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Michael W

Joined 12 months ago

  • 22 articles written
  • 275 comments posted
  • Syndicated Writer

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Michael 's Bio

I live in Indianapolis, a child of the 1970s. Played Little League Baseball, but drifted away from the game in High School. I am a numbers geek and they brought me back to the game. Once back, the history got me. I started working with the numbers and rating players. At that point, I realized that the most respected historians alive (like Bill James) have Starting Pitchers like George Uhle rated higher than Smoky Joe Wood. Trust me, Uhle was not better than Smoky Joe. If history is important, then let's get it right. That's my objective. Got a ton of respect for Bill James and what he started with his rating system, he's correct on 95% of the players he rates. I'm worried about the 5% that are mis-rated.

"There I was after the 1912 season, including the World Series I'd won 37 games and lost only 6, struck out 279 men in days when the boys didn't strike out much, and I'd beaten Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson one after the other. And do you know how old I was? Well, I was 22 years old, that's all...And do you know something else? That was it...My arm went bad...and all my dreams came tumbling down around my ears like a damn house of cards. The next 5 years, seems like it was nothing but one long terrible nightmare...The old zip was gone from the fast ball. It didn't hop any more, like it used to...Still, in 1915 I led the league with an ERA of 1.49...So in 1916 I didn't play at all. I retired. I stayed on the farm...Only 26 years old and all washed up. A has been...I stayed on the farm all through the 1916 season. That fall, though, I began to get restless...I could hit and I could run and I could field, and if I couldn't Pitch why couldn't I do something else?..1917, I was sold to the Indians...all of 27 years old and a relic from the distant past. I'd hear Fathers tell their kids, "See that guy over there? That's Smoky Joe Wood, used to be a great Pitcher long ago."..for 5 years I played the Outfield for Cleveland. In 1921 I hit .366."---Smoky Joe Wood, The best Player in the history of Major League Baseball that is NOT in the Hall of Fame

Michael Writes About

The Short List What Michael thinks about sport's most pressing questions

  • Favorite Athletes

    Tip O'Neill-Left Field (1880s), Billy Hamilton-Center Field (1890s), Bill Lange-Center Field (1890s), Walter Johnson-Starting Pitcher (1910s), Smoky Joe Wood-Starting Pitcher (1910s), Babe Ruth-Right Field (1920s), Lou Gehrig-First Base (1930s), Ted Williams-Left Field (1940s) and Pedro Martinez-Starting Pitcher (2000s)

  • Favorite Sports Teams

    St. Louis Browns of the American Association(1880s), now the St. Louis Cardinals

  • Favorite Coaches

    John McGraw (also one of the best Third Basemen in MLB history)

  • All Time Sports Moment

    Kirk Gibson HR, as long as the sound of the broadcast is on, the "call" was maybe the best ever, he couldn't believe what he just saw, I couldn't believe what I just heard, it was a perfect "call"

  • Most Memorable Game Attended

    Indiana Pacers ABA championship, early mid 70s when I was a small kid, George McGinnis, Mel Daniels and the fellows

  • Most Unbreakable Sports Record

    Billy Hamilton-R per AB, had almost a .280 RA, about the same as Hall of Famer Rickey Hendersons BA (and the MLB network makes it a habit to call Rickey Henderson the best leadoff hitter in history. I think that belongs to Billy Hamilton, he scored more than Henderson hit. Henderson was great too, don't get me wrong)

  • Ruth or Mays?

    Ruth, gimme a break, who's assuming that Mays is the 2nd best ever? not me, he was great/elite, but not the 2nd best. You should ask Ruth or Williams/ Ruth or Gehrig/ Ruth or Hamilton

  • Unitas or Montana?

    Unitas

  • Jordan or Russell?

    Jordan, how about Chamberlain or Bird instead.

  • Gretzky or Orr?

    Gretzky

  • Pele or Maradona?

    Pele

  • Federer or Sampras?

    Federer

  • Tiger or Nicklaus?

    Nicklaus/Both

  • Petty or Earnhardt?

