Whatever Happened To The Complete Game?

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When I signed on the Internet the morning after Game One of the World Series, I saw this picture and realized that Cliff Lee finished what he started.  Pitchers finishing what they started has become an increasingly rare occurrence.

The safest record in baseball and probably any other sport, is not Cy Young's 511 career wins, but his 750 complete games.  Taking away his 30 wins in relief meant he completed at least 269 games he did not win.  Babe Ruth finished 107 of his 163 starts and if there would have been a designated hitter, he may have challenged Young, but I doubt it; that was the Deadball Era.

Since baseball expanded to 24 teams in 1969, complete games have dramatically declined from 982 in 1969, to 893 in 1979, to 483 in 1989, to 236 in 1999, to 152 in 2009. 

Some highly ranked pitchers career starts and complete games are the following:

Cliff Lee 190/13

Tim Lincecum 89/6  

Roy Hallday 287/49

CC Sabbathnia 288/28

Roy Oswalt 271/18

John Beckett 225/9 

There are several reasons for this: 

1. The rise of THE closer  

In order for the Phillies to beat the Yankees, as they did not in Game Two. is not to get to Mariano Rivera, with only one blown save in the playoffs.  At almost the age of Brett Favre, Rivera looked like he could close games until he is 50. 

Since Nolan Ryan in 1999, no starting pitcher has been inducted into The Hail of Fame. Closers Dennis Eckersley, Bruce Sutter, and Goose Gossage have all been inducted.  It makes me wonder if I was a GM and had the next pick in the draft and if those three, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris and Frank Viola were available, who I would pick? Brad Lidge has not had nearly as good a year this year then he did last year.

Of course every team has its closer, many of whom make a lot more money than their No. 1 starter, like Cincinnati's Francesco Cordero makes a lot more than Aaron Harang.  It is almost like it is illegal to have anyone else finish a game with less than a four run lead. 

When the Padres were in the 1998 World Series, fans were holding up signs saying "Trevor Time,"  Bang, Bang, Bang.  See you later Trevor;he made $6 million last season in Milwaukee.

2. The Quick hook  

When Sparky Anderson managed the Reds in the World Series, he was known as "Captain Hook," for quickly removing pitchers.  In 1976, 33 of the Reds' 102 wins were complete games. In 2009 the Giants led the majors with 11.

In 1968, the year of the pitcher, the Giants had 77,  Most teams carry more pitchers than they used to carry.  Everyone has a "situational lefthander."  It is not uncommon for teams to use at least six pitchers in a nine inning game.

3. The pitch count  

In Game Four of the 1975 World Series, Luis Tiant made 163 pitches to go the distance in a 5-4 game, something that would be unthinkable now.  It seems that players get more credit for making an out after a 10 pitch at-bat, than a sharp single on the first pitch.  It seems that almost everyone is on a pitch count.

In times past almost no pitcher was removed while throwing a shutout.  The Dodgers led MLB in team ERA, had nine shutouts and one complete game.  Almost every team carries five starters, so not many pitchers are complaining of overwork in the big money era.  But it seems that there are just as many, if not more pitchers on the Disabled List.

4. Smaller ballparks  

Most new ballparks are "short porch" ballparks, ala Wrigley Field and Yankee stadium.  A lot of home runs are hit that used to be outs or extra base hits. 

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