Jim Palmer

Vuke Wins AL Cy Young

The Baseball Writers Association of America announced today that Pete Vuckovich of the Milwaukee Brewers is their choice for the American League Cy Young Award, given to the league’s best pitcher.

Pete Vuckovich was voted the American League’s best pitcher.

Though Vuke had been seen as one of the favorites to win the award, the announcement came as something of a surprise since Toronto’s Dave Stieb was named the American League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. In fact, even California’s Geoff Zahn beat out Vuckovich to make the Sporting News team. That said, pitching awards for the American League have been across the board this year. While Vuckovich didn’t make the TSN AL team, he was named the best right-handed pitcher in all of baseball by the Associated Press and was also named to the UPI AL team.

Forgive the voters for their lack of commitment, though, since this year marked one of the weakest AL Cy Young fields. In fact, it may have been the weakest.

Vuke finished the year 18-6 with a 3.34 ERA. Certainly impressive stats, but it was the first time a non-starting pitcher with fewer than 20 wins won the award since it was first handed out in 1958, and his ERA was also the highest of any Cy Young winner. Vuke also stumbled down the stretch, failing to win after a classic September 20 in 11 innings at Fenway Park (though his postseason failures were not considered).

Put all of that aside. Someone had to win, and the voters considered Vuke the most worthy candidate.

“I really feel great about it,” Vuke said, “but I can’t take full credit for it. I just happen to be lucky enough to be out there on the days the team’s playing well enough for me to be a winner. It feels great, it really does, but I’d like to break it up into 25 pieces. Thirty pieces.”

Vuke is humble, but he’s right. When you win as many games as he’s won with only six losses and a somewhat modest ERA, luck certainly plays into it.

“That’s the best election result of the day,” said satisfied general manager Harry Dalton. “I’m so happy for Pete. He’s pitched well enough to win it for two years. I knew he earned it, he should get it, but whether the people voting would recognize that, you’re never sure. This gives him the type of recognition he’s truly earned the past two years. I’m just thrilled for him.”

Speaking of the last two years, the Brewers are now a Robin Yount MVP away from sweeping the two major awards two years running. Reliever Rollie Fingers won both the AL MVP and Cy Young awards last season.

Vuckovich received 14 of the possible 28 first-place votes while the leftovers were split up among Toronto’s Dave Stieb (five), Baltimore’s Jim Palmer (four), Kansas City’s Dan Quisenberry (four), and Cleveland’s Rick Sutcliffe (one).

Player – Tm	Pts	1st	W	L	SO	SV	IP	ERA
P Vuckovich, MIL	87	14	18	6	105	0	223.2	3.34
Jim Palmer, BAL	59	4	15	5	103	1	227.0	3.13
D Quisenberry, KCR	40	4	9	7	46	35	136.2	2.57
Dave Stieb, TOR	36	5	17	14	141	0	288.1	3.25
Rick Sutcliffe, CLE	14	1	14	8	142	1	216.0	2.96
Geoff Zahn, CAL	7	0	18	8	81	0	229.1	3.73
Bill Caudill, SEA	4	0	12	9	111	26	95.2	2.35
Bob Stanley, BOS	4	0	12	7	83	14	168.1	3.10
Dan Petry, DET	1	0	15	9	132	0	246.0	3.22

Is Vuke Cy Worthy?

October 7 1 Comment

MILWAUKEE — No game for the Brewers today, so let’s ponder Pete Vuckovich‘s chances at the AL Cy Young Award. Our own Rollie Fingers took home both the MVP and Cy Young awards last year, and we’ve already determined that Yount will be the certain MVP winner this year. So will the Brewers once again sweep the awards? Let’s take a look…

The Players
The Cy Young race isn’t as convoluted as the MVP race. Writers submit MVP ballots that include dudes whose valuable smell provided their respective teams with more wins. More than 30 players are likely to get MVP votes when all is said and done, but we’ll have a much more concise list of Cy Young candidates.

What is difficult about this award in the American League this year, however, is that there hasn’t been that stand-out, dominating season from the mound. There have been a handful of good and very good seasons, but it is not easy handing out the award this year.

To be frank, Vuke wouldn’t have a shot if he were in the National League. If any of the group of Steve Carlton, Steve Rodgers or Fernando Valenzuela were in the American League, they’d win the AL Cy Young without a contest.

