Well, that was random.

What was random?

His 2004 season was a thing of beauty and has to be a strong contender for "Best Ever Season By a Pitcher With a Losing Record." It's a shame he couldn't keep his arm attached to the rest of his body. He was fun to watch when he was healthy.

"Best Ever Season By a Pitcher With a Losing Record."

Nolan Ryan's 1987 says hello

Ben McDonald /Sheets--LSU proof of TINSSAAPP

I definitely choose Sheets' '04 over Ryan's '87, though Ryan gets extra credit for somehow going 8-16 while leading the league in ERA (and ERA+).

it was a fun ride ben

thanks

His 2004 season was a thing of beauty and has to be a strong contender for "Best Ever Season By a Pitcher With a Losing Record." It's a shame he couldn't keep his arm attached to the rest of his body. He was fun to watch when he was healthy.

By WAR, it is the 14th best. Ed Walsh 1910 is the best 369 IP 1.27 189 ERA+ 18-20 record. Among recent pitchers, Clemens 1996 is a little better. Ryan 1987 comes in 104th.

I think maybe he meant "Best Season ever for a pitcher with a career losing record," for which Sheets may qualify. Ed Walsh and Roger Clemens were a touch over .500

I didn't realize just how worked up I'd be about this now that he's making it official. Thanks for 2008, Mr. Sheets.

I guess Sheets knows his body and tolerance for pain, and he was hurt yet again this year. But if he could stick it out he is a few months of roster time short of ten years in the majors, with full pension rights then (I believe the biggie is family medical coverage for life). Not to mention he's 6 wins away from hitting 100.

maybe he meant "Best Season ever for a pitcher with a career losing record,"

I did not. Just too lazy to go use Play Index.

I think maybe he meant "Best Season ever for a pitcher with a career losing record," for which Sheets may qualify. Ed Walsh and Roger Clemens were a touch over .500

Ah, OK. Well, the first one I thought of is Bobo Newsom. 211-222 in his career, he went 21-5 168 ERA+ in 1940. I'm sure there are others who had better seasons.

I did not. Just too lazy to go use Play Index.

But it wasn't a bad guess. 14th best all time, by WAR, fits the hypothesis.

[10] If what I read about MLB pensions is right, he'll already get $34k a year, for having 43 service days. 10 years gets him to $100k/year.

But if he could stick it out he is a few months of roster time short of ten years in the majors, with full pension rights then (I believe the biggie is family medical coverage for life).

I would definitely stick it out.

I know it wasn't the question, but since I have the data up. Other great seasons by pitchers with career records below .500:

Joe Horlen 1967 - 19-7 258 IP 146 ERA+
Dick Ellsworth 1963 - 22-10 290 IP 167 ERA+
Randy Jones 1975 - 20-12 285 IP 156 ERA+

Ben McDonald /Sheets--LSU proof of TINSSAAPP

That isn't where Sheets went to school. Brett Laxton, Lane Mestepey and Anthony Ranaudo all say "hi" though.

As does every Stanford pitching prospect ever. The funny thing about Stanford, though, is that their hitting prospects have all turned out about as poorly as their pitching prospects.

As does every Stanford pitching prospect ever.

no love for Steve Dunning? Although Lonborg, Mussina, and Black Jack did OK

I would definitely stick it out.

A few years back there were numerous articles about Doug Mientkiewicz needing to play one more season because his wife had a pacemaker and could not get insurance, but once he hit 10 years she would be covered for life (or at least as long as they were married). Lucky for him he got hurt early in the season and the Dodgers didn't take him off the DL until near the end of the season, since he was one dimensional enough that he might have been cut otherwise.

Maybe Sheets' wife has a good job with good benefits - but unless I really thought my body couldn't do it, I would want to come back.

I am dense. He played 10 seasons. Is the issue that he doesn't have 10 full seasons of roster time?

I am dense. He played 10 seasons. Is the issue that he doesn't have 10 full seasons of roster time?

It must be. He was not signed to the Braves for the whole 2012 season. His other seasons were all full, he was either active in the majors or on the DL.

He didn't get called up until the middle of July this year. So he needs just over 3 months of roster time to hit 10 seasons for pension calculation.

I am irrationally sad about this. I never him pitch, live, but he always seemed like a guy who would Chris Carpenter his way into a second career.

Sad to see Sheets go but at least he's going out having actually pitched until the end of a season (kind of). It may seem strange to say this, but Sheets pitching the US to a gold medal in 2000 was one of the main things that got me interested in baseball again (I pretty much gave up on the Brewers, and MLB, after the 1992 season when Selig was too cheap to re-sign Paul Molitor). I still followed MLB a little but I didn't really care because it was fairly clear Milwaukee would make no effort to be good while the Seligs owned the team. Hearing that the Brewers had a young pitcher who was good enough to start a gold medal game was enough to give me a little hope for the first time in 8 years. I'll miss him.