Three Random thoughts from an old brain—or what’s left of it.

At First Glance

We’ve all watched the scene play out a million times.

The manager slowly walks from the dugout to the mound.  The starting pitcher does his very best imitation of a three-year-old who doesn’t want to go to bed before finally handing over the ball and stalking to the dugout.

Fans and pundits alike sing the praises of the pitcher’s competitive nature.

The outcome of the game in now in the hands of the bullpen, and the starter is at risk for the dreaded No-Decision.

But which major league pitchers have accumulated the most No-Decision starts this season?  Here’s the “Top Ten” in each league.

                                                          American League

Pitcher Team No-Decisions Games Started ND%
Derek Holland Texas 10 26 38%
Justin Masterson Cleveland 10 27 37%
Carl Pavano Minnesota 10 26 38%
Josh Beckett Boston 9 25 36%
Nick Blackburn Minnesota 9 26 35%
Mark Buehrle Chicago 9 25 36%
Dan Haren Los Angeles 9 27 33%
Luke Hochevar Kansas City 9 27 33%
Ervin Santana Los Angeles 9 26 35%
C.J. Wilson Texas 9 27 33%

101997430_crop_340x234 Marlins' Anibel Sanchez

 

                                                          National League

Pitcher Team No-Decisions Games Started ND%
Anibel Sanchez Florida 13 26 50%
Shaun Marcum Milwaukee 12 27 44%
Bud Norris Houston 12 26 46%
Brandon Beachy Atlanta 11 19 58%
Chris Carpenter St. Louis 11 27 41%
Jaime Garcia St. Louis 11 27 41%
James McDonald Pittsburgh 11 25 44%
Brett Myers Houston 11 27 41%
R. A. Dickey New York 10 26 38%
Jason Marquis Wash/Ariz 10 23 43%
Mike Pelfrey New York 10 27 37%

121148998_crop_340x234 PHOENIX, AZ - AUGUST 14: Starting pitcher Jason Marquis #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts after injuring his leg while pitching against the New York Mets during the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on August 14, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

 

Ball Two—Just a Bit Outside

At the trading deadline, the Arizona Diamondbacks bolstered their starting rotation with the acquisition of Jason Marquis from the Washington Nationals.

Marquis had started 20 games for the Nats, compiling an 8-5 record.  The team had won 13 of those 20 games in all.

And all this for a team that was 11 games under .500 after Marquis’s final starting assignment.

Marquis seemed an excellent pick-up by the D’backs, a strong contender in the N.L. West.

Then, on August 14, in only his third start, Marquis suffered a season-ending leg injury.

Big-Time Ouch, for both player and team, huh?

Perhaps this is a time when a No-Decision would have been a good thing.

Now, that’s “Just a Bit Outside.”

 

85955584_crop_340x234 Verbose Vin

Strike Three

Our sports autumn appears as if it will arrive without the NBA.

Not a good happenstance for a “Couch Potato” like Abacus (especially when you’re as old as the abacus).

Thank goodness for the MLB network.

Their library of Classic Games is extraordinary.

If you should happen to notice a replay of any (most likely the seventh) game of the 1965 World Series among your viewing options, go for it.

Not so much for the game itself, but rather to experience the most contrasting pair of broadcasters imaginable.

Vin Scully, in merely his second decade with the Dodgers, was teamed with the lead announcer of the Minnesota Twins.

Old-timers will recognize this guy as a long-time NFL play-by-play man for CBS—Ray Scott.

Verbose Vin, the story teller and Reticent Ray, who never met a sentence he didn’t want to shorten.

Two peas from opposite ends of the pod.

It’s really very interesting, you’d be surprised.

And besides, you’re likely to see Sandy Koufax at his best.

Don’t forget to set that DVR.