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Starters Setting the Tone

Posted by Raphy on October 29, 2009

Starting pitchers have dominated the  first 2 games of this year's World Series. Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Pedro Martinez have all turned in impressive performances and have a combined game score of    273   . This total is the  highest  total game score for the first 2 games of the World Series since 1967. Overall, it is  12th among the best starting performances in the first 2 games of the World Series.

Here are the top 5:

1949: Yankees vs. Dodgers  : 314

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Don Newcombe      1949-10-05    WS     1 BRO @NYY L  0-1  CG 9  ,L   8    5  1  1  0 11  1           79       29 29  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Allie Reynolds    1949-10-05    WS     1 NYY  BRO W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  4  9  0           88       33 28  1  0   0   0  1  0   1  1  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Vic Raschi        1949-10-06    WS     2 NYY  BRO L  0-1  GS-8  ,L   8    6  1  1  1  4  0           69       29 28  2  1   1   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    4 Preacher Roe      1949-10-06    WS     2 BRO @NYY W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    6  0  0  0  3  0           78       34 33  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00
 

1905: Giants vs. Athletics: 296

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Eddie Plank       1905-10-09    WS     1 PHA  NYG L  0-3  CG 9  ,L   9   10  3  3  2  5  0           58       39 35  2  0   1   1  1  0   0  4  1  0  0  0   3.00
    2 Christy Mathewson 1905-10-09    WS     1 NYG @PHA W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  0  6  0           85       31 31  3  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  1   0.00
    3 Joe McGinnity     1905-10-10    WS     2 NYG  PHA L  0-3  GS-8  ,L   8    5  3  0  0  2  0           68       30 29  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Chief Bender      1905-10-10    WS     2 PHA @NYG W  3-0  SHO9  ,W   9    4  0  0  3  9  0           85       34 31  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  1  0  0  0   0.00
 

1950: Phillies vs. Yankees: 295

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Jim Konstanty     1950-10-04    WS     1 PHI  NYY L  0-1  GS-8  ,L   8    4  1  1  4  0  0           66       33 28  1  0   1   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Vic Raschi        1950-10-04    WS     1 NYY @PHI W  1-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1  5  0           87       30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Allie Reynolds    1950-10-05    WS     2 NYY @PHI W  2-1  CG 10 ,W  10    7  1  1  4  6  0           76       39 33  3  1   1   0  2  0   2  1  0  0  0  0   0.90
    4 Robin Roberts     1950-10-05    WS     2 PHI  NYY L  1-2  CG 10 ,L  10   10  2  2  3  5  1           66       43 40  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.80
 

1911: Athletics vs. Giants: 292

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Chief Bender      1911-10-14    WS     1 PHA @NYG L  1-2  CG 8  ,L   8    5  2  1  4 11  0           73       34 28  2  0   0   1  1  0   0  1  2  0  0  0   1.12
    2 Christy Mathewson 1911-10-14    WS     1 NYG  PHA W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  1  1  5  0           75       33 31  2  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.00
    3 Eddie Plank       1911-10-16    WS     2 PHA  NYG W  3-1  CG 9  ,W   9    5  1  1  0  8  0           81       31 30  1  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  1  0  0   1.00
    4 Rube Marquard     1911-10-16    WS     2 NYG @PHA L  1-3  GS-7  ,L   7    4  3  2  0  4  1           63       26 25  1  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   2.57
 

1939: Yankees vs. Reds: 290

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Paul Derringer    1939-10-04    WS     1 CIN @NYY L  1-2  CG 9  ,L   8.1  6  2  2  1  7  0           69       32 31  1  1   1   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   2.16
    2 Red Ruffing       1939-10-04    WS     1 NYY  CIN W  2-1  CG 9  ,W   9    4  1  1  1  4  0           78       29 28  0  0   0   0  0  0   3  1  0  0  0  0   1.00
    3 Monte Pearson     1939-10-05    WS     2 NYY  CIN W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    2  0  0  1  8  0           90       29 28  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Bucky Walters     1939-10-05    WS     2 CIN @NYY L  0-4  CG 8  ,L   8    9  4  4  0  5  1           53       31 30  2  0   0   0  1  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   4.50
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recently, there haven't been many back to back pitching duels to start the Series.  Even the best recent performances include dominant games mixed in with some stinkers. Here are the top 5 since 1990:


2009: Phillies vs. Yankees: 273

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Cliff Lee         2009-10-28    WS     1 PHI @NYY W  6-1  CG 9  ,W   9    6  1  0  0 10  0 122  80   83       32 32  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 
    2 C.C. Sabathia     2009-10-28    WS     1 NYY  PHI L  1-6  GS-7  ,L   7    4  2  2  3  6  2 113  70   64       27 24  1  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   2.57 
    3 Pedro Martinez    2009-10-29    WS     2 PHI @NYY L  1-3  GS-7  ,L   6    6  3  3  2  8  2 107  72   54       26 24  1  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   4.50 
    4 A.J. Burnett      2009-10-29    WS     2 NYY  PHI W  3-1  GS-7  ,W   7    4  1  1  2  9  0 108  68   72       26 24  2  0   1   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.29 

