The Jim Joyce Proof Game
Posted by Steve Lombardi on June 2, 2010
Messing around with Play Index, I tried to find the most "un-perfect" game for a starting pitcher since 1952. How's this one?
Dick Ellsworth's 20th loss of the 1966 season. He went 9 innings, gave up 14 hits, 4 walks, 7 runs and his Cubbies made 4 errors.
The umps for that one - which was the 2nd game of a Double-Dip, by the way - were: HP - Chris Pelekoudas, 1B - Bob Engel, 2B - Frank Secory, 3B - Ken Burkhart.
Betcha they all slept with no problems that night.
June 2nd, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Actually, Pelekoudas was a known insomniac and Burkhart was suffering from an unexplained rash that week. But Engel and Secory did indeed get a full eight hours.
June 3rd, 2010 at 12:33 am
How about this one: 9 IP, 18 hits, 5 walks, 9 runs allowed (7 earned), and his team made 3 errors behind him
The game? Bob Feller's 2nd WIN of the 1952 season
Conversely, the man Feller was facing, the Athletics' Alex Kellner, also allowed 9 runs (7 earned) and had his team make 3 errors behind him... but did it all in 2 innings, after which the bullpen gave up 12 more runs to lose to the Tribe 21-9.
Just for fun, this was the 21st time in MLB history where more than 30 runs were scored combined with 20 or more runs scored by one team and a margin of victory of 10 or more. Another 22 have occurred since then.
June 3rd, 2010 at 5:25 am
how about Mike Norris´ loss:
7 hits, 5 walks (1 intentional), 6 runs allowed(5 earned), 3 HBP!! and his team "helping" with 2 errors
in just 5 innings of play
June 4th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Leave the guy alone. That is sports....that is why these guys make a bundle...the human error factor is there and always will be. Bless him for his grace and humility.