Michael W's Sportswriter Profile

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Michael W

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MLB's 10 Best Left-Handed Starting Pitchers of All Time
June 2, 2010

2,093 reads
10 Best Starting Pitchers of All-Time
May 22, 2010

15,634 reads
MLBs 10 Best Relief Pitchers of All Time
May 19, 2010

1,916 reads
The 10 Best Lefty Relievers in Baseball History
May 16, 2010

3,133 reads

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 there are some great historians out there, and I, being so good with numbers, could help the cause.

"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

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), Larry Walker-Right Field (1990s), Todd Helton-First Base (2000s), Pedro Martinez-Starting Pitcher (2000s), Arthur Rhodes-Relief Pitcher (2000s) and Scott Rolen-Third Base (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 over a .270 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 almost as much as Henderson hit. Henderson was great too and he belongs in the HOF, don't get me wrong)
Ruth or Mays?

Ruth, gimme a break--is Mays even the best Center Fielder ever? It's arguable if he's better than Ty Cobb at that position, isn't it?
Jordan or Russell?

Jordan, how about Chamberlain or Bird instead.
Tiger or Nicklaus?

Nicklaus/Both
Petty or Earnhardt?

Petty, gimme a break
Schumacher or Senna?

Schumacher

Buttons Cornell posted 220 days ago

With all the statistics available, is there a way of determining batting average by inning? I've been listening to all the dialogue about relievers and reading tales of glorious hitters of the past. I was wondering if the .350 hitters of the 40s and 50s got better as the game wore on or did the starting pitcher start wearing down in the later innings. Do modern relievers do a better job at handling batters than old starting pitchers did?
Frank Contreras posted 358 days ago

Yo man! It's been a while. A little late but the Giants won the World Series! Also, I like basketball now. We should catch up later. Hope all has been well.
Zeve Lopata posted 389 days ago

Remember me? Zeve Lopata? We used to exchange articles? I'm not going to be writing, just commenting & reading.

Once I am 13 I will write, remember the incident when I was kicked off for being underage?

Thanks,

Zeve
Zeve Lopata posted 389 days ago

Remember me? Zeve Lopata? We used to exchange articles? I'm not going to be writing, just commenting & reading.

Once I am 13 I will write, remember the incident when I was kicked off for being underage?

Thanks,

Zeve
Jonathan Stilwell posted 414 days ago

Michael - are you back? - I miss our communications! - hope you are well! - it has been a while since I wrote - but here is a tribute to Bert Blyleven and his quest for the HOF! - hope you enjoy!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/556039-bert-blyleven-pitching-history-and-the-hall-of-fame
Jonathan Stilwell posted 566 days ago

Hi Michael - Hope all is well - love to hear from you - you get this first - as always - the Detroit Tigers all-time starting rotation - enjoy -
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/427194-the-detroit-tigers-all-time-starting-rotation
Jonathan Stilwell posted 574 days ago

Hi Michael - here is a new one - the Cleveland Indians all-time rotation - hope you enjoy when you get the time - your comments are always welcomed -
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/423540-the-cleveland-indians-all-time-starting-rotation
Lewie Pollis posted 577 days ago

Hey Michael,

I know you do a lot of massive statistical studies, so I'd love to see what you think of the one I just completed:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/422086-subjectivity-objectified-measuring-mlb-fans-biases-with-all-star-votes

Talk to you soon,
Lewie
Jonathan Stilwell posted 578 days ago

Michael - Hi here's a posting at anohter site - thought you might enjoy reading this on tony Mullane, who kjust made the Reds HOF -
http://www.mtrmedia.com/baseball/2010/07/apollo-of-the-box-makes-reds-hof.html
Frank Contreras posted 578 days ago

Hello Michael, it's been a while. How have you been? Haven't seen any new articles out of you lately. Have you been busy? Brainstorming? Either way, something weird happened to my profile, for some reason it won't let me resign on to my profile but instead takes me to a new one. So if you see two of me, that's why. Talk to you soon.