2001: Diamondbacks vs. Yankees: 258

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Curt Schilling    2001-10-27    WS     1 ARI  NYY W  9-1  GS-7  ,W   7    3  1  1  1  8  0 102  68   74       26 24  2  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   1.29
    2 Mike Mussina      2001-10-27    WS     1 NYY @ARI L  1-9  GS-3  ,L   3    6  5  3  1  4  2  68  47   34       18 14  1  0   1   1  1  1   0  0  0  0  0  0   9.00
    3 Randy Johnson     2001-10-28    WS     2 ARI  NYY W  4-0  SHO9  ,W   9    3  0  0  1 11  0 110  76   91       30 29  0  0   0   0  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   0.00
    4 Andy Pettitte     2001-10-28    WS     2 NYY @ARI L  0-4  GS-7  ,L   7    5  4  4  0  8  1  80  64   59       26 25  1  0   0   1  0  0   1  0  0  0  0  0   5.14
 

2000: Yankees vs. Mets: 238

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Andy Pettitte     2000-10-21    WS     1 NYY  NYM W  4-3  GS-7       6.2  8  3  3  1  4  0  96  66   49       28 25  2  0   0   1  1  0   0  0  1  1  0  0   4.05
    2 Al Leiter         2000-10-21    WS     1 NYM @NYY L  3-4  GS-7       7    5  2  2  3  7  0 126  76   63       28 25  1  0   1   0  0  0   0  0  1  1  0  0   2.57
    3 Mike Hampton      2000-10-22    WS     2 NYM @NYY L  5-6  GS-6  ,L   6    8  4  4  5  4  1 124  65   39       31 25  2  0   1   1  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   6.00
    4 Roger Clemens     2000-10-22    WS     2 NYY  NYM W  6-5  GS-8  ,W   8    2  0  0  0  9  0 112  78   87       28 27  0  0   0   1  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  1   0.00

1995: Braves vs. Indians: 236

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Orel Hershiser    1995-10-21    WS     1 CLE @ATL L  2-3  GS-7  ,L   6    3  3  3  3  7  1 101  61   58       23 20  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   4.50
    2 Greg Maddux       1995-10-21    WS     1 ATL  CLE W  3-2  CG 9  ,W   9    2  2  0  0  4  0  95  63   83       30 30  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0   0.00
    3 Tom Glavine       1995-10-22    WS     2 ATL  CLE W  4-3  GS-6  ,W   6    3  2  2  3  3  1  99  54   58       25 22  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  1   3.00
    4 Dennis Martinez   1995-10-22    WS     2 CLE @ATL L  3-4  GS-6  ,L   5.2  8  4  4  3  3  1  98  57   37       28 23  1  0   0   1  0  1   1  0  0  0  0  0   6.35

1999: Yankees vs. Braves: 232

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Greg Maddux       1999-10-23    WS     1 ATL  NYY L  1-4  GS-7  ,L   7    5  4  2  3  5  0           57       29 24  0  0   0   0  2  0   1  2  0  0  0  0   2.57
    2 Orlando Hernandez 1999-10-23    WS     1 NYY @ATL W  4-1  GS-7  ,W   7    1  1  1  2 10  1           79       23 21  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  1  0  0  0   1.29
    3 Kevin Millwood    1999-10-24    WS     2 ATL  NYY L  2-7  GS-2  ,L   2    8  5  4  2  2  0           22       15 13  1  0   0   0  0  0   1  1  0  0  0  0  18.00
    4 David Cone        1999-10-24    WS     2 NYY @ATL W  7-2  GS-7  ,W   7    1  0  0  5  4  0           74       26 21  0  0   0   0  0  0   2  0  0  0  0  0   0.00 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can imagine, the worst total ever consists of some pretty putrid performances:

2002: Angels vs. Giants: 123

  Cnt Player            Date          Series G Tm   Opp GmReslt App,Dec    IP   H  R ER BB SO HR Pit Str GmSc IR IS BF AB 2B 3B IBB HBP SH SF GDP SB CS Pk BK WP   ERA
+----+-----------------+-------------+------+-+---+----+-------+---------+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+----+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+--+--+--+--+--+------+
    1 Jarrod Washburn   2002-10-19    WS     1 ANA  SFG L  3-4  GS-6  ,L   5.2  6  4  4  2  5  3 106  63   44       25 22  0  0   0   0  1  0   0  0  0  0  0  0   6.35
    2 Jason Schmidt     2002-10-19    WS     1 SFG @ANA W  4-3  GS-6  ,W   5.2  9  3  3  1  6  2  91  66   44       27 26  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  1  0  0  0  0   4.76
    3 Kevin Appier      2002-10-20    WS     2 ANA  SFG W 11-10 GS-2       2    5  5  5  2  2  3  48  28   26       13 11  0  0   0   0  0  0   0  0  0  0  0  0  22.50
    4 Russ Ortiz        2002-10-20    WS     2 SFG @ANA L 10-11 GS-2       1.2  9  7  7  0  0  1  46  29    9       14 14  2  0   0   0  0  0   0  2  0  0  0  0  37.80

One Response to “Starters Setting the Tone”

  1. Starting Pitching Starring So Far In ‘09 World Series Says:

    [...] at B-R Blog & Stat of the Day has a great post up on this now. It’s worth checking [...]