Thursday, December 16, 2021

This Did Happen: Sandy Koufax Pitches Indoors

Sandy Koufax had a short, but successful career. The left-handed pitcher only was in the big leagues for a dozen seasons. Worse still, Sandy's first three years (1955-1957) were token appearances on the hill. Injuries plagued him in 1958-1959. And again in 1962 and '64. What might have been had Koufax stayed healthy? Imagine the lefty going beyond 1966? Oh, to wonder!

However, that's for another discussion. In Sandy Koufax's last two seasons, the Houston Astros played in a new ballpark, the first of it's kind. A domed stadium, apply named, The Astrodome! For 1965, they tried out traditional grass, before moving on with astroturf in Koufax's last year.

So did the Los Angeles Dodger great ever pitch indoors? And on astroturf? Yes. To both. 

And Koufax certainly found Houston to his liking.

Pitching at the Astrodome for the first time, the game was close. So close, this thing was going past nine innings. The game was still tied 1-1 after ten. The reason being was Sandy Koufax was pitching so well. And so was Houston's Bob Bruce. Bruce sported a 1-4 record in the 1965 season heading into this tough test.

It was too bad, really, that poor Bob Bruce had to pitch against Sandy Koufax. He'd been 15-9 in 1964, but would slip ultimately to just 9-18 the next season. His earned run average wasn't bad, 3.72. But with that ERA, you aren't likely to beat Sandy Koufax.

And Bruce did not. The May game ended for Bob Bruce in frustration. Through nine innings, a grand total of six hits were recorded by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bruce, pitching heroically, allowed them two more in the top of the tenth, but put up a "0" on the scoreboard.

But that was equaled by Sandy Koufax. Sandy was working on a three-hitter through nine. Then, he got the Astros down in the tenth, giving up just a walk. That bases on balls didn't do Houston any good. Eddie Kasko had led off the last of the tenth by drawing the third free pass of the contest off Sandy Koufax. Sandy just shrugged and got the next three men out.

Bob Bruce wasn't so lucky in the top of the eleventh. With one out, Sandy Koufax was up. He wasn't a good hitter. But here, Sandy singled. Maury Wills followed suite. Bob Bruce was out of the game, but new pitcher Hal Woodeshick had a tough row to hoe. Facing the Dodgers' Wes Parker, the Houston pitcher issued a walk. That loaded 'em up. Ron Fairly singled home Koufax and Wills to break the 1-1 deadlock.

The inning ended with Los Angeles scoring two more times. Koufax, believe it or not, had quite the adventure himself in the bottom of the eleventh. His control eluded him. With one out, Joe Morgan singled. Then Sandy hit Jim Wynn. Bob Aspromonte then ended the pitcher's night with a run-scoring single.

It was Miller Time.

Bob Miller came in to save this thing. He had three runs to work with. And Miller got Walt Bond to ground out. However, that scored Jim Wynn and moved Bob Aspromonte to second. 5-3.

It came down to Eddie Kasko, who'd coaxed that walk off Sandy Koufax an inning earlier. Perhaps that was the start of Koufax slowing down. But here, with two away and Bob Aspromonte in scoring position, it was time to settle this nonsense one way or another. Kasko popped out to Jim Lefebvre at second to end the game. The Los Angeles Dodgers were 5-3 winners. And Koufax? Well, Sandy had win number five on the season against two losses. You can't beat him outdoors. You can't beat 'em indoors.

And The Artful Dodger was more like his usual self the next time he took the mound at the Astrodome. So was Los Angeles. Koufax beat Houston 3-1 on July 3rd, but this time, it took him just nine innings. The Dodgers looked like they'd make things a little easier for him, as it looked like "One of those days" for the home team. LA knocked out Houston's starting pitcher, Larry Dierker, in the fourth inning. Dierker wasn't a bad pitcher, and was in his rookie season. He'd finish 1965 only 7-8, but showed promise with his 3.50 earned run average. By 1969, Larry was a twenty game winner for Houston.

Dierker's bullpen stopped the visitors after that. Don Nottebart relieved him with two away and a man on second in the top of the fourth. By getting Maury Wills out, Nottebart averted further trouble. From there, it was a dazzling relief effort on his part. No runs, two hits in four and a third innings pitched. Canadian Ron Taylor followed that with a scoreless ninth.

So all that promise and only three runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers. But you know Sandy Koufax: That's all he needed!

