Posted By:
jay behrensHere are some articles about Morris form respected writers:
Jayson Stark on Jack Morris today on ESPN.com --
Suppose we told you there was a pitcher on this ballot who won 36 more games than anyone else in the sport while he was in it? And suppose we told you this pitcher started three All-Star Games -- a feat surpassed, since the 1970s, by only Randy Johnson?
Then suppose we told you this guy pitched a no-hitter, was an Opening Day starter 14 times (more than any American Leaguer who ever lived), averaged 14 complete games a season for eight years and made 515 consecutive starts without missing a turn (a record at the time)?
Finally, suppose we told you he was one of the most fabled postseason
pitchers of his day, that he started Game 1 of the World Series for
three different Series champs and that he pitched all 10 innings of
possibly the greatest Game 7 shutout ever?
Would you say that guy was a Hall of Famer ...?
Murray Chass in the NY Times on Morris dominating his era:
Morris "had the most victories of any pitcher in the 1980's. But
figured differntly, he went through two other 10-yaer period in which he won even more games, 173 from 1979 through 1988 and 169 from 1983 through 1992." Chass points out that Roger Clemens' most victories in a 10-year period was 166.
So much for the if-you-didn't-pick-the-natural-decade-Morris-wasn't-that-good argument. Of course, he only won games, which so many of us on this list believe was little more than mere coincidence. But while Bill James told us eons ago that ERA is a better predictor of future wins than past wins are, he *didn't* say that high ERA is a good predictor of past wins. Morris was the exception that proves the rule. With only 33% of the vote, though even that's an improvement, Jack remains a longshot for the Hall.
back to my comments:
I was really surprised by the fact that Clemens never won more games in a 10 year period than Morris did. And 2 of the spans mentioned, 1980-89 and 1983-92 includes a year where Morris won only 6 games.
Jay
Wow upside down is Mom. Mom upside down is what dad wants to see.