But let’s make a list of which pitchers are most likely to be given AL Cy Young consideration. Here they are, in alphabetical order to avoid any perceived bias:

Bill Caudill, SEA
Jim Palmer, BAL
Dan Petry, DET
Dan Quisenberry, KC
Dave Stieb, TOR
Rick Sutcliffe, CLE
Pete Vuckovich, MIL
Geoff Zahn, CAL

It’s a short list, and others may receive votes. But these are the guys I feel have the best shot. Note that Caudill and Quisenberry are relievers and the rest are starters. As such, I’ll compare them separately first.

The Stats
Let’s stack them up and make a list. I have placed the numbers in bold if they lead this group (they don’t necessarily lead the league).

Player	W-L	ERA	CG	SHO	IP	H	BB	SO
Palmer, BAL	15-5	3.13	8	2	227.0	195	63	103
Petry, DET	15-9	3.22	8	1	246.0	220	100	132
Stieb, TOR	17-14	3.25	19	5	288.1	271	75	141
Sutcliffe, CLE	14-8	2.96	6	1	216.0	174	98	142
Vuckovich, MIL	18-6	3.34	9	1	223.2	234	102	105
Zahn, CAL	18-8	3.73	12	4	229.1	225	65	81

Player	W-L	ERA	G	IP	H	BB	SO	SV
Caudill, SEA	12-9	2.35	70	95.2	65	35	111	26
Quisenberry, KC	9-7	2.57	72	136.2	126	12	46	35

You’ll notice that I didn’t highlight the pitchers who were “best” in hits or walks allowed. Too complicated when you involve innings pitched. There needs to be a formula like ERA that takes those two stats into account.

So of the starters, Vuckovich has the best win-loss record (though he is tied in wins with Zahn). Sutcliffe takes ERA and strikeouts while Stieb gets the trio of complete games, shutouts and innings pitched (naturally, after the first two).

Taking a quick glance over Stieb’s stats, I’d take him over Sutcliffe. And his only clear weakness is losses (which are all obviously his fault).

Let’s use Stieb as the measuring stick…

Palmer has a better ERA and winning percentage, though Stieb has more wins. Stieb has way more complete games than Palmer and three more shutouts. I consider innings pitched a pretty important stat, especially for successful pitchers. The more a great pitcher is on the mound, the better chance he gives his team. Stieb threw 61 innings more than Palmer.

But there is another factor to consider. Stieb did not pitch in a pennant race (though not necessarily his fault) while Palmer did. However, Palmer also blew the last game of the season, so I don’t think you can necessarily give Palmer credit there. Therefore, I’d say that Stieb edges out Palmer.

The only advantage Petry has over Stieb is ERA, and it’s by .03. The teams they pitched for are near equals, so no other considerations. Stieb is the man here.

Sutcliffe won three fewer games, but had a 2.96 ERA to Stieb’s 3.25. Sutcliffe also struck out one more in 72 fewer innings. But again, Stieb dominates in shutouts and complete games. And the Indians were not a contender, so no advantage there. I lean to Stieb.

Now our friend Vuke. Vuckovich takes wins by one, but a far greater winning percentage. After that, I’ve got nothing for Vuke. Of course, you do have to consider that Vuckovich pitched in a pennant race. But if we’re going to be honest with ourselves, Vuke didn’t nail down his final game. He did win a couple of crucial starts down the stretch, however, which gives him some points. But I still lean towards Stieb.

Geoff Zahn’s stats are similar to Vuke’s, and he is also on a division winner in the Angels. However, his ERA is far higher than everyone else’s at 3.73, so I just don’t see him getting serious consideration.

Now let’s compare the closers. It’s pretty much a dead heat between Quisenberry and Caudill in my eyes. Caudill has the lower ERA, Quisenberry pitched 40 more innings and saved nine more games. But Caudill was more dominant, striking out 111 batters in 95 2/3 innings while Quisenberry struck out only 46 in 136 2/3. Quisenberry also allowed nearly a hit per inning while Caudill allowed 65 in 95 2/3. Pretty amazing.

I doubt this will be the popular opinion, but I think Caudill had the better season. Quisenberry had more saves and pitched more innings, but you can counter that by saying Caudill won more games, was more dominant, and pitched in nearly as many games.