Actually, Sandy needed only two runs. The only Houston scoring play happened in the bottom of the eighth as Joe Morgan hit a solo home run. It was too little, too late. Koufax's pitching line showed him allowing just five hits and fanning ten. The win was Sandy's fourteenth of 1965. And against just three losses.

Oddly enough, the great pitcher seemed to be a little bit more human after that outing. In Koufax's next fifteen appearances, he went 7-4, picked up a save, but posted a 2.56 earned run average. Koufax had thoughts of something amiss.

So when he faced the Astros in Houston on September 5th, was Sandy human? He'd lost his last three decisions. A start on August 18th against Philly resulted in a no decision. Los Angeles went on to lose 6-3.

The start on September 5th was another no decision, but Los Angeles eventually won. Koufax looked like himself for six innings (With the exception of only five strikeouts), protecting a 2-0 lead. But then the wheels came off the chariot. Ron Brand led off with a single. A bunt moved him to second. Bob Lillis singled, scoring Brand. Lillis moved into scoring position because of an error by Willie Davis. When pitcher Robin Roberts batted for himself and singled, this thing was all tied up.

Sandy got Eddie Kasko out on a grounder to shortstop Maury Wills. But in the top of the eighth, Wally Moon batted for Sandy Koufax, ending his night. Howie Reed came in to pitch for Los Angeles and did a splendid job, retiring all six men to face him. The Dodgers eventually won, 5-3.

But could Koufax get back to where he was earlier in the season? The answer came in Sandy's next start, at home versus Chicago on September 9th. All 27 men he faced were retired. A perfect game. And the Dodgers gave him just one run to work with.

Koufax was brilliant in that outing, fanning eight of the last ten men to come to the dish. The Cubs, though, actually beat the Dodgers 2-1 a week later. Bob Hendley, who'd given up just one hit over eight innings in that heartbreaking 1-0 on the ninth, went all the way, limiting the Dodgers to just one run on four hits over nine innings.

The Los Angeles lefty kept pace with Hendley until the bottom of the sixth, when Billy Williams hit a two-run shot off Koufax, breaking a scoreless deadlock. It was Sandy's eight loss of the season. But, he also had twenty-two wins. And it was still early in September.

From there, though, Sandy looked unbeatable. He even picked up a save just two nights after losing to the Cubs. That September 16th outing was a rare relief appearance, but seemed to get Sandy Koufax back on track. He shutout the Cardinals in his next start. After getting routed by the Milwaukee Braves on the September 22nd, Koufax won his last three starts to finish the season 26-8. In those 27 innings pitched, the opposition scored one run, total against him. Sandy had 38 strikeouts.

After losing game two of the World Series against the Minnesota Twins, Sandy Koufax pitched a shutout on a nice four-hitter in game five. The Fall Classic of 1965 went the distance, with Koufax winning game seven, again with a shutout. The poor Twins managed just three hits in the finale.

1966 appeared to be "Just another excellent year" for Sandy Koufax. Sadly, though, it would be his last. Koufax had a brilliant season. He won 27 games. Posted a league-leading 1.73 earned run average. His 317 strikeouts led the National League. It was the fourth time he'd topped the Senior Circuit in that stat. He was only 30 years ago, and clearly at the peak of his career. But the arthritis in his left arm was too much, and after the season, the great Dodger announced his retirement.

The Houston Astros did not have a good season in 1966. They did win a franchise-best (To that point) 72 games. However, they were clearly not in the class of Los Angeles Dodgers. But, the grass of the Astrodome was gone, so it was sort of a new ballpark. Replacing it was astroturf, a new artificial surface that wasn't easy on the body.

Koufax would pitch twice in Houston in '66, and won both his appearances. On June 22nd, Sandy beat Houston 5-2, despite allowing ten hits in nine innings. The complete game victory ran his win-loss record to an amazing 13-2.

August 5th was a bit easier. But Sandy Koufax lasted just six innings. However, he fanned ten, allowed just a single run on five hits, and was the winning pitcher in a 12-1 rout. His record was now 18-5.

Sandy Koufax actually lost three games in August, but was simply lights out in September. 6-1, 1.50 earned run average. Batters hit .187 off him. The Los Angeles Dodgers won the pennant again that year. For Sandy, it was the sixth pennant-winning team he'd be a part of in his twelve-year career. The Dodgers went into the World Series that season against Baltimore, looking for their fifth World Championship in the last twelve years. Koufax's arrival in 1955 had been a good luck charm. But it was the Dodgers that had suddenly ran out of luck in the 1966 World Series.

