rkp@drutx.UUCP (Pierce) (07/18/84)
>Gooden does have outings which he shows some control difficulties, but >rarely are they serious enough to cause him to walk as many as, say, >four batters a game. Gooden consistently puts in seven innings a start, >and he almost always keeps his club in the game. What more can you ask >of a starter? Well, the only thing I've had to cheer about the Braves how they bombed Gooden. He went 7 innings, had 10 strikeouts, had 6 walks and gave up 5 earned runs. Go Braves (as they sink into the west.....) Russ Pierce drutx!rkp
rkp@drutx.UUCP (Pierce) (07/21/84)
I agree that Gooden has potential. I good point that was made during a game the other week was that most good pitchers (Koufax, Gibson, etc.) would set up their change-up with the fastball. They all admitted that most of their strikeouts came on curves and change-of-pace pitches. So like the man said: "Strikeout by the fastball, gopher by the fastball." Russ Pierce Denver, CO P.S. What about Jerry Koosman? He KO'd the Braves again last night. I think he must be getting better with age.
david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin) (07/23/84)
I've had enough of the stereotypes. Let's explode them all.
(1) "Gooden walks too many batters." We all know Gooden walked six
guys in seven innings in Atlanta last week, and there was a game at
Shea against Houston and a start in Chicago where he also issued too
many free passes. That's THREE games where Gooden has walked five or
more batters (I'm not even sure he was around long enough in that
Houston game to do so, but we'll give him the "malefit" of the
doubt). I don't think there were any games among his 15 or so other
starts where he did that.
(2) "Gooden has one pitch." He came up with a tremendous curve that he
often uses as his strikeout pitch, and most days he can get it over
the plate (the above mentioned games being obvious exceptions). He is
also now developing a change-up which, while not the caliber of
Soto's, does show significant promise. He seems to learn quickly.
(3) "Gooden gives up the gopher ball." The biggest lie. Gooden has
given up only four home runs all year---two of them in that start in
Atlanta which apparently is the only impression many have of him.
(4) "Gooden gives up lots of runs." His ERA is 2.91.
It seems many in net land have strong negative stereotypes of power
pitchers, i.e. they are all like Nolan Ryan on a BAD day. I will
concede that, like Ryan, Gooden will live by the curve or die by the
fastball. However, the indications are that, unlike Ryan, Gooden
usually does have control of his curve.
Gooden still is at the "potential" stage, but there is no evidence
which suggests that he will not reach the "talent" stage. He may not,
of course, but those who have proclaimed it doubtful he will are
either born pessimists or long-suffering Met fans (there's a
difference?!?).
David Rubin
{allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!david