Both closers had nice seasons, but it needs to be special like Fingers’ season last year to be given the Cy Young Award. I don’t see it here.

The Verdict
Brewers fans won’t be happy with me, but I’m going with Dave Stieb. There simply is not a runaway candidate, the way Yount is for the MVP. If Vuke had won his final start in Baltimore, it would have helped distinguish his season and make this a much more difficult decision. But all Vuke has on Stieb is an extra win, fewer losses, and pitching in a pennant race. Stieb was far better otherwise, and it’s tough penalizing a guy for having more losses when he pitched for a team like the Blue Jays.

Maybe I’ll be wrong. I hope that I’m wrong. But I am giving the AL Cy Young Award to Toronto’s Dave Stieb.

Quotes From the AL East Champs

October 3 5 Comments

The following quotes were gathered by the Milwaukee Sentinel in the champagne-soaked visitors’ clubhouse. You can also read the game recap of this epic game here.

Harvey Kuenn, on his visit to the mound in the eighth: “I was close to taking him (Sutton) out,” Keunn recalled. “But when he said he could get the next guy out, and being an honest guy like Sutton is, I certainly wasn’t going to take him out.”

Ted Simmons: “Yesterday, I felt like my heart was wide open and I felt they were ready to pluck it out. But this morning, I woke up and just started thinking about the game. Last year (when the Brewers won the second half title of the strike season) there was an asterisk. But this is what people in this business seek. This is a credential, and I earned it. And it was the hardest thing I’ve ever earned.”

Paul Molitor: “For the last three or four days, all I’ve been talking about is how resilient this team has been all year. If we had lost, I don’t know what I’d be saying right now. But we regrouped one more time. The home run by Robin in the first inning was just a sign to them that we weren’t going to roll over and play dead.”

Bud Selig: “All these kids are so happy and I’m so happy for them. But we still have a long way to go, we still have the Angels in front of us.”

Gorman Thomas: “Damn, this is why I love this game. Down to the last moment. I love it.”

Paul Molitor, about Selig’s talk before the game: “He just came in and told us how much he loved us and if we won or lost it wouldn’t change a thing. We were loose beforehand but that just gave us a little extra incentive to win for the man. He’s lived and died with this, through the good years and all the bad years. This has to be very gratifying to him.”

Harvey Kuenn on team’s chances today: “Honestly, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind and I don’t think there was any doubt in the minds of the guys who put on the uniform.”

Jim Palmer: “Robin’s a fine player, but there are three or four MVP’s on that club. I don’t know why they always single him out.”

Don Sutton on discussion with home plate umpire Don Denkinger prior to the bottom of the third: “He said that somehow a mysteriously scuffed ball had gotten into the game. He asked me not to throw it if I found one. I asked him if I was supposed to play policeman and check all the balls. He said, ‘no, he’d take care of that, but he would certainly be happy if I didn’t find anymore.’ I said, ‘Me too because they sure are hard to throw straight.'”

Don Sutton on accusations: “I’ve never cut a baseball in my life. I’m tired of hearing this stuff. I’m the most accused and least convicted guy in America.”

Don Sutton: “Robin Yount is the best athlete I have ever played with. He’s not an All Star, he’s not an MVP, he’s All World. I’ve played with some great people but he stands taller than the rest.”

Robin Yount, on losing the batting title to Willie Wilson by .00092 points: “The batting title was the last thing on my mind. There were more important things to talk about. If it was up to me, they wouldn’t have that award (MVP). One guy can’t carry a team for 162 games. The only awards that should be given in this game are team awards.”

Harvey Kuenn on Don Sutton: “He had a sore throat this week. He took something for it and broke out in a rash. I don’t think he had a rash today though. He had a good fastball, changeup, slider and curve, but no rash.”

Don Sutton: “I had a sore throat, I took a penicillin shot to get rid of it – something I’ve done my whole life and it kicked back on me for the first time. I took penicillin to get rid of the cold, cortisone to get rid of the penicillin and water to get rid of the cortisone. I guess you could say it was better pitching through chemistry.”

Don Sutton: “The key thing wasn’t what I did, it was the play Benji made (in the 8th). I have thought all along that this club could win with or without me. This is the best collection of talent I’ve ever been associated with. I’m just happy to be along for this ride.”