Don Drysdale took the hill in game one (At home)) and was quickly knocked out. In two innings, Don allowed four hits and four runs. Baltimore pitcher Dave McNally faired no better, however. In less than three innings (Two and a third), the lefty allowed two hits, two runs and walked five. That's when reliever Moe Drabowski came in and shut the door on the Dodgers. The Baltimore Orioles were about to apply a humiliation on their opponents. The bases were loaded, and the O's were clinging a to a 4-1 lead, but the Dodgers offence was about to die, right there in the third frame.

Drabowski went to work. Wes Parker fanned. Jim Gilliam walked. It was the fourth walked that an Oriole pitcher had permitted in the inning. But Johnny Roseboro popped out, and that was it, believe me!

Moe went on to fan eleven batters in his 6 2/3 innings pitched (And Drabowski tied a Fall Classic record with six of those in a row, in addition to recording the most K's of any reliever in a single World Series contest), and Baltimore had themselves the game they needed on the road, 5-2.

Koufax trotted to the hill in the second contest and looked like he could get the Dodgers even. Through four innings he put nothing but goose eggs on the scoreboard. But the Orioles Jim Palmer was doing the same to the Dodgers. Three errors by centre fielder Willie Davis led to three unearned runs. Los Angeles did not score in the bottom of the fifth. But Baltimore went back to work against Sandy Koufax in the top of the sixth. They did not benefit from any errors by Los Angeles in this half-inning. However, they tacked on a fourth run.

Frank Robinson greeted Koufax with a leadoff triple to right. Brooks Robinson (Not related to Frank) popped up. But then Boog Powell singled home Frank Robinson. Davey Johnson singled. Ron Fairly, the Los Angeles right fielder, tried to stop Powell from getting to third. But a bad throw saw Baltimore end up with two more runners in scoring position. The poor Los Angeles Dodgers had committed four errors in two innings.

Paul Blair was put on first, loading 'em up. But Sandy Koufax got Andy Etchebarren via the strikeout. As it turns out, this would be the last batter Sandy Koufax ever faced. And it was fitting that he'd fan 'em.

Ron Perranoski relieved Koufax after Jim Palmer got the Dodgers out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Perranoski had a nice 1-2-3 inning of his own in the top of the seventh, but where was the offence of Los Angeles? It was nowhere.

Certainly the offence of the Orioles was not lacking, as Perranoski would soon find out. Actually, it was Ron who made the sixth Dodger error of the contest in the eighth inning. It came when Davey Johnson singled, the ball hitting the Los Angeles' pitcher. Frank Robinson scored from third. In desperation, Perranoski tried to at least get Johnson at first. The throw went wide. That enabled the other Robinson, Brooks, to score. 6-0, O's. That ended up being the final score.

Baltimore didn't stop there. They ended up sweeping Los Angeles after beating 'em by the score of 1-0 in the next two games. A shocking sweep against a team that had thoroughly dominated the National League with it's pitching.

And a big part of the pitching was Sandy Koufax. The arthritis had been bothering him since August of 1964. You wouldn't know that from his stats. Sandy won 53 games. But the team doctor had told Koufax he could not pitch past this (1966) season, given the damage to his arm. So, it was on November 18th that the great Dodger announced his retirement.


References


Fonseca, Lew, director. World Series of 1966Youtube, Major League Baseball Productions, 1966, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8UtDDl21eQ. Accessed 16 Dec. 2021.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed., St. Martin's Press, 1992.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-By-Year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Publications International LTD, 1993.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. https://www.baseball-reference.com/. 04 Dec. 2021.

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page. 16 Dec. 2021.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

No Jenks For Bobby In 2008, Part 2

Now, for some serious meat and potatoes on Bobby Jenks' 2008 outstanding relief season for the Chicago White Sox.

First, I should get out of the way that Bobby was not the most overpowering pitcher in the Sox's bullpen that year. I'd be talking about Octavio Dotel if you wanted strikeouts. Dotel fanned 92 batters in just 67 innings of work. Our boy Bobby Jenks managed just 38 in 61 2/3 innings. 

But does that tell the entire story? Jenks converted 30 out of 34 save opportunities for an .882 save percentage. Bobby was exclusively a closer that year, as he picked up not a single save. That duty was for Dotel, who recorded 21 holds. The rest of the bullpen chipped in to for Bobby Jenks. Matt Thornton had 20 and newcomer (To the White Sox) Scott Linebrink had 19.

