The Pitcher's Mound

After having a perfect game and a no-hitter thrown against them, the Tampa Bay Rays finally got their first franchise no-hitter on Monday. It came against the Detroit Tigers, who almost had their own perfect game earlier this season before the umpires messed up Armando Galarraga’s bid for a perfect outing.

This is the 6th no-hitter this season (counting Galarraga’s game) and in the modern era of baseball, the highest has been seven in one season. There is a chance that this record could be broken this year, maybe even obliterated at this rate. Now comes the question of whether this is a result of good pitching or poor batting.

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I think it may just be a mix of both. I truly do believe the whole steroid issue plays a little part in this pitching revival. How big of a part, I do not know. It does not surprise me though that there has been a rise in pitching after the whole steroid issue has been broken wide open. It just makes clear sense that there would be a decline in offense as soon as steroid rules became more strict. This in no way gives us a reason to take away from the phenomenal pitching.

Pitchers are just that damn good now. They all are now throwing the heat. A vast majority of today’s pitchers can throw in the mid 90s and that makes it truly difficult for the hitters. Also doesn’t help that they have such a variety in pitches and have spot on accuracy.

Although the key factor in all of this is luck. In order for the perfect game to be pitched there has to be some luck. Sometimes things just have to fall your way and this year they are falling for the pitchers. Either way, I will not complain because it is quiet exciting to see these pitchers make it through 9 innings without giving up a hit. It is nail biting TV and is definitely a good thing for baseball.

My final comment: Please Padres…get your first franchise no-hitter! You have some of the best pitching in the league so do it already!

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