Game Thread - Twins v Nationals, 9/12 @ 6:40pm

[David HK]

 

As all on these boards are aware, Justin Verlander’s third no-hitter was a pretty big deal. He joined a short list of all-timers. Nolan Ryan’s seven remain the benchmark. Sandy Koufax’s four had sat in the pole position for ten years before the Ryan Express tied that record when he blitzed the Royals, Tigers, Twins, and Orioles across a two year period in the mid-70s.  With three no-hitters, Verlander joined Larry Corcoran, Cy Young, and Bob Feller on a short-list of six: four hall-of-famers, another hurler who is sure to join them, and Larry Corcoran. That last fella’s story is to follow.

 

All of this came to my attention when Dick and [ex-ballplayer] were bantering back and forth shortly after Verlander struck out 14 Blue Jays while twirling his no-no. One of the two remarked that one of those six guys was not like the others. Jokes were cracked. It was fun. Y’all’s guy banter was intrigued.

 

Larry Corcoran burst on to the NL scene in 1880 at the age of twenty with the Chicago White Stockings (they weren’t to be the Cubs until 1903 following flings with the names Colts and Orphans). Little Corcoran stood 5’3”, had a pair of curveballs (one fast, one slow), and threw from both sides of the stripe (though I gather that he preferred to pitch as a righty). Along with Fred Goldsmith, Corcoran was a member of the very first pitching rotation. Skipper Cap Anson had Larry start the first five games of the season before turning to Goldsmith for the next four. Anson then began alternating the two every other game through the rest of the season. The season was highlighted by Corcoran first no-hitter (though I will note that the Chicago Tribune reported that a rain delay in the third inning resulted in a ball that was “mushy and shapeless for the greater part of the play”). Surely such a ball aided in stymieing the hapless Red Stockings of Boston (they weren’t to be the Beaneaters until ’83 and, finally, the Braves until 1912). Corcoran ultimately tossed 536¹/₃ innings going 43-14 with a 1.95 ERA and 268 strikeouts in his rookie season as the White Stockings won their first of three straight pennants. 

 

Beginning in 1881 (due to league-wide pitching dominance and too many underhanded hurlers) the front of the pitcher’s box was moved back from forty-five to fifty feet. Nonetheless, Corcoran continued to dominate the league posting a 31-14 record with a 2.31 ERA across 396²/₃ innings. 1882 brought much of the same including no-hitter #2 against a wretched Worcester Ruby Legs squad playing out their string of existence. Little Larry finished his third season with twenty-seven wins against twelve losses matched with a league-leading 1.95 ERA across 355²/₃ innings. 

 

1883 brought a change of fortune to Mud City. The White Stockings and Beaneaters engaged in a back and forth pennant race with both squads leading the pack through the spring and summer. It all came to a hilt on the 10th of September. With Chicago atop the league by a game and half they squared off with Boston for a four game series and were promptly swept. Chicago closed the season with a 7-2 mark but Boston was not to be caught as they ran away with the pennant trouncing three squads lost to history (Detroit Wolverines, Buffalo Bisons, and Cleveland Blues) by a combined margin of nine games to one. Our protagonist thrived once again going 34-20 with a 2.49 ERA across 473²/₃ innings.

 

Prior to the 1884 campaign, Larry Corcoran held out for a higher salary. Chicago offered $2,100; Corcoran countered with $4,000. Such a sum was deemed outrageous and, thanks to a National Agreement (established in 1883) between the National League, American Association, and Northwestern League, a reserve rule left Corcoran with little recourse. Larry flirted with the upstart Union Association but, in the end, signed for what was offered and got back to work. Unfortunately, the season was quickly lost.

 

A dreadful May put the Pale Hose of yore in a hole from which they would never recover. There was to be one more highlight, however, when Little Corcoran dueled with the Old Hoss himself when the White Stockings faced the Providence Grays in late June. These Grays were fearsome. They took the pennant with an 84-28 record and won the inaugural World Series in a three game sweep of the New York Mets. Their lineup was anchored by the should-be-HOFer Paul Hines (he earned the first Triple Crown in 1878 for starters) while Charles Radbourn manned the box. This was peak Radbourn as he sported a record of 59-12 and an ERA of 1.38 across 678²/₃ innings with 441 strikeouts. None of this mattered on June 27th. Corcoran pitched no hitter #3 and finished off his fifth season with a record of 35-23 and an ERA of 2.40 across 516²/₃ innings.