Back, for a moment, to the subject of saves. Jenks placed eight in the American League, in a year that no one was catching the runaway leader, Francisco Rodríguez, who ended up with a remarkable total of 62. Mariano Rivera had 39, but that was 23 back of the league leader.

Jenks also cracked the top ten in save percentage, as only nine relievers converted better. However, among relievers with thirty or more saves, only five pitchers finished with a higher save percentage than Bobby Jenks.

Jenks 2.63 earned run average was tops on the Chicago White Sox relief corps. Only Matt Thornton's 2.67 was close. Veteran Mike MacDougal finished 2008 with a 2.16 ERA, but in only 16 appearances. So that really shouldn't count.

Walks and hits allowed per inning pitch might be a bit of a harder sell. There were other Chicago relievers better than Jenks' 1.103. Thornton, for instance, was below 1.000 (0.995) and Linebrink was right around that (1.079).

But the only other reliever to come close to Bobby Jenks' 2.5 wins above replacement was Matt Thornton's 2.4. Octavio Dotel, for all of his greatness, was merely a 0.7.

So Bobby Jenks had certainly established himself as The Man from the Chicago White Sox bullpen. But 2008 would prove to be the apex of Jenks' career. Although he added 29 more saves the following season, Bobby's earned run average was 3.71. In 2010, it was 4.44 despite another 27 saves.

From there, Bobby Jenks signed with Boston, but things didn't go as well as the Red Sox and he hoped. Back in 2007, Bobby had been so dominant that at one time, he retired 41 consecutive batters. Suddenly, Jenks was having problems any batter.

After four consecutive scoreless appearances to start 2011, things went downhill fast for Bobby Jenks. In his very next outing on April 15th, he gave up four earned runs to Toronto. He'd end up spending considerable time on the disable list that season (Jenks was on the DL three times that year), finishing it just 2-2 with an ERA of 6.32.

Surgery in the offseason did not go well for Bobby Jenks. And it led to his release from the Red Sox in July of 2012. Bobby then retired.

Greatest Relief Seasons of All-Time Stat Set 2


Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Bernhard 1899 0 ? ? ? 2.65 23 1.6 1.179 2.0
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Walsh 1904 1 ? ? ? 2.60 57 4.6 1.102 0.1
                     
Griffith 1905 1 ? ? ? 1.68 46 4.1 0.954 3.3
                     
Ferguson 1906 7 ? ? ? 2.58 32 5.5 1.280 0.2
                     
Keefe 1907 3 ? ? ? 2.50 20 3.1 1.387 2.0
                     
Chappelle 1908 0 ? ? ? 1.79 23 2.9 1.095 0.3
                     
Leever 1909 2 ? ? ? 2.83 23 3.0 1.257 -0.1
                     
Dygert 1909 0 ? ? ? 2.42 79 5.2 1.216 -0.4
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Phillipe 1910 4 ? ? ? 2.29 30 2.2 0.986 2.0
                     
Benz 1911 0 ? ? ? 2.26 28 4.5 1.168 0.7
                     
Baskette 1912 1 ? ? ? 3.18 51 4.0 1.336 2.2
                     
Crandall 1913 6 ? ? ? 2.86 42 3.9 1.290 0.5
                     
Wolfgang 1914 0 ? ? ? 1.89 50 3.8 1.073 1.8
                     
Bressler 1914 2 ? ? ? 1.77 96 5.9 1.138 3.5
                     
Conzelman 1914 2 ? ? ? 2.94 39 3.5 1.267 0.8
                     
Mays 1915 7 ? ? ? 2.60 65 4.4 1.063 1.0
                     
Hughes 1916 5 1 0.833 ? 2.35 97 5.4 1.068 2.5
                     
Danforth 1917 9 ? ? ? 2.65 79 4.1 1.324 3.2
                     
Bender 1917 2 ? ? ? 1.67 43 3.4 0.973 3.7
                     
Coumbe 1917 5 2 0.714 1 2.14 30 2.0 1.146 1.1
                     
Dubuc 1919 3 ? ? ? 2.66 32 2.2 1.182 0.6
                     
Luque 1919 3 0 1.000 ? 2.63 26 3.4 1.179 1.1
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Morton 1921 1 ? ? ? 2.76 45 3.8 1.207 2.3
                     
