What's in the water this year?
And, if you're a ML pitcher looking for a no-no, just wait til your next start vs. the Rays.
That's.....what?.....5 no-hitters this season?!
What's in the water this year?
And, if you're a ML pitcher looking for a no-no, just wait til your next start vs. the Rays.
That's.....what?.....5 no-hitters this season?!
amazing what no steriods does to baseball
That should have no effect on these no-hitters. Yeah, no 'roids means fewer HRs, but to break up a no-hitter an infield single or a blooper will do.
I like strong pitching. I was a huge Orioles' fan "back in the day" with Jim Palmer, et al and a big Braves' fan when they had Maddox, Glavine, Smoltz......
But, this is highly unusual. And it's till June! How many more to come?
I agree to a point, but you still have to have the hand-eye coordination to put the bat on the ball. I think pitchers are just better right now. Baseball is the most cyclical of all sports and I think the next few years will be a pitching era as it was in the 60's.
Not many will agree with this...but...whatever it is, it's kinda nice to see good, if not great pitching, instead of gorilla's hitting it to the moon every other at bat. (I'm old school by the way) :icon_wink:
Roids, or lack there of, definitely play apart in this. A blooper will do, but you have to think how many one and two hit performances there are with roids in the picture. Now take the enhancers out of the picture...every hit that used to have just enough pop to get through the middle of the infield, or find the gap, or hit the wall now doesn't. The shortstop has the extra split second to cover, the ball that used to it the wall is caught at the warning track. And strength doesn't just apply to how far the ball flies but how quickly they can get around on a 95 mph fastball to maybe at least fight off a foul ball. It does enhance the pitchers chances of throwing a no-no.
Tampa Bay Rays are on ESPN now. 'Nuff said.
Added in edit: Another no-hitter. Matt Garza of the Rays no-hits the Tigers.
The last time five no hitters were thrown was 1991. Were roids rampant back then?
I dont know what is crazier, 5 no-hitters. Or 3 of them have dealt with the Tampa Bay Rays.
I saw Tim Kurkijan (sp) on ESPN this morning talking about the improved pitching in baseball and the inordinate amount of no-hitters and perfect games this season.
He talked about Tony Gwynn trying to teach his son about hitting in the major leagues, but he said that Tony is having difficulty. According to Kurkijan, Gwynn said that when he came up the Padres had one pitcher who was able to throw a fast ball 92 MPH. Today, he said it is not uncommon for a team to have three guys who can throw 98 MPH or more. That might not sound like much difference if you think of it in terms of driving a car, but it's a huge difference when you are standing at the plate.
I'm actually glad to see it. Baseball relied on the long ball to sell the sport for too long. That is partly what led to the steroid problem. Prior to the roid era, good pitching was one of the best parts of baseball, but it was overshadowed for many years. I'm glad it's making a comeback.