I don't really object to the walks, except in how they contribute to the failure to get wins for the team he's pitching for.
But also, Feller led the league in walks four times, not eight as Ryan did. In three of those four seasons he also led in Innings Pitched. And he won 102 and lost 51, for a .667 PCT. ( I also see him leading in hits surrendered 3 times, not 4, but anyway...)
In Ryan's 8 seasons of leading in walks, he led in IP only once and won 135 and lost 117 (.536).
In other words, Feller figured out how to win early on despite the wildness, and went on to a .621 PCT lifetime. For Ryan, as many accounts have emphasized (see Posnanski's The Baseball 100), the walks were as much about trying to make that perfect untouchable pitch over and over as they were about actual wildness.
Another way to look at this: Feller won 82% of Ryan's wins while losing 55% of Ryan's losses. Detect a pattern here?
Quote:
Originally Posted by packs
I don't understand that perspective on Ryan at all. It is not uncommon for someone with a freakish arm like his to walk batters. It comes with the territory. You're asking for too much if you want a guy with an iron arm cannon and pinpoint control.
Look at Feller. He was Nolan Ryan before Nolan Ryan. Feller led the league in walks and strikeouts in the same season four times. Twice he led the league in wins, strikeouts, walks and hits surrendered.
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10-25-2024, 01:37 PM
Ryan and Feller
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