Seems like a straightforward question, right? Flip through the stats to find the league leaders. Use your eyes if you're someone who does that well.
Turns out it's not that easy. Sifting through all the available stats (basic or advanced) and trying to pick out one guy can be an enormous challenge. So can the eyeball test: Even highly trained scouts are subject to human biases … imagine how tough it is for the rest of us to get it right. So many people holding so many different opinions on the subject underscores how tough it still is to evaluate pitching, even with a million tools at our disposal. It's also a nod toward the fleeting nature of pitching success, and how quickly opinions can change. Sometimes radically.
Google "arguably the best pitcher in baseball" and you get results for the following pitchers, to name just a few.
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here's what you missed in sports on Thursday.
LeBron James scored 32 points, including four in the critical final minutes, as the Heat evened the NBA Finals with a 100-96 win over the Thunder. In the aftermath, tragedy struck when James Harden was hooked, reeled in, and fried by avid fisherman Karl Malone. "When I saw him flopping around on the TV, I knew this would be my greatest challenge yet," said Malone. "But I baited him with a flavored referee's whistle, and man, he was all over it."
If you're going to watch a perfect game by a Giants pitcher, doing it at the one Bay Area–themed bar in Brooklyn is a wise choice. And if you're going to throw a perfect game, striking out 14 batters and propelling yourself into discussion for the best-pitched game in the history of baseball is a great way to do it.
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here's what you missed in sports on Wednesday.
Matt Cain threw the 22nd perfect game in major league history, striking out 14 in a 10-0 Giants win over the Astros. "He was just too good tonight," said Astros catcher Chris Snyder, who hits .188 and was waiting until he finished his stick of chewing gum before attempting to walk out of the locker room. "Hey, this might be a stupid question, but uh … when do you know that a piece of gum is actually finished? It seems to just be … staying there. Does it go away, or just — ooh boy, getting a little panicky here. Mind is racing. Emergency. Where's my crisis blanket? WHERE'S MY CRISIS BLANKET!" When Snyder tried to stand up, he immediately tripped due to coordination issues, and the gum slipped from his mouth. "Now that was a close call!" he said, grinning in relief from the floor. "You fooled 'em again, Snyder. You fooled 'em again. Hey, but seriously, where's my crisis blanket?"
1. Matt Cain and Cliff Lee didn't just dominate in Wednesday night's 1-0, 11-inning battle. They blazed through batters with the kind of speed and efficiency that evoked an earlier era, completing the game in two hours and 27 minutes. That was the fastest 11-inning game since June 13, 1978, when Mike Flanagan pitched all 11 innings for the Orioles in their 3-2 home win over Seattle and starter Glenn Abbott, who went 9.2 innings. That game also lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here's what you missed in sports on Wednesday.
Legendary Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt has stepped down after a long and brilliant career. "I'm just glad Pat and I can both call it quits after such a great and dignified lifetime in sports," said Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino. "With eight national titles between us and the eternal love and respect of our peers." When he heard Petrino's statement, Saints coach Sean Payton said, "Hey, I'm with you guys."
Sources report that Texas catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez will retire as a member of the Rangers on Monday. He'll attend the game with his wife, Elena "Fudge" Rodriguez, and his two sons, Manuel "Sludge" Rodriguez and Felipe "Fatty Cakes" Rodriguez.
When the news broke that the Giants had signed Matt Cain to a five-year, $112.5 million contract extension a year before he could hit the free-agent market, the first thought that popped into my head was opportunity cost.
An economic term, opportunity cost refers to the options you're missing by making a specific choice. If you choose to play outside in the sunshine, you're missing out on hours of sitting on your ass in the dark, eating Pop-Tarts and playing Blades of Steel (stop nagging me, mom). If you sign Matt Cain to a $112.5 million contract, you're missing out on other players you could sign with that money. In the case of the hitting-deprived Giants, you're foregoing the chance to sign a hitter to help your anemic offense.
A few hours later, Joey Votto signed a 10-year, $225 million deal … two years before he could become a free agent. Then you look around at the talent likely to be available on the open market and realize: There's very little left. And just like that, opportunity cost becomes nearly irrelevant.
In case you were out living a life of leisure, here's what you missed in sports on Monday.
The Kentucky Wildcats are national champions. Doron Lamb scored 22 points, including crucial back-to-back threes late in the game, as Kentucky held off Kansas for a 67-59 win. This is John Calipari's first national title, and he told reporters he plans to enjoy it privately at home with his family, a couple close friends, and an elite squadron of the 50 best high school seniors in the country, dribbling in unison in the basement and chanting his name.
The celebration in Lexington was immediate and wild, as one person was shot and several more arrested in the hours after the victory. The shooter was quickly acquitted, however, when it was proved that someone had got him "all riled up" on banjo pickin,' the most common cause of violence in Kentucky. The banjoist was found and executed after a show trial.