Baumgartner 1925 3 ? ? ? 3.57 18 1.4 1.368 2.5
                     
Marberry 1926 22 ? ? ? 3.00 43 2.8 1.348 3.1
                     
Clark 1927 2 ? ? ? 2.32 32 2.3 1.262 2.8
                     
Haid 1928 5 ? ? ? 2.30 21 4.0 1.064 0.4
                     
Rommel 1929 4 1 0.800 1 2.85 25 2.0 1.484 1.6
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Lindsey 1931 7 1 0.875 ? 2.77 32 3.9 1.634 1.1
                     
Quinn 1932 13 ? ? ? 2.66 24 3.5 1.383 1.1
                     
Russell 1933 13 ? ? ? 2.69 28 2.0 1.218 3.1
                     
Malone 1936 9 1 0.900 0 3.81 72 4.8 1.515 2.9
                     
Brown 1938 5 ? ? ? 3.80 55 3.7 1.500 0.4
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Beggs 1940 7 4 0.636 0 2.00 25 2.9 1.161 2.2
                     
Murphy 1941 15 7 0.682 0 1.98 29 3.4 1.397 2.2
                     
Adams 1943 9 2 0.818 0 2.82 46 3.0 1.254 3.0
                     
Heving 1944 10 ? ? 0 1.96 46 3.5 1.228 1.9
                     
Maltzberger 1944 12 ? ? 0 2.96 49 4.8 1.095 1.8
                     
Berry 1944 12 4 0.750 0 1.94 44 3.6 0.907 3.7
                     
Karl 1945 15 1 0.938 1 2.99 51 2.5 1.245 3.6
                     
Christopher 1947 12 2 0.857 0 2.90 33 3.7 1.277 1.4
                     
Wilks 1948 13 1 0.929 1 2.62 72 4.9 1.163 4.8
                     
Page 1949 27 11 0.711 0 2.59 99 6.6 1.315 4.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Konstanty 1950 22 4 0.846 0 2.66 56 3.3 1.039 4.7
                     
Aloma 1951 3 1 0.750 0 1.82 25 3.2 1.096 3.2
                     
Wilhelm 1952 11 1 0.917 1 2.43 108 6.1 1.155 2.7
                     
Paige 1952 10 5 0.667 1 3.07 91 5.9 1.254 3.4
                     
Kinder 1953 27 8 0.771 4 1.85 39 3.3 1.140 4.5
                     
Mossi 1954 7 0 1.000 0 1.94 55 5.3 1.022 3.3
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Narleski 1955 19 2 0.905 6 3.71 94 7.6 1.281 2.5
                     
Craig 1955 2 0 1.000 0 2.78 48 4.8 1.368 1.8
                     
Freeman 1956 18 3 0.857 2 3.40 50 4.1 1.344 2.6
                     
Farrell 1957 10 3 0.769 0 2.38 54 5.8 1.320 2.4
                     
Zuverink 1957 9 8 0.529 0 2.48 36 2.9 1.278 2.7
                     
Hyde 1958 18 5 0.783 0 1.75 49 4.3 1.136 4.9
                     
Duren 1959 14 7 0.667 1 1.88 96 11.3 1.200 3.8
                     
Staley 1959 15 4 0.789 2 2.24 54 4.2 1.169 2.5
                     
Face 1959 10 9 0.526 1 2.70 69 6.7 1.243 3.2
                     
Sherry 1959 3 1 0.750 0 2.19 23 6.9 1.251 3.6
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
McDaniel 1960 26 6 0.813 1 1.29 95 8.2 0.863 6.0
                     
Brosnan 1960 12 2 0.857 2 2.36 62 5.6 1.020 2.7
                     
Arroyo 1961 29 10 0.744 1 2.19 87 6.6 1.109 3.3
                     
Fox 1961 12 2 0.857 3 1.41 32 5.0 1.012 2.6
                     
Radatz 1963 25 3 0.893 0 1.97 162 11.0 1.096 5.7
                     
Perranoski 1963 21 8 0.724 0 1.67 75 5.2 1.202 4.5
                     
Baldschun 1963 16 5 0.762 1 2.30 89 7.0 1.240 2.0
                     
Lee 1964 19 8 0.704 1 1.51 111 7.3 1.058 4.3
                     
Ellis 1964 14 2 0.875 1 2.57 125 9.2 1.054 3.1
                     
Hall 1964 9 2 0.818 2 1.85 52 5.3 0.844 3.0
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Miller 1965 24 1 0.960 1 1.89 104 7.8 0.997 4.3
                     