 

And that was basically it. Little Larry had pitched 2,279 innings across five years and his arm was dead. John Clarkson had come on for a similarly spent Fred Goldsmith in 1884 and shown great promise with his newfangled, just-legalized overhand method of delivery (though he often alternated his arm slot). He was the new White Stockings ace going forward in 1885 and went on to have a hall of fame career. Corcoran bounced around the NL for a couple more seasons with his last chance coming in the May of 1887 with a 2-9 Indianapolis Hoosiers ballclub looking for a spark. As fate would have it, Larry faced off with the same Chicago club with whom he made his name. He surrendered 11 runs on 12 hits and 10 walks while taking the L. His final start came against the Giants of New York one week later.  The Indianapolis News had a write-up declaring “A study of the score is suggestive of profanity.”

 

Four years later, at the age of 32, a penniless Larry Corcoran was dead and buried in an unmarked grave. He deserved better.

 

That's my tribute. Here go some lineups. Let's hope the Twins fare better against the Tribe this weekend than those old socks did against them legume munchers in the September of '83.  

 

 

Man, that opener was a page-turning thriller!

 

And it was nice to remember that day in that stands as a young lad, when Little Corcoran mowed down them Providence Grays! I was a mere child of 5, so my memory of it is not so good, but I do recall my Pa relating later on that I was already taller than the pitcher that day.

[LaBombo]

Dick being gentle on Stewart by saying his inning was "rugged", which sounds like a pickup commercial to me. If he pitches like that again, I'm thinking the airbag is going to deploy.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I figured Gibson could at least inspire other pitchers to field their position; I was wrong.

[David HK]

Sucks to have to fold up the tent in the 6th.

 

Heck, I just finished my morning classes, and was looking forward to following the game during paperwork time.

 

Ah, well.

 

Can't wait for that Cleveland series. Let's see, if we get swept, which I'm totally anticipating, will we still be 1/2 game in front?

[USAFChief]

 

I figured Gibson could at least inspire other pitchers to field their position; I was wrong.

Stewart got to first, finally, on his way off the field after the third out.

[mickeymental]

so maybe ulcerative colitis is contagious?

[USAFChief]

 

Sucks to have to fold up the tent in the 6th.

 

Heck, I just finished my morning classes, and was looking forward to following the game during paperwork time.

 

Ah, well.

 

Can't wait for that Cleveland series. Let's see, if we get swept, which I'm totally anticipating, will we still be 1/2 game in front?

We cannot leave Cleveland in second place. 

 

 

[USAFChief]

 

so maybe ulcerative colitis is contagious?

Virally. Even through a TV.

[Jax]

This team isn't winning the division

[LaBombo]

 

Stewart is still in lol I get that the game is over but why torture us

 

Rocco subtly urging some slightly irresponsible parents to get the heck out of the ballpark and take their young kids home on a school night.

[Jax]

This team is NOT winning the division

[VATwinsFan]

So are Sano, Kepler, Cave or Gonzalez going to be available this weekend?

[Pius Jefferson]

These are going to be a long 16 games to see who sweeps the Twins in the playoffs.

[LaBombo]

 

Sucks to have to fold up the tent in the 6th.

 

Heck, I just finished my morning classes, and was looking forward to following the game during paperwork time.

 

 

 

With suspense off the table you can focus better, and on a related note, any start by non-Berrios pitchers requires a 'spoiler alert' for people who don't want to know if the Twins will be competitive in that game.

[jz7233]

7-run lead. 1 walk, mound visit. That's managing.

[USAFChief]

Good night all.

 

If Rocco gives up on a game, I guess I can too.

[LaBombo]

Not sure which is worse...  being down seven runs in the 7th, or knowing that it'll probably take more than 7 runs to tie it, let alone win it.

[Danchat]

 

So are Sano, Kepler, Cave or Gonzalez going to be available this weekend?

I think we'll see Sano, Kepler, and Cave get back this weekend. As for Gonzalez? I'm not sure if he's going to play again this year. Just a hunch.