Harvey Kuenn on Yount: “He’s the best overall shortstop I have ever seen. There’s no question in my mind he’s MVP, and it’s just a shame he didn’t win the batting title. There are not enough words to describe him.”

Brewers are AL East Champs!

October 3 3 Comments

Brewers 10, Orioles 2
Brewers finish 95-67 (1st place)
Box Score | Season Schedule

Robin Yount was the MVP of the most important game of the season.

BALTIMORE — The Milwaukee Brewers are who they are, and we love ’em for it. They hit, mash homers and score run after run. Their pitching is inconsistent, but they are anchored by three All-Star caliber veterans. And, most importantly, the Milwaukee Brewers are exciting.

We know this. These are the ingredients that have made for a dramatic season. And how exciting would it have been to clinch the American League East before traveling to Baltimore for the final four games of the season? Or even clinch in games one, two or three?

No, it came down to the final game. For us. For our enjoyment. Though it would have been a painful loss, the final week of turbulence added an exclamation point to this final game. Victory could never feel so sweet.

If the Brewers have proven anything to us fans throughout the season, it’s that they can handle adversity. They overcame a rough start and managerial change to unexpectedly take, and hold, the divisional lead. Did you think the Brewers would fail to overcome this little obstacle? Shame on you.

By any account, this was Major League Baseball’s regular season game of the year. The drama could not possibly be greater, deciding a division on the final game of the season. Potential Hall of Famers Don Sutton and Jim Palmer faced off in Orioles manager Earl Weaver’s final game.

Fantastic.

Orioles fans were confident, strolling through the turnstiles in droves with signs that exclaimed “Sweep!” and dancing with brooms as they mocked their downtrodden opponents. They could taste a division title.

But of course, this was the stage for Robin Yount to again remind us why he is the runaway American League Most Valuable Player. On the final day of the season, in enemy territory, when his team needed a leader to step forward.

With one down in the top of the first inning, Yount made a statement to the Orioles and their fans with his solo home run: The first three games are forgotten. Today is a new day. This game will not be so easy.

Yount’s statement set the tone, but it was how the bottom of the first inning ended that made it clear that the Brewers were a motivated and focused bunch. With two down and runners at first and second, John Lowenstein smacked a single to right field. Glenn Gulliver ran through third base coach Cal Ripken Sr.’s stop sign and Brewers right fielder Charlie Moore accepted the challenge, throwing a pea to catcher Ted Simmons that easily nailed Gulliver at the plate.

The Brewers’ momentum carried over into the top of the second when Gorman Thomas led off with a walk, and a flustered Jim Palmer threw an errant pick-off throw into right field. The gaff landed Thomas on third base with no one out. When Thomas stepped on home plate after a Roy Howell groundout, it was a 2-0 Brewers lead heading into the bottom of the second.

This was new ground for the Orioles, who had scored at least three runs by the end of the second inning in each of the first three games of the series. Down 2-0, it was also the first time during the series that the home team had been down by as many as two runs.

The Orioles needed to counter the Brewers’ emotion, but they had no answers early. Sutton disposed of the opposition rather easily in the second, and the Brewers were ready once again to strike in the third.

With one down, Jim Palmer faced a familiar foe. For the second time in three innings, Robin Yount drove a solo shot into the right field bleachers to extend the Brewers lead to 3-0.

The Orioles’ Glenn Gulliver responded with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the third, but the run was only a minor annoyance for Sutton and the Brewers. And once the Orioles failed to capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity with two outs in the fifth, loyal Brewers fans began confidently preparing champagne glasses in Milwaukee.

Cecil Cooper, the Brewers’ presumed runner up for team MVP this season, led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run. After a Ted Simmons walk, Jim Palmer was unceremoniously removed from the game in favor of Tippy Martinez. By knocking Palmer out of the game, the Brewers had already won.

Don Sutton mowed through Orioles batters inning after inning. Ben Oglivie hit a well-placed single in the top of the eighth to score — who else? — Robin Yount from third after a lead-off triple.

In the bottom of the eighth, Baltimore provided one final scare for fans back in Milwaukee. A temporary bout of Sutton wildness put two runners on via the walk in the eighth, leading to a one-out, run-scoring single by Terry Crowley.