    Petty

  • Schumacher or Senna?

    Schumacher

  • Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, or Big East?

    Big 10 (basketball)

Bulletin Board (58) Post a note »

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  1. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     1 day ago

    hey Michael - I finally got it done - you're the first person I'm sending this to - since you helped me pick the last pitcher on the list -
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/287142-the-best-pitchers-not-in-the-hof-who-got-overlooked?just_published=1

  2. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     about 1 month ago

    Hi Michael - I finished the research on the best pitchers within each career length (albeit with IP). There are 3 responses at your Smokey Joe Wood article - that are new - 3500-4500 innings - (the air was getting a little thin for good candidates - lol) - and 4500+ where all four candidates are legit. also, there is a wrap up response dealing with individual pitchers you mentioned to check out.
    comment back.

    I have tentatively put together a list of the combined best pitchers not in the HOF - 1-20. But I doubt I'm going to write about all 20. Some of them have quite compelling cases. happy to share - get your feedback before I put it to print - let me know.

  3. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     about 1 month ago

    Hi Michael - this is a follow up on the best SP not in the HOF - I am looking at Bert, Tiant, Tommy John, maybe Kaat,Billy Pierce, Warneke, Bridges, Mays, Vaughn?, Mullane and the fellow who owned a bar and got kicked off the white sox for drinking - lol. these are the overlooked pitchers among those I have studied plus Hippo Vaughn who you recommended when I was studying LH ers, and Carl mays - one you talked about and another recommended.

    I get that you recommend Joe Wood.

    I could look at Mickey Lolich - but there is the low ERA+. do you have any more suggestions among pitchers who are eligible?

  4. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     about 1 month ago

    Michael - sent a message, but got an error screen - so in a nutshell - suggestions for the best pitchers not in the HOF? you can send to stilcello@aol.com if you like - thanks

  5. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     about 1 month ago

    Michael - happy to share this with you on the bottom line history has set to be a HOF pitcher. Also a look at where to set the bar for today - love to hear back, as always -
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/256293-the-worst-pitchers-in-the-hof-searching-for-historys-bottom-line

  6. Cliff Eastham by Cliff
     2 months ago

    Hi Mike
    I think MLB needs to revamp their structure and their schedule. What do you think?
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/244633-mlb-if-its-broke-fix-it

  7. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     2 months ago

    Michael - here's one down your alley - a story about an oft overlooked pioneer of the game who succeeded against all odds -

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/242625-dummy-hoy-proving-it-could-be-done?just_published=1

  8. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     2 months ago

    Hi Michael - Haven't heard from you since your last communication about two weeks ago. Just wanting to see if you are ok. Hope all is well - Jonathan

  9. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     2 months ago

    Michael - here's part two of the article ranking the top pitchers of the modern era - would love to get your thoughts -
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/239230-the-greatest-pitching-careers-of-the-modern-era

  10. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     2 months ago

    Michael - this is the big one - had to break it into two parts - here's part one -
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/239223-ranking-the-top-pitching-careers-of-the-modern-era

  11. Cliff Eastham by Cliff
     3 months ago

    Hi Mike
    I don't think Longoria is all he is said to be. What is your opinion?
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/233549-evan-longoria-hes-not-all-that

  12. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     3 months ago

    Michael - Thank you for your patience - my comment was concerning another writer who used yearly averages for his rankings. thank you for your patience.
    I agree that your W%+ shows more than just wins. Please understand that what has drawn me into this entire research is proving Bert Blyleven belongs in the HOF. So I am very sensitive to wins and W%+ because of his unique situation. I wouldn't want to put that weight of judgment on another player. It takes a lot of work to uncover what kind of pitcher he was. I'm not anxious to bury him or any pitcher with having to prove themselves beyond the weight of another W% stat! It's not that the stat has no meaning - it does - I just choose to look elsewhere to prove comparative greatness - that's all.

    I am also sensitive to the fact that Blyleven did not play his career in the spotlight of the NE. He missed the attention Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Whitey Ford, and even a displaced NYer like Sandy Koufax got. Now this is a fact of life - he played at the beginning of the divisional set-up - the hub of baseball writers were in the New York/ Boston/ Philadelphia market.

