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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Fanhouse: Rick Sutcliffe Wanted to Kill Reggie Jackson

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!...Sutcliffe, the New Yorkshire Ripper has escaped!

And then, apparently as a method of supporting his point, Sutcliffe breaks into the real gem: his story about Reggie Jackson. Paraphrased, it went a little like this:

Sutcliffe: You know, that happened to me one time. I wanted to kill Reggie Jackson.
Brennan: Really?
Sutcliffe: Yeah. He hit a home run off of me, and stared at it. I was hot. I was furious. I was in the dugout, and I was going to throw at him the next time he came up. And then my guy Burt Blyleven came up to me and said “Sut, he’s hit 500 of those things. He’s earned the right to stare at it when it leaves the park.” But I was furious.
Brennan: Well, the rules are slightly different today.
Sutcliffe: Because I was going to throw at his head. I was going to throw at his face, if I could hit it! I was going to kill him if I could.
Brennan: ... stunned, awkward silence ...

Repoz Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:24 AM | 45 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Rich Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:41 AM (#2493194)

Sutcliffe could have just challenged him to a fight after the game. Maybe if he had he wouldn't feel the need to still be talking about it 25 years later.

2. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:52 AM (#2493198)

I actually like this story.

3. larkin4HoF Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:10 AM (#2493199)

If you kids don't get off my lawn, your gonna get a fastball in your face.

4. Not The Real Fausto Carmona (Dan Lee) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 07:55 AM (#2493205)

That's nothing. At one point, Reggie Jackson wanted to kill the Queen.

5. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 09:56 AM (#2493212)

The most amusing thing is how Bert Blyleven was the guy that went over and tried to tell Sutcliffe to relax, what's the big deal about home runs? It would have been equally active and effective to say "Sut, I've given up 500 of those things. You get used to it after awhile."

For the record, I love Bert Blyleven. I would fight someone to the death over his Hall of Fame candidacy. I just think it's a hoot, because he certainly is well-qualified to help young pitchers deal with the frustration of giving up home runs.

6. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:16 AM (#2493234)

Who here hasn't wanted to kill Reggie Jackson, at some point or other?

7. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:19 AM (#2493236)

I'm just trying to figure out why Brennan said "stunned, awkward silence."

8. TerpNats Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:26 AM (#2493240)

"Must...kill...the slugger..."

9. buddaley Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:27 AM (#2493241)

Blyleven's entire reputation as a gopher ball pitcher rests on consecutive seasons with the Twins when he allowed 50 and 46 home runs. Otherwise, the most he ever allowed in a full season was 24 and in many seasons he gave up fewer than 20. In fact, in 1973 in Minnesota, he pitched 325 innings allowing just 16 home runs and the next year, in 281 innings, just 14. Two years later, in Minnesoata and Texas, he pitched 297.7 innings and allowed 14 again. The year after he gave up 46 home runs he yielded 21 in 207.3 innings and then 14 in 241. His 430 career total of home runs allowed is 1 per 11.558 innings. Over a typical 250 inning year, that would be fewer than 22 home runs. It is unfortunate that he is remembered as a gopherballer, because he was not.

10. Dag Nabbit and his imaginary friends Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:44 AM (#2493254)

The Day Reggie Nearly Died. Only time Sutcliffe allowed a homer to Jackson while Blyleven was on the Indians.

It is unfortunate that he is remembered as a gopherballer, because he was not.

He's eighth on the all-time homers allowed list. Sure, that's largely because of those two seasons, but dang it, those two seasons were part of his career. You can't say aside from the years he allowed lots of homers he didn't allow lots of homers. Eighth most ever.

Who here hasn't wanted to kill Reggie Jackson, at some point or other?

Your views intrique me and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

11. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:53 AM (#2493258)

Who here hasn't wanted to kill Reggie Jackson, at some point or other?

How can you tell it's Reggie's corpse? It's the only one that TELLS you how good it is!

12. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: August 21, 2007 at 11:54 AM (#2493260)

Sutcliffe should start a blog entitled "The time I wanted to kill ___" It can be about all the guys who hit home runs off him or made an error behind him. Occasionally he'll write about the time Ryne Sandberg didn't flush, the time Jay Johnstone put Heet in his jock strap, or the time Burt Hooton used his toothbrush.

13. Dudefella Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:00 PM (#2493267)

I'm glad to hear that Sutcliffe never shouted or pumped his fist after getting a big strikeout. Oh wait, he did?

14. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:05 PM (#2493272)

I can't believe it took 4 posts to get a "Naked Gun" joke. You people are slipping.

15. Dag Nabbit and his imaginary friends Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:08 PM (#2493275)

Sutcliffe should start a blog entitled "The time I wanted to kill ___" It can be about all the guys who hit home runs off him or made an error behind him. Occasionally he'll write about the time Ryne Sandberg didn't flush

Well, there is the time he actually tried to kill Eric Show.

16. gef the talking mongoose Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:29 PM (#2493290)

At one point, Reggie Jackson wanted to kill the Queen.

How does he feel now that Piazza is with his old team, the A's?

17. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:29 PM (#2493291)

Well, there is the time he actually tried to kill Eric Show.

That entry will end with "It looks like Father Time did my work for me!"

18. Guapo Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:36 PM (#2493293)

If Father Time is a drug dealer, then yes.

19. Big Train Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:38 PM (#2493295)

He told a cool story about Nolan Ryan. He would walk over to "check the footing" of the area where bunts would be fielded, and stared into opposing dugouts, as if a warning not to bunt for a hit.

He then said, absolutely straight faced (they cut to him in the booth." Nolan tried to kill everyone. EVERYONE. He wanted to kill them all."

Brennan replied, "Not really kill them.." And Sutcliffe cut him off, "Kill them."

20. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:43 PM (#2493297)

21. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 12:43 PM (#2493298)

Everyone was freakin' terrified of Nolan Ryan. I chuckled at Ron Washington quoted in Moneyball telling Ray Durham, "you didn't run on Nolan Ryan. All that did was piss Nolan Ryan off."

It's easy to see why there are some otherwise reasonable people who want to insist Nolan Ryan was the greatest pitcher who ever lived.

22. Craig Calcaterra Posted: August 21, 2007 at 01:01 PM (#2493315)

I'll just throw this out there: When two teams out ot the pennant race play, they should let the announcers drink if they want and they should be given immunity from anything they might say. I'd watch!

This is one of the biggest reasons I fell in love with the Braves on TBS back in the mid 80s. Skip + booze = wonderful.

23. Moneyball can't buy you love (Joey B.) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 01:04 PM (#2493316)

Everyone was freakin' terrified of Nolan Ryan.

Well, everyone except for that idiot Robin Ventura.

24. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 01:18 PM (#2493327)

I'll just throw this out there: When two teams out ot the pennant race play, they should let the announcers drink if they want and they should be given immunity from anything they might say. I'd watch!

That's one of those ideas that makes so much perfect sense that it could never possibly happen.

25. Shredder Posted: August 21, 2007 at 01:20 PM (#2493329)

Having not paid much attention to Sutcliffe over the years, but forced to last night (because I'm traveling), WOW is he awful. He spent the whole game talking about everything but the actual game, until Howie Kendrick couldn't come up with a tough play, at which point he went on and on about how Kendrick wouldn't be in the league long if he couldn't come up with that ball.

Then later, he talked about how Kendrick had been in a platoon situation this season, which is completely untrue, and is something he just pulled out of his ###. Then when Kendrick doubled, he went on about how he was one of the best young hitters in the game.

So this kid who is one of the best young hitters in the game was apparently in some non-existent platoon situation, and won't be around long if he can't come up with tough grounders. What an idiot.

26. zonk Posted: August 21, 2007 at 01:23 PM (#2493333)

Enrico Polazzo should have never written that movie.

27. a bebop a rebop Posted: August 21, 2007 at 01:50 PM (#2493359)

I'll just throw this out there: When two teams out ot the pennant race play, they should let the announcers drink if they want and they should be given immunity from anything they might say. I'd watch!

I'm pretty sure that was actually Sutcliffe's problem last night. He was getting pretty mumbly by the seventh inning.

28. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: August 21, 2007 at 01:59 PM (#2493366)

I chuckled at Ron Washington quoted in Moneyball telling Ray Durham, "you didn't run on Nolan Ryan. All that did was piss Nolan Ryan off."

Nolan Ryan led the league in stolen bases allowed eight times.

29. ChadBradfordWannabe Posted: August 21, 2007 at 02:14 PM (#2493375)

I don't think I remember Nolan Ryan even attempting a pickoff move. I'm sure he did, I just don't remember it.

30. Fly, the most judgment-free human being on Earth Posted: August 21, 2007 at 03:02 PM (#2493408)

I'm pretty sure that was actually Sutcliffe's problem last night. He was getting pretty mumbly by the seventh inning.

Did George Clooney ever solve that thing?

31. gef the talking mongoose Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:27 PM (#2493510)

It's easy to see why there are some otherwise reasonable people who want to insist Nolan Ryan was the greatest pitcher who ever lived.

Because he would kill them if they said different?