Regan 1966 21 7 0.750 1 1.62 88 6.8 0.934 5.0
                     
Hoerner 1966 13 3 0.813 4 1.54 63 7.5 1.026 3.0
                     
Drabowsky 1967 12 5 0.706 3 1.60 96 9.1 0.955 3.2
                     
Abernathy 1967 28 6 0.824 1 1.27 88 7.4 0.978 6.2
                     
Wyatt 1967 20 4 0.833 2 2.60 68 6.6 1.179 2.2
                     
Wood 1968 16 5 0.762 7 1.87 74 4.2 1.006 5.4
                     
V. Romo 1968 12 3 0.800 1 1.60 54 5.8 0.901 2.8
                     
Segui 1968 6 1 0.857 4 2.39 72 7.8 1.000 1.3
                     
Tatum 1969 22 1 0.957 2 1.36 65 6.8 1.042 4.3
                     
Watt 1969 16 5 0.762 1 1.65 46 5.8 1.056 1.9
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Williams 1970 15 4 0.789 7 1.99 76 6.0 1.032 2.8
                     
McMahon 1970 19 5 0.792 0 2.96 74 7.1 1.219 3.0
                     
Grant 1970 24 3 0.889 2 1.86 58 3.9 1.064 4.9
                     
Richert 1970 13 4 0.765 3 1.98 66 10.9 1.098 2.3
                     
Sanders 1971 31 4 0.886 0 1.91 80 5.3 1.064 4.1
                     
Carroll 1971 15 6 0.714 4 2.50 64 6.1 1.281 1.8
                     
Giusti 1972 22 5 0.815 0 1.93 54 6.5 1.058 2.3
                     
Knowles 1972 11 3 0.786 5 1.37 36 4.9 1.310 2.5
                     
Brewer 1972 17 7 0.708 0 1.26 69 7.9 0.843 3.5
                     
Hiller 1973 38 4 0.905 0 1.44 124 8.9 1.021 8.1
                     
Borbon 1973 14 5 0.737 6 2.16 60 4.5 1.421 2.5
                     
Beene 1973 1 0 1.000 0 1.68 49 4.8 1.033 3.0
                     
Marshall 1974 21 12 0.636 9 2.42 143 6.2 1.186 3.1
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Gossage 1975 26 5 0.839 1 1.84 130 8.3 1.193 8.2
                     
Hrabosky 1975 22 6 0.786 3 1.66 82 7.6 1.097 3.9
                     
McEnaney 1975 15 4 0.789 11 2.47 48 4.7 1.264 1.5
                     
Eastwick 1976 26 9 0.743 1 2.09 70 5.9 1.115 2.8
                     
Lyle 1977 26 8 0.765 1 2.17 68 4.5 1.197 3.7
                     
Sutter 1977 31 9 0.775 0 1.34 129 10.8 0.857 6.5
                     
Johnson 1977 15 7 0.682 1 3.13 87 5.3 1.806 2.5
                     
Stanley 1978 10 5 0.667 1 2.60 38 2.2 1.242 4.1
                     
Blair 1978 28 5 0.848 2 1.97 91 8.2 1.246 4.1
                     
Lolich 1978 1 0 1.000 2 1.56 13 3.4 1.183 1.1
                     
Tekulve 1979 31 6 0.838 8 2.79 75 5.0 1.176 3.2
                     
Lopez 1979 21 5 0.808 1 2.41 106 7.5 1.150 5.3
                     
Davis 1979 9 10 0.474 2 2.85 43 4.5 1.313 2.2
                     
E.Romo 1979 5 8 0.385 12 2.99 106 7.4 1.276 1.8
                     
Monge 1979 19 7 0.731 5 2.40 108 7.4 1.221 3.0
                     
Sosa 1979 18 7 0.720 4 1.96 59 5.5 1.179 3.1
                     
Palmer 1979 2 1 0.667 0 2.64 72 5.3 1.141 2.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
McGraw 1980 20 5 0.800 0 1.46 75 7.3 0.921 4.7
                     
Garvin 1980 8 5 0.615 5 2.29 52 5.7 1.173 3.4
                     
Fingers 1981 28 6 0.824 0 1.04 61 7.0 0.872 4.2
                     
Caudill 1982 26 6 0.813 0 2.35 111 10.4 1.045 4.4
                     
Reardon 1982 26 8 0.765 2 2.06 86 7.1 1.128 3.5
                     
L.Smith 1983 29 4 0.879 1 1.65 91 7.9 1.074 4.8
                     
Stewart 1983 8 5 0.615 5 2.60 78 5.2 1.237 3.1
                     
Quisenberry 1983 45 8 0.849 0 1.94 48 3.1 0.928 5.5
                     
Orosco 1983 17 5 0.773 1 1.47 84 6.9 1.036 3.8
                     
Hernandez 1984 32 1 0.970 0 1.92 112 7.2 0.941 4.8
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Lamp 1985 2 5 0.286 8 3.32 68 5.8 1.164 1.3
                     
