Question from today's ESPN Sports Reporters.

[Big Fergie J]

I was watching The Sports Reporters on ESPN this morning and the subject was Paul Lo Duca of The Mets and the gambling allegations about him.

 

Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe said there was a starting pitcher a while ago who was a key player for his team in a pennant race. This said pitcher missed the stretch run because of a mysterious "accident" that Ryan alluded to was caused by "knee-breakers" ( his words). Ryan then winked in the camera and said "I think some of you know who this was".

 

I don't know who it could be. Does anyone have an idea who it was ?

 

I'm not trying to descredit anyone, I'm just curious.

 

Any thoughts ? Thxs.

[3Dog]

I believe the pitcher he was alluding to was Denny McLain.

 

During the 1967 pennant race McLain missed several starts due to a mysterious foot injury. McLain's explanation was that his foot fell asleep while relaxing at home, then when he suddenly got up his foot buckled under all that weight, causing a bone in his foot to snap.

 

However the "real" story is that McLain, long known for his ties to the underworld and gamblers, got a visit from some of the Mob's enforcers while at home. As soon as McLain opened the door, the goons promptly smashed McLain's toes for not being ontime with a payment.

[Big Fergie J]

I believe the pitcher he was alluding to was Denny McLain.

 

During the 1967 pennant race McLain missed several starts due to a mysterious foot injury. McLain's explanation was that his foot fell asleep while relaxing at home, then when he suddenly got up his foot buckled under all that weight, causing a bone in his foot to snap.

 

However the "real" story is that McLain, long known for his ties to the underworld and gamblers, got a visit from some of the Mob's enforcers while at home. As soon as McLain opened the door, the goons promptly smashed McLain's toes for not being ontime with a payment.

 

That makes sense. I thought of McLain as well but somehow I thought maybe it was more recent ....like the 80's maybe.

 

Plus, I didn't know about McLains injury. I knew about his checkered past but not that. Thanks.

[jjgman21]

here's a question I think a show like this should address

 

 

does Mike Lowell's catch the other night entitle him to at least two Gold Glove awards?

 

 

been waiting for an opportunity to bring this up and this thread seems as good as any. Lowell's tumble into the stands was at least as impressive as Jeter's, so therefore he gets a GG annually, right?

[Butterscup1679666578]

here's a question I think a show like this should address

 

 

does Mike Lowell's catch the other night entitle him to at least two Gold Glove awards?

 

 

been waiting for an opportunity to bring this up and this thread seems as good as any. Lowell's tumble into the stands was at least as impressive as Jeter's, so therefore he gets a GG annually, right?

 

I didn't even know Lowell made a great catch. But Jeter's is shown every freaking month it seems. Go figure.

[texascub]

here's a question I think a show like this should address

 

 

does Mike Lowell's catch the other night entitle him to at least two Gold Glove awards?

 

 

been waiting for an opportunity to bring this up and this thread seems as good as any. Lowell's tumble into the stands was at least as impressive as Jeter's, so therefore he gets a GG annually, right?

 

I didn't even know Lowell made a great catch. But Jeter's is shown every freaking month it seems. Go figure.

 

Lowell also made his catch only a little while after getting plunked in the head and staying in the game.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Did Lowell run 10 yards after the catch before falling into the stands too?

[texascub]

Did Lowell run 10 yards after the catch before falling into the stands too?

 

No, the was the ball was already over the stands when he caught it. Look at the August 11th highlights here; the first highlight is of Lowell getting hit in the head and the last has his diving play.

[soccer10k]

Jeter had to run much further than Lowell did. Lowell was also able to slow down before he went into the stands whereas Jeter was at full speed and didn't have time to stop. Both were great plays though.

 

EDIT: I think part of why Jeter was idolized for that play was because he was bleeding after. Lowell wasn't. Think of the Rowand play. Do you think we would have seen that play 10000 times in a week if he would have run into a padded wall, gotten up, and jogged off the field? Probably not. It was still a good play but the blood made it look more spectacular. Same goes for Jeter's play.

[jjgman21]

Jeter had to run much further than Lowell did. Lowell was also able to slow down before he went into the stands whereas Jeter was at full speed and didn't have time to stop. Both were great plays though.

 

 

I disagree. Jeter's catch was a nice, above average play followed by as Edmonds-esque of a display as you will find outside of Edmonds. his dive into the stands was unnecessary, and why he did it I still can't figure out. he literally speeded up after making the catch and approaching the wall.

 

re: your edit, I think Jeter was idolized because of that play because he is Jeter and wears an NY. Rowand pretty much makes the point. next year, we might see it again once or twice. we will see Jeter's until the day we die as if it were the equivalent of Willie Mays.

 

the point was more the GG is a farce as best exemplified by Jeter's receipt of said award based on that play and little else and that sport journalism bases its coverage based on who did what, not what was done.

[Big Fergie J]

Lowell's catch may factor in but I believe the GG for 3rd base in the AL is owned by one Eric Chavez.....hard to see it being taken from Chavez this year.

[NewUserName]

My dad told me that story about Denny McClain at least 20 yrs ago so I would say that is the one the Bob Ryan is referring to.

 

I was talking to my Dad the other day. He is a big time Tiger fan and is very pleased with them obviously. He was upset about the Yankees getting Abreu for nothing at the trade deadline and went on about how bad that is for baseball. He then made reference to the time that Bowie Kuhn disallowed a trade of Catfish Hunter and Joe Rudi to the Reds for nothing and some cash. I remembered it happening but at the time I thought all the Reds were giving was money and that is why Kuhn vetoed it. My dad remembered the Reds giving some class A or B minor leaguers (he thought that was when they still had aaa, aa, a then b,c and d).

 

Anyway I know it was off topic but so was Lowells catch. I was wondering if anyone remembers the specifics. I know that Charlie Finley was involved and he made Al Davis look like an owner that got along with the commissioner. Also do you think it would be in the best interest of baseball for some of these give away star players for nothing deals were vetoed by the commissioner? I understand why the Phillies traded Abreu. I just find it sad that his salary priced him out of some teams ranges so the Yankees end up with him for nothing.

[NCCubFan]

He then made reference to the time that Bowie Kuhn disallowed a trade of Catfish Hunter and Joe Rudi to the Reds for nothing and some cash. I remembered it happening but at the time I thought all the Reds were giving was money and that is why Kuhn vetoed it. My dad remembered the Reds giving some class A or B minor leaguers (he thought that was when they still had aaa, aa, a then b,c and d).

I remember that, and I'd always thought it was just for cash. I also think there may have been a similar sale arranged for Vida Blue that also got disallowed, but I'm not positive on that one. I believe these moves were where Kuhn first used the infamous "in the best interests of baseball" line. Basically, Finley was trying to gut his team to dump salary, and Kuhn wasn't allowing it.

 

As far as the minors are concerned, I don't think classes B, C, and D still existed. This was in the mid-70s, and I think those classes went out of existence in the late 50s or 60s.