Harvey Kuenn then trotted out to the mound and put Sutton’s fate in his own hands: Talk Kuenn into leaving him out there, or be removed. Kuenn left Sutton on the mound.

Then, with runners on first and third and two down, pinch hitter Joe Nolan hit a slicing fly ball into left. Ben Oglivie ran it down, sliding into the corner to make an amazing, inning-ending grab.

It was likely the most important catch in Milwaukee Brewers franchise history. Oglivie saved two runs on the play, and possibly more since a hit would have extended the inning. The catch preserved a comfortable three-run lead for the Brewers with only one inning to go.

Through the eighth, the Brewers had provided a large dose of pitching and defense to put themselves in position to win. The only ingredient yet to be displayed was the one that has made them famous this year: Offense.

Don Money led off the top of the ninth inning with a double. Dennis Martinez retired Charlie Moore and Ed Romero, and then all hell broke loose. Molitor hit a ground ball single up the middle that scored Marshall Edwards (who had come in to run for Moore). Yount was hit by a pitch. Cooper greeted new pitcher Mike Flanagan with a double that scored both Molitor and Yount. And to cap it off, Ted Simmons — by all accounts the leader of this team — hit a two-run homer.

Five runs came across for the Brewers in the top of the ninth. The score, with the Orioles coming to bat for the final time, was Brewers 10 and Orioles 2.

John Shelby led off the final inning with a single to left off of Bob McClure. Dan Ford popped out to Yount on the infield. Benny Ayala flied out to Gorman Thomas in center. Eddie Murray hit a single up the middle.

Then, the moment we Brewers fans may cherish for generations: Gary Roenicke hit a lazy fly ball that fell safely into the glove of left fielder Ben Oglivie.

Pop the champagne! Dance in the streets! The Brewers have won the American League East!

The Brewers have won as a team all season long. It was only fitting that this final regular season win would be a team effort. Don Sutton was sharp on the mound. Robin Yount hit two home runs and a triple. Cecil Cooper hit a home run and a double. Ted Simmons hit a crucial two-out, two-run homer. Ben Oglivie made a sliding catch into the left-field corner that may have saved the team’s season. Paul Molitor and Roy Howell knocked in runs. Charlie Moore threw out a runner at home to end the first. And Bob McClure held the lead in the bullpen.

Enjoy this feeling, Brewers fans. Our Brewers are AL East Champions. The American League Championship Series begins on October 5 in Anaheim, where your Milwaukee Brewers will participate in a best of five for rights to play in the World Series.

So, how do you plan to celebrate a Brewers appearance in the playoffs?

Time to Panic? Time to Keep Cool

October 3 1 Comment

BALTIMORE — After preaching patience since the doubleheader loss on Friday, it’s time to be anxious.

As a matter of fact, it’s appropriate to panic. Fans, go right ahead. Shake your head, rub your temples so hard that you pass out, maybe even pound your fist on the table five, 10, maybe 20 times and cry out “Why?” as if you found your wife in bed with a White Sox fan.

As fans, this is our job. We couldn’t be described as fans if we weren’t a little apoplectic. After all, the Crew has had three chances to win one game and has failed miserably at each attempt.

It’s difficult to find words to describe how disappointing these past three games have been. Yesterday’s 11-3 loss was just the dingleberry on the crap sundae. The Crew seems to have no life, no fight in them. This is strange, considering the turnaround since Harvey Kuenn took over as skipper halfway through June. They’ve been a loose club that’s never played tight and haven’t yielded to anyone.

But now, they look beat. Maybe the O’s are riding a wave of emotion and want to give the irrascible Earl Weaver a pennant as a going away present. Maybe they’re just better than the Crew, from whom they’ve taken three straight and 9 out of 12 this season.

Yet, I can’t believe it. The Crew may not have the staff the O’s have, but the offense has never slumped for long. One has to think the lumber will awaken today for the mere fact it has to carry this team to a World Series. The Brewers’ staff won’t throw a series of one- or two- run games.

Fans, you can panic as long as your heroes don’t. That means Molly and Robin and Coop and Ben and Ted and Gorman and Gumby and Charlie and whomever Harvey decides to put at DH against O’s ace Jim Palmer (15-4) all need to stay cool. They know Palmer and what he can do on the mound. Maybe, like nervous public speakers, they can picture Palmer in his underwear.

