From: drw3l@delmarva.evsc.Virginia.EDU (David Robert Walker)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Morris pitches to the score? (kinda long)
Date: 8 Oct 92 22:22:24 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Virginia

In article <1992Oct8.051723.10338@Princeton.EDU> niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent) writes:
>
>As an aside, I assume everyone noticed that Mr. Winner, who is a
>Winner, who always pitches to the score when he gives up 4 runs, and
>never loses important games and is such a clutch performer, somehow
>didn't win.  Yes, that's right.  Jack Morris went into the eighth inning
>looking like a loser, but somehow almost wasn't a loser because John
>Olerud got a hit.  But then, given a second chance, he *choked.*  He
>blew it.  He sucks.  He's no good under pressure.  He shouldn't even be
>in the majors.  He can't win when it counts.  :)

Game 1 of the ALCS was almost the prototype Jack Morris game of 1992,
except that they lost. Here is a summary of Jack's 34 starts this year.

In 20 out of 34 games, he allowed the other team to score first. The
Jays were an unbeleivable 13-7 in those games, with Morris going 9-6.
(Someone: what is a normal team W-L when the opponent scores first? 
Something less than .650, I imagine.)

In only 9 games did the Jays get the lead first and keep it the entire
way with Morris pitching.

In games in which Morris, and all of his charged runners, left the
game with a lead, the Jays were 21-0, Morris getting 21 wins. The
bullpen never allowed a Morris lead to escape, unless they did so
with runners inherited from Morris. My notes didn't record this.

In games in which Morris trailed at any point, he was 10-6; the Jays
were 15-7.

A quick look at his no decisions shows:
Apr. 16, NY: Morris has a 4-1 lead and blows it; leaves after 8 down
             6-5, Jays get 2 in 9th to win. 
May 7, Sea: Morris gets behind 7-1 in the fifth. Jays score 5 in the
            ninth to win 8-7.
May 18, Minn: Morris has a 2-0 lead, but gives up two in the 8th.
              Leaving after 9 with 2-2 tie, Jays lose in 11th.
June 28, Cle: Staked to a 3-0 lead in 1st, he gives up 4 in the bottom
            of the 1st. Leaves after 7 at 5-5; Jays lose 7-6.
July 9, Oak: Gets behind 1-0; when Jays tie, he gets behind 2-1. Leaves
           after 7 tied 2-2; Jays score 2 in 9th to win (not off Eck.)
Sept. 7, KC: Down 4-0 after 6, Morris leaves after 9 with 4-4 tie. Jays
            win in 12.
Sept.17, Cle: Down 2-0 in 1st, but has 5-3 lead before giving up 2 in
           the 8th. Leaves after 9 5-5; Jays win in 10th.

That is 3 clear losses he got out of, plus 3 leads he failed to
protect.

What all of this amounts to is if Morris pitches to the score,
he does it when he is down by 1 or 2, and keeps it from getting worse. He
has an incredible talent for motivating his teammates to come back and
bail him ouy after he's gotten behind, if you want to be very
generous. I am willing to grant you that he is a much bettter pitcher
after the first inning; that he has enough stamina to stay in a game
long enough so that when the team does come back, he gets the win
instead of some relaiver. But letting the other team score first in
59% of your games is not the mark of a good pitcher. That he got 9
wins out of these games is due primarily to his team's ability to
score lots of runs. 
 Like I said way back when, just like Game 1.

Clay D.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball