn 1986 69 38 0.551 157.0 14 6
               
Righetti 1986 74 68 0.919 106.2 8 8
               
Todd Worrell 1986 74 60 0.811 103.2 9 10
               
Henke 1987 72 62 0.861 94.0 0 6
               
Burke 1987 55 30 0.545 91.0 7 0
               
Daley 1987 53 29 0.547 61.0 9 5
               
Henneman 1988 65 51 0.785 91.1 9 6
               
Parrett 1988 61 34 0.557 91.2 12 4
               
Lancaster 1989 42 15 0.357 72.2 4 2
               
Russell 1989 71 66 0.930 72.2 6 4
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Eckersley 1990 63 61 0.968 73.1 4 2
               
Thigpen 1990 77 73 0.948 88.2 4 6
               
Nelson 1990 51 17 0.333 74.2 3 3
               
Henry 1991 32 25 0.781 36.0 2 1
               
Aguilera 1991 63 60 0.952 69.0 4 5
               
Ward 1992 79 35 0.443 101.1 7 4
               
Rojas 1992 68 26 0.382 100.2 7 1
               
Olin 1992 72 62 0.861 88.1 8 5
               
Wetteland 1993 70 58 0.829 85.1 9 3
               
Harvey 1993 59 54 0.915 69.0 1 5
               
Beck 1993 76 71 0.934 79.1 3 1
               
Martinez 1993 65 20 0.308 107.0 10 5
               
Myers 1997 61 57 0.934 59.2 2 3
               
Hoffman 1998 66 61 0.924 73.0 4 2
               
Urbina 1998 64 59 0.922 69.1 6 3
               
Williamson 1999 62 40 0.645 93.1 12 7
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Rhodes 2001 71 16 0.225 68.0 8 0
               
Smoltz 2003 62 55 0.887 64.1 0 2
               
Tim Worrell 2003 76 64 0.842 78.1 4 4
               
Lidge 2004 80 44 0.550 94.2 6 5
               
Timlin 2005 81 27 0.333 80.1 7 3
               
Nathan 2006 64 61 0.953 68.1 7 0
               
Ryan 2006 65 57 0.877 72.1 2 2
               
Putz 2007 68 65 0.956 71.2 6 1
               
Rivera 2008 64 60 0.938 70.2 6 5
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L
               
Bell 2010 67 57 0.851 70.0 6 1
               
Aceves 2011 55 15 0.273 114.0 10 2
               
Axford 2011 74 63 0.851 73.2 2 2
               
Downs 2011 60 10 0.167 53.2 6 3
               
Cook 2012 71 23 0.324 73.1 6 2
               
Chapman 2012 68 52 0.765 71.2 5 5
               
Johnson 2012 71 63 0.887 68.2 2 1
               
Smyly 2013 63 9 0.143 76.0 6 0
               
Davis 2014 70 11 0.157 72.0 9 2
               
Clippard 2014 75 6 0.080 70.1 7 4
               
Rondon 2015 72 47 0.653 70.0 6 4
               
Britton 2016 69 63 0.913 67.0 2 1
               
Osuna 2016 72 61 0.847 74.0 4 3
               
Brach 2016 71 16 0.225 79.0 10 4
               
Miller 2016 70 23 0.329 74.1 10 1
               
Robertson 2017 61 34 0.557 68.1 9 2
               
Jansen 2017 65 57 0.877 68.1 5 0
               
Albers 2017 63 23 0.365 61.0 7 2
               
Kimbrel 2017 51 67 0.761 69.0 5 0
               
Morrow 2018 29 26 0.897 24.2 0 0
               
Trivino 2018 36 8 0.222 44.1 7 1
               
Treinen 2018 42 34 0.810 51.0 5 2
               
Jeffress 2018 55 8 0.145 55.2 6 1
               
Yarbrough 2018 36 3 0.083 139.1 15 5
               
Hader 2018 52 13 0.250 78.0 6 1
               
Strop 2018 60 20 0.333 59.2 6 1
               
Workman 2019 47 10 0.213 45.2 8 1
               
Robles 2019 59 40 0.678 58.1 4 0
               
Walden 2019 64 7 0.109 73.0 9 2
               
W.Smith 2019 63 52 0.825 65.1 6 0
               
Pitcher Year GP GF GF% IP W L


Notes

Baumgartner appeared as a starter twelve times

Wolfgang and Baskette appeared as a starter eleven times.

Danforth, Malone and Stewart appeared as a starter nine times.

Phillipe and Walsh appeared as a starter eight times.

Morton and Griffith appeared as a starter seven times.

Paige, Mays, Chappelle, Rommell and Yarbrough appeared as a starter six times.

Marberry, Mossi, Lee, Ellis and Dubuc appeared as a starter five times.

Leever and Aceves appeared as a starter four times.

Russell, Stanley, Adams and Keefe appeared as a starter three times.

Brown, McDaniel, Wood, Crandall, Brosnan, Lindsey, Karl, Wilks and Martinez appeared as a starter two times.

Beggs, Quinn, Narleski, McGraw, Aloma and Robles appeared once as a starter.

Maltzberger, Hyde, Konstanty, Duren, Brosnan, Tekulve and Henke all wore glasses.

Morrow's stats are through July 1, 2018.

Trivino's stats are through July 18, 2018.

Treinen's stats are through July 25, 2018.

Jeffress' stats are through August 13, 2018.

Yarbrough stats are through Sept 19, 2018.

Hader's stats are through September 24, 2018.

Workman's stats are through August 01, 2019.

Robles' stats are through September 05, 2019.

Walden's stats are through September 12, 2019


References


Sports Illustrated Vault. Sports Illustrated, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2019. <https://www.si.com/vault>.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. https://www.baseball-reference.com/.  09 Dec. 2019. Web.

Youtube. Youtube. Web. 09 Dec. 2019. <https://www.youtube.com/>.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Web. 09 Dec. 2019. <https://en.wikipedia.org>.

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