Having Don Sutton take the hill (3-1) is also an advantage. The O’s have only seen Sutton once. True, the O’s scored six runs off him, but the Crew gave Sutton plenty of support with 15 runs.

But the Crew can’t rely on that kind of outburst, not against Mr. Bikini Briefs. The Crew needs Sutton’s cool. This is why Harry Dalton got him, to help get the Brewers into the postseason.

Make no mistake. Today’s game is a one-game playoff, a Game 7. Game time is 2 p.m. CT.

If the Crew loses, as great as this season has been, the season is a failure. The collapse, epic. It would be on par with the ’51 Dodgers, the ’64 Phillies and the ’78 Red Sox. It would be a black mark that could stain this franchise forever.

There’s only a tomorrow if the Crew takes care of business today.

Here are the lineups…

#	Brewers	POS	#	Orioles	POS
1	Molitor	3B	1	Bumbry	CF
2	Yount	SS	2	Gulliver	3B
3	Cooper	1B	3	Singleton	DH
4	Simmons	C	4	Murray	1B
5	Oglivie	LF	5	Lowenstein	LF
6	Thomas	CF	6	Dwyer	RF
7	Howell	DH	7	Ripken	SS
8	Moore	RF	8	Dempsey	C
9	Romero	2B	9	Dauer	2B
	Sutton	SP		Palmer	SP

Doc Medich Blows Game 3

October 2 1 Comment

Orioles 11, Brewers 3
Brewers now 94-67 (Tied for 1st)
Box Score | Season Schedule

doctor — Doc Medich extended the Brewers' agony to one final game.

BALTIMORE — There once was a simpler time. Long ago, it seemed, when the Brewers needed to win only one of four games to make the playoffs. These days are no longer simple.

Doc Medich and the Brewers lost the third consecutive game against the Orioles on Saturday by a score of 11-3. Each game fell, one by one, as if at the hands of a firing squad. The Orioles have come at the Brewers with an all out assault. A massacre. In the first three games of the series, Baltimore has outscored the Brewers 26-7.

The game began with a familiar tone. The Orioles struck first in the opening inning, scoring on a double by Eddie Murray, a single by John Lowenstein and on a Medich balk that brought home Murray. In fact, this was the second consecutive game in which the Orioles scored three runs in the first.

The Brewers may be “Harvey’s Wallbangers,” but they won’t win many games when they start out in a 3-0 hole. The Crew battled back initially with two runs on a Gantner single in the second, and tied the game on an Oglivie homer in the fourth. But once Medich gave up four runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Brewers’ fight was gone.

Medich should stick to medicine, because he did not look like a Major League pitcher on this day. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits and two walks in three innings of work. Not the type of performance the Brewers needed from their starting pitching.

But let’s not ignore the feeble attempt by the Brewers offense. Milwaukee has yet to put more than three runs on the board in any of the first three games of this series. The Orioles, by contrast, scored three or more runs in five different innings during the past two games. Once starter Scott McGregor was removed from the game in the fourth, the Brewers managed only two hits in the final 5 2/3 innings off of reliever Sammy Stewart.

While relief pitching was inconsequential for the Brewers on this day, it can’t be ignored that Dwight Bernard gave up four runs on six hits in one inning of “work” (used loosely). Bernard has allowed at least a run in each of his last four appearances, none being longer than an inning. Once with an ERA of 2.94 through August, the struggling reliever has allowed more than 10 runs per nine innings since.

The Brewers aren’t clicking at the plate; they aren’t getting starting pitching; and relief has been awful.

That said, anything can happen in one game. And after losing three straight, don’t the odds need to be finally shifting in the Brewers’ favor?

Some may say the Brewers are like deer in the headlights. Others may say they are simply a talented yet complacent team, performing better when the pressure is on. Still others may call the Orioles a team of destiny.

I’d like to think that this season is no fluke. The Brewers are great. And their prized late season acquisition will come through. The offense will score runs. It has to happen.

Game 4 will be epic. The winner takes all in the AL East. The loser goes home. Don Sutton (16-9 overall) takes on Jim Palmer (15-4) in Earl Weaver’s final game as manager.

It can’t get bigger. And a loss couldn’t be more painful.