[LaBombo]

 

This team is NOT winning the division

 

With the depleted roster and decline in play it's looking more and more like they're no longer the best team in the division, either. I'm still hoping they can prove me wrong.

[Bandit34]

 

This team is NOT winning the division

Would you believe that this year has been one of the more frustrating years for me as a Twins fan? I can't place why that is, but it seems like there have been some games this year where our manager literally gives the other team the game. I'm old school. I don't believe in giving even one game. Even if it means you have to burn through your entire bullpen. Those fans paid DANG good money to see you give it all you got!

[jkcarew]

Good night all.

 

If Rocco gives up on a game, I guess I can too.

Then you should have left when he was writing out the lineup.

[Bandit34]

I want to make it clear that I am not bad-mouthing our manager. I said it SEEMS. Not that it is. I just strongly disagree with some of the coaching decisions that I have seen this year. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Not sure which is worse...  being down seven runs in the 7th, or knowing that it'll probably take more than 7 runs to tie it, let alone win it.

None of those.

 

So close!

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Never said I dislike him at all. I tend to root for most CNY athletes.

 

Edit: Was hoping he'd have signed with the Twins; although, not at 140 mil for a player that's really only had one really good year.

"Greedy SOB" seemed a little antagonistic!

 

(And when I called your buddy's family friend, your cousin's ex-roommate's sister etc., I was just trying to make a Spaceballs joke, not mock you. Couldn't remember the exact wording, though...)

 

Sorry to pick on you about this -- it just struck me as so odd. Nothing about Corbin or his signing with the Nationals seemed unusual to me -- I mean, the Nationals are pretty good, and the Yankees didn't even make him an offer. Is every FA supposed to just call the Yankees and take whatever they can get, even $40 mil less than another contender is offering, or else they are "greedy SOBs"? Was Nelson Cruz "chasing the money" if he didn't call Cleveland and offer to take significantly less than $14 mil, since Cleveland had much better preseason odds than the Twins?

 

Not that I'm above criticizing players. But I'd mock a guy like Buehrle, when he signed with the Marlins without a no-trade clause and then was upset about being traded a year later. Maybe even poke fun at a guy like Cano signing with Seattle and never sniffing the postseason again. Or guys who sign to play in NY and then lash out at the predictable media pressure. But none of that seems to apply to Corbin and his Washington contract. He got a market rate deal from a very good club.

 

In any case, thanks for the chat. Saved me from having to think too much about the game tonight!

 

Edit: and just after I write that, the Nationals bullpen starts working its magic...?

[LaBombo]

 

Good night all.

 

If Rocco gives up on a game, I guess I can too.

 

It's a full moon and autumn is in the air, so Ima stay here and wait for the Rally Pumpkin to rise from behind the center field wall.

 

 

 

[Bandit34]

 

With the depleted roster and decline in play it's looking more and more like they're no longer the best team in the division, either. I'm still hoping they can prove me wrong.

You're really not going to like what I am about to write here but I don't think there has ever been a time this year that the Twins have been the best team in the division. Just my opinion, guys. It's because I have a different perspective on baseball. I consider the pitching staff to be by far the most important part of a ballclub. That's the way I look at baseball. Pitching is 2/3 of your club. No pitching. Bad club. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I want to make it clear that I am not bad-mouthing our manager. I said it SEEMS. Not that it is. I just strongly disagree with some of the coaching decisions that I have seen this year.

 

Totally understandable.

 

I don’t understand why Garver didn’t bat last night. I think Rocco was saving him for Wade’s spot. But Astudillo and Adrianza ended the inning so an ill-advised decision to be sure.

[jz7233]

It's time for Schoop to shine.

[Bandit34]

 

You're really not going to like what I am about to write here but I don't think there has ever been a time this year that the Twins have been the best team in the division. Just my opinion, guys. It's because I have a different perspective on baseball. I consider the pitching staff to be by far the most important part of a ballclub. That's the way I look at baseball. Pitching is 2/3 of your club. No pitching. Bad club. 

Not saying we're a bad club. I'm saying if a club doesn't have pitching, they're a bad club. Twins are pretty good. But Cleveland has a better pitching staff. 

[LaBombo]

Movement! Possible Rally Pumpkin!