B.Smith 1985 27 6 0.818 1 2.27 40 4.5 1.084 1.6
                     
Lahti 1985 19 1 0.950 6 1.84 41 5,4 1.302 2.3
                     
D. Moore 1985 31 8 0.795 0 1.92 72 6.3 1.087 3.6
                     
Eichhorn 1986 10 4 0.714 7 1.72 166 9.5 0.955 7.4
                     
Righetti 1986 46 10 0.821 0 2.45 83 7.0 1.153 3.8
                     
Todd Worrell 1986 36 10 0.783 0 2.08 73 6.3 1.225 2.5
                     
Henke 1987 34 8 0.810 1 2.49 128 12.3 0.926 3.3
                     
Burke 1987 18 4 0.818 5 1.19 58 5.7 0.890 4.3
                     
Dayley 1987 4 6 0.400 6 2.66 63 9.3 1.393 1.5
                     
Henneman 1988 22 7 0.759 2 1.87 58 5.7 1.051 3.3
                     
Parrett 1988 6 4 0.600 2 2.65 62 6.1 1.211 1.6
                     
Pena 1988 12 2 0.857 9 1.91 83 7.9 1.081 1.7
                     
Lancaster 1989 8 3 0.727 7 1.36 56 6.9 1.032 3.9
                     
Russell 1989 38 6 0.864 0 1.98 77 9.5 0.950 2.5
                     
McDowell 1989 23 5 0.821 2 1.96 47 4.6 1.272 1.2
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Eckersley 1990 48 2 0.960 0 0.61 73 9.0 0.614 3.3
                     
Thigpen 1990 57 8 0.877 0 1.83 70 7.1 1.038 3.4
                     
Nelson 1990 5 3 0.625 18 1.57 38 4.6 0.964 2.3
                     
Dibble 1990 11 6 0.647 17 1.74 136 12.5 0.980 4.0
                     
Henry 1991 15 1 0.938 3 1.00 28 7.0 0.833 2.2
                     
Aguilera 1991 42 9 0.824 0 2.35 61 8.0 1.072 2.4
                     
Ward 1992 12 4 0.750 24 1.95 103 9.1 1.135 3.1
                     
Rojas 1992 10 1 0.909 13 1.43 70 6.3 1.043 3.9
                     
Olin 1992 29 7 0.806 0 2.34 47 4.8 1.211 2.7
                     
Wetteland 1993 43 1 0.977 0 1.37 113 12.0 1.008 4.2
                     
Harvey 1993 45 4 0.918 0 1.70 73 9.5 0.841 4.0
                     
Beck 1993 48 4 0.923 0 2.16 86 9.8 0.882 2.4
                     
Martinez 1993 2 1 0.667 14 2.61 119 10.0 1.243 3.0
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Hoffman 1998 53 1 0.981 0 1.48 86 10.6 0.849 4.1
                     
Urbina 1998 34 4 0.895 0 1.30 94 12.2 1.010 3.2
                     
Williamson 1999 19 7 0.731 5 2.41 107 10.3 1.039 2.8
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Rhodes 2001 3 4 0.429 31 1.72 83 11.0 0.853 2.5
                     
Smoltz 2003 45 4 0.918 0 1.12 73 10.2 0.870 3.3
                     
Tim Worrell 2003 38 7 0.844 1 2.87 65 7.5 1.302 0.8
                     
Cormier 2003 1 3 0.250 13 1.70 67 7.1 0.933 2.6
                     
Timlin 2005 13 7 0.650 24 2.24 59 6.6 1.320 2.9
                     
Nathan 2006 36 2 0.947 0 1.58 95 12.5 0.790 3.3
                     
Ryan 2006 38 4 0.905 1 1.37 86 10.7 0.857 3.6
                     
Putz 2007 40 2 0.952 0 1.38 82 10.3 0.698 4.0
                     
Rivera 2008 39 1 0.975 0 1.40 77 9.8 0.665 4.3
                     
Jenks 2008 30 4 0.882 0 2.63 38 5.5 1.103 2.5
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Bell 2010 47 3 0.940 0 1.93 86 11.1 1.200 1.9
                     
