He was throwing Bugs Bunny pitches that game. Didn't he actually injure his elbow throwing one of those ridiculous sliders?

I was at that game. The Astros bullpen coach, after the 3rd inning, said they'd get him the 2nd time through the lineup. After the 5th inning, he could only shake his head.

I've got that game on DVD. I re-watched it this winter and was just dumbfounded at the movement and hop those pitches had all day long.

It's too bad MLB has such a bonehead media policy, so we can't see games like this, or Pedro masterpieces from 1999-2000 on YouTube. I really don't see how this helps them. Last night I watched some old Jordan highlights and it prompted me turn on the Hornets-Spurs game.

Yup. Kerry Wood had the best stuff ever that day.

Youtube does have a highlight reel of the 20 Ks

damn, that slider is amazing, although my elbow aches just watching it.

Wow. I can't believe it has been ten years.

So is there a general consensus around here that this is the best pitching performance of all time (without adjusting for the significance of the game)? I certainly would have to think so; IIRC it is the highest "Game Score" of all-time.

I had completely forgotten that it was almost a no-hitter, as well.

This game is on MLB.com's Baseball Best. If you don't want to pay $3.99 that's not their problem. I'm sure games like these will be on their TV channel anyway. BB is a pretty good resource for famous old games; I wish MLB didn't hide it in a corner of their website and was more proactive about putting games on there, but what's already there has offered me many hours of entertainment.

I wish MLB would work with youtube but it's not like they're the only sporting organization taking a hostile stance towards it. The NFL, the English Premier League, some other European soccer clubs, etc. etc.

Youtube does have a highlight reel of the 20 Ks

Thanks for the link. Those balls are just exploding. Wow.

I note that he threw 122 pitches. While that's not a ridiculous number, I wonder if, just ten years later, a manager would be more inclined to pull him after eight innings.

Either way, what a day.

That's one of the very few games for which I actually remember where I was. (I was doing doors for a political candidate and listened to the end on the car radio.) The other two (non-recent) games are game five of the 1989 NLCS (standing in my bedroom cheering for Will as he ripped Mitch Williams up the middle) and the earthquake game the next week (sitting in my parents' family room).

That slider to strike out Bell was just plain crazy.

I note that he threw 122 pitches. While that's not a ridiculous number, I wonder if, just ten years later, a manager would be more inclined to pull him after eight innings.

With 18 Ks? I very much doubt it. Possible though, I suppose.

It was better then nearly a no-hitter, it was basically a dinky single away from being a perfect game. Also, Shane Reynolds pitched a helluva game himself: CG, 10 K, 1 ER. His GS was 68. I can't imaigne any day has ever topped their combined 173.

what about the Randy Johnson v Jose Jiminez games?
Too lazy to look it up.

I had completely forgotten that it was almost a no-hitter, as well.

And arguably should've been; the only hit was a Ricky Gutierrez bleeder toward third base that Kevin Orie mishandled.

what about the Randy Johnson v Jose Jiminez games?
Too lazy to look it up.

Good call. That's a 178. The winner for Old School Division might be Game 2 of the 1916 World Series which is a 179, Babe Ruth went 14 innings and gave up 0 runs, Sherry Smith went 13 and a third before giving up the game-winning run.

It was better then nearly a no-hitter, it was basically a dinky single away from being a perfect game.

Well, he did hit a batter, but yeah. It was the most dominant game ever pitched. I had forgotten how ludicrous that last pitch to Bell was. Just cartoonish.

Well, I had forgotten he hit a batter, so nevermind.

Incidentally, I'm really taken by this Game Score stuff. We have a new champion (9 or 8 inning game only, division): This Game, which is Koufax's perect game. His game is 101, Bob Hendley clocked in at 80.

In the spring of 1999 a Cub fan told me, "I'd be shocked if Kerry Wood doesn't throw a no hitter this year."

Easiest $20 I ever made.

That must have been pretty early in the spring. His elbow blew about thirty minutes into the pitcher-covers-first drill.

IIRC it is the highest "Game Score" of all-time

Not even close.

edit: for a 9-inning game, it probably is.

The winner for Old School Division might be Game 2 of the 1916 World Series which is a 179, Babe Ruth went 14 innings and gave up 0 runs, Sherry Smith went 13 and a third before giving up the game-winning run.

Oeschger-Cadore.

I can't imaigne any day has ever topped their combined 173.

You gotta be kidding.