    In addition, many of Blyleven's critics have taken an above it all approach and have been based in New York - John Heyman; or Boston - Buster Olney. I felt like jumping through the screen to debate with John Heyman when he had the gall to say that Blyleven's career just hadn't been significant enough to be considered for the HOF!! On national tv on MLBnetwork to boot!

    (My answer to that was - "no, he only had the curve ball against which all others are judged!")

    The whole aspect of using winning % to prove the level of a pitcher's greatness just smacks of the elitest NE baseball writers talking about Pedro Martinez, Whitey Ford, or Mike Mussina, and looking down there noses at pitchers who slugged out good careers elsewhere.

    They are spoiled - every major pitcher of this past era has gone through New York or Boston with the exception of Greg Maddux, who had WGN and TBS broadcasts to help.
    I was taken aback when I realized this from studying the top pitchers from this past era!

    I do trust you to use the stat correctly - as part of the pitcure. I hope you can understand why I am hesitant to use the W% angle in my ranking. I look forward to your comments and feedback concerning rating the careers of these great pitchers.

  13. Jonathan Stilwell by Jonathan
     3 months ago

    Hi Michael - I tried to put this as a message, but it didn't go through, so I put this message here - hope you get it - lol.
    I have an initial ranking for pitchers of the modern era - putting Cy Young with the pre-modern era pitchers and setting Roger Clemens aside for now:
    Hon. mention: Vic Willlis, Luis Tiant, Phil Neikro, and Early Wynn in whatever order you wish.
    30) Curt Schilling
    29) Tom Glavine
    28) Dazzy Vance
    27) John Smoltz
    26) Don Sutton
    25) Rube Waddell
    24) Sandy Koufax
    23) Whitey Ford
    22) Bob Feller
    21) Pedro Martinez
    20) Ed Walsh
    19) Robin Roberts
    18) Gaylord Perry
    17) Bert Blyleven
    16) Jim Palmer
    15) Juan Marichal
    14) Carl Hubbell
    13) Mordecai Brown
    12) Steve Carlton
    11) Lefty Grove
    10) Nolan Ryan
    9) Bob Gibson
    8) Eddie Plank
    7) Randy Johnson
    6) Warren Spahn
    5) Greg Maddux
    4) Tom Seaver
    3) Grover Alexander
    2) Christy Mathewson
    1) Walter Johnson

    I've kind of put this through a "bump around" test comparing pitchers near each other by categories. I could have put Pedro in the Brown - Marichal area, but decided to put him with the other pitchers with less than 3000 innings - Walsh, Martinez, Koufax, Waddell, Vance. i felt I gave the live ball era guys a little bit of a bump (pass) because of how extremely they were swimming up hill.
    I looked at post-season resumes as well - one reason Curt Schilling is on at #30.
    Plank moved up to the top of his group when I did head to head comparisons, a little surprising to see him at #8.
    Awards had no bearing on this.
    Roberts might be a bit high at #19, but he did have 300+ CG and had the leading K/BB ratio of his era.
    Let me know what you think - don't think I missed any one, but you could bring up someone if you think I did.
    These were my judging criteria - whole careers here - W-L; ERA, ERA+; CG/ SHO; IP/ H/ H/9; K/BB/ratio; WHIP; post season record.
    This represents a balance between raw totals and percentage/ratio categories.
    As you know, I avoid W%, and ave/year concepts, which seem somewhat contrived.
    (no offense to your system - I really didn't like the ave/year idea when it came up in another ranking series.)

  14. Cliff Eastham by Cliff
     3 months ago

    Hi Mike
    Time for Reds Round-table No.4. Come on in and sound off.
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/231321-cincinnati-reds-roundtable-no-4

  15. Cliff Eastham by Cliff
     3 months ago

    Hi Mike
    Here is the lineup I would have if I could take anybody I want.
    Who would you take?
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/230786-my-171679608-mlb-lineup

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