Soriano 2010 45 3 0.938 0 1.73 57 8.2 0.802 2.1
                     
Aceves 2011 2 3 0.400 11 2.61 80 6.3 1.105 2.7
                     
Axford 2011 46 2 0.958 0 1.95 86 10.5 1.140 2.3
                     
Downs 2011 1 3 0.250 26 1.34 35 5.9 1.006 2.0
                     
Cook 2012 14 7 0.667 21 2.09 80 9.8 0.941 2.6
                     
Chapman 2012 38 5 0.884 6 1.51 122 15.3 0.809 3.6
                     
Johnson 2012 51 3 0.944 0 2.49 41 5.4 1.019 2.4
                     
Smyly 2013 2 4 0.333 21 2.37 81 9.6 1.039 2.6
                     
Davis 2014 3 3 0.500 33 1.00 109 13.6 0.847 3.7
                     
Clippard 2014 1 6 0.143 40 2.18 82 10.5 0.995 1.5
                     
Rondon 2015 30 4 0.882 8 1.67 69 8.6 1.000 2.2
                     
O'Day 2015 6 5 0.545 18 1.52 82 11.3 0.934 2.7
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Britton 2016 47 0 1.000 0 0.54 75 9.9 0.836 4.2
                     
Osuna 2016 36 6 0.857 0 2.68 82 10.0 0.932 2.1
                     
Brach 2016 2 5 0.286 24 2.05 92 10.5 1.038 2.5
                     
Miller 2016 12 2 0.857 25 1.45 123 14.9 0.686 3.8
                     
Robertson 2017 14 2 0.875 8 1.84 98 12.9 0.849 2.9
                     
Jansen 2017 41 1 0.976 1 1.32 109 14.4 0.746 2.9
                     
Albers 2017 2 4 0.333 14 1.62 63 9.3 0.852 2.5
                     
Kimbrel 2017 35 4 0.897 1 1.43 126 16.4 0.681 3.6
                     
Morrow 2018 22 2 1.158 0 1.47 31 9.1 1.076 1.4
                     
Trivino 2018 4 5 0.444 23 2.92 82 10.0 1.135 1.5
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR
                     
Treinen 2018 38 5 0.884 5 0.78 100 11.2 0.834 4.1
                     
Jeffress 2018 15 5 0.750 18 1.29 89 10.4 0.991 3.3
                     
Yarbrough 2018 0 0 0.000 1 3.91 128 7.8 1.290 1.1
                     
Hader 2018 12 5 0.706 21 2.43 243 15.8 0.811 2.1
                     
Strop 2018 13 4 0.765 9 2.26 57 8.6 0.989 2.1
                     
Workman 2019 16 6 0.727 15 1.88 104 13.1 1.033 3.2
                     
Robles 2019 23 4 0.852 2 2.48 75 9.3 1.018 2.6
                     
Walden 2019 2 4 0.333 8 3.81 76 8.8 1.192 1.2
                     
W.Smith 2019 34 4 0.895 0 2.76 96 13.2 1.026 0.4
                     
Oberg 2019 5 3 0.625 8 2.25 58 9.3 1.107 2.4
                     
Littell 2019 0 1 0.000 1 2.68 32 7.8 1.162 0.9
                     
Whitlock 2021 2 3 0.400 15 1.96 81 9.9 1.105 2.9
                     
Pitcher Year S BS S% H ERA K K/9 WHIP WAR

Notes


Hughes appeared as a starter thirteen times.

Baumgartner and Bernhard appeared as a starter twelve times.

Wolfgang and Baskette appeared as a starter eleven times.

Craig and Coumbe appeared as a starter ten times.

Danforth, Malone, Stewart, Sherry, Luque and Conzelman 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, Aceves and Beene 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, Martinez, Clark and Lolich appeared as a starter two times.

Beggs, Quinn, Narleski, McGraw, Aloma, Robles, Ferguson, Vincente Romo, and Trivino appeared once as a starter.

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


References


“Remember That Guy: Dustin Hermanson.” NBC Sports Chicago, National Broadcasting Company, 28 Mar. 2020, https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/remember-guy-dustin-hermanson. 02 Dec. 2021.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. https://www.baseball-reference.com/. 02 Dec. 2021.

Tehrani, James. “Bobby Jenks Interview: A 'Concurrent' Curveball.” Sphera, Sphera, 18 May 2020, https://sphera.com/spark/a-concurrent-curveball-spark-magazine-sphera/. 02 Dec. 2021.

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 02 Dec. 2021.