This game had a heckuva combined game score.

Just a nine-inning affair? OK. This one is at 181

Courtesy, B-ref's PI, here are the highest Game Scores in a loss by pitchers that didn't go beyond 9 innings.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to make a Stat-of-the-Day blog posting based on this.

That makes me feel old. Also making me feel old: the invitation to join the AARP I got yesterday. That was unexpected, because I'm only two years older than Kerry Wood.

My Stat-of-the-Day post. Forgot all about the Haddix game. Never heard of the Maloney game.

Courtesy, B-ref's PI, here are the highest Game Scores in a loss by pitchers that didn't go beyond 9 innings.

I remember that Bob Sebra start (#13 on the list). Only run of the game was a homer by Jerry Mumphrey. Maddux threw a shutout. If memory serves.

What about the Ed Walsh-Addie Joss game?

**NOBODY CARES ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE'S FANTASY TEAM ALERT**

I had both Wood and Reynolds on my fantasy team that year, and thanks to this game I moved from 7th place to 2nd place. This one game gave me hope for the long term. Of course it was still early May, and I faded quickly, never able to recapture the glory of that fleeting moment.

I'll now let the analogy to Wood's career sink in...

why would a no hitter with more pitches and Ks get a higher score than a no hitter with 27 GO on just a few pitches for each out?

and did anyone else notice that roger took 149 pitches for his 20K game in 86? and 139 pitches for his 20K game in 96?

i am guessing that this was a day game because for some reason i don't remember sitting through it. i remember that game, just no memory of watching it. maybe it was just too awful to remember...

that 98 astros team was the best team we ever had

sigh

why would a no hitter with more pitches and Ks get a higher score than a no hitter with 27 GO on just a few pitches for each out?

Because the game score formula gives additional credit for Ks.

Off the top of my head:

1. Start with 50.
2. Add 1 for each out recorded.
3. Beginning with the 5th inning, add 2 for each inning completed.
4. Add 1 for each strikeout.
5. Subtract 1 for each walk (and I suppose HBP).
6. Subtract 2 for each hit allowed.
7. Subtract 2 for each unearned run allowed.
8. Subtract 4 for each earned run allowed.

Total is the pitcher's game score.

So for Wood's 20-K game:

1. 50
2. +27 = 77
3. +10 (2 for the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th innings) = 87
4. +20 = 107
5. -1 (if you count the HBP) = 106
6. -2 = 104
7. -0 =104
8. -0 =104

104 if you count the HBP the same as a walk; 105 otherwise.

And yes, that was a day game. With a very sparse crowd, if memory serves.

I'm assuming the best ever combined game score would be the Oeschger-Cadore 26-inning game...

So I looked at the Koufax perfect game boxscore, saw the PH by Amalfitano and Kuenn in the ninth, and thought: "Huh, future managers pinch-hitting." Then I noticed Wills, Lefebvre and Torborg all started for the Dodgers, and I started clicking on links and learned that Kessinger and Tracewski managed briefly as well...

Seven future managers in one game - does that seem like a lot to you?

Then I looked at the Marichal-Spahn box and counted Kuenn again, Alou, Davenport, Crandall, Matthews, and McMillan. With the timing of expansion, would I find six or seven future managers in every game that was played in the '60s?

edit: for a 9-inning game, it probably is.

Well yeah. A 1 hit shutout with no walks and 20 K's? The only way to beat it would be for more K's (hasn't happened), or a 19+ K perfecto (hasn't happened either).

James's GS formula dates from the mid-80s, so I am impressed that it anticipated DIPS/BABIP theory by giving extra credit for strikeouts.

Essentially, it encodes the idea that a 1-hit shutout with 20 strikeouts is a far more impressive start than a 1-hit shutout with 7 strikeouts. The 7-strikeout guy was most likely bailed out by his defense or by dumb luck 6 or 7 times (20 balls in play). Kerry Wood did it on his own.

Should be noted the hbp was Biggio, so it's as suspect as the hit. Just your standard Biggio sticking his elbow out.

Essentially, it encodes the idea that a 1-hit shutout with 20 strikeouts is a far more impressive start than a 1-hit shutout with 7 strikeouts.

Or a no hitter with no strikeouts.

Oh yes. By Tangotiger's pitch-count estimator, that Holtzmann no-hitter was 106 pitches, which seems a little high for a game with no strikeouts and the Braves hitting easy grounder after easy fly. Does anyone remember watching it?