Nolan Ryan led the league in stolen bases allowed eight times.

So he was pissed off a lot?

32. Moses Taylor demands to be housewarmed Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:36 PM (#2493518)

I'll just throw this out there: When two teams out ot the pennant race play, they should let the announcers drink if they want and they should be given immunity from anything they might say. I'd watch!

In college, we used to joke about what would happen if HBO or Showtime could broadcast games. No censored on field mics, no censoring the announcers. It would be awesome.

33. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:46 PM (#2493539)

I know! That's what was so funny about it. Old players go on and on about how scary Nolan Ryan was, but honestly, he wasn't a great pitcher, he was just an extremely unusual pitcher (that happened to be very good, mind you). The most remarkable thing about him was his inhuman endurance. But to hear old players tell it today, he never gave up a hit, and when somebody walked he never gave up a stolen base, and nobody ever bunted against him (which of course people did), and whenever he came to the plate he was always intentionally walked just out of courtesy.

Take all the stuff from chucknorrisfacts.com and use Nolan Ryan's name, and much of it comes across as something you might hear during a broadcast these days.

"You know, Nolan Ryan never read books. He just stared them down until he got the information he wanted."

34. Al Kaline Trio Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:46 PM (#2493542)

If HBO would mic the home plate umpire it would make the game more entertaining for sure, especially if he had an unpredictable strike zone that night.

35. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:50 PM (#2493547)

If HBO would mic the home plate umpire it would make the game more entertaining for sure, especially if he had an unpredictable strike zone that night.

I'd want the Spanish guys translated. And hell, Ichiro, too. I bet they same some outlandish #### in their native tongues.

36. ronh Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:52 PM (#2493550)

37. The Essex Snead Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:54 PM (#2493552)

MLB should just mic Ozzie Guillen and have a PIP of Ozzie in every game they broadcast.

38. McLovin Posted: August 21, 2007 at 04:58 PM (#2493561)

He's eighth on the all-time homers allowed list. Sure, that's largely because of those two seasons, but dang it, those two seasons were part of his career. You can't say aside from the years he allowed lots of homers he didn't allow lots of homers. Eighth most ever.

But he's pitched the 7th most innings of anyone since 1920, so allowing the 8th most HR isn't too bad. That's kind of like calling Greg Maddux a strikeout pitcher since he's 11th all-time in K's, when really he's just been a decent strikeout pitcher who pitched a long time in a strikeout era. Just eyeballing it, among all pitchers with long post-1920 careers, Blyleven looks about average in HR/IP. (I look forward to someone calculating his HR/9+.)

39. Lassus: Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:01 PM (#2493563)

I chuckled at Ron Washington quoted in Moneyball telling Ray Durham, "you didn't run on Nolan Ryan. All that did was piss Nolan Ryan off."
Nolan Ryan led the league in stolen bases allowed eight times.

This site definitely makes colloquial memory way less fun. As someone said yesterday, I would like to see someone put up everything you (plural) did on a BBREF site and see how you well you re-tell your life when trying to be entertaining.

40. Al Kaline Trio Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:06 PM (#2493566)

One reason Nolan Ryan was so good is that he never tipped his pitches, there was no grip in his glove, only a hand flipping you off.

41. Poochie Mahoney Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:06 PM (#2493567)

SUTCLIFFE: And don't edit this so it looks like I'm saying, "I wanted to kill Reggie Jackson!"

JOHN BEARD: Shocking confession at eleven.

42. Srul Itza Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:06 PM (#2493568)

Blyleven gave up 430 HR to rank 8th highest.

He is also 13th in innings pitched. You subtract the pure deadball guys (Young, Galvin, Alexander, Keefe and Nichols), and he is 8th in innings pitched during the home run era, and 8th in home runs allowed.

EDIT: or what McLovin said

43. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: August 21, 2007 at 05:34 PM (#2493600)

I look forward to someone calculating his HR/9+.)

I did that a few years ago. As I recall, it was something like 98.

44. Calvin Schiraldi Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:14 PM (#2493656)

I chuckled at Ron Washington quoted in Moneyball telling Ray Durham, "you didn't run on Nolan Ryan. All that did was piss Nolan Ryan off."
Nolan Ryan led the league in stolen bases allowed eight times.

Doesn't mean Nolan wasn't pissed.

45. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: August 21, 2007 at 06:50 PM (#2493708)

This site definitely makes colloquial memory way less fun.
Yeah, but that was so egregiously wrong - besides, Ryan had a rep of being easy to run on. Surely we can call people out occasionally...

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Fanhouse: Rick Sutcliffe Wanted to Kill Reggie Jackson

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